Gibson Announces New Leadership Team

lowend1 · October 23, 2018, 12:02:45 PM

I didn't see this posted anywhere else here, soooo...
http://www.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/News/en-us/Gibson-Brands-Leadership-Press-Release-2018.aspx?fbclid=IwAR1XMXp8pkf4WnTt0GBCF3vy0_6pMn3g-WIYpF54Y0vmWw4XydZZw4sM2U8

Dave W · October 23, 2018, 03:18:25 PM

Company press releases are always optimistic, aren't they? But after reading Curleigh's comments in the Nashville Post article, I'm optimistic too. https://www.nashvillepost.com/business/manufacturing/article/21028533/levis-leader-picked-to-be-gibson-ceo

TBird1958 · October 23, 2018, 05:45:03 PM

It does sound good - A nice change at last!

ajkula66 · October 23, 2018, 06:56:52 PM

Premier Guitar has an artcle about it as well...

https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/28071-gibson-announces-new-ceo?utm_source=Premier+Guitar&utm_campaign=2077c0f527-EM

Fingers and toes crossed...

planetgaffnet · October 24, 2018, 08:13:20 AM

I just hope they take someone on who reads discussion groups like this one and try to engage with their customer base. I'm a member of the UK Basschat (and a casual browser of Talkbass), it's a great thing when manufacturers chip in - Tech 21 regularly post to Basschat.

Thing is, until they actually listen to what people want, they're always going to fail eventually. I know full well they have a business to run, but do they honestly need to flood an already saturated market with thousands of rebooted Les Paul models year in, year out? Probably not. I might actually be a good thing if they ceased production for a couple of years...it worked in the 1960s.

Ultimately (and I use the collective 'we' here, despite not currently owning a Gibson in any guise), what do we, as bassists, actually want from Gibson, because I have a significant wedge of money just burning a hole in my pocket. In recent years, we've gone from a period where nobody wanted a Thunderbird to a point where every Tom, Dick and Harry is playing one (which was largely why I bailed and started buying Lulls). In my gigging years I've never played with anyone (either as support or headliner) that's used any other Gibson model; not a single EB or SG-Bass variant. Add to this that pretty much every bass other than their core range seems to have either been short lived or abject failure.

D.M.N. · October 24, 2018, 12:48:54 PM

I'll be honest, hearing a Levi's exec is in charge actually sounds promising. Levi's is one of the few brands I'm actually somewhat loyal to. Funny enough, there's actually a decent parallel between the two, as both Gibson and Levi's draw on their heritage products for their current product line. Levi's Vintage Clothing line makes some excellent reissues of their old clothes, they really know how to go through their archives and accurately reproduce items. They also seem to be pretty good at introducing new products while maintaining the integrity of their core line, instead of going whole hog on some hair-brained idea and ditching the things everybody loves. And that's what I want to see with Gibson: a core, stable primary product line with little alteration (maybe some, even Levi's occasionally updates fits to best suit current trends), while still trying out some new ideas (ones that make sense) and maintaining the integrity of their heritage.

Edit: I see JC actually mentions my point in the second article.

lowend1 · October 24, 2018, 04:18:42 PM

A pair of Levi's Vintage 501s sells on their site for $285, and they are imported. While they may mirror Gibson in that their legacy products are ridiculously overpriced, at least Gibson makes the product in the US - for now, anyway...

https://www.levi.com/US/en_US/levis-vintage-clothing/levis-vintage-clothing-for-men/c/levi_clothing_men_vintage_clothing_us?ab=collectionsLP_LVC_shopmen_082119

Dave W · October 24, 2018, 09:07:59 PM

Quote from: planetgaffnet on October 24, 2018, 08:13:20 AM
I just hope they take someone on who reads discussion groups like this one and try to engage with their customer base. I'm a member of the UK Basschat (and a casual browser of Talkbass), it's a great thing when manufacturers chip in - Tech 21 regularly post to Basschat.

Thing is, until they actually listen to what people want, they're always going to fail eventually. I know full well they have a business to run, but do they honestly need to flood an already saturated market with thousands of rebooted Les Paul models year in, year out? Probably not. I might actually be a good thing if they ceased production for a couple of years...it worked in the 1960s.

