Remember that episode of "The Simpsons" where Homer met his long-lost brother (voiced by Danny DeVito) and then ruined his car company by designing the most bizarrely futuristic and expensive car that he could imagine? That was the Firebird X.
I had a cousin who worked for Gibson in Nashville back in the 70s. He loved working there at first, which was just after production was shifted from Kalamazoo to Nashville. He was a musician and owned Gibson instruments, so he was aware of the quality they once represented. He also recognized when the quality started to decline and eventually quit, due in part to that decline.
Rob, thank you for the comment. That is a really cool and sad story rolled into one. We are hoping the turn has happened with the new CEO and team. From what we saw, it has. But then again, time will tell I suppose. And the Kalamazoo days were great from all that I hear. I own a few Gibsons from that period and they are not leaving my collection anytime soon (or ever).
Right? I was thinking, "then why have a 2nd shift??" They were paying Shift 1 OT and regular pay to Shift 2, who were standing around? And then I picked up my $300 Chinese Mitchell MS400 that plays and feels better than most $2K-4K LPs I've tried and said, "Oh yeah, that's why"
@ gumbograt : I think a company that has vending machines has a better hold on their parts department technicians then a massive company like this we're like this guy said well if we ran out of this we ran out of that we had to stand around for hours like a bunch of idiots really really sounds like a bunch of Schmucks really sounds like a bunch of children or just a bunch of idiots I mean what what what major company like this has helped standing around waiting for parts Etc when will this s*** should be ordered but then again like this guy said well someone didn't pay the bill given that they are in Tennessee yeah there in Tennessee and it can get pretty hot there I would imagine and it can get cold I guess that anybody pay for the air conditioner bill or the heating bill ( Electric / utility ). someone should have just spit at them a bunch of idiots like this when they exit the building the worker isn't anybody else just needed to just set up two lines and have the idiots walk in between it and spit at them like they do in some prisons or like used to be done in some prisons. One word describes the management of Gibson " Jackoffs " !
Mandatory overtime is always a red flag outside the rush season. Human productivity just doesn't work that way and unless there's a labor shortage the economics don't quite add up either. Cheaper and more efficient to have two people working 6 hours than one person pulling 12.
I worked in factories for over 20 years.....the best way to improve a company is to keep employees happy....if they get paid a wage that is good and fair it helps....also....factory workers like consistency and simplicity in their lives.....everyone deserves to at least be able to plan their lives around their work schedule.....
I just bought a 2018 Gibson Flying V aged cherry (left-handed). It's a beautiful and iconic guitar. I absolutely love it! But for Christ's sake, set up the guitar in the factory for the amount of money it cost me!! I had to file and smooth the nut cuz the D and G strings would NOT stay in tune at all. I had to intonate the bridge saddles, change the strings and lower the action...now it plays great. But if I didn't know how to set up a guitar, I'd have to pay a shop to do it. Bullshit. I bought a brand new Fender Am Std Strat a few years ago and had it shipped from Florida to Vegas...it was perfectly set up and in tune when I pulled it out of the box! Try that Gibson!!!
A bunch of stuff can shift around in mass shipping, plus all the time it was hanging on a store rack, etc. That could explain issues of action and intonation, plus the ratty old strings. (A good store will do its own inspection of all the new gear that comes in, and fix anything that's become misaligned.) But it can't explain EVERYTHING. Note: Bad nut jobs. That was all on the factory's end. Side note: I'm strongly of the belief that zero-frets ought to be a standard part of guitar construction, providing consistent tone and perfect action at the first frets. But they unjustly got a bad reputation by being associated with cheap Japanese guitars from the '50s and '60s, before the Japanese companies had become good. (By contrast, they were a mainstay of European guitar construction, but that stuff didn't really make it over here.)
I bought my first Gibson guitar in 1975..they never come/ came set up.The Authorized dealer before my day used to set it up for you..but the 48th Street style of selling guitars at 45% off with no service is where the buyers went..then 48th Street became only 30%off with no service when completion was eliminated. Simply have to take guitar in and have it set up for you. I use 036-009 with low action and a straight neck others .010-048..with regular action. My brothers friend best guitar player he's ever known used to take new guitar right in to have frets changed and set up to his set up to what he was used to.
I just bought one of the Player Strats mentioned in this. It was decently setup and close to in tune. However, I've noticed the heaviest two strings have fret buzz coming from the 21st fret (the last one before the end of the fingerboard). At least I think that's the cause, because I can fret each note on both strings and I hear buzz until I fret that last fret. Anyway, this is an affordable MIM Strat, and I enjoy it, and will enjoy it more when I get the buzz out. Today while practicing, I decided to get out my 2012 LP Traditional Pro. I was amazed at the difference. The sound of the pickups and the sustain. ANyway, I bought the LP last year. It had sat in the back of a music store and they sold it online. New old stock or whatever you want to call it. It was perfectly set up and in tune. But that was made before their recent troubles.
I bought an SG 14 years ago and the nut was crap. If I tried to bend the string at the lower frets they popped out. That really was unacceptable but other than that I loved the guitar. I couldn't keep it as there was no room left for filing the string grooves and the strings would have buzzed. My point is that Gibson hav always had issues throughout their history. Some instruments were good some were very bad. Same with Fender after they were taken over by CBS - Shit necks!
Recently found you guys after YEARS on the tube. Love the channel and the topics/banter.. I went to work for the shop I took guitar lessons at starting age 14 years old in the late 70's. Family shop with awesome memories and interactions with the various instructors. Best job I ever had. The memories are lifetime. You guys remind me of that time
@@pattyg5502 I know what I like when I hear it. that's for sure. and a guy who was astonishing on the Telecaster is always dissed whenever these' 100 greatest guitarist' lists come out. Roy Buchanan.
I just bought a new Gibson Les Paul Tribute in Satin Cherry Sunburst. I am no expert, but I see absolutely nothing wrong with it. It is beautiful, seems to stay in tune, and sounds great on my Fender Twin Reverb amp.
I have a few Gibson stories. I've been at this for 45 years. First - I ordered a 2019 LP Standard and it was, and is, absolutely perfect and amazing. Perfection, goose bumps stuff. Got an Epi SG a few weeks ago (9/21). Pretty sweet guitar, but the 3-way was bad. Zzounds immediately offered to replace it. They didn't have any cherry red ones, so I went with a Pelham Blue one. Absolutely amazing guitar. Resonate as any guitar I've ever played. Polished frets perfect all the way to 22. I may swap pickups, but likely won't. It's just not that far off. 4 days ago I received a Gibson SG. Definitely smoother sounding, along with perfect finish. What I left out was 'fit'. I just don't know how Gibson pleks everything, yet I receive a guitar with dead spots past the 14th fret. I messed with it a bit, but I'm going to stand my ground on this one and send it back to Gibson to be properly set up, including polished frets. But darn it, I still love it. I've had 5 PRS (4 Core, one SE). All flawless. My remaining one is an '00 10-top quilt Singlecut. Always in tune whenever it comes out of the case. Wife's favorite guitar of my current crop of about 30. She won't let me sell it. I really love it, but I don't know what to do with it. It's the first era of SCs with 25" scale, wraparound bridge. It's clear as a bell and VERY smooth tones. Just too smooth for me. Doesn't scratch any itches, other than looks pretty on the wall, in the rare times I take it from its case. I think Gibson has figured the err of their ways. Yes Epis cost more than ever (so do MIM Fenders), but they are making legit guitars now. Also recently got an Epi LP Custom - perfect! 9/10 playability, 8/10 on tone (compared to my US Standard). Definitely not touching it. So I think it's very definitely moving in the right direction and I'll buy one everyday and twice on Sundays before I'll get another PRS.
I don't know anything about the plek more than what everyone else may know. but let's assume that the guitar left the plek machine working perfectly. even if that's the case, there can be stability or wood movement problems that sort of knock the plek out. I had two plekd guitars that were great at first but the stability of the wood wasn't good enough to keep the plek job. I don't know what gibson does to dry or age wood. A small maker would want to allow wood to sit a while and observe its movement. I don't think this is a reasonable expectation for a place making 1000 instruments a day. Kiln dried wood that's dried to 6-8% moisture content is dry, more dry than the surrounding environment, but it's not "dead". it will still move over time and if the movement is not favorable in terms of playability, then that's just what you get. My last gibson (of 15 - I think I'm finally cured - they're all gone now) was an anniversary nighthawk -which I thought was a super guitar. I got one, sold it and then regretted it and bought another one used. it was pretty flat when I got it. Several years later after admittedly leaving it in the case - but in a heated and cooled dry area - it had so much neck and body hump that the lower three strings would fret out past the 10th fret. I had to do a bunch of fretwork just to be able to sell it. when I got it, it was already about 4 or 5 years old. I was shocked to see it move that much in several more years. My guess is wood stability issues, though, but it's possible that the guitar went into the plek not close enough to get finished. I'd put the odds on the former first, though, based on movement I've seen in the first ten years of life of a whole gaggle of gibson guitars.
@@daw162 yep. All these months later, the gibby SG has settled down. Further, my comments about the Epis, well I will blame the pain meds I was taking after surgery! Lol There's no comparison anymore. I don't touch the Epis anymore. We'll see what happens after THEY get operated on!
There is a pretty good chance you soldered my 2012 Classic Plus. A GREAT guitar, I might add. Maybe the people at the top of the Gibson ladder were poor stewards of the company but the individuals that actually build these instruments are highly skilled, and very real people. They still make great guitars.
Gibson USA just released their lineup for 2019. They've gone back to basics on the new "Classic" lineup which focuses on guitars built to classic specs, and the "Contemporary" lineup is where the more innovative features will be available. Reviewers are optimistic because Gibson seems to be focusing on its core, and listening to the customers. Lots of customers want an LP or an SG with that hand made heft and gloss and tone and sustain for days. Some want batteries, and lightened bodies, and push pull combinations etc. So, they made two lineups with guitars focused for specific sounds.
35 yr luthier , theres no way around it if you want old growth wood rather than dried in a kiln. Ive owned every lp Gibson has made since 70 ish till my 2 2014 r8s, the new reissues are the nicest guitars ever made if u like that style of guitar. wet wood and all the norland stuff can either dertroy a guitars sound or sometimes it wont, but for all the work even w CNC tech to speed things up. a nice lp is worth 3,000.00- 3,500.00 in labor.
The second biggest problem is that those expensive Gibby's don't come with a decent setup from the factory vs. other manufacturers. Your local shop has to do a full setup! Pathetic.
@@ravenfn831Yes I admit that some people would rather complain than learn how to do something for yourself. PATHETIC, The people in this world man, Raised by women, All of U.
@@scottiejordan1064 - for that cost, it should COME setup. That was the point that seemed to pass right over your head. Have been doing my own setups since the late 80's. Plenty of smaller manufacturers Plek every guitar that leaves their factories.
@@ravenfn831Nothing passed over my head but while were talking about passing Im a steeler fan and u just traded a SB MVP for the latest experiment in athletic BLACK QBs. do I have to tell u how this is gonna work out. Kick all the libs out of sports.!!!!
Gibson lives off a name made long ago. They really are not the best made guitars. If your headstock keeps breaking becasue of a dated neck angle/joint, you need to change. Most Gibson buyers buy the old name and not guitar quality. They are sloppy.
"Special work environment"? Unless you've been extremely fortunate, most of us could tell horror stories from jobs that make that stuff sound like royal treatment.
Don't ask about the time Jonathan worked in the slaughter house and was in charge of holding the "gut bucket" for the inglorious emptying of the unfortunate pigs. He's had more interesting jobs than I could or would ever hope for:) Thanks for the comment!
You're welcome, and I'm sure about that! I'd never suggest that the company was pleasant to work for. Just that it's probably not any different from most. Not that that's a GOOD thing... 😉
We love to think that everyone get to have an awesome work experience and you are unfortunately very right here. We are all super lucky to get to do what we do and we hope everyone gets a shot and being somewhere awesome to make their living. And most the companies we work with (Fender, Taylor, Martin, Lowden, etc.) seem to have a very happy and satisfied staff. When the corporate structure actually cares about the people inside as well as the bottom line it seems to reflect in what they produce. On a side note is the 75 your birth year?
