Why The Gibson Guitar Company is Going Nowhere. From a Younger Guy's Perspective 

I'm in the country music business, and I will tell you that Gibson is alive and well in our world. Older and younger alike. Gibson acoustics are synonymous with country music and Nashville. I personally have a 1980 Gibson Dove, Kalamazoo build. You see a lot of J45s and J200s. Then the electric players (while mostly dominated by the Tele and Strat), almost always have a LP or 2, and maybe a ES335 in their arsenals. Great video.

It doesn't matter if you only play modern 7 string, multiscale, high output pickups with crazy preamps, carbon fiber guitars. One day, everyone gets their mind blown by a tele, a strat, a LP, an sg special etc. Those guys back in the day cracked the code and found the perfect recipes, and those models and brands are never going away as long as guitar players exist

What's the difference between an old man yelling at a cloud and a 13-year-old yelling at market value? Nothing. Same guy just later.

People like to bash on Gibson to make clickbait content. Most non content creators with the same "it's irrelevant" opinion are the consumers of that very content. Professional musicians rely on Gibson just as much as they rely on PRS and Fenders for their craft. Actually, one of my friends just returned from a Nashville trip and was very surprised by the lack of Fender guitars in that scene, opposed to the overwhelming presence of Gibson and PRS instruments.

Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother. Big SG player, early 2000 until today

love this- I'm probably around the same age / same music taste and I remember the massive effect bands like Green Day & MCR had on my interest in guitars and Gibson guitars in particular. Fast forward to now and that's not gone away- even if I spend more time practising songs from earlier eras. It ended up being a gateway drug to buying vintage Gibson guitars from the 50s/60s too so I think there's something to this argument as well when it comes to the pricing/addressable market of 'golden era' guitars.

It's not that Gibson is irrelevant, but the facts on the ground are they have had SERIOUS QC issues. Especially for the price of the instruments, I have owned and loved Gibson guitars. In the 1980's I owned a 1968 ES-345 and I still miss it today. But PRS is hands down in my experience a better value for the dollar.

Tonni Ionmi and Angus Young were two of the biggest Guitar influences in my childhood with Gibson SGs. Then you have guys like Zakk Wylde Adam Jones and Matt Heafy

Another point that supports the idea that Gibson isn’t going anywhere is the fact that many of their designs have become archetypes, and that archetypal status will always carry the story of their historical origins as Gibson-branded instruments. Many manufacturers make Les Paul-style guitars, ES-335-style guitars, Flying Vs, Explorers, SGs, etc. These designs are basically public goods at this point (or at least should be thought of so, imo). They’re classic, timeless, ubiquitous designs in the same way the 4-door sedan is in the world of cars. How many car manufacturers make at least one model of 4-door sedan? Literally all of them LOL it’s become the archetype of “car” that forms the bedrock of everybody’s conception of what a “car” even is. That said, imo Gibson’s extreme litigiousness is fairly obviously ruining their reputation more than the actual guitars themselves. The Flying V, for example, was introduced in 1958 but the trademark wasn’t registered until 1997! They simply do not have a leg to stand on with their “Play Authentic™️, everything else is a counterfeit” argument because they didn’t enforce their trademark for DECADES. The idea that every Gibson-style guitar that isn’t itself a Gibson is a “counterfeit” speaks volumes to me about how they feel about their consumers. Deception is crucial in the idea of a “counterfeit,” so they’re basically saying that anybody who buys, for example, an LTD-branded Les Paul-looking thing is being deceived: they THOUGHT they were buying a Gibson Les Paul, but LTD deceived them with a counterfeit. In order to make that claim, you’d have to assume the buyer is so fucking stupid and illiterate that they were literally INCAPABLE of reading that the headstock did not say “Gibson” but rather “LTD.” I don’t believe Gibson actually thinks we are (all) that dumb, so the argument is just in bad-faith. If they really do believe that, then they’re just assholes LOL. My Les Paul is my most prized possession and has been since I got it mid-December 2009. I’d also love to own an ES-339, ES-175, and Flying V one day. I WANT to love Gibson, but it’s clear that they’re just corporate bullies corrupted by greed now, and I simply can’t support them as a business out of moral disgust. From my perspective, the most I’m willing say is that the guitars themselves (or at the very least their archetypal design principles) certainly aren’t going anywhere, but tbh I really can honestly see a not-too-distant future where their mean-spirited, bad-faith legal action has left such a bad taste in everybody’s mouth that their reputation has completely eroded, nobody wants anything to do with them, and they finally close for good. I would hate to see that happen. Also Fender are a bunch of greedy corporate pigs now too, so industry ruined LOL thanks, Capitalism 🥰

