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I heard marketting BS but this (from Gibson) is pretty hardcore...

wild.joz

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 19, 2008
Messages
1,934
Just seen on Gibson's facebook page about a new model, Maduro Custom.

"Featuring a reverse grain dual-laminate rosewood fingerboard" :rolleyes:

I leave it to you to read (or not) the rest of the specs...

https://www.facebook.com/#!/GibsonCustom
 
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Texas Blues

Active member
Joined
Apr 13, 2008
Messages
4,641
From the Gibson Employee Network Forum...

Executive #2
Hey boss, they're already trashing the new Maduro on our FB page.

Henry
What? We just announced that thing. Nobody's even seen or played it yet. BASTARDS!

Executive #1
What's to be done now sir? We've got to shut them up somehow.

Henry
Screw it! Alright then, damage control mode. Make an announcement we're issuing an original spec standard, no chambering or swiss cheese, with our best tops, finishes, and electronics and sell it for $700 less than the current USA LP Trad.

Executive #2
WOW! That'll crush all the naysayers and haters for sure!

Executive #1
Yeah! In your FACE Facebook!

Henry
And send the whole run of them to Estonia!

Executive #2
????

Executive #1
Brilliant sir!
 

Drew68

Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2007
Messages
405
I kinda like it. I don't see why Gibson is getting hammered for trying to find solutions that end with guitars being built and sold rather than wood being seized by the feds. I mean, it's not like these are replacing Historics. Honestly, I'm more aggravated that they continue using short tenons on their USA guitars than I am about laminate rosewood or baked maple fretboards. I mean, c'mon, is it too much to ask to standardize long neck tenons? Even my $250 Samick has a long neck tenon.
 
K

Kim R

Guest
Why is Gibson suffering alone with regard to "seizing?"

I'm no apologist for the "feds" or politically motivated attacks upon enterprise, if this even applies to the situation at Gibson (it has been insinuated). Is there a similar situation with regard to any other manufacturer at this time??
 

RevPearly

Active member
Joined
Jul 2, 2010
Messages
1,137
Why is Gibson suffering alone with regard to "seizing?"

I'm no apologist for the "feds" or politically motivated attacks upon enterprise, if this even applies to the situation at Gibson (it has been insinuated). Is there a similar situation with regard to any other manufacturer at this time??

+1

I think the ultimate insult to Gibson is that the feds apparantly don't concern themselves with the wave of counterfeit Gibsons being shipped in (with rosewood boards no doubt) and concentrate on kicking around a legitimate business.

I'm not happy about the baked maple or laminate rosewood solutions but maybe my Norlins will increase in value now!
 

Perry Underwood

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Sep 10, 2003
Messages
136
My question is this: Why is it that I can buy a non-laminated rosewood fretboard blank but Gibson can't?
 
K

Kim R

Guest
Re: I heard marketing BS but this (from Gibson) is pretty hardcore...

My question is this: Why is it that I can buy a non-laminated rosewood fretboard blank but Gibson can't?

Eggs-actly..

WTF did Gibson get itself into that has affected it's ability to acquire wood - seemingly more-so than any other manufacturer??

I've read the limited interviews from other builders (mostly small) bemoaning the legal interpretations of the various laws in question, but haven't observed any of the other large manufacturers altering their product lines.
 

Pat Boyack

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Messages
4,510
Re: I heard marketing BS but this (from Gibson) is pretty hardcore...

I've read the limited interviews from other builders (mostly small) bemoaning the legal interpretations of the various laws in question, but haven't observed any of the other large manufacturers altering their product lines.

There is a quote from the CEO of Martin explaining why they stopped buying wood from the same source as Gibson. I'll try to find it. I believe he stated that there was a takeover of a Gov't and they didn't feel comfortable buying the wood from a Gov't that wasn't recognized buy the other countries in the treaty. I also heard something about Gibson not receiving a the wood cut to size but in bigger pieces which was a no no in the treaty.