Gibson already makes models outside the US. They're called Epiphones. Why would they devalue their brand anymore then the quality issues already have. I have 2 early 2000s Gibson's and they're great guitars. None of the issues people are complaining about.
Thanks for the comment Michael. We know Epiphone are a Gibson product, the same as Squier is a product of Fender. We just know that Fender, Martin, or Taylor most certainly hasn't devalued their brand by making high quality guitars across the border in Mexico that are at a great price. And a bunch of us own some great Gibsons, but we have also gone through quite a few inconsistent ones unfortunately. Keep an eye out though as they really have made some amazing moves and it seems as though everyone there is energized again and their line looks fantastic at the moment. We are needless to say very excited for the future there!
@@CasinoGuitars my point being. With their quality issuse. They need to make the current brand better. Do they need to lower the cost on some models? Yes. At least until they can prove that they're putting out a constant product again. Gibson should be known for making a traditional instrument again. People complaining about headstock angles and finish cracking over time should have done their research before they bought one.
@@michaelhall4149 I think the point +CasinoGuitars is making (and you seem to be missing) is that where something is built doesn't necessarily mean better/worse quality - as Gibson's last few years have proven. I'd add that from my perspective, *quality control* and top notch materials and parts are what make for a quality guitar experience - at any pricepoint.
Great video and story about Gibson! I used to have a 1974 Les Paul Custom 20th anniversary black beauty. Bought it new when I was a kid and I think I paid $450 for it back then. Made in California with the original beautiful purple lined hard case. Sold it about 12 years ago and got $2,500. I could kick myself for ever selling it. I have a 2016 Gib Firebird reverse headstock/Steinberger tuners now and got it from a major guitar retailer(won't say who) for a nice deal of $900. I love my Firebird. I guess the only thing I would say on the downside, it only came with a Gibson gig bag. Kinda cheap on their end. I do wish the new CEO Curly all the best and hope he turns the company around. I was always a Gibson fan more than Fender Strat or Telly. I do however have a 73 Fender P bass that I really like. I also have a 1990 Gib Thunderbird bass. It amazes me how truly different the Fender P bass and Gibson Thunderbird basses are in feel and tone. All the best and have a great day! :)
Thanks Ira! We to hope the new eco can turn this ship around and from all sides, it looks like he's moving in the right direction! It sounds like you have and have had some fabulous Gibsons and we hope that continues with a bright future for this illustrious brand. Thanks again for the comments and we really do appreciate it.
One of the issues is that we are in the golden age of gear. There are so many well built great sounding guitars for a $1000 or less that it’s hard to put down $3-4000 for a Les Paul Standard. I have a Les Paul and also Yamaha Revstar that rivals it in every way that only cost me $700.
I have a traditional pro lespaul, sg standard, 1960 tribute lespaul, new 2019 lespaul jr double cut tribute. My 60s tribute is my guitar I play the most live. I think they are a great guitar for what I paid. Under a $1000. But this year they raised the price and took the inlays out. Big mistake. The jr I mentioned is a great value for the money. USA made guitar for $799. We had a short set one night and I did the whole show with the jr. I dont see them doing a standard over seas but maybe the tributes and studios. We will see. I like the new CEO and I think the company is moveing in a positive direction.
Wanna save Gibson? Change the Epiphone headstocks to match Gibson headstocks (same as Fender/Squier). I guarantee they will move units, and pull in enough money to leave the Les Paul pricing at $5K per Standard.
Not a bad idea - think about how many non-USA Strats Fender sells (a poop-load). Lots of them are super nice but still affordable and no one knows the difference from across the room. Maybe Gibson should just have a line that looks very similar, made in the current Epiphone factory, but still branded Gibson. I gotta be honest with you - I'd shell out money for a Mexican Fender before an Epiphone. Why? Because it says Epiphone and I'm shallow.
Jess Vermont No, There should still be the Epiphone name on the headstock just like Squier puts their name on their headstock . Im just saying make the headstock shapes match. Its a no-cost investment for Gibson. The brands are still differentiated by finishes, colors and electronics. The payoff is a sales boom like they’ve never seen before. If they leave things as they are now only the used market will thrive.
Here's a sales problem, maybe not the biggest. The used market is huge. I can find a vintage LP in any small town shop for a competitive price with a new one.(maybe not a super rare one) Most vintage products become outdated or fragile with age. Not guitars. In some cases they are actually better than new and easy to fix if they do have an issue. Then, there's the "Rock and Roll cool factor" being able to say I have a 50 year old guitar vs brand new. Proof is in guitar manufacturers building new ones that look vintaged and advertise that the pickups/tone pots and even shielding meet the same specs as some point in the distant past.
Let's remember that Gibson's financial problems were not all guitar-related. Gibson bought home audio and music software companies. Those were costly acquisitions and the businesses did not perform as expected.
Stu thank you for the comment! We agree and we did mention that in the video. Most of their issues seemed from those decisions but they led to a bleed in the quality of what was being produced on the factory floor through other cuts and bad decisions. Fender learned the same lesson a few years back in a much less costly way and coupled with their failed IPO they realized they should just focus on making guitars. Well I say that but they keep trying to creep into the pro audio and consumer electronics world here and there with their music players and PA speakers. Sincere thanks for the comment!
I think I may be one of the few people who doesn't want to see any Gibson production outsourced. People are complaining about the price, but the cheapest USA made guitars are Gibsons! Their Melody Makers, Les Paul Juniors, and Les Paul Specials are cheaper than USA made Fenders. I'm a broke college student and I still was able to find Gibsons, I got a Les Paul Melody Maker used for $380 and Les Paul Special used for $475, they're both excellent guitars (and will be as long as the headstocks don't break). I wanted USA made guitars more than anything, so I would hate to see these lower tier models outsourced to China, Korea, Indonesia, Mexico, etc.
If you can get a les paul special without it being one of the ones with the lacquer and color all in one (that looks matte), they're great guitars. I'd like to see Gibson outsource the mid-priced guitars, as Cort and other makers can manage to make guitars as good as Gibson's cheap guitars for a couple of hundred dollars, and for the same price as the faded type stuff, can make a top shelf guitar. That would pose a problem to Gibson, because it might damage their US sales - but would it really? Has it really hurt fender to make essentially a half price guitar in mexico that's 90% as good as the US guitar, and decent versions in china and indonesia? I don't think it has. They've fared better than Gibson, and so has PRS (who also makes very good quality overseas guitars). People will contend they already do that with epiphone, but nobody spends their youth wishing for an epiphone. Gibson damaged that brand by keeping it below LP spec and putting crap pickups in it for too long.
@G. V. Quinn It's because Gibson has a big problem with quality control - it effects all their guitars (unfortunately), not just the cheap ones. I don't doubt the Mexican Strats and Teles are nicer made than the cheap Gibsons, I've tried them and they are superb guitars, not just for the price, they are superb period. I just can't get behind outsourcing cheap Gibson guitars when a lot of people want USA made guitars, and they build the cheapest ones. I think their real problem is quality control. You make a good point about buying them used though, I didn't do them any favors (although I bought enough of their accessories and crap).
David W I have a 2002 Les Paul Special in cherry red, not sure if that's one of the ones you're talking about. As far as Mexican Fenders being 90% as good as the US Fenders, I have guitar playing friends who swear the Mexican ones are actually better. I understand that Gibson can outsource them to Mexico, Indonesia, China, and they'd probably be just as good but cost less, but a lot of people want USA made guitars and Gibson builds the cheapest ones (as well as the most expensive ones). "Nobody spends their youth wishing for an Epiphone" - lol.
I'm 36 and started playing late '94 and for years Gibson held that mythic status of a guitar I dreamed of one day owning. I knew one person who had one from mid 70s to early 80s and had considerable weight to it that would've caused scoliosis had I owned it while still growing. By early 2000s I lost interest but still held on that one day I might own one but the more I knew about guitars from boards of wood to electronics their price was just retarded and I still stand by that. Last summer I saw & played a few custom shop LPs from $4800-10,000 but besides a nice burl or spalted top I saw no other differences. I don't like the chambered body feel and the lack of stainless steel frets annoys me both of which I think should be optional or production line where a small percentage have them. Some don't like SS frets which is fine, but once I played guitar with them I was sold. About 10yrs back I bought an Agile AL3100 for $399-450US (under $600 with hard case and shipped across the border to Canada) birdseye maple cap, not a veneer, ebony board mop inlay, 2 piece mahogany body and one piece neck and roughly 11.5lbs I still prefer this to any Gibson I've played in the last decade. Not trying to come across as a shill for them just giving an example to how overpriced Gibson's are. If handmade is the reason, well there's multiple smaller brands hand built in the US & Canada that can do it for half the price with no production factory & CNC machines. Some see Gibson as an investment which reminds me of a kid whose dad was pushing him to get a Gibson partly for that reason nearly 20yrs ago... I've yet to see any collector buzz over a 2001 LP.
Personally what I think Gibson should do is drop the Epiphone name completely on the Epi branded Gibson models and just make them all "Gibson." Other manufacturers do this such as Gretsch and Fender and it works great for them. Keep the Epiphone name for those original models like the Casino, the Wildcat, etc. But on things like LP's, SG's, ES', Firebirds, etc they should still be Gibsons! The way they could distinguish them from each other is have a 3 tiered labeling system... Gibson CS (Custom Shop for high end "doctor and lawyer" models) Gibson USA (Self explanatory) and.... Gibson CM (Chinese Manufactured). And for Christ sake! Lose that butt ugly Epiphone headstock and just use the Gibson one across the board! This would solve 2 problems! 1. I guarantee you Gibson would sell a SHIT TON more budget guitars and 2. It would help combat the "Chibson" issue because a lot of people who buy those just want an affordable guitar that looks like a Gibson! Taking away the ugly Epi headstock and just branding it all Gibson would really help to eliminate that. I cant understand how Gibson doesnt understand this.
@@blagahaga yes but they still say Gretsch and Fender and the head stocks are the same. That's the difference between those and what Gibson does with Epis.
@@killerdude35 I wouldn't constitute the tiny printed Fender name underneath the massive Squier logo the same as having Fender on the headstock; it's not uncommon for brands to have a subsidiary. The same way PRS until last year had Paul Reed Smith and PRS SE, ESP have Ltd, Martin had Sigma etc. The list goes on. It's about offering a product without diluting aspirational brand value and turning people on to the concept of an instrument before forking out the big money. People expect certain quality at a certain price point; Flaws which are acceptable on a cheaper, differently branded instrument would not be permissible on say, a Gibson/Fender. Cheaper quality control could subsequently be damaging for a heritage brand.
@@blagahaga The Squier still says "made by Fender" and it doesnt have some ass-ugly afterthought headstock. They are the same across the board. The models are distinctive by their specs, which is ultimately what matters most. It wouldnt dilute the brand at all. It doesn't hurt Gretsch. They have extremely high end models that are manufactured in Japan (damn nicer than Gibsons, I promise you!) and they still have the Electromatics that also carry the Gretsch name.
Epiphone headstocks look different from Gibson because they are original designed headstocks. Epiphone as a company is older than Gibson and used those designs on their stuff, and used their original designs even when they started copying Gibson models to keep from going full "counterfeit". When they started facing the possibility of bankruptcy, Gibson bought them out to make foreign import versions of their guitars, but they chose not to change the headstocks. If a massive and influential company with a long history of making high dollar instruments in America suddenly started putting their exact headstock designs and logos on a chinese import on purpose, then it would be a nightmare for the industry. Imagine somebody getting a $500 imported version but paying thousands of dollars because the person who sold it either didn't know or chose not to disclose the fact that it was not an American made genuine Gibson. Personally I like the headstocks on epiphone (at least the Les Paul and SG style headstocks, still kinda "meh" on the long top hollowbody headstocks).@@killerdude35
I saw an interview with the new CEO and Gibsons future is very bright indeed. He has common sense and a sensible vision for Gibson, they've added all the old classic guitars to their main line again so we can buy all those Gibson guitars that made them famous in the first place. I think Gibson is back to stay.
