Things Gibson never got right!

**DMgolf66** · 05-12-2020, 07:29 AM

I get the feeling this thread might rival the "Coronavirus effect on Jazz" thread for length when it's all over.

**Doctor Jeff** · 05-12-2020, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by dlew919

Um, read Chris hitchens on mother Teresa.... he thought about her much the same way a Wes Montgomery influenced guitarist might think of adding a boss hm2 to his or her rig.

I like(d) Hitchens—brilliant iconoclast, but even I (skeptic as I am) have a hard time reading his stuff about MT. Short version: “She was no saint, let me tell you.”

I once saw as a patient MT’s personal videographer—an American woman who lived in India and filmed MT for fundraisers and such. She was a true believer.

Originally Posted by Lobomov

I've read somewhere in a Stern interview that Miles insisted on a Strat in order to cash in on the Jimi Hendrix crazy. (Was worded differently, but that is how I read it .. anyway was still Miles' demand, Strat to capture a Jimi vibe)

That may be, but he was playing more electric blues stuff. I remember the reviews of the day commented on Stern’s “BB King thing”...not too favorably. I thought it fit what Miles was doing at the time.

Originally Posted by ronjazz

Miles wanted rock guitar. A Strat is not a Tele.

Hold my beer...

Things Gibson never got right!-m3zzcc2ch2nhhvk6kza5-jpg

**mr. beaumont** · 05-12-2020, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by Tal_175

Yeah they could be. I've never played one. I was just speculating that the pickup placement on those guitars maybe is chosen to balance the more shallow and acoustic (solid carved) construction.

It's possible. Its definitely dark.

**sgosnell** · 05-12-2020, 05:56 PM

Shallower does not automatically mean brighter or less bass. Many other factors are involved.

**dlew919** · 05-12-2020, 06:24 PM

The break angle on the headstock.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**2bornot2bop** · 05-12-2020, 07:34 PM

my single lone guitar, with the gap between the humbucker and fretboard. What were they thinking?

**aborodya** · 05-28-2021, 09:48 AM

Gibson also had ES-775 for a short period of time which, apart from being more ornate and flashy version of 175 (bling leftovers from ther parts bin), had 5 piece maple neck, ebony fretboard, deeper cutaway for easier upper frets access, and (similar to L4) neck pickup placed right against the fretboard. It was a very short production run so I presume it was a flop.

**2bornot2bop** · 05-28-2021, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by aborodya

Gibson also had ES-775 for a short period of time which, apart from being more ornate and flashy version of 175 (bling leftovers from ther parts bin), had 5 piece maple neck, ebony fretboard, deeper cutaway for easier upper frets access, and (similar to L4) neck pickup placed right against the fretboard. It was a very short production run so I presume it was a flop.

I don’t feel it was a flop. I simply believe the standard ES175 was so prevalent that a 775 never had a chance of catching on. And how many times did Gibson produce limited runs of guitars? There you go.

**citizenk74** · 05-28-2021, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by aborodya

Gibson also had ES-775 for a short period of time which, apart from being more ornate and flashy version of 175 (bling leftovers from ther parts bin), had 5 piece maple neck, ebony fretboard, deeper cutaway for easier upper frets access, and (similar to L4) neck pickup placed right against the fretboard. It was a very short production run so I presume it was a flop.

**Stringswinger** · 05-28-2021, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop

I don’t feel it was a flop. I simply believe the standard ES175 was so prevalent that a 775 never had a chance of catching on. And how many times did Gibson produce limited runs of guitars? There you go.

The 775 was a flop. It sold poorly and was discontinued after only 4 years of production. They were quite heavy and had a somewhat strident tone. Around the same time as the 775, Gibson reintroduced a model from the 50's, the L-4CES, another upscale ES-175 of sorts which did much better.

**Cunamara** · 05-28-2021, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by grahambop

???

That one was, as I understand it, borrowed. Lorne's own guitar is an 80s Ibanez Roadstar of some sort (Stratlike pickup configuration with Duncan rail type pickups and an onboard Demeter Fat Boost, maple top and maybe a hog back). I recently saw an interview with him on YouTube where he said he bought the guitar used for $235 many years ago. He has a second one that is set up identically.

**Cunamara** · 05-28-2021, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by md54

List below all the design failures that you think Gibson made.
Here’s my starter.
(note: I am a Gibson fan)
The ES 175 and it’s siblings should have had the neck pickup butt up against the fretboard end. Like it does on all the expensive models. Why did they do that?

The explanation that I have read about that, which may or may not be correct, is that it is as far forward as it can go without fouling the strings and/or interfering with the bracing versus having to increase the neck angle relative to the body or elevating the fingerboard more. When that guitar was developed, the tendency for guitar players at that time was still towards a pretty bright tone à la Charlie Christian, Jimmy Rainey, etc.

**2bornot2bop** · 05-28-2021, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by Stringswinger

The 775 was a flop. It sold poorly and was discontinued after only 4 years of production. They were quite heavy and had a somewhat strident tone. Around the same time as the 775, Gibson reintroduced a model from the 50's, the L-4CES, another upscale ES-175 of sorts which did much better.

4 year’s, that’s a long long production time for a flop, you’ve got to admit. I don’t recall the Gibson solid formed having a 4 year run. And who bought that 4 year run of 775’s? Those guitars all sold, even if some of them had to be blown out. The 775 was never going to supersede a 175, even Gibson knew that. It was an adjunct instrument that Gibson tested the waters with. It wasn’t popular. I tell you what, I would have bought one if they weren’t $3k in 2016.

**Little Jay** · 05-28-2021, 03:27 PM

Gibson got everything right on my ES-125 and my ES-333 (access plate!)..... wait, what was the question?

**Litterick** · 05-28-2021, 05:15 PM

The genius in Marketing who decided to name that guitar Solid Formed has a lot to answer for. Just stick with the numbers in future.

**jads57** · 05-28-2021, 05:25 PM

I had a Gibson ES-775 back in the day. Wonderful guitar for what it was.
I do think it was an attempt to use up old parts from Howard Roberts Customs, and RD Customs and try to market something new as well.

Henry J. was a big fan of Herb Ellis and I'm sure that influenced his choice of platforms to which to build a new model upon.
They were maple laminate bodies and 3 peice maple necks with an ebony bound fingerboard . Making them quite heavy at around 9 lbs.
The neck pickup being moved closer to the fingerboard sounded very warm.

I actually prefer Benedetto Bambino as more modern choice and update to Gibson's ES-175 design overall.
But hard to argue with such an iconic guitar that's been on so many records.

**icr** · 05-28-2021, 06:13 PM

Things Gibson Did Not Get Right...

The Humbucker pickup. Apparently...because it seems they keep changing it.

**rahsaan** · 05-29-2021, 05:56 AM

Originally Posted by icr

The Humbucker pickup. Apparently...because it seems they keep changing it.

And yet there is a whole industry based on trying to recreate the PAF sound. My view is I love my 2016 175, it felt/sounded perfect the moment I first plugged it in. They made them for nearly 70 years, so they got it pretty much spot on IMO.