Change of CEO at Gibson a positive step for return to archtop building?

[Jim Soloway]

I would think the skill set to build 335's overlaps considerably with 175's. Obviously the molds and some of the hardware are different (and it's harder to fish the wiring in and out). But otherwise it's a skinny double cutaway 175 with a chunk of wood glued inside, no?

But that chunk of wood inside supports the top. That's a pretty substantial difference but really I was thinking more of the carved archtops. It's a long way from a 335 to an L5 or a Super 400.

[jazzkritter]

Even if archtops were available to the young player of today, dont you all think mastering an archtop is a lot harder than a strat? Size, feel and archtop technique requires more discipline than a solid body. So I am wondering, even if available would the intrinsic characteristics of an archtop prevent it from being a popular choice? Especially when there are no popular artists out there playing one for the masses to emulate?
Its all an interesting debate, isnt it?

[frabarmus]

Even if archtops were available to the young player of today, dont you all think mastering an archtop is a lot harder than a strat? Size, feel and archtop technique requires more discipline than a solid body. So I am wondering, even if available would the intrinsic characteristics of an archtop prevent it from being a popular choice? Especially when there are no popular artists out there playing one for the masses to emulate?
Its all an interesting debate, isnt it?

I think the popularity of the archtop is closely related to the popularity of Jazz and Blues (among young players)... as long as this music remains popular (which I'm not too sure/optimistic about) there should be some demand for archtops.

[Jazzjourney4Eva]

Just a thought (and I'm not really 100% certain that this is true) but it seems to me that the longer Gibson stays out of the archtop business, the harder it will be to get back in. Archtops take s a lot of very specific skills and if they're not building any archtops, then those skills will probably disappear from the company, either by attrition or labor relocation. So if they decide in a few years that they want to get back into the archtop business, they may well have to build up a crew from scratch. That's not likely to be an easy proposition.

Or recruit a veteran or 3 from some other business.

[mr. beaumont]

Even if archtops were available to the young player of today, dont you all think mastering an archtop is a lot harder than a strat? Size, feel and archtop technique requires more discipline than a solid body.

Not really. Different skill set, though.

Let's face it, archtops look old fashioned and they aren't great for playing the type of guitar centered music the Instagram generation is in to.

On the bright side, I can still get Blackjack gum at a few places. Where's that Betamax?

[John A.]

But that chunk of wood inside supports the top. That's a pretty substantial difference but really I was thinking more of the carved archtops. It's a long way from a 335 to an L5 or a Super 400.

Agreed, carved is definitely very different, but I would think 175, 330, and 335 could be done by the same teams without a whole lot of re-training and adaptation (assuming the tooling exists for all three and can practicably be put in the same place). That it hasn't happened my speaks to my ignorance, or to Gibson not seeing it as a worthwhile idea for other reasons.

[wintermoon]

It seems to me that if Gibson never made another archtop the world wouldn't suffer one bit.
There's more than enough out there to meet demand unless you're a 'gotta get it new' guy.
And once the baby boomer's collections hit the market there will be that many more.
New production might reduce current prices of previously owned guitars however, which are the highest in years.

[AaronMColeman]

It seems to me that if Gibson never made another archtop the world wouldn't suffer one bit.
There's more than enough out there to meet demand unless you're a 'gotta get it new' guy.
And once the baby boomer's collections hit the market there will be that many more.
New production might reduce current prices of previously owned guitars however.

And, like it or not, Chinese guitars are pretty dang good nowadays. A few good archtop manufacturers in Asia now. Not to mention Ibanez makes some killer guitars. You're right, the world will continue to spin at roughly the same speed whether or not Gibson makes an Archtop or not.

[Spook410]

If you want a Gibson archtop I think you should be shopping for one now. Even though the upcoming recession in the US will depress prices for a bit, don't think they will get any cheaper in real dollars (euro,yen, et al). Gibson will not return to archtop production in any way that will influence supply.

On the other hand there are lots of good non-Gibson archtops across the price spectrum.

[QAman]

I think Gibson is in good hands with Cesar. The company is doing very well and I expect to see more limited historic releases of various models.
He’s a very passionate and intelligent guy who will preserve the legacy just fine. Cesar , JC and Mark are a team, and hopefully JC is off to new rewarding ventures.

As for the current build quality- my friend and I just bought new R9’s and the workmanship is fantastic and the tone is equal to the few real ones that I’ve played. I bought the standard VOS reissue and he got the ultra light Murphy Lab- both a blast to play.

Attached is a video worth watching. Fast forward to 23:00 if you want to see the 59’ Les Paul.

Pic of my new R9




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DougB]

And, like it or not, Chinese guitars are pretty dang good nowadays. A few good archtop manufacturers in Asia now.

Eastman Guitars for one.

[vinnyv1k]

It seems to me that if Gibson never made another archtop the world wouldn't suffer one bit.
There's more than enough out there to meet demand unless you're a 'gotta get it new' guy.
And once the baby boomer's collections hit the market there will be that many more.
New production might reduce current prices of previously owned guitars however, which are the highest in years.

