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Hey it's Mat from Gibson Product Development - AMA

matkoehler

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Messages
482
Mat, here is a good one. Bobbins on CS LPs? If they have a cover are they always black now a days or do the emulate the time period. Zebra, Double White etc? Thanks!
Yes typically black if covered but yes, if we do a run from a particular era, we will throw in era-appropriate Easter eggs of different bobbin combinations under the covers sometimes. At random. More options through Made 2 Measure. Thanks for the question!
 

matkoehler

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Messages
482
Hi Matt,

Thanks for taking the time to do this! Lots of interesting information. Maybe you can settle once and for all what the story is with the 2017 Historics. Some say they were stockpiled 2016s, some say some of them were repurposed CCs, some say they were made to order from dealer selected tops. Whats the real story?
Thank you for participating! That's funny...I have never heard these rumors so I'm not sure I understand fully. But I can attest 2017 was a weird year, and also the first year I was able to influence some specs like the neck profiles. It all started with a dramatic decree from HJ: "no more Historic Reissues." He felt that the factory which was supposed to be a Custom Shop should not be making old monochromatic guitars and instead be more of a true Custom Shop with fun and exiting colorful runs of instruments. We were ordered to release at least one new and exciting limited run *every week* from then-on, and he didn't want them looking like Historic Reissues. But the kicker was we had already produced the first several batches of what were to be the 2017 Historics, so now we had to find a way to introduce them as limited runs without calling out the year reissued. That explains the odd product and color names. It was crazy and I could write a book on that year alone. BUT the good news was that the Custom Shop team stepped up bigtime and we were able to do more new products in one year than other manufacturers would introduce in a decade. It was a total group effort and everyone really bonded as a result. Really a proud time. I didn't love everything that was introduced or the circumstances we were put in, but there are definitely a few things that we never would have done otherwise. The limited runs lasted into 2018 but by that time we were able to go back to making Historic Reissues. For 2019, we had the whole Custom Shop product plan pretty much established ahead of the regime change, so ahead of NAMM the new leadership blessed it and the 2019 NAMM show was another proud time because of the fact that we were able to start in one place, turn everything on its head, then turn back around doing all new and improved Historic Reissue stuff. Truly the wildest years of my professional life.
 

Phoenician

Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2020
Messages
88
Separately, we do have more legacy sites that got garbled a bit in the transition which we intend on cleaning up and adding.
It’s good to hear that what I was experiencing is what has actually happened. Thanks for the reply and I’ll stay tuned.
 

JoeC

Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2019
Messages
92
Sorry Mat, I cannot help myself but one more question?! Thanks again for being on here. How many Brazilian board LPs were made in 2018? I understand there was a changing of the guards, but does Gibson and Co. regret not saving those Braz Boards or the 60th Anniversary?
 

sws1

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 4, 2001
Messages
2,846
Question about wood sourcing...

1) It's long been stated that Korina has been difficult to source and that's why the korina reissues are limited / not always released.
How is it that Reverend is able to build all of its guitars with Korina now? Is this because they paint over the wood and any ugliness can be covered? Is it because they are using small pieces glued together while Gibson needs large / aestethicaly pleasing blanks?

2) Have you seen any evidence that some of the original bursts used wood OTHER than Honduran Mahogany? There are some long time burst guys on here who are convinced that some Korina was used on some bursts...even stating they've seen purchase orders for the wood.
 

axeman565758

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 23, 2007
Messages
1,204
Hey Matt,
a big thanks for being here to answer some detailed questions and offer great info.
I have to say, my three M2M's are fantastic. Every detail and spec was achieved, especially the massively huge neck profiles on all 3. I'm sure the guy cutting the neck(s) is still cursing me...loll
The opportunity to visit the Shop was a great highlight...not to mention a trip to Tex's World Famous BAR B Q!!!!


IMG_2956.jpg
 

Gregeatworld

New member
Joined
Aug 25, 2016
Messages
9
Thanks again for answering all these questions Mat!

What are the differences between custombuckers and burstbuckers and what was the reason for the switch?

