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Hey it's Mat from Gibson Product Development - AMA

ADP

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Joined
Jul 16, 2015
Messages
682
Nice! Crazy how nobody who worked on it remembers it being light weight. Any way, I sure hope Gibson changes hands again very soon.
 

matkoehler

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Sep 12, 2014
Messages
482
Interesting, thanks for all the contributions Matt. Are you saying it’s actually easier to manufacture korina guitars overseas due to the wood being more easily available there vs. the US? Just curious on the challenges, is it a CITES issue still?
Not exactly. Firstly we can make a lot more at our GQ factory in China than we can at the tiny Custom Shop in Nashville. But the specific issue we've been having is quality of the trees when they arrive and the resulting billets. Had to pause for a bit while we sent a tree back and got a different one. Paperwork and freight definitely does complicate things. But to your point it is a lot more expensive and difficult to land a tree from Africa here in Nashville than it is going to China. Working with Korina requires special considerations and precautions as well, as you may know.
 

Wilko

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Mar 11, 2002
Messages
20,854
Nice! Crazy how nobody who worked on it remembers it being light weight. Any way, I sure hope Gibson changes hands again very soon.
Really? Peter Frampton says it's "light" and the Phenix limited edition are weight relieved to match the 8.5 lb range. Average burst is 8.85 pounds. Customs are commonly well over 9 pounds.
 

Midnight Blues

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Feb 20, 2011
Messages
1,703
Really? Peter Frampton says it's "light" and the Phenix limited edition are weight relieved to match the 8.5 lb range. Average burst is 8.85 pounds. Customs are commonly well over 9 pounds.

You're right Wilko. Frampton has always said that it's light and would jokingly (maybe seriously?) said that Mark Mariana had over sanded it. Believe it or not, Frampton wasn't a fan of Les Pauls because of the weight, but the weight of the "Phenix" is really what attracted him to it in the first place, along with it's playability. He fell in love with it that night at the Fillmore West and the rest, as they say, is history. Given that, it's hard to believe that he's stated that if he had only one guitar to play, it would be his '64 335. He's been a fan of 335s since his early Humble Pie days.

With respect to the limited edition (35) Phenix model, it/they wasn't/weren't weight relieved. However, the ones currently being made in the Custom Shop are.


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LPJ17

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Joined
Apr 27, 2021
Messages
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Hi Matt,

First of all, thank you for doing this! This is the best I have read in a long time… you’ve already talked about it but how is the process of releasing the “new historic” parts going? If I remember correctly last year you said they will be avail end of ‘23? I’m trying not to go after market but the wait is being awful…;)

Thanks and keep the good work!
 

Midnight Blues

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Feb 20, 2011
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Wilko

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Mar 11, 2002
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“Gibson has used an “ultra-lightweight” weight-relieved mahogany body, along with a slim profile mahogany neck in keeping with the original model from 1954.”

Yeah nobody remembers it being light…
 

Jericho-79

Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2016
Messages
56
Hey guys!

I just submitted by down payment (through PayPal) to the Music Zoo last week.

When will the CS start building my M2M LP?

Is it now just a waiting game?

I'm both excited and worried at the same time.:oops:
 

TommyVee

New member
Joined
Aug 31, 2002
Messages
5
Hey guys!

I just submitted by down payment (through PayPal) to the Music Zoo last week.

When will the CS start building my M2M LP?

Is it now just a waiting game?

I'm both excited and worried at the same time.:oops:
Its been seven months since I placed my M2M order for a Flying V Custom. I was told 12 to 18 month wait time when I placed my order. As they say patience is a virtue :sleep:
 

GreenBurst

Active member
Joined
Mar 5, 2004
Messages
748
Hey guys!

I just submitted by down payment (through PayPal) to the Music Zoo last week.

When will the CS start building my M2M LP?

Is it now just a waiting game?

I'm both excited and worried at the same time.:oops:

The Music Zoo should be able to answer all of your questions and provide a timeline expectation. : )
 
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