what happen to Gibson Guitars?

MarkRobbins

Blues Junior
At my age, it's the locking prostate that's the issue. I get to wait while it argues with my bladder over whether I'm going to be allowed to relieve myself. :mad:
 

sdbrit68

Student Of The Blues
I played the $800 Gibson LP recently, I was amazed at the shoddy workmanship, cheap pick guard and the way it was installed..............my epiphone blew it away
 

Jalapeno

Student Of The Blues
2013 Traditional. Love that guitar. The two volume knobs are push coil split and the top tone knob is a push 10db boost. Also came with locking tuners.
Did you mod that guitar? I have a 2013 Traditional (see my avatar) and I thought what makes it a traditional is that it doesn't have any modern features like coil split or boost or locking tuners or weight relief or slim neck. Or did you mean one of the 2015's?

Eric
 

CVTOT

Blues Newbie
No mods, came like that. It's actually a 2013 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro 2. When I bought it, I thought it may have been modded. After some research on the Gibson web site and I've seen some for sale on Reverb, I'm convinced this is how it came from the factory.
 

Jalapeno

Student Of The Blues
Ah, so it's a PRO II, which is a different guitar. If I remember correctly, the Traditional is like a 1950's Les Paul and a Traditional PRO II is like a 1980's Les Paul. I think the PRO II's were manufactured specifically for Guitar Center (and by extension Musician's Friend) as an exclusive model.

That's a nice guitar though and the weight relief wasn't over-done on it from what I remember.

2013 was a really good year for Les Paul's of all stripes, from what I gather. I really like mine, it is my go to gig guitar.

Eric
 

CVTOT

Blues Newbie
Ah, so it's a PRO II, which is a different guitar. If I remember correctly, the Traditional is like a 1950's Les Paul and a Traditional PRO II is like a 1980's Les Paul. I think the PRO II's were manufactured specifically for Guitar Center (and by extension Musician's Friend) as an exclusive model.

See that , you learn something new everyday.
 

snarf

making guitars wish they were still trees
I played the $800 Gibson LP recently, I was amazed at the shoddy workmanship, cheap pick guard and the way it was installed..............my epiphone blew it away
I have a 2016 ES 335. I got it to scratch the 335 itch that nothing else had managed to scratch. It's a great guitar and all, but, especially if I look at it from a price point of view, it probably shouldn't've cost twice what my 1962 Anniversary Epi Sheraton cost. These days they both sit out on my stand, and I play them about the same. Not dissing the Gibby...it's a great guitar and the only thing that managed to scratch that 335 itch. But since I've gotten it and looked at it a little more objectively, it also reminds me what a great instrument the Sheraton is.
 

JN99

Hang Fire
My experiences with Gibson and Epiphone were decidedly mixed. I've bought everything from $349 Epi LPs to $3k+ Custom Shop models (LP, ES345, ES339). The only ones I have left are an Epi Elitist Casino, which is made in Japan - and it shows - and a Les Paul Jr I got new for $499. Both of those may eventually be sold off as well. I will say the Elitist Casino is superb, fit/finish and workmanship on that one are flawless. Don't know if they are all that way but it's as good as any guitar I've owned. All the rest I sold or sent back for refunds when received (horrible run of a few Epi Gary Clark Casinos) and I don't miss 'em one bit.
 

Jalapeno

Student Of The Blues
I've always liked the Elitist Casino's, but was never able to pull the trigger. I'm not a collector so 2 guitars are enough. I'd have a need to sell one first and the two I have are keepers so no Casino for me.

