Problems at Gibson?

[nfe]

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

To clarify, shops can order specific items, but Gibson wont give lead times. We had someone wait 14 months for a LP studio...

What the shops are doing, is paying Gibson X amount, and Gibson ship what they've got, when they've got it. Hence Gibson stockists all have very similar stock and tons of big sellers missing.

[dave_mc]

I've got a new business plan for them

Put the crack pipe down

Step away from it very slowly

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

wouldn't it just be easier to buy out tokai, or one of the other japanese makers? ;)

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.

exactly.

regarding the original point of the thread: i have no idea, i haven't heard anything. :? but obviously that doesn't mean it's not true.

[MDV]

I wouldnt want them to buy out tokai: I'd prefer tokai maintain their relatively high quality level.

[dave_mc]

:lol: :lol: :lol:

touche. :D

[Stevepage]

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...

Really? Since Fender took over there's been alot more promotion for Jackson and more models. Not particularly great for the old endorsees but they have put out some great stuff.

[MDV]

I believe the jackson custom models have been constrained somewhat. Dont know the details.

[Dmoney]

so i may have tried to send a blind email to gibson CEO. im that bored. hopefully he gets it and replies.

its a terrible situation. i was just reading something about all these rumors about Gibson struggling in the downturn untrue, and about how they really aim to sell $30,000 instruments to investment bankers. its all pretty terrible.

when people are turning to Tokai, Agile etc... and saying its better or comparable quality at a tiny fraction of the price, you have to wonder why they don't address it. maybe management is too stuck up. you can see the trend on denmark street, everyone is stocking masses of Tokai now.

[Philly Q]

wouldn't it just be easier to buy out tokai, or one of the other japanese makers? ;)

They already have Epiphone Japan - they could increase production, rebrand them Gibson Japan or maybe resurrect the Orville brand. 

As it stands, there's too big a gap between Gibson and (Korean) Epiphone, in terms of price and quality (perceived, if not actual!).  Even though there are some really good Korean Epis, I think it's still mostly regarded as a "starter" brand.

[Stevepage]

I believe the jackson custom models have been constrained somewhat. Dont know the details.

Yeah I know they put some limits, like no gibson shapes, no replica's of current or previous endorsees guitars. Does suck, but I'm never going to order a custom from them any way (too much money and WAY too long to wait for it to be done).

[shobet]

I believe the jackson custom models have been constrained somewhat. Dont know the details.

Yeah I know they put some limits, like no gibson shapes, no replica's of current or previous endorsees guitars. Does suck, but I'm never going to order a custom from them any way (too much money and WAY too long to wait for it to be done).

Plus they're more than likely to $%&# up the spec. I've seen some horror stories over on the Jackson/Charvel forum.

However the good side is we can now have Charvels and Jacksons with Strat headstocks!

[dave_mc]

They already have Epiphone Japan - they could increase production, rebrand them Gibson Japan or maybe resurrect the Orville brand. 

As it stands, there's too big a gap between Gibson and (Korean) Epiphone, in terms of price and quality (perceived, if not actual!).  Even though there are some really good Korean Epis, I think it's still mostly regarded as a "starter" brand.

yeah, i know, but you know what i mean. And most of those epi japan models are only available in japan, and the few which are available here are as expensive as gibsons (more or less).

i thought epi production had moved to china?

[Philly Q]

i thought epi production had moved to china?

Yeah, you're probably right.  I don't keep up!

[dave_mc]

haha, neither do i, i just pick it up online. i think the last one i tried was chinese, iirc.

[Herbie the Rad Dorklift]

Well I heard a rumour from someone who works at Peavey USA, that Peavey might be taking Gibson over  :o

[darcym]

I too have heard with fear the possability of a Peavey take over.