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Gibson Files For Bankruptcy

Discussion in 'Article Discussion' started by Melody Bot, May 1, 2018.

  1. Melody Bot

    Your friendly little forum bot. Staff Member

    This article has been imported from chorus.fm for discussion. All of the forum rules still apply.

    Gibson guitars have filed for bankruptcy. NPR reports:


    The petition, filed on Tuesday, notes that the company currently has up to $500 million in debt and will focus its operations on its musical instruments business, “unburdened by the challenges experienced by [the company’s] separate, primarily non-U.S., consumer electronics business.” That business includes the brands KRK, Cerwin Vega and Stanton, whose lines include studio monitors, headphones and turntables.

     
  2. Stephen Young

    Regular Prestigious

    Clearly doesn't have anything to do with them making and selling mediocre guitars for luxury prices, huh?
     
    Raku, Ugly Mug, aspeedomodel and 3 others like this.
  3. Ryan

    Might be Spider-Man...

    Gibson has been floundering in a myriad of ways, for decades. Even when they were still making quality instruments, the price of their guitars was abhorrent just because it said “Gibson” on the headstock.
     
  4. SEANoftheDEAD

    Trusted

    Sold my SG and LP years ago and joined the Fender fam. Never looked back.
     
    Fucking Dustin and Davjs like this.
  5. Turkeylegz

    Trusted

    No one is surprised. I really like Epiphone guitars as a cheaper alternative and am curious what will happen with them.
     
    CMilliken and SEANoftheDEAD like this.
  6. SEANoftheDEAD

    Trusted

    Same. Picked up an Epiphone Casino for super cheap and its an awesome guitar.
     
    Turkeylegz likes this.
  7. Turkeylegz

    Trusted

    I never had a Fender but I am always amazed at how light and comfortable Strats are compared to the LPs. What Fenders are you playing?
     
    SEANoftheDEAD likes this.
  8. Phil507

    Resident NYC snob Supporter

    Same here. The majority of people who buy guitars aren't playing professionally from what I gather, so there's really no incentive to drop $2k on one when you can get something that's basically similar for $400-500
     
    CMilliken and Turkeylegz like this.
  9. Iamhollywood315

    Regular

    Epiphone les Paul has been all I ever needed. Plays great and I’m not good enough to shell out for a 3k for a gibson
     
    SEANoftheDEAD and Turkeylegz like this.
  10. SEANoftheDEAD

    Trusted


    I currently own 2 teles, one Mexi and one American Classic. The American is my go to guitar. I'm a smaller guy and the LP used to kill my shoulders after playing for awhile. My tele is super light compared to that. The Gibson SG's are like feathers though.
     
    Fucking Dustin and Turkeylegz like this.
  11. jorbjorb

    7 rings

    piece of shit guitars
     
    Raku likes this.
  12. SEANoftheDEAD

    Trusted

    Edited: They're not good enough for you to shell out 3k.
     
    goation and CMilliken like this.
  13. rbf737

    Regular

    I've been playing the same Epiphone Les Paul style guitar since I was a teenager. I just finally got an inexpensive G&L as only my second electric guitar but still use the Epiphone all the time; crazy how good it's been for so long for such a low price.
     
    Turkeylegz likes this.
  14. AndrewRnR

    Newbie

    I don't think the quality is awful - I have a Les Paul from a few years ago and it is a fantastic instrument.

    I chalk it up to a few things:
    - The CEO is awful. Seriously. Look at Glassdoor reviews of the company. Nearly everyone is like "don't work here the CEO will personally insult you". He has made news before for his horrible policies. Can't succeed with someone like that at the top.

    - Horrible innovation. Who needs automated tuners? Modern V?

    - Bad marketing. I mean Gibson didn't even go to NAMM this year. Fender is smart to focus on developing apps that teach people how to play guitar. Get them hooked. I read an article from Fender's CEO that said something like 90% of people who try to learn guitar give up after 6 months. And that his focus is to break that high learning curve.

    - Inaccessible. You walk into a guitar shop and you can't even touch a Gibson guitar. Granted if you reallllly wanted one you could ask. But 75% of the time when I go into shops you can easily pick up a nice Fender and play but Gibsons are high up or behind the counter.

    - Too expensive. their market has been rich baby boomers looking to treat themselves by that dried up. Anyone remember when Tom Delonge had a sig strat for 400 bucks then switched to a Gibson that was like 2k (yeah yeah he later released a "cheaper" Epiphone but still). Just shows how out of touch they were. How would you expect young kids who could get his guitar for 400 bucks would now pay 2k for one when they are too young to have a full time job? I get it some of the guitars are more detailed then a Fender so it isn't same for same but I love Fender's Good (Mexican), Better (American), Best model (Custom) and well even Squier pretty good. I'd love another Les Paul but I keep buying Fenders because for the half the price of the Les Paul I can get a really great quality guitar. But even then I wonder how well it works for Fender since I honestly have seen some Mexican guitars that blow away the American ones twice the price.
     
    MrCon, Ryan and Helloelloallo like this.
  15. Fucking Dustin

    Please click "like" Supporter

    I want an american Tele so badly
     
    Mr. Serotonin and SEANoftheDEAD like this.
  16. TomG

    Trusted Supporter

    The Lake placid blue 60’s American Original tele looks amazing...I’d love one of those. The cleans sound amazing but not sure how it handles heavier/distorted tones
     
    Fucking Dustin likes this.
  17. CMilliken

    Trusted

    Had an Epiphone LP awhile back. Loved it but I was stupid and sold it for a lesser guitar. Even if I had the money I don’t think I could bring myself to spend “Gibson” money on a guitar. Looking at buying another electric now. Might buy the same LP I had but also considering a nice Fender or PRS.
     
    Turkeylegz likes this.
  18. Turkeylegz

    Trusted

    I'd kill for a PRS but I think my next will be a ~$500 tele or epiphone lp
     
    CMilliken likes this.
  19. Steve_JustAGuy

    Trusted

    I was able to buy that Delonge strat used years ago and, outside of a shitty paint job the previous owner did, I really love that thing. Hopefully Gibson can turn it around, but I'll always be a Fender guy.
     
    Raku likes this.
  20. GageStillAlive

    Still Alive Supply Co. Supporter

    I never bought a Gibson because the price always seemed insane to me. All of my Fenders and Gretsch combined still cost less than a Gibson ES-335.
     
    Raku likes this.
  21. jorbjorb

    7 rings

    I spent $1200 on a gibson SG and the E string wouldn't stay put because the nut wasn't cut properly.. I sold it right after and lost a bunch of money.