Yes. The gentleman in the video had a bad work experience in 2011. Years later, Gibson ownership made some bad decisions. Those events are history. Let's look for great Gibson guitars for generations to come.
In 2016 I bought my first Gibson, a 2000 SG standard (with binding,...gotta have the binding), I had been looking for over a year and didn't want to spend a fortune on it...as I considered 200s as crap also, but this one was built on my birthday, so it had to be a sign. An EBAY purchase from a guy in Victoria, B.C. shipped to Montreal for 950.00 cdn!! I had to change out the bridge, and put a roller on it, changed the knobs AND the secret to keeping a Gibson in tune...locking tuners!!! I retired in 2018 and for my retirement present (from my severance pkg), bought a 2014 Gibson gold top LP Deluxe, again on EBAY from California, complete with push / pull, (Canadian-made) deluxe case, and locking tuners!! This one was found in the back of a store or warehouse, and had not been out of the case, never played / touched! Maybe I got lucky (R.I.P. Tom) but it was also a great buy,...but cost me 2,950.00, shipping & duty to Canada But I'm not bent on Gibsons, other than all of us with those dreams as kids of wanting one...I have 16 guitars now (no,... only the 2 Gibby's) and hope to cure my case of G.A.S someday.
I recently bought a new custom shop Memphis 1964 reissue VOS Gibson ES345 (frost blue) I had never ever played one (or any Gibson) before and was always a Strat guy, but I am now in love with this guitar. Paid $5K CDN so I needed to sell a vintage Rickenbacker guitar and do some creative financing to get it. The workmanship, tone and playability is a revelation to me the neck fits my hands perfectly- it screams for rock, and amazing for jazz & the blues. Sorry to hear about the working conditions, but hopefully things will improve !
"Low Tech Solutions to High Tech Problems". This is often the mantra of the real-deal individual Guitar Techs and Luthiers. People are taught to think that it is only the large corporations with big funding and teams of engineers ( who all sign their intellectual property over to the company) that accomplish great things. In actual fact it is the individual Builders / Pro Guitar Techs ... that often times " make it up as they go " .... THESE are the greatest unsung heroes, who come up with the simplest solutions. It is often said that "Necessity is the Mother of Invention" .... but in actual fact, "Frugality is the real Mother of Invention " .... working within your means and "coming up with the goods" by the most direct route possible ... using vernacular things that are readily available ... that often allow for an elegant solution that doesn't require a "team of engineers" and big financing. BTW: I am the biggest Gibson fan ever and look forward to seeing Gibson " Rise from the Ashes" and claim their rightful place again as the "Beacon of the Guitar Industry" that they held for 100+ years.
honestly, I just got an HP with the robot tuners. I like them. I wouldn't gig with them (actually, I'd gig a fender), but for playing and practicing at home, I'm kind of digging the tuning and getting a space back. Now that 25 lb case is something else to carry, but the paul seems safe. I like the dip-switches, too. I had to LPs without the dips and I prefer the options.
Sell guitars cheaper and you will move more inventory....its pretty simple. Stop pricing yourself out of business...Ibanez, Jackson, ESP they have guitars, in all price ranges.
@@brandoncostner7437 Because taylor sell acoustics and they sell much cheaper versions that are built outside the united states the GS mini is their most popular guitar and it only costs 499$
I bought a Gibson SG special in 2016 also a Les Paul Studio. The only complaint is they should set them up better at the factory. But they both play well and the sound is awesome. I tried a few Epiphone's first and they just didn't quite do it for me. I do own a 95 Epiphone which is nearly as good as a Gibson, but sadly nothing seems to be as good any more. But there is something about a Gibson, they even smell great! I hope both Gibson and Epiphone continue to trade for a long time to come.
Yep. I had a USA G&L ASAT and wish I kept it. One of the best guitars ever owned. I own a 90's Gretsch Duo Jet and it's a great guitar but I worry about it a bit at gigs and can't imagine taking a $2000+ Les Paul onstage even IF i wanted to waste the money on it. Absurd.
I bought a Gibson SG collector guitar, 2013 Government Series I , I with you would have cleared your bench b4 you wired my axe. There are a lot of pecker marks around the output jack. When you get lucky enough to get 1 of 300? You can not return it because you can not get a replacement. Thanks for outstanding quality of work.
Great video, nice to hear a personal story of what it was like to work in the Gibson factory. Sounds like its not a good job for a working musician...or a family man
Ye...that was a bit of a goof and we have a pretty funny video documenting that one. Were still rooting for em over there but, oh...they just oops sometimes in really big and public ways:)
Just came across the channel, really enjoying it. Work conditions have not changed with the new ownership. In some ways it got worse. Still the mandatory overtime and Saturdays.
I also work at at Gibson, around 2000, and we were told to work overtime or lose your job. It was a sweat shop that was shipping 2nd rate guitars out the door, all they were interested in was shipping a number out the door each day. There guitars are junk with without any new idea's.
Most of us don't look to Gibson for new ideas. There plenty of other options if we want new ideas. We just want perfection of the old and best ideas. If they don't get greedy they would be fine. Most other brands best idea is usually just to try to make the ultimate Gibson.
I had a 97 SG Special....the neck angle was too steep so the bridge was jacked up way too high and the paint finish was so bad that it came off in chunks. Awful
It was not a sweat shop because you were paid well and you certainly had a choice to stay or go. Same silly analogies used by race baiters saying the NFL has a plantation mentality. Almost all production facilities will have mandatory overtime, and that is a good thing which means sales are good. If you have not chance for overtime that is a good sign that you should be looking for your backup plan.
@@stewatkin7948 exaggeration does not make it reality. Show me who was forced to work 6- 13 hr days a week. The amount paid in OT would be ridiculous. It would be much cheaper to hire part timers over having all of those people working overtime constantly. I'm not buying it.
@@stewatkin7948 Haha- that's funny. No "experience" in the real world, hey? I work in manufacturing, that's why I'm discounting the stories. There's nobody working 6- 13 hour days that doesn't want to be working those hours. In fact, the company probably has a policy against anyone working that many hours, it's a safety liability. People love to make up stories to boost their twisted viewpoints. Anyone that describes conditions at the Gibson plant as a "sweatshop" has to be looked at suspiciously. I know plenty of disgruntled employees that are just plain awful workers that can't understand that the world doesn't revolve around them. It takes a lot of teamwork to make things happen in a manufacturing environment, and those that love to avoid helping the team and work in a self serving manner are often the ones that complain the most. That, my friend- is the real world.
If they’d start the Orville line back up and make it a mid between Epiphone and Gibson I think it would all be smooth sailing. For example if a SG 61 reissue from epiphone is 500$, Gibson is 2000$(ish) make Orville around 1000$. I honestly think it’s a good idea, but hate to say it because I feel like it would effect epiphones quality. Maybe even make Epiphones how they used to be....Epiphone line of semi hollow guitar, and Orville the cheap Gibson knock off guitars.
If you had to do overtime to make up your numbers when there was a production hold up elsewhere what would that do to the next shift who would be hanging around for some hours(?) waiting to start their shift and the number of guitars they were expected to get through during their shift?
I was at Gibson in the Rough Mill from 2005 - 2014. I quit because my band went to tour Europe and they wouldn't let me use my 45 vacation days. Almost 10 years of loyalty didn't mean much I guess. Firebird X..."it comes with a wah pedal"...
Dr. McFarland Studios - FYI, NO employer is going to let you take 45 days off, no matter how long you've been there. And quite frankly if Gibson would be fine without you for 45 days they should fire you because you obviously aren't necessary. Be glad they thought you were important to their process.
Loyalty means nothing. Give a dollars work for a dollars pay and go home at the end of the day. If you don’t like it there, move on and don’t look back. They owe you nothing in the end. As an employee of any American business, it’s not reasonable to ask for 45 days off in a row. I used to take shit for taking two weeks off in a row. Shit from my boss, shit from my coworkers. Fuck them.
@@joesantamaria5874 I don't know how you can expect a company to be loyal to you when you have that kind of an attitude. All the more reason to go overseas. American factory workers used to take more pride in their work. If you think not being allowed to take 45 days off in a row is unacceptable, that type of work is not for you. You have personal priorities more important than the job. There is someone else that probably really wants to do that job, and they will do it better than yourself.
7:40 "This iconic company from my childhood was pretty poorly managed." This could probably be said about any company once they become big, bloated and over-managed. We call this "Too many chiefs and not enough indians. The saddest part about this is that the bean-counters will step in and lay off the hard workers in an attempt to save money that the management has been spending like drunken sailors on $300 company lunches with company credit cards.
So true. I spent 27 years working for a large company that thought the best way to save money was to reduce the number of full time hourly employees. Every year they would eliminate full time hourly positions and hire young inexperienced employees to replace them. Of course the full timers affected were encouraged to stay on as part time employees. The company actually expected them to stay because the company thought it would be a better “work/life balance” for the employees. Eventually, they eliminated every full time hourly position they could logically get rid of so they went after salaried management positions reducing them to full time hourly positions. It was an absolute train wreck. There next step was reducing corporate employees which is where they should have started to begin with since there was so much overlap in most of the corporate jobs. The core of the company’s problem was the grossly misguided belief that they could save enough money on expenses to “save” there way to profitability.
Player Series fenders kick ass. I almost bought that but since it was brand new and I could get an american for only $100 more used I got the American.
I used to laugh off Peavey guitar equipment. I don't know why though, because I never played anything Peavey. Just last week after researching really clean amps for my pedals, I ended up driving 8 hours to pick up a used Peavey Classic 50 amp. It from the early 90's and sounds like a dream. I'll definitely look into Peavey more often in the future when testing gear.
My first guitar was a T-15 with the case that had the built in amp. I got in 1986 when I was 14. Unfortunately, I didn’t really appreciate how good it was at the time. I really wanted a Fender Strat because of my influences, but we didn’t have a Fender dealer where I lived. If that wasn’t unfortunate enough in 1988 I started a brief period of being interested in metal and traded the T-15 for a more “metal” guitar. It was a Japanese made copy of a Gibson Explorer and the absolute worst guitar I’ve ever owned. I should have kept the T-15. I did get a Japanese made Squier Strat in the early 90s and have been loyal to the Fender brands until just recently. I still love Fender, but I’ve given other amp brands a chance and I own a couple of Gibsons.
Gibson is like DC Comics. Been around forever. Highly recognizable..... but Fender (marvel) has the perfect recipe and has insane success but Gibson cant seem to match the already laid out recipe.
Honestly - young (and old) people can work and save $1k for a standard American Strat/Tele and they've got something they can have fun playing, sound great, and keep for life if they love it. A Les Paul, SG, or ES335 has all those attributes and more; except the average person, especially once kids start running around, has a much harder time saving and parting ways with $2500-$4k!
@@rickrudd absolutely..... the Mexican made is nothing to cry about either. And you have fun doing small upgrades as you go. I have the epiphone tribute plus les paul and I'll put that up against any Gibson. If you're saying you notice a difference its only because you want there to be a difference.
@@TheCentralflorida I am on the same page as you! here's all my humble builds as they sit! (excluding my 6 other acoustics/dobro/f-hole guitars) i.imgur.com/4AP62r2.jpg i.imgur.com/GF2D8Au.jpg
@@TheCentralflorida no doubt- guitars are like jeans. I tried on 20 pairs of Levis last weekend, all label the exact same. I found three pairs total out of 20 that actually fit me, and I promise this is not hyperbole. I feel like guitars are the same way. You can find a squire with super low action and it will feel as good as a $3,000 guitar. Or you could find a squire (or Epiphone) with the strings were 1 Inch off the fretboard at the 12th fret
10:57 LOL, whatever... I had been looking for a good Gibson for two years, played all sorts, used ones, new ones up to $4000 and finally the one worth buying was a brand new $950 LP Studio... and it is all GIBSON LP. Trapezoids and binding don't make a guitar sing my man. That $950 LP Studio would save Gibson if they could build them like that consistently for that price.
WOW! As someone who oversees and supervises people where I work it sounds as if Gibson was a mental hospital instead of a musical instrument manufacturer the patients were running that asylum! Good Lord.....I've seen several poorly run businesses in my 50 years on planet Earth but Gibson is definitely the leader of the pack.
