I know management pays attention to the comments here. I very rarely go on a forum site but as a Gibson guitar player for many years I had to respond. Many people are blaming Agnesi. As a brand representative, he can be criticized for his smugness but the bigger blame lies elsewhere. The fault lies with the leadership and specifically the new CEO along with the Board. Whatever roads were built to regain trust in Gibson for guitar players have crumbled in an instant with the 'Play Authentic' video. James Curleigh as a leader has shown that he places the value of money over the priceless traits of musical creativity and craftsmanship.
I will make this next point very clear for everybody because this is historical fact. Gibson was on the verge of failure when Slash of Guns N' Roses played a Kris Derrig (RIP) clone of a '59 Les Paul on 'Appetite for Destruction.' If it was not for Slash's guitar work and the tone he achieved using a Derrig CLONE, Gibson would have declared bankruptcy in the early 90's. The full credit for Gibson staying afloat and prospering from the late 80's onward goes to Derrig and to Slash. Any true businessman worthy to lead Gibson, should be humbled by this fact and give reverence and space for masterful luthiers like present-day Derrigs and should strive to build every guitar as a work of art.
