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Who drank all the damn kook-aid again🤣🤣🤣 He admitted nothing and basically blamed everything on the buyers being confused and disgruntled about specs- But don’t worry he solved all that for us with the “Modern” and “Authentic” lines. 😂😂😂 And nothing about the over-priced junk they greedily sold us so many of us for years to keep lining their pockets while they drove the brand into the ground. Flooded the market with Guitars that never should have left the factory- And obviously still not enough has changed. But we trusted the Gibson name like suckers and kept giving them another chance. I cannot even sell them now in good faith to someone else for even a fraction of what I paid like a sucker. I gotta keep them.
I just bought my first gibson Les Paul guitar iced tea and the hard case it comes and other stuff as well it blew my mind. I feel like I own a piece of American art a piece of American history and now I see why they're so expensive but worth every dollar. I hope to one day visit the gibson factory or even just the gibson garage.
Just bought a Gibson LP and it is so awesome to get to see my neighbors that helped to make it. I feel like I own a piece of fine American Art. Thank you Gibson for keeping it American!
I think they have great people that genuinely care about the entire process from start to finish. Jim Decola seems like a wealth of knowledge and believes in the process of making these fine instruments
As much as Jim is praising his employees I hope Gibson is paying really good with good benefits. Skilled work isn't cheap and cheap work isn't skilled.
I'm in the UK and ordered a Gibson SG Modern in Blueberry Fade (lefthand) in May 2020 as a birthday treat to myself. The dealers website stated that there was a 3mth wait for this guitar. The pandemic had started to take hold at this time, and I was aware that the 3mth wait could be a bit longer. 14mths later, I finally received my SG. As pleased as I was to receive my guitar, I never really understood why it took so long, even with the pandemic, as industries were working around this issue. After watching this, I fully get it, and my SG is one of my finest purchases.
This video is ridiculously interesting. When I saw how long the video was I thought it would be a lot of dead air but it's just all good stuff. Thanks for making this!
I do that soooo much lol oh I'll check the hour and a half for 5 minutes? then a hour and a half later lol BTW I'm glad I waited 3 years after the new Gibson team got going before I bought a Gibson merry Christmas too
I just bought a new 61 sg in November. Then I began to dream of a les Paul day and night. I just couldn't get it out of my mind. I went to my local guitar center and after trying several L.p 60s I sprung for the 50s in the heritage cherry SUNBURST. I'm a bonafide Gibson addict. As well as a fender user.
This was one of the best factory tours I have seen on RUclips or anywhere. Jim was a great guide and what a gracious man to share some cool facts and stories from his past and giving you many details about the work they were doing in front of you. And that Firebird that you have in seafoam green is an absolutely stunning instrument! One-of-a-kind and a showstopper!!! That should be your logo for Play and Trade guitars. That’s a no-brainer fellas! Excellent video and I look forward to many more. Keep up the good work!!!
@@PlayandTradeGuitars I knew it was your logo. I know it sounded like I was telling you to do that. My bad. Just wanted to let you know I am not that out of it. Merry Christmas!! Looking forward to more good content in the new year.
I'll always admire people like Jim who have such deep awareness, knowledge and respect of the many processes/stages of production. Especially with the mix of traditional methods and modern tech in the line. Love the pre-strung tailpieces.
Nothing is prettier, great sounding, desireable than a Gibson guitar. Plug it in and jam out, when you are done, polish it up, wipe down the strings and put it on its stand and just enjoy its good looks.
Thanks Guys for the tour . I will be 63 this year . Always wanted a Gibson but could never afford one . I am on disability so that income makes it impossible to ever get one . Jim was super on here . He seems like a really nice guy that you could hang out with that has such a passion for guitars like the rest of us do .
Hey Jerry, a little hint, go to a guitar shop and try to find a good lp studio without PCB. Take the guitar and go to a good luthier who will make it playable. The electrics and pickups are official and can stay inside. so you can get your dream guitar cheaply.
This shows how much work and attention they put on this guitars, the attention for accuracy and quality of the product. This tour makes you feel comfortable to spend some good amount of money on this guitars. Props to Jim he's an example of how to give attention to brands supporters.
As much as I love Gibson, check out the PRS factory videos in their channel. The quality control is just on another level. Amazing how much they put into it. But I understand is an undfair comparison, because the gibson factory builds much more guitars per day than PRS.
lol the other gibson channel unboxed an Owl ES-335. Came with tooling markings on fretboard, stripped strap nut. But yes, quality, fanboys are taking copium.
@@onlyguitars I purchased 2 prs a 24 08 and an se custom both sent back for bad fret work bought from 2 different guitar shops so prs not doing a great job my 2021 Gibson les paul standard is perfect no issue with quality 👍
@@ipythe68 oh, thats sucks. my prs 2018 594 mccarty is absolutely flawless. I had various Suhrs, have Gibson USA built on 2019, an R8 from 2021, and in quality, I have to Say Its PRS and Suhr on top. Gibsons are good, but not as perfect as the others. Strange though. I would expect the SE not be as perfect, but the USA one to be in good shape.
The rope wrapping is such an interesting facet of making a Gibson. Still used today after all those years. Watching a video like this makes you understand why you're paying a premium over an epiphone imo, plus the nuanced sound and tonality of course.
I am a month in with my new ES-345. Playing 45 years now, and I've owned hundreds of guitars (no junk ever). I have to say that Gibson really built a great guitar here. The quality is top notch. I gave up on Gibson years ago because of quality issues, and I couldn't get along with their necks. My last good one was an early 80's, or late '70s ES-347 (had that fine tuner feature in the bridge). I went into Grayson's Tune Town to buy a Gretsch White Falcon. It was a nice (beautiful) guitar, but It was not a good fit for me. So I picked up the 345 with low expectations. I never even considered owning another Gibson. It turns out that I was stunned by this red 345. I have never played or sounded better on a guitar than I did playing this guitar. That was a sign for me to buy this. I really couldn't believe it. I think the Split parallelogram inlays are a huge plus over a dot neck for me. Way easier for my pentium one brain to process where I am on the fretboard I think. I'm really surprised. This guitar is worth every penny. I am beyond pleased.