They used to be a union but moved to a right-to-work state to cut costs so... maybe their quality and lack of any sort of oversight has something to do with that
This has played out with many thousands of corporations. Harley gets bought out by AMF is a classic story. CEOs only focus is on shareholder returns at the cost of everything including quality, employees, everything. Plus they always have to make their mark on the product which is often times worse! People are viewed as robots, skill and craftsmanship takes a back seat to low cost.
Shocked to see my limited ed Gretsch 5655 electromatic was made in China. It’s flawless. It gives the Japanese made Setzer Hotrod a run for its money at half the cost. Goes to show as long as you have the quality control, it’s possible to make great, and bad, guitars anywhere.
Likewise Gibson's problems show that just becase it is Made in the USA if you don't have the QC you have problems. When I was in manufacturing the trend was to invest more in Quality Assurance (making sure the materials are up to spec, seeing that people have enough parts and equipment to properly do their jobs and making sure training is up to date) so that there would hopefully be less things for QC to catch and send back for rework. When it is done right it works well. Sadly many times someone reads a book they don't understand, comes in with a few meetings and new acronyms and then expects smooth sailing.
A Gibson Studio is NOT a dressed down Epiphone. Epiphone's are Made in China with mainly Chinese parts. Huge difference except when dealing with LE and signature models in which they use US made aftermarket parts like Seymour Duncan pickups or Gibson USA pickups.
Yeah! You're right - there is a huge difference: The Epiphone Les Paul Studio is a better quality guitar. (I'm talking about the Studio Deluxe.) Years ago, I had a collection of Gibson guitars: 1963 SG Special, 1983 Les Paul Standard, Howard Roberts Fusion II (Late 80s), but the crap that they are making now is not worth a quarter of the price that they want for it.
@@rexrobards7407 Epiphone do have their bright spots. I bought a Slash LE Firebird w/Seymour Duncan Alnico II pro Slash signature pickups. Orange drop capacitors, flamed maple top/veener, pau ferro fretboard, vintage banjo tunners. This guitar is a rock machine! My Mesa Duo Rectifier 2x12 short stack response so well to it. I think Epiphone is coming into their own as a guitar company. They make budget guitars like the $99 Special II all the way to a quality rock machine $899 Slash LE Firebird.
I have an Epiphone Studio LT it is made in Indonesia and much better than the irregular overpriced Chinese shit. They should shift all Epiphone away from china or get better quality control and for FFS get some decent tuners on the Imports.
Right on! I was surprised he called a Gibson Les Paul Studio a dressed down Epiphone... Gibson's are USA made at least. Not that there is anything wrong with Epiphones.
Gibson will not reduce the price of Standard or Classic to 1k$. Just imagine how customers who were byuing these guitars at 2-3k$ would feel. I think they might reduce the price of Studio and Tribute to make it an entry level. Standard, Traditional and Classic will stay where they are maybe will slight reduction. Why because there were expensive and people where buying them anyway.
Gibson is not the only guitar/pickup maker who can make a guitar sound like a Gibson. Let them die. Let them suffer a painful and slow death while suing to try and stay above water. They won't be gone forever. They will be resurrected and maybe the right leader will make it right this time. In the meantime, I will be saving my change. Just. In. Case.
I used to be a Gibson/Fender fanboy for a long time...I am free now...I play whatever is good...and that might be expensive or cheap... Eddie Van Halen is proof you don't need a brand guitar to rock the world...
The trouble with that is that there is another company in that factory, now. And the trouble with them is that they don't even have dealers or a standard catalog anymore. Heritage has become a special order company, with prices that make a Gibson look affordable.
Your decades to late for that shit ? Get over it . Most Gibson’s are excellent Guitars . I own 10 Gibson’s . 5 Les Paul standards , an R7 , R9 , Sg , a Flying V , and a Firebird , all excellent made and you can feel the quality . I have played a 100 Gibson guitars and only 2 felt like it was cheaply made . I think the rookie of the week made those two . So that’s why you always buy from a Gibson authorized dealer and you have to play it and feel it in your hands . I went through 4 R7’s of different years to find a neck that was bigger then a R9 but smaller then a baseball bat . Some of the 57 gold tops have huge neck that will hurt your hands unless you have fingers like spiders legs . Like Steve Vai or Jim Hendrix . I have long fingers but some 57 necks you have to have really long fingers . But I found a 57 neck that was perfect . I don’t like 60s necks because they’re too small . A 59 is a perfect comfortable size . I own a lot of different Fenders but Gibson is the best . I know they are expensive but nice things cost money . Fuck it just be patient and save your money and look on Reverb , most guitar shops sell pre owned. I have a collection of 30 guitars all high end and I only purchased 6 new same with amps and pedals . I’ve never had a issue with any of my used equipment . But I am almost 55 so I have been buying guitars since I was in 7th grade . I remember when you could buy a original 1959 Les Paul for 6 thousand . I had rich grandparents and I‘m the first grandchild so I own a original 59 Les Paul and a original 61 Sg when I was in 9th grade .
Heritage doesn't cost more than Gibson. They cost about the same spec for spec, but heritage has been gutted, too, and is trying to do more production. More automation, more outright spec process, less mojo - more uniformity. Their value proposition doesn't make sense, either. They're off in a different building now, and the real estate developer working up the property looks like they're turning it into mixed use with the old stack as a logo. It's over.
@@raygarcia4468 i agree ray just old school would have been cool if they stayed in Kalamazoo. Im a life long michigander and it is one of the many cool things that originated here. Also agree nothing like a great Gibson Guitar. and yes the finer things in life cost a bit more. Always have liked a gibson les paul custom, just something about that guitar. Glad to see there able to overcome!
I really hate to put down an iconic brand like Gibson. However, if you watch the video of Cort's electric guitar factory in Indonesia it puts Gibson's factory to shame.
Whatever they did in the past year I hope works. It seems to be because every time I go into a music store I see a young kid walking out with an Epiphone Les Paul in one of the many flavors. I also hear the sales people talking about how great the newly released models are and that they want to take one home. Time will tell.
80's made Yamaha SG 2000 was and still is better than any Gibson Les Paul made during 80's and after. What more, Yamaha SG 2000 is essentially a Les Paul. On top of that, it was and Still is absolutely affordable. Come on, Gibson has no excuses. There are genuinely none.
Would love a Gibson but I need both kidneys. I have epiphone guitars and they play and feel better than some Gibson's i have played while in a music store. I have fender products mostly and you can get a great guitar for half the price of Gibson. Please Gibson make some real decent quality guitars and priced like fender. No need to reinvent the wheel just take some pricing structures from fender and I guarentee you would sell more!!! But what would I know I am just a working man guitar player
Yeah, I'm pretty sure as far as US made guitars go, Gibson's got the cheapest ones with the Melody Maker and Les Paul Junior. Even the cheapest US made Fenders are a lot more expensive than those two models.
That was really enjoyable. The way you rolled with the kid was great. I think you guys are pulling your punches, however. I have seen Gibsons at stores that had such glaring problems that I was shocked they even made it out of the factory, and even though they are getting better, for the prices Gibson charges, I am still seeing quality control issues that they have no excuse for.
Although I own two Gibsons, and have had many over the decades, Gibson just doesn't get it that they need a lot more customers than just the rich and rock stars they cater to. Most of their guitars are too fragile for gigs, poor quality control, barely stay in tune, so on and so forth, then they have the gall to charge a premium price for an unpractical product. Which is why they lost millions of customers to other competitors.
Back in 1989 I bought a bran new Gold top les paul 56 re issue listing for $2,500 from Onondaga Music in Syracuse New York for 12 one hundred dollar bills cash.And they took it.Still have that Guitar and it just happened to be a good one from the get go.Sang every note .Last year I found a PRS 1980 west street limited for one heck of a lot more money BUT it is the nicest Guitar I ever played period.And I started playing Guitar at 10 years old and am 63 now :>)
Remember that episode of "The Simpsons" where Homer met his long-lost brother (voiced by Danny DeVito) and then ruined his car company by designing the most bizarrely futuristic and expensive car that he could imagine?
That was the Firebird X.
Gibson is building nice guitars now. I own 4 of them.
I had a cousin who worked for Gibson in Nashville back in the 70s. He loved working there at first, which was just after production was shifted from Kalamazoo to Nashville. He was a musician and owned Gibson instruments, so he was aware of the quality they once represented. He also recognized when the quality started to decline and eventually quit, due in part to that decline.
Rob, thank you for the comment. That is a really cool and sad story rolled into one. We are hoping the turn has happened with the new CEO and team. From what we saw, it has. But then again, time will tell I suppose. And the Kalamazoo days were great from all that I hear. I own a few Gibsons from that period and they are not leaving my collection anytime soon (or ever).
Things were looking up… until the excavator showed up.
I can’t un-hear the crunching…
Paying overtime and having people stand around waiting for the previous shift to finish is NOT a good business model!!!!
Right? I was thinking, "then why have a 2nd shift??" They were paying Shift 1 OT and regular pay to Shift 2, who were standing around? And then I picked up my $300 Chinese Mitchell MS400 that plays and feels better than most $2K-4K LPs I've tried and said, "Oh yeah, that's why"
@ gumbograt : I think a company that has vending machines has a better hold on their parts department technicians then a massive company like this we're like this guy said well if we ran out of this we ran out of that we had to stand around for hours like a bunch of idiots really really sounds like a bunch of Schmucks really sounds like a bunch of children or just a bunch of idiots I mean what what what major company like this has helped standing around waiting for parts Etc when will this s*** should be ordered but then again like this guy said well someone didn't pay the bill given that they are in Tennessee yeah there in Tennessee and it can get pretty hot there I would imagine and it can get cold I guess that anybody pay for the air conditioner bill or the heating bill ( Electric / utility ). someone should have just spit at them a bunch of idiots like this when they exit the building the worker isn't anybody else just needed to just set up two lines and have the idiots walk in between it and spit at them like they do in some prisons or like used to be done in some prisons. One word describes the management of Gibson " Jackoffs " !
Mandatory overtime is always a red flag outside the rush season. Human productivity just doesn't work that way and unless there's a labor shortage the economics don't quite add up either. Cheaper and more efficient to have two people working 6 hours than one person pulling 12.
I worked in factories for over 20 years.....the best way to improve a company is to keep employees happy....if they get paid a wage that is good and fair it helps....also....factory workers like consistency and simplicity in their lives.....everyone deserves to at least be able to plan their lives around their work schedule.....
Gibby amen to that
I just bought a 2018 Gibson Flying V aged cherry (left-handed).
It's a beautiful and iconic guitar.
I absolutely love it!
But for Christ's sake, set up the guitar in the factory for the amount of money it cost me!!
I had to file and smooth the nut cuz the D and G strings would NOT stay in tune at all.
I had to intonate the bridge saddles, change the strings and lower the action...now it plays great.
But if I didn't know how to set up a guitar, I'd have to pay a shop to do it. Bullshit.
I bought a brand new Fender Am Std Strat a few years ago and had it shipped from Florida to Vegas...it was perfectly set up and in tune when I pulled it out of the box! Try that Gibson!!!
Amen! The quality of build is still there. They just don't seem to want to finish the job before shipping. They just don't care.
A bunch of stuff can shift around in mass shipping, plus all the time it was hanging on a store rack, etc. That could explain issues of action and intonation, plus the ratty old strings. (A good store will do its own inspection of all the new gear that comes in, and fix anything that's become misaligned.) But it can't explain EVERYTHING.
Note: Bad nut jobs. That was all on the factory's end.
Side note: I'm strongly of the belief that zero-frets ought to be a standard part of guitar construction, providing consistent tone and perfect action at the first frets. But they unjustly got a bad reputation by being associated with cheap Japanese guitars from the '50s and '60s, before the Japanese companies had become good. (By contrast, they were a mainstay of European guitar construction, but that stuff didn't really make it over here.)
I bought my first Gibson guitar in 1975..they never come/ came set up.The Authorized dealer before my day used to set it up for you..but the 48th Street style of selling guitars at 45% off with no service is where the buyers went..then 48th Street became only 30%off with no service when completion was eliminated.
