j45nick Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 This is the real story of modern Gibson, straight from the horse's mouth. Apparently three parts, but I've only seen the first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 As you say, nice to hear it from Ren, in a casual setting right in Bozeman with Tony P. For those willing to wade through the interview, a LOT of info on the early days of Gibson Montana. Aside from hearing about the growing pains/obstacles dealt with, it is also timely to hear Ren relate how Stan Jay (Mandolin Brothers) may very well have had a role in Gibson being in Flatiron Mandolin country to begin with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted October 11, 2014 Author Share Posted October 11, 2014 As you say, nice to hear it from Ren, in a casual setting right in Bozeman with Tony P. For those willing to wade through the interview, a LOT of info on the early days of Gibson Montana. Aside from hearing about the growing pains/obstacles dealt with, it is also timely to hear Ren relate how Stan Jay (Mandolin Brothers) may very well have had a role in Gibson being in Flat Iron Mandolin country to begin with. Yep. It's a small world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin 1940D28 Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Interesting. JMHO, after listening to the last few seconds of this interview several times, he seems to have made the reason for his decision quite clear. Thanks for posting this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JuanCarlosVejar Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Well Tony clearly "OUT-BEARDED" Ren . Thanks Nick.When he was telling me the story of his accident at NAMM I quickly realized he wasn't just a Master Luthier he mas a Master Storyteller too. JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted October 11, 2014 Author Share Posted October 11, 2014 Those last words are pretty damning in some ways. Does anyone know who the GM was in '94-'95 that apparently made a bit of a mess of things, and what changes in prodiction he made that Ren says really compromised quality in that period? Sounds to me as if 1996 or later guitars might be the good ones I've never met Ren, but I have a huge amount of respect for his dedication to building great guitars. It always amazes me when companies let people like him go. Of course, we are hearing Ren's perception of things here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 I met him in '07. We all know of his talents but he's just a regular guy to talk to. I thought for sure I would swoon and do the hero worship thing but striking up a conversation with him is just as natural as b.s.-ing with the guy at the next gas pump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 ......and what changes in prodiction he made that Ren says really compromised quality in that period? I wonder too. I know I had a '94 Dove (a flip) and it had some WEIRD truss rod. I don't even recall what was different about it but it was NOT something you'd expect to find in a Gibson. I know about that time they did have some painted guitars, again, un-Gibsonlike... I remember seeing a blue Gospel and wondering what to think about it. It wasn't specifically ugly, I just....I don't know. What models would have been around more then? The Star? EC-10, EC-20, stuff like that? Gospel made a reappearance about that time. J-60? Other than the standard fare I mean. I'm just trying to think of what models I would associate exclusively with the mid 90s..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-1854Me Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 I think Larry English was GM in the early '90s -- you'll see him pictured in several photos in the Fab Flattops book. Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted October 11, 2014 Author Share Posted October 11, 2014 I think Larry English was GM in the early '90s -- you'll see him pictured in several photos in the Fab Flattops book. Fred Whoever it was, sounds like he and Ren had a bit of a practical and philosophical disagreement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 I wonder too. I know I had a '94 Dove (a flip) and it had some WEIRD truss rod. I don't even recall what was different about it but it was NOT something you'd expect to find in a Gibson. I know about that time they did have some painted guitars, again, un-Gibsonlike... I remember seeing a blue Gospel and wondering what to think about it. It wasn't specifically ugly, I just....I don't know. What models would have been around more then? The Star? EC-10, EC-20, stuff like that? Gospel made a reappearance about that time. J-60? Other than the standard fare I mean. I'm just trying to think of what models I would associate exclusively with the mid 90s..... The Centennial Guitars of the month in '94 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted October 11, 2014 Author Share Posted October 11, 2014 I think Larry English was GM in the early '90s -- you'll see him pictured in several photos in the Fab Flattops book. Fred Larry English: former executive VP of Gibson, General Manager Gibson Acoustic 1991-1995. Now listed on LinkedIn as having a consumer product/marketing firm based in Chicago. Clearly a marketing guy, not a guitar guy. His company listed as being a "design/engineering firm specializing in expertise in POP marketing/advertising. Focus on cost effective Multi-Sensory Stimuli with proven increase of sales lift." WTF? Maybe EuroAussie can explain this marketing jargon for us. No wonder he and Ren seem to have butted heads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mountainpicker Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 I'm hoping that somewhere in Part 2 or 3 Ren gives the thumbs up to 2006 being the best year of Gibson production. