Hey it's Mat from Gibson Product Development - AMA

[matkoehler]

Tackling a 76 page thread has taken a while, but there is some exceptional reading in this endeavor - HUGE thanks to Mat for his expertise, generosity, and at times, exceptional diplomacy and patience.

My question relates specifically to the R7 BB customs. I have one that was made in '96...and while it's been my number one since the day it came home, it is by far the heaviest Les Paul I've ever owned or played. Was or is there a range of finished guitar weights acceptable to the specific model or type? I always (mistakenly) thought that all of the BB R7's might be as heavy as mine for some historical accuracy or something...which I now understand isn't correct.

Thanks in advance for your reply!

We do not guarantee weight ranges but you can pay a little more through M2M to use wood sorted for light weight. For a B7, which these days is made from a solid slab of mahogany (that is the part that may not technically be historically correct on yours, not the weight), we do get in *some* lighter weight slabs for M2M orders which usually get snatched up pretty quick. If you are really concerned about weight you could even order a lightweight mahogany back and a lightweight mahogany top -- or chamber/weight relieve the back to make it lighter still. But I'm not scared of a heavy LP, especially an LPC...something about the ebony board and all that mass makes for a distinct sound.

 

[matkoehler]

Mat

is the 68 Custom Humbucker actually a reamke of the original "T-Top" pickup? To me, the 68 has the brighter tone of the old T-Top humbucker.

And - with Murphy Lab guitars, is there any aging, magnetically or otherwise, of the pickups - or any other components?

Originally, I thought that it would be. But my late friend Edwin told me it was more of a sonic approximation than an actual T-Type recreation...the current range of T-Types is going to be much more accurate to the 60s/70s T-Top recipe. However I agree, the '68 Custom humbuckers nail that same bright sound.

To answer your other question, no the only Murphy Lab aging with the pickups is to the polepiece screws and covers. Nothing beyond that, although de-gaussing a particular magnet to meet spec is very much part of the process for certain pickups...I guess you could consider that aging!

 

[matkoehler]

Adding a small rant here about Murphy Lab lacquer checking based upon a thread I saw on the other forum (I am not a member). Yes in late 2020/early 2021 there was a batch of Murphy Lab Les Pauls with aniline dye backs where the cherry filler batch we received was faulty. It was not adhering properly and causing extreme checking and flaking on the back, sides and neck -- this is 'bad batch' issue you've likely heard about. We corrected it immediately, but since that time, it seems there is just a lot of hesitation about what constitutes the "ideal" Murphy Lab finish behavior, and rightly so...I get it.

So let me be clear -- as the ML card insert says, Murphy Lab lacquer is designed to behave like it does on 50s instruments. It will continue to check and age, and this process is expedited based on environmental conditions. If you buy an Ultra Light aged Murphy Lab guitar, please treat it like you would an original '59 burst in that condition. If you leave it in your trunk on a very hot or very cold day, leave it in the sun for an extended period, etc -- the finish will continue to check in unpredictable ways. But that kind of checking is in no way related to the filler issue a couple years ago. It's to be expected. OK rant over!

 

[mdubya]

It's a function of feasibility/time required on one hand and value proposition on the other. It's a really important spec for a Historic Reissue buyer but not for most USA buyers. Plus we would have to charge more for it because of the added labor in neckfit. All that said, I have played lots of USA LP Standards (and 1970s LPs for that matter) which sounded unbelievable. Long tenon is historically accurate but can't be certain it creates a better instrument...I believe a long tenon may provide benefits to sustain, but it's certainly just one part of the recipe.

Long tenon should be a feature on ALL Gibson guitars, imho.

I mean if Gibson wants to recapture former glories and all. jmho.

 

[goldtop0]

Shooting from the hip, and given my understanding of the production run rates over those years and the average mix, maybe 5000-6000 total ES-330s?

That's a goodly number, about a thousand per year, cheers.

 

[Cliff Gress]

Firebird 1?

 

[jrgtr42]

i saw the article about the massive stash of electronics blueprints that was found.

Gibson Amp and Effect blueprints found
I understand it may be a bit early to know, but are there any talks about resurrecting any of these designs?

 

[Finalfallmusic]

Looks great to me!

Thank you!

 

[p19978]

Been looking for an inexpensive Explorer for awhile now... because I want a fat neck (the R8 profile is PERFECT for me).

Why doesn't Gibson make ALL product lines and every price point, with some fat necked offerings? I mean how hard would it be to have the designation "50's neck" or 60's neck" on everything?

