Gibson, quo vadis?

[Stringswinger]

Gibson is an iconic brand. It will survive.

It is possible that like Epiphone and Guild before her, Gibson will eventually be a name on guitar headstocks produced outside the USA, but survive she will.

The guitar industry is bloated with producers while the consumers of that industry shrink. In the end, only the strong will survive. Gibson guitars, for all of her faults is still pretty strong. Jazz guitar will be around hundreds of years from now and I predict that the Gibson L-5 and ES-175 will still be the tools of choice.

[silverfoxx]

I'm sure most Gibson devotees will hope
that you are right Marco, None of us want
to see this marque fail, although the CEO
is not helping matters.
Orville would be turning in his grave at
recent events.

[vinnyv1k]

All CEO's seem to have a shelf life. A period were they make their company very successful and then they seem to become the boat anchor if they stay as the leader for too long. Just like fresh bread will eventually turn into mold.
Same goes with politicians. I think when your are No.1 for too long ego starts to cloud your judgement.
This may turn out to be very good for Gibson. Something has to happen to improve their QC problems.
Their high prices are justifiable if their product is of stellar quality.

[docbop]

All CEO's seem to have a shelf life. A period were they make their company very successful and then they seem to become the boat anchor if they stay as the leader for too long. Just like fresh bread will eventually turn into mold.
Same goes with politicians. I think when your are No.1 for too long ego starts to cloud your judgement.
This may turn out to be very good for Gibson. Something has to happen to improve their QC problems.
Their high prices are justifiable if their product is of stellar quality.

The problem in the corporate world I saw after decades working in it was once someone rises to Director level or higher it's like they have job security for life. I've seen VP's and other embezzle money, tank companies, caught giving trade secrets to other companies, everything. Then they get fired and in no time they are working for another company. Many times its a smaller company, but hired because they have experience at a high level. yes ripping people off at a high level. The other and to me even bigger problem in corporate world is once someone makes it into management they again are deemed blessed and can manage any type of department or product. I worked in high tech and so many times a new manager would be brought in and our first question was what's their background in tech. So many time was oh they haven't worked in tech before but they managed <fill in the blank>.

So if Gibson reshuffles the deck to appease Wall Street likelihood they get a new CEO with guitar industry experience chances are is slim to none.Not too many people with that on their resume. Next hope would be someone with musical instrument manufacturing background, better odds, but still small pot. Now it goes to anyone with CEO experience in any field, and the problems start again.

I would love to see Heritage take over the Gibson brand, but don't think they have the financials to pull it off.

[Doctor Jeff]

I'm probably the last one to comment on economics, and if you could see my checking account statements, you'd agree, but...

Seems like they got away from their core mission to make quality guitars.

Expanding into non-guitar businesses...

Ceasing manufacture of some iconic models, or turning them into boutique items that only true aficionados would go for...

Overhyping and overaccessorizing the models they do make--how many LP models are there? A gazillion?

Going for some questionable technology with questionable aesthetics--Dusk Tiger, anyone?

Ruining the relationship with local guitar stores that should have been entries into the Gibson world...

Apparently taking on too much debt...

They kind of remind me of GM when they collapsed. They need to be more like Toyota--just make good products at reasonable prices, and treat the dealers and the customers nice.

Like others, I hope they can turn things around. I like the Gibsons I have owned.

[docbop]

I'm probably the last one to comment on economics, and if you could see my checking account statements, you'd agree, but...

Seems like they got away from their core mission to make quality guitars.

Expanding into non-guitar businesses...

Ceasing manufacture of some iconic models, or turning them into boutique items that only true aficionados would go for...

Overhyping and overaccessorizing the models they do make--how many LP models are there? A gazillion?

Going for some questionable technology with questionable aesthetics--Dusk Tiger, anyone?

Ruining the relationship with local guitar stores that should have been entries into the Gibson world...

Apparently taking on too much debt...

They kind of remind me of GM when they collapsed. They need to be more like Toyota--just make good products at reasonable prices, and treat the dealers and the customers nice.

Like others, I hope they can turn things around. I like the Gibsons I have owned.

That's how you deal with a saturated market, Fender does similar things and other industry. Once you've sold to all your potential customers and the normal buy cycle is a couple years you need to do something to bring that steady flow of cash. So they do all the things you said to keep money coming in, create a "collectors" market to sell same thing with just a cosmetic change or a tweak of the CNC machine.

Corporations money is their heroin and they do whatever they can to keep a the board of director high.

[Woody Sound]

All CEO's seem to have a shelf life. A period were they make their company very successful and then they seem to become the boat anchor if they stay as the leader for too long. Just like fresh bread will eventually turn into mold.
Same goes with politicians.

Love the bread to mold analogy. But I disagree about politicians. They seem to hang on FOREVER, especially in the US Congress.

[vinnyv1k]

Love the bread to mold analogy. But I disagree about politicians. They seem to hang on FOREVER, especially in the US Congress.

Amen to that.

[Rhythmisking]

?They dropped Gelb in Redwood City, man that was LAME !!!

Dude! That was my local music store growing up in RC. I take it you're not from New Jersey?

[vinnyv1k]

All my finest Gibson's came from Gelb. I would order them all through Kevin. If it came in and it was a turd he wouldn't even let me see it. He would say it didn't pass the Vinmuster test. Kevin is a darn good player too. He sounds like a cross between Robben Ford and Lee Ritenour. Kevin has some really nice 335's and had a great band in his younger days.

[citizenk74]

The problem in the corporate world I saw after decades working in it was once someone rises to Director level or higher it's like they have job security for life. I've seen VP's and other embezzle money, tank companies, caught giving trade secrets to other companies, everything. Then they get fired and in no time they are working for another company. Many times its a smaller company, but hired because they have experience at a high level. yes ripping people off at a high level. The other and to me even bigger problem in corporate world is once someone makes it into management they again are deemed blessed and can manage any type of department or product. I worked in high tech and so many times a new manager would be brought in and our first question was what's their background in tech. So many time was oh they haven't worked in tech before but they managed <fill in the blank>.

So if Gibson reshuffles the deck to appease Wall Street likelihood they get a new CEO with guitar industry experience chances are is slim to none.Not too many people with that on their resume. Next hope would be someone with musical instrument manufacturing background, better odds, but still small pot. Now it goes to anyone with CEO experience in any field, and the problems start again.

The Peter Principle in action.

[LtKojak]

Heritage acquiring the Gibson brand... that's something out of a dream.

I'd call it "poetic justice"...