Hey it's Mat from Gibson Product Development - AMA

[matkoehler]

Not drama, just a bit of purposeful hyperbole...

And to respectfully disagree, while your response is probably quite accurate nowadays, it does go to illuminate the issues at play, regarding the changing mindset in the balance of Business-to-Consumer relations.

If direct contact is more efficient and effective... what 'value-add' function should a dealer perform, versus just a physical point-of-presence [display, local node warehousing] and point-of-sale?

Dealers should have direct reach via assisted Gibson representatives who empowered to help pursue issues on behalf of their customers... this has been historically true and also the most reliable business model. Is this no longer true?

Perhaps the conception is more of a hybrid approach where the dealers just provide point of display with low value-add, and more functions are centralized... Further, if things have shifted in Gibson's business model or mindset, perhaps it's best to move to a more centralized ship/trial/return model like Sweetwater.

Well, all may be in flux in the landscape of the industry, but let's assume corporate Gibson Customer Service is the first avenue of approach: where's the messaging and communications strategy made clear? If there is such a preference where's the roles and responsibilities protocol, and do dealers know? How is Customer X supposed to know this, and act?

Even if we disagree, please understand this is not an ill-mannered attack, just a discussion, and as always, thanks for your continued presence here.

Maybe I'm not understanding you. If I buy a watch from a local dealer and I have a warranty concern -- I contact the watch company because that's who I did the warranty registration through...the guarantee. I could also ask the dealer to reach out to the watch company for me, but if I have the watch in my possession, communication becomes less efficient no? In either case, as I said, you can get to the same results. Now if I bought a watch online and it arrived not as described, that's a different story. But I don't think that's what we're talking about.

 

[jb_abides]

Maybe I'm not understanding you. If I buy a watch from a local dealer and I have a warranty concern -- I contact the watch company because that's who I did the warranty registration through...the guarantee. I could also ask the dealer to reach out to the watch company for me, but if I have the watch in my possession, communication becomes less efficient no? In either case, as I said, you can get to the same results. Now if I bought a watch online and it arrived not as described, that's a different story. But I don't think that's what we're talking about.

In some business situations, OK. And I agree we are not talking about Automobile level servicing, but using the watch analogy:

-- If you buy a Rolex from an 'Authorized Dealer' (AD), the AD will act as first line to perform customizations like adding links [...ever pay for another Rolex link because you have thick wrists...? Expensive!], periodic or required servicing/repairs, and other customer 'handshaking' e.g. they perform Authentication, and therefore engage in certified pre-owned resales, etc. Actually the warranty is very much explicitly linked to the AD.

-- If you buy a Casio at BestBuy, you are going to be directed to call the 800 number or website. Unless it's dead broke busted somehow, and you return it.

There are in-between models, for sure... not sure where to draw the line for every issue.

That said, perhaps I am just out-of-date in this New Era... all my past interactions with Gibson dealers, they always were engaged and able to contact their assigned territorial representative to work issues, at least during the beginning of the ownership experience. After some time, yeah, it's more appropriate for a long-term warranty issue. But issues upon receipt, or developing within a short term [first year?], the dealers had a hand.

 

[57gold]

Just bought my first new Gibson in 25+ years. Not new to the brand.

Own or have owned 1957 GT, Jr, TV, & 175D, 1958 BB, 1959 335, 345 & 355, 1962 LP/SG, 1964 335, FB V, SG Special & Super 400 along with my first Gibson, a 1973 LP Deluxe.

So, my question is: Where can I find a definitive guide/description of the PAF style pickups currently employed by Gibson. The one above has something called Custombuckers with A5 magnets...not sure how these fit in to the array of PAF style pickups made by Gibson and not sure about them after playing out during a couple of 3 hour gigs through a Bloomfield Drive, less transparent and open versus others. My references are real PAFs, Patent #s, Throbaks, OX4s, Ron Ellis...

 

[matkoehler]

Just bought my first new Gibson in 25+ years. Not new to the brand.



Own or have owned 1957 GT, Jr, TV, & 175D, 1958 BB, 1959 335, 345 & 355, 1962 LP/SG, 1964 335, FB V, SG Special & Super 400 along with my first Gibson, a 1973 LP Deluxe.