Has anybody heard the same thing?
 

Tom Wittrock

Les Paul Forum Co-Owner
Joined
Aug 2, 2001
Messages
42,567
Re: I heard marketing BS but this (from Gibson) is pretty hardcore...

There is a quote from the CEO of Martin explaining why they stopped buying wood from the same source as Gibson. I'll try to find it. 1) I believe he stated that there was a takeover of a Gov't and they didn't feel comfortable buying the wood from a Gov't that wasn't recognized buy the other countries in the treaty. 2) I also heard something about Gibson not receiving a the wood cut to size but in bigger pieces which was a no no in the treaty.

Has anybody heard the same thing?

The first part of your story seems related to the 2009[?] raid, when they went after Madagascar wood.

The second part relatess to last summer's raid, concerning wood from India.
 

mistersnappy

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Joined
Jan 20, 2006
Messages
7,321
I kinda like it. I don't see why Gibson is getting hammered for trying to find solutions that end with guitars being built and sold rather than wood being seized by the feds. I mean, it's not like these are replacing Historics. Honestly, I'm more aggravated that they continue using short tenons on their USA guitars than I am about laminate rosewood or baked maple fretboards. I mean, c'mon, is it too much to ask to standardize long neck tenons? Even my $250 Samick has a long neck tenon.

Yeah, that and gimme hide glue and the dreaded trussrod condoms need to go, at least on some models.
 

les strat

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Joined
Aug 22, 2004
Messages
5,194
Re: I heard marketing BS but this (from Gibson) is pretty hardcore...

There is a quote from the CEO of Martin explaining why they stopped buying wood from the same source as Gibson. I'll try to find it. I believe he stated that there was a takeover of a Gov't and they didn't feel comfortable buying the wood from a Gov't that wasn't recognized buy the other countries in the treaty. I also heard something about Gibson not receiving a the wood cut to size but in bigger pieces which was a no no in the treaty.

Has anybody heard the same thing?

Yes. Henry's documentation from India shows the legality of his source for fingerboards, but the US is saying by teh siezed blanks were unfinished as fingerboards which is a violation.

So they have to be manufactured as fingerboards in India before being imported? How do other compaines get Indian rosewood out of India? Smells like BS to me.

No charges have been filed against Gibson, yet the feds retain the wood. They need to charge them for something, or give the wood back. It's ridiculous.
 

RevPearly

Active member
Joined
Jul 2, 2010
Messages
1,137
"No charges have been filed against Gibson, yet the feds retain the wood. They need to charge them for something, or give the wood back. It's ridiculous."

The feds will probably wind up burning the wood like they do other contraband that is confiscated.............:ganz
 

les strat

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Aug 22, 2004
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5,194
"No charges have been filed against Gibson, yet the feds retain the wood. They need to charge them for something, or give the wood back. It's ridiculous."

The feds will probably wind up burning the wood like they do other contraband that is confiscated.............:ganz

Yeah, that's helps the environment. :rolleyes:
 

Art Werck

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Mar 17, 2003
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747
If even part of this crap is true, and I have no reason to doubt it, it's not good. Buy up all the the Gibsons you can get your hands on because like my dad use to say, ''they don't make 'em like they use to''.
 

guitarworld

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May 2, 2010
Messages
85
The whole world has gone mad, and this is just one of a trillion worldwide BS stories, which is thankfully, for GIBSONS sake, very heavily publicised on this website. GIBSON, as a company, are clearly struggling to stay afloat, and I really do feel for those highly skilled, dedicated craftsmen, with many years of service, :3zone:3zone who are basically being sold down the river, by their own government. On top of that the law authorities in the US, are just "getting on with their jobs" and not looking after the national interest!!:rolleyes::rolleyes: Long live GIBSON as a company, but it still remains to be seen exactly what price they will pay to survive? LONG LIVE GIBSON.:peace2:peace2
 
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