Posted on 06/22/2017 4:29:03 PM PDT by Drew68
The convention couldn’t sound less rock-and-roll — the National Association of Music Merchants Show. But when the doors open at the Anaheim Convention Center, people stream in to scour rows of Fenders, Les Pauls and the oddball, custom-built creations such as the 5-foot-4-inch mermaid guitar crafted of 15 kinds of wood.
Standing in the center of the biggest, six-string candy store in the United States, you can almost believe all is well within the guitar world.
Except if, like George Gruhn, you know better. The 71-year-old Nashville dealer has sold guitars to Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Paul McCartney and Taylor Swift. Walking through NAMM with Gruhn is like shadowing Bill Belichick at the NFL Scouting Combine. There is great love for the product and great skepticism. What others might see as a boom — the seemingly endless line of dealers showcasing instruments — Gruhn sees as two trains on a collision course.
“There are more makers now than ever before in the history of the instrument, but the market is not growing,” Gruhn says in a voice that flutters between a groan and a grumble. “I’m not all doomsday, but this — this is not sustainable.”
The numbers back him up. In the past decade, electric guitar sales have plummeted, from about 1.5 million sold annually to just over 1 million. The two biggest companies, Gibson and Fender, are in debt, and a third, PRS Guitars, had to cut staff and expand production of cheaper guitars. In April, Moody’s downgraded Guitar Center, the largest chain retailer, as it faces $1.6 billion in debt. And at Sweetwater.com, the online retailer, a brand-new, interest-free Fender can be had for as little as $8 a month.
What worries Gruhn is not simply that profits are down. That happens in business.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Three specific selections I'd recommend are
There're quite a few interesting young guitar players on YouTube.
One I've been watching and listening to is Laura Cox and she's getting better every year.
A sample:
So many fine players. You can spend many days at youtube hearing the greats.
Les Paul with Chet Atkins Iridium N.Y.C. 1996
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IOBVTdHZiw
Les Paul with ZZ Top
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3egBlDjMWtc
I bought a new 2011 LP Custom with the traditional ebony fretboard before Gibson switched to Richlite. Massively heavy, but it does sustain. I love how the entire guitar rings with the sixth string/low E. I can feel it in my chest.
Gibson's quality seemed to take a hit for a while, but I don't think that's the case any more.
I recently bought 2 new 2016 Les Pauls online from one store, a Studio and a Standard T and and a 2017 Standard T from another and they all are outstanding. The 2017 Standard T is a Bourbon Burst. I can't justify it, but it was my birthday and it is way too pretty not to buy it.
It only weighs 7 lbs. 13 oz. and yet sustains like that solid, heavy Custom does. Both Standard Ts have push/pull controls with way more sound options as is. The sound is amazing and the 2017's quality is absolutely perfect. Sweetwater says they inspect them before they sell them and this 2017 Standard T supports that claim.
If you haven't tried one, definitely check them out! I have no buyer's remorse whatsoever.
I stick to my 1957 Strat and my ‘91 Tele with a 60s Maple neck. Never been a fan of humbucking pickups. But then, I’m a fingerpicker and a pedal steel player too. I did have one Gibson that I liked a lot, but it was stolen. An original 1958 Flying V, number 28. Never recovered from that loss! I could sell it today and buy a condo in Florida!
Someone took my '78 Les Paul Deluxe, and that hurt, but nothing like what you're talking about. Damn...they shoot horse thieves, don't they? Just saying...
I think the Starts feel better than a Lester and some of my favorite music was recorded on either a Strat or Tele., so I wouldn't argue with you at all.
In fact, I've got my eye on a Tele at the guitar store in town, but I spent all my money on those Gibsons. Oh well...
To be honest, I really only wanted the Studio to practice with, since that Custom is simply too nice for someone like me to take it out of the case.
If the Studio gets damaged, that would suck, but it's not the end of the world, not like it would be with that Custom.
Unfortunately for my checkbook, I got to liking that 2016 Swamp Ash Studio so much I bought the 2016 Standard, and was then powerless to resist the 2017 Bourbon Burst Standard T. Simply beautiful in every way.
If I was married, there's no way I could justify it, but I'm not and it was my birthday, after all.
They are so much fun to play and the necks are a little different, too, so I'm not sure which one I like the best.
In fact, you might like the they way Gibson USA wired up the Standards.
The push/pull controls let you switch between several coil options and combos, not just HBs only.
Okay...you'll understand that now I've have to go pick up that Swamp Ash and attempt to "tame the Swamp"...or vice versa.
Thanks for the motivation/inspiration!
