No need to get off your soapbox (LOL). That really saddens me to hear what you observed.
Such a great name and a great history. Someone somewhere, maybe at LMG III alluded that one reason Ren Ferguson retired from Gibson was the constant pressure to get production out the door. If that is a true statement, seems like you are seeing the evidence.
I have never been a "Gibson" guy so have no horse in this race. But it saddens me just the same.
From the Glassdoor website:
“One I will never forget !”
Former I'd Rather Not Say in Nashville, TN – Reviewed Sep 27, 2011
Pros – I worked for Gibson many years.
Thru good times and bad.
And I own a couple of really nice flame top Les Pauls
Cons – To begin with, I started working for Gibson right after the Nashville factory opened. I left the in the XXXX's (Disco and synthysizers nearly killed guitars). Then returned again, under new owners, from XXXX's to XXXX's. Was that vague enough ?
The differences between working for the Norlin Corporation (former owners), and the Henry Juszkiewicz / Dave Berryman days could not be described in this short blog.
Some very good. Some very bad.
Man the stories I could tell.
Most of what I've read on this site is pretty accurate. True, Henry micro managed to the millionth degree. And continues to do so from what I hear. But he took over a financially failing company and turned it around (at least for a little while). Greatness does indeed court disaster.
Personally, I likened him a little to Elvis. At times, he could be very generous and make you feel like you had the best gig on the planet. And the next day berate, humiliate (and to some) terminate you. Sort of a Jekyll and Hyde kinda guy. I guess he thought it was the best way to motivate employees. WRONG !
You guys are also spot on about the people that work there. The deparment supervisors and factory workers. From the retired road weary guitar player in final assembly, to the kid hand sanding guitars all day. They all loved being around those beautiful instuments. As did I.
I really wish the company could restore itself back to the glory days. Put quality before production, lower the prices, and let the people who know (and love) guitars build them !!
What player in the world can forget the first time he heard an old Les Paul thru a (Plexi) marshall amp !! (emphasis on the word old).
I travel quite a bit. And I am no longer in "the business". But everywhere I go, players and store dealers, consistently say the same thing you guys are saying. They can't all be wrong !
Lastly, I have some fond, funny, insightful memories of my days at Gibson.
And I am not a disgruntled former employee.
Just a sad one.
Advice to Senior Management – Advice or feedback ? You must be kidding.
You're talking about a couple of Harvard MBA's
These guys are intelligent to a fault.
And besides, Henry will never listen.
More
http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Gibson-Guitar-Reviews-E6869.htm