Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

[blueman335]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

Itd be nice if they bridged the gap like ESP did by bringing more Elitist Epiphone models over a'la LTD pro (or whatever the mijs are called)

They reduced and/or eliminated the Elitists a few years ago. Gibson's introduced and sold a lot of lower end guitars since the recession; someone's going to get that market share. Hopefully Epiphone will fill the void. If not, other manufacturers will be fighting for those sales. Ironic that for the past decade Epi's been upgrading quality and holding or lowering prices. Maybe the master plan is the Epi takes the middle ground and Gibson's will be marketed as premium guitars for those who a lot of disposable income.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

I would buy a new PRS over a nee gibson any day.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

**** Gibson

 

[hydro]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

Maybe this was just a trial balloon sent up by a stealth Gibson marketroid to see how the guitar community would react. Reverb.com responded to comments on the thread and they seem to be convinced that it is a real story, but they also suggest that Gibson may step off some of the changes if there's enough outrage. Given that it's standard operating procedure for companies to manipulate social media, etc., these days, it wouldn't surprise me. Also wouldn't surprise me that they would float a price increase and closeout of other models in order to drive up demand on current stock (as others on this thread have suggested).

 

[Archer250]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

I would buy a new PRS over a nee gibson any day.

Haven't you had enough PRS?

 

[Oinkus]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

Wow , I am totally insane and this actually makes me look like I have sense WTF is happening? They have been making crazy changes and over priced guitars for a long time now but this is way out there. BTW the Tronical tuners are a wonderful thing but they should only be offered as an OPTION , the whole Robot crap only alienates people that are traditonal or vintage obsessed. A 29% increase in price and as bad as most new Gibsons have been that I have played just seems so wrong. Zero frets are great but only brass nuts really? All the PRS talk just makes me point out that you couldn't give me one of them. The less expensive LTD I just got was pretty good and the cheap one Big Flannel got is a steal for the price and with upgrades will be a nice dang Les Paul. Haven't bought a Gibson since I lost my early 70s V and the 2 Epiphones I own got heavy uprgades and were mostly stripped and rebuilt. I am very confused and rambling now , please let me know when things revert back to the normal timeline ?

 

[blueman335]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

I'm betting that this is what happens when a company that makes guitars is being run by accountants instead of by someone who is first and foremost, a luthier.

Try again. Nothing to do with accountants, this is greed in the ivory tower. Accountants figure out efficiencies and cut waste, but they're also smart enough to realize that without sales volume, nothing else you do really matters.

 

[DreX]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

Try again. Nothing to do with accountants, this is greed in the ivory tower. Accountants figure out efficiencies and cut waste, but they're also smart enough to realize that without sales volume, nothing else you do really matters.

It all comes down to who the primary buyer of Gibson guitars, specifically Les Pauls, is. If we know who they have to please in order to turn the biggest profit, then it would all make sense, as I doubt the heads at Gibson roll a dice or consult a wigi board when they make seemingly inexplicable decisions.

The only reason I can think of to raise prices would be if they determined that the price point was itself a feature. If the PRS is a "$2000 guitar", then we have to make the Gibson a "$3000 guitar", that sort of thing. Judging from Gibson's strategy in recent years, there's no question that it makes them more money as a status symbol than as a premium guitar. A lot of people here treat the Les Paul as if it's any other premium guitar, but it has far more cachet than other premium guitars. A lot of the comparisons to PRS or other premiums are invalid for that reason.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

I hope Gibson ends up at some kind of happy balance where what they want to be, what they are, and what their customers want are all the same thing.

 

[voggin]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

I hope Gibson ends up at some kind of happy balance where what they want to be, what they are, and what their customers want are all the same thing.

Unfortunately, if that actually happened half the guitar websites would have to shut down from lack of interest.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

The only reason I can think of to raise prices would be if they determined that the price point was itself a feature. If the PRS is a "$2000 guitar", then we have to make the Gibson a "$3000 guitar", that sort of thing. Judging from Gibson's strategy in recent years, there's no question that it makes them more money as a status symbol than as a premium guitar.

