Gibson jumps the shark (again)

[collin]

Maybe Norlin (or today's equivalent) can buy them again? They can't do much worse, at least Norlin TRIED stuff.

Totally, I was talking with a friend earlier about the same thing, but with CBS Fender......yeah, they were a money hungry corporation, but at least they had musicians and NEW products in mind, not recycling old products in cheesy marketing campaigns with no regard to what players actually want. The main faults of the CBS/Norlin era were trying to mass-produce products that were formerly built on a smaller scale with more attention to detail. It wasn't what they were building, it was how they were building it, and the materials used.

[gibsonlp]

Horrible!!!

[jingle_jangle]

Wait...I just got up this a.m.

You mean this wasn't a bad dream???

[brammy]

http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199 ... aster.html
I looked at one of these "Starcaster" packages the other day at Costco.
Very junky .... which is to say that it's probably ok for a kid's beginner kit, but nothing more. The amp sounded simply awful.

[jingle_jangle]

They must be selling OK, as the link about their introduction is over 6 years old!

[sloop_john_b]

Bet you thought it couldn't get worse.

[kiramdear]

I can't think of a single thing to say about that that wouldn't need to be edited out of the thread.

[collin]

Bet you thought it couldn't get worse.

Wow! What could get LESS relevant to Hendrix than a Gibson-branded Stratocaster? .....wait.......I think I have it.....a psychedelic Baldwin Baby Grand Piano paying tribute to a NON-piano player!! Perfect.

I guess Gibson figured they could whore out all their other product lines too. Yeeeesh.

[jingle_jangle]

Wait a minute...at least they used a really qualified artist to capture Hendrix' "essence":

One of the latest designs from renowned graphic artist Ray Bishop, who has transformed countless NHL hockey goalie masks and Gibson guitars, is appropriately named “The Hendrix.” This mind-bending Baldwin R1 Artist Grand piano features a design inspired by legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix.

It's the GOALIE MASK GUY!!!

[Danotron]

That is so bad. I wonder who it is being marketed to? Certainly not serious piano players; and most guitar players I know aren't looking for a baby grand.

I think Hendrix actually did play an SG from time to time, so If they're going to mine every dollar out of his name that they can, I'm not sure why they haven't gone there........yet.

How long until we see the Hendrix Basses?

[paologregorio]

How long until we see the Hendrix Basses?

And will the bass come with a signature Noel Redding Wig and platform boots...

As for the piano...good grief!

[8mileshigher]

I echo the comments here. This whole marketing gimmickry is really pathethic...

[johnallg]

[jingle_jangle]

You guys have seen and heard me rail against the increasing influence of marketing departments in the corporate world.

It's fine to use scientific methodologies and focused thinking to increase sales. But when marketing groups begin to usurp the work of creative staff (who marketing people often refer to as "creatives"--pronounced "freaks"), terrible ideas like this are often the result.

OK, go ahead, cross-pollinate and juxtapose. Go as parallel as you want with your creative thinking. But please consider intangibles such as the quality of ideas and real world issues such as tradition and, er, reality, in your eternal quest for profits...

[ozover50]

Can't wait for the Doc Severinsen trumpet.............