Gibson is not a good company.

[jimistone]

30 years ago was when they were making their worst guitars ever…lol.

Their QC started going south in 1958 and hit full stride crap by the mid-late 60’s. Different eras have different sets of QC problems but their QC has been terrible since the beginning of the guitar boom. They were great in the 1920’s-1950’s

I really like the 70's les pauls. I know the norlin era les pauls had the sandwiched bodies, and I have seen some that have started to separate. They are supposed to be the worst ones. But, I have owned a few down through the years and have had really good luck with them. I love the necks and the heavy bodies, and I like the pickups and pots. They REALLY sound good IMO.
I had a 1976 cherry burst custom that I bought in the late 1980's. I've never owned a les paul before or since that played or sounded as good.
It had a broken nut ...broke at the little e string position. I talked them down to $100.
I paid a luthier 35 bucks to put a new bone nut in and cut it (those were the days, huh?).
I needed some money to buy an outboard boat motor and sold it a year or two later for $250 like a total dumbass.
I STILL beat myself up for doing that and it's been 35 years ago. I just pissed myself off again typing this and revisiting that boneheaded mistake.

 

[Scott Baxendale]

I really like the 70's les pauls. I know the norlin era les pauls had the sandwiched bodies, and I have seen some that have started to separate. They are supposed to be the worst ones. But, I have owned a few down through the years and have had really good luck with them. I love the necks and the heavy bodies, and I like the pickups and pots. They REALLY sound good IMO.
I had a 1976 cherry burst custom that I bought in the late 1980's. I've never owned a les paul before or since that played or sounded as good.
It had a broken nut ...broke at the little e string position. I talked them down to $100.
I paid a luthier 35 bucks to put a new bone nut in and cut it (those were the days, huh?).
I needed some money to buy an outboard boat motor and sold it a year or two later for $250 like a total dumbass.
I STILL beat myself up for doing that and it's been 35 years ago. I just pissed myself off again typing this and revisiting that boneheaded mistake.

I like the gold top deluxe with mini humbuckers from the late 60’s early 70’s.

My luthier career started in the mid-70’s, and was already fixing broken headstocks on these. I never liked the big headstock with Grover Rotomatics which I think is always a broken neck waiting to happen. I owned a mint 76’ black beauty, Fretless wonder LP custom but never really bonded with it, so I sold it. Currently I have an early 2000’s 1960 classic reissue with SD Antiquities in it. I hardly ever play it unless I’m trying to copy a Joe Walsh type sound on a track. I never really felt that comfortable onstage playing a LP Standard onstage I guess because I’ve been more of a Tele guy and they always felt a little awkward weight balance wise. Same with a 335. I have a 65 335 and a 68 330. The 335 is worth over $10k, but I like the 330 much better because it’s balanced perfectly.

 

[Slouching Raymond]

That video was painful yet kind of exhilarating to watch

It was all those stupid Firebird X guitars or whatever they called them.

Here’s the video

Nah, that's just the distressing process, for their premium line.

 

[jimistone]

I like the gold top deluxe with mini humbuckers from the late 60’s early 70’s.

My luthier career started in the mid-70’s, and was already fixing broken headstocks on these. I never liked the big headstock with Grover Rotomatics which I think is always a broken neck waiting to happen. I owned a mint 76’ black beauty, Fretless wonder LP custom but never really bonded with it, so I sold it. Currently I have an early 2000’s 1960 classic reissue with SD Antiquities in it. I hardly ever play it unless I’m trying to copy a Joe Walsh type sound on a track. I never really felt that comfortable onstage playing a LP Standard onstage I guess because I’ve been more of a Tele guy and they always felt a little awkward weight balance wise. Same with a 335. I have a 65 335 and a 68 330. The 335 is worth over $10k, but I like the 330 much better because it’s balanced perfectly.

I've always been a strat guy mostly. I still have a '66 that I bought in 1976 for $150. Which would probably equate to $700 or $800 in tofayd dollars. Some of my older guitar playing friends, that I looked up to at the time, ridiculed me for buying it. They said I got screwed because it wasn't a pre-cbs strat and would be pretty much worthless in the future. I didn't care....it played good and sounded good and it was my first name brand guitar. Time has proven them wrong, but I'm never going to sell it anyway so value doesn't matter to me. That being said, I have had plenty of chances to move it on down the line for over 10k. I've come close to selling it more than once when I was striking out on own in life...when trying to raise kids and make ends meet and struggling financially,. I held firm though and figured out how to make it without selling that guitar.
I have a couple more American make strats that are really good, but not in the same league as the '66 in terms of vibe and tone.
I used to play a les paul live a lot through a 100 watt Marshall when i wad doing mostly rock and roll.
Now, I'm doing rock, country, and blues all in the fsame gig so I play a strat. A strat is more versatile. A les paul is fabulous for classic rock but it's pretty much a one trick pony IMO

 

[jimistone]

I can see their point to some degree. If the guitars are sub-par, and they give them away, eventually someone will try to sell a guitar claiming it's a "real" Gibson. Then they get trashed because it's a guitar that has problems. I saw that very thing happen. Someone was given a guitar for free by the builder that had a slight twist to the neck. Several years later it popped up on a forum with a person buying in used and bitching about the twist in the neck, and not getting any factory support for it. It was a lose-lose for the builder.

