Gibson Custom shop

[Vincent Vespa]

Re: Gibson Custom shop

I heard that Gibson doesn't do Custom Orders anymore. Having said that, I understand its only available to pros these days.

That's odd. I was looking in to getting a custom SG a while back, but I decided it was probably going to be too much money to spend on a guitar.

Looking on their website, it isn't there anymore, though.

That's a shame.

 

[PHILBERT]

Re: Gibson Custom shop

The only thing the "Custom Shop" did was production models with special paint colors and minor hardware mods. NOTHING that changed the normal build of the guitar. It really is not a "Custom Shop". It is marketing hype to make you think you are paying thousands more for better quality guitar (not always better, as plenty of quality problems have been well documented). After the big flood wiped out the shop, they stopped anything custom order.

Well, it is nice to dream what would be ideal...even if they will never make it for you. I like that thicker SG idea allot! (save the maple neck) I love SG's (my first was a '68), but have limited use for the thin sound. They just look cool as H3LL. I always thought a thicker body would really add just the right amount of meat to the tone to fill it out. Even a Doublecut LP Special with a hummie in the bridge would be tits. :naughty:

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Gibson Custom shop

^^ This is absolute and total B.S.

I work for an authorized Gibson dealer. I talk to dudes in Nashville, Montana, or wherever else Gibson needs me to call them at to get my job done.

There's a Factory that produces your normal Gibsons (basically from the Melody Maker to the Les Paul Standard) with modern 'production' techniques like weight-relief holes. There's Montana that does your acoustic instruments.

The Custom Shop is an entirely different facility several blocks up up the road from the Factory. They have their own builders, their own lumber purchasers, their own marketing department, etc. If I wanna call about a Les Paul Custom or a Reissue, I don't dial the number for the Factory. I dial the number for the Custom Shop.

As for custom orders only being available for pros...whoever told you that was lying. My shop just custom ordered a 59 reissue in dark blue for a left handed 16-year-old whose parents apparently love him a whole lot. It was about $5800 and shipping was delayed because they couldn't get the right pickups because of the flood...but if they had been in the same building as the flooded Factory, the guitar would've been completely destroyed.

Sooo basically what i'm saying is Gibson guitars are awesome (expensive but awesome) and that you shouldn't say things you THINK without KNOWING.

 

[PHILBERT]

Re: Gibson Custom shop

^^ This is absolute and total B.S.

I work for an authorized Gibson dealer. I talk to dudes in Nashville, Montana, or wherever else Gibson needs me to call them at to get my job done.

There's a Factory that produces your normal Gibsons (basically from the Melody Maker to the Les Paul Standard) with modern 'production' techniques like weight-relief holes. There's Montana that does your acoustic instruments.

The Custom Shop is an entirely different facility several blocks up up the road from the Factory. They have their own builders, their own lumber purchasers, their own marketing department, etc. If I wanna call about a Les Paul Custom or a Reissue, I don't dial the number for the Factory. I dial the number for the Custom Shop.



As for custom orders only being available for pros...whoever told you that was lying. My shop just custom ordered a 59 reissue in dark blue for a left handed 16-year-old whose parents apparently love him a whole lot. It was about $5800 and shipping was delayed because they couldn't get the right pickups because of the flood...but if they had been in the same building as the flooded Factory, the guitar would've been completely destroyed.

Sooo basically what i'm saying is Gibson guitars are awesome (expensive but awesome) and that you shouldn't say things you THINK without KNOWING.

:bsflag:

No, you missed the point...and I KNOW what I'm talking about. What you said is not close to what I meant...and therefor BS.

Yes, there is a second factory called "the Custom Shop" (we all know that!), but you are limited to what they will do for you. The bulk of what they do is Historic and Signature model stuff...which is PRODUCTION STUFF. You can't get something like "a doubleneck 6/12 string Les Paul", or anything that is not being pulled from a model that is already tooled up for production. Many have tried, and no amount of money appears to make a difference. After reading countless real-life cases from the good folks at the Les Paul Forum, it is clear what the limits are (go read for yourself). Some guys just want a left-handed version of a standard model like an Explorer and can't get it. Those are the FACTS! :deal: Paint, minor hardware, and simple stuff are available (when being accepted), but custom designed body stuff (except maybe type of wood) is out. You can't get rad like people here are dreaming about. That is all I said...and it is the TRUTH. :chairshot

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Gibson Custom shop

It really is not a "Custom Shop". It is marketing hype to make you think you are paying thousands more for better quality guitar (not always better, as plenty of quality problems have been vaguely alluded to).

Fixed it for ya.

 

[PHILBERT]

Re: Gibson Custom shop

Fixed it for ya.

Thanks! :laughing:

I have seen some of it myself. Bad nuts with rough string grooves causing hangs, and orange peel by the neck joint. Stuff like that. Not all were bad. But there was a period in time a few years ago when problems were pretty common. I think they have improved greatly as of late. :fing2:

Who is the good looking redhead in your avatar?

