Hey it's Mat from Gibson Product Development - AMA

[jb_abides]

Meh.

I don't like sparkle or trans finishes. The the heather poly finish looks more pink-ish.

Like I mentioned, I'm in search of a finish similar to that on the Kramer SM1-H.



I'm pretty much losing patience with the Garage staff. I might try my luck with The Music Zoo this week.

Fair enough. I just wanted to put out that there were purples produced.

Good luck, I'd ask another dealer, what's the downside?

 

[matkoehler]

Hi Mat.

Well, first of all, the Gibson Garage texted me in early July that the CS "can match most shades".

Then I emailed the Garage staff a photo of a Kramer SM1-H in "Shockwave Purple".

Finally, at the end of last month, the Garage staff emailed me the following:



I really don't know if they're being honest with me or not. Last week, I emailed them back regarding what shades of purple that the CS can provide, and I have yet to hear back from them.

I'm inclined to go through a different dealer, like The Music Zoo on Long Island.

I'm very hellbent on getting a purple or violet CS LP Axcess Custom.

OK everything sounds accurate here -- and I confirmed that CS was asked about this specific color sample. The issue is that we do not have anything on hand that would be similar to that opaque color. We could do a metallic purple or purple stain. I would recommend circling back and asking if they can rephrase the question to Custom Shop and let you know the possibilities.

Best,

Mat

 

[matkoehler]

Thank you for the quick answer! I quess I had a fear of my questions left answered with a bunch of overshared info. These photos definitely tell more about the guitar than my rambling.

Perfect, that signature is from Pete Myers and he still works at Gibson @ Custom Shop in Nashville. He should remember what this one was...stay tuned.

 

[matkoehler]

Thank you for the quick answer! I quess I had a fear of my questions left answered with a bunch of overshared info. These photos definitely tell more about the guitar than my rambling.

Well, we have an answer…somewhat.

“I do not remember this guitar specifically, but I would often initial guitars like this that were going to artists...just can’t remember who the artist would have been.”

 

[mbjork]

Well, we have an answer…somewhat.

“I do not remember this guitar specifically, but I would often initial guitars like this that were going to artists...just can’t remember who the artist would have been.”

Perfect, that signature is from Pete Myers and he still works at Gibson @ Custom Shop in Nashville. He should remember what this one was...stay tuned.

Thanks, loving this! Many thanks to Pete aswell and I would like to let him know that this is the finest semi-hollow guitar I have had a priviledge to own.

I’m still intrigued about the serial number. One thing I managed to find was this guitar which was very close in the range:

This leads me to believe that my guitar might share the specs with this sunburst model.

 

[jb_abides]

Hey Mat, hopefully an easy one!

How are ’70s Tribute Burstbuckers different from other Burstbuckers incarnations? ... or from other pups e.g. T-Types?

Can you describe them, and also provide specs?

 

[wmachine]

Thanks, loving this! Many thanks to Pete aswell and I would like to let him know that this is the finest semi-hollow guitar I have had a priviledge to own.

I’m still intrigued about the serial number. One thing I managed to find was this guitar which was very close in the range:

This leads me to believe that my guitar might share the specs with this sunburst model.

What is it about the s/n that you are questioning? It looks right for a '59 reissue.

 

[mbjork]

What is it about the s/n that you are questioning? It looks right for a '59 reissue.

Yes it definitely is in line with the historic ES-model production, just that the Gibson customer service didn't have it in the logs and there was no info about the guitar in their system. What I was interested in was that as this was custom ordered, there must be list of specs of which were chosen for this model and if the serial number will bring up these specs.

 

[Jericho-79]

OK everything sounds accurate here -- and I confirmed that CS was asked about this specific color sample. The issue is that we do not have anything on hand that would be similar to that opaque color. We could do a metallic purple or purple stain. I would recommend circling back and asking if they can rephrase the question to Custom Shop and let you know the possibilities.

Best,

Mat

Hey Mat.

Could you attach sample photos of that metallic purple that the CS does have on hand?

Like I said, I sent the Garage this color sample:

Kramer SM-1 H Electric Guitar - Shockwave Purple

Solidbody Electric Guitar with Mahogany Body and Neck, Ebony Fingerboard, 1 Humbucking Pickup, and Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo - Shockwave Purple

www.sweetwater.com

I'm guessing that "Shockwave Purple" is too opaque for CS.


Anyway, I'm giving up on the Garage and heading straight back to The Music Zoo.

