Re: "New" Gibson Company: No More Mandolins?
Originally Posted by
slimt
...back in 89 up til 1999 . I averaged buying 1 Guitar a week.. it was either Gibson or Martin Acoustic. 4 True Custom shop Gibson Acoustic a year on top of those.. in the Mid 90s. what I see offered now for what they're asking..
Let me get this straight -- you averaged buying 52 guitars per year for ten years??? Either Gibsons or Martins??
So, over 500 guitars. I assume you either very have a large music room, or you did a bunch of trading, which usually ends up as a money-losing proposition.
If you still have hundreds of guitars, I'd graciously accept the loan of those you seldom play (like once every 18 months or so). Always glad to have a new axe or two to experiment with...
As to what Bernie D says, consensus seems to be that the Montana shop that builds Gibson acoustic guitars is first-rate. I've heard some new Gibsons that sounded great, though as a "Martin guy" I stick pretty much to that brand.
If I can make an uninformed prognostication: Gibson will continue to build a limited number of mandolins, concentrating on their higher-end models that bring a greater return. It's not as feasible to outsource mandolin components, as they did with banjos and Dobros before they stopped making those entirely. What I doubt they will do, is sell or license out the Gibson brand. As long as kids buy Les Pauls, there's a reason to have a Gibson guitar company. Will G continue to hire a train shop personnel to build the F-5's of the future? More problematical, and probably entirely dependent on the new ownership.
Nobody made National resonator instruments for quite a while, until entrepreneurial craftspeople resurrected the brand and the technology. Now they seem to be doing quite well. There's gonna be some demand for good acoustic instruments for the foreseeable future, and firms that can position themselves well in the market can be economically viable.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
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