Now you're getting it. Status is a big part of this and while the bargain faded models sell, they dilute the premium Gibson image they want. It's nothing to do with their costs, or accountants (they're not the decision makers). Its' charging as much as the market will bear. How much is that? Don't know until you push it to the maximum.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

Now you're getting it. Status is a big part of this and while the bargain faded models sell, they dilute the premium Gibson image they want. It's nothing to do with their costs, or accountants (they're not the decision makers). Its' charging as much as the market will bear. How much is that? Don't know until you push it to the maximum.

This...

As long as there are buyers for $6k+ reissues, then Gibson will continue to raise prices. Only when people stop buying will they take notice.

 

[orpheo]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

The last comments of mine hit the nail right on the head. It's about image and brand placement. But how can you maintain your vision of being premium if the product isn't premium? I mean, Volkswagens are nice cars but they aren't premium? The Porsche lineup, in their own gamma, is premium. A volkswagen is a nice car, for sure, but priced accordingly.

You want 'us' to dish out 3k for a guitar? Fine. Use maple tops with a flame or quilt so extremely figured that you don't need a triple dye stain to make the grain pop and still have a guitar that looks like a cheap asian knock off. Use the best, the best of the best pickups. Why do I read 'I'm gonna change the pickups in my gibson' but so rarely 'I'm gonna change the pickups in my Huber'. Think about that. Use better hardware. And when I mean better, I mean, a whole lot better. Aluminium stop tail as a standard feature. Brass saddles and a steel bridge, standard. Use the best electronics etc etc.

And redesign that friggin piece of crap. Remake the 50ies LP in a two-tier structure: one is the CS, which are supposed to be exact replica's in terms of wood selection, fine carve etc etc and your regular 50ies inspired production model with the same visual appointments but a grand or 2 cheaper. Then, make a premium LP, with a better neck joint. with a better headstock design etc etc. And that has to go, if it is that premium guitar, for 3k. Done. Now you're a premium guitar manufacturer, who has to compete with... Damn, PRS who is still 500 euro's cheaper.

No matter how you slice it, Gibson shot itself in its foot.

 

[greekdude]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

Then, make a premium LP, with a better neck joint. with a better headstock design etc etc. And that has to go, if it is that premium guitar, for 3k. Done. Now you're a premium guitar manufacturer, who has to compete with... Damn, PRS who is still 500 euro's cheaper.

Better neck joint for sure. Every asian maker (Ibanez, ESP, Schecter) seems to have this done right, or at least better than Gibson.

 

[Detroitblues]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

Save yourself a lot of coin, buy a Heritage... Made by those who build the first Les Pauls. Custom spec them out, even pick out your top, hardware, pickups, etc... and still be less than a CNC produced Gibson...

Check them out folks, you'll be very happy you did...

Here's my 1959 "Les Paul" H-150 Custom.

 

[Archer250]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

Save yourself a lot of coin, buy a Heritage

Or a Tokai.

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

So much for me buying a new Gibson Les Paul.......heck, what am I saying, I couldn't afford the models I wanted in the first place. F***ers.

ETA: By the way, that's a MIK Epiphone Les Paul Custom in my avatar pic.

 

[orpheo]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

Better neck joint for sure. Every asian maker (Ibanez, ESP, Schecter) seems to have this done right, or at least better than Gibson.

my own neck joint is exactly how I want a neck joint to be.

some guitars have a heel that's sculpted even deeper. Why not.

 

[greekdude]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

^^^ better than a typical LP but not close to this :

 

[muttznmongrelz]

Re: Just saw this: Gibson cutting production/raising prices/modifying stuff

I'm just going to say...I wouldn't buy a new Gibson anyway...rather find a nice older Les Paul, M-III, Victory or L6S any day.