Rick at TMZ is always helpful.

 

[Dilver]

Hey Matt, 2 questions:

1) where is Gibson getting rosewood for fretboards? For the past several years, it’s looking “different”
2) are the P90s in Custom Shop instruments different than the Gibson USA instruments?

thanks for taking the time!

 

[Jericho-79]

Hey guys.

I spoke to the staff over at the Music Zoo yesterday.

They confirmed that the Gibson CS does NOT have any purple or violet paint on hand for special finishes.

They told me to check back within a few months.

What are the chances of the CS actually having a purple or violet stain available further down the line?

 

[matkoehler]

Hey Mat, hopefully an easy one!

How are ’70s Tribute Burstbuckers different from other Burstbuckers incarnations? ... or from other pups e.g. T-Types?

Can you describe them, and also provide specs?

They are not Burstbuckers to my understanding -- the coils are matched/calibrated. Alnico V, extremely hot, overwound (spec is 15K) and different gauge wire for bridge (43) and neck (44) so the bridge is a bit hotter. Hope that helps!

 

[matkoehler]

Hey guys.

I spoke to the staff over at the Music Zoo yesterday.

They confirmed that the Gibson CS does NOT have any purple or violet paint on hand for special finishes.

They told me to check back within a few months.

What are the chances of the CS actually having a purple or violet stain available further down the line?

I will look into this myself and get back to you. Stay tuned.

 

[matkoehler]

Hey Matt, 2 questions:

1) where is Gibson getting rosewood for fretboards? For the past several years, it’s looking “different”
2) are the P90s in Custom Shop instruments different than the Gibson USA instruments?

thanks for taking the time!

Thanks for the questions!

1) Same vendor, but one newish thing is we are pre-sorting AND post-delivery sorting for dark rosewood. The default Custom Shop spec is dark-sorted rosewood, the next grade down (medium-dark) is for everything else and anything that doesn't make the cut post-delivery is sent back to the vendor for a credit.

2) What makes them "Custom" is the covers more than the construction -- butyrate soap bars and replica dog ears. But they are all the standard, longstanding Alnico V P90 spec we have had since the 1950s...don't want to mess with a winning formula.

Best, Mat

 

[jb_abides]

They are not Burstbuckers to my understanding -- the coils are matched/calibrated. Alnico V, extremely hot, overwound (spec is 15K) and different gauge wire for bridge (43) and neck (44) so the bridge is a bit hotter. Hope that helps!

As always: thanks for the reply!

Most dealers list them as "70s Tribute Burstbuckers" although Gibson's site states "70s Tribute" hence the confusion all without specs or construction details; also more confusion given 70s Tribute has been used elsewhere for prior products. Articles also (mis-) quote/reference the Gibson Press Release.

I am no expert in pickup construction so pairing wire gauge with magnets I am still learning; you indicate the difference was intentional, was there some precedent in pickup sets that was the model?

Upon first use, I imagined them a more Souped-up PAF than a Dirty Fingers. Obviously, you've said Alnico V not Ceramic.... does 15k seem a big number using the Alnico V?

Yet these don't seem to be super-hot, they clean up nicely, and if you set your amp appropriately on some threshold of driving the pre-amp, you can really drive hard with when dialed up, but still get credible cleans dialed back. Additionally, the neck seems cleaner than the bridge which is like having a mixed set akin to a [example] 'SD JB bridge, SD Jazz neck' situation. Was there specific intent here?

If the specs are hot, not just a tad hotter than a PAF-like but something different...? But they are not Dirty Fingers, not labeled as such, but closer in spec to what, exactly?

I would assume these are 'potted' (or epoxy)... can you provide more details..? Were they meant to be neo-Tarbacks?

Could you categorize in comparison to T-Types, Tarbacks, Dirty Fingers? Perhaps propriety means you probably can't state they are emulations of a 70s Ibanez or DiMarzio Super Distortion, maybe you can hint...?

Would really love if Gibson did something like Sweetwater, for all production:

Gibson | Sweetwater

Buy your Gibson gear from Sweetwater and enjoy ✅ 55-Point Inspections, ✅ 0% Financing, and ✅ FREE Shipping.

www.sweetwater.com

There is a pronounced dearth of information out there, which I think is a disservice to these nice pups, so if you could go into more detail or have a deep dive on Gibson TV with Jim DeCola, that'd be great.

 

[El Gringo]

As always: thanks for the reply!

