70's Era Gibsons
- Thread starter jimmy
- Start date
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: 70's Era Gibsons
Trilogy, you are dead on but most Gibson fans would never really admit those things...
Some things about Norlin era are opinion and/or personal prefrence and some are pure fact...
An example woudl be those 70's neck profiles...I think they suck outloud but they don't damage the tone of the guitar.
However 3 piece maple necks, those pot metal tune-o-matics and stop bars, multilam bodies with more glue that wood...those things do damage the tone of the guitar and couple that with flat out terrible QC (the worst in the company's history) and you get a marginal (at best) guitar.
However we do owe Norlin era Gibson one thing...if the quality of Gibson at that time wasn't so terrible we would have never seen such fine guitars as 70's Dean, BC Rich and Hammer just to name a few...those 3 and several other guitar makers popped up at that time to make guitars that were "better" than new (of the time) Gibsons and for that we owe them a thanks! Also, remember this was the time period that bought us most fo the ghost built guitars...you have no idea how many Gibson players in the 70's actually played custom built guitars that said Gibson on the headstock.
Just remember this...you can tell people about their sub par Norlin era guitars all you want but like I said when people pay all kinds of green for something they feel like it HAS to be good...there is no eye as blind as one that will not see.
Trilogy, you are dead on but most Gibson fans would never really admit those things...
Some things about Norlin era are opinion and/or personal prefrence and some are pure fact...
An example woudl be those 70's neck profiles...I think they suck outloud but they don't damage the tone of the guitar.
However 3 piece maple necks, those pot metal tune-o-matics and stop bars, multilam bodies with more glue that wood...those things do damage the tone of the guitar and couple that with flat out terrible QC (the worst in the company's history) and you get a marginal (at best) guitar.
However we do owe Norlin era Gibson one thing...if the quality of Gibson at that time wasn't so terrible we would have never seen such fine guitars as 70's Dean, BC Rich and Hammer just to name a few...those 3 and several other guitar makers popped up at that time to make guitars that were "better" than new (of the time) Gibsons and for that we owe them a thanks! Also, remember this was the time period that bought us most fo the ghost built guitars...you have no idea how many Gibson players in the 70's actually played custom built guitars that said Gibson on the headstock.
Just remember this...you can tell people about their sub par Norlin era guitars all you want but like I said when people pay all kinds of green for something they feel like it HAS to be good...there is no eye as blind as one that will not see.
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Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: 70's Era Gibsons
Norlins...and 70s Fenders...good firewood....
Prolly will be a hazard to burn...all that glue on the Gibbies, and thick laquer on the Fenders....
Norlins...and 70s Fenders...good firewood....
Prolly will be a hazard to burn...all that glue on the Gibbies, and thick laquer on the Fenders....
Re: 70's Era Gibsons
remember when Gibson issued the Pete Townshend Custom Shop Les Paul a few years ago... i know they stuck to the multi piece bodies as they were copying Pete's late 70's stage axes, most of which were 1976 models...
so i could see them using the 70's construction methods... but the thing that kicked me in the butt is why oh why did they stick 3 piece maple tops on them and use some with flame and some plain on the same axe!!!!! Mostly this can be seen on the 75 Red Sunburst models... and some can be seen thru the 75 wine red ones they made....
was this horrible top selection really a 70's thing or just a bad CS idea... out of all the 70's guitars i've seen in the years since the 70's i've never seen one with such messed up tops as these PT Custom Shops...
remember when Gibson issued the Pete Townshend Custom Shop Les Paul a few years ago... i know they stuck to the multi piece bodies as they were copying Pete's late 70's stage axes, most of which were 1976 models...
so i could see them using the 70's construction methods... but the thing that kicked me in the butt is why oh why did they stick 3 piece maple tops on them and use some with flame and some plain on the same axe!!!!! Mostly this can be seen on the 75 Red Sunburst models... and some can be seen thru the 75 wine red ones they made....
was this horrible top selection really a 70's thing or just a bad CS idea... out of all the 70's guitars i've seen in the years since the 70's i've never seen one with such messed up tops as these PT Custom Shops...
JeffB
Let it B
Re: 70's Era Gibsons
I think on average Norlins were pretty bad quality-wise as they were cutting LOTS of corners. However I think most of the "ire" comes from the Blues Lawyers on the internet -In many cases they are right about quality, however there are some things that are def personal opinion, like for example, neck shape and material. I like Maple necks on a Les Paul- different sound, yes, but it's not bad, just different.
I'll take a Volute ANY day over a non volute. Its a better structural design, and addresses a common problem with les Pauls and other Gibsons- Especially those that don't have a baseball bat for a neck.
I had a pancake maple neck Norlin Deluxe and it was awful, but mostly cos it had the tinniest, thinnest minis I've ever heard. Guitar was actually pretty solid build-wise.
However my actual 76 RI Explorer with T-tops STILL is the benchmark Gibson sound I hear in my head.- Those pickups rocked, as do DFs and Shaws (also Norlin era products). Sorry, but I prefer the T-tops and Shaws over ANY Duncan and most Dimarzio PAF styles I've played/tried.
Some don't want to admit it, but there has been alot of classic guitar sounds made with Norlin era guitars. They may not be the same as the the classic sounds of the 50s Gibsons, but they are classic none-the-less.