Some of the 2000s/2010 guys that come to mind are Jade from AFI (Les Paul), Gary Clark Jr. (SG & Epi Casino/330), Reignwolf/Jordan Cook (SG & 335), Nick Valensi of the Strokes (Epi Riviera & Les Paul Custom), Ben McLeod from All Them Witches (Les Paul), and Kevin from Black Pistol Fire (Casino & Firebird). I'm sure there's a ton more that I'm forgetting right now

Laufey, a rapidly rising artist on the billboards uses various semihollow Gibsons for her signature jazzy sound

I love my Gibson Les Paul Standard.

Every company makes some dud guitars even in a good model range. I think people latch on to that with a Gibson. To me it makes no sense buying an Epiphone (especially the new higher priced ones) when you can get a good used Gibson from someone or even a guitar store. They always retain higher value if taken care of. Phil from Know Your Gear always says "You don't lose money on a Gibson". Sure you may need to hold it for 20 years but an Epiphone or even most Fenders almost halve in value for resale. Not saying resale is the only thing either, I am just saying you can find a good one and you won't regret it, even if you have to sell it. I just sold a Gibson LP standard and I made about $800 bucks on it from what I bought it at, literally today. May it enjoy its new home!

My chemical Romance got me onto les Paul’s as well. Specifically the white custom Frank iero played.

I'm in the 34-50 age range. Other than Page, I think of Slash, Rich Robinson, Tom Kiefer.... And I always have a place reserved for Clapton and Peter Green in my mental Les Paul Hall Of Fame 😂

Gibson, like em or not, is basically the gold standard as far as tone and design. So many great designs!!

Really great points here. Also it’s cool that you mention mcr using Les pauls, I’ve never heard anyone else in the guitar community mention that and they’re the band that made me want one back in the day

Gibson is a great example of conspicuous consumption, is not about generations is about buying a brand and holding it over those who can't afford it, like people who buy iPhones

Bro, I’ve had many guitars over the years. But I didn’t get my first “Gibson” until I was 35. The fact is they are a true instrument, so they’re expensive, and my fenders are like a toy to me.

It’s the type of people who sit online commenting. Just a few broke (few = hundreds) but the majority aren’t online. We have 333 Million people in the US. Gibson has 1/3 of all guitar sales in the US. $1.3 B sales in 2020 and it kept rising. This growth is expected to continue in the coming years, with the global guitar market projected to reach $19.9 billion by 2025. In the US, electric guitars make up the largest share of the market, accounting for 58% of all sales. Acoustic guitars are the second most popular type of guitar, accounting for 36% of sales.

36. Have 2 gibsons. They make mistakes and cost a lot, a 2K guitar can have binding errors or tooling marks or a bad nut for sure. But the quality is there, you do get 2K worth of guitar. My first LP purchased in 2023 for 1.8 K and I took it to my luthier to describe some of the factory errors I noticed. He looked at me like I was crazy and said, “you’d have to spend over 10k to guarantee none of these issues would be present in the new guitar” needless to say I was tripping because of its cost. U really need to know what your buying, expensive doesn’t mean perfect, it’s dead wood

Coheed and Cambria

nah, i'm just a little older than you on the tail end of the millennial generation, i've been proud of the Gibsons I own, LP and a G45, They're like the wand shop in Harry Potter, the wand chooses the wizard. I've held, and tried many in shops over the years, some 50k some mid level epiphone. some were amazing, some flat out sucked. I love my Schecter, fender, Kramer, Samick"greg Bennet",and Alvarez the same way I love my Gibsons. but the les Paul gets a lotta love. When you find "that one" you just know. Much love man!

