Hey it's Mat from Gibson Product Development - AMA

[mdubya]

Greetings
I have a 50’s Studio with P90’s love it
It’s currently at the motherland dropped it off at Gibson Garage and they agreed needs new nut and fret level. I’m looking at an R7 gold top how similar are neck profile!

In my experience (I owned a 50's Tribute with P-90s and own several Custom Shop and USA models with 50s necks) the USA model 50's necks were nowhere near as substantial as Reissue and Custom Shop necks. The new Original Collection guitars have 50s necks which are much closer to the Reissue and Custom Shop neck dimensions.

I would expect an R7 to have a chunkier neck than a 50s Studio. JMHO. YMMV.

 

[madrivermoco]

Mat…

Since we’re on the subject of rockstar guitars
(Respect is the Word at The Disco Party House!)

Any chance we’ll see another run of Ronnie Wood’s L5S?Those were spectacular playing guitars.

 

[matkoehler]

Hi Mat; I was wondering when the updated, “Vintage Correct” ABR-1 are going to be installed on new guitars?
Thanks!

Currently in testing phase. Should have some idea soon.

 

[matkoehler]

@matkoehler Was curious to know if I had an older R9, could I get it refinished and aged by the Murphy lab? Thanks!

Great question and it is something we pondered early on…however the demand for new Murphy Lab guitars has been overwhelming. Order book goes out well over a year. So until that changes we probably won’t be exploring anything like that…both because of demand and because there really isn’t any space to grow.

 

[matkoehler]

Greetings
I have a 50’s Studio with P90’s love it
It’s currently at the motherland dropped it off at Gibson Garage and they agreed needs new nut and fret level. I’m looking at an R7 gold top how similar are neck profile!

R7 is fatter but not by a lot: .9”/1.0” whereas a 50s neck Studio would be .875”/.975” or thereabouts. The neck binding likely makes the R7 feel larger by default though.

 

[matkoehler]

Mat…

Since we’re on the subject of rockstar guitars
(Respect is the Word at The Disco Party House!)

Any chance we’ll see another run of Ronnie Wood’s L5S?Those were spectacular playing guitars.

Probably not anytime soon just based on the current plans which go out a few years. Tons of other cool stuff to come though.

 

[goldtop0]

Currently in testing phase. Should have some idea soon.

Mat, I get blown away by the detail and minutiae you people go into with these great guitars, they're very special instruments, thanks to all you guys and gals

 

[axeman565758]

In my experience (I owned a 50's Tribute with P-90s and own several Custom Shop and USA models with 50s necks) the USA model 50's necks were nowhere near as substantial as Reissue and Custom Shop necks. The new Original Collection guitars have 50s necks which are much closer to the Reissue and Custom Shop neck dimensions.

I would expect an R7 to have a chunkier neck than a 50s Studio. JMHO. YMMV.

I agree The USA 50's neck Les Pauls are somewhere between an R9 and a V2 R0 neck size. Nowhere near as deep/fat/chunky as the "typical" R7 neck.

 

[siennaburst]

Hey Matt, are the goldtop R7 currently made 2 piece center seamed? If so when did custom shop start that?

 

[matkoehler]

Hey Matt, are the goldtop R7 currently made 2 piece center seamed? If so when did custom shop start that?

Yes...and as far as I'm aware, always. Most if not all of the 1968 goldtops center seams and them of course the Deluxes started using multi-piece tops. But for Custom Shop I believe always center seamed.

 

[siennaburst]

Yes...and as far as I'm aware, always. Most if not all of the 1968 goldtops center seams and them of course the Deluxes started using multi-piece tops. But for Custom Shop I believe always center seamed.

Thanks; so a GT will be plainer if bursted and sounds a lot different because of thickness of finish if kept as a GT?

 

[siennaburst]

On an unrelated note how come we can’t get nylon saddle inserts as used in the old days? I would love to be able to put them on my wired ABR-1 without having to change the bridge.

 

[matkoehler]

Thanks; so a GT will be plainer if bursted and sounds a lot different because of thickness of finish if kept as a GT?

If you mean refinishing your R7 Goldtop into a burst -- yes, expect plain wood which may have mineral streaks or aesthetic-only defects. But sonically there should not be much difference between an R8 Burst and an R7 Goldtop. Yes gold is a bit thicker but really splitting hairs at that point.

 

[matkoehler]

On an unrelated note how come we can’t get nylon saddle inserts as used in the old days? I would love to be able to put them on my wired ABR-1 without having to change the bridge.

Do you mean aftermarket? We do use nylon saddles at Custom Shop for some of the sixties Historic Reissues. We are completely revamping our aftermarket parts business and hope to have a comprehensive collection by the end of next year which may include various types of saddles. In the mean time, any qualified luthier should be able to cut some 6/6 nylon into saddles.

 

[jb_abides]

We are completely revamping our aftermarket parts business and hope to have a comprehensive collection by the end of next year which may include various types of saddles.

@matkoehler - comprehensive is KEY: I have expensive Custom Shop and Historic instruments and can't get an ES guard bracket, or a replacement for cracked knobs, etc. etc. I mean, it's great the aftermarket has some excellent parts especially historically correct, but c'mon man!

I also hope Gibson will source them from the existing ecosystem already doing good work in the States [and elsewhere as applicable], instead of directly competing with or obliterating them. At least for the Custom / Historic catalog. I believe folks in this market will pay for quality and accuracy. USA can have a 'Pure' line that's more value and volume-oriented for other collections.

BTW, any new updates on strings?

 

[siennaburst]

Do you mean aftermarket? We do use nylon saddles at Custom Shop for some of the sixties Historic Reissues. We are completely revamping our aftermarket parts business and hope to have a comprehensive collection by the end of next year which may include various types of saddles. In the mean time, any qualified luthier should be able to cut some 6/6 nylon into saddles.

Yes, I would like to buy those 60’s saddles from Gibson but you won’t sell them to me. Aftermarket are for non wire or totally non-Gibson like Tone Pros. Seems like original Gibson owners should be able to buy replacements from Gibson. Thanks.

 

[El Gringo]

Matt , Nice Quote in the current Guitar Player magazine in the Johnny Winter Murphy Lab beauty . This example for me shows how valuable of a resource and treasure you are here on our Forum . For that I am very Grateful !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[matkoehler]

BTW, any new updates on strings?

Yes, still fleshing out the line since the re-launch and planning to add Mandolin, Banjo, and Nylon sets as well as Artist Signature sets, other Gibson Brands sets like Steinberger, and potentially some high-end handmade offerings.

 

[OldNo.7]

Hi Matt, I have an Epiphone question...

I ordered a Epiphone JJN Gold Glory in September (2021) from my local dealer. They were up front with me and told me they could not give me an exact date when it would come in. They said it could be 4-6 months. Well, I talked to them in March of this year (six months) and they gave me an estimated arrival date for September (2022).

Is it really taking a full year to get an Epiphone now?

 

[Pat Boyack]

Is it really taking a full year to get an Epiphone now?

Try ordering a PRS or Fender. Every manufacturer has either doubled or tripled their arrival expectations.