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Here is a good explanation of the situation with Gibson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apQ9SO7uF60

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

The beauty of it is a lotto the ways things used to happen are going to go by the wayside. There are thousands more luthiers now producing better products and more personalized then ever before. Most of the big Factories sell crap. An American Standard higher end Strat sells for $2-$3k ya right. A run of the mill American made Gibson, ES335 or les Paul is now $3k They all need fret jobs straight out of the factory. And the custom shop stuff is stupid. Over reliced and over priced.

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https://www.instagram.com/fostinoguitars/
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Actually, Steve - it's NOT a good explanation. The YT guy has most of his facts in order, but he reaches the same WRONG conclusions most of the media (and YT video posting morons who bash Gibson) has reached. Gibson Guitars IS making money (despite the downturn in the music industry). It's the other companies that are not pulling their own weight right now, but Henry and Gibson are on the hook just the same.

My forecast? Henry will be booted to the curb pronto, and the courts will find someone to turn the conglomerate around by selling off the peripheral companies. Hopefully, they will focus on returning Gibson Guitars to a high level of integrity in the financial world. Should be an interesting show....

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Very true but I continue to have regular customers bringing me their highly prized and brand new, over-priced, often special edition Martin/Gibson/Fender for fret-level and setup.

They play my guitars (several of them have one), marvel at the form/fit/sound/playability but still go buy the big names even knowing they will give me another few hundred bucks to make it play right. They just love the name because of the nostalgia, I suppose.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

"They just love the name because of the nostalgia, I suppose."

Partly that, maybe. But then there is brand recognition and resale. On occasion I've traded one of my instruments for a Martin because I know I can sell the Martin quicker than one of my own. Obviously the person trading felt they were getting a better instrument and I wound up with something I could turn into cash. I'm not sure I would trade for a Gibson.....

H.E.N.R.Y. happened

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Realistically - what happened? They went on a buying spree and bought up a bunch of smaller compainies/brands.... And they over-extended themselves and ended upside down on cash flow..

And what happened? Gibson declared bankruptcy to shed debt... The court will protect Gibson from their creditors when this debt goes away...

But another interesting thing is that the courts will force payment of all debts outstanding to the company.. Word is that Guitar Center was in debt to Gibson for a zillion dollars... Guess what the court will do...

The result of all of this is that Gibson comes out strong and ready to rock with clean balance sheets...