Gibson Custom Shop Modern Archtop Argentine Gray!

**Chi Musi Exchange David** · 07-13-2018, 01:08 PM

Happy summer you all! I was able to snap a pic of this Modern this morning and thought I'd share with you all! What do you all think of these Moderns?----davida@chicagomusicexchange.com

**Stringswinger** · 07-13-2018, 01:17 PM

It is a nice looking guitar and I wish Gibson well with the new model. As for me, I'll stick with the ES-175. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

**Woody Sound** · 07-13-2018, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by Chi Musi Exchange David

Happy summer you all! I was able to snap a pic of this Modern this morning and thought I'd share with you all! What do you all think of these Moderns?----davida@chicagomusicexchange.com

As I've said before, I love the basic concept, but would change a few superficial cosmetics.

**blille** · 07-13-2018, 01:39 PM

Looks great. It would have been good if it had been more affordable. If part of the rationale was to make it attractive to current non-users of archtops, $5k feels steep.

**vinnyv1k** · 07-13-2018, 02:38 PM

Crazy that Gibson is making that thing and not the 175. Sorry that Modern doesn't float my boat. Gibson is a lot like Harley Davidson. IMO a Gibson must look like a Gibson and a Harley must look like a Harley or it will not sell.
The return of the L5 Studio was a great idea but not in Army Green or Copper. VSB L5 Studio's would have flown off the shelves.
Gibson already has the best models in the world. They don't need to keep reinventing the wheel. Bring back some of the classics like the ES350 and ES350T or a model like Joe Pass' custom 1992 Gibson. I can't believe they stopped making the 175. The most iconic jazz guitar ever. HJ is smoking some good stuff apparently.

**LtKojak** · 07-13-2018, 03:01 PM

This guitar looks great... for an asian-made one.

Seriously, that's the Gibson model that look the most like a Chibson. Starting with the inlays, copy of what Terada did with their rebranded models El Torres and Emperador in the late '70s, early '80s.

TBH, I actually like it, but it's not worth 5K.

2.2K at most, with hard case and COA.

**Chazmo** · 07-13-2018, 03:01 PM

Vinny, You said it, bro.

As cool as VSB would be, I don't know that a VSB L-5 Studio would work. There may be too much labor involved with a burst finish to keep it simple and lower priced, which is what the Studio version is all about. Plain black, white, red, matte finish, whatever, would be okay, but, I agree, army green? Copper?

**Chazmo** · 07-13-2018, 03:07 PM

As much as I hate to say it, Ibanez's newer Contemporary Archtop series hits the mark better for me, personally.

**mr. beaumont** · 07-13-2018, 03:16 PM

There's several design choices this guitar that would earn you a "redo" in my digital art 1 class.

I like the idea of it, but so much misses the boat. It's another fail for Gibson, imho...

**Gitfiddler** · 07-13-2018, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by Chi Musi Exchange David

Happy summer you all! I was able to snap a pic of this Modern this morning and thought I'd share with you all! What do you all think of these Moderns?----davida@chicagomusicexchange.com

Nice design, but not enough 'bang for my buck' at $5k. There are way too many better options available at that price point.

**Lobomov** · 07-13-2018, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by vinnyv1k

Crazy that Gibson is making that thing and not the 175.

I'm guessing that there are far to many 175s in circulation and they just don't sell all that well brand new

**Longways to Go** · 07-13-2018, 05:02 PM

It's looks kinda like an early feotal development stage of a proper 175.

The point on the proto-Florentine cutaway hasn't grown to it's full length.

The F-holes haven't yet developed into their beautifully detailed violin style shape.

On the plus side, I don't hate the color (yellow=grey?) and the tail piece is proper.

I'm a little surprised they didn't morph the headstock into some kind of blob . . .

But seriously, If it's a fine player, I'd . . .

probably just keep my 175.

**339 in june** · 07-13-2018, 05:23 PM

For that kind of price, I'd prefer a Sadowsky
or a luthier guitar made exactly to your specs

**Dennis D** · 07-13-2018, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by Lobomov

I'm guessing that there are far to many 175s in circulation and they just don't sell all that well brand new

Like the man said: " There you go making sense again ! "

**deacon Mark** · 07-13-2018, 06:16 PM

This guitar does absolutley nothing for me at all. Looks bad and just cannot get past the dull looking guitar.

**johnnyjazz** · 07-13-2018, 06:18 PM

Looks wise, not my thing. David, why don,t YOU try it and tell us what you think about it.

**GNAPPI** · 07-13-2018, 08:24 PM

Originally Posted by johnnyjazz

Looks wise, not my thing. David, why don,t YOU try it and tell us what you think about it.

Pssst... sales folk NEVER have an ugly baby :-) Everything that was said here is pretty much spot on, except Pepe's $2,200 price point, I think he was being generous. Let's see how long it takes to sell all 25 units.

**mr. beaumont** · 07-13-2018, 08:37 PM

I've seen better bursts on guitars labeled "Johnson" and "Carol Robelli."

**blille** · 07-13-2018, 08:48 PM

Lol tough crowd!

I actually like the design and I do find it more modern. Like a Reverend guitar. But like I said, the price isn't there.

**Tal_175** · 07-13-2018, 08:59 PM

I don't get the point of making a shallow body, small width, electric guitar with two big set pickups and having it be fully carved solid wood (including back and sides). Isn't L4 a lesson to be learned? Even though L4 had deeper body it never really caught on, especially compared to it's laminate cousin.
I think it would have made more sense to save some resources and make a cheaper laminate version especially given that it's a "modern" design, not a vintage reissue type thing.

**Jabberwocky** · 07-13-2018, 09:09 PM

I don't like the headstock which looks like an early Chinese counterfeiters' idea of a Gibson headstock. I like the solid colour burgundy version of it. Solid colours would serve it well.

It reminds me of my PRS JA-15 that I got from Jack Zucker. I prefer the looks of the PRS JA-15. Maybe a Bruce Kunkel Shark Gill f-hole would give it pizzazz but this doesn't do it. (What am I saying? The sound holes are a simplified version of the Kunkel Shark Gills.) The wooden bridge is cocked at an odd angle and looks too long. Just go with a fixed mount two post ABR-1 bridge. The tailpiece does not do it for me either.

Give me the L5 Studio for the same price. Or make a 15" L5 Signature Studio for the same price. Those are the guitars people want.

I do not mind the Army Green L5 Studio. If I can find it used for $2800 to $3000 I'd buy it. And plaster waterslide decals all over it.

**Stringswinger** · 07-13-2018, 09:40 PM

This sure is a tough crowd. But who am I to talk. An ES-335 is too modern a guitar for me. The most modern guitar I play is a Fender Stratocaster. Designed in 1954. Hell, I wasn't designed until 1957.

**Jazzstdnt** · 07-13-2018, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by Woody Sound

As I've said before, I love the basic concept, but would change a few superficial cosmetics.

I agree, it's trying too hard to be somebody else (D'Angelico).

Gibson should lead and let the others follow, as usual. Not the other way around.

**rio** · 07-13-2018, 11:14 PM

I’ve said it before and I don’t like it. I think the concept is good but they failed in the execution.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

**AKA** · 07-14-2018, 03:23 AM

I like the styling. A couple of nitpicks - the location/shape of the position markers and the shape of the finger rest. Also, I have no experience with the fingerboard material "richlite", but it just sounds cheap. Hopefully it plays and sounds as good as it looks. Like others have noted, $4,900 is probably too expensive to make it competitive with the quality of instruments available at that price point.