Well I wouldn’t suffer and my wife would be deliriously happy…LOL.

[jazzkritter]

Ironic QAMan gets a good example…. Right? Maybe they saw your ID and figured you should get a good one)))

[frabarmus]

There's more than enough out there to meet demand unless you're a 'gotta get it new' guy.

And even if you "gotta get it new", with all the unsold guitars in music stores, all over the world, there probabily would be enough to meet demand for generations even with all instrument industry shutting down (considering how relatively few people, especially young, play musical instruments in the first place) ...?

[m_d]

I spent last evening listening to Diana and Anthony Wilson from 20 feet away, basking in guitar tone that was like the voice of angels. Hence, the archtop will never die, and Gibson should make archtops again. If Millenials and GenZs let it die, and don't buy archtops, it means they have no taste, and civilization is screwed.

[skiboyny]

If Millenials and GenZs let it die, and don't buy archtops, it means they have no taste, and civilization is screwed.

Seems to be plenty of proof that this is the case lol

[Jim Soloway]

Or recruit a veteran or 3 from some other business.

Wouldn't be ironic if they recruited craftsmen from Eastman in China or Tarada in Japan?

[tbeltrans]

I spent last evening listening to Diana and Anthony Wilson from 20 feet away, basking in guitar tone that was like the voice of angels. Hence, the archtop will never die, and Gibson should make archtops again. If Millenials and GenZs let it die, and don't buy archtops, it means they have no taste, and civilization is screwed.

For the generation(s) before mine, the piano was the popular instrument of choice and in some areas, the accordion, and depending on the area, maybe some other instrument. When my generation came along, the guitar became the thing to play. It seems perfectly reasonable to me that successive generations would pick something else.

Tony

[frabarmus]

When my generation came along, the guitar became the thing to play. It seems perfectly reasonable to me that successive generations would pick something else.

Tony

Then, perhaps, a couple of generations down the road, our beloved jazz boxes will become the equivalent of what the renaissance lute is today!

[lawson-stone]

For #32 above…

Oh but there is a comparison. This is not for a $450 semi-automatic 9mm pistol, of which there are millions. This is for a high quality rifle. Just like guitars, buy an inexpensive one or a high quality one.

Here are some of decisions the rifle buyer has to make:
Model
Weight, some competitions are weight limited
Barrel length
Rifling twist rate in the barrel
Front and rear sights, brand and type
Chambering, what cartridge will the chamber be made to accept
Wood finish, the appearance of the grain of the wood portions, standard, A, AA, AAA or exhibition grade

Our guitar buyer’s decisions…
Body type, solid, semi hollow, archtop, etc.
# of pickups
Type of pickup
Vibrato, yes or no
Finish, color
Case type

Once you get the rifle home, more decisions, assuming you load your own ammunition….
Gun powder, smokeless or traditional black, there are over (130) commercial smokeless powders to consider, each with a specific burn rate
Primer, make and type
Cartridge case, brand, lots of choices
Bullet, weight and type, many variations here
Bullet alloy, pure lead or some alloy of lead and various additives (many shooters cast their own bullets)

When you get the guitar home…
Strings, how many brands and sizes
Pedals, how long is that list?
Amp, lots of choices there
Cord
Stand

Some details may have been overlooked but hopefully this helps see the parallel.

Tom

I think that respondent simply disapproves of your buying a gun, period. Then to compare buying a gun (which he loathes) to a guitar is kind of almost sacrilege. I'm just guessing here, of course.

[Christian Miller]

What’s that boomers? I can’t hear you over the sound of my djenting 8-string Strandberg ;-)

Jazz guitar - isn’t that like Guthrie Govan? He’s a jazz guitarist right?

[Christian Miller]

Then, perhaps, a couple of generations down the road, our beloved jazz boxes will become the equivalent of what the renaissance lute is today!

and people who are obsessed with Renaissance music still play them and makers still make them. And they cost about the same.

[tbeltrans]

Then, perhaps, a couple of generations down the road, our beloved jazz boxes will become the equivalent of what the renaissance lute is today!

...and the people who still love and play them will comment on how tasteless the rest of us are because we don't share their enthusiasm for the lute.

Tony

[jazzkritter]

Whoa! (Literally)))

Cesar Gueikian Named MVP
Aspen Valley Polo Club Cup Final On Sunday

The new CEO plays polo!

Oh Gibson is in good hands ?

Melody Polo Wins ChukkerTV Challenge Cup | PoloZONE

[Will Box]

I seem to be meeting a lot of young people, like under 30's, that are really into jazz and other related styles.
Kids these days are musically way more open minded than my generation (born mid fifties) ever were.
Go Gibson! Start making those fine archtops, so today's youth, in time, will have an alternative to cheap Chinese and Indonesian knock-offs.
IMHO. Not that anybody cares about my opinion.