Simply have to take guitar in and have it set up for you. I use 036-009 with low action and a straight neck others .010-048..with regular action.
My brothers friend best guitar player he's ever known used to take new guitar right in to have frets changed and set up to his set up to what he was used to.
I just bought one of the Player Strats mentioned in this. It was decently setup and close to in tune. However, I've noticed the heaviest two strings have fret buzz coming from the 21st fret (the last one before the end of the fingerboard). At least I think that's the cause, because I can fret each note on both strings and I hear buzz until I fret that last fret. Anyway, this is an affordable MIM Strat, and I enjoy it, and will enjoy it more when I get the buzz out. Today while practicing, I decided to get out my 2012 LP Traditional Pro. I was amazed at the difference. The sound of the pickups and the sustain. ANyway, I bought the LP last year. It had sat in the back of a music store and they sold it online. New old stock or whatever you want to call it. It was perfectly set up and in tune. But that was made before their recent troubles.
I bought an SG 14 years ago and the nut was crap. If I tried to bend the string at the lower frets they popped out. That really was unacceptable but other than that I loved the guitar. I couldn't keep it as there was no room left for filing the string grooves and the strings would have buzzed. My point is that Gibson hav always had issues throughout their history. Some instruments were good some were very bad. Same with Fender after they were taken over by CBS - Shit necks!
Recently found you guys after YEARS on the tube. Love the channel and the topics/banter.. I went to work for the shop I took guitar lessons at starting age 14 years old in the late 70's. Family shop with awesome memories and interactions with the various instructors. Best job I ever had. The memories are lifetime. You guys remind me of that time
Man that is awesome! Thanks a ton for the kind words:)
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Casino Guitars uuuh.did i hear that correctly? 10 grand for that robot guitar? Holycrap! I can buy a second hand sports sedan with that price.
that baby blue Strat is gorgeous.
I prefer the pink tele:)
@@mr.deafeningguitar1547 rock on
Teles sound 100x better than strats. If you disagree, you're wrong.
@@pattyg5502 I know what I like when I hear it. that's for sure. and a guy who was astonishing on the Telecaster is always dissed whenever these' 100 greatest guitarist' lists come out. Roy Buchanan.
This explains the over pricing for cheaply made production guitars. So many guitar manufactures blow them out of the water.
I just bought a new Gibson Les Paul Tribute in Satin Cherry Sunburst. I am no expert, but I see absolutely nothing wrong with it. It is beautiful, seems to stay in tune, and sounds great on my Fender Twin Reverb amp.
Great video, live the production and the flow! Keep it up.
I have a few Gibson stories. I've been at this for 45 years.
First - I ordered a 2019 LP Standard and it was, and is, absolutely perfect and amazing. Perfection, goose bumps stuff.
Got an Epi SG a few weeks ago (9/21). Pretty sweet guitar, but the 3-way was bad. Zzounds immediately offered to replace it. They didn't have any cherry red ones, so I went with a Pelham Blue one. Absolutely amazing guitar. Resonate as any guitar I've ever played. Polished frets perfect all the way to 22. I may swap pickups, but likely won't. It's just not that far off.
4 days ago I received a Gibson SG. Definitely smoother sounding, along with perfect finish. What I left out was 'fit'. I just don't know how Gibson pleks everything, yet I receive a guitar with dead spots past the 14th fret. I messed with it a bit, but I'm going to stand my ground on this one and send it back to Gibson to be properly set up, including polished frets. But darn it, I still love it. I've had 5 PRS (4 Core, one SE). All flawless. My remaining one is an '00 10-top quilt Singlecut. Always in tune whenever it comes out of the case. Wife's favorite guitar of my current crop of about 30. She won't let me sell it. I really love it, but I don't know what to do with it. It's the first era of SCs with 25" scale, wraparound bridge. It's clear as a bell and VERY smooth tones. Just too smooth for me. Doesn't scratch any itches, other than looks pretty on the wall, in the rare times I take it from its case.
I think Gibson has figured the err of their ways. Yes Epis cost more than ever (so do MIM Fenders), but they are making legit guitars now. Also recently got an Epi LP Custom - perfect! 9/10 playability, 8/10 on tone (compared to my US Standard). Definitely not touching it.
So I think it's very definitely moving in the right direction and I'll buy one everyday and twice on Sundays before I'll get another PRS.
I don't know anything about the plek more than what everyone else may know. but let's assume that the guitar left the plek machine working perfectly. even if that's the case, there can be stability or wood movement problems that sort of knock the plek out.
I had two plekd guitars that were great at first but the stability of the wood wasn't good enough to keep the plek job.
I don't know what gibson does to dry or age wood. A small maker would want to allow wood to sit a while and observe its movement. I don't think this is a reasonable expectation for a place making 1000 instruments a day. Kiln dried wood that's dried to 6-8% moisture content is dry, more dry than the surrounding environment, but it's not "dead". it will still move over time and if the movement is not favorable in terms of playability, then that's just what you get.
My last gibson (of 15 - I think I'm finally cured - they're all gone now) was an anniversary nighthawk -which I thought was a super guitar. I got one, sold it and then regretted it and bought another one used. it was pretty flat when I got it. Several years later after admittedly leaving it in the case - but in a heated and cooled dry area - it had so much neck and body hump that the lower three strings would fret out past the 10th fret. I had to do a bunch of fretwork just to be able to sell it. when I got it, it was already about 4 or 5 years old. I was shocked to see it move that much in several more years.
My guess is wood stability issues, though, but it's possible that the guitar went into the plek not close enough to get finished. I'd put the odds on the former first, though, based on movement I've seen in the first ten years of life of a whole gaggle of gibson guitars.
@@daw162 yep. All these months later, the gibby SG has settled down. Further, my comments about the Epis, well I will blame the pain meds I was taking after surgery! Lol
There's no comparison anymore. I don't touch the Epis anymore. We'll see what happens after THEY get operated on!
There is a pretty good chance you soldered my 2012 Classic Plus. A GREAT guitar, I might add. Maybe the people at the top of the Gibson ladder were poor stewards of the company but the individuals that actually build these instruments are highly skilled, and very real people. They still make great guitars.
Gibson USA just released their lineup for 2019. They've gone back to basics on the new "Classic" lineup which focuses on guitars built to classic specs, and the "Contemporary" lineup is where the more innovative features will be available. Reviewers are optimistic because Gibson seems to be focusing on its core, and listening to the customers. Lots of customers want an LP or an SG with that hand made heft and gloss and tone and sustain for days. Some want batteries, and lightened bodies, and push pull combinations etc. So, they made two lineups with guitars focused for specific sounds.
To bad they're both still overpriced garbage
The #1, and, by far the BIGGEST problem with Gibson guitars is that they are unaffordable for 90 percent of the people that want one.
35 yr luthier , theres no way around it if you want old growth wood rather than dried in a kiln. Ive owned every lp Gibson has made since 70 ish till my 2 2014 r8s, the new reissues are the nicest guitars ever made if u like that style of guitar. wet wood and all the norland stuff can either dertroy a guitars sound or sometimes it wont, but for all the work even w CNC tech to speed things up. a nice lp is worth 3,000.00- 3,500.00 in labor.
The second biggest problem is that those expensive Gibby's don't come with a decent setup from the factory vs. other manufacturers. Your local shop has to do a full setup! Pathetic.
@@ravenfn831Yes I admit that some people would rather complain than learn how to do something for yourself. PATHETIC, The people in this world man, Raised by women, All of U.
@@scottiejordan1064 - for that cost, it should COME setup. That was the point that seemed to pass right over your head. Have been doing my own setups since the late 80's. Plenty of smaller manufacturers Plek every guitar that leaves their factories.
@@ravenfn831Nothing passed over my head but while were talking about passing Im a steeler fan and u just traded a SB MVP for the latest experiment in athletic BLACK QBs. do I have to tell u how this is gonna work out. Kick all the libs out of sports.!!!!
It's like any other sweatshop. Companies think they own you. I'm glad to hear you had a backbone and left. Nobody deserves to be treated like a slave.
What's Tim Burton doing in this video...🤔
He moonlights as a happy guitar lover on the side. And he just yearns for love:)
Gibson lives off a name made long ago. They really are not the best made guitars. If your headstock keeps breaking becasue of a dated neck angle/joint, you need to change. Most Gibson buyers buy the old name and not guitar quality. They are sloppy.
I'll take Epiphone all day long over Gibson
@@jonnysac6859 mature
@@jonnysac6859 my Advice to you bitch boy be careful who you fuck with
They can't stay in tune or break
This video was fascinating. Thanks for the great content. New to channel but will be subscribing now.
thank you for sharing
Excellent !
Can't stop looking at that Shell (or Flamingo) Pink Telecaster on the wall behind!
I want an ESP eclipse as opposed to a Gibson now - why don’t you guys sell ESPs or LTDs
The guy on the left reminds me of Ben Folds. The guy on the right, every bartender at your local brew pub. Love these videos!
"Special work environment"? Unless you've been extremely fortunate, most of us could tell horror stories from jobs that make that stuff sound like royal treatment.
Don't ask about the time Jonathan worked in the slaughter house and was in charge of holding the "gut bucket" for the inglorious emptying of the unfortunate pigs. He's had more interesting jobs than I could or would ever hope for:) Thanks for the comment!
You're welcome, and I'm sure about that! I'd never suggest that the company was pleasant to work for. Just that it's probably not any different from most. Not that that's a GOOD thing... 😉
We love to think that everyone get to have an awesome work experience and you are unfortunately very right here. We are all super lucky to get to do what we do and we hope everyone gets a shot and being somewhere awesome to make their living. And most the companies we work with (Fender, Taylor, Martin, Lowden, etc.) seem to have a very happy and satisfied staff. When the corporate structure actually cares about the people inside as well as the bottom line it seems to reflect in what they produce. On a side note is the 75 your birth year?
Yes, it is!
Aha, mine as well. I had a sneaking suspicion:) My career as a detective is on track!
Gibson already makes models outside the US. They're called Epiphones. Why would they devalue their brand anymore then the quality issues already have. I have 2 early 2000s Gibson's and they're great guitars. None of the issues people are complaining about.
Thanks for the comment Michael. We know Epiphone are a Gibson product, the same as Squier is a product of Fender. We just know that Fender, Martin, or Taylor most certainly hasn't devalued their brand by making high quality guitars across the border in Mexico that are at a great price. And a bunch of us own some great Gibsons, but we have also gone through quite a few inconsistent ones unfortunately.
Keep an eye out though as they really have made some amazing moves and it seems as though everyone there is energized again and their line looks fantastic at the moment. We are needless to say very excited for the future there!
@@CasinoGuitars my point being. With their quality issuse. They need to make the current brand better. Do they need to lower the cost on some models? Yes. At least until they can prove that they're putting out a constant product again. Gibson should be known for making a traditional instrument again. People complaining about headstock angles and finish cracking over time should have done their research before they bought one.
@@michaelhall4149 I think the point +CasinoGuitars is making (and you seem to be missing) is that where something is built doesn't necessarily mean better/worse quality - as Gibson's last few years have proven. I'd add that from my perspective, *quality control* and top notch materials and parts are what make for a quality guitar experience - at any pricepoint.
What is it that only Gibson has? The unique sound of a Gibson guitar. May the company develop that for a wider market.
Finally a real insight into Gibson
...and fall again!
Carlos Rodriguez hear my 50's neck 2001 Standard here> soundcloud.com/user735361361/my-axe-no-mercy-improv-by-dana.peace ✌🏻
@Somewhere over the 🌈 rainbow? gayyyyyy
Carlos, what are you so unhappy about? Man.
Great video and story about Gibson! I used to have a 1974 Les Paul Custom 20th anniversary black beauty. Bought it new when I was a kid and I think I paid $450 for it back then. Made in California with the original beautiful purple lined hard case. Sold it about 12 years ago and got $2,500. I could kick myself for ever selling it. I have a 2016 Gib Firebird reverse headstock/Steinberger tuners now and got it from a major guitar retailer(won't say who) for a nice deal of $900. I love my Firebird. I guess the only thing I would say on the downside, it only came with a Gibson gig bag. Kinda cheap on their end.
