Hey it's Mat from Gibson Product Development - AMA

[MrNubs]

Likewise here - my 2022 light aged 57 Goldtop RI and recently acquired 2024 Heavy Aged ‘59 are amazing instruments.

The new bridge is killer too. No need to start swapping out posts, thumbwheels and bridges anymore.

there is a new bridge ?

please tell me about this "The new bridge is killer too. No need to start swapping out posts, thumbwheels and bridges anymore."

 

[CK6]

there is a new bridge ?

please tell me about this "The new bridge is killer too. No need to start swapping out posts, thumbwheels and bridges anymore."

Not much to say, it’s just a more accurate looking bridge; Matt could probably provide more insight. I think that the brass posts & wheels make more of a difference to be honest..

The takeaway is that the guitar sounds good enough that you don’t need to change out a bunch of stuff.

 

[mdubya]

Recent new guitar day from another forum.

 

[goldtop0]

Recent new guitar day from another forum.

Did he have it shipped to Siberia and opened it up outside in the snow...........that's horrific

 

[mdubya]

Did he have it shipped to Siberia and opened it up outside in the snow...........that's horrific

 

[matkoehler]

Don't have any context to go on, and I am not on the Production or QC team so I am usually the last to know, but I just talked with Tom and he says there was a more recent and very limited instance of a bad filler batch. Consistency from our vendors is always tough...butterfly effect. Our Customer Service team is quick to act, however, and they will replace or return this guitar without question. I feel for the customer and I also feel for Tom because this is truly an unfortunate exception and not representative of 99.9% of the ML guitars out in the world right now. In any case, I know it will get sorted out quickly.

 

[matkoehler]

Hi Mat, hi everybody,

just one quick question as I found as I found contradictory info online:

When did historic Les Pauls get the True Historic plastic parts? Would a 2019 Les Paul Custom 57 Reissue have True Historic parts?

Thanks!

2017 would be the first year...in 2015 and 2016 we made the True Historic series ended alongside the Standard Historic (2013-spec) but in 2017 we resumed making just one Historic Reissue level with the TH parts instead of segmenting into two versions (not my idea for the record). But 2017 was also the weird year where we did a new limited edition release every single week, so not a lot were made.

 

[GreenBurst]

Looking at these Goldtop photos are they two different LPs? Note the cutaway checking from post #1803 (2nd pic) and #1805 (1st pic) is different. At the horn tip it is obvious.

 

[mdubya]

This image is right off of Gibson.com

https://www.gibson.com/en-US/p/Electric-Guitar/CUSWKV101/Lemon-Burst-Serial-Number-93217-Weight-8lbs-10-6oz

 

[clapciadrix]

Hi Matt,
I just bought and received today (5-30) a Murphy Lab 1958 ES-335. I love the guitar but I’m seeing the beginning of the flaking problem, on a small scale, on the neck. I’m seeing the air pocket under the crazing. It’s currently not flaking but I wonder if in a short time, will it begin to flake?
If it does, how would you suggest I proceed if the crazing begins to worsen or flake ?
I’ve already spoken with the dealer and they said they will back me up but I would contact Gibson and go from there.
Here’s a picture of what I mean about air under the crazing. Not definitive, but gives you an idea of how it is today.

 

[jb_abides]

I’ve already spoken with the dealer and they said they will back me up but I would contact Gibson and go from there.

That's just not right. The dealer should be contacting their representative on your behalf.

What's become of the dealer network?! Ye gods. Things are unraveling fast...

 

[mountainstream]

Hi Mat, and well done on the positive development of Gibson during the last couple of years! Now is truly an exciting time to be a Gibson customer. A couple of questions:

Do you know if / how it is possible to get the hands on an Epiphone ES 355 in the exclusive Ebony finish in Europe?

And, any news on when we can expect the aftermarket custom shop parts during the year?

Many thanks for the great work!

 

[jonayg]

2017 would be the first year...in 2015 and 2016 we made the True Historic series ended alongside the Standard Historic (2013-spec) but in 2017 we resumed making just one Historic Reissue level with the TH parts instead of segmenting into two versions (not my idea for the record). But 2017 was also the weird year where we did a new limited edition release every single week, so not a lot were made.

Awesome, thanks for the concrete answer!

 

[L.A.Man]

Does anybody look at these guitars before buying them, or do you act surprised when you don’t?

