Hey it's Mat from Gibson Product Development - AMA

[matkoehler]

My "Quote" was that the guitar was not conceivable. It couldn't be made. It was hardly a lofty request. How could I have known about the music zoo run unless directed to it? Whatever man. Blow smoke to your new Client base... Gibson is a joke now.

Directed by whom? You said you were a Custom Shop dealer...if so who was your M2M rep? If not, then you were a customer of another dealer at that time? And that dealer directed you to a completely different dealer to buy a guitar they ordered for some reason? Make it make sense.

 

[jb_abides]

everything changed for 2019 model year and we expanded core options in every direction, certainly more today than ever before. And for the record the USA 50s LP Standard has a slight V to it now as well as the 59 Reissue.

Mat -

If the USA 50s Rounded C has changed more toward Slight-V, akin the newer R9s... what have 60s USA Slim Taper and newer R0 changed to, if anything...?

Also, can you describe how the Epiphone neck profiles have been updated? Just IGCs changed to something similar to above, or others models IBG and below?

Cheers on the new releases. [.... Well, I wish there were more Lefty options, but I did pick up the Noel Gallagher 80s Riviera reissue!].

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

Right, I am saying to get that feel we’d have to make several concessions during 3D translation which may lead you far from what you love about that neck. If it’s just a slight V-shape thing you’re after like a 56 Strat, you would probably love our core Les Paul Standard 50s necks nowadays and definitely our current ‘59 Reissue neck. Murphy Lab models have even less cheek because you can break the lacquer line on an aged guitar, so roll the binding to an extreme.

Regardless, you can get all of those things via Made 2 Measure program. Even a book-matched top if that’s your thing. As for never evolving neck profiles…everything changed for 2019 model year and we expanded core options in every direction, certainly more today than ever before. And for the record the USA 50s LP Standard has a slight V to it now as well as the 59 Reissue.

Thanks for the info. Not too up on things from the last few years.

 

[modavis99]

It would be nice to have more ML Braz options. I would have loved to try an aged Korina Explorer with Braz for example but they all sold out right away

Also please make a 335 with Braz.

For the record the Les Paul ML R9 with Braz is just awesome work.

 

[clapciadrix]

Talking about neck shape not putting an accurate es-150 neck onto a Les Paul body. That would be non-sensical. As well, I said Burst like guitar not 59 reissue. That would also be non-sensical. For simplicity lets just say a nice book matched flame top with some other neck choices other than current 50's and 60's Standard shapes for comfort. Good feel and look, the things a player can appreciate. I can't begin to tell you how many players I know that love that 56'ish Strat neck shape. More V'ish with less meat on the shoulders. Same thing goes for early Tele's that are more U'ish, also with less meat on the shoulder's. I better clarify I don't mean making a bolt on Les Paul. Every player I know that switched to playing a Fender over the years switched for one of two reasons. Neck shape and weight. Feel is more important to most people than looks. Gibson has many different guitar body designs and colors yet has never evolved neck shapes to include anything but a few That would make some difference.

Does Fender offer a “Gibson” type neck for the Strat or tele? No. Gibson has Gibson type necks, not fender style. The dimensions are completely different!
Gibson has offered a Les Paul style guitar with a “fender-like” longer scale though.

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

Does Fender offer a “Gibson” type neck for the Strat or tele? No. Gibson has Gibson type necks, not fender style. The dimensions are completely different!
Gibson has offered a Les Paul style guitar with a “fender-like” longer scale though.

Nothing worth responding to here, but I am curious why you changed the wording at the end of my post from "choices" to "That would make some difference"

 

[matkoehler]

Mat -

If the USA 50s Rounded C has changed more toward Slight-V, akin the newer R9s... what have 60s USA Slim Taper and newer R0 changed to, if anything...?

Also, can you describe how the Epiphone neck profiles have been updated? Just IBCs changed to something similar to above, or others models IBG and below?

Cheers on the new releases. [.... Well, I wish there were more Lefty options, but I did pick up the Noel Gallagher 80s Riviera reissue!].

The 60s-style LPs (and '61 SGs and '61 ES-335s, etc) remain .8-.9" D shapes as the target...USA LPS 60s tends to be a little deeper at the 1st fret, .820" or so.

The new Epiphone IGC '59 LP follows the Custom Shop profile, 86-.95" or thereabouts but a little bit more cheek to them. They still feel great.

