GIBSON MIDTOWN CUSTOM VSB, why is it so cheap?

[Lezard]

Anyone have any Idea why this is so much less expensive than a 335?

http://www.thomann.de/ie/gibson_midtown_custom_vsb.htm

[PhilKing]

It has a flat top & back, like a Junior or Special, rather than the carved top & back of a 335, etc.

[FredD]

.......and also the Fretboard wood is something strange !

[Lezard]

Richlite is a dense material made from partially recycled paper and phenolic resin. Phenolic resin is made of formeldahyde and phenol. Individually, these are potent chemicals, but create a harmless, inert substance when combined. The paper is soaked in phenolic resin, then molded and baked into net shape in a heated form or press.

^Just screams TONE dosen't it .

Thanks guys.

[FredD]

Perhaps they should have called it : The Gibson Federal Custom  8)

[Frank]

Formaldehyde + phenol = bakelite

so that's a guitar made from 1950s toilet seats right there

[Frank]

haha, correction ... 1950s kitchen work surfaces

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richlite

[Ian Price]

Kitchen surfaces you say? Well, it appears that Gibson have outdone themselves here. Not even close to chucking the kitchen sink into this one!

I'm sure there will be some positive spin from dear Henry at some point.

[Frank]

Don't knock it, no one's going to raid their factory for illegal Richlite.

[Telerocker]

haha, correction ... 1950s kitchen work surfaces

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richlite

So it's a cooking guitar?  :lol:

[Ian Price]

Richlite? More like Sh!tlite. A very odd choice of neck material - in fact you couldn't bake it up.

A few people on the My Les Paul forum have been singing this guitars praises - they are positively doughy eyed about it. I'm looking forward to it getting favourable reviews in certain guitar publications.

[Alex]

A friend of mine has stuff like that on his 300€ Hagstrom strat. I actually like that guitar a lot, but I'd be insulted if I had this plastic wood cr@p on one of my Gibson's. I already think the "toasted maple" they have started using is a disgrace.

Companies such as Framus (and probably many others I don't know) have shown that you can make excellent guitars from less well-known tonewoods. There's no need for Gibson to make fake ebony/rosewood.

[Transcend]

I have actually a played a few of the epiphone jeff waters flying Vs that have phenolic fretboards and whilst strange it gives an awesome feel

[shobet]

For $%&# sake don't say that out loud or Afhan will be here bollocks out offering 'awesome feels'.

[WezV]

A friend of mine has stuff like that on his 300€ Hagstrom strat. I actually like that guitar a lot, but I'd be insulted if I had this plastic wood cr@p on one of my Gibson's. I already think the "toasted maple" they have started using is a disgrace.

Companies such as Framus (and probably many others I don't know) have shown that you can make excellent guitars from less well-known tonewoods. There's no need for Gibson to make fake ebony/rosewood.

i dont have a problem with alternative materials.  Richlite works fine and i can see why they would choose to use it on this guitar.

tbh, it will be more consistent than the rosewood and ebony they were using anyway, so may actually improve things.

now for smaller manufacturers, alternative woods are great, but for gibson the problem will be relatively consistent supply of fingerboard grade stock. Most of those other alternative fretboard woods are also borderline endangered and i am glad gibson have gone for something more sustainable instead