Ooooo! Red 345 with split parallelogram inlays! Ever since I seen Michael J Fox with that one on Back to the Future ive been lusting over that guitar! I was about 7 i think, way before I knew what it was but I knew it was beautiful.
In a couple groups on FB with Jim Decola such a genuine person ....so much influence in guitar gear we all love....Gibson really put a feather in their cap by securing his skills and talent.
Very entertaining! having fun looking at all the instruments thinking, " There's Mine" in production! ( I do own two but only one would possibly be there in this year.
Jim really loves his job, you can feel it by the way he speaks about it, real passion. Thanks for the video, it's cool to see how these instruments are being made.
This reminds me of when I went on a tour of the Gibson museum and factory in Memphis around 2006 or 2007 (which closed in 2018, I believe). The layout of this factory is darn near close to the layout I recall in Memphis. It’s a shame they packed up that factory and no longer give public tours at their plants - it was fascinating and lots of fun, and I didn’t even play a guitar then! Fun fact: Jim Decola happened to be my tour guide. There’s no mistaking him. I don’t know what his position was at the factory, but I recall him saying that he often jumped in to give tours because he enjoyed interacting with people and hearing ideas, fielding questions, etc. I have amazing memories from that tour (which included a look at the private room where they took in-person custom shop orders,) and museum.
Message to all strict strat players. You don't know what your missing! Educate yourself to Gibson's history and the variety of tones that only a gibson can produce. There isn't an instrument made that can match like a fat gibson tone. I own gretsch and fender strat and my gibson a
@@peelarat9578 They’re both good. I prefer Fenders. However there is a unique wonderful magic with Gibson or Gibson type of guitars with that different scale length of the neck.
That 'new Gibson' smell is the best, I would be too distracted by the heavenly scent to see the hooks. Off I would go towards the spray machine happily accepting a legendary demise :)
Hats of to Jim Decola what a legend .... so dedicated and involved with the workers and visitors for that matter.... Gibson has a bright future with such people paving the way for the future ✌🤠🎸
That drying rack, though… mesmerizing! Had to be one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. I’m astounded by the volume of guitars in the factory at one time.
30:40 haha! Imagine giving Gibson an idea for their plant, nice man! I'm soooo jealous! You guys got to take this tour! Wow! Thank you for this incredible video!
Just bought a Gibson after reading how much they changed and improved. Couldn't be happier. Incredible guitar and amazing quality. Nice to see where my prized Special came from.
What did you end up getting !? I've got some Gibson guitars from 2002 all the way through to modern day and the best of the best is my 2017 Gibson SG standard cherry burst with 57's and it's pre revamp and it's the best if the best of the my Gibson's. In fact I've got a 2017 Gibson Gibson firebird sz with a maple neck of all things and it's also amazing, just as good as my new fender Vintera telecaster 50's lacquer which is a great guitar !
That was the wrong reason to buy a Gibson. You should all buy one because they have soggy rags on their faces and support the bit LIE. Cucks support Cucks.
Love this tour ! a few of my favorite parts are when You guys got to Touch the B.B. ES press , Johns Idea for a Light switch cover , Jim talking about working on Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halens Wolfgang. Hearing how much knowledge Jim has and seeing the process of how everything comes together. Thanks Guys this was Fun !!
He probably makes to much money tho so they’ll probably be looking for a way to get him out so they can save 50,000 a year and hire some 30 year old with a buisness management degree. They already cut costs to make Les Paul’s nearly in half by not having to route 70% of the guitar body out and can sell it as a return to gibsons heavy guitar way heavier sound theory. 2023 Norlin eta quiality by not doing extra work on ever body ya save money on production end then make more with every sale. I wish fender just decide alright guys when ya file for bankruptcy for the 3rd and final time we’ll buy ya up for pennies on the dollar and bring back that Gibson quality brought to you by Fenders radical choice to stick to the company’s fundamentals to sell guitars and not just slap a Gibson label on it so ya buy the brand and not the product.
This was one of the best factory tours I have seen anywhere. Jim was a great guide and I loved that he shared some cool facts and stories from his past. It was also great that he explained details about the work they were doing in front of you. I really enjoyed seeing how the binding went on the ES guitars as I have an ES335. Also loved watching the SG routing for the pickups as I am a huge fan of the SG. amazing to watch the burst spray. All the finished guitars hanging from the ceiling rack is unbelievable, like candy on a string...lol.. Really makes you appreciate the great care and craftmanship that goes into an American made guitar. Great Job guys, loved the video.
Just purchased my first Gibson Les Paul two days ago. What a tour! Never realized how much time and effort went into the making of one of these. I guess you do get what you pay for. I 'm not disappointed. Thanks so much for this wonderful experience.
Interesting how he mentions they have a checklist of the correct hardware and parts for the guitar on the bench and yet I got a Les Paul Standard 50's with the hardware from a 60's model on it. Funny how those things slip through. Kinda makes it a little more special in a way, though.
I've been in the back of the plant for deliveries. I saw these misting sprinkler heads running and asked what they were for, I didn't know. They were to keep the moisture levels good for the woods that were in the plant.
Makes me proud to own these guitars. Amazing tour, watched the entire thing. I had no idea how many human hands went into making these. Truly each guitar is unique and there is an art to this process.
Gives some perspective on why they cost in the thousands. Much is done by hand by skilled employees. BTW love my 2021 Les Paul standard cherry sunburst. Truly a great guitar and a keeper!
@@johnuhrin846 For sure! Glad to hear you found a great standard worth keeping! I love mine as well, a 2020 standard 60’s. Nothing beats a great playing Les Paul.
am I the only one that think the additional cameramen were hired based on height? Jesus, it seems like everyone but the facilitator was a giant lol. Cameramen or security in disguise? hahah awesome video nonetheless!!
