I'm really getting frustrated with Gibson

[Bogwhoppit]

It could just be my Victor Meldrew mode due to old age. But after looking at a range of Gibson's in as many different stores I really am beginning to believe the UK gets the dross builds.

I started off looking at some Les Paul standards. The so called AA flame tops were virtually plain tops, the finish on many that I looked at was very poor. I ended up getting a 60's VOS because it was the only way I could get the quality I was after.

Then I started looking at some SG's and this is where I was really shocked. Out of eight SG's I looked at ( both Standards and SG-3's ) the bodies were made up of three piece of Mahogany and even then it was not split in equal thirds like on Strats, but all over the shop. SG's have for a long time always been from one piece of mahogany. Asking around, it seems most of the guys in the states who own SG's have one piece bodies.

The SG Special's are made from four equal piece of Mahogany and I believe the block colour standards can be made from two. But I have been looking at the Cherry finish and you can see the joins on the body face , let alone the obvious change of grain and glue line from the bottom ( where the strap button is ).

Anyone else noticed this or am I just getting anal in my old age ?


On a positive note. The dealers I have been visiting have been pretty darn helpful and ignored my Victor Meldrew moments ( at least until I get out of earshot LOL ) !

[evilmags]

a lot of "vintage and unusual" shops buy direct in the US, and not from UK distributors. I doubt it is a coinsidence. Try Heritage...

[Pendragon]

Gibson [and Fender] are bloody awful when it comes to after sales. I sent several e-mails to Gibson regarding a couple of queries I had with my LP, they replied only after e-mail #4 and their reply didn't even answer my queries. I've had a similar experience with Fender.

[nocaster]

So did you end up buying an R0?

Join the club!!! It's not a big club - they're very rare in the UK.

K

[Jamieh]

I wouldn't worry about it

From the things I hear it would seem that once "Gibson Europe" become the distributors from April 1st you pretty much won't be able to buy Gibsons in any of your small friendly local shops anyway.

We'll all have to buy Tokais instead....... if Tokai could be bothered to make any damn guitars!!!!

[nocaster]

Originally Posted by Jamieh

I wouldn't worry about it

From the things I hear it would seem that once "Gibson Europe" become the distributors from April 1st you pretty much won't be able to buy Gibsons in any of your small friendly local shops anyway.

We'll all have to buy Tokais instead....... if Tokai could be bothered to make any damn guitars!!!!

Interesting. So Rossetti's getting binned?

Should be a better selection of Custom Shops, etc though?

K

[Jamieh]

Originally Posted by nocaster

Interesting. So Rossetti's getting binned?

Should be a better selection of Custom Shops, etc though?

Rosettis contract officially expired Dec 31s 2007.

BUT.... the deal in the States for shops to qualify to hold Gibson electrics is that they must hold $85,000 of stock and dedicate 40% of the retail area to Gibson products.

Rumour has it that they are going to enforce something similar here, 75,000 Euros is the figure being banded about, and 50% of retail area......

My total stock is about £80-£100k.... there' absolutely no way I could do Gibson if that is what they want and neither could most smaller shops.... (even Manson's are saying they prob won't do it and apart from GAK they are the biggest Gibson dealer in the South outside London) but more than that, I wouldn't want to anyway.... what's the point in a shop where LITERALLY half the stock is one brand.... how boring would that be!!!!!

I must stress that this is just hearsay at the moment, I will know more in a few weeks, the "official word" has not been spoken yet!

[Bogwhoppit]

Originally Posted by nocaster

Interesting. So Rossetti's getting binned?

Should be a better selection of Custom Shops, etc though?

K

Yep. Its been on the cards for ages.


I am not sure if it will be a good thing or bad thing. The R0 is very nice.

[Bogwhoppit]

Originally Posted by Jamieh

My total stock is about £80-£100k.... there' absolutely no way I could do Gibson if that is what they want and neither could most smaller shops.... (even Manson's are saying they prob won't do it and apart from GAK they are the biggest Gibson dealer in the South outside London) but more than that, I wouldn't want to anyway.... what's the point in a shop where LITERALLY half the stock is one brand.... how boring would that be!!!!!

!

It's like Musicians Friend in the States, they have there own Gibson models.

Who wants an Argos of guitars, it takes the soul out of visiting a local dealer and having a coffee, chat and twang.

[Jamieh]

Originally Posted by Bogwhoppit

Yep. Its been on the cards for ages.
I am not sure if it will be a good thing or bad thing. The R0 is very nice.

See post above.

It might be a good thing for the profits of the few shops that can do it... because there will be less competition the margins will be less vigorously squeezed... however, as per my post above, it will totally stamp out all small shops from doing it, meaning your local (unless it's GAK) probably won't have any new Gibsons at all.

There are always ways to side-step things though.... won't post any details here, but I am making enquiries...