The cold weather method of aging can go very wrong if not done properly. Most of the problems seem to be with the heavy aged versions, and the chemical formula being used. Gibson appears to have acknowledged these issues.

But for the life of me, why does a guitar that doesn’t look good in pics or in person end up in your hands is beyond me.

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

Just wondering if it is possible to get a Les Paul finished and aged like they were 10 years ago. I was happy with that and I really worry about how the freezing method might affect the glues used long term.

 

[matkoehler]

Hi Matt,
I just bought and received today (5-30) a Murphy Lab 1958 ES-335. I love the guitar but I’m seeing the beginning of the flaking problem, on a small scale, on the neck. I’m seeing the air pocket under the crazing. It’s currently not flaking but I wonder if in a short time, will it begin to flake?
If it does, how would you suggest I proceed if the crazing begins to worsen or flake ?
I’ve already spoken with the dealer and they said they will back me up but I would contact Gibson and go from there.
Here’s a picture of what I mean about air under the crazing. Not definitive, but gives you an idea of how it is today.

Since a blonde Custom Shop Murphy Lab ES-335 would have the same filler on the neck as a Goldtop back, which again experience the recent supplier issue, I would recommend keeping an eye on it. But even though I work for Gibson you should be contacting Customer Service! 1-800-4GIBSON or service AT gibson dot com. That filler issue was extremely isolated, but Customer Service can work with Custom Shop to see if your guitar may have been affected and they will take care of you if so!

 

[matkoehler]

That's just not right. The dealer should be contacting their representative on your behalf.

What's become of the dealer network?! Ye gods. Things are unraveling fast...

So dramatic...jeez. What is unraveling exactly? Those are different methods of getting the same result and I would actually encourage direct contact with Gibson as the first move...way more efficient.

 

[matkoehler]

Hi Mat, and well done on the positive development of Gibson during the last couple of years! Now is truly an exciting time to be a Gibson customer. A couple of questions:

Do you know if / how it is possible to get the hands on an Epiphone ES 355 in the exclusive Ebony finish in Europe?

And, any news on when we can expect the aftermarket custom shop parts during the year?

Many thanks for the great work!

If it's a US Gibson exclusive or US dealer exclusive, it should be possible to order one in Europe, either from Gibson directly (contact Gibson Garage London depending on your region or contact Gibson Customer Service) or your preferred dealer (if not Gibson exclusive).

Regarding aftermarket custom shop parts, not soon enough! Three more long months of waiting.

 

[jb_abides]

So dramatic...jeez. What is unraveling exactly? Those are different methods of getting the same result and I would actually encourage direct contact with Gibson as the first move...way more efficient.

Not drama, just a bit of purposeful hyperbole...

And to respectfully disagree, while your response is probably quite accurate nowadays, it does go to illuminate the issues at play, regarding the changing mindset in the balance of Business-to-Consumer relations.

If direct contact is more efficient and effective... what 'value-add' function should a dealer perform, versus just a physical point-of-presence [display, local node warehousing] and point-of-sale?

Dealers should have direct reach via assisted Gibson representatives who empowered to help pursue issues on behalf of their customers... this has been historically true and also the most reliable business model. Is this no longer true?

Perhaps the conception is more of a hybrid approach where the dealers just provide point of display with low value-add, and more functions are centralized... Further, if things have shifted in Gibson's business model or mindset, perhaps it's best to move to a more centralized ship/trial/return model like Sweetwater.

Well, all may be in flux in the landscape of the industry, but let's assume corporate Gibson Customer Service is the first avenue of approach: where's the messaging and communications strategy made clear? If there is such a preference where's the roles and responsibilities protocol, and do dealers know? How is Customer X supposed to know this, and act?

Even if we disagree, please understand this is not an ill-mannered attack, just a discussion, and as always, thanks for your continued presence here.

 

[matkoehler]

Just wondering if it is possible to get a Les Paul finished and aged like they were 10 years ago. I was happy with that and I really worry about how the freezing method might affect the glues used long term.

I can appreciate your concern, but ultimately we are talking about finish treatments here whether it is razor blade checking or lacquer that the Murphy Lab team preps before accelerating checking process environmentally. Extensive environmental chamber testing was conducted on all aging levels...extreme heat and cold. I have purchased three Murphy Lab instruments since 2020 and I love the fact that they look and feel and perform like guitars 60+ years older which are often exponentially more valuable. But it's not for everyone!