Is this r a p e by Gibson?

There's no right or wrong, Its all up to the individual, to buy whatever they like, When it comes to me I have my limits, I won't buy a guitar over $2,500 not that I couldn't, and I wouldn't buy any guitar pickup for more than $125 not that I couldn't, and I wouldn't buy an amp over $500, because that's how I feel about it. My outlook is I have very good equipment that I'm happy with.

If someone chooses to pay those higher prices all the power to them.
 
We’ve been beating this thing pretty hard. I think I’ve come up with a solution. My G400 could use a new set of pups. Which one of you guys are gonna pony up the bucks and buy me a set?
 
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For me, it's the trajectory and strategy of the company that's worrying - and, we all know that about Gibson.

The SG standard, for example, is a good guitar at a good price - considering inflation and the actual costs of nitro application, etc, it's fair. So, in that regard, Gibson are decent (and my favourite guitar brand). Let's call this Nice Gibson (who create some great products at reasonable prices).

But, you have the other "side" of Gibson with their marketing of endless "Kirk Hammet Greenies" - this guitar has very close to fuk all about KH, imho, and is pure marketing focused upon consumer "addictions" within a space that Gibson frame using endless marketing tools. It's horrible, and not just done by Gibson, of course, it's part of the insanity of the modern world which has stuff like $100 Gucci hamburgers. People who say it's up to the consumer to spend their money as they wish are 100% correct. I would also suggest that for some rich tech sort or banker, fair enough, but there are also folks who are addicted, getting into debt, real mental health concerns - but, I'm not going down theat argument too far because the whole world is fuk'd up as far as I can see... Let's call this Nasty Gibson (who are just out to do anything at all to make $$$ - greed culture, big bonus, marketing sorts...).

So, my point: is Nasty Gibson becoming dominant over Nice Gibson, as we see more and more of this productization insanity? It's happening at Epiphone too with US$1500 guitars which are pretty close to their US$500 offerings with some marketing and minor product changes.

1) Gibson has been struggling financially for decades, so this approach gets more $ and more profit for them, so we can enjoy the products we want. That's a positive.

2) Is Gibson becoming a brand that I no longer want to be associated with? I don't buy Gucci iPhones or Nike gold ovo x Air Jordans, or just lifestyle brands which are for posers/collectors rather than users.

My personal felling is that Gibson is coming close to a brand that I no longer feel comfortable being associated with. I won't sell my SG, but I would think more seriously about buying a Gibson again, maybe I'd spend more time looking at a Fender instead. That's just my opinion where I'd equate my product choices to a lifestyle ideology. Gibsons were players guitars, sometimes expensive, but rock and roll machines - I like that. I don't want to purchase lifestyle brands encouraged by Youtube influencers and KH's Greeny - it's an insult to my intellect (granted, quite a limited intellect). The world has gone crazy...
 
I think it's fine to spend whatever we want, but to know and have awareness that you're being taken advantage of is a separate sense. I've paid "too much" for a lot of things in life because I wanted to. It doesn't mean the company is not pulling a shaft. Unfortunately I smoke cigarettes and they are now over $10.00 a pack. Am I to justify this and not fully realize that I'm being bent over on this because I can afford it and buy them? I don't think so. I think we can all sense "fair value".

Hell, I've got probably 15 Gibson Lesters, but it doesn't mean I'm patting Gibson on the back for what they charged me.
 
Or why can you buy Buffalo Trace for 30 bucks but Blantons is 80-90? Comes out of the same distillery. My eldest son, who is a whiskey/bourbon/scotch snob, tells me you almost can’t tell the difference between the two. To a point, it comes down to marketing. Although in the BT vs Blanton case…. Blanton’s has a way lower production number. Just not sure $60 difference worth.
Do it up right..BOOKERS lol JK
 
For me, it's the trajectory and strategy of the company that's worrying - and, we all know that about Gibson.

The SG standard, for example, is a good guitar at a good price - considering inflation and the actual costs of nitro application, etc, it's fair. So, in that regard, Gibson are decent (and my favourite guitar brand). Let's call this Nice Gibson (who create some great products at reasonable prices).