Great video! I toured the Memphis factory a few years ago. It's amazing just how much time and effort goes into making a Gibson. If I ever had doubts about why a Gibson is so expensive, they went away after that tour. They are worth it. I own three so far, two LP, and a ES-335. I definitely appreciate those instruments, and the quality that went into their making.
amazing to think, some of those guitars in the video, may be heard on some track we hear on the radio in the future, but we will never know. Also how many hands will play them over the next 100s of years. Amazing
Got my first Gibson a few days ago. A 50's Standard Les Paul Gold Top; I'm super blown away by the quality, sound, set-up, and overall appearance/feel. Truly an amazing instrument that I have had a difficult time looking away from and putting down. I've been a Fender owner for 15 years and this Gibson puts me on the fence on which is better. I am super impressed and thank you Gibson for making such a banger of an instrument (especially for being a Standard model!! Speaks to the dogma of the Les Paul).
Twenty minutes in and I'm inspired and motivated to get back into my shop and get back to guitar and bass building ASAP! Currently building two "single cut" inspired guitars, out of these six guitars and three basses. Cool video.
Small world, the interview said he's from Batavia IL, I grew up there as a kid... Went to AGS, RMS, BHS and I was outa there. Taxes are outrageous in that area (IL as a whole)
Definitely understand why Gibson’s cost more, so much attention to detail. Love the history lessons Jim gave along the way. Would really like to see more on Flying V’s. Awesome video guys! Subscribed. Thanks for the amazing tour!
yeah all that attention detail... seems funny to me that chinese mass produced guitars have better qc than any modern american made guitar and that includes gibson. you get no value for your money nowadays when you buy american made guitars. mexican charvels have much more quality and attention to detail than american gibson custom guitars and they are 50-75 percent the price.
There is so much work that goes into a Gibson. Sure, some things have changed throughout the years. A lot has remained the same tradition. Every person has their shift of different jobs to do to make it all happen. Other companies have their process but not many have as much as a Gibson. The Custom Shop takes it to another level. For people that love to hate the brand? Go through a factory tour. There will always be haters no matter what, that being said there is a lot that goes into Gibson guitars. Break everything down and you know why they are expensive. To me, being a lover of Gibson guitars all my life, it is worth it to me. You pick one up, play it unplugged and the feel tells you right away, this is it. Plug it in and your figuring how can I buy one lol. I have purchased many throughout the years. It is all individual taste and no one can tell us how it feels and how it sounds. We all make our own choices. Great video, and appreciated the time you took and showing us all. Thank you.
This video is SO well done. Incredible tour, history, and detail. So awesome that Jim was able to take the time to be enthusiastically thorough with you guys. But aside from him, the filming and editing of what you captured there is top notch. Well done fellas!
Thank you, Jim DeCola, for getting this great American company back on track! I am a long-time Gibson player/lover. In my opinion, it's definitely the best production-made guitar you can get. They just play so easily and sound so thick. A perfect companion to a Marshall amplifier. I have owned and sold many of them. I always seem to regret when I have to sell one. I still kick myself over selling my '76 Custom Les Paul Cherryburst. It was a real peach. But the ones I have now will never be sold - only handed down to my progeny (if they behave, lol!). Just purchased the White '70s Explorer and it's my new "the one". I got it to replace my old Explorer CMT from the early eighties and, whoa, it's truly a wonderful instrument! The quality is exceptional, and it plays so well!
I love my les Paul’s from the 80s to new ones I purchased . I live in so cal and I never paid sales tax at Gibson online . Wonder why ? Which is killer for me . Also the dude painting in booth 3 . Geez awesome work but u need protection . Proper respirator n gloves n full gear etc . God bless America n all the people who are making an honest living 🇺🇸
Gibson uses big suction grills in their paint booths ( the grey wall behind the guitar in the video). It sucks out all the overspray, so no real protection gear is required. Other Gibson tour videos cover this detail.
This is great. Bought an ‘Appetite Amber’ Slash Les Paul Standard back in September last year & it’s become one of my most prized possessions. Absolutely love it. Great to see where & how it was built & crazy to think that some of the fine folks in this video built it! Thank you so much to all the folk at Gibson who’ve made this man happy in this crazy world. Keep doing what you’re doing!
Watching this video just verifies what I’ve said all along about ppl who love to whine and complain about Gibson Quality. (I’m talking about these very minor imperfections) There is no such thing as perfection. It doesn’t exist. The process proves that. Humans make mistakes. And as good as you are at something, it’s only as good as you are. Even if the whole process was done by machines, it’s still not perfect. It’s only as good as the person that programmed it. Stop your Bitching already and be thankful for what you have.
What do you mean by minor imperfections? Lots of red tags and guitars meant for refinishing in this process. Proportionally not the same as the PRS or EBMM factory, where humans also work.
Huh? People complain because Gibson guitars break down before you even get them or soon after like 5 times more often than other brands big or small, while charging 5 times more for basically lower quality guitars compared to competition. Another issue is that with other brands, if your guitar is broken when you get it or breaks down, you can return it with no problems or fix it quickly... Not with Gibson. Oh boy, trust me, if your guitar breaks down Gibson is the worst brand to deal with. Not the employees fault. Most of them are minimal wage workers. It the constantlh changing ownership and idiot CEOs.
Sadly Gibson is no longer making archtop guitars. The guitars that made them famous long before the Les Paul. They should at least bring back the ES175. The iconic jazz guitar from 1949-2017.
Honestly this video made me understand why A) Gibsons have QC issues and B) Epiphones made in China are just as good as Gibsons for a quarter of the price
@@jordanpratt3821 No Epiphone is on par with a Gibson LP. Clearly many peasants here that simply cannot afford the real deal, so they hate. So predictable!
I'm really glad that Gibson didn't go completely bankrupt!!! Back several years, we were all in shock from what we heard from music shops and outlets!!!!! Common sense prevailed,, and here we are,, enjoying a really nice informative video of guitar-heaven!!!!!
Fantastic video. I've been into both guitars and woodwork since I was a kid, but (somehow) never learned about how guitars were constructed. I love the fact that despite being mass-produced on a factory line, there is still a high degree of hand-craft, attention to detail, and quality control in every guitar. The more you learn, the more you appreciate what a massive impact all of that precision makes on the finished product - everything from the way it looks, to the way it sounds, to the way it ages, can be determined by the temperature and humidity of the room it was built in. Fascinating stuff.
