Page 104 - Guitar Classics Magazine - The Les Paul Bible 2019

REVIEWS

t all seemed like it was going rather well for FACTORY RECORDS
Gibson. Rejuvenated under new ownership Back in April, we flew out to see Gibson in Nashville
and with fresh investment, the goodwill and witnessed first-hand the improvements that
I generated by the company’s NAMM Show have already taken place under the watchful eye of
return in January was palpable. Led by former new chief merchant officer Cesar Gueikian. Simple
Levi’s main man JC Curleigh, Gibson seemed things – better lighting and extraction, more efficient
ready to move forward, focus on making great workflows – have already had a positive effect on the
guitars again and exorcise the ghosts of the latter factory floor and when we visited, there was a buzz
part of Henry Juszkiewicz’s troubled reign. of positivity and excitement about the company’s
Then came June, that Mark Agnesi video, and new lines.
a laundry list of news stories about trademark For 2019, Gibson’s electric-guitar output is split
infringement, litigation, counter-claims, statements into the Original Collection, the Modern Collection
about “shifting from confrontation to collaboration,” and Gibson Custom. The Original and Modern
and a lot more besides. And as we type this, a week Collection instruments are made at the company’s
or so prior to Summer NAMM, it looks like it’ll be ‘Gibson USA’ plant on Massman Drive in the eastern
some time before the dust settles. However, away part of the city, near the airport; the Custom division
from the lurid social-media posts and the sound of is situated just over a mile away on Elm Hill Pike.
hundreds of lawyers rubbing their hands together During our visit, Cesar walked us through the
with glee, there’s the small matter of some electric Original Collection. “This is where we look back
guitars to write about. After all, that’s what got us and pay tribute to our iconic past and bring those
here in the first place. classic models back,” he explained. “It’s our way of
In July, we featured Gibson Custom’s flagship 2019 celebrating our past, our legacy and our heritage.
model, the 60th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Standard. None of these guitars are chambered, they are all
Now it’s time to check out what the production-line solid, just like we did them back in the 50s.” As we’re
Original and Modern Collections have to offer. shown around, we notice a few nods to the nerds,

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