Bye, Bye Gibson.

Don O said:
Totally agree. Another bad math example is some people use an average for return on invest each year. For example, you start with $100 and it doubles the first year to $200. Your ROI is 100% for the first year. Now the next year, that $200 losses $100, you have $100 left and your ROI is -50%. If you take the ROI average (100% + -50%)/2 = 25% that just doesn't work. You have to use a Compound Annual Growth Rate formula.
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;>)/
 
Go ahead and flame me but......................all the knocking/praising folks have for Gibson I feel about the Mexican Fender guitars. When they first came out, they were just a good as the USA issues. Down the road a bit, the Mexican Fender electrics became very "hit or miss."
 
Catmandue said:
Go ahead and flame me but......................all the knocking/praising folks have for Gibson I feel about the Mexican Fender guitars. When they first came out, they were just a good as the USA issues. Down the road a bit, the Mexican Fender electrics became very "hit or miss."
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I heard the the best Mexican Fenders made were between the years 1995 to 2000. I have a '96 Fender Mex Strat in candy apple red that sounds real good and plays very well. I bought it in a pawn shop quite a few years back for a good deal.


;>)/
 
BlackSG91 said:
I heard the the best Mexican Fenders made were between the years 1995 to 2000. I have a '96 Fender Mex Strat in candy apple red that sounds real good and plays very well. I bought it in a pawn shop quite a few years back for a good deal.


;>)/
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You got a good one! I would love one of the early Jimmie Vaughan Strat. The ones with the signature in thick black on the back of the head stock. I had a MIM Classic Series 50s Strat, which was a total nightmare. The pups on it were complete garbage. The guitar in general had a number of issues I became tired of dealing with. I unloaded it a few years back.
 
eSGEe said:
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Thanks for this. That was a nice, clear explanation.

I would further speculate that some of the guitar sales problems have stemmed from Gibson’s demands on “authorized dealers”. The music store that I purchased my first electric guitar from (1981-2-ish)was a Gibson authorized dealer for many years/a few decades. That store is not now. They stopped sometime around 2015...along with any other “mom and pop” instrument stores around me. Apparently due to the requirements put forth by Gibson in regards to quantity of inventory purchased per year(guessing a bit, as they don’t really like to talk about it). That store now carries other brands like G&L, Vintage, Ibanez, Peavey, Reverand, Martin, and Taylor. Their stock of acoustic guitars is either equivalent to, or larger than, their stock of electrics for the first time that I can remember. They seem to be doing ok.
I guess my point is, now that none of the privately owned stores within a reasonable distance are Gibson dealers, the only place to go to physically lay hands on a brand new Gibson(short of going in to the city) is Guitar Denter. This can’t be a positive thing for Gibson sales, and I’m guessing that somewhere there’s a foot with a bullet hole in it.
 
Thatbastarddon said:
Thanks for this. That was a nice, clear explanation.

I would further speculate that some of the guitar sales problems have stemmed from Gibson’s demands on “authorized dealers”. The music store that I purchased my first electric guitar from (1981-2-ish)was a Gibson authorized dealer for many years/a few decades. That store is not now. They stopped sometime around 2015...along with any other “mom and pop” instrument stores around me. Apparently due to the requirements put forth by Gibson in regards to quantity of inventory purchased per year(guessing a bit, as they don’t really like to talk about it). That store now carries other brands like G&L, Vintage, Ibanez, Peavey, Reverand, Martin, and Taylor. Their stock of acoustic guitars is either equivalent to, or larger than, their stock of electrics for the first time that I can remember. They seem to be doing ok.
I guess my point is, now that none of the privately owned stores within a reasonable distance are Gibson dealers, the only place to go to physically lay hands on a brand new Gibson(short of going in to the city) is Guitar Denter. This can’t be a positive thing for Gibson sales, and I’m guessing that somewhere there’s a foot with a bullet hole in it.
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When I was having trouble with my two new Gibson's, I found all the Gibson warranty centers around me had closed. The nearest was Fountain Valley.

I actually considered opening a store and doing Gibson warranty service, but there were numerous restrictions.

I was informed by Gibson corporate that you cannot become a Gibson warranty center without first becoming an authorized dealer and you cannot become a dealer without flooring a minimum dollar amount of their products....
 
Thatbastarddon said:
...Apparently due to the requirements put forth by Gibson in regards to quantity of inventory purchased per year(guessing a bit, as they don’t really like to talk about it)....
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One of the managers at a local music store that recently went out of business told me that at one time Gibson was demanding that 40% of the hooks on the wall had to have Gibsons.

That was a few years back and I don't know if that requirement is still true, but that's what I was told.
 
smitty_p said:
One of the managers at a local music store that recently went out of business told me that at one time Gibson was demanding that 40% of the hooks on the wall had to have Gibsons.