GREAT TOUR !!... I have 4 Gibson guitars and a new one is always on the horizon. This tour was a little inspiring to do some shopping. I have American Musical on the other screen open to the Les Paul section !!! No shlt !!
I have a Les Paul and a SG…..pretty cool to see the journey they took through this factory. We are very fortunate to have guitar companies like Gibson and Fender making instruments.
They do a nice job of dressing it up, but if you listen to what Jim says with a manufacturing ear, it's clear Gibson has made a lot of cost cutting and streamlining efforts while simultaneously boosting production capacity. So why, then, are new Gibsons continuing to climb in price while their QC and another new management team is still unproven? Gluing ears onto headstocks to save some timber cuz budget brands do it? Still no scarf joints or volutes? Jim even seemed to acknowledge their weak neck joints when he talked about pulling fretboards to do truss rod repairs. Probably adds 15 seconds to the carving op, though, so they said nah. I want to love Gibson, but they have a lot of work to do.
This year I was able to finally get my unicorn, the Gibson Les Paul Custom. The guitar plays unbelievably and is a work of art. After watching this tour of the factory and what goes into a normal Gibson guitar you can see why they are as much money as they are. Having a Custom is a lifelong dream that has finally come true for me at age 61.
Jim DeCola mentioned he bought his first guitar at DJ’s Music LTD. That would be in Cicero,IL. The owners were Dan and John Hagedorne(spelling). I hung out a lot there in the 70’s. Dan and John lived in Westmont. Great video. Thanks
Just ordered my first Gibson SG standard in Black. Really cool to see where it is going to be coming from. I just ordered it... cant wait to try it out. I have the 70's explorer in white and love it so i decided on a SG after doing some research and for how light they are. So excited. I would love to do this tour some day also.
The greatest Gibson factory! The sound that created history since the very beginning. The soul of the sound of many musicians in the whole world. I thank you for all.
I was a bartender at the Paradise Loung in San Francisco in the 90s. Buckethead played there quite frequently. I’ve gotten to see him without his mask.
Thanks for the video. This brings back some great memories. I toured this Gibson plant back in 1984 and then again in 1994. I'm still a fan of Gibson guitars.
Enjoyed the tour very much! I saw how craftsmanship and automation combine to make a beautiful instrument. Seeing all the guitars drying on the overhead trolley gave me a snapshot of what a musician's dream of "climbing the stairway to heaven" would look like! Beautiful, man.
From being part of the production line industry, I can insure you the frustration of each folk relying on your other colleges for doing their part right way every time... So many hands in this! Now I see why they have to price the way it is...
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Jim DeCola makes me want to buy another Gibson guitar. He’s doing a great job.
Aye, me too.
Same here! 😄
I was thinking the exact same thing I only have one right now I’m good for a few more
master luthier
And mark agnesi makes me not want to
I like how they are straight forward about they’re past mistakes, it makes me feel good about the future of Gibson quality
gibson quality control is still the worst ive seen out of any manufacture
@@clips1071 objectively false and misinformed.
Who drank all the damn kook-aid again🤣🤣🤣
He admitted nothing and basically blamed everything on the buyers being confused and disgruntled about specs-
But don’t worry he solved all that for us with the “Modern” and “Authentic” lines. 😂😂😂
And nothing about the over-priced junk they greedily sold us so many of us for years to keep lining their pockets while they drove the brand into the ground.
Flooded the market with Guitars that never should have left the factory-
And obviously still not enough has changed.
But we trusted the Gibson name like suckers and kept giving them another chance.
I cannot even sell them now in good faith to someone else for even a fraction of what I paid like a sucker.
I gotta keep them.
@@heatgrimm8664 Gibson Mustaine Flying V
@clips1071 Fender employee?
I just bought my first gibson Les Paul guitar iced tea and the hard case it comes and other stuff as well it blew my mind. I feel like I own a piece of American art a piece of American history and now I see why they're so expensive but worth every dollar. I hope to one day visit the gibson factory or even just the gibson garage.
I can't believe my 335 has been in the same press that made BB King's and Clapton's ES. I guess i'll be thinking about it every time i'll pick it up.
Just bought a Gibson LP and it is so awesome to get to see my neighbors that helped to make it. I feel like I own a piece of fine American Art. Thank you Gibson for keeping it American!
Well said
Wahahaha!!! hahahaha!!!!!
I think they have great people that genuinely care about the entire process from start to finish. Jim Decola seems like a wealth of knowledge and believes in the process of making these fine instruments
As much as Jim is praising his employees I hope Gibson is paying really good with good benefits. Skilled work isn't cheap and cheap work isn't skilled.
They get paid well for the area they live in.
@@johnnyandhiswolves forced to wear face diapers though.
@@xscorpx oh you mean muzzles
@@mohamedtlass3842 yea, that's what I mean.
@@xscorpx is that all you've got? go pound sand.
I'm in the UK and ordered a Gibson SG Modern in Blueberry Fade (lefthand) in May 2020 as a birthday treat to myself. The dealers website stated that there was a 3mth wait for this guitar.
The pandemic had started to take hold at this time, and I was aware that the 3mth wait could be a bit longer.
14mths later, I finally received my SG. As pleased as I was to receive my guitar, I never really understood why it took so long, even with the pandemic, as industries were working around this issue. After watching this, I fully get it, and my SG is one of my finest purchases.
This gives me hope, i ordered mine over 2 years ago and still wait 🤷♂️😄
The higher up the ladder you go the more humble the top guns are , what a fantastic guy and ambassador for Gibson Jim is .
Excellent video,
This video is ridiculously interesting. When I saw how long the video was I thought it would be a lot of dead air but it's just all good stuff. Thanks for making this!
I do that soooo much lol
oh I'll check the hour and a half for 5 minutes? then a hour and a half later lol
BTW I'm glad I waited 3 years after the new Gibson team got going before I bought a Gibson
merry Christmas too
I just bought a new 61 sg in November.
Then I began to dream of a les Paul day and night. I just couldn't get it out of my mind. I went to my local guitar center and after trying several L.p 60s I sprung for the 50s in the heritage cherry SUNBURST.
I'm a bonafide Gibson addict.
As well as a fender user.
Awesome n enjoyable to watch!!! Thanks for sharing.