One anecdote about the limited market Gibson has chosen: With all of the musical acts during the Olympics' closing ceremony, how many Gibsons did you see? ...it was like an advertisement for Fender. Fender has gone full-court press after the up and coming musicians market; while Gibson has priced itself out of it. Epiphone recently has earned escalating credibility with quality and, except for its 'Inspired by Gibson' and 'Inspired by Gibson Custom Shop' lines, has maintained its guitars' affordability, making them the biggest competitor to Gibson's market share. Those three factors - Gibson's pricing structure, Fender's targeting the younger musicians, and Epiphone's growth - are the biggest threats to Gibson; and Gibson has control over two of them. The wildcard and 600 lb gorilla in the room is, of course, the glut of used instruments from the COVID lockdown. IF Gibson's corporate strategists make the right decisions, you may be right. If not, its pricy, weighty products with antiquated features will go the way of the dodo. Their main advantage, tone, will soon become more available with any guitar due to advancements in modeling. Gibson has, perhaps, 5 years to make and act on the decisions needed for it to survive. Otherwise, its detractors will be proven correct. (Bias check: I own two Squiers, two Fenders, two Epiphones, and no Gibsons - with difficulty justifying their expense being the main reason for the last category.)

It's cool right now to look down on industry standard. Gibson is industry standard for a reason.

most "hated" because they don't sell for 3 hundred bucks or the commentor is a Chinese trolls. Gibson has a long line of innovation that no one cares about. Robo Tuners for example, the MLIII. Most metal guys play Schecters or ESPs

The issue is there’s going to be a lot less newbies picking up ANY guitar, in the 70s 80s and into the 90s, It seemed every other teenager dreamed of being in a rock band, today only a fraction of 17 yr olds want to learn guitar and form a band.

The issues with Gibson are more to do with their business moves than instrument quality

I'm 33, so slightly older, but I completely agree with you that there will always be a place for Gibson in the guitar world. Not specifically noted, but I latched on to Metallica as a young kid, and every time I see an Explorer or even a Les Paul like that which Kirk plays I instantly fall back to the time I heard Master of Puppets at my friends house sitting around a computer logged in through dial up internet. Think as guitar players we are motivated by guitars which make us feeling something or motivate us in a certain way.

I agree that Gibson being irrelevant is nonsense. They may not have as much market share with the younger crowd, but they are still very appealing to a wide range of players. You can't knock the vibe, and you certainly can't knock the tone. My complaint about Gibson is that for the price that they are charging, which is HIGH by any measure, they do not have the fit and finish they should. Yes, any builder will have guitars with issues. But Gibson is a whole other level. You can pick up 10 brand new Les Pauls and maybe 3-4 of them are great and the other 6-7 are dogs. That is unacceptable for a Guitar at that price. I am a big Gretsch guy and have owned multiple high-end, Japanese Gretsch guitars and have played tons of them. I can't think of a single one where the fit and finish was not flawless! Gibson needs to do better with quality control. Period.

Thanks for the video. I am a boomer. I will be 69. I can buy a Gibson. I won’t do it. I have a Les Paul, but it’s an Epiphone. My most fun guitar to play is my Epiphone SG Special. It has a bolt on neck. It’s a hundred and fifty dollar guitar. I can say that because I am irrelevant. I would like to have a Gibson. I just can’t justify the price. I actually had a Gibson Les Paul. It was disappointing, so I sold it kinda cheap. Recently I tried to buy one that had been in the store for seven months. They wouldn’t budge. It was a 2011 Studio. I won’t be here forever. It doesn’t matter what I think. I believe the future will be unimaginable. Based on what I have seen in my lifetime. It was a different world when I was young.

Adam Jones. I finally bought my first Gibson style guitar. And it was an Epiphone Adam Jones Signature. I was born in the early 80s. Page is the first Les Paul association. Then Slash. Then Adam Jones. I'd never buy a Slash guitar. I'd maybe buy a Page guitar. I bought an Adam Jones. I'd honestly possibly buy a Gibson Adam Jones in the future. I'm more of a Fender guy to be honest. I have several Fender style guitars. Mostly Squiers. But I own a Fender Mustang Special and a Fender Jazz Bass. I'd definitely own more Fenders. Adam Jones sold me a "Gibson". I wanted a Silverburst because of him. Most of my "Gibson" mental associations are players from before I was born. But you're right....I damn near bought a Dave Grohl Signature Epiphone. I would love a Mike McCready strat. Because Pearl Jam was one of my favorite bands. But I'm old enough that Hendrix hooked me on Strats before anyone else. But there were obviously many. Like I strangely predominantly associate Kurt Cobain with Strats. Because I was into Strats so I noticed the Strats. I really don't care for "mordern" guitars. To each their own. I think the Tosen Abasis Kaisen (sorry of I miss spelled) us a super cool guitar. But it's not my vibe. But I actually really think that one is cool.

