Looking at the new model introductions of recent years (and assuming that what we see on various Gibson forums is somewhat representative), I guess it is fair to say that the SG RI was a success (who'd have thought given that it is short scale and the SG-Z did so badly), the Doublecut/Money did alright and the Studio TBs flopped (which surprised me: I thought there was a market out there with people who wanted something better than an Epi and something less expensive than a reg TB IV and that the NU Metal brigade would eagerly jump on an available 5 string in TB shape).
So what is the recipe behind the SG RI success?
- People want a traditional look from Gibson and something that stays in the heritage, but sound need not be archaic, some versatility is appreciated. Not everyone has ten or more basses to choose from for various sounds.
- They don't want to pay a king's ransom for it, but they are prepared to pay a Gibson premium.
- They like something that is clearly identifiable as a Gibson at first sight and harks back to some - however vague - historical image.
If you look at the above criteria, they pretty much apply to the similarly successful TB IV too. So the lesson learnt should be that Gibson is most successful with traditionally looking instruments in one of their iconic shapes which are gently modernized to meet current player's demands.
Uwe
My above posting proved more prophetic than I would have ever liked it to be: Go to "basses" on the offiicial Gibson homepage and what do you
not see?
Right, Money, TB Stdio IV and TB Studio V have all three been slashed from the model line ...
, they are down to classic TB IV and SG RI (Studio V is still pictured under "basses" by accident, but no longer listed).
And no mention of a GoW program for 2008 either. I thought as much ... the way they let the 2007 one fizzle out in week 48 without any announcement. All those SG Supremes, Moneys and Z-Birds they have flooded the market with via Ebay in recent weeks, you don't do that stuff if you want to attract buyers for a 2008 GoW program and its premium prices.
Of course, they might have slimmed down their product line to make room for new NAMM models, but I fear more that this is the start of another model hibernation period.
Well, we can all look forward to MAMM 2012 I guess ...
And my Studio IV and V are now rarities!
Uwe