Gibson USA factory tour

Really cool. I have a niece that lives in Nashville and when I get out to visit her I plan on hitting the Gibson factory tour. The only factory tour I have been to was the Martin factory about 1-1/2 hours from my house. That was something to see.

 

The Opryland Mall in Nashville used to have a Gibson store in it. Inside of the store was a workshop with glass panels and you could watch very talented luthiers work on building instruments. When visiting my daughter at college I would stand for a long while and watch these true craftsmen ply their trade. Too bad it is no longer there.

 

Have you noticed the guy putting the neck into the bodies. He dedicates 3 seconds per guitar, amazing. The most sensitive part of the sound of a guitar, the sustain and definition... 3 seconds. Come on... Definitely Gibson is not what it used to be in the past. After watching this what is the meaning of discussing about long tenons, short or trans... it is a factory. Don't think I will purchase any new Gibson... anything new I will get it second hand from better ages when the guitars were worth something.

 

I have never been to the Nashville facility, but I took a tour of the Gibson Memphis factory earlier this year. It is very similar but they're building hollow and semi-hollow guitars instead of solid bodies. It is an impressive tour... even for a non-musician. I was amazed that there are only 2 positions in the factory that have the job requirement to play guitar (fret leveler and final setup). The majority of the workers do not play guitar.

 

Well, considering today's CNC machines, should he require more than 3 seconds?? On the flip side, would it be a "good sign" if he had to struggle for several minutes to achieve a proper fit?

 

Exactly!

What I noticed was after his "3 seconds" of hand chisel work (sure seemed like more than that to me, as he took a few shave passes on each of two sides of the tenon), that tenon fit just as it should -- easily tight enough to support the full weight of the guitar without the glue. After the glue cures, that's one solid connection.

In the video, we get to see him fit only one tenon. I'd guess he has to fuss with some of them a little more than we see here, and maybe once in a while gets one that fits with no hand adjustments.

Even with computer guided machines, next to a dovetail, a mortise/tenon joint is perhaps the hardest in woodworking to get right. The bigger the joint, the more surface area that may need tweaks before gluing.

Yes, it's a factory with large orders and quotas and people who must work quickly when they can. All the more reason to admire craftsmanship under deadline pressure. I look at how they do this at Gibson with amazement, not disdain.

 

These videos make it look like this would be a decent warehouse/manufacturing job. I live just outside Nashville (10-15 miles) I thought I would check into working there, since I have seen there are positions available a few times in the past. That is when I came upon this Gibson Guitar Reviews | Glassdoor . I am all for U.S. companies, but it seems like this is a horrible place to work. Also seems like Henry is a real P.O.S. My wife told a guy she worked with, who use to work there, I was considering checking them out. He told her this place is run like a sweat shop and from the reviews, looks like he wasn't far off.

 

Something new.

Gibson Factory Tour Surprise!! - YouTube

 

Cool.. When I was there last year.

 

Awesome link, thanks

 

I took the Memphis tour in early June. Well worth it in my opinion! Wish they had a Nashville tour also.

 

Shame there is nothing like this over here in the uk, I would love to work for Gibson or Fender!!

 

Link is broken I think

 

Awesome, I am going to be in Tennessee next summer in both Nashville and Memphis so hopefully I can convince my family to take the tour with me.

 

I have heard Gibson is actually terrible to work for, I've read a few stories online on some job review sites. Might be better to keep it as a dream!

If anyone here actually works for Gibson and feels differently, I apologise.

 

This video doesn't give me much confidence about the quality of the guitars. Not much craftsmanship here, its all mechanised, done quickly, by factory workers. Explains why its a hit and miss for quality.

 

Finally got around to watching this video. I enjoyed it. Watching this makes me realize that they really crank them out in that factory.

 

working for Marshall or Vox would probably be cooler.

 

He'd have to go to Vietnam, then, right?
;>)/

 

There are a few former Gibson employees here, and a few people who know people who still work there. They've already pretty much confirmed what most of us have either suspected, or have known all along.