It's important to understand context here. Gibson is not being under heavy shade currently because it's trendy. Their new CEO did several questionable things like making a video telling people placing Gibsons in movies and media to stop tapping them knowing very well Gibson has to pay to have their brand as a placement ad (video was removed later). They also had that whole tirade of going after counterfeit versions of their guitars only to have their warehouse raided by the FBI because they had suspicions the ebony they had in stock was sourced illegally (ebony is an endangered wood due to it being harvested irresponsibly over the years). They also recently bought Mesa Boogie and kicked Randall Smith out of it (only the guy that created the company). And when you go "it's not like this brand is only attached to 60s and 70s guitar players" I ask if you've ever looked at what they now offer in terms of instruments. For many years, their primary produce was overly expensive limited runs of replica guitars from guys like Ace Frehley, Don Felder, etc. while Epiphone had the more interesting lineup of models. Then Gibson took over and made the current Epi line as boring as what they offer. To answer your question, when I think of a Les Paul, I think of Zakk Wylde, which no longer uses Gibson guitars and has his company of tacky replicas in Wylde Audio. SGs make me think of Frank Zappa, whose mainstay SG was a Gibson copy gifted to him by a fan.

They put the frets on the fret board before the fret board goes on the neck, watch Andertons factory tour. Maybe that’s not a big deal; Prs does that for the S2 models. You just wouldn’t think they would do that

Matt heafy from Trivium. Along with Justin Hawkins and frank Iero, I wanted a white les Paul custom because of them.

new players doesnt use valve amps, thats why

Nah. Granted, I’m almost middle aged and I find a lot of Gibson products useful. Are they expensive? Sure, but they’ve a rich heritage and will probably always be relevant.

I’m a Jazz guy…Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, Grant Green, Kenny Burrell…the list goes on and on. ❤

You make a great point about generational associations regarding guitars and the bands they’re associated with. I wouldn’t bother addressing comments from teenagers on social media. There’s little basis in fact and social media is not the real world. If you’re typing, you’re not playing. In the end, any good guitarist who spends the bulk of his/her time touring and recording is going to end up playing instruments that sound and feel good to them. These are their tools, after all. Many Gibson models have stood the test of time because they’re the path of least resistance. Gibson isn’t going anywhere, at least as long as they are profitable to KKR, the Wall Street-based private equity firm that owns them. Rather than ruin the brand, this group invested significant capital to upgrading US operations. It’s anyone’s guess what they’ll do with their other brands (consider Mesa Boogie), but for now this is not a pump and dump (look it up).

Virtually no virtuoso under 30 or 40 years old plays Gibson, at least in genres like Rock, metal or alternative. And that trend is more marked with consumers outside the US. But without a doubt it is still the best option if what you want is an instrument that maintains its resale value. At least for now.

Gibson sales are way down because of the economy and ongoing recession. Very few musicians have the funds to drop thousands of dollars on a Gibson LP or 8 or 9k for Murphy's Lab, especially when guitars are made on CNC and there are great guitars to be had at a much more reasonable price point. I purchased Gibson LPs back in the early 1970s when they were affordable and in reach of consumers. You could pick up a used late 1950s or 1960s LP or Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster for a reasonable price. Younger musicians shouldn't get caught up in brand names because CNC has completely leveled the playing field, unlike decades agho when less expensive guitars were not that great. Not so today.

There are so many great value LP types out there that are way better value, lower price and higher quality. For the vast majority of young players I teach buying a Gibson is not something they associate with, why? Because they’re way out of their reach. When I got my first guitar I bought a Japanese copy, my second guitar? A Gibson LP standard. After a couple of months I regretted getting rid of my LP copy. I’ve bought and owned numerous Gibson’s, I still have three, but as a gigging artist they’re not something I’d take it on the road.

Gibson=bad is just as NPC as "boomer bends"

Going nowhere because they don't care about players and fans of the products unless you have deep, and I mean deep pockets!

