Wow, Gibson 2015 changes... seems like more bad decisions

[setyaback]

Well, bringing this one bak from the dead since it looks like Gibson is about to reverse course: https://reverb.com/blog/breaking-gibson ... ls?_aid=tw

[Hyphen Nation]

Yeah, thought that was kind of amazing. Would love to know what the direction was that lead to 2015, and then again what the fallout was from those decisions.

[fakefurcoat]

Hahah, I had a feeling this would pan out like the "New Coke" thing. Goddam though can't believe it's almost 2016 though..

[SummerLeftMe]

Wow that is amazing. I was pissed when I read about the Gibson price increase.
I've heard a lot how these new 2015 guitars are awful, but I was sure there would still be a lot of people to by them. I guess not!
I'm pleasantly surprised by this news. I'd also love to know how poorly the sales were.

[Kevin Ireland]

Any guitar that has 2ND stamped on the back is a refurbished guitar by a company called MIRC. I have an Epiphone ES-335 and have it stamped on the back of the headstock along with the last three digits on the serial number removed. This is what they do for stores that can't get a lot of big name guitars. Absolutely nothing wrong with my 335, I love it!

[s_mcsleazy]

i tried some of the 2015 models and honestly, they felt like every epiphone i've ever played from a quality point of view. not poorly set up or anything, just like a £400-£600 guitar and the electronics (pickups and pots) just felt like they were holding the guitars back.

the models i tried:
sg special 2015
les paul special doublecut 2015
les paul standard 2015

my friend told me that i was judging the guitars too harshly but for the most part, they did not feel worth the money. i have played good gibsons. but i just never felt like i've ever made a true connection to one.

[mackerelmint]

^^^

Between the Epis and Gibsons made recently that I've played over the last few years...

The "standard" Epis beat the Gibsons all to shit in terms of fit and finish and fretwork and playability in general.

This year's models I can't speak to, but the last decade or so, Gibson's had its pants down.

[s_mcsleazy]

^^^

Between the Epis and Gibsons made recently that I've played over the last few years...

The "standard" Epis beat the Gibsons all to shit in terms of fit and finish and fretwork and playability in general.

This year's models I can't speak to, but the last decade or so, Gibson's had its pants down.

agreed. saying that, a while ago, i played a epiphone sg jr that had been modded with a bigsby, twas one of the best guitars i had played that year.

[NickD]

At the risk of continuing this necropost, and this won't be a popular opinion.

Gibson USA are ok, better than Epiphone in every tangible way, but not amazing guitars, but the two custom shop Les Pauls I've had have been great, and the 2013 R9 the best of the two (hence I'm selling the '14 Class 5). The only other electric I've owned that gets close is my 64 Jazzmaster, and I reckon the Gibson gets more play.

What I will say is that they are not all the same, I played another 2014 Class 5, exactly the same age, same specs bar the colour, and it didn't play or feel the same. I suppose because there is more hand work going into them, there is more variability.

On the subject of the 2015 models - I wouldn't have touched them, didn't like the necks or the tuners.

[MrFingers]

It would be a bit sad that the CS-Gibsons would be underwhelming, especially if you see for what absurd amounts of money they go for.

The problem with Gibson is the big IF in the sentence: "If you can find a good one, you're set for life". Their quality varies a lot. I've seen instruments that are exceeding the 2500€ mark with stained bindings, loose frets, orangepeel (and not in a difficult to reach corner), crooked installation of pickups (not square, and misaligned),... If an Asian company can spit out guitars that have a higher degree of workmanship at 1/5th the price, and do that in a consistent fashion, that means that there is just something completely wrong at Gibson.

But I also have to say, the stuff that comes from Memphis (archtops, ES,...) and Montana (acoustics) are very nicely built instruments, with a competitive degree of consistency. It's the Nashville plant that's performing sub-par.

[NickD]

It would be a bit sad that the CS-Gibsons would be underwhelming, especially if you see for what absurd amounts of money they go for.

Yes, that's a good point. Mine had the combination of a massive price drop and an extremely good trade in deal from a shop who know me well.

CS & Memphis quality control isn't quite as good as it should be, if I'm being very very picky (and at those prices you should be), but the instruments themselves are excellent, but as you say, it's the standard Nashville range that aren't good enough guitars and are outperformed by cheaper versions.

[s_mcsleazy]

ok, this is more an issue with epiphone than gibson right now. i only just noticed it. so i was looking up epiphone sg's because my bandmate just threw one together and i kinda remembered how cool they can be. however, i realised that there is fuck all choice for them. i'm not just talking about colour. im talking about actual models compared to the epiphone les pauls. i've had quite a few sg's over the years and i've always liked them more than les pauls but the range is dire.
here's the sg
http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Electrics/SG.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
here is the les paul
http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Electr ... -Paul.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

the sg line has like 5 colours between them but the les paul has more colours than a fucking colour spectrum. hell, at this point i wouldn't be surprised if they had reddish green. i wonder if gibson are any better with giving love to the les paul's little sister............. NOPE. less than 48 sg's to like 100 les pauls and the colours are still poor.