Tell me how you really feel about Gibson Today

[tapper mike]

I'm thinking it's time for another picks or GTFO thread.

[Bombadil]

Well, it seems obvious many here have alternatives to Gibsons, which kinda gives an inkling about what people think about the new Gibsons.
The SG remains my favourite electric guitar shape. But I've been disappointed by every one I've owned. I'm not looking for another, so why look at all?

[Surgo]

The fact that they now consider themselves a "lifestyle brand" and the last artist that inspired anyone to pick up a Les Paul was Yui Hirasawa says it all.

[kevinsparks]

I'm fortunate enough to have gotten an SG-X back when they were on clearance. I don't know if it's a "great" guitar, but it's my favorite while every other guitar I've owned has come and gone throughout the years.

[Uncle E]

Sweet! Single pickup SG's are great. Here's a mockup I made of a single pickup SG Custom. We're building a guitar with the same appointments but with a Jazzmaster body:

Single-Pickup-Custom-Mockup.jpg

[lfm]

Attention to detail is the only grapple I have with Gibson, since the pricetag suggest it should be premium
- one year they release with Grover tuners and another Kluson, like the 45g weight times 6 in headstock does not matter
- even worse, the automatic tuning machines were also standard for a bit????
- my headstock on LP is 17mm, but they did not bother to get tuners that are 2mm higher which result in higher angle from nut to stringpost, meaning tuning issues with more pressure in nut slot
- as in video, nut slots not cut right nor right height so can be sharp when fretting, tuning open string to fretted a mess
- my 335 showed Gibson did not have 10mm bore for tuners, so they were 10.4mm and not tight fit, I had to use sheet copper to make a tight fit
- fret leveling on my LP Std was horrible, had to do this myself, but was fun to learn that too

So they are not striving to do something better each new release, just different hardware.

There is always fashionable brands in different periods, so to bash Gibson because of endorsed artists is nothing I would do.

Not sure what "grapple" Eric Clapton has with Gibson, but Cream reunion concert he used strat, small fender amp and some pedals??
- instead of Gibson guitars and Marshall amp
- not even close to the sound of Cream

These concert DVDs I was able to find with Cream were all that psychedelic era and a lot of extra reverbs and video art and stuff, so was hoping to have a real Cream setup to listen over and over again, so was disappointed at that choice.
- nothing wrong with concert though, and Claptons voice is better than ever

Haven't seen Clapton with a Gibson since way back then. Something must have happened...an artist his caliber demostrating almost to always do strat instead....

[Winstontaneous]

I had my first app‘t in almost 3 years with an oncologist yesterday. Still cancer-free. Still haven‘t regained all my strength. But I‘m here, something I did not think would happen, 5 years ago.
Thanks for your kind words, though.

Wow I am so happy to hear that, congratulations!


When I was looking for something Gibson-esque a few years ago I ended up with a Godin Core XT - chambered mahogany body, set mahogany neck, maple top, 24-3/4" scale, and 2 hum-cancelling Fralin P-90s. Couldn't really bring myself to pay the price of a US Gibson. About 25 years ago they had a Les Paul Studio that was US-made, ebony fingerboard, maple top, and something like $1200 at the time, haven't seen anything quality/price-wise from them since. My favorite local guitarist had one and it was fantastic, the real deal. If I was looking for something in that vein now I'd probably go for a used Japanese Bacchus Handmade, I have a stupendously good Momose '70s-style Jazz Bass made in the same Aska Deviser factory as the Bacchus stuff.

[tapper mike]

- even worse, the automatic tuning machines were also standard for a bit????

Yeah nothing like the guitar retuning itself to atonal hell mid song

- my headstock on LP is 17mm,

Always been that way. It's a fashion statement. That statement being never drop your guitar or the neck is going to snap. That's okay because you'll have a guitar of diminished resell after it's reglued in to place or you can always buy another.

14'mm is the industry standard even on Epiphones. It tends to make the tone slightly brighter on a 14mm pitch. Not just Epi, LTD, Schecter Sire and many more.

So they are not striving to do something better each new release, just different hardware.

Well they went as cheap as possible. The "Modern Lite" has no modern features and is light simply because it's a thinner piece of mahogany body. It sounds more like a LP Junior.

The Supreme is pleked so they did that and it looks pretty. Coil Taps, phase. "Chambered" so it's about the wieght of ... A strat.

