Gibson is now a "Lifestyle Brand"

[Grey]

You know, I like to rag on RIC for some of their decisions, but they are consistent. "We make guitars, we do it our own way".

This? This is just dissapointing.

http://www.mi-pro.co.uk/news/read/gibso ... any/017803

Gibson has changed its corporate identity, swapping the word 'Guitar' for 'Brands' in a move designed to reflect its broadening product line-up.

Boss, Henry Juszkiewicz has always seen Gibson as more of a lifestyle brand than an instrument brand and this latest corporate re-labelling from Gibson Guitar Corp to Gibson Brands testifies to that.

[aceonbass]

What a bunch of krapola. You know Gibson guitars are overpriced when the profits from guitar sales enable them to buy TEAC, the Stanton Group, KRK, and Cerwin-Vega corporations. There's just no better feeling than knowing you paid a little more for your guitar so a big corporation can become bigger. I guess that big hit they took from sourcing illegal ebony didn't hurt them that bad.

[Danotron]

You mean you think that $8000 for an artificially aged Custom Shop Les Paul reissue is overpriced?

I love Les Paul's (I really do) but not that much.

[paologregorio]

I don't understand this thinking; why make Gibson into an umbrella-type corporation? What made Gibson valuable is Gibson making quality instruments. Gibson is not a publicly-traded corporation, so, maximizing shareholder value by increasing the company's stock share price through buying other coporations with the profits is not an issue for its owners, as far as I know; maximizing the company's value through making better guitars that sell like made without the clunkers the company's seen fit to introduce with much fanfare over the past couple of years should be the company's focus, along with perhaps firing whatever ding dongs have made the poor decisions. . .

[jps]

So much for the quality of those recent acquisitions, given Gibson's past history with brands such as Tobias, Trace Elliot, Steinberger, etc. I want Gison brand socks and underwear, when will these be available?

I know I can find Gibson brand refrigerators!

To balance this out, there were Rickenbacker cars.

[s4001]

"Lifestyle Brand". Yeesh. Think a consultant has been in his office lately?
AMF Harley anyone?

[johnhall]

To balance this out, there were Rickenbacker cars.

Ironically, Henry's early career background and perhaps greatest influence was General Motors.

[jps]

Probably a good thing his last name wasn't Ford!

[electrofaro]

I want Gison brand socks and underwear, when will these be available?

Gison?

I sell brands now

[DriftSpace]

You mean you think that $8000 for an artificially aged Custom Shop Les Paul reissue is overpriced?

I love Les Paul's (I really do) but not that much.

There are definitely a thousand luthiers -- and a handful of them exceptionally talented -- who would make a Les Paul-style guitar for a fraction of what Gibson charges for their overpriced junk. I'd be willing to bet it would not be hard (or nearly that expensive) to have one custom-made that would at least equal (or surpass) what Gibson is churning-out. Heck, I bought an excellent SG (and new) copy off eBay from a guy in Illinois for $250; it has a bound rosewood neck, block inlays, machine heads, nut, pickguard, bridge and stop-tail, cavity cover, and a fantastic silverburst finish. All it needs is electronics; I've already bought the pickups, and I'm still under $400.

It's amazing what people will pay for a brand name. I love Gibson's designs too, but let's face it: the "Gibson" of today has little to do with the company and innovation that built their reputation.

[jps]

I want Gison brand socks and underwear, when will these be available?

Gison?

Oops! Sorry, that should have read Gibbon!

[jps]

I sell brands now

[cassius987]

I can't wait until I see a bottle of overpriced Gibson whiskey.

This thread reminds me of going into a guitar repair shop a few weeks ago and a guy who walked in after me, after shuffling around a bit, asked to talk to the luthier who runs the shop. "You guys don't have any Gibson stickers?!" "No, we sure don't." And off he went.

[wim]

This is really the era of tacky marketing isn't it?
This era is to marketing what the 80's were to hairstyles.
Oh Boy.

[electrofaro]

I sell brands now

Mmm... somebody's been hacking our R&D computers Our secret to get more hookshare in stores is public now

I can't wait until I see a bottle of overpriced Gibson whiskey.

The last Gibson marketing boss actually came from Jack Daniels

"You guys don't have any Gibson stickers?!" "No, we sure don't." And off he went.

What's wrong with stickers?
http://boutique.rickenbacker.com/RIC-Sticker_p_704.html