I think on average Norlins were pretty bad quality-wise as they were cutting LOTS of corners. However I think most of the "ire" comes from the Blues Lawyers on the internet -In many cases they are right about quality, however there are some things that are def personal opinion, like for example, neck shape and material. I like Maple necks on a Les Paul- different sound, yes, but it's not bad, just different.
I'll take a Volute ANY day over a non volute. Its a better structural design, and addresses a common problem with les Pauls and other Gibsons- Especially those that don't have a baseball bat for a neck.
I had a pancake maple neck Norlin Deluxe and it was awful, but mostly cos it had the tinniest, thinnest minis I've ever heard. Guitar was actually pretty solid build-wise.
However my actual 76 RI Explorer with T-tops STILL is the benchmark Gibson sound I hear in my head.- Those pickups rocked, as do DFs and Shaws (also Norlin era products). Sorry, but I prefer the T-tops and Shaws over ANY Duncan and most Dimarzio PAF styles I've played/tried.
Some don't want to admit it, but there has been alot of classic guitar sounds made with Norlin era guitars. They may not be the same as the the classic sounds of the 50s Gibsons, but they are classic none-the-less.
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: 70's Era Gibsons
Classic how??
Like in look how low we can sink classic??
Classic how??
Like in look how low we can sink classic??
Had plenty of T-Tops...I fail to hear the appeal of those
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: 70's Era Gibsons
The volute issue is almost a joke IMO...I've seen PLENTY of Gibsons with volutes that STILL had a headstock repair...sad but true...
On the pickup talk T-Tops are all hype to my ears...Shaws...maybe those are better but a Duncan 59 is better than both IMO and doesn;t carry a hefty price tag because it's a "vintage" Gibson pickup!
I've got a matched pair of Shaws for anyone thats interested...I swapped them for Pearly Gates and never looked back!
The volute issue is almost a joke IMO...I've seen PLENTY of Gibsons with volutes that STILL had a headstock repair...sad but true...
On the pickup talk T-Tops are all hype to my ears...Shaws...maybe those are better but a Duncan 59 is better than both IMO and doesn;t carry a hefty price tag because it's a "vintage" Gibson pickup!
I've got a matched pair of Shaws for anyone thats interested...I swapped them for Pearly Gates and never looked back!
Simon_F
Super Moderator
Re: 70's Era Gibsons
I had a '74 SG Standard and a '71 LP Deluxe in my younger days and I was very happy with both. The only reason I sold the Deluxe was to buy a Tele. I didn't have any money and I'd sell a guitar to buy another guitar. I didn't "know" as much about guitars in those days but I knew my Gibsons felt good to play and I was happy with my tone.
I only sold the SG when I went temporarily insane and thought I'd grown out of playing electric guitar.
Last Friday I spent a couple of hours watching Keri Kelli ripping it up with Alice Cooper. He was playing a '79 LP Standard for most of the set and he sounded great! Duncan pups of course
I know the production methods and values of Gibson (and Fender!) in the 70s were notoriously bad, but the fact remains that a lot of great music was made on those guitars.
I'll take each axe as it comes - as long as it says Gibson on the headstock :jester:
I had a '74 SG Standard and a '71 LP Deluxe in my younger days and I was very happy with both. The only reason I sold the Deluxe was to buy a Tele. I didn't have any money and I'd sell a guitar to buy another guitar. I didn't "know" as much about guitars in those days but I knew my Gibsons felt good to play and I was happy with my tone.
I only sold the SG when I went temporarily insane and thought I'd grown out of playing electric guitar.
Last Friday I spent a couple of hours watching Keri Kelli ripping it up with Alice Cooper. He was playing a '79 LP Standard for most of the set and he sounded great! Duncan pups of course
I know the production methods and values of Gibson (and Fender!) in the 70s were notoriously bad, but the fact remains that a lot of great music was made on those guitars.
I'll take each axe as it comes - as long as it says Gibson on the headstock :jester:
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: 70's Era Gibsons
Yes they damage the tone of what is typical of a Les Paul...if you want an LP type tone you lose something if you play a maple neck LP...just in the same fasion it would be if you had a mahogany neck on a Telecaster...
If you like it better thats fine but it did damage what was typical of a Les Paul...
Yes they damage the tone of what is typical of a Les Paul...if you want an LP type tone you lose something if you play a maple neck LP...just in the same fasion it would be if you had a mahogany neck on a Telecaster...
If you like it better thats fine but it did damage what was typical of a Les Paul...
jerryjg
PinkElephantologist
jerryjg
PinkElephantologist
Re: 70's Era Gibsons
I love manhugs! They are masculine, as long as you pat the bro on the back when you do it. If you forget to pat him on the back, then all bets are off!
jimmy
New member
guitfiddle
firstlessonologist
Re: 70's Era Gibsons
There's a lot of folks who think the neck PUP is too muddy on a LP...in this instance, the brightness of a maple neck might make that position less dull and more usefull. It could be said that it is an improvement over the traditional sound.
My 78 has the three piece maple neck and it stays nice and bright all the way down the volume control, and I can use the tone control to get all the butter I'll ever need.
There's a lot of folks who think the neck PUP is too muddy on a LP...in this instance, the brightness of a maple neck might make that position less dull and more usefull. It could be said that it is an improvement over the traditional sound.
My 78 has the three piece maple neck and it stays nice and bright all the way down the volume control, and I can use the tone control to get all the butter I'll ever need.
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