2015 Les Pauls, what are they smoking?

[redisburning]

Well Im not surprised young people arent buying many instruments these days. We are at our most polar as a society as I think we have been in a very long time. There are people who do things seriously and then there are the drifters. I really dont see much inbetween now that people can pre-occupy themselves with media 24/7. I don't think we're a lazy generation, I think we're a generation that is either on or off.

My grandfather had one nice pen that he used for decades. I have 30. Most people I know have 0. The people who dont have 0, well if they dont have a collection it's because they cant afford one and are building it. Again, little room for the moderate types.

In my opinion, Gibson's market is for older guys or very dedicated players who like their guitars. What sort of fundamental misunderstanding of millennials do they have to be charging 3k for a Standard? Young people are struggling these days with the highest incidences of underemployment, unpaid internship, student loan debt. etc, again in a very, very long time. Yet aren't these features supposed to appeal to them?

PRS is doing a 100x better job than Gibson appealing to this market.

I dont personally think the quality of the guitars live up to the increased prices. I am very aware of how much American labor costs but if the guitars cost as much to make as the price implies there is no way they'd be able to pump out half as many as they seem to, much less their current production figures.

I like the historics, I just hope they keep making them that way for a long time since I would hope my R8 isnt my last one.

 

[Sct13]

That nails it....kids just cant swing it...but on the other hand, parents can and will. Regardless, it was a foolish move.

 

[Elliot Easton]

Devil's advocate time: You know what else were foolish moves? The Flying V, Explorer and the Les Paul. Historically speaking of course. I'm not saying that Gibsons with robotic tuners and brass zero frets with some day sell for 250K...just pure theory, by which you can also prove that a camel can fly.

 

[Sct13]

No those were bold, genius moves that were before their time....

I guess I should clarify- Making it across the board, NON optional was the foolish part. Nothing wrong with pushing or exceeding the limits of technology....but making something like that Not an Option?


It was a money saving blunder, in order to streamline the assembly....they don't have to worry about separate lines.

 

[Elliot Easton]

No those were bold, genius moves that were before their time....

Sure, but only retrospectively. Nobody could have predicted it.

 

[montesada]

...and really, is it a genius move for a manufacturing company to make and sell so few of anything?
The SG, there was a genius move...:couch

 

[Elliot Easton]

No those were bold, genius moves that were before their time....

True dat. But who could have prediced a whole new style of music in which Rock and Roll guitars went from having huge strings played through tiny amps to tiny strings played through huge amps, lol! It was convergence of things that all happened at the exact right time, British Blues, etc. That's really all Im saying.

 

[sanchorb]

I don´t get all the hate for the 2015. Sure, maybe not everyone wants the GForce, tuning system, but if one doesn´t like it, just remove it, go for traditional tuners. It seems people always like to see the bad side, try looking at the bright side here: Gibson tries to offer a novelty that will save you time. The analogy can be stated as: I use a calculator so I can speed the operation, but as long as I know what is being done there, I won´t worry, it is just a tool to facilitate life. I rather see it as an advantage, not as an attack to the tradition.

I went for a 2015 Studio since I sold my 2012 worn brown Studio, fed up with the damn Nitrocellulose finish that would not stand being left anywhere but its soft case. I loved it, but loved more the fact that I have Fenders with which I don´t have to worry if they are left in a guitar stand, since its finish won´t react with the plastics in the stand.

As for the price? Not sure if what we are observing now are price reductions for a lack of inventory movement, but if I observe a price change that goes from US$1.289 to US$1.075, including a damn beautiful hard case, I rather like it. My Sweetwater agent said "I don´t know what is happening with Gibson prices". A rather diplomatic answer.

I just know that I tested the guitar, and nonetheless the fact I am a traditionalist, I appreciate this 2015 instrument. Heck, Les Paul´s 100 anniversary will only happen in 2015, and maybe in 2016 Gibson will revert to the traditional "Les Paul Model" logo. So maybe, just by the way life goes, those of us who purchased a 2015 with the "Les Paul 100" signature on the headstock will find some people with much money being amazed, in 2065, saying "look man, this guy has got an original 2015 Les Paul, and he even kept the original automatic tuner, I will pay top dollars for it!" I didn´t purchased my 2015 for the "possible future value", I purchased it because I hated my 2012 finish and because I feel the 2015 Studio is a great guitar. Whatever comes in the future, will be a bonus. So stop complaining about "Gibson fucked it all up because they sent the vintage traits to the trash", and appreciate what you have. You have a pre 2015 model? Enjoy it. You decided to go 2015? Enjoy it also, and rejoice on the fact you have access to great instruments, something many people in the world would love but maybe can´t afford.

 

[redisburning]

Im like 99% certain that's not how any of this works.