Most dealers list them as "70s Tribute Burstbuckers" although Gibson's site states "70s Tribute" hence the confusion all without specs or construction details; also more confusion given 70s Tribute has been used elsewhere for prior products. Articles also (mis-) quote/reference the Gibson Press Release.

I am no expert in pickup construction so pairing wire gauge with magnets I am still learning; you indicate the difference was intentional, was there some precedent in pickup sets that was the model?

Upon first use, I imagined them a more Souped-up PAF than a Dirty Fingers. Obviously, you've said Alnico V not Ceramic.... does 15k seem a big number using the Alnico V?

Yet these don't seem to be super-hot, they clean up nicely, and if you set your amp appropriately on some threshold of driving the pre-amp, you can really drive hard with when dialed up, but still get credible cleans dialed back. Additionally, the neck seems cleaner than the bridge which is like having a mixed set akin to a [example] 'SD JB bridge, SD Jazz neck' situation. Was there specific intent here?

If the specs are hot, not just a tad hotter than a PAF-like but something different...? But they are not Dirty Fingers, not labeled as such, but closer in spec to what, exactly?

I would assume these are 'potted' (or epoxy)... can you provide more details..? Were they meant to be neo-Tarbacks?

Could you categorize in comparison to T-Types, Tarbacks, Dirty Fingers? Perhaps propriety means you probably can't state they are emulations of a 70s Ibanez or DiMarzio Super Distortion, maybe you can hint...?

Would really love if Gibson did something like Sweetwater, for all production:


There is a pronounced dearth of information out there, which I think is a disservice to these nice pups, so if you could go into more detail or have a deep dive on Gibson TV with Jim DeCola, that'd be great.

That's a very nice reference guide on the pickups from Sweetwater !

 

[pentatonicwanker]

Hey Mat--bit of an odd question for you: do you know where the Kramer MusicYo-era American series guitars were made? If memory serves, the Kramer Pacer Imperial reissue was built in the Gibson Nashville factory, the not-released Kramer NightSwan reissue was built by Baldwin, and the Kramer 1984 Reissue and Kramer Jersey Star reissues were built by third-party contractors in the Nashville area but assembled by Gibson in Nashville.

There's not a ton of reliable info out there on these guitars and it would be awesome to know more.

 

[p19978]

Mat: I'd love to see more color choices in the R8's or even in the 50's Standard LP's.

Been looking for a cherry red LP for years that isn't $4k+ in the R8 or the slim taper neck (which I personally hate) in the Classics.

 

[Dr. Green]

MATT-

On the forums there has been much talk about what are known as " good wood " years.

There seem to be stand out periods that folks consider legendary such as 1997-2000 for wild tops / 2003 for Brazilian boards / 2007 for old growth Honduras mahogany / 2019 - current for epic R9 tops / special Japanese dealer runs at different times

besides the tops there have been better years for boards from dark chocolate Brazilian to Madagascar stripped to almost a flat yellow / brown

I have also noted that the 58 models have been all over the place from insane Begal tiger stripe to absolutely featureless.

my question is : at Gibson what is the state of awareness on this subject ?

do you guys ever have meetings where you say things along these lines ;

" we need to dial back on the 58s " " we need to fix the color on the boards and get them darker " " we need to cut back on the figure of the 59s " " we need to get some of the same figure maple as we had in 1999 " " the 58 were too good this year - cut into our sales of the 9s "

 

[matkoehler]

Hey Mat--bit of an odd question for you: do you know where the Kramer MusicYo-era American series guitars were made? If memory serves, the Kramer Pacer Imperial reissue was built in the Gibson Nashville factory, the not-released Kramer NightSwan reissue was built by Baldwin, and the Kramer 1984 Reissue and Kramer Jersey Star reissues were built by third-party contractors in the Nashville area but assembled by Gibson in Nashville.

There's not a ton of reliable info out there on these guitars and it would be awesome to know more.

From our Senior Engineer Richard Akers:
"Glanced back over some notes from the time concerning these early Kramer USA releases.
-We never did a USA Jersey Star release.
-Only models that made it to USA production were the Pacer Imperial, an 84, and a 1985 Baretta. Most notable are the Pacer and '85 Baretta. Most of the 1984's were only assembled in the USA. A few were 100% built in the USA but not many.
-We had plans for a Nightswan but it never made it to full production. Maybe 6 were made in Arkansas.

These were built at a few different small shops. Never Gibson USA as far as I can recall."