Gibson guitars is filing for bankruptcy protection in a deal to try and keep their guitar business going. Incredible that an iconic brand like this could be going down the drain but the fact is they have always been terrible at business. For instance just trying to find out about a Gibson guitar is difficult because their record system is so poor. I have tried a number of times to determine the origins of Gibson flat tops and the best I could do was a two or three year window of when it was made. Top line guitars are generally well-documented, but not Gibson, which is just an indication of their dysfunction.
Gibson's are Gibson's because they have always tried to use the best of materials. That was easy in the old days when there were few makers and many sources. Today getting tone woods is becoming very difficult due to regulations, and also due to the fact that guitar making has entered a Golden Age where there are many fine makers big and small. Taylor being the main one. Taylor has taken over the acoustic market from Martin and Gibson.
I believe Gibson wants to abandon all its many business/brand marketing and retreat to its core business of building fine instruments. I wish them luck. I have an old Gibson at the luthier right now and am hoping to get it back in perfect shape by July. It's a rosewood model which is the very wood is putting Gibson out of business. They need to get in Sappelle and Koa and all the other tonewoods that Taylor is so heavily invested in. Rosewood is pretty much done as a guitar material.
Gibson's are Gibson's because they have always tried to use the best of materials. That was easy in the old days when there were few makers and many sources. Today getting tone woods is becoming very difficult due to regulations, and also due to the fact that guitar making has entered a Golden Age where there are many fine makers big and small. Taylor being the main one. Taylor has taken over the acoustic market from Martin and Gibson.
I believe Gibson wants to abandon all its many business/brand marketing and retreat to its core business of building fine instruments. I wish them luck. I have an old Gibson at the luthier right now and am hoping to get it back in perfect shape by July. It's a rosewood model which is the very wood is putting Gibson out of business. They need to get in Sappelle and Koa and all the other tonewoods that Taylor is so heavily invested in. Rosewood is pretty much done as a guitar material.