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Hey it's Mat from Gibson Product Development - AMA

matkoehler

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Messages
482
Hi Mat,

I'm a member of another forum (and I'm not referring to another LP forum), where a member mentioned that they and I'm quoting here: "asked Gibson to build me a ebony L-5 and GIbson told me we are no longer building any archtops at this time including no more L5's.''

Is that true?


Thanks and Happy Holidays!
Matt
We are absolutely building them -- BUT we're not taking any orders right now. We have well over a year of backorders for archtops already. And we are planning a re-launch in 2023 which includes a capacity increase and an all-new Historic Reissue L-5CES. Lots of big things to come but it will take a little time to navigate. Thanks for the question! -Mat
 

Ryan Mac

New member
Joined
Dec 23, 2021
Messages
3
Hey Mat thank you for this thread . Very generous and informative . I am very excited to hear that Gibson is going to seriously up their pickup game. That said I love custombuckers and Burstbuckers 2 and 3 and have Several sets both . So my question is will custombuckers become available for aftermarket purchase and will they be used in Gibson USA models once the new PAF replicas go into production and will the new PAF replicas be an aftermarket option or a custom shop only deal . Thanks so much for your time .
 

matkoehler

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Messages
482
Hey Mat thank you for this thread . Very generous and informative . I am very excited to hear that Gibson is going to seriously up their pickup game. That said I love custombuckers and Burstbuckers 2 and 3 and have Several sets both . So my question is will custombuckers become available for aftermarket purchase and will they be used in Gibson USA models once the new PAF replicas go into production and will the new PAF replicas be an aftermarket option or a custom shop only deal . Thanks so much for your time .
Great questions Ryan! I can't divulge too much but I do see making Custombuckers available aftermarket in the future as well as historic replica parts. I see us introducing unique limited runs of PAF replicas with a high level of detail and craftsmanship...but it's very unlikely that we would be able to produce as many of those as we need for ALL production at Custom Shop, so we might be sticking with Custombuckers until a better idea comes along. But having just done more A/B-ing recently for a variety of different wind and magnet specs, the Custombuckers won out again. Hope that helps give you a peek behind the curtain! Ha. Thanks, Mat
 

madrivermoco

Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2021
Messages
35
Mat,
Another Modernistic question (from my six yr old daughter):
Will you build a Pelham Blue Moderne in the made 2 measure program?

Also,
The two page spread in Dice is the best thing I’ve seen in years. If I could high five you, I would.
 
Last edited:

Stephens

Active member
Joined
Dec 30, 2001
Messages
438
Great questions Ryan! I can't divulge too much but I do see making Custombuckers available aftermarket in the future as well as historic replica parts. I see us introducing unique limited runs of PAF replicas with a high level of detail and craftsmanship...but it's very unlikely that we would be able to produce as many of those as we need for ALL production at Custom Shop, so we might be sticking with Custombuckers until a better idea comes along. But having just done more A/B-ing recently for a variety of different wind and magnet specs, the Custombuckers won out again. Hope that helps give you a peek behind the curtain! Ha. Thanks, Mat
Everyday, I am blown away by the clarity and growl of my Wildwood spec Custombuckers.
 

Midnight Blues

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Messages
1,703
We are absolutely building them -- BUT we're not taking any orders right now. We have well over a year of backorders for archtops already. And we are planning a re-launch in 2023 which includes a capacity increase and an all-new Historic Reissue L-5CES. Lots of big things to come but it will take a little time to navigate. Thanks for the question! -Mat

Thanks for your response Mat, I'm glad to read that and I appreciate it very much!


Merry Christmas!
Matt
 

Coachmoe

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 23, 2002
Messages
1,139
Depends if you are talking about Gibson USA or Gibson Custom Shop. Gibson USA Firebirds have gone through a number of changes over the years and they are currently discontinued as we work on an Original Collection-worthy offering. Maybe a non-reverse too. Anyway yes they used a fiber overlay at points. Custom Shop Firebirds have always been carved, which is what the vintage models had. Hope that helps.
Mat,

Yes sir, it does help. I recently had the opportunity to see a USA Production Firebird that was undergoing a repaint. I saw the overlay. Once I knew what to look for I also checked my own 2002 and it has the overlay as well. Hopefully an Original Collection pair of reverse and non reverse Firebirds will be available in 2022.
 

RocknRollShakeUp

Active member
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
766
Mat,

Can one get a M2M chambered Les Paul Custom ?
I’d love a two humbucker black beauty Custom that’s 8lbs or less, preferably mid 7lbs.
Thanks.
 

