Gibsgone. Maybe

[Simon Barden]

Have you seen some of the finishes on the 2018 range? Some of the new(old) ones look great - the Goldtop Classic with P90s already has my credit card twitching (it won't happen).



But the new 'fade' bursts on all the 'high performance' models just look half-finished to me, like they couldn't be bothered to go all the way round with the spray gun.



Still not convinced about the rear-mounted pups on those HP models (I wouldn't touch one anyway but Gibson aren't making them easy to like). I haven't seen any rear-body pictures of them but there must now be a cover plate on the back for them. They'd probably look better with uncovered pickups.

But again with the LP HP, they seem to be making a whole product line that (to me) is going to be pretty hard to shift.

[Dedman]

Maybe one day they will learn what book MATCHING means, funny how PRS, Fuijigen,ESP and even the factory doing Pitbulls can line the veneers up but Gibson can't.

[pablopepper]

But the new 'fade' bursts on all the 'high performance' models just look half-finished to me, like they couldn't be bothered to go all the way round with the spray gun.

Agreed, they are not a good look. Once again, a swing and a miss.

[Simon Barden]

Found a picture of the back of a LP HP. No cover plate, just adjustment screws. Which means that the pickups are unique to Gibson as there are no mounting tabs sticking out, so unless the likes of SD and DiMarzio etc. start making pickups with the new Gibson mounting system, you're stuck with a Gibson-only selection, so you better be sure you like their pickups!

Just digging their own grave that little bit deeper.

[Simon Barden]

Their SG HP models also have the same pickup/mounting system.

[andrewdosborne]

Looks like their still using the GForce system on HP models.....

[Simon Barden]

...and the zero fret and the slightly wider neck (not a big as the 2015 necks though).

[CascadiaGuitarGeek]

It's like they are trying to sabotage the value of the brand.

[Dedman]

It's like they are trying to sabotage the value of the brand.

I thought the same about Marshall, with their earphones and sunglasses, then I saw their "licensing manager". A mid 20's girl with more tats than most guys, a real try hard hipster who no doubt had no idea of how Marshall was seen in the marketplace or the respect it had gained, no doubt to her it was a cash cow to be milked before moving on to the next brand.
That explained everything. I'm willing to bet the same recent graduate type is running Gibsons marketing.

[Sonic Mountain]

If they just focused on consistency across a smaller range of models they could rest on the brand reputation for the rest of time. As it is the expectations of picking up a new Gibson are just not met when you hold one in your hands.

I went, cash in hand to buy one and simply couldn't justify the spend after playing a bunch of Gibson and Epiphone LPs. Both the copy cats (Yamaha Revstar and Hagstrom Custom deluxe) I played were far superior in look, feel, playability and sound, add in a better price point and it was a no brainer - and no regrets as the money left over went straight into a Pitbull kit.