Gibson's financial troubles -- updated

[TBird1958]

Dear God, I wish someone with $$$ and some common sense would buy Gibson, it's painful to watch.

FWIW I really like Robert Palmer, we play "Addicted to Love" as an early in the evening standard, it never fails to get people's assess onto the dance floor.

[lowend1]

OMG, someone who knows Heino here!!! 
No refuge is safe these days!

Damn straight!

[Pilgrim]

I figure that most of everything is owned by Coca-Cola or Sony. Or the Trilateral Commission. Or Gnomes.

Most of them would do better than Henry, although the Gnomes might make tiny instruments that we can't play.

Mark, that is a killer sound on Addicted to Love. Great punch, sounds perfect in that mix!

[Dave W]

A debt for equity swap would be the best case scenario for the Gibson brand, considering the current situation, so long as the rescuing debt holder brings in new management. In any case, the brand will not go away. Much too valuable. Worst case scenario would be having the name sold off without the physical assets.

Robert Palmer uncomfortable on stage? Really? Granted, he's no Iggy, but compared to a live performance by Moon Martin, who wrote this, Palmer was a bundle of energy. Besides, back then Martin looked like an old maid schoolteacher.

[patman]

Agreed. Great sound.

Is there a distortion device employed, or is that what a T-bird sounds like opened up loud?

Maybe a tube amp? Very assertive sound.

[Pilgrim]

I liked a lot of Palmer's stuff, and he was pretty versatile.

I like Every Kinda People too...hard to believe this dates to the 70's...

[TBird1958]

Agreed. Great sound.

Is there a distortion device employed, or is that what a T-bird sounds like opened up loud?

Maybe a tube amp? Very assertive sound.

It's a Burny Thunderbird, set neck bass. It's pretty light and has the biggest headstock of any Thunderbird - Absolute boat paddle. The amp is a GK 700RBII with a Line6 basspod live in front of it, no distortion pedal, through two 4x10SBX cabinets. 


The Mother of all Headstocks
The stock pickups were black plastic, I cut the covers off and replaced the with some polished nickel ones from Mike Lull, they're a perfect match for the stock hardware - It's a nice variation on chrome.

I figure that most of everything is owned by Coca-Cola or Sony. Or the Trilateral Commission. Or Gnomes.

Most of them would do better than Henry, although the Gnomes might make tiny instruments that we can't play.

Mark, that is a killer sound on Addicted to Love. Great punch, sounds perfect in that mix!

Thanks Al!

[uwe]

A debt for equity swap would be the best case scenario for the Gibson brand, considering the current situation, so long as the rescuing debt holder brings in new management. In any case, the brand will not go away. Much too valuable. Worst case scenario would be having the name sold off without the physical assets.

Robert Palmer uncomfortable on stage? Really? Granted, he's no Iggy, but compared to a live performance by Moon Martin, who wrote this, Palmer was a bundle of energy. Besides, back then Martin looked like an old maid schoolteacher.

Yeah, but Moon Martin had that Ric Ocasek nerd appeal. Palmer looked like a male model, but he could not do those suave crooner moves you would expect from his looks. I forgive him for not being a chest-pounding rock beast, not everybody has to be. But as I said, I like his work and was a devout Power Station fan at the time.

[Dave W]

[chromium]

Gah! 

Henry J needs to hire this guy for demos...

[OldManC]

Robert Palmer was one of my favorites the minute I bought Secrets. When Clues came out I wasn't sure what to think but once I listened a few times that grew on me too. I loved that he didn't sound like most of what I was listening to at the time. And as much as I liked that Power Station album, I always felt it was a step down for him, creatively.

[Dave W]

Gah! 

Henry J needs to hire this guy for demos...

That's the amazing Greg Koch, a/k/a the Gristleman. You probably already knew that. He's done a lot of demo videos for Wildwood.

Whatever happened to the Dick Butkus lookalike guy who demoed the Fireturd X when it was announced?

[doombass]

I guess most musicians don't really get too hungup on the "Lifestyle"-promoting Gibson has been up to lately, at least not in the aspect of the heritage. It will probably remain a classic honorable guitar brand.  What Gibson are doing now I believe is ruining their present sales not only by releasing guitar features only a minority is interested in, but also this Lifestyle-BS. Who are they reaching out to in the first video of this thread? Musicians? Not even a fashion-minded rockstar would be turned on by it, even though rockstars and models have a tightly knitten history together. A rockstar does'nt want the models whimsing around with the guitars anyway. A Gibson guitar as a fashion accessory? I still think cute purses, bags and jewelry will stand the test of time.

New style of sound: http://www.gibson.com/Products/Microsites/gibsonsxsw/Event-Schedule/fashion-show.aspx

March 11
Fashion Show
Start Time: 6:00 pm

Gibson Brands, the premier music lifestyle brand, is partnering with SXSW and Neiman Marcus to bring its "New Style of Sound" fashion show to Austin as the official kickoff to SXSW Style on March 11, 2017. The "SXSW Style Kickoff Party Presented by Gibson Brands" will take over the Vaughn in downtown Austin with a high-energy runway event pairing innovative products from the Gibson Brands family with fresh, spring styles from Neiman Marcus, all backed by beats from DJ Wade Crescent and a live performance from Erika Wennerstrom (Heartless Bastards). The exclusive evening will also feature live sets from buzzworthy artists including Emily Wolfe, Band of Heathens and The Shelters following the fashion show.

Nice to see that a member of the Heartless Bastards and the Band of Heathens are all in good support of this event. Nice pick Gibson!

[uwe]

Robert Palmer was one of my favorites the minute I bought Secrets. When Clues came out I wasn't sure what to think but once I listened a few times that grew on me too. I loved that he didn't sound like most of what I was listening to at the time. And as much as I liked that Power Station album, I always felt it was a step down for him, creatively.

Power Station didn't have exactly cerebral lyrics nor the most gifted songwriting, 'tis true. But I loved the sonics of that band, the interplay between drums, bass and guitar and the state of the art, but very much into your face production. It was a bit like a stylish porn flic.

[Dave W]

Press release from the loan shark investment bank behind Gibson's refinancing.