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 Thanks for posting that, Nick. Real enjoyable! I guess episode 2 (3,4,5,6,7) are yet to be made? (I had a 'Multi Sensory experience' Les Paul Custom mid 80s - it weighed about 100 pounds, sounded real ordinary and gave you an electric shock every time you touched the volume knob). BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vacamartin Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 I'm hoping that somewhere in Part 2 or 3 Ren gives the thumbs up to 2006 being the best year of Gibson production. I'm going to guess 2002 thru 2006[thumbup] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 (I had a 'Multi Sensory experience' Les Paul Custom mid 80s - it weighed about 100 pounds, sounded real ordinary and gave you an electric shock every time you touched the volume knob). BluesKing777. Good one, BK, thanks for the laugh : 0 ! Nick- thanks for turning up the Gibson Acoustic GM '91->'95 (he said, giving a sidelong glance to early '90's Gibson stuff across the room ; ) ). Everyone be mindful of your multi-sensory stimuli this evening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted October 11, 2014 Author Share Posted October 11, 2014 Everyone be mindful of your multi-sensory stimuli this evening. That's the stimulus I get every time I poke the end of the B string into my finger while changing strings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted October 11, 2014 Share Posted October 11, 2014 I'm hoping that somewhere in Part 2 or 3 Ren gives the thumbs up to 2006 being the best year of Gibson production. Gonna be hard to do when you had guys like Triggs, Walker and Kopp working there in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted October 12, 2014 Author Share Posted October 12, 2014 Gonna be hard to do when you had guys like Triggs, Walker and Kopp working there in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Yes, but I'm also thinking of Fullerplast finishes and paddle neck joints sometime in that period, as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 We've been looking forward to this. The master himself setting all the details of the up & down curve straight. And yes, it's invaluable on least 2 or 3 levels. One can sense the source of the wonders : The perfect blend of heart'n'soul and professionalism. I got anxious when he told about the 94-mid95 wobble, but soon realized my 96 Dove (which in my eyes and ears is a superb guitar) had steered clear, even 'surfed' out of this low phase. Don't wanna sound creamy here, but every time I check Ferguson, respect takes another step up. Why is written above, , , plus the fact he brings some sort of old values with him without being buried in the past. Young entrepreneurs ! - there's the difficult magical key for all you upcomin' people. . Stand by for chapter II Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flatbaroque Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Really enjoyable.Talk about a giving interview subject.He speaks with an easy familiarity,flow and depth of memory.I'm looking forward part two when he confirms the 2010 J-45 standard with the black nut as being the apogee of his lutherating Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchie1281734003 Posted October 12, 2014 Share Posted October 12, 2014 Fascinating, and thanks for the heads up Nick. The part about the 94/95 wobble was interesting, and I don`t know what the issues were other than ramping up production. Although Ren hints at sub-standard wood being hidden under colour coated finishes (Not a first for Gibson, as they did similar, probably out of necessity during the war years). 93-95 though, did cover the centennial period, but was however, post the Fullerplast and paddle neck joint period (89-mid 92). I am lead to believe that Gibson`s of this period were not some of Bozeman`s finest, but feel I should add, that two of the best Gibson`s I`ve yet played were from 94! One of which I still own. Can`t wait for the next instalment. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranky Boy Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 Ren must have been immersed in his Advanced Jumbo project around 91, since the first modern AJ's appeared in '92. Ren may have taken on such a massive historic project to maintain his sanity if word from the office above was sounding a lot like Norlin. Whatever, but it seems like they really got something totally right in '92. I wish that he could be completely open and specific as to what the disheartening management decisions were. He certainly is a gentleman not to point the finger at some names and details.I'm sure that he'll write a book when he retires. There must be some interesting truth rolling around in Ren's mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin 1940D28 Posted October 13, 2014 Share Posted October 13, 2014 My guess, no doubt only a guess, is we've seen about all we'll see of the 3? interviews. Why would a large dealer, air anything derogatory about their bread and butter? Lawrence summed it up, imo, the last few seconds of the interview, even though he wasn't the star. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted October 13, 2014 Author Share Posted October 13, 2014 Lawrence summed it up, imo, the last few seconds of the interview, even though he wasn't the star. I'm not sure who/what you are referring to here. I tend to agree that the next two segments may never see the light of day, given how candid this one was. I developed a new respect for Ren just because of his candor. Burning bridges is a tough thing for any professional to do, but Ren seems to be true to himself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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