That was a few years back and I don't know if that requirement is still true, but that's what I was told.
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That's not a wise decision for Gibson to do this to their dealers, if this is the case. This will only hurt their bottom line.
 
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Session 5 said:
That's not a wise decision for Gibson to do this to their dealers, if this is the case. This will only hurt their bottom line.
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Yup. Like I said, that was a few years ago. This means, a store owner has only 60% of the hooks remaining for all the other brands he may sell.
 
Session 5 said:
That's not a wise decision for Gibson to do this to their dealers, if this is the case.
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Regardless, it’s been done...at least around me.
Session 5 said:
The owner of the shop I buy from was telling me the Chinese are really upping the game in making guitars.
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Of course they are...if that’s what they’re selling.;)
It seems to be true too...to some extent.
I have 3 MIC guitars. Two of them have been great players, and the third one I just got bored with I think.
I’ve tried others that have been not so good too. Just like anything else...there’s good, bad, and ugly. With practice, the good happens more often.
 
Thatbastarddon said:
Thanks for this. That was a nice, clear explanation.

I would further speculate that some of the guitar sales problems have stemmed from Gibson’s demands on “authorized dealers”. The music store that I purchased my first electric guitar from (1981-2-ish)was a Gibson authorized dealer for many years/a few decades. That store is not now. They stopped sometime around 2015...along with any other “mom and pop” instrument stores around me. Apparently due to the requirements put forth by Gibson in regards to quantity of inventory purchased per year(guessing a bit, as they don’t really like to talk about it). That store now carries other brands like G&L, Vintage, Ibanez, Peavey, Reverand, Martin, and Taylor. Their stock of acoustic guitars is either equivalent to, or larger than, their stock of electrics for the first time that I can remember. They seem to be doing ok.
I guess my point is, now that none of the privately owned stores within a reasonable distance are Gibson dealers, the only place to go to physically lay hands on a brand new Gibson(short of going in to the city) is Guitar Denter. This can’t be a positive thing for Gibson sales, and I’m guessing that somewhere there’s a foot with a bullet hole in it.
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This is so true. Closest Gibson dealer is two hours away at the Guitar Center in Ventura, California. I do not live in the boonies, either. Lots of musicians in my area do a lot of business locally... but I guess it's not enough for Gibson. I'm pretty sure Fender has similar inventory requirements.
 
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Even though Mark told me that, personally I'm not totally convinced. I find with the Chinese made it is hit and miss. They will improve and become better as time goes on. But for me right now China made is out of the question. I can see it for beginner guitars they have their place for now, but when it comes to having a higher end guitar no.
 
Session 5 said:
Even though Mark told me that, personally I'm not totally convinced. I find with the Chinese made it is hit and miss. They will improve and become better as time goes on. But for me right now China made is out of the question. I can see it for beginner guitars they have their place for now, but when it comes to having a higher end guitar no.
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Yep. Hit or miss...I agree. Sometimes you get lucky, and bump in to something good.
These two were made in China:
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Neither one says Gibson on the headstock. Both have been solid players.
 
Thatbastarddon said:
Yep. Hit or miss...I agree. Sometimes you get lucky, and bump in to something good.
These two were made in China:
View attachment 11913

View attachment 11914

Neither one says Gibson on the headstock. Both have been solid players.
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Yes your right there are some out there, My Squire Affinity was one of them well made for the money. The B.C Rich I had was China made it was a descent guitar. One of the things I have noticed since playing is the type of neck the guitar has. I like a slim neck, but not all slim necks a created equal. I had no issues with the squire with hand pain, only when I had the Rich did I discover the difference in necks even though it was slim with a C shape after playing every day for a few weeks I suffered severe hand pain, I could hardly play, I was very concerned. At this time I quit playing the Rich and forced myself to go back and start playing my Godin Session Strat once I did this every day the pain would lessen, then after five days the pain was gone, That's just one of the reasons I like Godin guitars they have ergo necks, and the more I play other guitars the more I appreciate the necks of these guitars. Godin doesn't make low end guitars, so I am thankful that I chose the squire for my first guitar and that it was decently made and suited my hand otherwise I might not have known what was causing the problem. I have small hands , but I have a big heart LOL! I find I like to stay with the higher end guitars . I now have 3 Godin guitars and each of them I play the strings off them. And now no hand problems whatsoever.
 
I have ran thru a number of brand new Gibson's buying end of year closeouts and trying all these different models. It was fun & I got to really find what I like and didn't lose money on any of them. Never had 1 complaint from the guys that ended up with them. There are plenty of Gibson SG's on the market that I won't really have to worry about Gibson being around. I can get along with the Fadeds, the Specials and the Standards....never had a Custom.
 
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