There are NO Explorers sub $2k with fat necks.

I ran into this same problem with SG's and wound up going the custom route with a local builder, which is likely to happen again.

 

[goldtop0]

Been looking for an inexpensive Explorer for awhile now... because I want a fat neck (the R8 profile is PERFECT for me).

Why doesn't Gibson make ALL product lines and every price point, with some fat necked offerings? I mean how hard would it be to have the designation "50's neck" or 60's neck" on everything?

There are NO Explorers sub $2k with fat necks.

I ran into this same problem with SG's and wound up going the custom route with a local builder, which is likely to happen again.

That's been the bane of our lives with us 'fat neck' guys for many years now.............when will it end
A handful of us have gone M2M over the years and hunted high and low and luckily been able to snaffle one or two here and there(but not any SGs to date), love the '50s necks.

 

[jb_abides]

That's been the bane of our lives with us 'fat neck' guys for many years now.............when will it end
A handful of us have gone M2M over the years and hunted high and low and luckily been able to snaffle one or two here and there(but not any SGs to date), love the '50s necks.

Not to mention other necks: 'Real Feel', 30/60, etc.

You can certainly argue the past reissue 'by year' profiles weren't truly representative given known spec variations; however, Gibson now have many scans in the library / data catalog, thus product options might be easier asks across the range.

Of course, M2M would remain the route for any specific profile match. Or, a direct build-to-order model supported with more manufacturing automation, rather than a handcrafted Custom Shop. Not sure if they are heading this way, as it would involve re-tooling choices, etc.

You have to think about the cost / effectiveness of producing too many variants in a product line, versus custom order. Not to mention how to garner marketing intelligence to determine the numbers, dealer stock requirements, etc.

Buy, yeah, the maybe there should be 3 core options in the Original Collection:

- 50s Fat
- 50s Round
- 60s Slim Taper

 

[goldtop0]

Not to mention other necks: 'Real Feel', 30/60, etc.

You can certainly argue the past reissue 'by year' profiles weren't truly representative given known spec variations; however, Gibson now have many scans in the library / data catalog, thus product options might be easier asks across the range.

Of course, M2M would remain the route for any specific profile match. Or, a direct build-to-order model supported with more manufacturing automation, rather than a handcrafted Custom Shop. Not sure if they are heading this way, as it would involve re-tooling choices, etc.

You have to think about the cost / effectiveness of producing too many variants in a product line, versus custom order. Not to mention how to garner marketing intelligence to determine the numbers, dealer stock requirements, etc.

Buy, yeah, the maybe there should be 3 core options in the Original Collection:

- 50s Fat
- 50s Round
- 60s Slim Taper

As far as I know(after going down the M2M route 3 years ago) the fatter neck profile is a matter of dialing that in on the CNC machine, not a biggie at all.

 

[mdubya]

I doubt you guys would be interested, but the recent Epiphone "Inspired by" '58 Explorer has a pretty chunky neck, with some shoulder, even.

It is a heck of a cool guitar for the price.

I liked the one I bought so much, I bought an Original Collection Mahogany Explorer, too. I love the neck on it. It is significant for a 60s neck, much more full than my 60s slim ES 335 or Firebird V. Not 'big' though.

But I like them all that are this side of "too big" without being Ibanez shredder, thin.

 

[pulse.]

What was the first year Gibson started using Luxe caps?

 

[jb_abides]

As far as I know(after going down the M2M route 3 years ago) the fatter neck profile is a matter of dialing that in on the CNC machine, not a biggie at all.

Yes, but to resolve OP's quest regarding the USA product line, things are not M2M/built-to-order, they are typically model runs in the hundreds-plus.

So you have to data justification to create X number of them to sell. That's the crux of this biscuit. Gibson probably doesn't see the cost-benefit analysis...

Believe me, I want options in many models that I can't have -- I am a lefty!

 

[p19978]

I do realize that M2M will solve the problem... but again, I'm now into $5k territory.

It just doesn't seem that difficult to do what JB Abides suggested in the earlier post.

Although I will say... not offering fat necks at reasonable prices has probably saved me a lot of money lol.

 

[jhawk77]

What was the first year Gibson started using Luxe caps?

I believe Luxe caps started in 2019. They also started using vintage taper pots this year, and changed the Custombuckers from being wax-potted to no potting.

 

[corpse]

Mat- i am trying to get info from Customer service on a R9 I bought- case # 00282731. I haven’t heard a word back. Can you help?

 

[sputnik]

Please post a pic when yours arrives

Ordered.

 

[garywright]

Ordered.