New Gibson 2014 lineup

[Alex]

http://www2.gibson.com/Gibson-USA-2014.aspx

I like Les Pauls, and the improvements seem like great ideas, but no a single Explorer model???

I'm already pissed that I cannot get hold of a Bill Kelliher Explorer anywhere...

[Philly Q]

One-piece fingerboards enhance sustain

Nobody ever made two-piece fingerboards except you, you bar-stewards!

[blue]

one good thing there is they're finally doing away with fret board nibs, the frets are over the binding.  It only took about 60 flippin years!!

[Ian Price]

I'm trying very hard not to go on a rant about the 'innovation no other manufacturer can match section'

- Four new pickups speak from a sweet whisper to a snarling scream
- Brilliant new colors and finishes—from satin-smooth to ultra-glossy
- Graph Tech nut and proprietary strings provide superior playability
- New Model Year serial numbering system enhances collectability
- Next-gen automatic tuning delivers pitch perfection

I imagine many other manufacturers are kicking themselves that they hadn't thought about such ground breaking innovations.

'Proprietary strings' almost made me spit my tea out.

[tekbow]

Don't see much info on the three Pauls. Be interested to know what the difference between the Classic, Signature and Traditional is. There's also a standard plus and a premium. They've had namesakes for most of these before, but i don't think they've ever had so many at the same time.

Not sure i like the kind of company gibson has been for the last 10-15 years..

[Philly Q]

I love Gibson guitars, but all their "new" models and the little tweaks they keep making, like those Ian mentioned above, never really improve on the classic designs.  I'm really not interested in anything outside of the Custom Shop any more.

[Alex]

I would just be really disappointed if they only focused on the "cash cow" models, i.e LP, SG and ES. But it's for them to remember a year later that the only decent Firebird they ever made was actually the bass guitar model.

[Dave Sloven]

I like the look of the new SGJ.  A big improvement on the current one.

Otherwise I'm not that impressed. robot tuners.  Try making a regular guitar that stays in tune, rather than one that tunes itself all day long.  My SGs go out of tune every second song

I have to admit though that I like the look of that EB 4-string bass

[gwEm]

A bit of hate in this thread ;)

Curious about the new pickups. The J and M budget models look interesting, I guess they're along the lines of the worn/faded/tribute models. Also there's some new finishes, I like the min-e tune system and the pickup layout of the Futura models.

Agree there's not much innovative here, but there is a few interesting things. If they did a Flying V Futura min-e tune in white I would actually make a trip to a music shop with the view to buying.

[gwEm]

Also:
I agree with Blue 100% on the fret ends

Nice that the LP melody maker has full business P90s

And more:
If you look the LP Classic and Signature models have some sort of toggle in place of one of the tone knobs. Wonder what it does.

[Philly Q]

A bit of hate in this thread ;)

Oh, they just set me off with that "one-piece fingerboards enhance sustain" line, as if it was some kind of Gibson innovation none of their competitors could match.

When in reality they're just - stupidly - drawing attention to the fact that they spent a year making guitars with laminated fingerboards.  On custom shop guitars, to boot.

[JimmyMoorby]

http://www2.gibson.com/Gibson-USA-2014.aspx
I'm already pissed that I cannot get hold of a Bill Kelliher Explorer anywhere...

Ive seen richtone and guitarguitar stock them.  Ive played one and its definitely one of the best guitars ive ever played they both sold them for 1150 which is a fair chunk of money but compared other gibsons and guitars and for what it is its a bargain

[_tom_]

I like the SGJ and the price looks very reasonable!

[bucketshred]

What a load of bollocks. Too many options, confusing models names and a load of marketing guff.

Gibson should release three models of each body shape in a Junior, Standard and Custom variation, LIKE THEY USED TO DO (sorta).

Paddy

[Dave Sloven]

They should bring back the SG Menace.  I'd buy one.  Can't find them anywhere these days.  Pickups are shiteee but I could put BKPs in it. Would have to ditch that stupid PCB too ... Gibson really need to get a clue about their pickups.  Besides the '57s and their P-90s their pickups are all pretty awful, especially the 490R

Actually a reissue of the Menace with P-90s would be the bomb