AMS Catalog Came Today and :(

[ps43203]

Wow, I just received the new AMS catalog,(AmericanMusicalSupply), and holy shit is everything in there absolute junk!
I could not find but maybe one or 2 Les Paul's that had ebony fret boards and of course, through the roof prices.
Even the new Les Paul Standards have rosewood boards.
I'm so fortunate to have my old Jacksons, I really want a gibby but will have to hold out for a 70's, or ANY previous year, Les Paul.
What the hell is going on? Is the gov. still up Gibson's ass regarding freaking WOOD?
I don't get why the guitar companies get picked on.
The Chinese and alike all get these killer models, Jackson, Charvel, mostly, while the US market is all diarrhea, regurgitated, poop models and cost thousands.
I can't believe people buy this crap! Go!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chad]

Yeah, Gibson had (another) price increase. Some are theorizing their sales are down and they are attempting to increase cash flow with a price increase. Not sure that's gonna work. Maybe in pre-2008, but very iffy in today's market. I like Gibson guitars, but don't see me buying any more new ones. Thing is, with time, the price increase will likely trickle down to used pricing as well. Get'em while you can.

As a side note, I honestly think that stupid 12th fret inlay is hurting their sales in 2014. Yes, it's just an inlay, but I DO NOT like it. If I had the choice of a used guitar without the inlay or a new guitar with that stupid inlay.....all else equal, I would go with the one without the inlay.

[leftykingv2]

You guys already know my opinion of Gibson and their marketing/sales division. Not to metion their R&D department.

[artonsafari]

Even the new Les Paul Standards have rosewood boards.

My LP Standard from 84-85 is a rosewood fingerboard. I was under the impression that Standard was rosewood and the Custom had Ebony.

[Electric]

Yeah, the vast majority of LP's have always had rosewood boards. The Custom, of course has typically always been ebony. Nothing wrong with a quality piece of rosewood. I really like my PRS Singlecut with rosewood fretboard.

[Model1VH2]

My Chinese replica has an ebony board. lol

[j2379]

I had a '85 gibson V for about a month. This was my 3rd Gibson and i don't think i will ever own another.

[roodyrocker]

Gibson ran into trouble with the Govt. a while back over imported Rosewood and Ebony. The Rosewood was over certain thickness fretboards. So for a while rosewood was a problem and eventually Gibson used two piece Rosewood boards instead of a single thicker piece. They are now back to using a single piece. Ebony OTOH has pretty much been replaced by Richlite. Prior to the whole wood problem with the Govt. yes generally speaking, Les Paul Customs were Ebony equipped and Standards Rosewood equipped. As far as price increases, some say Gibson is raising the prices because they can. Their Historics and Collector's Choice LP's are several thousands new yet they seem to keep selling. I don't know the reason but I'm glad I have the LP's I do!

[pianoguyy]

And don't forget that every minimum wage part time janitor is getting a $1500 a month raise because of the health insurance scam that the government is running on all of us. Every chinese immigrant that is sewing together those Gibson t-Shirts is getting a $1500 a month raise.
And let's not even forget all the talk about raising minimum raise to $12. Nothing like giving flunkies and jerkoffs a 50% raise with no expectations of better production, just get a raise for no reason at all.


I don't know why Gibson is raising prices, but you need to take that stuff into consideration - for them and for every company that does business in the US.

[Rich#6]

Politics is for the platinum section, why post your shit here when we are talking nothing new or good in a catalog.:think:

[Model1VH2]

I have no clue what Granadillo or Richlite is but I have to imagine that if those woods were truly superior to (or even comparable to) rosewood and ebony, Gibson would have been using it long before the Government stepped in and/or other manufactures would be using it as well.

Gibson has relied soley on brand recognition for many years now.
Their R&D might as well be nonexistent and their quality control has been subject for a long time.
And now they're using materials that are questionable.

My best guess is that a lot of folks still buy Gibsons based on brand recognition and the mindset that "you get what you pay for". I'm just glad I'm not one of them.

[84sups]

The fretboards they are using is a knock off of the Steinberger necks. Basically small wood particles and resin. Only good thing is they are black. Saw a Gibson LP custom in the green burst and the rosewood board made it look hideous in my mind. I think lp custom I want to see a black ebony fiberboard not rosewood that looks a shade darker than maple....

[pianoguyy]

Politics is for the platinum section, why post your shit here when we are talking nothing new or good in a catalog.:think:

It started as catalog stuff, but seems to have turned into Gibson/wood/prices.

I wasn't actually discussing politics. Nor was the guy before me.
It would be like asking -how come no one makes ivory inlays anymore-, the answer is because the government banned it. Its not a political issue, its the answer to the question. If you want to know why prices EVERYWHERE are going up, consider the increased expenses put on businesses by government regulation.

[lepard]

Man, every time I go into Guitar Center and see a wall full of $3000 Gibsons with those light colored and rosewood fretboards, I just shake my head. No way would I pay that kind of money for a rosewood or whatthefuckwood board they are using. Politics aside, it's total bullshit that this administration sicked the hounds on Gibson because they donated to the "R" side and didn't mess with any other manufacturers that all use ebony.

[roodyrocker]

Regardless of price increases or political arguments, I will say its a myth that Gibson's quality is crap. That's about as valid as the people claiming pre vs post Fender quality on Jacksons. Having owned both brands from multiple eras up through recent years I can say they are fine guitars. My LP Customs are 2012 and older so they have ebony boards. I do t have any experience with their Richlite, Baked Maple, or Granadillo boards.