In other words a lot like the "good" guitars they are selling?
I couldn't resist that.
Lol

 

[noah330]

I loved the Firebird X. I had one on loan from Gibson when it first came out, and I can tell you it worked phenomenally well with Guitar Rig. I've yet to have any guitar - old or new - work as well with a simulator, and the X did with GR.

There were many other things I liked about it as well. I wish it would have been built into a Les Paul body or something less outrageous, but the X was a great product for a small group of people. I received a suspension from a big guitar page forum for posting an honest and detailed review of how much I liked it.

I have a very nice playing/sounding 1968 ES-330 I bought in a pawnshop for $450 that finds its way on more recordings than I can count. It has the lowest action of anything I own. A few years ago, I did a purge and walked into the Dallas show with about $20,000 to spend. I bought a 1968 ES-355 in factory mono with factory Bigsby - for way less than what I had budgeted. It has a headstock repair, but I don't care; I'm not a collector. It's a different guitar, and I find it luxurious to play. It sounds silly, but it's just such a smooth guitar. I use it all the time as well. The next year, I went to Fall Phili and found the 3x5 bass, whatever it's called, for cheap, and I bought that. It's unique sounding and fun to have. I think it's 1964 or 1965. I also have a 1960s J-45 and Hummingbird.

I have a few Les Paul models I love. A couple Sunbursts from 58 and 60 (both refin, one headstock repair) and a Custom from the late 60s/early 70s. I forget, but it's all mahogany. I paid $1800 for that one, and it's a very unique-sounding guitar - low output and twangy.

I love Gibson and think they get way more hate online than other companies that deserve it more, but whatever. I'll always play the guitars it builds.

 

[rip chord]

Gibson have been the law suit filingest mofos in the guitar business. I love les Paul's and V's but their guitars are way over priced.
Back in the late 70's and early 80's Japanese were producing very close high quality les paul replicas and selling them for a fraction of the price. Actually at one point the jap guitars were better quality than what Gibson was putting out. That's when the lawsuits started.
Gibson did create the shapes for the les paul, the flying v, the sg, and the explorer.
But really, there are a limited number of basic shapes that a guitar body can be and still look good and be comfortable

For myself, I can say the Gibson Explorer is in a class by itself in the player's comfort department...

 

[RFR]

I loved the Firebird X. I had one on loan from Gibson when it first came out, and I can tell you it worked phenomenally well with Guitar Rig. I've yet to have any guitar - old or new - work as well with a simulator, and the X did with GR.

There were many other things I liked about it as well. I wish it would have been built into a Les Paul body or something less outrageous, but the X was a great product for a small group of people. I received a suspension from a big guitar page forum for posting an honest and detailed review of how much I liked it.

I have a very nice playing/sounding 1968 ES-330 I bought in a pawnshop for $450 that finds its way on more recordings than I can count. It has the lowest action of anything I own. A few years ago, I did a purge and walked into the Dallas show with about $20,000 to spend. I bought a 1968 ES-355 in factory mono with factory Bigsby - for way less than what I had budgeted. It has a headstock repair, but I don't care; I'm not a collector. It's a different guitar, and I find it luxurious to play. It sounds silly, but it's just such a smooth guitar. I use it all the time as well. The next year, I went to Fall Phili and found the 3x5 bass, whatever it's called, for cheap, and I bought that. It's unique sounding and fun to have. I think it's 1964 or 1965. I also have a 1960s J-45 and Hummingbird.

I have a few Les Paul models I love. A couple Sunbursts from 58 and 60 (both refin, one headstock repair) and a Custom from the late 60s/early 70s. I forget, but it's all mahogany. I paid $1800 for that one, and it's a very unique-sounding guitar - low output and twangy.

I love Gibson and think they get way more hate online than other companies that deserve it more, but whatever. I'll always play the guitars it builds.

I applaud your stance.
For myself, Gibson has done a lot of great things as well as not so great things.
But one has to admit, people love the guitars. They have earned a place in musical history as iconic instruments.

 

[Scott Baxendale]

I applaud your stance.
For myself, Gibson has done a lot of great things as well as not so great things.
But one has to admit, people love the guitars. They have earned a place in musical history as iconic instruments.

Gibson has everything from some of the worst shit ever made to some of the best. Their golden age for great acoustic guitars spans from 1920-1960. Electrics are great before 1960, but after 1960 they vary a lot between crap and great.

They set the bar for iconic instruments, but that doesn’t make the current Gibson company a good company.

