Gibson Files for Ch 11 Bankruptcy Protection

[Queequeg]

I knew they were having their financial troubles, as it has been widely reported. WSJ reported the news today.
I have never been a big fan of their acoustics (just a personal preference) but respected their electrics, especially their jazz guitars.
We'll see if they find a buyer or if they get sliced and diced.
Odds are somebody will come along and make guitars with the Gibson name on them.

[unclrob]

Odds are somebody will come along and make guitars with the Gibson name on them.



Somebody already does...Epiphone's...They have a better product then Gibson at a third the price.

[JOYCEfromNS]

Somebody already does...Epiphone's...They have a better product then Gibson at a third the price.

Tho I have come across a few of the Epi Elitist models that were nice  not sure I'd agree with that model. Not at all familiar with either's acoustics as never cared for them.

And by default wouldn't Epi be in the same soup as Gibson  Thus a moot point 

[unclrob]

Some of there acoustics aren't bad.some have solid tops.But if I was going to buy an electric I'd rather have an Epi.There Les pauls are really nice guitars so are the 335,330,175 and there Sheritan and there old style solid body's really nice stuff.

[AZLiberty]

Gibson is a lesson in mismanagement and missing the boat:

Reputation management - Their current quality control is actually quite good, but after decades of poor QC their reputation still dogs them.

Wrong market - They completely missed the whole "unplugged" phenomenon, pushing more and more expensive electrics while the world headed towards acoustic rock.

Undercapitalization - Their US production lines are very labor intensive.  Taylor, Martin, and Larrivee invested heavily into CNC and automation, decreasing cost of operation and increasing quality.

Gibson USA doesn't actually make that many acoustics.  Larrivee may actually make more. (it's close) Their money has always been in high margin electrics and their imported Epiphone line.  The Epiphone line is ok as things go, but everyone in the SEA and PAC-Rim has really upped their game in the past few years.  I'd much rather have a new Chinese Alvarez or Breedlove than an Epiphone.

[mike in lytle]

 
There are many articles about all this tho many of them say similar things.
Most of them repeat that Gibson says the reorganization (whatever) will be invisible to the consumer. Right.
I have had a couple nice Gibson electrics in the past, tho now I am an Epiphone person. I have an EB-0 and a Sheraton II and like them both a lot.
Larrivee does not make an EB-0 type, nor a semi-hollow body, so there.
And since my experience with other makes of guitars on a worldwide basis is limited, I hope Gibson does indeed preserve and resume excellence on the musical instrument side.
Mike

[Mikeymac]

I agree - their acoustics are really hit and miss for quality. I feel lucky I got a good lefty J-45. But a lot of the Gibsons I've seen in the shop lately have not impressed me - either the quality of the woods used, or the construction. For what Gibson is offering, their acoustics are WAY overpriced.

But I hope they recover under new management.

Meanwhile, all in good fun...

[AZLiberty]

For what Gibson is offering, their acoustics are WAY overpriced.

I rather agree.  Their most affordable Gibson branded acoustic is I believe the J-15.  It's pretty, but for the same price I could have a -40 series Larrivee, a US built Breedlove, a US built Guild D-20, or one of the GC custom Martins like the MMV.  And personally, I prefer the sound of any of those to the Gibson.

[robwms]

Management will still be there, if they get their way. This is a restructuring, not a liquidation. They hope to walk away from half a billion dollars in debt and live another day to make guitars. Their efforts at diversification didn't pan out, so they're retrenching and sticking it to some private equity firms.