Really it takes your breath away, watching someone paint a guitar enough with the drummer
This was one of the best factory tours I have seen on RUclips or anywhere. Jim was a great guide and what a gracious man to share some cool facts and stories from his past and giving you many details about the work they were doing in front of you. And that Firebird that you have in seafoam green is an absolutely stunning instrument! One-of-a-kind and a showstopper!!! That should be your logo for Play and Trade guitars. That’s a no-brainer fellas! Excellent video and I look forward to many more. Keep up the good work!!!
You’re spot on…it IS our logo haha. Thanks for watching
@@PlayandTradeGuitars I knew it was your logo. I know it sounded like I was telling you to do that. My bad. Just wanted to let you know I am not that out of it. Merry Christmas!! Looking forward to more good content in the new year.
I'll always admire people like Jim who have such deep awareness, knowledge and respect of the many processes/stages of production. Especially with the mix of traditional methods and modern tech in the line. Love the pre-strung tailpieces.
Out of everything, I'd hate to be the one to load tailpieces with strings all day every day...lol
@@bryonkidder6199 It wouldn't be fun, especially if unpacking and uncoiling each string was part of the job.
LOL!
@@juliansw3110 The strings would likely come in long tubes, or boxes, in bulk.
Nothing is prettier, great sounding, desireable than a Gibson guitar. Plug it in and jam out, when you are done, polish it up, wipe down the strings and put it on its stand and just enjoy its good looks.
Thanks for watching ✌️
A Gibson does make you want to play it when you see it setting there looking pretty.😏
Thanks Guys for the tour . I will be 63 this year . Always wanted a Gibson but could never afford one . I am on disability so that income makes it impossible to ever get one . Jim was super on here . He seems like a really nice guy that you could hang out with that has such a passion for guitars like the rest of us do .
Hey Jerry,
a little hint, go to a guitar shop and try to find a good lp studio without PCB. Take the guitar and go to a good luthier who will make it playable. The electrics and pickups are official and can stay inside. so you can get your dream guitar cheaply.
This shows how much work and attention they put on this guitars, the attention for accuracy and quality of the product. This tour makes you feel comfortable to spend some good amount of money on this guitars. Props to Jim he's an example of how to give attention to brands supporters.
yet since 2001 they still have a metric ton of inferior quality guitars hitting stores. if you want high quality from gibson brands buy an epiphone
As much as I love Gibson, check out the PRS factory videos in their channel. The quality control is just on another level. Amazing how much they put into it. But I understand is an undfair comparison, because the gibson factory builds much more guitars per day than PRS.
lol the other gibson channel unboxed an Owl ES-335. Came with tooling markings on fretboard, stripped strap nut. But yes, quality, fanboys are taking copium.
@@onlyguitars I purchased 2 prs a 24 08 and an se custom both sent back for bad fret work bought from 2 different guitar shops so prs not doing a great job my 2021 Gibson les paul standard is perfect no issue with quality 👍
@@ipythe68 oh, thats sucks. my prs 2018 594 mccarty is absolutely flawless. I had various Suhrs, have Gibson USA built on 2019, an R8 from 2021, and in quality, I have to Say Its PRS and Suhr on top. Gibsons are good, but not as perfect as the others. Strange though. I would expect the SE not be as perfect, but the USA one to be in good shape.
The rope wrapping is such an interesting facet of making a Gibson. Still used today after all those years. Watching a video like this makes you understand why you're paying a premium over an epiphone imo, plus the nuanced sound and tonality of course.
I AM THE REDHEAD AT 1:17:34. I AM A BUFFER AND I WAS HEADED HOME!!!!
Can confirm ❤️❤️❤️
I am a month in with my new ES-345. Playing 45 years now, and I've owned hundreds of guitars (no junk ever). I have to say that Gibson really built a great guitar here. The quality is top notch. I gave up on Gibson years ago because of quality issues, and I couldn't get along with their necks. My last good one was an early 80's, or late '70s ES-347 (had that fine tuner feature in the bridge). I went into Grayson's Tune Town to buy a Gretsch White Falcon. It was a nice (beautiful) guitar, but It was not a good fit for me. So I picked up the 345 with low expectations. I never even considered owning another Gibson. It turns out that I was stunned by this red 345. I have never played or sounded better on a guitar than I did playing this guitar. That was a sign for me to buy this. I really couldn't believe it. I think the Split parallelogram inlays are a huge plus over a dot neck for me. Way easier for my pentium one brain to process where I am on the fretboard I think. I'm really surprised. This guitar is worth every penny. I am beyond pleased.
Ooooo! Red 345 with split parallelogram inlays! Ever since I seen Michael J Fox with that one on Back to the Future ive been lusting over that guitar! I was about 7 i think, way before I knew what it was but I knew it was beautiful.
I gotta say, i love this guys passion for his job and the way he treats people and his staff! Love it!
I was blown away by that machine that every 335 ever made went through. It really makes me want a Gibson 335 now.
Yea me too!!! Pretty freaking cool!
In a couple groups on FB with
Jim Decola such a genuine person ....so much influence in guitar gear we all love....Gibson really put a feather in their cap by securing his skills and talent.
Agree 100%, thanks for watching!
Really great. Articulate and attentive. Clearly a great asset to the company 👏🏻
Very entertaining! having fun looking at all the instruments thinking, " There's Mine" in production! ( I do own two but only one would possibly be there in this year.
Love the Epiphones and what Master builder Scott Lewis is doing over there
Jim really loves his job, you can feel it by the way he speaks about it, real passion. Thanks for the video, it's cool to see how these instruments are being made.
This reminds me of when I went on a tour of the Gibson museum and factory in Memphis around 2006 or 2007 (which closed in 2018, I believe). The layout of this factory is darn near close to the layout I recall in Memphis. It’s a shame they packed up that factory and no longer give public tours at their plants - it was fascinating and lots of fun, and I didn’t even play a guitar then! Fun fact: Jim Decola happened to be my tour guide. There’s no mistaking him. I don’t know what his position was at the factory, but I recall him saying that he often jumped in to give tours because he enjoyed interacting with people and hearing ideas, fielding questions, etc. I have amazing memories from that tour (which included a look at the private room where they took in-person custom shop orders,) and museum.