But, you have the other "side" of Gibson with their marketing of endless "Kirk Hammet Greenies" - this guitar has very close to fuk all about KH, imho, and is pure marketing focused upon consumer "addictions" within a space that Gibson frame using endless marketing tools. It's horrible, and not just done by Gibson, of course, it's part of the insanity of the modern world which has stuff like $100 Gucci hamburgers. People who say it's up to the consumer to spend their money as they wish are 100% correct. I would also suggest that for some rich tech sort or banker, fair enough, but there are also folks who are addicted, getting into debt, real mental health concerns - but, I'm not going down theat argument too far because the whole world is fuk'd up as far as I can see... Let's call this Nasty Gibson (who are just out to do anything at all to make $$$ - greed culture, big bonus, marketing sorts...).

So, my point: is Nasty Gibson becoming dominant over Nice Gibson, as we see more and more of this productization insanity? It's happening at Epiphone too with US$1500 guitars which are pretty close to their US$500 offerings with some marketing and minor product changes.

1) Gibson has been struggling financially for decades, so this approach gets more $ and more profit for them, so we can enjoy the products we want. That's a positive.

2) Is Gibson becoming a brand that I no longer want to be associated with? I don't buy Gucci iPhones or Nike gold ovo x Air Jordans, or just lifestyle brands which are for posers/collectors rather than users.

My personal felling is that Gibson is coming close to a brand that I no longer feel comfortable being associated with. I won't sell my SG, but I would think more seriously about buying a Gibson again, maybe I'd spend more time looking at a Fender instead. That's just my opinion where I'd equate my product choices to a lifestyle ideology. Gibsons were players guitars, sometimes expensive, but rock and roll machines - I like that. I don't want to purchase lifestyle brands encouraged by Youtube influencers and KH's Greeny - it's an insult to my intellect (granted, quite a limited intellect). The world has gone crazy...

Not saying you are right or wrong but you might want to glance at Fender’s endorsement page if artist branding is a negative for you.
 
Go look at the Fender offerings on Sweetwater Music. I mean hell a Strats a Strat,Teles are Teles what in hell in there costs 2 grand on up. I mean come on you can build a great one best parts there are for under 1000$ easy.Fender smokin to much crack too.
 
BEST gear ever for the price if we talking Artist series... put it up against anything i ever owned. me dont care anymore..i just play,, just need right gear for the task in hand & that will vary . Gibson is awesome..Fender is..Squire is..Marshall is...mesa is Celestion is, emininece is..ect..its us who determines what any piece of gear will sound like & there is no price point really attached to it but the time you put into practicing
JM Jz.jpg
 
Has that guitar got the aluminum pickguard BFT ?
Yes it does. Been watching this guitar for a long time. The pickups handle clean & gain so well. I use the the rhythm select switch for singing parts & quiet & that leaves the regular switch for lead or crunch on flip of switch. Been searching for a gig guitar for years that can handle all the dif styles in our set, This got the job,

What they portray about this guitar is very accurate.
 
Have 57's & 61 zebra currently.

depends on if you want alnico 2 fullness or the alnico 5 slice. At least in my experience with them in SG's

Have had those 2 pickups in SG's ever since learned guitar. I consider them both my foundational tone since day 1. They also play well together especially with 61's going on top or through for leads. 61's really surprised & impressed me into fender circuits right on edge of breakup. They got every lead on every song have recorded almost because of how precisely they dial in.
If i was rythym in a band the 57's lead 61's but both are excellent SG pickups
 
About 3 or so years ago i paid 150$ apiece for orginal early 70s DiMarzio Super Ds.they goin for more now.1 is in a Tele at my Moms and the other is in my ne Epi JJN Lester Custom custom and it sounds wonderfull. Ive had Epi pickups that sound great to. Just more beatin a dead horse about pickups.Run what you like,matters not to me.Hey Jethro or Smitty im sure all the folks dancing and carrying on haveing a good time at your gigs want to know what Caps your using or what tubes ,JJs or Sovteck .? OR what pups your using. Maybe 1 gearhead out of the bunch ? The rest dont give a poop long as it sounds good and they can have good time.Nobody but a selct few could tell 100$ pups to 900$ pups.
 
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