[K Gilbert (Kevin1960)]

This goes back to the economy. With more people losing their jobs, less will be able to afford a new Gibson. Until we get people back to work other influences will continue to make things worse. I don't care what the President says, there is an increase to the cost of living. Though they are not taking care of vets and retirees, they are showing a continued interest in making sure that companies like Chrysler and GM union people get great benefits like free health care. I didn't see them lining up to give help to companies like Gibson who are providing jobs. Unless it is a green industry, car maker or a bank it doesn't seem to matter. I applaud Gibson for keeping a dream alive. They are one of only a few companies that have not had a hand out and yet they are adding real jobs. The president could take a few lessons from the business world.

[I Stoddard (Low-B 5-String)]

MSRP or Street?

[r ferrell (raven999)]

I just bought a vintage Carvin X100B half stack, and while I was at it, I checked out Carvin guitars again. They build guitars, from standard templates, that YOU the purchaser choose, and then add you're desired appointments to. After using their "guitar builder" I came out with a guitar, single cut away, 2 Alnico humbuckers with enamel coated wire, deep set neck, 4A maple flame top, in my choice of finishes, Honduran mahogany body, 22 fret ebony fret board, REAL Mother of Pearl inlays, gold hardware, natural binding, no nitro finish, no robotics, or PCB boards for about $2,000,delivered to my doorstep. I was sorely dissapointed in Gibson, as a whole. At one time I had a Custom Shop LP Custom, and a Carvin production model V220T, they were completely different instruments, and the Carvin was every inch the better guitar. So, I'm going to another American company, to get the guitar that Gibson can't build, for a better price, and personal customer service. Adios Henry, you lose.

[R Willard (Rybass)]

I think the intro models, jr and melody maker, are overpriced by quite a bit. They are intro models but the new double cut jrs are higher than VM les pauls.

The color choices are what throw me. If I want pelham or tv yellow 61 SG I have to fork out $1200+ more for a VOS.

[K Urkosky (KenG)]

r ferrell (raven999), on 29 October 2010 - 10:02 AM, said:

I just bought a vintage Carvin X100B half stack, and while I was at it, I checked out Carvin guitars again. They build guitars, from standard templates, that YOU the purchaser choose, and then add you're desired appointments to. After using their "guitar builder" I came out with a guitar, single cut away, 2 Alnico humbuckers with enamel coated wire, deep set neck, 4A maple flame top, in my choice of finishes, Honduran mahogany body, 22 fret ebony fret board, REAL Mother of Pearl inlays, gold hardware, natural binding, no nitro finish, no robotics, or PCB boards for about $2,000,delivered to my doorstep. I was sorely dissapointed in Gibson, as a whole. At one time I had a Custom Shop LP Custom, and a Carvin production model V220T, they were completely different instruments, and the Carvin was every inch the better guitar. So, I'm going to another American company, to get the guitar that Gibson can't build, for a better price, and personal customer service. Adios Henry, you lose.

I see they let you back and you're still the 'same ole guy'.

[r akers (wrick)]

Think that was posted before banning,I could be wrong.

[D Peek (DennisinJapan)]

People argue that a Gibson is a superior guitar and that isnt the case today. Today you have factories in Indonesia and China putting out comparable work. The Japanese have been making guitars so much better and so much cheaper than Gibson, that instead of competing... they just sued them.

I just put a deposit down on a 93' Gibby Flying V. I did it because USED the price is right, and yes, I do enjoy Gibson guitars.
I would rather that they understood the slice of Americana Guitar they represent and market accordingly. Dont do those limited runs of Fadeds. Make em until every player without a trust fund has bought one!! At some point they may step up to the pricier models. But even if they dont... they'll be playing Gibsons instead of falling in love with something made somewhere else.

[m dailey (milod)]

There's no question in my mind that there are quite playable Gibsons in the $1,000 range "street" price. They just don't have the glam. OTOH, I never personally understood dragons and names on fingerboards.

Unfortunately the really older Gibson electric models, the full hollow archtops, likely never will reach those lower price lines and they're what I'd most like to own, from L5 to... whatever. They're just too time/labor/materials intensive for quality.

On the other hand... I think Epis are some of the better buys around. I'd personally far prefer an Epi to some of the price point competition - and a lotta those functionally are Gibsons with less expensive materials/labor.