Warren Haynes

Billy Joe from Green Day was actually more synonymous with his beat up Fernandes Strat than his LP Junior, at least when they were considered more underground and cooler,

The only reason Gibson is going to fail is if they don't get their QC under control.

BB King and Slash of course.

You made some great points. Personally don’t like Gibson electric but ive only had a Les paul and an explorer. I’ve always wanted to try a double cutaway Les Paul special with p90’s. One day I will have a hummingbird too. I still think of older guys like slash and iommi when I think of Gibson.

Brent and Bill from Mastodon, and their whole flock of silverburst Gibsons, although Bill is with ESP now. Those guys made me want to get a birth year silverburst LP Custom back in the early 2000's. Really should have gotten on it sooner. Since I was born in 79, I've now got to wait a bit and hope the market cools down after all of the Adam Jones hype sent the price for a '79 silverburst Custom through the roof. It's gone down a LITTLE bit since all those Jones models launched, but it's still more than I'm willing to pay for a Norlin era boat anchor of a Gibson, lol. Odds are it wouldn't get much play time anyway, considering I have an 8lbs even R9 that more than satisfies my Les Paul needs.

To be fair, I first encountered this argument from boomers/gen x folks on youtube. I think since Gibson has corned the market on boomer/Gen x nostalgia, they've grown to despise the company a little bit lol. But I'm 31 and have always wanted a Les Paul or SG. Like you, i associate these guitars with punk and emo bands; Sunny Day Real Estate, Jawbreaker, My Chem etc. These bands are the reason I want to own a slick ass Gibson someday! I'll probably get one for my 40th birthday.

The Les Paul in my opinion is a so so guitar. They are heavy and expensive, which I feel like is a turn off for young guitar players. The 335 on the other hand, is a guitar everyone needs. Yes it is expensive and perhaps that is a major reason why young people don’t buy them, but it is an incredible instrument.

Everyone hates them on the internet. Every time I gig my double neck there are no haters lol Joe bonnamassa is pretty crazy if you’ve never actually watched him. Just from a pure talent stand point. Good video man.

Never once thought of classic rock and Gibson. Tom York and the SG. Dereck trucks sg. Every emo band in 2002. Etc

If you look at the whole grunge scene it was a ton of gibsons with some fender and guild, then in England with oasis it’s all Gibson and epiphone, then you got guys like Jack white who play anything

Being 58 now and have owning over 100 Gibson guitars over 40 years with the rest totaling 650 guitars of various brands from high to low. This is the thing, when we started watching MTV and all the metal guys playing all these great guitars some played 4 or 5 in one video all different, so at some point I wanted to get my hands all all of them because those were what the pros were using, and now having had to get to experience every guitar that I ever wanted to play or own ever, I can say that the major brands vs some of the lessor brands there is really not much difference, it boils down to wood and metal, yes set up, parts ect I understand all that, but when you have saved and saved or traded and traded and finally get your dream guitar and it just doesnt do what you thought it would and it cost you so much time effort what ever you get to know that they really aren't all that in the end, and that as long as it plays and sounds the way you want it to there really is no reason to pay outlandish prices for something with a name on the head. I mean Gibson's are great guitars, USA Jacksons, USA Fender you name it we all want to reach for those but at 58 I realize now that a Squire can play just as smooth and easy as a USA Fender for 175 bucks is just a no brainer. The other thing is that if its your tool that you are making cash with then that is different also, but just sitting at home playing what should be the end all be all of a guitar in your room and being out hundreds or thousands of dollars, I dont think so anymore. Maybe if I was rich beyond, then having 6 Gibson's would be cooler than having 6 low to mid grade guitars .. I know this, an expensive guitar does not make you sound or play better, the real test is that are you good enough to pick up the cheapest junk and make it sound just as good as a high dollar guitar.

Hate to say it and it ain’t exactly the spirit of Rocknroll but Taylor swift is another but perhaps we can keep that quiet 😮 mix it up with fender and Gibson it’s the way to go been doing this for many years . No one can argue that tele Strat and Les Paul are the holy trinity when it comes to classics .