Why does the USA SG special not have the vintage correct placement/spacing of the P90s, but the epiphone version does have the right placement? Are there any plans to change the placement of the P90s on the production version in the future?

Thanks!
 

matkoehler

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Messages
482
Sorry Mat, I cannot help myself but one more question?! Thanks again for being on here. How many Brazilian board LPs were made in 2018? I understand there was a changing of the guards, but does Gibson and Co. regret not saving those Braz Boards or the 60th Anniversary?
With the 150 Slash "Brazilian Dream" LPs I'd estimate maybe 400 in total. The mentality with Brazilian is to reserve for limited runs only as it is a finite supply...no thought of using on the 60th Anniversary LPs because of the quantity needed and the fact that we have a global dealer network. Hope that makes sense! Thanks for the question.
 

Awall

Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2021
Messages
38
If you guys want to reap the real benefits of Brazilian rosewood you need one of these toggle switches for maximum resonance. The country the fretboard came from can only do so much on its own :LOL:
1631723527789.png
 

JoeC

Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2019
Messages
92
With the 150 Slash "Brazilian Dream" LPs I'd estimate maybe 400 in total. The mentality with Brazilian is to reserve for limited runs only as it is a finite supply...no thought of using on the 60th Anniversary LPs because of the quantity needed and the fact that we have a global dealer network. Hope that makes sense! Thanks for the question.
Thanks Again Mat, about how many of the 2018 59s were Brazillian fretboards? Not the Slash line
 

matkoehler

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Messages
482
Question about wood sourcing...

1) It's long been stated that Korina has been difficult to source and that's why the korina reissues are limited / not always released.
How is it that Reverend is able to build all of its guitars with Korina now? Is this because they paint over the wood and any ugliness can be covered? Is it because they are using small pieces glued together while Gibson needs large / aestethicaly pleasing blanks?

2) Have you seen any evidence that some of the original bursts used wood OTHER than Honduran Mahogany? There are some long time burst guys on here who are convinced that some Korina was used on some bursts...even stating they've seen purchase orders for the wood.
1) Yes we require large sizes of solid White Limba which requires more mature trees. We also require an extremely thorough chain of ownership and sustainability documentation whereas other brands do not, from my understanding (and overseas production is a different animal as well). I've also noticed a lot of other brands using Black Limba and billing it as Korina...but it's not the same in my book.

2) Show me an example! I have not seen one. Can't speculate but skeptical.
 

jlarnett77

New member
Joined
Aug 18, 2021
Messages
6
Hi Mat I have a recent historical question is it true that in the early 90's Gibson got there hands on old growth wood and the first lp classic was made out of that old growth wood
 

matkoehler

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Messages
482
Hey Matt,
a big thanks for being here to answer some detailed questions and offer great info.
I have to say, my three M2M's are fantastic. Every detail and spec was achieved, especially the massively huge neck profiles on all 3. I'm sure the guy cutting the neck(s) is still cursing me...loll
The opportunity to visit the Shop was a great highlight...not to mention a trip to Tex's World Famous BAR B Q!!!!
That's wonderful to hear! Thank you so much for the message. And good luck with the baseball bat collection! :)
 

matkoehler

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 12, 2014
Messages
482
Thanks again for answering all these questions Mat!

What are the differences between custombuckers and burstbuckers and what was the reason for the switch?

Why does the USA SG special not have the vintage correct placement/spacing of the P90s, but the epiphone version does have the right placement? Are there any plans to change the placement of the P90s on the production version in the future?

Thanks!
Thank YOU! The switch to Custombuckers from Burstbuckers was based on dealer and customer demand...M2M, dealer runs and otherwise. The difference is the magnet type and the winds, both total number and amount offset. I'll have to get back with you on more specifics, as much as I can share anyway. Regarding the SG Special from Gibson USA, the simple answer is Gibson USA is not aiming for "vintage correct" and it was a choice to expand the spacing as much as possible to better suit players. And the Epiphone team preferred the Custom Shop/vintage spacing because there was more leeway built-in with neck set and bridge placement. Not a very glamorous answer, but there you have it! Thanks again.
 
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