I do wish the new CEO Curly all the best and hope he turns the company around. I was always a Gibson fan more than Fender Strat or Telly. I do however have a 73 Fender P bass that I really like. I also have a 1990 Gib Thunderbird bass. It amazes me how truly different the Fender P bass and Gibson Thunderbird basses are in feel and tone. All the best and have a great day! :)
Thanks Ira! We to hope the new eco can turn this ship around and from all sides, it looks like he's moving in the right direction! It sounds like you have and have had some fabulous Gibsons and we hope that continues with a bright future for this illustrious brand. Thanks again for the comments and we really do appreciate it.
I thought Gibson made the 1974 Les Paul Custom 20th anniversary black beauty in Kalamazoo. Where in California did they make yours ?
@@tdunster2011 You know what, you're right. I think I had Fender on my mind. LOL
One of the issues is that we are in the golden age of gear. There are so many well built great sounding guitars for a $1000 or less that it’s hard to put down $3-4000 for a Les Paul Standard. I have a Les Paul and also Yamaha Revstar that rivals it in every way that only cost me $700.
Couldn't agree more with you Anthony. We really are in a great time for excellent guitars at a great price. Thanks for the comment!
And you can find American built Fenders in the $1K-2K range that are great, but not Gibsons.
I just bought a 2019 Gibson Flying V. I love it. It looks, sounds, and plays fantastic.
That makes me happy. Big Flying V fan
I have a traditional pro lespaul, sg standard, 1960 tribute lespaul, new 2019 lespaul jr double cut tribute. My 60s tribute is my guitar I play the most live. I think they are a great guitar for what I paid. Under a $1000. But this year they raised the price and took the inlays out. Big mistake. The jr I mentioned is a great value for the money. USA made guitar for $799. We had a short set one night and I did the whole show with the jr. I dont see them doing a standard over seas but maybe the tributes and studios. We will see. I like the new CEO and I think the company is moveing in a positive direction.
Wanna save Gibson? Change the Epiphone headstocks to match Gibson headstocks (same as Fender/Squier). I guarantee they will move units, and pull in enough money to leave the Les Paul pricing at $5K per Standard.
Not a bad idea - think about how many non-USA Strats Fender sells (a poop-load). Lots of them are super nice but still affordable and no one knows the difference from across the room. Maybe Gibson should just have a line that looks very similar, made in the current Epiphone factory, but still branded Gibson.
I gotta be honest with you - I'd shell out money for a Mexican Fender before an Epiphone. Why? Because it says Epiphone and I'm shallow.
Kur0y4m4
-Smart!
@Jess Vermont no - dont falsely advertise. Just have Gibson branded Japanese, Korean, or Mexican guitars
@@rickrudd If you were a buyer of vintage instruments you'd know an Epiphone was at one time equal to a Gibson.
Jess Vermont No, There should still be the Epiphone name on the headstock just like Squier puts their name on their headstock . Im just saying make the headstock shapes match.
Its a no-cost investment for Gibson. The brands are still differentiated by finishes, colors and electronics. The payoff is a sales boom like they’ve never seen before. If they leave things as they are now only the used market will thrive.
Here's a sales problem, maybe not the biggest. The used market is huge. I can find a vintage LP in any small town shop for a competitive price with a new one.(maybe not a super rare one) Most vintage products become outdated or fragile with age. Not guitars. In some cases they are actually better than new and easy to fix if they do have an issue. Then, there's the "Rock and Roll cool factor" being able to say I have a 50 year old guitar vs brand new. Proof is in guitar manufacturers building new ones that look vintaged and advertise that the pickups/tone pots and even shielding meet the same specs as some point in the distant past.
Manufacturers build relics because people are willing to be upcharged for them. They'll build whatever sells best, that's the truth.
That Mini-me scene was awesome !
Thx, we thought that was funny as well after our editor snuck that in!
Special ordered a Les Paul Custom with 3 pickups in 1976. $400. The 2 pickup one was $300. My, my, my!!! How times have changed.
Yes. I still have it.
$400 in '76 is $1,765.25 in 2018.
@@ZiddersRooFurry that's cheap lol you want get a les Paul custom today for double that
@@chadbaker2224 Which is ridiculous given Gibson's poor build quality.
Let's remember that Gibson's financial problems were not all guitar-related. Gibson bought home audio and music software companies. Those were costly acquisitions and the businesses did not perform as expected.
Stu thank you for the comment! We agree and we did mention that in the video. Most of their issues seemed from those decisions but they led to a bleed in the quality of what was being produced on the factory floor through other cuts and bad decisions. Fender learned the same lesson a few years back in a much less costly way and coupled with their failed IPO they realized they should just focus on making guitars. Well I say that but they keep trying to creep into the pro audio and consumer electronics world here and there with their music players and PA speakers. Sincere thanks for the comment!
I think I may be one of the few people who doesn't want to see any Gibson production outsourced. People are complaining about the price, but the cheapest USA made guitars are Gibsons! Their Melody Makers, Les Paul Juniors, and Les Paul Specials are cheaper than USA made Fenders. I'm a broke college student and I still was able to find Gibsons, I got a Les Paul Melody Maker used for $380 and Les Paul Special used for $475, they're both excellent guitars (and will be as long as the headstocks don't break). I wanted USA made guitars more than anything, so I would hate to see these lower tier models outsourced to China, Korea, Indonesia, Mexico, etc.
@G. V. Quinn : Mex tele's are extremely well made! The management in the Mexico plant is excellent.
If you can get a les paul special without it being one of the ones with the lacquer and color all in one (that looks matte), they're great guitars. I'd like to see Gibson outsource the mid-priced guitars, as Cort and other makers can manage to make guitars as good as Gibson's cheap guitars for a couple of hundred dollars, and for the same price as the faded type stuff, can make a top shelf guitar.
That would pose a problem to Gibson, because it might damage their US sales - but would it really? Has it really hurt fender to make essentially a half price guitar in mexico that's 90% as good as the US guitar, and decent versions in china and indonesia? I don't think it has. They've fared better than Gibson, and so has PRS (who also makes very good quality overseas guitars).
People will contend they already do that with epiphone, but nobody spends their youth wishing for an epiphone. Gibson damaged that brand by keeping it below LP spec and putting crap pickups in it for too long.
@G. V. Quinn It's because Gibson has a big problem with quality control - it effects all their guitars (unfortunately), not just the cheap ones. I don't doubt the Mexican Strats and Teles are nicer made than the cheap Gibsons, I've tried them and they are superb guitars, not just for the price, they are superb period. I just can't get behind outsourcing cheap Gibson guitars when a lot of people want USA made guitars, and they build the cheapest ones. I think their real problem is quality control. You make a good point about buying them used though, I didn't do them any favors (although I bought enough of their accessories and crap).
David W I have a 2002 Les Paul Special in cherry red, not sure if that's one of the ones you're talking about. As far as Mexican Fenders being 90% as good as the US Fenders, I have guitar playing friends who swear the Mexican ones are actually better. I understand that Gibson can outsource them to Mexico, Indonesia, China, and they'd probably be just as good but cost less, but a lot of people want USA made guitars and Gibson builds the cheapest ones (as well as the most expensive ones). "Nobody spends their youth wishing for an Epiphone" - lol.
I really appreciate your son joining the debate!
I'm 36 and started playing late '94 and for years Gibson held that mythic status of a guitar I dreamed of one day owning. I knew one person who had one from mid 70s to early 80s and had considerable weight to it that would've caused scoliosis had I owned it while still growing. By early 2000s I lost interest but still held on that one day I might own one but the more I knew about guitars from boards of wood to electronics their price was just retarded and I still stand by that. Last summer I saw & played a few custom shop LPs from $4800-10,000 but besides a nice burl or spalted top I saw no other differences. I don't like the chambered body feel and the lack of stainless steel frets annoys me both of which I think should be optional or production line where a small percentage have them. Some don't like SS frets which is fine, but once I played guitar with them I was sold.
About 10yrs back I bought an Agile AL3100 for $399-450US (under $600 with hard case and shipped across the border to Canada) birdseye maple cap, not a veneer, ebony board mop inlay, 2 piece mahogany body and one piece neck and roughly 11.5lbs I still prefer this to any Gibson I've played in the last decade. Not trying to come across as a shill for them just giving an example to how overpriced Gibson's are. If handmade is the reason, well there's multiple smaller brands hand built in the US & Canada that can do it for half the price with no production factory & CNC machines.
Some see Gibson as an investment which reminds me of a kid whose dad was pushing him to get a Gibson partly for that reason nearly 20yrs ago... I've yet to see any collector buzz over a 2001 LP.
Les Pauls from the early 2000s have definitely gone up in value. Not anywhere like guitars from the 50s or 60s but they’re still increasing in value.
Personally what I think Gibson should do is drop the Epiphone name completely on the Epi branded Gibson models and just make them all "Gibson." Other manufacturers do this such as Gretsch and Fender and it works great for them. Keep the Epiphone name for those original models like the Casino, the Wildcat, etc. But on things like LP's, SG's, ES', Firebirds, etc they should still be Gibsons! The way they could distinguish them from each other is have a 3 tiered labeling system...
Gibson CS (Custom Shop for high end "doctor and lawyer" models)
Gibson USA (Self explanatory)
and....
Gibson CM (Chinese Manufactured).
And for Christ sake! Lose that butt ugly Epiphone headstock and just use the Gibson one across the board!
This would solve 2 problems! 1. I guarantee you Gibson would sell a SHIT TON more budget guitars and 2. It would help combat the "Chibson" issue because a lot of people who buy those just want an affordable guitar that looks like a Gibson! Taking away the ugly Epi headstock and just branding it all Gibson would really help to eliminate that. I cant understand how Gibson doesnt understand this.
Fender have Squier, Gretsch have Electromatic...
@@blagahaga yes but they still say Gretsch and Fender and the head stocks are the same. That's the difference between those and what Gibson does with Epis.
@@killerdude35 I wouldn't constitute the tiny printed Fender name underneath the massive Squier logo the same as having Fender on the headstock; it's not uncommon for brands to have a subsidiary. The same way PRS until last year had Paul Reed Smith and PRS SE, ESP have Ltd, Martin had Sigma etc. The list goes on. It's about offering a product without diluting aspirational brand value and turning people on to the concept of an instrument before forking out the big money. People expect certain quality at a certain price point; Flaws which are acceptable on a cheaper, differently branded instrument would not be permissible on say, a Gibson/Fender. Cheaper quality control could subsequently be damaging for a heritage brand.
@@blagahaga The Squier still says "made by Fender" and it doesnt have some ass-ugly afterthought headstock. They are the same across the board. The models are distinctive by their specs, which is ultimately what matters most. It wouldnt dilute the brand at all. It doesn't hurt Gretsch. They have extremely high end models that are manufactured in Japan (damn nicer than Gibsons, I promise you!) and they still have the Electromatics that also carry the Gretsch name.
Epiphone headstocks look different from Gibson because they are original designed headstocks. Epiphone as a company is older than Gibson and used those designs on their stuff, and used their original designs even when they started copying Gibson models to keep from going full "counterfeit". When they started facing the possibility of bankruptcy, Gibson bought them out to make foreign import versions of their guitars, but they chose not to change the headstocks. If a massive and influential company with a long history of making high dollar instruments in America suddenly started putting their exact headstock designs and logos on a chinese import on purpose, then it would be a nightmare for the industry. Imagine somebody getting a $500 imported version but paying thousands of dollars because the person who sold it either didn't know or chose not to disclose the fact that it was not an American made genuine Gibson. Personally I like the headstocks on epiphone (at least the Les Paul and SG style headstocks, still kinda "meh" on the long top hollowbody headstocks).@@killerdude35
I saw an interview with the new CEO and Gibsons future is very bright indeed. He has common sense and a sensible vision for Gibson, they've added all the old classic guitars to their main line again so we can buy all those Gibson guitars that made them famous in the first place. I think Gibson is back to stay.
