Problems at Gibson?

[mecca777]

Gibson UK doesn't know what stock they're being sent until the boat actually arrives in the UK. Shops don't know what Gibson or Epiphone stock they're getting till it arrives at their door...

For real? If that's the case that's the maddest thing I've ever heard. Imagine taking delivery of a new shipment of Holey Explorers, Zoot Suit SGs, Shark Fins and Tribal Vs. You'd have a heart attack.

(edited for inadvertent duplication)

[AndyR]

Gibson UK doesn't know what stock they're being sent until the boat actually arrives in the UK. Shops don't know what Gibson or Epiphone stock they're getting till it arrives at their door...

For real? If that's the case that's the maddest thing I've ever heard. Imagine taking delivery of a new shipment of Holey Explorers, Zoot Suit SGs, Holey Explorers and Tribal Vs. You'd have a heart attack.

+1

Sheesh! That's almost incredible.

[Dmoney]

actually, i think i saw this happen in london.
the music shop on tottenham court road, i walked past and they had 3 different colour ways of zoot suit sg in the window. now i don't think they have them there any more, just overpriced les pauls. i can't imagine actually ordering that crud so at the time i assumed gibson probably forced them to take it.

[Antag]

I can say this: Fender is the best thing that ever happened to Gretsch.

Going off-topic slightly, but they were a disaster for Jackson...

[Antag]

Get back to making the gibsons that people like gibson for, and try to do so with some estimation of competence.

+1

If, say, a Les Paul Standard was properly made in the US with decent quality control, then it might, just might merit the >£1500 price tag.  But every time Gibson ship a guitar whose fingerboard looks like it was sanded with a housebrick or whose frets were installed by stamping on them with hobnailed boots, they are not just offloading a piece of junk, they are damaging the entire brand because dozens, maybe hundreds of people are going to see that guitar in a shop somewhere, try it, hate it & tell their friends.  The mug who eventually buys it unseen will probably come to realise that it needs work too & never buy another.

[Baby Evil]

Gibson UK are hysterical, but are also completely hamstrung by their US daddies.

For what it's worth, the head of Gibson UK says there's no truth to opening post, dunno whether he'd tell if it there was, but I have known him a long time.

The whole running of Gibson in Britain has gotten beyond a joke. It's ludicrous that Gibson wont give lead times on orders at all. Gibson UK doesn't know what stock they're being sent until the boat actually arrives in the UK. Shops don't know what Gibson or Epiphone stock they're getting till it arrives at their door...

Rosetti were terrible, but Gibson UK have managed to be worse.

I can't speak for the UK, but for Belgium, which is supposed to be under the same system, a shop does choose what's delivered to them.  But, Gibson does seem to be putting effort in producing guitars noone wants and there are ridiculuous order times on standard stuff.

Jan

[shobet]

Exploitation of artists who snuff it is nothing new, the music industry is rife with it. Christ on a stick, just look at all the Hendrix products that are out there.

Yes that gold top does look nice, I wonder if it will be unplayable like the original ones?

[mikeluke]

Going back a few years one of my USA-based colleagues got a 'dream' job at Gibson - he was back with us within 6 weeks - apparently there was CCTV everywhere in the office and they tapped your phone calls...

[Jonny]

I think it would take a 6 year old to do better marketing for Gibson.

They have the Les Paul, the SG, the Explorer, the Flying V, artists such as Slash, Pete Townshend, Gary Moore, Billy Gibbons, Paul McCartney, Tony Iommi, and dare I say even goddamn Zakk Wylde, and being one of the OLDEST, and share respect for bringing us the whole era of electric guitars alongside Fender.

How the $%&# do they end up, punching holes through their guitars, using cr@p ass wood, and using less wood and bumping up the price, re-releasing guitars and bumping up the price beyond common sense and now trying to make money out of the original Les Paul himself.

There is 100% truth in the phrase: 'They can $%&# off and die'.

</angerrant>

[FernandoDuarte]

^ Totally truth

[MDV]

I think it would take a 6 year old to do better marketing for Gibson.

They have the Les Paul, the SG, the Explorer, the Flying V, artists such as Slash, Pete Townshend, Gary Moore, Billy Gibbons, Paul McCartney, Tony Iommi, and dare I say even goddamn Zakk Wylde, and being one of the OLDEST, and share respect for bringing us the whole era of electric guitars alongside Fender.

How the $%&# do they end up, punching holes through their guitars, using cr@p ass wood, and using less wood and bumping up the price, re-releasing guitars and bumping up the price beyond common sense and now trying to make money out of the original Les Paul himself.

There is 100% truth in the phrase: 'They can $%&# off and die'.

</angerrant>

it does take a special kind of skill to $%&# up a position that strong.

Wait, not skill, whats that other thing? Oh yeah, retardation.

[Philly Q]

Yes that gold top does look nice, I wonder if it will be unplayable like the original ones?

Shouldn't be, since the neck's angled so the strings can wrap over the trapeze bridge rather than under it.  Of course there's plenty more for them to mess up.

[Matt77]

Some of the acoustic Gibsons me and Shobert saw whilst on a jolly in PMT a few weeks ago were really poorly finished.

I think it they are struggling financially, you will see one of the smaller brands 'realise its value' as the big wigs say and get sold off.
They seem to be going off in too many directions and their distribution model is odd to say the least.
Fender have great success with their Roadworn models and have a good rep with their cheaper models.
Most people I know have a mixed view on the cheaper gibbos and they don't seem to have an equivalent seller like the roadworn stuff

[Afghan Dave]

Well, I was skulking around Vintage Kramer and there was a lot of talk about the relaunch of Kramer guitars with Steel Panther and other endorsers signed up + new models.

Then there is the 14 or so new Epiphones that are due for 2010...

If this ship goes down there will be alot of asian stock floating around.

Dibs on a Kramer reissue and Hendrix Strat for sh1ts and giggles!  :? :lol: :lol:

[roland_rat]

Some of the acoustic Gibsons me and Shobert saw whilst on a jolly in PMT a few weeks ago were really poorly finished.

I think it they are struggling financially, you will see one of the smaller brands 'realise its value' as the big wigs say and get sold off.
They seem to be going off in too many directions and their distribution model is odd to say the least.
Fender have great success with their Roadworn models and have a good rep with their cheaper models.
Most people I know have a mixed view on the cheaper gibbos and they don't seem to have an equivalent seller like the roadworn stuff

I always thought gibsons faded series was there equivalent pitch in the market as fenderrs roadworn series.

Got to aggree on the comment on the state of some of the fretboards. I have a  faded SG it sound Ok but the fret board is a right mess.