Ultimately (and I use the collective 'we' here, despite not currently owning a Gibson in any guise), what do we, as bassists, actually want from Gibson, because I have a significant wedge of money just burning a hole in my pocket. In recent years, we've gone from a period where nobody wanted a Thunderbird to a point where every Tom, Dick and Harry is playing one (which was largely why I bailed and started buying Lulls). In my gigging years I've never played with anyone (either as support or headliner) that's used any other Gibson model; not a single EB or SG-Bass variant. Add to this that pretty much every bass other than their core range seems to have either been short lived or abject failure.

Gibson's musical instruments business is profitable now despite Henry. No reason to think it will fail. If you think new Les Pauls and SGs aren't still very much in demand, you're not looking in the right places. I'm a member at MyLesPaul forums; between the complaints about Gibson you'll see lots of enthusiasm for new ones. And that's not even the largest Gibson-oriented forum.

I don't doubt that the TBird has been Gibson's best seller but I haven't seen one gigged here for years (and that one was in a band from out of state) but I do see EB/SG basses. You can't draw conclusions from one local scene.

Dave W · October 24, 2018, 09:13:32 PM

Quote from: lowend1 on October 24, 2018, 04:18:42 PM
A pair of Levi's Vintage 501s sells on their site for $285, and they are imported. While they may mirror Gibson in that their legacy products are ridiculously overpriced, at least Gibson makes the product in the US - for now, anyway...
https://www.levi.com/US/en_US/levis-vintage-clothing/levis-vintage-clothing-for-men/c/levi_clothing_men_vintage_clothing_us?ab=collectionsLP_LVC_shopmen_082119

Levi Strauss moved manufacturing overseas a couple of decades ago, long before Mr. Curleigh joined the company. You can't be a big player in the clothing industry otherwise.

Gibson moved its lower priced line overseas almost 50 years ago. They just didn't label them Gibsons. The American-made guitar is an icon, there's no chance that new management will destroy that even if they decide to label some imports with the Gibson brand.

Chris P. · October 25, 2018, 02:59:14 AM

I think this is very positive and I also saw the parallels between Levi's and Gibson.

And how appropriate it is that The Savior's initials are JC? Like Dutch soccer legend Johan Cruijff and that bloke who features in the second part of the bible.

the mojo hobo · October 25, 2018, 08:57:33 AM

Levi's lost my business at least ten years ago when leans that were still rather new would have the belt loops break in the wash. Since then I have only used Union Line jeans from All USA Clothing. They are much more durable and do not cost any more than Levi's at JC Penny.

https://allusaclothing.com/mens/bottoms/union-line-25305-denim-jeans-usa-made.html

I don't see myself buying a new Gibson bass anytime soon as I already have too many.

gearHed289 · October 25, 2018, 09:00:16 AM

I do love my Levi's 527 jeans.

Pilgrim · October 25, 2018, 12:12:23 PM

I buy Levis 559 jeans used on Ebay for $20 or less. Don't really care where they're made.

lowend1 · October 25, 2018, 06:42:41 PM

Quote from: the mojo hobo on October 25, 2018, 08:57:33 AM
Levi's lost my business at least ten years ago when leans that were still rather new would have the belt loops break in the wash

I like Levi's, fit wise, but quality, IME, has suffered of late. I bought a pair of 541s last year that started to tear at the at the rear pocket within a couple of months. To their credit, Levi's does have a 2-year warranty on their products, under which they have replaced two pairs of the above jeans (the first replacement started to tear in the same spot in around the same time frame). The last time around, I had them send me a pair that were not prewashed, and so far, so good.

Dave W · October 25, 2018, 07:15:31 PM

Quote from: the mojo hobo on October 25, 2018, 08:57:33 AM
Levi's lost my business at least ten years ago when leans that were still rather new would have the belt loops break in the wash. Since then I have only used Union Line jeans from All USA Clothing. They are much more durable and do not cost any more than Levi's at JC Penny.

https://allusaclothing.com/mens/bottoms/union-line-25305-denim-jeans-usa-made.html

I don't see myself buying a new Gibson bass anytime soon as I already have too many.

Too many basses? I didn't know that was possible!

If Levis are $50 then I can see buying $50 American-made jeans as an alternative. But I buy regular fit Wranglers, $17 at Target and Walmart. I wear each pair about once a week and they last a couple of years. No complaints.