Lol enjoy your overpriced ancient ugly guitars
Boot Licker
Agreed! They were in fantastic form at the NAMM Show this year! Thanks for the comment!
@@mrmisterman999it become a problem if u really like them!!!!
Yes. The gentleman in the video had a bad work experience in 2011. Years later, Gibson ownership made some bad decisions. Those events are history. Let's look for great Gibson guitars for generations to come.
In 2016 I bought my first Gibson, a 2000 SG standard (with binding,...gotta have the binding), I had been looking for over a year and didn't want to spend a fortune on it...as I considered 200s as crap also, but this one was built on my birthday, so it had to be a sign. An EBAY purchase from a guy in Victoria, B.C. shipped to Montreal for 950.00 cdn!! I had to change out the bridge, and put a roller on it, changed the knobs AND the secret to keeping a Gibson in tune...locking tuners!!!
I retired in 2018 and for my retirement present (from my severance pkg), bought a 2014 Gibson gold top LP Deluxe, again on EBAY from California, complete with push / pull, (Canadian-made) deluxe case, and locking tuners!!
This one was found in the back of a store or warehouse, and had not been out of the case, never played / touched!
Maybe I got lucky (R.I.P. Tom) but it was also a great buy,...but cost me 2,950.00, shipping & duty to Canada
But I'm not bent on Gibsons, other than all of us with those dreams as kids of wanting one...I have 16 guitars now (no,... only the 2 Gibby's) and hope to cure my case of G.A.S someday.
I recently bought a new custom shop Memphis 1964 reissue VOS Gibson ES345 (frost blue) I had never ever played one (or any Gibson) before and was always a Strat guy, but I am now in love with this guitar. Paid $5K CDN so I needed to sell a vintage Rickenbacker guitar and do some creative financing to get it. The workmanship, tone and playability is a revelation to me the neck fits my hands perfectly- it screams for rock, and amazing for jazz & the blues. Sorry to hear about the working conditions, but hopefully things will improve !
Glad you found a gibson that you fell in love with!
For that money you could have bought a Collings, which will almost certainly have better resale value on top of being master-built...
StopMoColorado no I couldn’t - the Collings equivalent costs over $7,000 CDN here in Canada
I worked at Gibson Memphis for a very long time. I could tell you stories for hours that would keep you dumbfounded.
Like what?
do
"Low Tech Solutions to High Tech Problems". This is often the mantra of the real-deal individual Guitar Techs and Luthiers. People are taught to think that it is only the large corporations with big funding and teams of engineers ( who all sign their intellectual property over to the company) that accomplish great things. In actual fact it is the individual Builders / Pro Guitar Techs ... that often times " make it up as they go " .... THESE are the greatest unsung heroes, who come up with the simplest solutions. It is often said that "Necessity is the Mother of Invention" .... but in actual fact, "Frugality is the real Mother of Invention " .... working within your means and "coming up with the goods" by the most direct route possible ... using vernacular things that are readily available ... that often allow for an elegant solution that doesn't require a "team of engineers" and big financing. BTW: I am the biggest Gibson fan ever and look forward to seeing Gibson " Rise from the Ashes" and claim their rightful place again as the "Beacon of the Guitar Industry" that they held for 100+ years.
honestly, I just got an HP with the robot tuners. I like them. I wouldn't gig with them (actually, I'd gig a fender), but for playing and practicing at home, I'm kind of digging the tuning and getting a space back. Now that 25 lb case is something else to carry, but the paul seems safe. I like the dip-switches, too. I had to LPs without the dips and I prefer the options.
A friend of mine was in QC at Gibson. He retired when this last big problem hit. He was there over 30 years and didn't want to leave, but....
3:30 Nice. That says a lot.
Sell guitars cheaper and you will move more inventory....its pretty simple. Stop pricing yourself out of business...Ibanez, Jackson, ESP they have guitars, in all price ranges.
youre forgetting fender
Why isn't taylor having this issue their cheapest guitars are like $1000 :/
@@brandoncostner7437 Because taylor sell acoustics and they sell much cheaper versions that are built outside the united states the GS mini is their most popular guitar and it only costs 499$
Yea but then you’re a guy paying a Ibanez Jackson or esp...gross.
@@mrjamesgrimes yeah cause randy rhoads, steve vai, joe satriani, metallica, are all gross.....smh..
What about the Steinberger brand?
I bought a Gibson SG special in 2016 also a Les Paul Studio. The only complaint is they should set them up better at the factory. But they both play well and the sound is awesome. I tried a few Epiphone's first and they just didn't quite do it for me. I do own a 95 Epiphone which is nearly as good as a Gibson, but sadly nothing seems to be as good any more. But there is something about a Gibson, they even smell great! I hope both Gibson and Epiphone continue to trade for a long time to come.
Gibsons are soooo expensive. I have an American G&L and wonder why the hell other companies can't customize things for a reasonable price.
Yep. I had a USA G&L ASAT and wish I kept it. One of the best guitars ever owned. I own a 90's Gretsch Duo Jet and it's a great guitar but I worry about it a bit at gigs and can't imagine taking a $2000+ Les Paul onstage even IF i wanted to waste the money on it. Absurd.
6:20 So many people -- myself included -- would love to have some of this "trash".
I bought a Gibson SG collector guitar, 2013 Government Series I , I with you would have cleared your bench b4 you wired my axe. There are a lot of pecker marks around the output jack. When you get lucky enough to get 1 of 300? You can not return it because you can not get a replacement. Thanks for outstanding quality of work.
Great video, nice to hear a personal story of what it was like to work in the Gibson factory. Sounds like its not a good job for a working musician...or a family man
Mark Agassi kind of pissed off alot of people with his we,re coming and bringing lawyaers with us speech.
Ye...that was a bit of a goof and we have a pretty funny video documenting that one. Were still rooting for em over there but, oh...they just oops sometimes in really big and public ways:)
Let's hire lawyers, not luthiers ...
I worked in a few American firms here in Ireland..gotta say they like their pound of flesh..live to work as supposed to work to live!
We’ve gone from Zero Alcohol (even at after hours functions) to Zero Sex with a coworker. I’d never work for an American corporation again.
@@joeroganjosh9333 very true
What’s the model on the video thumb? Looks rad
Just came across the channel, really enjoying it. Work conditions have not changed with the new ownership. In some ways it got worse. Still the mandatory overtime and Saturdays.
Any leftist run company will go to shit. I think they do it on purpose. Stand up and force that dweeb out. He's a sack of s h i t.
I also work at at Gibson, around 2000, and we were told to work overtime or lose your job. It was a sweat shop that was shipping 2nd rate guitars out the door, all they were interested in was shipping a number out the door each day. There guitars are junk with without any new idea's.
Most of us don't look to Gibson for new ideas. There plenty of other options if we want new ideas. We just want perfection of the old and best ideas. If they don't get greedy they would be fine. Most other brands best idea is usually just to try to make the ultimate Gibson.
I had a 97 SG Special....the neck angle was too steep so the bridge was jacked up way too high and the paint finish was so bad that it came off in chunks. Awful
It was not a sweat shop because you were paid well and you certainly had a choice to stay or go. Same silly analogies used by race baiters saying the NFL has a plantation mentality. Almost all production facilities will have mandatory overtime, and that is a good thing which means sales are good. If you have not chance for overtime that is a good sign that you should be looking for your backup plan.
@@stewatkin7948 exaggeration does not make it reality. Show me who was forced to work 6- 13 hr days a week. The amount paid in OT would be ridiculous. It would be much cheaper to hire part timers over having all of those people working overtime constantly. I'm not buying it.
@@stewatkin7948 Haha- that's funny. No "experience" in the real world, hey? I work in manufacturing, that's why I'm discounting the stories. There's nobody working 6- 13 hour days that doesn't want to be working those hours. In fact, the company probably has a policy against anyone working that many hours, it's a safety liability. People love to make up stories to boost their twisted viewpoints. Anyone that describes conditions at the Gibson plant as a "sweatshop" has to be looked at suspiciously. I know plenty of disgruntled employees that are just plain awful workers that can't understand that the world doesn't revolve around them. It takes a lot of teamwork to make things happen in a manufacturing environment, and those that love to avoid helping the team and work in a self serving manner are often the ones that complain the most. That, my friend- is the real world.
If they’d start the Orville line back up and make it a mid between Epiphone and Gibson I think it would all be smooth sailing. For example if a SG 61 reissue from epiphone is 500$, Gibson is 2000$(ish) make Orville around 1000$. I honestly think it’s a good idea, but hate to say it because I feel like it would effect epiphones quality. Maybe even make Epiphones how they used to be....Epiphone line of semi hollow guitar, and Orville the cheap Gibson knock off guitars.
Logan great great great idea!!! Thanks for sharing and for watching.
I have a 2018 SG and it's awesome!
bought a special and std 2018's , both were very good and no problems!
If you had to do overtime to make up your numbers when there was a production hold up elsewhere what would that do to the next shift who would be hanging around for some hours(?) waiting to start their shift and the number of guitars they were expected to get through during their shift?
I was at Gibson in the Rough Mill from 2005 - 2014. I quit because my band went to tour Europe and they wouldn't let me use my 45 vacation days. Almost 10 years of loyalty didn't mean much I guess. Firebird X..."it comes with a wah pedal"...
Dr. McFarland Studios - FYI, NO employer is going to let you take 45 days off, no matter how long you've been there. And quite frankly if Gibson would be fine without you for 45 days they should fire you because you obviously aren't necessary. Be glad they thought you were important to their process.
XLBiker13 it was time to leave anyways. I guess an 8 month notice wasn’t long enough for them.
Sounds about right for a Rapepubliccon supporting company
Loyalty means nothing. Give a dollars work for a dollars pay and go home at the end of the day. If you don’t like it there, move on and don’t look back. They owe you nothing in the end. As an employee of any American business, it’s not reasonable to ask for 45 days off in a row. I used to take shit for taking two weeks off in a row. Shit from my boss, shit from my coworkers. Fuck them.
@@joesantamaria5874 I don't know how you can expect a company to be loyal to you when you have that kind of an attitude. All the more reason to go overseas. American factory workers used to take more pride in their work. If you think not being allowed to take 45 days off in a row is unacceptable, that type of work is not for you. You have personal priorities more important than the job. There is someone else that probably really wants to do that job, and they will do it better than yourself.
7:40 "This iconic company from my childhood was pretty poorly managed."
This could probably be said about any company once they become big, bloated and over-managed. We call this "Too many chiefs and not enough indians. The saddest part about this is that the bean-counters will step in and lay off the hard workers in an attempt to save money that the management has been spending like drunken sailors on $300 company lunches with company credit cards.
So true.
I spent 27 years working for a large company that thought the best way to save money was to reduce the number of full time hourly employees. Every year they would eliminate full time hourly positions and hire young inexperienced employees to replace them. Of course the full timers affected were encouraged to stay on as part time employees. The company actually expected them to stay because the company thought it would be a better “work/life balance” for the employees. Eventually, they eliminated every full time hourly position they could logically get rid of so they went after salaried management positions reducing them to full time hourly positions. It was an absolute train wreck. There next step was reducing corporate employees which is where they should have started to begin with since there was so much overlap in most of the corporate jobs. The core of the company’s problem was the grossly misguided belief that they could save enough money on expenses to “save” there way to profitability.
Wow, what a difference in video quality from this to now. Too bad Gibson hasn't mirrored the improvement.
Player Series fenders kick ass. I almost bought that but since it was brand new and I could get an american for only $100 more used I got the American.
A ton of Peavey stuff, lol. Absolutely man, I got a Peavey T-15 and a small Decade amp for my 14th birthday in 1981. I wore that thing out!
I used to laugh off Peavey guitar equipment. I don't know why though, because I never played anything Peavey. Just last week after researching really clean amps for my pedals, I ended up driving 8 hours to pick up a used Peavey Classic 50 amp. It from the early 90's and sounds like a dream. I'll definitely look into Peavey more often in the future when testing gear.