Honestly I think it's the most beautiful sounding Les Paul that ever was. And I'm pretty sure the only way I'll ever afford one is if I win the Lottery.

Not sure what "grapple" Eric Clapton has with Gibson, but Cream reunion concert he used strat, small fender amp and some pedals??
- instead of Gibson guitars and Marshall amp
- not even close to the sound of Cream

Every tine Clapton had a "Change" he'd state that he hated what he was doing and whatever he wanted to move in a different direction. He did reinvent himself quite often,

Haven't seen Clapton with a Gibson since way back then. Something must have happened...an artist his caliber demostrating almost to always do strat instead....

I think because he's got a deal with Fender for his Signature strat he sticks to that. His signature strat changes though, Sometimes it's got a different neck sometimes it's got different pups. even though it's always a hardtail and has the battery mid boost

[Uncle E]

Weight has to be an issue at his age. When I saw BB, he played his 335 sitting down.

[kevinsparks]

Sweet! Single pickup SG's are great. Here's a mockup I made of a single pickup SG Custom. We're building a guitar with the same appointments but with a Jazzmaster body:


Single-Pickup-Custom-Mockup.jpg

Cool! I think an SG body with Jazzmaster neck and hardware would be interesting. The single coil switch on the SG-X results in a very bright sound, so I added a Duesenberg trem to get closer to surfy Jazzmaster territory.

[Uncle E]

My double-cut Jr. had a single coil installed in the neck position. I don't have a picture of it but here's a picture of a re-creation I made of it:

bsil4msfecvtvyvrfw7q.jpg

[lfm]

I think because he's got a deal with Fender for his Signature strat he sticks to that. His signature strat changes though, Sometimes it's got a different neck sometimes it's got different pups. even though it's always a hardtail and has the battery mid boost

That might be it. Still it's a "rape" on the Cream sound. Nothing sounded like them at the time.
- but he often refer to Cream as crap, but one of his kids mean "white room" is a good song

At the vids Clapton seemed like he had severe arthritis or something the way he fiddles with the knobs were a "big thing" almost. The big gestures suggest he is on some substance too.

Here is some more fresh Gibson input from Bukovac


A couple of LP Special he has, one recent, and a Custom. Think he is playing one of his Tweed amps.

The passion for guitar always shines through. But guitars he is swapping is vintage stuff usually around $10,000 or so. And a lot of these wraparound tailpieces.

Had an LP Special 10+ years ago, but with normal tunomatic and 496R and 498T pickups. Great guitar too.

The more heavy crunch you get the less the guitar matters, if Gibson or something else. Bit as Bukovac demostrate the bluesier the more guitar matters like on the Custom and neck pickup.
- so everybody is right, screw Gibson, or not, depending on the tone you go for.

[machinesworking]

I don't really know about their build quality these days, but mostly issues are things you would want to look over when you first bought the guitar. I've always bought used guitars, I don't see the point in new guitars, let someone else put the first ding in it.

I've owned a 1978 Les Paul Pro modified with Gibson humbuckers before I bought it since 1990. It wasn't until 2013 that I started collecting instruments, at this point I also have a Gretsch Powerjet, Fender Telecaster, plus two guitars I inherited from my stepdad a Gibson Ripper bass, and the acoustic J-160

The modified 78 Les Paul is still the easiest guitar to play action wise, during their bad period, so maybe things get a bit overblown.


My favorite guitar I ever owned was a 70's black Les Paul custom with gold hardware, got stolen out of an apartment I lived in around 1990. A timeless design, but now far too expensive for my blood.

[tapper mike]

Clapton did have some serious heroin issues in his younger years but alledgedly he cleaned up by the 80's After that he had a chip on his shoulder. His playing got significantly tighter and tried to play things in more challenging ways. Je did mention that he could no longer play as he did in younger years. Peter Frampton has stated that he too cannot play like he did in his earlier years.

Larry Carlton seems to still hold it together though he's constantly shaking.

The biggest issue isn't always physical with older musicians. It's memory loss. Glenn Campbell was very up front about it in his later years As was Rod Stewart.

[lfm]

The modified 78 Les Paul is still the easiest guitar to play action wise, during their bad period, so maybe things get a bit overblown.

Overall Gibson, thanks to shorter scale length, is easier to play. Put same string guage on a 25.5 and 24.75 and the 24.75 feel like one step lighter set.