 

[williu]

What can I say, I like my new Les Paul Studio 2015. Of course, I haven't yet experienced any problems with the nut (I hope I won't!) and my GForce tuners work well so far (even though my American Strat holds the tuning forever, and my LP does not). But I like the wide neck, and I also like the Les Paul 100 logo. And the guitar is just gorgeous and sounds amazing!

 

[Elliot Easton]

.

 

[Wookie]

According to the Hoovers free report summary Gibsons on a steady downward trend.

http://www.hoovers.com/company-info...ncial.GIBSON_BRANDS_INC.b1826f5356393af3.html

 

[hoss]

The first 2016 models are in at US dealers and guess what? No more Robo tuners/ hologram/scribble sig/zero nut/low frets...
It seems the 2016 prices have come down as well.

 

[hoss]

Great article on Reverb

https://reverb.com/blog/breaking-gibson-to-revert-prices-and-specs-on-2016-models?_aid=fb

 

[Elliot Easton]

I would like them to go back also to the traditional sunburst shading pattern on USA Les Pauls. I'm not crazy about the light colors going all the way to the edge as on this one. I guess I'm just used to seeing a darker color up by the toggle switch; it looks better to me.

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[class5lp]

I would like them to go back also to the traditional sunburst shading pattern on USA Les Pauls. I'm not crazy about the light colors going all the way to the edge as on this one. I guess I'm just used to seeing a darker color up by the toggle switch; it looks better to me.

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Like I said before the entire whole thing just pissed me off royally. Gibson USA line is the core of the companies entire sales. Gibson Custom may get all the attention and be the pretty girl at the dance but if it were not for Gibson USA potentially there may be no Gibson Custom. Why cant USA just go back to the old school way of the way they used to do things??????? Give us a Les Paul Classic/Standard again the old school way. Nice flame top, 1 piece back with no weight relief, decent had shell case, and not all those goofy inlays on the finger board or toggle switches or those stupid tuners. Then a nice Les Paul Standard, SG Standard, Flying V, Explorer, and even an Explorer Pro which is a KILLER guitar by the way. For the last 7 plus years I only buy Gibson Custom guitars and that's my point. Gibson USA has lost me forever now~

I don't care what they roll their prices back to the product line up is garbage. Hey if PRS and others can still build a nice Custom 22 with all the great specs of all an all solid wood guitar without 2 piece backs or weight relief than there is no reason why USA cant.

I swear someone the person at Gibson USA who came up with the idea of the 2015 product line up and the person who signed off on it should be fired!

 

[DanD]

I would like them to go back also to the traditional sunburst shading pattern on USA Les Pauls. I'm not crazy about the light colors going all the way to the edge as on this one. I guess I'm just used to seeing a darker color up by the toggle switch; it looks better to me.

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This treatment is the classic 'up sell' just like cars. No need to make the Historic jump if you can get it from Gibson USA for much less.

I.e. edgeburst screams, "I didn't pony up for the Historic". :rolleyes

I don't like it either. :dang

 

[Elliot Easton]

Oh, I just think it's another 'improvement' for 2015 and will eventually revert back to the teardrop pattern burst. I don't really know but I would think the USA LP Standards is one of the biggest sellers for Gibson, and it behooves them to make great Standards, which I believe Gibson strive to do. You're just not going to get most guitarists to accept many new changes. That's the irony- even though we're supposed to be rebels and rockers we are amazingly reactionary when it comes to our guitars. Most of us anyway, not saying everybody. It's still not a Custom Shop guitar, but I've had some truly great Standards!

 

[DanD]

I don't know when edge-burst started but I think the only tear drop painted color choice I had for my 2013 Standard was heritage cherry. I already had that covered so I got a solid amber which is a tad orangey compared to lemon but still a really nice finish.

What I was hunting was a dessert burst which is/was only available as edge-burst. I played a mid 2000s Standard that had a proper old style tear drop dessert burst and it was a beautiful guitar. Unfortunately for me it was bit much for my old back at a bit over ten pounds.

I hope you're right and Gibson drops the edge-burst completely in the future or at least makes both styles available again in all colors. I can't see why they couldn't paint edge burst for a few days then paint the same colors in tear drop for few days.

I don't know how important the Standard is today to the LP line as there are so many variations of LPs being made. :hmm

I agree that there are many great Standards out there. I've owned a few and never thought the Historics I owned were really any better at being guitars than my Standards.

My whole issue and main reason for the Historic purchases I've made is mostly cosmetic and due to the old style smaller head stock shape. eace2

 

[Big Al]

I have the same problem with the Perimeter Burst too. Mostly with the traditional Burst shades of red and brown. Don't mind it so much on the newer Blueburst or green burst,(yuck!), but WTF! The perimeter burst was a feature of 50's Epiphones, Gibsons have a teardrop burst. Some TRADITIONS need to be kept. Gibson is a brand steeped in tradition and I don't get the F'n with it!

But as predicted the crazy 2015 was only a crazy 2015, it's almost gone and soon will be forgotten.