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1967 Gibson factory video surfaced

hoss

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Aug 1, 2004
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6,748

In 2012 I got to tour the Memphis and Nashville (USA and Custom) plants and saw many of the old green machines from Kalamazoo still at work, for example the presses for the ES models and the top carver.

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marshall1987

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Jan 30, 2005
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3,278
A revealing window into the past......particularly the reference to Gibson's "tone-wood" sources and suppliers during the early to mid 20th century. Sadly those days are no more.
 
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avensis

New member
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Jul 11, 2020
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I love to see that the techniques that were used back then, are still used today !
 
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LeonC

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Aug 30, 2002
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799
Oh man...I loved that modern, now-a-go-go musical interlude! hahahaha!

Really, that's a fantastic little window into the past. Thanks for posting.
 

jb_abides

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Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
5,274
That video showed how very strong their ES game was! Also how SG mainline production as the 'Solidbody Guitar of choice' just prior to 'Bringing Back Lester', and also revealed Acoustic was... slipping... at least to these eyes.
 

Ed Driscoll

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Apr 24, 2002
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4,691
That video is such a time capsule. Does anyone know who the featured guitarist was? What a talented player!
 

copernicus

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Joined
Feb 28, 2007
Messages
64
Defying the dangers of wood dust, soldering fumes and nitrocellulose gases without a face mask... Those were the days!
 

Gibsonsg

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Joined
Dec 26, 2021
Messages
40
Back in the day they put so much love and work in just 1 guitar, now it's more about numbers and demand.
That's why i hope i can afford one time in my life a old 50's Lp.
 

Grog

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Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
562
Also, it was interesting to see the amp production. The GSS-100 & 50 were some of the earliest solid state amps Gibson produced, (they had one solid state amp in the Crestliner Series). These were the last amps produced in Kalamazoo. I think Standel made Gibson amps after these.

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Strings Jr.

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Jan 17, 2016
Messages
670
In 2012 I got to tour the Memphis and Nashville (USA and Custom) plants and saw many of the old green machines from Kalamazoo still at work, for example the presses for the ES models and the top carver.

24_deckenpresse-jpg.597382
Cool video! Hutch once told me the hydraulic cylinder on the ES Top Press was big enough to lift the whole end of the building. At one time, the green pickup winding machines were set up in Final Assembly in Nashville. I also noticed a neck-pitch gage in the video that I'm pretty sure ended up in Nashville. Brings back a lot of memories. Thanks for sharing!
 
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