 

[noah330]

The current company is great, in my opinion. The last time I was in Nashville, I saw Mark and spoke to him for a while. I believe they are making some great guitars, and I like the fact that the Gibson name is only on USA-made guitars.

When I look at what FMIC has done to every brand it touches, I'm thankful that Gibson isn't under that umbrella.

I understand they're the most hated online guitar company, but I still like them and a lot of amazing records, concerts, and music in general has been made on 'the bad year' models. I've had (and mostly sold) some expensive custom made guitars and some of the cheaper models that are supposed to be better. For me, it hasn't been the case. For folks that have, all the power to them!

I understand a lot of folks don't like Gibson, and that's cool, too. I don't take it personally

 

[noah330]

deleted

 

[Scott Baxendale]

The current company is great, in my opinion. The last time I was in Nashville, I saw Mark and spoke to him for a while. I believe they are making some great guitars, and I like the fact that the Gibson name is only on USA-made guitars.

When I look at what FMIC has done to every brand it touches, I'm thankful that Gibson isn't under that umbrella.

I understand they're the most hated online guitar company, but I still like them and a lot of amazing records, concerts, and music in general has been made on 'the bad year' models. I've had (and mostly sold) some expensive custom made guitars and some of the cheaper models that are supposed to be better. For me, it hasn't been the case. For folks that have, all the power to them!

I understand a lot of folks don't like Gibson, and that's cool, too. I don't take it personally

Both companies make way too many variations of each basic model IMO.

 

[jimistone]

I guess this is a fitting place to post this....
New guitar day!!
2012 led paul traditional.
The burst is nicely done imo.
I love a cherry sunburst, but not a fan of those "clownbursts" that Gibson was turning out for a while.

 

[noah330]

Both companies make way too many variations of each basic model IMO.

100% if it were up to me Gibson would make the following:

Les Paul Standard
Les Paul Custom
SG Standard
Firebird
ES-335

The Flying V, Explorer, Junior, Special, and 3xx models rotated out and into the lineup or custom orders. Everything would be made in the Historic factory and the pricing would be at that level as well, which is about where the CPI prices are anyway.

Fender would make about eight guitars as well. Maybe variations for maple and rosewood could be a special order or yearly thing. The Fender CS doesn't make anything that spectacular anymore so maybe bring it back to how it was in the 1990s/early 00s.

The problem is I don't think these models would generate enough money to stay in business, but who knows~!

 

[jimistone]

100% if it were up to me Gibson would make the following:

Les Paul Standard
Les Paul Custom
SG Standard
Firebird
ES-335

The Flying V, Explorer, Junior, Special, and 3xx models rotated out and into the lineup or custom orders. Everything would be made in the Historic factory and the pricing would be at that level as well, which is about where the CPI prices are anyway.

Fender would make about eight guitars as well. Maybe variations for maple and rosewood could be a special order or yearly thing. The Fender CS doesn't make anything that spectacular anymore so maybe bring it back to how it was in the 1990s/early 00s.

The problem is I don't think these models would generate enough money to stay in business, but who knows~!

A8 lot of people love the juniors

 

[noah330]

A8 lot of people love the juniors

I don't get it. I have about seven or eight TV Juniors & Specials. I never paid more than $800 for one. If someone is over 40 I can't imagine paying anything close to what they get for them now because for years they were out there.

Someday I'll cash these in if prices continue!

Cool guitars, but not for that money

 

[jimistone]

I don't get it. I have about seven or eight TV Juniors & Specials. I never paid more than $800 for one. If someone is over 40 I can't imagine paying anything close to what they get for them now because for years they were out there.

Someday I'll cash these in if prices continue!

Cool guitars, but not for that money

How much is one now?

 

[Scott Baxendale]

100% if it were up to me Gibson would make the following:

Les Paul Standard
Les Paul Custom
SG Standard
Firebird
ES-335

The Flying V, Explorer, Junior, Special, and 3xx models rotated out and into the lineup or custom orders. Everything would be made in the Historic factory and the pricing would be at that level as well, which is about where the CPI prices are anyway.

Fender would make about eight guitars as well. Maybe variations for maple and rosewood could be a special order or yearly thing. The Fender CS doesn't make anything that spectacular anymore so maybe bring it back to how it was in the 1990s/early 00s.

The problem is I don't think these models would generate enough money to stay in business, but who knows~!

No ES345 or ES355? What would BB or Keith play?

I basically agree. Three variants of each basic design should be the goal.

 

[noah330]

No ES345 or ES355? What would BB or Keith play?

I basically agree. Three variants of each basic design should be the goal.

I would make those as custom orders and maybe offer one or the other every other year or something. I love my 355, but I don't think there is a demand for it to be produced yearly. Same with the 330. Bring the non bread and butter models in and out of the rotation.

 

[noah330]

How much is one now?

I've seen them between 8k - 16k depending.