Every 15 year old should automatically be awarded a Prince Anhk looking axe and a wall of Soldanos to grow out of. Individuality is all they seek, not mass produced items that carry past baggage, good or bad. Since there is no way to match that paradigm, their answer is to complain but offer no solutions; At least Van Halen tried. Hence (pickaBrand) is a failure because I'm not famous NOW. Take up the glockenspiel, as the field is wide open, and you can still run it through the Soldanos.

My second guitar was a white Les Paul because the guitarist from Aiden used one

Mike Ness

(i'm 41) The thing is... I wanted a Gibson this year, I was searching for one, specially a Les Paul but I would be OK with an SG. On my hunt for my Gibson I discovered a Yamaha Revstar and saved 2000 USD and got a guitar that's just as well made if not better. I still want a Les Paul, but for someone that's not a professional working musician nor rich, Gibson seems like a nonsense luxury in 2024 with so many GREAT guitars to chose from.

I think you are wrong. Gibson is gonna die off with boomers. Now ask what are my favorite guitars….. Gibson. I actually prefer my SG and Explorer over the LP but I do like my LP. Problem is thickness and weight. The reason they will die off or be forced to come way down in price has more to do with inflation and wage stagnation than “being irrelevant “ (although irrelevance will soon take hold). Also, import guitars like Schecter and ESP LTD and even Epiphone have really stepped up their game making phenomenal instruments. Gibson refusing to add modern appointments like SS frets and modern bridge options or something that wasn’t designed in the 1950/60s will make themselves undesirable to younger and future guitarists. Simple thing, they will age out. My $.02

Gibson will always be around but much like Marshall Gibson will never be remembered as the company it is today and 9 times out of 10 people aren't after modern Gibson guitars unless they are reissues of the classics. They want the Korina V's, they want the 59 LPs, etc. outside of legacy and non-rock acts it's difficult to find someone who plays a Gibson in the modern age honestly. They aren't really targeting the average aspiring guitar player or shredders, they are an investment brand and that's fine and if you can afford them there's no shame in buying one but I think the reality is that brand and country of origin doesn't matter as long as you enjoy playing it. Gibsons are absolutely incredible guitars 95-98% of the time and there's no reason not to buy one, they always retain or increase in value and will always be saught after even if you can get guitars that have better specs on paper for a cheaper overall price. Nothing in the guitar world holds value like a Gibson or American Fender.

I own 3 gibsons and atleast to me and my friends they are the best, idk why people decide to hate on the brand but basically every song you hear from every old and new band is using either a Gibson or fender, and most of them do both

You'd probably see more Gibsons amongst young players if they did a budget range rather than use the Epiphone brand. Also, guitar trends change with each generation. Johnny Marr talked about how when he was growing up in the 70s, it was all Gibsons, Marshalls & Hiwatts. I remember as a kid in 90s england that most of the Britpop bands seemed to be on Gibsons.

The problem is more that electric guitar is currently becoming irrelevant. Machine Gun Kelly has multiple signature models. That's the current state of the electric guitar in popular music. Mainstream Pop/alt guitar has gone the way of the cassette player. Sure, they still make them, but it's an awful experience when you try to listen. There are rumblings that Shoegaze is coming back. This could potentially revitalize electric guitars. Even though Sigur Ros has been carrying on that legacy for three decades, I'd like to see some young people who just discovered Cocteau Twins and Slowdive make something new.

I like them they are just out of my price range. I did get a Les Paul lite for $800 and love it. I call it a Les G. Thin like a sg but single cut like a Les Paul

Though I now prefer playing a strat or tele, I will never give up my LP. it simply has a different sound. I think a lot of the complaint was when Gibson had some quality issues for the price they were asking. Randy Rhoads was the LP guy that first came to mind.

Being an old fart, I think of Jimmy, Slash, Noel G, BB and Dave G. But I also listen to enough newer artists and think of BlackBerry Smoke, Red Clay Straws, Kingfish, Marcus King, Joanna Conner, Emily Wolfe. There’s plenty of Gibson/Epiphone players out there. But, Gibsons are expensive and the QC is variable at times. Epiphone is better value for money.

Old people hate Gibson too!😅 ( The company not the guitars) 2nd Gibson cannot make a bass to save their lives😮

You're right about a lot, but you're wrong about the possibility of a Gibson instrument being made outside of the USA. They already have this, and it's called Epiphone. The Gibson brand would be tainted if they ever moved production out of this country. They might move the factories out of Nashville and Bozeman, but they won't be moving internationally. If that happened, Gibson would actually become irrelevant.