That's cool !
I would do the tour if ever in the area.
So Gibson DON'T do general public tours?
I took the Memphis tour while in town to cover a surgical procedure around 2016. Glad I went while it was still open. I was very impressed with it.
Message to all strict strat players. You don't know what your missing! Educate yourself to Gibson's history and the variety of tones that only a gibson can produce. There isn't an instrument made that can match like a fat gibson tone. I own gretsch and fender strat and my gibson a
@@peelarat9578 They’re both good. I prefer Fenders. However there is a unique wonderful magic with Gibson or Gibson type of guitars with that different scale length of the neck.
That 'new Gibson' smell is the best, I would be too distracted by the heavenly scent to see the hooks. Off I would go towards the spray machine happily accepting a legendary demise :)
Hats of to Jim Decola what a legend .... so dedicated and involved with the workers and visitors for that matter.... Gibson has a bright future with such people paving the way for the future ✌🤠🎸
This was better than your average _How It Was Made_ episode!
I used part of my first stimulus check to buy a Les Paul Classic. Best guitar I ever owned! Plays like a dream!
I got a 1966 fender duo sonic ☺️
Got an American Standard Fender Jazz with some of mine. Thanks gubment!
The factory PLEK is off the chain.
That drying rack, though… mesmerizing! Had to be one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. I’m astounded by the volume of guitars in the factory at one time.
when Jim said "great idea!" his eyes lit up like 🤑 lol those lightswitch covers would make a great product
Definitely the best video factory tour on YT. Jim's presentation is clear and concise. Good questions from the presenter too.
30:40 haha! Imagine giving Gibson an idea for their plant, nice man! I'm soooo jealous! You guys got to take this tour! Wow! Thank you for this incredible video!
Just bought a Gibson after reading how much they changed and improved. Couldn't be happier. Incredible guitar and amazing quality. Nice to see where my prized Special came from.
What did you end up getting !?
I've got some Gibson guitars from 2002 all the way through to modern day and the best of the best is my 2017 Gibson SG standard cherry burst with 57's and it's pre revamp and it's the best if the best of the my Gibson's.
In fact I've got a 2017 Gibson Gibson firebird sz with a maple neck of all things and it's also amazing, just as good as my new fender Vintera telecaster 50's lacquer which is a great guitar !
@@auntjenifer7774 at the factor
@@auntjenifer7774 just a Special Tribute. Nothing fancy, just how I like it!
That was the wrong reason to buy a Gibson. You should all buy one because they have soggy rags on their faces and support the bit LIE.
Cucks support Cucks.
I love how he knows every job in his factory inside out :)
Love this tour ! a few of my favorite parts are when You guys got to Touch the B.B. ES press , Johns Idea for a Light switch cover , Jim talking about working on Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halens Wolfgang. Hearing how much knowledge Jim has and seeing the process of how everything comes together. Thanks Guys this was Fun !!
Jim DeCola is the jackpot for Gibson. Amazing skilled luthier and production manager. 👍👍👍
He probably makes to much money tho so they’ll probably be looking for a way to get him out so they can save 50,000 a year and hire some 30 year old with a buisness management degree. They already cut costs to make Les Paul’s nearly in half by not having to route 70% of the guitar body out and can sell it as a return to gibsons heavy guitar way heavier sound theory. 2023 Norlin eta quiality by not doing extra work on ever body ya save money on production end then make more with every sale. I wish fender just decide alright guys when ya file for bankruptcy for the 3rd and final time we’ll buy ya up for pennies on the dollar and bring back that Gibson quality brought to you by Fenders radical choice to stick to the company’s fundamentals to sell guitars and not just slap a Gibson label on it so ya buy the brand and not the product.
This was one of the best factory tours I have seen anywhere. Jim was a great guide and I loved that he shared some cool facts and stories from his past. It was also great that he explained details about the work they were doing in front of you. I really enjoyed seeing how the binding went on the ES guitars as I have an ES335. Also loved watching the SG routing for the pickups as I am a huge fan of the SG. amazing to watch the burst spray. All the finished guitars hanging from the ceiling rack is unbelievable, like candy on a string...lol.. Really makes you appreciate the great care and craftmanship that goes into an American made guitar. Great Job guys, loved the video.
Just purchased my first Gibson Les Paul two days ago. What a tour! Never realized how much time and effort went into the making of one of these. I guess you do get what you pay for. I 'm not disappointed. Thanks so much for this wonderful experience.
Congrats, I'm sure you'll be enjoying that for decades and be handing it down some day.
Congrats, and enjoy it. Loving my 2021 LP standard
Jim’s a great guy so much knowledge and respect for his employees I love that. A rare manager these days.
Interesting how he mentions they have a checklist of the correct hardware and parts for the guitar on the bench and yet I got a Les Paul Standard 50's with the hardware from a 60's model on it. Funny how those things slip through. Kinda makes it a little more special in a way, though.
Jim clearly loves his work and his brand. It's really sincere. Love to see it.
It's nice to see a happy-seeming workplace.
I've been in the back of the plant for deliveries. I saw these misting sprinkler heads running and asked what they were for, I didn't know. They were to keep the moisture levels good for the woods that were in the plant.
Makes me proud to own these guitars. Amazing tour, watched the entire thing. I had no idea how many human hands went into making these. Truly each guitar is unique and there is an art to this process.
Gives some perspective on why they cost in the thousands. Much is done by hand by skilled employees. BTW love my 2021 Les Paul standard cherry sunburst. Truly a great guitar and a keeper!
@@johnuhrin846 For sure! Glad to hear you found a great standard worth keeping! I love mine as well, a 2020 standard 60’s. Nothing beats a great playing Les Paul.
am I the only one that think the additional cameramen were hired based on height? Jesus, it seems like everyone but the facilitator was a giant lol. Cameramen or security in disguise? hahah awesome video nonetheless!!
Great tour... loved every second of it. I've owned Gibsons from Norlin era to present and the quality today is as good as ever.
