Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Just spent a few days in Memphis. Great experience. Lost count of how many juke joints I went into, and not just on Beale, but in areas I was sort of warned not to travel into after dark. Some great blues, and just general musicianship. But what really struck me was how many folks I saw playing Epiphones, all models. While I realize a Gibson factory is there, no Epi's are made in Memphis.
I toured the Gibson factory where all their semi-hollow bodies are made, and sadly, there didn't appear to be a happy camper among any of the employees. I was told not to bother any of them because they had quotas to fill. IIRC, think they said they turn out close 3K a month in this one factory, but I've slept since then.

Yeah, I guess there's a bit of a dark cloud over the Gibson premises these days ...

OTOH, Epis are a great value for the aspiring musician on a budget. I have a couple, myself.

There are a lot of musicians in Memphis,and not just the blues variety. I would have recommended you check out van duren while you were there he plays most weekends at different places. The last I heard gibson was going to shut the Memphis factory down,hopefully that may have changed,but could account for the unhappy employees you encountered. Glad you enjoyed your stay in Memphis-this is the (extremely) hot time of the year there.

I was just in Memphis too! Toured the Gibson factory on Friday at around 11am, maybe you were there?

I watch "Memphis Beat" last night!

Filmed in new Orleans,but it does get the flavor......

RIC_FACTORY wrote:I was just in Memphis too! Toured the Gibson factory on Friday at around 11am, maybe you were there?

I was there on Wednesday at noon.
Did you browse the gift/guitar shop? They're awfully proud of their T-shirts, considering how much they were asking for them.

Yeah you mean the trendy graphic shirts? I didn't look at the price, but I imagine they were at least $30. As far as the factory is concerned I was curious as to why most of the building looked shut down. I got a weird vibe from the tour because they don't allow any video or pictures inside and we were actually told at the beginning of the tour that "factory security" was watching us!

RIC_FACTORY wrote:Yeah you mean the trendy graphic shirts? I didn't look at the price, but I imagine they were at least $30. As far as the factory is concerned I was curious as to why most of the building looked shut down. I got a weird vibe from the tour because they don't allow any video or pictures inside and we were actually told at the beginning of the tour that "factory security" was watching us!

I could haves lived with $30, Ben, try more in the neighborhood of $70 and up.
I sort of thought it odd, too, they wouldn't allow pics or videos. Never looked for security cameras, I was too busy trying to understand one word the guide was saying over all the factory noise.

Scastles wrote:Did you browse the gift/guitar shop? They're awfully proud of their T-shirts, considering how much they were asking for them.

I was there a couple of years ago. What got me was that the gift/guitar shop wanted MSRP for all of their guitars. Did either of you also tour the Rock N Soul museum. I had more fun there than touring the factory.

wmthor wrote:
I was there a couple of years ago. What got me was that the gift/guitar shop wanted MSRP for all of their guitars. Did either of you also tour the Rock N Soul museum. I had more fun there than touring the factory.

Has to be one of the few places I didn't go, Richard. Took in Sun and Stax though.

RIC_FACTORY wrote:Yeah you mean the trendy graphic shirts? I didn't look at the price, but I imagine they were at least $30. As far as the factory is concerned I was curious as to why most of the building looked shut down. I got a weird vibe from the tour because they don't allow any video or pictures inside and we were actually told at the beginning of the tour that "factory security" was watching us!

I take it you went incognito? With all that factory paranoia, I wonder if you would have even gotten in being who you are.

I didn't divulge anything. Although I did see a guy wearing a Fender shirt on the tour, so in retrospect, I think I should have worn my Rick gear. I really got the impression (since the tour was so short and uninformative) that the only reason they offer it is to draw people into their store to buy stuff.

The Fender guy was probably scoping the place before they offer to buy it.

RIC_FACTORY wrote:I didn't divulge anything. Although I did see a guy wearing a Fender shirt on the tour, so in retrospect, I think I should have worn my Rick gear. I really got the impression (since the tour was so short and uninformative) that the only reason they offer it is to draw people into their store to buy stuff.

Hahahaha! Given their current state of affairs, no doubt.