Eric
 

Chuck

Moderator (One of the Men in Black!)
Staff member
My experiences with Gibson and Epiphone were decidedly mixed. I've bought everything from $349 Epi LPs to $3k+ Custom Shop models (LP, ES345, ES339). The only ones I have left are an Epi Elitist Casino, which is made in Japan - and it shows - and a Les Paul Jr I got new for $499. Both of those may eventually be sold off as well. I will say the Elitist Casino is superb, fit/finish and workmanship on that one are flawless. Don't know if they are all that way but it's as good as any guitar I've owned. All the rest I sold or sent back for refunds when received (horrible run of a few Epi Gary Clark Casinos) and I don't miss 'em one bit.
I have an Elitist and agree with you. Fit, finish and everything else is as good as it gets! Maybe I’m lucky but I have the same respect for my Gibsons and I have several.
 

david moon

Attempting the Blues
You said
.... The only ones I have left are an Epi Elitist Casino, which is made in Japan - and it shows -
at this point I was expecting a negative comment, but then
I will say the Elitist Casino is superb, fit/finish and workmanship on that one are flawless. Don't know if they are all that way but it's as good as any guitar I've owned. All the rest I sold or sent back for refunds when received (horrible run of a few Epi Gary Clark Casinos) and I don't miss 'em one bit.
What time period are we talking about. I've been touting various brands from the Matsumoko factory in the mid 80s as high quality and undervalued. The Casinos seem to be holding their value pretty well on ebay.

I think I asked this here before, is it a semi-hollow or a thin fully hollow guitar?
 

Chuck

Moderator (One of the Men in Black!)
Staff member
You said

What time period are we talking about. I've been touting various brands from the Matsumoko factory in the mid 80s as high quality and undervalued. The Casinos seem to be holding their value pretty well on ebay.

I think I asked this here before, is it a semi-hollow or a thin fully hollow guitar?
The Elitist Casino is a Hollow Body with P90’s in it.

I think the Cheaper version is a Semi and made in China.
 

JN99

Hang Fire
Yeah all the Casinos are full hollow body. David, my Elitist is relatively recent one, I want to say something like 2015 or so but not exactly sure. It's got the Gibson P90s as Chuck mentions, just a fabulous guitar IMO.
 

kgarkie

Been living the blues.
I think I'll stick with my '96 LP Special. It's a great guitar with great tone. Oh, and I think that P100's are the best humbuckers. My ears can't tell them from P90's except with a bit less background noise when I run it through garage band. I tried out all the LP's back in 96 when I bought it and liked the Special's tone the best. Personal choice for this old man.
 

DonHall

Blues Newbie
This thread is a little stale, but here's MY LP story: I got a new Tribute from GC over the weekend. Great guitar, all the great sounds and playability you get from a Les Paul at a reasonable price. Still, we get the QC issues...crooked jack plate (Really?), rough spot on the bass side of the body (invisible with the satin finish but you can feel it), and the fret board is about 1/16" narrower than the neck, and they didn't fair out that curve. Gibson sells these things at a premium because of their supposedly superior USA craftsmanship, but I guess that level of workmanship only happens in the Custom Shop. Don't get me wrong, I love this guitar, but it teaches me something about US industrial management. "Get the work out!" still beats "Make the best product you can." And, "We only care about the expensive ones."
 

Stinger22

Blues Junior
Gibson's become so diluted and not focused on QC anymore... Anything you buy, regardless of price point, is hit or miss. I've gone to the main store here and picked up a $6000 guitar that was horrible, then take a bottom of the line studio of the stand and it's perfect... I have a CS ES-339 from Memphis plant, (picked it up as a bargain) that needed a really good setup to make it playable.... That's a $3000 guitar.

And you wonder why Gibson is in trouble?


I have a Memphis CS ES-339 Trad Pro (no f holes and coil taps and built in boost) and the quality is right up there and also got for a steal after watching sit at a GC for about 6 months. Has a special neck profile which fits my hand just perfect.
 

MikeR

Guitar Challenged
Staff member
the fret board is about 1/16" narrower than the neck

I have a 2016 LP that has the same issue, not quite that bad, but noticeable if you run your finger over it. Also, it's on the low E side, so it never comes into play. Another 2019 LP I have has uneven sanding of the neck right near the nut, again on the low E side. Both of the LPs are lower priced ones ($1100 and 1500 list), but I've got $00 guitars that are perfect.
 
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