Ryan Mac

New member
Joined
Dec 23, 2021
Messages
3
Great questions Ryan! I can't divulge too much but I do see making Custombuckers available aftermarket in the future as well as historic replica parts. I see us introducing unique limited runs of PAF replicas with a high level of detail and craftsmanship...but it's very unlikely that we would be able to produce as many of those as we need for ALL production at Custom Shop, so we might be sticking with Custombuckers until a better idea comes along. But having just done more A/B-ing recently for a variety of different wind and magnet specs, the Custombuckers won out again. Hope that helps give you a peek behind the curtain! Ha. Thanks, Mat
Thanks so much for the reply. Custombuckers truly are a fantastic pickup and what strikes me the most about them is how versatile they are . The work well in every Gibson model whether it's a maple cap les paul , all Mahagony les paul custom, SG standard or custom, Explorer or any type of ES variant. Very few pickups can make that claim. Love the BB 2 and 3 set as well as 57classic/classic plus set but i find the 57 classic and Busrtbickers great as they are do not work in every model. When they do they are great and as good as anything else but they do not have the versatility across the various models like the custombuckers do . Could you shed any light on the 74 superhumbucker that was used in the Randy ROADS and 74 les paul custom reissues and I belive some custom shop SGs . Were they meant to be a take on the 70s superhumbucker which are often called tarback pups . The specs between the 2 are quite different but both are low output. So was it a similar thing as with custombuckers being created to capture a certain sound and not a spec accurate paf copy. Were they trying to capture the sound of the original Gibson super humbucker rather than a spec accurate recreation. Personally as long as the tone is their I do not get to bothered about vintage correct material although it's a nice bonus and I completely get why those things matter to people . Thanks again
 

FelixWalfisch

Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2020
Messages
22
Hi Matt,

first of all I want to congratulate the whole Gibson team for the current Korina run which reached a new level in terms of historical accuracy!
The day I picked up my white Guard Explorer I spontaneously picked up a V as well and I couldn't be happier with my purchase in every aspect.

IMG_4998 (1).jpg

My first question is regarding the heel joint of the V. I compared the one from the current run to my 2001 59 reissue and noticed that the 59 has a steeper and longer transition to the neck.
Is there any historical reason behind this difference? The earlier 90s 58 reissues also have a shorter joint.
Here's a photo to compare both (left the 59 from 2001 and right the 2021 model)

IMG_4987.jpg

My second question is whether there's any possibility to purchase a trapezoid V-case for my older model. Unfortunately it came with a black art & historic case which isn't as great as the historical one.

Thanks a lot and Merry Christmas to you and your family :)
 

goldtop0

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 19, 2003
Messages
8,931
Can I get replacement knobs for ones that crack?

I have quite a number of Historic and True historic that the knobs cracked on and most arrived that way.

Is that considered a quality issue?

Hi ren, I get cheap but good non cracking embossed sets from Philadelphia Lutherie.
 

gio

Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2004
Messages
125
Hey Mat,

Thought of a couple more questions. I have a Knopfler Les Paul VOS. It’s my favorite guitar. It seems to have a different neck shape than the typical R8, almost like the shoulders are a bit less. Kind of like an R8/R9 hybrid. Is that just luck of the draw or is that how the neck is actually spec’d? Also, are the pickups in the Knopfler regular Custombuckers or are they wound special for this model?

Thanks for doing this! And happy holidays to you!
 

Gibbons59

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2018
Messages
45
Mat, I do want to thank you, and the entire team, for everything you have done. I've purchased several guitars- Gibson and Epiphone- this passed year, they're all fantastic.
 

RocknRollShakeUp

Active member
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
766
Hi ren, I get cheap but good non cracking embossed sets from Philadelphia Lutherie.
I bought a set of the Philadelphia’s about a year ago and out of 4 two had this small asymmetric defect, like there was a bit of a beak without perfect roundness. Otherwise they looked identical to my Historic knobs that had cracked.

My other two Historic knobs are cracking yet more and I was thinking of buying another Philadelphia set and hope at least two knobs are perfect but I didn’t see them on the website this time around.

BTW I got the Philadelphia speed knobs also, for my cracking R4 knobs, and the Philadelphia speed knobs were 100% good to go w no defects.
 

Dmcguitar

New member
Joined
Dec 19, 2019
Messages
11
Great question and the answer is that any Les Paul Goldtop or Standard Historic Reissue model can get the access heel through M2M, yes. Les Paul Custom is possible but you'd have to do it without back binding...no way for us to bind an access heel and cutaway.

Some dealers are more adept than others at M2M facilitation, but yes the good ones will get you three top options to pick from if you so desire.

It is probably possible to make the neck of a particular model satin and the rest VOS, but I'd recommend requesting us to scotch-brite the neck instead. The guys in final assembly are pretty good at getting the same effect you desire on the meat of the neck only. Thanks for the questions!

Thanks, scotch brite sounds like a good idea.

As a follow up to the neck joint, is there a difference in the way a standard neck is mounted into the body vs those with the access heel (any added support)? If i wanted to file down the heel of a LP, would that affect neck stability?
 

yeatzee

Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2016
Messages
66
Are there any plans to make updates to the 60's reissue ES guitars? I'm holding a '64 reissue ES345, a 1964 ES345 and a 1965 ES345 right now. Some noticeable differences with the reissue, such as the pickguard being the wrong size and shape, the screw hole being in the wrong spot, the bracket being in the wrong spot, etc. I wasn't expecting this, but the bout is actually smaller than the vintage guitars by about 3/8" as well. Under 16" at the widest point on the '64 reissue. My 59 reissue ES330 from around 2011 doesn't have this problem interestingly enough.
 
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