Here is what Gibson is up against... these just showed up on facebook marketplace. And free global shipping!
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Here is what Gibson is up against... these just showed up on facebook marketplace. And free global shipping!
Those fakes started showing up in our area. The quality is amazing -- no, they are not up to Gibson $5,000 standards, but for $89 or even $350 -- they are nice looking, serviceable guitars. And, on the electrics, most people replace the tuners, pickups, etc, so.......perfect for upgrading. I've worked on several. No, we don't sell them, but they show up in the repair department.....so people are buying them from somewhere........?
Keep in mind, they are not an exact copy, a few tiny details are wrong, mostly due to cost savings, but they would fool most people and they are indeed counterfeits meant to deceive stating Gibson logo, made in USA, Gibson style serial number, etc.....
This first ad has been taken down and replaced with the identical ad from a different sponsor and website. Two of these Gibson counterfeits have shown up here locally that I've heard about. A local guitar player bought a Starlight? brand les paul copy directly from China, got it, opened up the case, it had Gibson on the headstock. The other, a Hummingbird copy, showed up at a local pawn shop... and yes, they were surprised to find out it was a counterfeit.
So true! Regarding the mandolins Gibson made their name through the instruments built in the 1920’s. They haven’t been able to build mandolins with the same tonal qualities since then. The Gibson mandolins of today remind rather of the asian factory production both in sound, aesthetics and shape (look at the ugly scrolls, arches, materials used, finish etc) for the prices of the US luthier work. Lloyd Loar and his colleagues who made the Gibson it’s former name are turning in their graves.
As for the „ugly scrolls” and a few other (for most people) minor aesthetical things, I believe Jan is right. Other than that many of the recent Gibsins are well made and certainly good sounding.
I'll preface this post with I'm a huge Gibson fan and love all things Gibson. However, my favorite modern Gibsons are from 2000 through 2007. I've played some after 2007 and they do sound good and are very well made, they just don't have the same look or feel. The one big thing that really keeps me from owning a post 2007 Gibson is the scroll. I just don't think they have that right. Something is just off about the look and aesthetics of the scroll.
After the cloud of dust and FUD, has anybody seen any effects of the Gibson actions on mandolin builders?
This would seem to be a result of Gibson's crackdown:
New Gilchrist Inlay Options
The Flower pot crackdown started in the Derrington era and didn't affect a whole lot of people. Have they started to be more aggressive or what? Honestly you can still get a half fern and a half flower pot from Gilchrist and I find that pretty funny.
Bruce Harvie had a favorite picture of the workmanship on a Loar scroll closeup that he used to post. I can't seem to find it.
Bruce had one that was really rough.
Sound like they need to improve the quality of their products to be the best then they won't have to worry about the competition but in truth Gibson/L.Loar took much of their design from the tradition of violin makers thus they owe to the desendents of the the masters that proceeded them??
Where are the standards luthiers consult when building an f-style mandolin? I've never seen any specifications that mandate size, shape, amount of curl, etc.
Don, my Breedloves are completely different. Are they wrong?
Attachment 184083
There are no rules as to what a scroll should look like. However most builders who are going for the F5 model like to get as close as possible to the early Gibsons. However when you ARE Gibson and have made a big deal about how you are the creators of the F5 it sure seems like you should try harder than most to get it right.
Here's a Gibson that was supposed to look like Bill Monroes which was priced around $30k if I remember correctly. Then there's my friend Jacobs 4th mandolin.
That's exactly what I'm talking about. The scrolls are just different and to my eye look way to open in the scroll area. Not saying they don't sound as good because all I've played sounded nice, but for my taste, they just don't have the same look. The scroll work is supposed to be the eyepiece of the F style mandolin just like master violin makers taking great pride in scroll carving. It's their belief it shows their craftsmanship and skillset.
At some point they made this Doyle Lawson model. I'd love to see them go back to that look.
Well, there ya go! Except that there are few specifics. It appears to be "Get as close as you can" and I'm fine with that. While I don't want an ugly instrument, I'm more concerned with sound and playability than aesthetics. I could play a black one, a natural one, etc., but I'd have to turn in my man card if I was forced to play a pink one. To me, that comes under the heading of "Ugly."
Is Gibson still trying to beat up on Luthiers?
This is not in response to the question above. Just seemed like a good place to post:
Gibson tells Nashville musicians they'll replace any guitars lost or damaged in the tornadoes
Thats a Nice effort by Gibson.