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Gibson Custom shop

Thanks! :laughing:

I have seen some of it myself. Bad nuts with rough string grooves causing hangs, and orange peel by the neck joint. Stuff like that. Not all were bad. But there was a period in time a few years ago when problems were pretty common. I think they have improved greatly as of late. :fing2:

Thank you. Finally something I can both visualize and believe. Do you have any idea how many times I've heard mention of "quality control" problems at Gibson without much, if anything, in the way of elaboration? I usually get something pretty vague and general, or something like this (paraphrased) example:

gibsons r horrible if u bye one teh neck will fall off like 10 secnds after u take it out of the case
my buddy has a custom shop gibson my ephihone blows it away

Stuff like this always gets me pretty pissed off, but I can picture the nut and the orange peel issues. I don't remember anything like that on the Gibsons I've played, though the factory nut on my Faded V was too high and got replaced with a handmade bone nut from a good luthier. I always play guitars before buying them, and I would probably pass on anything with orange peel, unless it just really spoke to me in a way that made the finish issue irrelevant.

Who is the good looking redhead in your avatar?

That would be the Evan Rachel Wood.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0939697/

 

[some_dude]

Re: Gibson Custom shop

A white Les Paul with black binding, hardware, Bigsby, P90s and no pick guard.

 

[PHILBERT]

Re: Gibson Custom shop

Thank you. Finally something I can both visualize and believe. Do you have any idea how many times I've heard mention of "quality control" problems at Gibson without much, if anything, in the way of elaboration? I usually get something pretty vague and general, or something like this (paraphrased) example:



Stuff like this always gets me pretty pissed off, but I can picture the nut and the orange peel issues. I don't remember anything like that on the Gibsons I've played, though the factory nut on my Faded V was too high and got replaced with a handmade bone nut from a good luthier. I always play guitars before buying them, and I would probably pass on anything with orange peel, unless it just really spoke to me in a way that made the finish issue irrelevant.



That would be the Evan Rachel Wood.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0939697/

Oh...that is who that babe is. Hawt! :naughty:

Yeah I was on a Gibson buying spree there for a while. I really tried to "upgrade" my Les Paul to a Custom Shop Historic R9 or R0 (or G0). For that price I was shocked at the flaws I was experiencing. And the "pink backs" were ugly to me. Couldn't they have use a little more dye to make the backs red? We were talking $5K here! Yet all the regular Gibson USA factory stuff I checked out was flawless...so I bought a bunch of that stuff. Never did find the right Historic LP. Part of the problem in that there are few Historic LP's in the area. I should have checked out Centre City (San Diego)while I was in LA a month ago. He has selection! 'oh:

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Gibson Custom shop

Following on from something that I posted in Astrozombie's Fender Starcaster GAS thread, my fantasy Gibson Custom Shop guitar is now a Reverse Corvus with a drop dead gorgeous, book-matched, flamed maple top and Trini Lopez type fretboard inlays.
:earl:

EDIT: Why does that nice ERW feel the need to dye her eyebrows such a boring shade of brown?

 

[SrDeMaFp]

Re: Gibson Custom shop

Well, I cut my teeth on SGs, so I'd probably go with an SG, but I'd want it as thick as a normal Les Paul, mahogany body, maple neck, ebony fretboard, dunlop 6100s, either black, white or silverburst finish, SD '59 in front and JB in the back, coil splitting options.

Man, you have some great taste! :friday: I'd go for something pretty close to that.

SG in "all over" silverburst (back of neck, headstock, etc.)
Mahogany body (LP thickness)
Maple neck/ebony board (no inlays) 24 SS 6100 frets LP custom headstock/inlay
Chrome SD Blackouts
Chrome dome knobs - 2 push-pull knobs - volume and tone
:naughty:

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Gibson Custom shop

EH150 (charlie christian model) with matching EH150 amplifier.

 

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: Gibson Custom shop

EH150 (charlie christian model) with matching EH150 amplifier.

:eyecrazy: ABSOLUTELY. My sort of dream guitar. Sadly, Gibson stopped possessing the tooling needed to make an ES-150 to correct spec. I personally want a Super 400 Acoustic like the 1934 (or 1930s ones in general). I know that there is the SUper 400 Cutaway with the 2 PAFs in it, but there's something special about the sheer power and depth of the Super 400 Acoustic. It just seems like it could fill an entire coffeeshop without any modern aids like a mike, and have that presence that not many modern guitars (including dreadnoughts) possess.

:14:

 

[Hellion]

Re: Gibson Custom shop

Man, you have some great taste! :friday: I'd go for something pretty close to that.

SG in "all over" silverburst (back of neck, headstock, etc.)
Mahogany body (LP thickness)
Maple neck/ebony board (no inlays) 24 SS 6100 frets LP custom headstock/inlay
Chrome SD Blackouts
Chrome dome knobs - 2 push-pull knobs - volume and tone
:naughty:

That sounds pretty cool, too!