the fuss over Gibson's business practices

i can't comment on harley's prices as i have no interest in harleys. i just have my personal feeling about them, loud and annoying as they are and the consensus from the friends i have that are part of the motorcycle community. now granted, within the motorcycle world, there are lots of different communities and i'm sure they all think the rest are assholes. sort of like the import versus american sports car enthusiasts.

gibson's prices have gone up substantially over the last while (and granted, so have fenders) and i've seen the void at the lower end filled with utter shit from them. that's what's been disappointing.

and at the same time, i'm not interested in having the capacitors in my guitar annointed by the pope for an extra $1K. 95% of the people buying these things can't hear the difference in these upgrades.

i'm being too cynical but whenever i encounter "lifestyle" marketing, i get irked. marketing in general irks me. just sell me a good guitar, left-handed, in something other than black for once.

enharmonic wrote:

I guarantee you that some dealers are getting the premium stuff, while your local Gibson shop might not be getting the best of the best.

Yeah, thats what I worry about. In the next few months I'm going to be in the market for a new guitar, and I want some kind of Les Paul. Not sure which model, but it'll damn sure have his name on it, somewhere. Now when the time comes to shell out my hard earned and saved dollars, where do I buy it from? I doubt Guitar Center carries too many, if any, Custom Shop guitars, either reissues, historics, VOS (I get confused between them sometimes). So where the hell else am I supposed to buy my dream axe? Online? And not play it first? Seems crazy to me.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-American-Series-Stratocaster-HH-Electric-Guitar?sku=515117 -the reason not to buy a gibson:)

surferdude wrote:

That's so cynical and not at all correct. It is about making the motorcycling experience as enjoyable and safe as possible. You'd be surprised how much money is spent on cross brand safety through encouraging and subsidizing lessons, and how much is spent onjust getting people into motorcycling regardless of what their first bike may be. We know we manufacture and sell the best motorcycling experience there is. We are confident that once you are into the motorcycling experience that you will end up with one of our products because you want the best experience possible.

I think you'll be amazed at the increase in quality coming out of Gibson over the next few years. More and more it will be about getting the right guitar into your hands, then providing you with upgrades and customization options making your guitar a one of a kind thing.

i'm a harley rider.. 2003 fxd


now i just need a gibson:)

seanw1010 wrote:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-American-Series-Stratocaster-HH-Electric-Guitar?sku=515117 -the reason not to buy a gibson:)

HAHAHAHAHA! No. Seriously, no.

Don't get me wrong, Strats are very cool instruments, but a Strat with humbuckers is stil miles away from a Les Paul. . The things I DO like though...longer fret scale, lighter instrument, more affordable.

Aside from that, it would be like sticking a wig on the Nickleback guy and calling him Eddie Vedder...extremely different instruments.

You are not a tool. I also edited my response

IMO, you can't go wrong with an Epi Elitist Les Paul. It's way too close for less than half the cost of a "Gibson" branded instrument.

Pearl Jam and toast wrote:

Yeah i know, you can't fake that thick paul tone with pick ups.

i've been planning on getting a really really nice, top of the line acoustic guitar when i get a job soon..

i have a child like fixation on wanting the head to read "gibson".. :rolleyes:

i'll probably buy it, even knowing what i know now.

damn i'm a tool.

I know the feeling.

Pearl Jam and toast wrote:

i have a child like fixation on wanting the head to read "gibson".. :rolleyes:

Yeah, me too. its pretty bad. Unless it says Gibson or Fender on the head stock, I almost can't bring myself to care. I'm sure I'm missing out on some great guitars in the process though.

keeponrockin wrote:

Ya... My dream guitar is still a gibson. I was gonna buy a Fender Fat Strat mainly because it said Fender on the headstock. Well, the sales man handed me the less expensive Godin and I was blown away! I could not believe it. I came out with the Godin.

I love my SG Special, so I know Gibson is capable of making great stuff. At the moment I'm saving cash like a madman, and once I achieve a personal goal I've set I'm going to reward myself with a Les Paul of some kind. Not sure what, but I can't wait to play them all and pick one.

I'll still buy a Gibson. I've got two LP's that I absolutely love. Haven't played my Classic in about 5 years though as I've been living in a dorm or apartment for the last 6 years and I'd rather keep it in a safer place at my parents. Love my Alpine white, Ebony neck Studio from 2000. All the sound of the Standard for half the price. Too bad it has some faint pink streaks from the case when the neck was repainted because of a crack (buy straplocks!).