I have friends who are Nashville studio cats. They told me, many years ago, that they were all buying MIJ Teles, because they were so much better than the American made guitars. I gotta tell you, I don’t know what wood the Japanese used, but far superior to US made guitars, And when I put on the 60’s Maple neck? Wow! It’s a beat up frat band guitar, with “Billy Goat” scratched into the body, but it’s famous in Cleveland!
Now you’re killing me. I remember passing up cheap MIJ Fenders simply because they were MIJ! Oh, the many pains of getting older...
Yeah, Ben Carson and other Fender execs were really worried that when they moved production back to the US, that they’d be able to meet the standards set by the MIJ guitars.
When comparing my recent experiences with Gibson's and Fender's company to customer connection after the sale, Fender stays in constant touch, whereas Gibson is invisible and forgotten.
When I registered my Strat with Fender, they sent me an email welcoming me to the family and they keep those emails coming, too, with product info, artists who play Fenders, etc.
When I registered the LPs with Gibson, the website said to print a copy for my records and that's it. No confirming email. No follow up. No nothing.
Compared to Fender's new owner experience, with Gibson I feel like I'm chasing that girl who's too good for me and she's just ignoring me. The harder I try to connect, the more she ignores me.
It wasn't always like that. Gibson was awesome in 2011- 2012 about welcoming you into the Gibson family, but there's no welcoming or anything at all now.
Now their welcome to the family is just "Print a copy for your records."
What a missed opportunity!
The guy running Gibson now is not well liked. Even by his employees!
Of other guitars I have owned and played, find Gibson grossly overpriced, for what they are. Fender is moderately overpriced. PRS is both expensive and moderately overpriced for what you get. Ibanez is not bad, though I never found a model that suited my playing style. Taylor is expensive but worth it - although I was terrified to take mine out of the house before I sold it. :)
Kiesel and Godin offer the best value for the dollar in electric guitars. But there are many very good instruments (especially Korean-made) available at a $500 price point today - and that just wasn't true back in the 70's/80s when a lot of us started.
I agree with you to some extent about some to most of the Gibsons being pricey to overpriced.
Honestly, I was happy to find a nice selection of new, discount priced 2016s still available for wide range of LP models and colors or I wouldn't have bought the Standard T.
I've never been able to either afford or justify spending the money for a new Les Paul or a Strat. Ever.
In '77 I bought a well used D-18 from a U of Miami music student that he listed on the dorm bulletin board for $250. The only condition was that he wouldn't give it to me until after his performance final exam. He was good and probably got an A. I still have it, but it doesn't get out much any more.
The Deluxe I had was a couple of years old when I bought it and a Crate IIR for $350 from a kid who said it had a problem and didn't want it any more.
My friends had their black beauty LP Customs and Marshalls, but I took a working man's pride in my Deluxe.
Unfortunately, it was taken in the early 90s when someone broke in to the house. I also had a cheap Strat copy to play, so I just kept the insurance money.
I couldn't really justify replacing the LP Deluxe until 2011 when Gibson said it was going to use Richlite instead of ebony, and only then as my Christmas present to myself.
Since then, I think I went a little crazy. I try not to think about the money I've spent, but I'm truly happy with what I bought lately. There are worse addictions...or so I tell my self. lol
For me and those Standards, the fit, finish, feel, look, sound and even the smell when I open the case have made them well worth the price of admission.
Even the case candy has gotten better. On par with Fender. Otoh, their customer/Gibson family connection thing needs a lot of work. A lot of work...
That might explain it. Something’s not quite right.
Between my spelling ability, typing skills and this freaking iPad's keypad and autocorrection, I lose every time.
I’ve heard that people are quitting at Gibson!
The Grunge scene made corporate music intolerable, now it is nothing but corporate music.
Absolutely, totally agree with everything you said.
Speaking of Taylor...if you don't already have a Taylor GS Mini, then pick one up and be amazed.
I kid thee not, mine amazes me every single time I pick it up.
It can't possibly have that much sound packed inside such a fun, little travel guitar, but it does.
Thanks, I’ll check them out!
Ed
Uhh...I hate to admit this, being a guy ‘n all, but I love Bread ballads!
I like soft rock, like Bread, the Carpenters, Seales & Croft, etc., as well as loving hard rock like Jimi, Janis, the Trogs, the Doors, and also jam rock like the Dead, Blues Traveler and I also like prog rock like Deep Purple, Yes, Cream, etc.
To top it all off, I also love Classical (in fact, the 4th Movement of Beethoven’s 9th, the Ode To Joy is my favorite piece of music, followed by CSN Suite: Judy Blue Eyes!) Jazz, (Bird, Mingus, Gordon, Miles, etc.) Blues: pre-war and post war, and I play banjo and love bluegrass!
I’m an eclectic music lover.
See ya’, Professor,
Ed
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