Keeping my eyes peeled for light covers in the Gibson accessories shop. Dude seemed genuinely interested in that suggestion lol
Great video! I toured the Memphis factory a few years ago. It's amazing just how much time and effort goes into making a Gibson. If I ever had doubts about why a Gibson is so expensive, they went away after that tour. They are worth it. I own three so far, two LP, and a ES-335. I definitely appreciate those instruments, and the quality that went into their making.
amazing to think, some of those guitars in the video, may be heard on some track we hear on the radio in the future, but we will never know. Also how many hands will play them over the next 100s of years. Amazing
I love Gibson. I love Fender. In a mad crazy world, thank God we have these amazing instruments
Got my first Gibson a few days ago. A 50's Standard Les Paul Gold Top; I'm super blown away by the quality, sound, set-up, and overall appearance/feel. Truly an amazing instrument that I have had a difficult time looking away from and putting down. I've been a Fender owner for 15 years and this Gibson puts me on the fence on which is better. I am super impressed and thank you Gibson for making such a banger of an instrument (especially for being a Standard model!! Speaks to the dogma of the Les Paul).
Twenty minutes in and I'm inspired and motivated to get back into my shop and get back to guitar and bass building ASAP! Currently building two "single cut" inspired guitars, out of these six guitars and three basses.
Cool video.
Small world, the interview said he's from Batavia IL, I grew up there as a kid... Went to AGS, RMS, BHS and I was outa there. Taxes are outrageous in that area (IL as a whole)
Definitely understand why Gibson’s cost more, so much attention to detail. Love the history lessons Jim gave along the way. Would really like to see more on Flying V’s. Awesome video guys! Subscribed. Thanks for the amazing tour!
yeah all that attention detail... seems funny to me that chinese mass produced guitars have better qc than any modern american made guitar and that includes gibson. you get no value for your money nowadays when you buy american made guitars. mexican charvels have much more quality and attention to detail than american gibson custom guitars and they are 50-75 percent the price.
@@josephwalker7432 I'll take a Mexican Strat and a Korean LTD instead of a modern Gibson anytime.....
@@josephwalker7432 another jealous hater yawn
@@sixslinger9951 jealous of what?
@@josephwalker7432 not having a good guitar like gibson
There is so much work that goes into a Gibson. Sure, some things have changed throughout the years. A lot has remained the same tradition. Every person has their shift of different jobs to do to make it all happen. Other companies have their process but not many have as much as a Gibson. The Custom Shop takes it to another level. For people that love to hate the brand? Go through a factory tour. There will always be haters no matter what, that being said there is a lot that goes into Gibson guitars. Break everything down and you know why they are expensive. To me, being a lover of Gibson guitars all my life, it is worth it to me. You pick one up, play it unplugged and the feel tells you right away, this is it. Plug it in and your figuring how can I buy one lol. I have purchased many throughout the years. It is all individual taste and no one can tell us how it feels and how it sounds. We all make our own choices. Great video, and appreciated the time you took and showing us all. Thank you.
Yes, and when you drive one you know immediately why you stopped 🤷♂️
This video is SO well done. Incredible tour, history, and detail. So awesome that Jim was able to take the time to be enthusiastically thorough with you guys. But aside from him, the filming and editing of what you captured there is top notch. Well done fellas!
Would love to see the timber yard too . Pre factory process
Yes! I want to go back and see the wood library and rough mill. And the new R&D facilities. Stay tuned & thanks for watching ✌️Zach
Thank you, Jim DeCola, for getting this great American company back on track! I am a long-time Gibson player/lover. In my opinion, it's definitely the best production-made guitar you can get. They just play so easily and sound so thick. A perfect companion to a Marshall amplifier. I have owned and sold many of them. I always seem to regret when I have to sell one. I still kick myself over selling my '76 Custom Les Paul Cherryburst. It was a real peach. But the ones I have now will never be sold - only handed down to my progeny (if they behave, lol!). Just purchased the White '70s Explorer and it's my new "the one". I got it to replace my old Explorer CMT from the early eighties and, whoa, it's truly a wonderful instrument! The quality is exceptional, and it plays so well!
I love my les Paul’s from the 80s to new ones I purchased . I live in so cal and I never paid sales tax at Gibson online . Wonder why ? Which is killer for me . Also the dude painting in booth 3 . Geez awesome work but u need protection . Proper respirator n gloves n full gear etc . God bless America n all the people who are making an honest living 🇺🇸
Gibson uses big suction grills in their paint booths ( the grey wall behind the guitar in the video). It sucks out all the overspray, so no real protection gear is required. Other Gibson tour videos cover this detail.
Really appreciate this video, kept me entertained the whole time. Love seeing the whole process and also love seeing people doing skilled work 👍
This is great. Bought an ‘Appetite Amber’ Slash Les Paul Standard back in September last year & it’s become one of my most prized possessions. Absolutely love it. Great to see where & how it was built & crazy to think that some of the fine folks in this video built it! Thank you so much to all the folk at Gibson who’ve made this man happy in this crazy world. Keep doing what you’re doing!
Watching this video just verifies what I’ve said all along about ppl who love to whine and complain about Gibson Quality. (I’m talking about these very minor imperfections)
There is no such thing as perfection. It doesn’t exist. The process proves that. Humans make mistakes. And as good as you are at something, it’s only as good as you are. Even if the whole process was done by machines, it’s still not perfect. It’s only as good as the person that programmed it.
Stop your Bitching already and be thankful for what you have.
What do you mean by minor imperfections? Lots of red tags and guitars meant for refinishing in this process. Proportionally not the same as the PRS or EBMM factory, where humans also work.
Huh? People complain because Gibson guitars break down before you even get them or soon after like 5 times more often than other brands big or small, while charging 5 times more for basically lower quality guitars compared to competition. Another issue is that with other brands, if your guitar is broken when you get it or breaks down, you can return it with no problems or fix it quickly... Not with Gibson. Oh boy, trust me, if your guitar breaks down Gibson is the worst brand to deal with.
Not the employees fault. Most of them are minimal wage workers. It the constantlh changing ownership and idiot CEOs.
@@aw2584 oh bullshit
Amazing access. And the time he spent. Really a treat to see it all. Thanks.
