Very sad, another iconic American brand files for bankruptcy

Oh man, iconic guitars for sure.

Quality on their electrics at least has been going down hill the last 10 years. So does this mean a bigger demand for the used market? I hope not as I’ve always wanted a hummingbird but dont  want to pay for one...

Maybe Fender, Martin, Schecter or Taylor will pick up the brand.  Be really sad to see it die all together.  Hell maybe Eddie V will bail them out ;)

The Bozeman Chronicle is reporting that the Chapter 11 motion will not affect operations at the Gibson factory here in Montana, which is great news for the friends I have that work there. The article further states that the CEO has gone on record as stating that production and operations can be expected to continue as normal for the foreseeable future.

Earlier today, I read a story from one of the guitar magazines that Gibson has filed a law suit against a German company which manufactures electronic tuning machines (the pegs and gears on the headstock) that automatically tune the strings so that they remain in perfect pitch without adjustments. Apparently, the company failed to make good on its promises to Gibson after accepting funding from the guitar company for R&D and has only delivered a handful of those tuners. The Germans are suing Gibson for infringing on their technology. It's a mess and not the first time Gibson has been in court.

The Chronicle article ends with reassurances from Gibson's CEO that they will remain in the business of crafting musical instruments. By this account, the bankruptcy filing is intended to reorganize the company to focus on what it does best while shedding its unprofitable sideline endeavors and raising operating capital to sustainable levels. Curiously, the debt load reported by the paper is exactly the same as the amount specified in the lawsuit against the German firm.

Nathan T

Quality on their electrics at least has been going down hill the last 10 years. So does this mean a bigger demand for the used market? I hope not as I’ve always wanted a hummingbird but dont  want to pay for one...

 

KnightTemplar5150

The Bozeman Chronicle is reporting that the Chapter 11 motion will not affect operations at the Gibson factory here in Montana, which is great news for the friends I have that work there. The article further states that the CEO has gone on record as stating that production and operations can be expected to continue as normal for the foreseeable future.

Earlier today, I read a story from one of the guitar magazines that Gibson has filed a law suit against a German company which manufactures electronic tuning machines (the pegs and gears on the headstock) that automatically tune the strings so that they remain in perfect pitch without adjustments. Apparently, the company failed to make good on its promises to Gibson after accepting funding from the guitar company for R&D and has only delivered a handful of those tuners. The Germans are suing Gibson for infringing on their technology. It's a mess and not the first time Gibson has been in court.

The Chronicle article ends with reassurances from Gibson's CEO that they will remain in the business of crafting musical instruments. By this account, the bankruptcy filing is intended to reorganize the company to focus on what it does best while shedding its unprofitable sideline endeavors and raising operating capital to sustainable levels. Curiously, the debt load reported by the paper is exactly the same as the amount specified in the lawsuit against the German firm.

 

werent those automatic tuners a pile of junk? I thought Gibson definitely went the wrong way with offering that as a gimmick? 

in other news, isn’t Guitar center also in financial trouble?

Gibson had slapped those tuners on their G-Force line back in 2015 and they didn't sell many, so the following year they limited the tuners to their extra-spendy "high performance" line the following year. Again, sales performance wasn't what was expected and they are no longer in the Gibson catalog. Details here -

 https://www.guitarworld.com/news/gibson-countersues-tronical

So sad to hear that Gibson is in trouble again.

As a former pro Bluegrass musician, I can only speak of their accoustic instruments when I say that their banjos are second to none now, but even those have had issues through the years. They where excellent up and until the 60's ,went downhill until the 80's, had a researgence in quality for a while ,went down again, and are now back up to snuff. I used to play on stage  a 1931 Mastertone that I traded for a Bass boat it was so good. (Arthritis in my hands caused me to sell it ). The arrival of the hand made ,small shop makers in the last 20 years like Taylor, Scheerhorn and Whechter ,has definitly put a large dent in Gibson's accoustic guitar sales as well.

This my take on the subject:

There once was a time when four lads from England played on a CBS TV show. After that every teenage boy wanted to play in a band. I was in a garage band and most of my friends were in a garage band.  Everytime I walked down the street I could hear kids playing music in their basements or garages. When was the last time that you heard that????

Garage bands played at dances. I would guess that that does not happen any more.

Have you listened to a top 40 music statiion lately? Almost all of the songs have no musicians playing musical instruments. The music is computer synthesized. I wonder if kids even know what a real guitar sonds like.

