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Survey : if the Historics were made in China but half the price - would you buy one ?

Dr. Green

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let me go into more detail

If you could purchase a Gibson historic which was the same quality with regards to EVERYTHING - woods / appearance / tone / nitro finish ./ fret work / construction details / case quality / electronics / pick-ups / warranty ....... etc ....

But it was made in China to an extremely high quality by master craftsman - and it said GIBSON on the guitar and it was a real authorized Gibson - but stated China in tiny text in the back of the head stock - at half the price - would you be a buyer ?????

OR would the fact that it was not made in Nashville be an absolute show stopper for you ?

or to take it even doubly further - would you in your mind refuse to even recognize it as being a real Gibson Les Paul ?
 
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Dr. Green

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oh - lets add one other thing - they can be ordered "Aged" for a upcharge and they can be ordered "made to measure " too - just like what's available now

lets throw in a wildcard to make things even more nuts - there could be amazing "artist limited edition " runs - LOL
 

Dr. Green

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we have another " nope " .... we have 2 nopes ...... do we have a " yes" ???
 

Dr. Green

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Dec 12, 2018
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Nope, not even if it was 1/4 of the price.

hold on a minute here - let me make sure I understand what you are saying ......... let me get this right ......

if you could get a Gibson - a fully authorized Gibson - which had amazing maple - for 6000 / 4 = $ 1500 - that would be a no go ???

folks we got 4 no - folks we got 4 no - do I hear a yes ?

can I get a yes ?

is there a yes out there ?
 

jb_abides

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PRS makes sure to differentiate: No inlayed veneer headstock on SE. 'SE' is prominent. Different carve and parts. Still good guitars, but Core only from Maryland, USA.

Gibson effectively has same with Epiphone, although the extremely limited are US Nashville built.

Why would Gibson cannibalize the essence of their brand? Plenty of Les Paul copies from abroad. Why contemplate such foolishness.
 

Dr. Green

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PRS makes sure to differentiate: No inlayed veneer headstock on SE. 'SE' is prominent. Different carve and parts. Still good guitars, but Core only from Maryland, USA.

Gibson effectively has same with Epiphone, although the extremely limited are US Nashville built.

Why would Gibson cannibalize the essence of their brand? Plenty of Les Paul copies from abroad. Why contemplate such foolishness.

I am not asking if it makes sense from Gibsons business perspective - I am asking you if it makes sense from yours

or would it bother you so much that your brothers over at the US plant did not make it, that you would not touch it with a " ten foot pole " ?
 

Gino753

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Jan 26, 2018
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Thing is ..i think we basically have this allready..the Epiphone 1959 ….all this will ever be seen as is a 1959 style les paul..or a made in Japan 54’ resissue..supposed to be good guitars..,but id rather put the money down on a custom shop rather than buy that..i got a made in Japan 54 reissue for free
 

Dr. Green

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and wait a cotton pickin minute here - doesn't Fender make guitars in other countries with the name "Stratocaster " and " Telecaster" on them ?

places like outside of good old Tijuana if memory serves

seems that Fender sells TONS of them ..... and the sales guys at places like Guitar Center are sure as hell telling folks they are "real" Strats and Teles !

some of these Mexican guitars came with thin nitro finish they dont even use on a non custom shop guitar
 

Torshalla

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Wait a minute… is that Tom Murphy doing a poll to justify a relocation to China to his management?!?!
No Tom… you are staying in Nashville mate…
 

charliechitlins

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Nov 16, 2021
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Yes.
I feel like I live in the world...not the US.
Although...if I were to be against it, it would be because of what makes Chinese prices so low, i.e working conditions and environmental regulations.
 

jb_abides

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I am not asking if it makes sense from Gibsons business perspective - I am asking you if it makes sense from yours

or would it bother you so much that your brothers over at the US plant did not make it, that you would not touch it with a " ten foot pole " ?

Understood and already answered.
 

Keefoman

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Nov 4, 2009
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If the question was: Would I buy a regular Gibson if it was made outside the USA, at a cheaper price, but with the same specs and quality, the answer would be: Most likely.
CS Gibsons? Probably not, even though the price is way too high for me at the time being to even consider one.
 

jb_abides

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Apr 6, 2005
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and wait a cotton pickin minute here - doesn't Fender make guitars in other countries with the name "Stratocaster " and " Telecaster" on them ?

places like outside of good old Tijuana if memory serves

seems that Fender sells TONS of them ..... and the sales guys at places like Guitar Center are sure as hell telling folks they are "real" Strats and Teles !

some of these Mexican guitars came with thin nitro finish they dont even use on a non custom shop guitar

Gibson and Fender have a different value proposition, overall, and always have.

Gibson draws upon Orville's legacy of hand-crafted artisan instruments.

Fender was Leo's take on Henry Ford's Model T mass production.

Gibson has bent to the future of hybridized production, using modern tooling and computerized approaches, but still maintains the element of hand-crafting [as does PRS Core / S2 in Maryland] -- Although some jobs, the skill has dissipated and become more laborers than craftsmen.

I prefer how Gibson keeps the top-tier headstock in line with its heritage, and would not appreciate overseas use of the brand/headstock unless they differentiated as PRS does with 'SE'...
 
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