Gibson Has Been Put on a Diet?

[lowrider]

Here's hoping that the ship is righted and headed in the right direction,

It took me a while to find the right J-45, but when I finally did, I found out what all the excitement is about.

Good luck Gibson. Maybe so other guitar companies will realize that you don't need a zillion overlapping models.

[Charmed Life Picks]

If in fact they are cutting back while also refocusing on their core guitar business, I applaud that decision.

Case in Point: When Steve Jobs came back and took over Apple, when they were about 30 days from insolvency and BK, he went to a white board and divided it into four boxes. One column had one consumer desktop and one pro desktop. The second column had one consumer laptop and one pro laptop.

I'm not saying will have the astounding success Apple has had since that simple diagram, but that began the journey of becoming the most valuable company in the world (at one point, anyway).

So yes, I think it's great.

scott memmer

[Pinetreebob]

Originally Posted by Paddy1951

Because of another related post/topic, I checked out Gibson's website. From the looks of things, I think the new management's influence has kicked in.
All of Gibson's lines have been cut back, some significantly.

Maybe I didn't get the full website, but I think I did. Anyway, many things appear to be gone.

I am not suggesting this is a bad thing, just that it has happened.

It may be better to build fewer guitars, but very well.

I just checked out their web site and it appears that much is missing. I looked at the Les Paul models and maybe I missed it but I saw no Les Paul Standards!

[Dwight]

Originally Posted by Pinetreebob

I just checked out their web site and it appears that much is missing. I looked at the Les Paul models and maybe I missed it but I saw no Les Paul Standards!

Considering Musician's Friend is listing 83 varieties of Les Paul.
I agree the Gibson website is a work in progress.

[Pinetreebob]

Originally Posted by Dwight

Considering Musician's Friend is listing 83 varieties of Les Paul.
I agree the Gibson website is a work in progress.

Yeah, it's probably true that the web site does not reflect what they are manufacturing. I just thought it was funny they didn't even list what is probably their signature model.

[gr81dorn]

Originally Posted by Jeff Scott

Hello? Fender?

Totally different ballgame with the modular nature of that company’s products. Bolt on necks, pickguards covering universal routes, etc. they can make a ton f same parts to make a ton of different types of guitars from picking from the buffet.


They’re still overrun with models and options, always chasing the partscaster community who improves on all the standard good ideas Leo invented.

They can definitely dial it back, too.

[Photojeep]

Are you all saying that the J15 is being discontinued because the site says the J15 cannot be bought online? The J15 (in several versions) is still listed. If they were discontinued, wouldn't the site say so?

Just curious,
PJ

[frankmcr]

Originally Posted by Photojeep

Are you all saying that the J15 is being discontinued because the site says the J15 cannot be bought online? The J15 (in several versions) is still listed. If they were discontinued, wouldn't the site say so?

Just curious,
PJ

In fact every acoustic I clicked on at the Gibson site says "Currently unavailable online. Your local authorized Gibson dealer may have this item in stock."

As to not available online, they are available online from all the usual suspects - GC, Sam Ash, Sweetwater, amazon. Including the J-15.

So what's up with that?

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by gr81dorn

They’re still overrun with models and options ..... They can definitely dial it back, too.

That was the point of my post.

[Silly Moustache]

Their website this morning shows 15 (!) versions of the jumbo.
Five of which are cutaways (oh no!) and one in a silly colour.

Six versions of the Super Jumbo, body woods not always spec'd.
14 versions of the Dove, Hummingbird (three of which have cutaways and look nothing like a Hummingbird) and "songwriter".

Four versions of the L-00

and three ghastly "parlor" creations - why ?

NO mention of Mandolins or banjos !?

I think they still have a lot of rationalisation to do.

[lowrider]

I started it abot the j-15. I went to the Gibson site and didn't see it. I didn't say it was cancelled, I just said that I didn't find it there.

I just went back to the Gibson site and don't worry, I found the j-15;

https://www.gibson.com/Guitars/Acoustic

It's still there. You can still get one. Don't worry!

[cmd612]

Originally Posted by Silly Moustache

and three ghastly "parlor" creations - why ?

Maybe because some of us who like (and buy) modern Gibsons think the "parlors," despite the odd name, are nice-sounding, versatile, small-bodied guitars?

[TBman]

Originally Posted by gerardo1000

The J15 that I had was a real masterpiece and it had an unbeatable value for the money . It is a real pity that they phased it out. The new J-45 studio, that also has walnut back and sides, cannot really replace it because it has a thinner body depth.

Yes. When I first read the topic of the thread, that's what I thought it was referring to. I'm not a big fan of the shallower depth. I didn't a/b one against my 2016 J-45, but I wasn't really impressed when I played one. I noticed the thinner body right away, so that may have biased my first impression.

[Steadfastly]

I find it hard to discern the difference between one model and a similar one, especially in the electric side. It is one of the worst sites in the industry to pick a model. In today's online world, that is a negative thing.