Gibson pulls a B*hringer on Godin..?

[Whitecat]

This is suspect.

A few months ago, Godin leaked details of their new humbucker/Bigsby-equipped '5th Avenue' archtop - the Uptown. They made it official at Summer NAMM, apparently, but details were all over the web well before that thanks to some strategic YouTube videos. Details here: Godin Guitars

Today, Gibson announces THIS.

(take a peek at the colour options too!)

Of course, Gibson being Gibson, the RRP/MSRP is about $900 more.

Nonetheless... hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

EDIT: OK, looks like this was actually announced at the beginning of July. Still bizarre though!!

[joeq]

Originally Posted by whitecat

This is suspect.

A few months ago, Godin leaked details of their new humbucker/Bigsby-equipped '5th Avenue' archtop - the Uptown. They made it official at Summer NAMM, apparently, but details were all over the web well before that thanks to some strategic YouTube videos. Details here: Godin Guitars

Today, Gibson announces THIS.

(take a peek at the colour options too!)

Of course, Gibson being Gibson, the RRP/MSRP is about $900 more.

Nonetheless... hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Except the Godin is already reminiscent of 100's of guitars that came before it. Including (ahem) the Gibson!

In fact, Gibson invented the archtop guitar in the 1890's, probably before Mr. Godin's grandfather was born. The Gibson company was 80 years old before Godin built their first guitar.

I have an ES-345 from 1972- the year Godin was started. It did not come with a tailpiece, but otherwise looks just like those guitars to my eyes. It's red, too!


Unlike the B-word company, Gibson makes a quality instrument, not merely visually similar, and not at a knock-off price trying to undercut the competition by stealing their hard-earned design.

It's hardly a new or unique design in the first place. Gibson actually did it first. Before anyone. And anyone can (and does) stick a Bigsby on their guitar. Is that the ripped-off idea? To have the guitar come with a Bigsby?


I will admit, naming the guitar "Midtown" when the other company is calling theirs "Uptown" is pretty tacky!

[Whitecat]

Originally Posted by joeq

I will admit, naming the guitar "Midtown" when the other company is calling theirs "Uptown" is pretty tacky!

And offering the a frighteningly similar colour selection too... no white? No bursts?

I'm not denying that there were guitars like this before. Godin happens to do them particularly well - the B-word was just the "copycat" inference.

The fact is, the number of companies that make a guitar like this number, well, a lot, so the originality of the fundamental idea is long-gone either way.

I just think the timing is, well, amusing. The name thing draws attention to it, and makes it look deliberate.