Gibson Woes...

[UnexplodedCow]

The one local to me has the high-end stuff (reissues/vintage/oddball) all in one room, right next to the main kiosk, where they *will* give the evil eye to anyone who walks in the room. I was nearly asked to leave for comparing my then newly-minted V6 to a Les Paul. They weren't chained up, however.

Speaking of that, you should go to that store, grab an amp, get them to unchain one of those guitars, and then play the into to "Unchained," on it....just for the massive pun that would be. Make it loud to where they ask you to leave. Walk out, and never look back.

[spudmunkey]

Ha, well, it's not like they would learn anything from the experience, so it would just be making the day annoying for the people who have to work there.

Going back to all of the music stores I've been in since starting guitar in the 80s in rural/suburban Wisconsin, I can only think of two stores that had comfortable seating (other than just the occasional stool). The sofas were right next to the counter and next to the sheet music, and virtually exclusively used by parents while they waited while their kids were taking/finishing their lessons.

[Doctor Turn]

The new Ed Sheeran Les Paul (from FB)

[spudmunkey]

You know what they say: "There's no money above the 5th fret."

[UnexplodedCow]

Why is it that Gibson places their truss rod covers in what I'd call an inverted position? The shape is obviously similar to their headstock. Why not make it match, or is it supposed to be something like a bell?

[Doctor Turn]

They're generally referred to/thought of as Bell (shaped) Truss Rod Covers.

One of the simple, cheap little details forgers tend to miss is they mount their covers with three screws instead of two. The bell cover always mounts with two.
ALLParts:

PG-9485-023 Bell Shaped Truss Rod Cover for Gibson®

[UnexplodedCow]

Guild inverts them, and it matches the headstock shape more...I always thought it looked better. Ah well, at least I now know the shape Gibson claims it to be.

[Casual Madman]

I always thought they looked kind of like a condom. With a hole in the end.

[arahobob]

I first discovered guitar center in Los Angeles (1990?)
It was a cool store. If you bought strings, the sales guy would just ask what you'd normally pay and then match it - and I could buy strings dirt cheap at MI!
It was filled with cool guitars and amps. I loved to pop in and check stuff out.

Fast forward years later and the chain came to NJ.
Those early stores all started off well enough but definitely turned to garbage as time rolled by.
I miss the days when managers would wheel and deal a bit and actually give a crap.


Luckily I have at least one cool local shop - with comfy couches, chairs, and stools!!
They're awesome in the amp and pedal dept, guitars not so much. Minimal variety.

[wickid]

I always thought they looked kind of like a condom. With a hole in the end.

Broken condom style ...

[UnexplodedCow]

.....and that's how Gibsons are made.

[gpbarnett]

If I had a bajillion dollars to spare, and wanted to get into the guitar business:

1. Wait for Gibson to file for bankruptcy
2. Buy the Gibson company
3. Sell off everything but Gibson and Epiphone
4. Continue to sell Epiphone in retailers. If they haven't already done so, move production overseas, probably Korea or Mexico.
5. Switch all Gibson branded guitars over to the Kiesel online/phone sales model (have a few in stock, but generally have all guitars built to order by skilled workers in the USA where I can keep my eyes on them).
6. ...
7. profit

I'd put massive efforts into quality control, as I've read many complaints about the quality of recent Gibsons (haven't tried any, so I don't know if the complaints are an accurate representation).

I've gotten so used to being able to get something custom built, that is at least close to my ideal specifications, that I am rarely tempted by any guitar I find in a retail music shop. The last one I bought "off the rack" was a Fender Duo Sonic, to scratch the itch for a 24" scale guitar. If I had realized that Rondo offered (not sure if they did when I bought the Fender) 24" on their semi-custom guitars, I could have gotten something much closer to what I really wanted (2 humbuckers, tilt back headstock, set neck or neck through, trans finish) instead of 2 singles, bolt on, etc. If a big company like Gibson went semi-custom build to order like Kiesel, I think it would change the entire industry. There haven't been any Gibsons close enough to what I want to actually buy, but if I could have configured to my taste for a reasonable amount of money, I might have bought.

[Casual Madman]

If I had a bajillion dollars to spare, and wanted to get into the guitar business ...

Half a bajillion woould probably suffice.

The only real speedbump I can see with this business model is the sheer volume of people buying Gibsons. I don't know what happens to all of them, but the annually-produced tens of thousands of Les Pauls alone go somewhere. If production had to be adjusted to meet even 75-80% individually-specced orders, the volume couldn't be sustained anywhere near the current level.

That might not necessarily be a bad thing.

[Bob77]

If I had a bajillion dollars to spare, and wanted to get into the guitar business ...

Half a bajillion woould probably suffice.

The only real speedbump I can see with this business model is the sheer volume of people buying Gibsons. I don't know what happens to all of them, but the annually-produced tens of thousands of Les Pauls alone go somewhere. If production had to be adjusted to meet even 75-80% individually-specced orders, the volume couldn't be sustained anywhere near the current level.

Exactly.

People seem to forget that the volume of guitars these big companies make is huge. Kiesel probably makes a tiny fraction by comparison.

And...I wouldn't be surprised if Kiesel expands to other products besides instruments down the road. Heck...bring us some Kiesel branded amps lol

[gpbarnett]

And...I wouldn't be surprised if Kiesel expands to other products besides instruments down the road. Heck...bring us some Kiesel branded amps lol

If Kiesel ever does expand, I hope they start building drums (probably just the shells, use existing hardware/cymbals/heads).

If Jeff's kids end up being passionate about something music related other than guitars, that would be a good reason to expand. Otherwise, I have no problem with Kiesel sticking to guitars/basses.

[DesmoBob]

I always thought they looked kind of like a condom. With a hole in the end.

Broken condom style ...

When the song Gangnam Style first came out, for the longest time, I thought he was saying Condom Star.

[DesmoBob]

And...I wouldn't be surprised if Kiesel expands to other products besides instruments down the road. Heck...bring us some Kiesel branded amps lol

If Kiesel ever does expand, I hope they start building drums (probably just the shells, use existing hardware/cymbals/heads).

I vaguely remember seeing a photo of a drum kit in the old Carvin factory. Can't remember if it was an experimental Carvin design, or just a personal kit that Jeff messed around with. I'm sure Spud can find the pic.

[spudmunkey]

It's Jeff's personal, and was a prototype kit for a possible line of Carvin drums, but they decided against going forward with it. I don't recall ever seeing a photo, though. And I know there was a thread about it, but I can't find it.

edit: nevermind, found the thread.
http://www.kieselguitarsbbs.com/viewtop ... 59#p617659

Huh... So that's what this is... Neat.

[Bob77]

Since Kiesel is the of king of exotic woods...man, that would be amazing to see a line of drums with crazy looking exotic woods.

[DesmoBob]

Since Kiesel is the of king of exotic woods...man, that would be amazing to see a line of drums with crazy looking exotic woods.

I can see it now. Beveled drums. Headless.