My first guitar was a T-15 with the case that had the built in amp. I got in 1986 when I was 14. Unfortunately, I didn’t really appreciate how good it was at the time. I really wanted a Fender Strat because of my influences, but we didn’t have a Fender dealer where I lived. If that wasn’t unfortunate enough in 1988 I started a brief period of being interested in metal and traded the T-15 for a more “metal” guitar. It was a Japanese made copy of a Gibson Explorer and the absolute worst guitar I’ve ever owned. I should have kept the T-15. I did get a Japanese made Squier Strat in the early 90s and have been loyal to the Fender brands until just recently. I still love Fender, but I’ve given other amp brands a chance and I own a couple of Gibsons.
Gibson is like DC Comics.
Been around forever. Highly recognizable..... but Fender (marvel) has the perfect recipe and has insane success but Gibson cant seem to match the already laid out recipe.
Kinda true! Should be an easy formula for success.
Honestly - young (and old) people can work and save $1k for a standard American Strat/Tele and they've got something they can have fun playing, sound great, and keep for life if they love it.
A Les Paul, SG, or ES335 has all those attributes and more; except the average person, especially once kids start running around, has a much harder time saving and parting ways with $2500-$4k!
@@rickrudd absolutely..... the Mexican made is nothing to cry about either. And you have fun doing small upgrades as you go.
I have the epiphone tribute plus les paul and I'll put that up against any Gibson. If you're saying you notice a difference its only because you want there to be a difference.
@@TheCentralflorida I am on the same page as you!
here's all my humble builds as they sit!
(excluding my 6 other acoustics/dobro/f-hole guitars)
i.imgur.com/4AP62r2.jpg
i.imgur.com/GF2D8Au.jpg
@@TheCentralflorida no doubt- guitars are like jeans. I tried on 20 pairs of Levis last weekend, all label the exact same. I found three pairs total out of 20 that actually fit me, and I promise this is not hyperbole. I feel like guitars are the same way. You can find a squire with super low action and it will feel as good as a $3,000 guitar. Or you could find a squire (or Epiphone) with the strings were 1 Inch off the fretboard at the 12th fret
I think the Firebird X looked cool but I grew up in the era when we used our fingers to turn our tuners.
I love Dobermans and Les Pauls,(mine) too!
This guy should have finished work at 335.
10:57 LOL, whatever... I had been looking for a good Gibson for two years, played all sorts, used ones, new ones up to $4000 and finally the one worth buying was a brand new $950 LP Studio... and it is all GIBSON LP. Trapezoids and binding don't make a guitar sing my man. That $950 LP Studio would save Gibson if they could build them like that consistently for that price.
And where are Levis made?
Ok, the moment the child entered, I couldn't stop watching him watch you guys and missed everything.
WOW! As someone who oversees and supervises people where I work it sounds as if Gibson was a mental hospital instead of a musical instrument manufacturer the patients were running that asylum! Good Lord.....I've seen several poorly run businesses in my 50 years on planet Earth but Gibson is definitely the leader of the pack.
They used to be a union but moved to a right-to-work state to cut costs so... maybe their quality and lack of any sort of oversight has something to do with that
The work environment sounds pretty much like every factory job in America.
And now it's probably even worse...
Nope
Any factory outside the USA is horrible. If you look at factory's around the world.
This has played out with many thousands of corporations. Harley gets bought out by AMF is a classic story. CEOs only focus is on shareholder returns at the cost of everything including quality, employees, everything. Plus they always have to make their mark on the product which is often times worse! People are viewed as robots, skill and craftsmanship takes a back seat to low cost.
At least you guys know that even in a Gibson blurb, you need to have the Telecasters front and center.
I can tell them how to solve their problems.....make great guitars at a great price.
It's beyond the new CEO.
Disagree. Completely
Sweet child of his.
Shocked to see my limited ed Gretsch 5655 electromatic was made in China. It’s flawless. It gives the Japanese made Setzer Hotrod a run for its money at half the cost. Goes to show as long as you have the quality control, it’s possible to make great, and bad, guitars anywhere.
Likewise Gibson's problems show that just becase it is Made in the USA if you don't have the QC you have problems.
When I was in manufacturing the trend was to invest more in Quality Assurance (making sure the materials are up to spec, seeing that people have enough parts and equipment to properly do their jobs and making sure training is up to date) so that there would hopefully be less things for QC to catch and send back for rework.
When it is done right it works well. Sadly many times someone reads a book they don't understand, comes in with a few meetings and new acronyms and then expects smooth sailing.
GIve us the link to that pink Telecaster in the back.
A Gibson Studio is NOT a dressed down Epiphone. Epiphone's are Made in China with mainly Chinese parts. Huge difference except when dealing with LE and signature models in which they use US made aftermarket parts like Seymour Duncan pickups or Gibson USA pickups.
Yeah! You're right - there is a huge difference: The Epiphone Les Paul Studio is a better quality guitar. (I'm talking about the Studio Deluxe.) Years ago, I had a collection of Gibson guitars: 1963 SG Special, 1983 Les Paul Standard, Howard Roberts Fusion II (Late 80s), but the crap that they are making now is not worth a quarter of the price that they want for it.
@@rexrobards7407 Epiphone do have their bright spots. I bought a Slash LE Firebird w/Seymour Duncan Alnico II pro Slash signature pickups. Orange drop capacitors, flamed maple top/veener, pau ferro fretboard, vintage banjo tunners. This guitar is a rock machine! My Mesa Duo Rectifier 2x12 short stack response so well to it. I think Epiphone is coming into their own as a guitar company. They make budget guitars like the $99 Special II all the way to a quality rock machine $899 Slash LE Firebird.
I have an Epiphone Studio LT it is made in Indonesia and much better than the irregular overpriced Chinese shit. They should shift all Epiphone away from china or get better quality control and for FFS get some decent tuners on the Imports.
@@roymartin500 Firebird will crack at the heel, bet on it
Right on! I was surprised he called a Gibson Les Paul Studio a dressed down Epiphone... Gibson's are USA made at least. Not that there is anything wrong with Epiphones.
Gibson will not reduce the price of Standard or Classic to 1k$. Just imagine how customers who were byuing these guitars at 2-3k$ would feel. I think they might reduce the price of Studio and Tribute to make it an entry level. Standard, Traditional and Classic will stay where they are maybe will slight reduction. Why because there were expensive and people where buying them anyway.
They should be able to produce a quality Gibson SG standard, and sell it for a thousand dollars.
Bob Aldo Absolutely
Gibson is not the only guitar/pickup maker who can make a guitar sound like a Gibson. Let them die. Let them suffer a painful and slow death while suing to try and stay above water. They won't be gone forever. They will be resurrected and maybe the right leader will make it right this time. In the meantime, I will be saving my change. Just. In. Case.
I used to be a Gibson/Fender fanboy for a long time...I am free now...I play whatever is good...and that might be expensive or cheap... Eddie Van Halen is proof you don't need a brand guitar to rock the world...
Hell Yeah!!!
Bring the company back to Kalamazoo, Michigan were all the good guitars were made and the company started.
The trouble with that is that there is another company in that factory, now. And the trouble with them is that they don't even have dealers or a standard catalog anymore. Heritage has become a special order company, with prices that make a Gibson look affordable.
Your decades to late for that shit ? Get over it . Most Gibson’s are excellent Guitars . I own 10 Gibson’s . 5 Les Paul standards , an R7 , R9 , Sg , a Flying V , and a Firebird , all excellent made and you can feel the quality . I have played a 100 Gibson guitars and only 2 felt like it was cheaply made . I think the rookie of the week made those two . So that’s why you always buy from a Gibson authorized dealer and you have to play it and feel it in your hands . I went through 4 R7’s of different years to find a neck that was bigger then a R9 but smaller then a baseball bat . Some of the 57 gold tops have huge neck that will hurt your hands unless you have fingers like spiders legs . Like Steve Vai or Jim Hendrix . I have long fingers but some 57 necks you have to have really long fingers . But I found a 57 neck that was perfect . I don’t like 60s necks because they’re too small . A 59 is a perfect comfortable size . I own a lot of different Fenders but Gibson is the best . I know they are expensive but nice things cost money . Fuck it just be patient and save your money and look on Reverb , most guitar shops sell pre owned. I have a collection of 30 guitars all high end and I only purchased 6 new same with amps and pedals . I’ve never had a issue with any of my used equipment . But I am almost 55 so I have been buying guitars since I was in 7th grade . I remember when you could buy a original 1959 Les Paul for 6 thousand . I had rich grandparents and I‘m the first grandchild so I own a original 59 Les Paul and a original 61 Sg when I was in 9th grade .
Heritage doesn't cost more than Gibson. They cost about the same spec for spec, but heritage has been gutted, too, and is trying to do more production. More automation, more outright spec process, less mojo - more uniformity. Their value proposition doesn't make sense, either. They're off in a different building now, and the real estate developer working up the property looks like they're turning it into mixed use with the old stack as a logo. It's over.
@@raygarcia4468 i agree ray just old school would have been cool if they stayed in Kalamazoo. Im a life long michigander and it is one of the many cool things that originated here. Also agree nothing like a great Gibson Guitar. and yes the finer things in life cost a bit more. Always have liked a gibson les paul custom, just something about that guitar. Glad to see there able to overcome!
@@raygarcia4468 You own some super cool guitars!! Love to meet you.
Gibson's feel like your uncle's first woodworking project.
I find this to be true with their basses
I really hate to put down an iconic brand like Gibson. However, if you watch the video of Cort's electric guitar factory in Indonesia it puts Gibson's factory to shame.
Whatever they did in the past year I hope works. It seems to be because every time I go into a music store I see a young kid walking out with an Epiphone Les Paul in one of the many flavors. I also hear the sales people talking about how great the newly released models are and that they want to take one home. Time will tell.
80's made Yamaha SG 2000 was and still is better than any Gibson Les Paul made during 80's and after. What more, Yamaha SG 2000 is essentially a Les Paul. On top of that, it was and Still is absolutely affordable.
Come on, Gibson has no excuses. There are genuinely none.
Would love a Gibson but I need both kidneys. I have epiphone guitars and they play and feel better than some Gibson's i have played while in a music store. I have fender products mostly and you can get a great guitar for half the price of Gibson. Please Gibson make some real decent quality guitars and priced like fender. No need to reinvent the wheel just take some pricing structures from fender and I guarentee you would sell more!!! But what would I know I am just a working man guitar player
American made Fenders are quite expensive actually. There are USA made Gibsons that cost less.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure as far as US made guitars go, Gibson's got the cheapest ones with the Melody Maker and Les Paul Junior. Even the cheapest US made Fenders are a lot more expensive than those two models.
@@AJCzarkowski The Mexican Fenders are great for the money. I actually prefer the Standard Series than the new Player Series.
Set neck vs bolt on, no fair
Makes 4000 Dollar guitars but runs out of Gold Top paint uhhh got no sympathy for ya Gibson and yes i would love an lp but seriously.
thumb pic blue guitar name please.
That was really enjoyable. The way you rolled with the kid was great. I think you guys are pulling your punches, however. I have seen Gibsons at stores that had such glaring problems that I was shocked they even made it out of the factory, and even though they are getting better, for the prices Gibson charges, I am still seeing quality control issues that they have no excuse for.
Although I own two Gibsons, and have had many over the decades, Gibson just doesn't get it that they need a lot more customers than just the rich and rock stars they cater to. Most of their guitars are too fragile for gigs, poor quality control, barely stay in tune, so on and so forth, then they have the gall to charge a premium price for an unpractical product. Which is why they lost millions of customers to other competitors.
What was that semi truck trailer full of guitars from? That's crazy! Was that junked guitars from Gibson or?
Junked in the flood.
ROD Rosi I don’t doubt it, but I know they dumped hundreds of ruined hulls after the flood, too.
Back in 1989 I bought a bran new Gold top les paul 56 re issue listing for $2,500 from Onondaga Music in Syracuse New York for 12 one hundred dollar bills cash.And they took it.Still have that Guitar and it just happened to be a good one from the get go.Sang every note .Last year I found a PRS 1980 west street limited for one heck of a lot more money BUT it is the nicest Guitar I ever played period.And I started playing Guitar at 10 years old and am 63 now :>)
I'm glad I got my Gibsons a very, very long time ago.