To all who pay too much attention to what the media prophesises:

I wonder why anyone would spread false news about a company such as Gibson.
Scaremongering ! that's why.
For some marketeer(s) the propensity to jaleousy leads them to go to any length.
As Mr Juskiewicz says in his reply: For years now the name Gibson's has been close (if not equal) to Stradivari. And that is why competitors are trying hard to drag their name into the mire.
I have seen nothing but good quality instruments from Gibson..
In Strad's own time he had many competitors, some of them good, some of them pretty poor in craftsmanship.
A lot of muck can be spread onto a pig and it will love it, but you can't outsmart an eagle!
Whoever it is feeding the media this bull**** should go and work for The Sun newspaper, that is a guaranteed placement.

The guy who posted to this email OBVIOUSLY has never worked in MI retail ''I have seen nothing but good quality instruments from Gibson'' - out of 10 LP Stds sent to me I would say 20% would be up to scratch, the rest would be finished badly, marked, or play like dogs.

Stradivarius is currently doing cartwheels in his grave...

I personally am inclined to go along with what Henry Juszkiewicz says.

During economic downturns, it is usual to see the leading market brand names gain market share, as it's retailing customers batten down the hatches and take cover behind the brands they know will sell the easiest. I would be very surprised if Marshall, Peavey, Fender and Vox did not report a similar situation over the last year's trading.

However, their problems really start when the market returns to bullish feelings, the second division, and below makers, will regain a sizeable portion of the market (if they're still around - but there will be new ones!)... as dealers become more adventurous and look for alternative products to sell with less competion between retailers nationally.

There is a book out featuring iconic trademarks -
Coca- cola,Harley Davidson, etc. and the only music company to make it into the records GIBSON USA

The name speaks for itself -

Some of these comments on this and the other page dealing with this are quite comical. It's actually very easy to get Gibson and Epiphone stock, you just have to order it in advance and the quality of Gibson guitars is better than anytime in the last 20 years. There have been times in the past when quality was pretty poor, poor and very poor.
The whole point of the Gibson deal is that dealers get behind the product and stock it in depth rather than having a few dusty guitars on the wall in with the Tokais and Vintages.

No smoke without fire! and I bet messers, Clapton, Moore, Slash etc. etc, ad, infinitum could just as easily do their thing on a Tokai, Yamaha, Ibanez etc, etc, ad infinitum

Did he really say "Best quality"? So all those guitars sold into the trade at 25% off with broken truss rods, twisted necks etc. were also the very BEST knackered guitars money can buy too?

Find me a tech in the land who agrees with him that Gibson represent the best quality and I will eat my hat..... I don't own a hat.... so I will buy one ........and eat it.

Guys... there is more truth in the rumors than anyone of you knows. Let's wait what time will bring.

Btw: Manufacturing guitars in Quingdao/China and finishing it in the US is NOT a quality statement at all.

Ohhhh come on! You can't say that and leave us hanging!!

Be the big man and tell us what you know - just between you and me ok?

With all the rumours flying around regarding Epiphone and Gibson something other than good is going on

Their support to the dealers regarding warranty issues is poor beyond belief

Chapter 11 may not be to far away

It shouldn't be too difficult to figure out which of the above 'comments' were left by either HJ or one of his Lieutenants ! It's a Shell game and a bad one at that ! Where are the guitars ???