The first player that comes to mind for white Les Pauls is Jamie Rhoden from Title Fight.

I believe that white is the best studio color. Just got an 06 w/chrome. It's a beast!

James Hetfield Kirk Hammett gibsons rule I should know I have 8 of them lol

Samantha Fish plays an SG.

I have a Gibson les Paul standard 2008 and it is a pile of junk that cannot stay in tune despite the upgrades to the hardware and multiple set ups by very professional guitar techs. If you took a price of driftwood out a river and put some strings on it, it would still stay in tune longer than the LP. Get an Eastman

Mike Ness Social Distortion '76 Les Paul Goldtop Deluxe.

theres a reason there has been copies of gibson and fender for half a century. not saying you cant get a good guitar for less than a gibson price these days but, see above statement

Gibson will always be relevant because of their size and their legacy. That said I'll never buy one. If I want a single cut electric, I'm more likely to buy a PRS. The quality is more consistent.

How would you compare the one you are holding in this video and PRS SE Mccarty Standard you reviewed?

Never heard of Chemical Romance but I was born in 1951! Ya, I’m old… The Jimmy Page #2 Gibson LP is my favorite LP. I don’t know of any guitars manufactured today that offer so many tones! Just wondering, which guitar is the favorite of people in their teens today?

Joey Santiago, Steve Jones.

I've always been playing Gibson since a teenager. I've tried fender guitars from strats and I absolutely hated them. I'm a hard rock rhythm guitarist and Gibson is by far the best choice for me.

I love my Gibsons

I started on a fender strat. Thought I’d always be a strat player. Bought an sg as a back up for messing around. Ended up an sg player and haven’t looked back.

Gibson ! same as it ever was ! same sounds same models no upgrades and overkill price's ... ill stick with my PRS'S .......

The reason you dont think of the greats is because you didnt grow up listening to the greats......simple as that. You listened to what your generation was listening to....no rocket science needed here

Austin I think that eppiphone is not as expensive as gibson and more affordable for younger players to get in their Hands they can be great deals when bought used.

A white Les Paul is James Dean Bradfield end of story. Well it is if your of my generation and geographic 🇮🇪

if thats true they should be out of buisness but buisness is booming

I am an older player. While I do not think Gibson is going away, I do think they will become less relevant in the future. First off they have no innovation anymore. Everything is a reissue of a Les Paul. I mean how many combinations can there be of the same guitar. Look at the newest Gibson: A Dave Mustaine Les Paul, I mean come on. Without innovation you do not attract a younger crowd. You need them for the future of the company because right now Gibson is mainly Nostalgia. As this older generation leaves or no longer with us that nostalgia dies. Sure there are some younger people out there that use them but they do not make up the bulk of the people who buy Gibsons. Also Guitars are dying in general. As more and more bands leave and there are more and more Karaoke singers the guitar heroes are disappearing. Then there is the drop in quality and the prices going up. Sorry but new Gibson’s are over priced. It just seems like too many corporate mistakes based on greed. But hey that is what private equity does suck a company dry for that quick money. Case and point the whole Mesa Boogie thing that everyone is riled up about right now.

Gibson are not irrelevant , just exorbitantly overpriced rather than waste thousands on a brand name that wont make you a better musician why not purchase a Firefly Relic FFSP ? Mahogany Guitar body and Neck Rosewood Fretboard Flamed Maple top Stainless steel and ball end frets Nickel strings and bone nut price tag $189.96 don't like the pick ups or pots? no problem, spend a few hundred and put in better wiring pots and pick ups , you still end up with a far better guitar for far less money

Why must we argue about opinions ALL THE TIME? Like what you like and feel free to say so, but realize NO ONE CARES BUT YOU. Go play some damned music!

Your very 1st sentence is proof your title isn't true...

well, that explains why your modern music is CRAP

Gibson is a premium product. They cost more and IMHO they’re superior instrument. They also tend to gravitate towards established acts and could really use some new blood on their signature models, but it’s a price issue

It's just that they're the Americans of guitars

all the brands that been around sense 50s aint going anywhere or they wouldnt still be here now its common sense we dont need a video about a 5 year old could tell you the facts