I wonder if at least the guitars that Gibson has in its factory are of quality and do not need you to send them to file the frets after buying them.
I gotta say this was one of the most informative tours I've seen. Really well done and worth watching all the way through.
Sadly Gibson is no longer making archtop guitars. The guitars that made them famous long before the Les Paul. They should at least bring back the ES175. The iconic jazz guitar from 1949-2017.
No longer, I have a 78 LP custom with no arch. When did they last make one
Great tour!!!! It was pure Awesomeness!!!!! Gibson is my favorite and I wished I worked there. Rock on!!!!!
The PPE difference between Gibson and Fender is quite great. Gibson seemed to lack breathing apparatus and had just low level masks and eye protection
Love the channel can't wait till you make 50,000 good luck guys
Honestly this video made me understand why A) Gibsons have QC issues and B) Epiphones made in China are just as good as Gibsons for a quarter of the price
Epiphones are nice guitars, but you're crazy to think they are as good as a Gibson.
@@jordanpratt3821 No Epiphone is on par with a Gibson LP. Clearly many peasants here that simply cannot afford the real deal, so they hate. So predictable!
not even close to the same thing as Gibson.
I'm really glad that Gibson didn't go completely bankrupt!!! Back several years, we were all in shock from what we heard from music shops and outlets!!!!! Common sense prevailed,, and here we are,, enjoying a really nice informative video of guitar-heaven!!!!!
Fantastic video. I've been into both guitars and woodwork since I was a kid, but (somehow) never learned about how guitars were constructed. I love the fact that despite being mass-produced on a factory line, there is still a high degree of hand-craft, attention to detail, and quality control in every guitar. The more you learn, the more you appreciate what a massive impact all of that precision makes on the finished product - everything from the way it looks, to the way it sounds, to the way it ages, can be determined by the temperature and humidity of the room it was built in. Fascinating stuff.
I lived in Nashville for 2 years and probably toured 3 times. Awesome place and even got to meet Rich Robinson once while there.
GREAT TOUR !!... I have 4 Gibson guitars and a new one is always on the horizon. This tour was a little inspiring to do some shopping. I have American Musical on the other screen open to the Les Paul section !!! No shlt !!
Use our link to shop Gibson! We'll give you a shoutout too, thanks for watching and enjoy: www.zzounds.com/a--3979398/cat--Gibson--3549
The flame on the walls in the first hallway of signature guitars. Nice..
My uncle had a 1958 J-45, and 1974 Hummingbird those are what I judge Gibson guitars by. My aunt sold them after he passed away.
I have a Les Paul and a SG…..pretty cool to see the journey they took through this factory. We are very fortunate to have guitar companies like Gibson and Fender making instruments.
Just awesome guys, thank you for taking us along. My new 50's Heritage arrives tomorrow. To see where it was born is really something, thanks again.
That was an inspiring tour. Gibson is in very good hands. The people who work there really care about what they are doing.
I've been on this tour twice in 2011 and 2014 and visited the custom shop as well. Such a cool facility to explore.
I picked up my first Gibson in 1994 and still playing these amazing instruments today ! ONLY A GIBSON IS GOOD ENOUGH !!
They do a nice job of dressing it up, but if you listen to what Jim says with a manufacturing ear, it's clear Gibson has made a lot of cost cutting and streamlining efforts while simultaneously boosting production capacity. So why, then, are new Gibsons continuing to climb in price while their QC and another new management team is still unproven? Gluing ears onto headstocks to save some timber cuz budget brands do it? Still no scarf joints or volutes? Jim even seemed to acknowledge their weak neck joints when he talked about pulling fretboards to do truss rod repairs. Probably adds 15 seconds to the carving op, though, so they said nah.
I want to love Gibson, but they have a lot of work to do.
Im getting my first Gibson tomorrow , thanks Gibson and thanks to this channel for showing us this .
This year I was able to finally get my unicorn, the Gibson Les Paul Custom. The guitar plays unbelievably and is a work of art. After watching this tour of the factory and what goes into a normal Gibson guitar you can see why they are as much money as they are. Having a Custom is a lifelong dream that has finally come true for me at age 61.
Congrats that's so true and great news, enjoy it I'm sure it's a beauty! One of my favorite guitars too, thanks so much for watching
I thoroughly enjoyed this tour. Jim DeCola really kept it interesting and his knowledge and explanation of the whole process was very impressive.
Jim gave me a tour of the factory earlier this year. Awesome place and such a cool dude!
Great tour, many thank to all!
Jim DeCola mentioned he bought his first guitar at DJ’s Music LTD. That would be in Cicero,IL. The owners were Dan and John Hagedorne(spelling). I hung out a lot there in the 70’s. Dan and John lived in Westmont. Great video. Thanks
Just ordered my first Gibson SG standard in Black. Really cool to see where it is going to be coming from. I just ordered it... cant wait to try it out. I have the 70's explorer in white and love it so i decided on a SG after doing some research and for how light they are. So excited. I would love to do this tour some day also.
I wouldn't have the time or the money to travel so far, so thanks for this free visit, it must be so cool to visit such a place, good video ;)
The greatest Gibson factory! The sound that created history since the very beginning. The soul of the sound of many musicians in the whole world. I thank you for all.
I was a bartender at the Paradise Loung in San Francisco in the 90s. Buckethead played there quite frequently. I’ve gotten to see him without his mask.
Thanks for the video. This brings back some great memories. I toured this Gibson plant back in 1984 and then again in 1994. I'm still a fan of Gibson guitars.
Enjoyed the tour very much! I saw how craftsmanship and automation combine to make a beautiful instrument. Seeing all the guitars drying on the overhead trolley gave me a snapshot of what a musician's dream of "climbing the stairway to heaven" would look like! Beautiful, man.
Amazing! So much knowledge and happiness into every guitar: Gibson one of the best friend in life!
This is a very informative tour. Jim is definitely very knowledgeable with not only Gibson, but the innovations of the guitar itself.
1:21:00 that's a great idea, string up the tail piece removed from the body to limit scratch from inserting the string!
From being part of the production line industry, I can insure you the frustration of each folk relying on your other colleges for doing their part right way every time... So many hands in this! Now I see why they have to price the way it is...