This doesn't seem like good news for Gibson...
http://www.musicradar.com/news/namm-2018-gibson-no-show-confirmed
walrus
http://www.musicradar.com/news/namm-2018-gibson-no-show-confirmed
walrus
This doesn't seem like good news for Gibson...
http://www.musicradar.com/news/namm-2018-gibson-no-show-confirmed
walrus
Isn't THAT the truth!! Sheesh!!Sounds like a real bonehead move to me. Then again, I guess Henry J's just being consistent. :stupid:
Isn't THAT the truth!! Sheesh!!
It sure is a weird corporate move from being a leader in the musical instrument business to being a struggling third rate competitor in consumer electronics.
Unless they are preparing for a buyout or some kind of dispersal of their business as you said, Sandy.
walrus
IF I understand correctly, as part of Phillips, that's no 3rd-rate player in that biz:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philips#Audio_products
And hey, they're Dutch.... that can't be all bad, am I right?
:glee:
EDIT:
It appears I got that backwards. Gibson bought Philips' consumer electronics division.
https://andreweverard.com/2014/06/3...gibson-stable-woox-didnt-see-that-one-coming/
Nonetheless the Philips brand name carries huge weight in consumer electronics.
And that would make sense for this stated Gibson goal from that article:
"The Gibson name may be most associated with its business as a guitar-maker, founded in 1894, but Gibson Brands has an ambition to be ‘the global leader in music and sound’."
After reading their Wikipedia page , I got a sneaking suspicion there are other reasons besides the shrinking market that Gibson would be happy to exit the guitar manufacturing niche.
I agree.I was blown away by the fact that these $6000-$7500 acoustics were sporting "Richlite" Finger Boards instead of solid wood. Apparently that is something that Gibson has gone to in recent years and while it may have it's merits it just seemed out of place on such a beautiful High end guitar.
The consumer electronics part is actually headquartered in Hongkong, Philips spun it off because it wasn't doing well and already failed to sell a few years earlier (as documented in Wikipedia)
https://www.philips.com/a-w/about/news/archive/standard/news/press/2014/20140428-Philips-to-sell-WOOX-Innovations-to-Gibson-Brands.html
No that this has anything to do with Gibson not showing up at NAMM This year but I was recently looking at a few of their Limited edition Acoustics like the "Doves in Flight" and the "SJ200 Limited" which are both heavily inlaid and offered in the beautiful "Viper Blue" Transparent finishes. I was blown away by the fact that these $6000-$7500 acoustics were sporting "Richlite" Finger Boards instead of solid wood. Apparently that is something that Gibson has gone to in recent years and while it may have it's merits it just seemed out of place on such a beautiful High end guitar. If this has been discussed previously I apologize as I am not a part of any Gibson forum nor regularly look for info on the brand itself. Here is the link to the two Gibsons I was referring to with the Richlite Fingerboards and I think Bridges as well.
Doves in Flight LTD Viper Blue Model
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gibson-Gib...558481?hash=item25d7dfcd51:g:FwoAAOSwjL5ZLl~N
SJ200 LTD Viper Blue Model
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Gibson-LTD...043335?hash=item284b8a3fc7:g:~CIAAOSwAQBZp7vr
After the recent sale of their Memphis factory and the subsequent fire sale of several Memphis made models at almost below cost prices through Chicago Music Exchange, I think the shift from NAMM to the Consumer Electronics Show sort of spells out the end of Gibson American guitar production as we know it. Hard to believe but I wonder if Gibson Guitars will even be in production by this time next year here in the states.
TX