Frankly I think there's a pretty wide variation of Gibson Made in USA guitars and Epis fill and at times bridge the gap, just without the USA manufacture.

Arguing appropriateness of overseas manufacture is another discussion entirely, at least to me. But as a consumer I'll put my bucks into an Epi Gibson copy or a low-end Gibson.

I think were I "the boss," I might cut back on some high-end models of USA and promote for a while some of the $200-$1,000 line of Epis - but the high-end "franchise" probably should be maintained, at least in my own opinion.

m

[R May (largedude)]

It bears repeating: how can this topic be discussed without any significant participation from upper Gibson management?

There's been no posting from Henry J. for years.

[m dailey (milod)]

No higher level Gibson response...

I'm not surprised, and I'm not saying that as criticism of Gibson, rather to some of the comments and notes of expectations on this forum even more than on the "regular" Gibbie and Epi forums.

I don't even know if they're monitoring this forum any more, but I'm not sure it was all that good an idea in the first place.

If a writer wrote something with a degree of constructive comment rather than what appears to many as a whine, there had been a response.

I can't forget that it actually took a bit of prodding to find out just how much HenryJ personally lost in the Nashville flood, not to mention the factory and the individual workers who got clobbered.

The folks at Gibson, including HenryJ, are human beings. They deserve more courtesy than a lotta material I saw on this forum. You don't want a Gibson or Epi, or you'd like to see them add something like a master volume to semis and/or hollows, that could be said easily with courtesy.

We tend to forget that in favor of "Gee, why don't you start selling ES335s for $37.50 so I can afford one."

So...

m

[R May (largedude)]

I'm well aware of their humanity, and their need for courtesy. We all need to be treated fairly, and honestly.

That's why it puzzles me that since 2011, there's been no response whatsoever from anyone higher than forum admins like Flickoflash.

Why start a CEO forum, and not at least have some "CEO representative" posting on Henry's behalf?

How honest and fair is it to duck the regulars who have hung on practically since forum Day 1?

Is that fair? Is that honest, or does it look as if they're hiding from us?

Talk about "shelf sitting"!

[m dailey (milod)]

I'm not sure they still have Flick on board - or anybody else. Just how it seems to me.

Frankly I'm surprised it's still "up" for several reasons. Do you get the "4Henry,gibson.com driver error" as I do?

I do have a hunch there may be some sort of a reset as the government thing is put to rest and adjustments made on some of the PR side of things. The question likely will be whether this forum is worth continuing, and if so, how.

Again, that's just how it seems to me on a first sorta response.

Ah, well....

Back to work. Last night a B.J. Thomas concert to "shoot" for newspapers and now a football game to write up and process pix.

Be well!

m

[J Kimble (FLICKOFLASH)]

Sorry wish I had something to add but I don't .Seems like when the goverment seiged all those computers during those raids Gibsons internet comunications went dead. I can tell you this forum has more then the average page views per month even though inactive it holds great value. Why Gibson is not taking advantage of that is beyond me. Some threads has already recieved well over 1.2 million views

[m dailey (milod)]

Whooooeeee on the page views...

Are you hearing any feedback from the corp as our mod?

m

[J Kimble (FLICKOFLASH)]

No I have not for quite a while

[m dailey (milod)]

Hmmmm....

That makes one wonder whether it's even considered a live forum at all by corporate.

Interesting.

BTW, it was great fun to watch this past Saturday night's B.J. Thomas concert in Deadwood, SD. Thousands of people on the street for a concert done quite well in terms of both visual and audio regardless the location.

Oh, and I still get "4henry.gibson.com Driver Error" here. <grin>

m

[R May (largedude)]

There was precious little forum response from corporate, even before the Lacey Act raids.
The seizing of computers didn't take down the servers keeping the forum up and running, and replies could have come from anywhere: a smartphone, a tablet in a wi-fi cafe, anywhere.

In the absence of evidence to the contrary, speculation can run rampant, but I can't see any particular level of commitment to the 4henry forum or its' stated purpose:

"I have set this up to give everyone an ability to reach the CEO and let me know what is on your mind.
(...)I would love to get suggestions from how the company works to what products you would like to see from us.
We hope by giving you direct access to management we can make this a company that is much more responsive to its fans, and we can bring more people into our Gibson family."
--Henry J.