When I was in High School the Fender/Fender (Beach Boy sound) was popular. Then came the Gibson/Marshall (Lead Zep sound) was popular. Now the Fender/Fender sound has returned, especially with Country musicians. This does note bode weel for Gibson.

There are very few young guitar/rock bands It's just a lost art form.

That all adds up to a big problem for the major guitar manufacturers.

And Ford is going to stop building automobiles (except for Mustang).

Don Stauffer

And Ford is going to stop building automobiles (except for Mustang).

 

Don !

 Really ? I thought they were going to build affordable planes again .

JohnnyK

This my take on the subject:

There once was a time when four lads from England played on a CBS TV show. After that every teenage boy wanted to play in a band. I was in a garage band and most of my friends were in a garage band.  Everytime I walked down the street I could hear kids playing music in their basements or garages. When was the last time that you heard that????

Garage bands played at dances. I would guess that that does not happen any more.

Have you listened to a top 40 music statiion lately? Almost all of the songs have no musicians playing musical instruments. The music is computer synthesized. I wonder if kids even know what a real guitar sonds like.

When I was in High School the Fender/Fender (Beach Boy sound) was popular. Then came the Gibson/Marshall (Lead Zep sound) was popular. Now the Fender/Fender sound has returned, especially with Country musicians. This does note bode weel for Gibson.

There are very few young guitar/rock bands It's just a lost art form.

That all adds up to a big problem for the major guitar manufacturers.

 

Back in HS...seemed like you could find a new bandmate overnight(if needed). Lots of players! If they looked like a "rocker" (even if they didn't), it was a pretty safe bet that they played something. That was back in the early 90's. My daughter graduated 2 years ago...dispite having "the look", not a single one of her friends played (or really did anything but "hang out"), and none of them knew anybody that played either. It blows my mind. They was always at least 4-5 rock/metal bands, at any given time, in my HS. We'd all go in together and rent an American Legion Hall (or similar) and do shows every couple of months....and we always had 200-300 people show up. Good times!

Anyway...never really cared much for Gibson guitars...I'm all about Jackson!!!

Hi;

 Although I liked the " Fender " sound ( ie.the Beach Boys , Ventures and others)

 I still prefer my old trusty Gibsin Acoustic Flamenco style . The sounds are mellow and can be joyful and cheerful all in the same song ,With no twang or reverb .

 I had a Stratocaster while in the Service . It disappeared In a transfer fron Germany back to the U.S.

keavdog

I recall finding lots of friends to play with back in high school as well.  I was introduced to music by my dad and later my brother who was and increadible guitar player - rest his soul.  I put my old acoustic guitar in my son’s room when he was 9.  I bought my other son an electric drum kit around the same time.  It took a few years but they got into it and now my guitar playing son has a Fender electric and a Yamaha acoustic.  My drum playing son has a Pearl acoustic kit.  I put a keyboard in my daughter’s room when she was a young pup but that didn't take off.  I play acoustic and electric and jammed with them all through their high school years and later they put together a 'band' in high school and continue to jam in college – and they have gotten quite good!  Perhaps we have a responsibility to mentor and encourage. 

 

JohnnyK

This my take on the subject:

There once was a time when four lads from England played on a CBS TV show. After that every teenage boy wanted to play in a band. I was in a garage band and most of my friends were in a garage band.  Everytime I walked down the street I could hear kids playing music in their basements or garages. When was the last time that you heard that????

Garage bands played at dances. I would guess that that does not happen any more.

Have you listened to a top 40 music statiion lately? Almost all of the songs have no musicians playing musical instruments. The music is computer synthesized. I wonder if kids even know what a real guitar sonds like.

When I was in High School the Fender/Fender (Beach Boy sound) was popular. Then came the Gibson/Marshall (Lead Zep sound) was popular. Now the Fender/Fender sound has returned, especially with Country musicians. This does note bode weel for Gibson.

There are very few young guitar/rock bands It's just a lost art form.

That all adds up to a big problem for the major guitar manufacturers.

This..........

I guess I'll be holding onto my Les Paul studio.  Now I just need to learn how to play it.

Congrats to the greatest band ever, The Cars, for being inducted into he Rock Hall.  The hall was a fraud until this finally happened.

RIP Ben Orr, you are missed.   

I'm in touch with your world lawdog!  Pretty cool Dire Straits made it too.

Pick up that guitar.