So, my question is: Where can I find a definitive guide/description of the PAF style pickups currently employed by Gibson. The one above has something called Custombuckers with A5 magnets...not sure how these fit in to the array of PAF style pickups made by Gibson and not sure about them after playing out during a couple of 3 hour gigs through a Bloomfield Drive, less transparent and open versus others. My references are real PAFs, Patent #s, Throbaks, OX4s, Ron Ellis...

Wow! Congratulations! What a beautiful example! I believe it's one from the recent Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard limited run, yes? A lot of unique specs on that guitar, from the aging details to the pickups -- which, unlike our normal Alnico III magnet Custombuckers, feature Alnico V magnets instead for a different flavor. A little stronger, more punch. In the late 1950s you could see Alnico II, IV, and V in humbuckers -- all used somewhat interchangeably but all with different gauss ranges and tone properties. Alnico III was selected for our current core model Custombuckers mainly because we felt they captured a little bit of everything while sounding truly "old" -- that smoky sound.

Talking about pickups is like dancing about architecture, to paraphrase, but there is a wealth of information online describing the different personalities of different pickup specs. Excellent note that we need to do more to explain the "why" in explaining the differences in our Gibson Pickup Shop assortment. Thank you and thanks for sharing your guitar.

 

[57gold]

Yes thanks, the BRW board run.

Do not see A5 Custombuckers on the Pickup Shop page. The ones in a CA girl case are A4. So the ones in this instrument are not for sale?

What are the other unique specs other than the extensive relic work that differentiate this from other LPs/Murphy Labs? At just under 8lbs, that is one unique spec in modern LP land. My 1957 GT is @8lbs and I handled a 1955 LP Custom (that I should have bought) and a 1954 GT that were in this weight class.

Same instrument in the FL sun, almost doesn't look like a dark burst.

 

[matkoehler]

Yes thanks, the BRW board run.

Do not see A5 Custombuckers on the Pickup Shop page. The ones in a CA girl case are A4. So the ones in this instrument are not for sale?

What are the other unique specs other than the extensive relic work that differentiate this from other LPs/Murphy Labs? At just under 8lbs, that is one unique spec in modern LP land. My 1957 GT is @8lbs and I handled a 1955 LP Custom (that I should have bought) and a 1954 GT that were in this weight class.

Correct, A5 Custombuckers were made special for this run (and they are Zebra bobbin FYI). Going to be very similar sonically to a T-Type in terms of our existing core pickups.

Other features unique to this run besides Brazilian RW -- Custom heavy finish aging, custom heavy aged plated parts, custom heavy aged plastics, custom Tom Murphy process burst colors, extra heavy binding roll specified, Gold-plated switch cavity cover medallion, 9_4001 to 9_4300 serial range only, tooled and bound leather COA book.

Where did your amber switch tip go? Should be in the case pocket .

 

[57gold]

Thanks.

In the pocket.

 

[goldtop0]

Mat in post #1824 talks about a bit more punch with the A5 Custombuckers.
Well I reckon I hit the jackpot with the CBs in my '13 R8, the bridge pup is just killer and raunchier than what I've heard from the bridge CBs in my '14 and '22 ES 335s, pretty much how I know an A5 sounds.

 

[pulse.]

When should we expect the current abr1 (with the correct shape) to be available as an aftermarket purchase?

 

[matkoehler]

When should we expect the current abr1 (with the correct shape) to be available as an aftermarket purchase?

It will be in the aftermarket Custom Shop parts collection coming in three months (see a few posts up).

 

[MikeSlub]

We want to thank Mat for supporting us and answering numerous questions over 92 pages! He appreciates all the DMs and profile messages but he has a day job and cannot get to all of them - hopes that you are contacting Gibson Customer Service for answers on Gibson Custom and Gibson USA guitars. We're going to close this thread and instead open one in the Vintage Pub, where Mat will answer questions on Gibson history. Even though that Pub is focused on 1952-1960 Les Pauls, Mat will answer questions beyond that period, up to the year 1979. Thanks Mat, for your support of the LPF, and will see you at the new thread in the Vintage LP Pub!