Lefty options always follow later on with most new core model releases, usually within a year. The reason is we want to hone in on the models/SKUs with the most demand before committing to new price list additions. Lefty models represent ~1.5% of our business, which was surprisingly low to me when I learned that, but they are clearly a vocal (and very much appreciated) group.

 

[matkoehler]

Thanks for the info. Not too up on things from the last few years.

I thought that may be the case! A lot has changed and all for the better IMO.

 

[MikeSlub]

Matt, thanks for your willingness to respond to questions on this Forum, and on behalf of the LPF owners, I apologize for some of the attacks and threatening notes that one of our members displayed here. Asking questions is fine, personal attacks are a violation of LPF rules and we have and will ban Members who do so!

 

[poon99]

Got these two aged beauties from M2M .

 

[MarcB]

Hey @matkoehler .. just wondering why the standard USA 61 RI SG doesn’t come with thumb bleeders?
I bought a 2021 60s LP which had thumb bleeders but my 2022 SG 61 RI didn’t?
I know they used to come with them on.. and they cost pennies to produce.. so just wondering why the standard sg doesn’t come with the bleeders?
Thanks in advance..
M

 

[sputnik]

Hey Mat,

Any chance we’ll see Copper Iridescent as a M2M option soon? I’ve been trying for a while but it’s still not available. Such a cool color!

 

[TM1]

I have a “Copper Mist” Firebird VII that I bought in 2003. Love the Colour!

 

[matkoehler]

Hey @matkoehler .. just wondering why the standard USA 61 RI SG doesn’t come with thumb bleeders?
I bought a 2021 60s LP which had thumb bleeders but my 2022 SG 61 RI didn’t?
I know they used to come with them on.. and they cost pennies to produce.. so just wondering why the standard sg doesn’t come with the bleeders?
Thanks in advance..
M

It's a great question and it has everything to do with being being legacy models grandfathered into the new product architecture...the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' mentality. Dial pointers cost pennies so it's definitely not a matter of cost...not sure what the rationale was (outside of finger protection...lol). What does everyone think? Bleeders on SGs? I can influence such a change .

 

[matkoehler]

Hey Mat,

Any chance we’ll see Copper Iridescent as a M2M option soon? I’ve been trying for a while but it’s still not available. Such a cool color!

You know, we tried a half dozen different options from a variety of paint vendors and it's just very tough to pin down accurately. But the reason we tried them is because there may or may not have a project in the works that utilizes the color. I think once we're through with that, it will be a formal M2M color option. But it's gonna take some time.

 

[MarcB]

It's a great question and it has everything to do with being being legacy models grandfathered into the new product architecture...the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' mentality. Dial pointers cost pennies so it's definitely not a matter of cost...not sure what the rationale was (outside of finger protection...lol). What does everyone think? Bleeders on SGs? I can influence such a change .

Hey Matt.. thanks for the reply.. i would add that thumb pointers add a little linage of history to an already classic/historical design. Which is being represented on the custom models as mentioned.. so it should also be on the USA range, as I feel the historical accuracy of guitar design and authenticity is definitely more prevalent these days..which is why I had to add them to my 61-RI, so to have this little touch of history would be a great permanent feature on the standard USA range.

 

[madrivermoco]

Got these two aged beauties from M2M .

The Clapton cut…
Sexy

 

[madrivermoco]

It's a great question and it has everything to do with being being legacy models grandfathered into the new product architecture...the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' mentality. Dial pointers cost pennies so it's definitely not a matter of cost...not sure what the rationale was (outside of finger protection...lol). What does everyone think? Bleeders on SGs? I can influence such a change .

Make it bleed

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

It's a great question and it has everything to do with being being legacy models grandfathered into the new product architecture...the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' mentality. Dial pointers cost pennies so it's definitely not a matter of cost...not sure what the rationale was (outside of finger protection...lol). What does everyone think? Bleeders on SGs? I can influence such a change .

Put them in a little baggie and have bleeders on the side. No labor cost to have someone put them on and line them up when tightening the nut. Everyone is happy.

 

[CK6]

Hi Matt,

I just bought a 2024 heavy aged Murphy Lab ‘59 Les Paul Slow Ice Tea Fade & it is amazing!

Could you please confirm if the posts and thumbwheels are brass?

Thanks for your help.