"2016" A Happy Burst Year!!!

[CyberPhx]

2016 : HaPpy BuRst YeAr
And a Few Others
Standard Tunners are Back- "No Robot Minis on Standards" - Oh Ya!
"Back to the Basics of Great Guitar Building" Looks Like Gibson is Listening to It's Buyers - All 10 Models LIST PRICE: $3,999.00 (Guitar Center: $2,799.00)

Gibson 2016 Les Paul Standard T Light Burst: V

Gibson 2016 Les Paul Standard T Fireball: V

Gibson 2016 Les Paul Standard T Blue Mist: V

Gibson 2016 Les Paul Standard T Translucent Amber: V

Gibson 2016 Les Paul Standard T Honeyburst: V

Gibson 2016 Les Paul Standard T Translucent Black: V

Gibson 2016 Les Paul Standard T Gold Top: V

Gibson 2016 Les Paul Standard T Tea Burst: V

Gibson 2016 Les Paul Standard T Heritage Cherry Sunburst: V

Gibson 2016 Les Paul Standard T Desert Burst: V

 

[drgordonfreeman]

Honestly, I never thought I'd buy a new Gibson ever again, but the 2016 models are making me break out in a sweat. I might actually have to buy a 2016 model. Good to see Gibson attempt to right their wrongs.

 

[Rick]

These are nice... But to be fair, 2012, 2013, 2014... Those were very nice Les Pauls too. 2015 was really the only weird year in a while.

 

[politenessman]

These are nice... But to be fair, 2012, 2013, 2014... Those were very nice Les Pauls too. 2015 was really the only weird year in a while.

since the locking standard of 2008.

 

[jeffy]

Gibson just bough most of the colors from 2012 back for 2016. Gibson.com: Gibson Les Paul Standard

2012's Standard Colors:

1. Heritage Cherry Sunburst
2. Light Burst
3. Honey Burst
4. Tea Burst
5. Desert Burst
6. Fireball
7. Translucent Amber
8. Translucent Black
9. Ebony
10. Gold Top
11. Blue Mist

The only color not to return is Trans Black.

 

[PixMix]

That blue mist looks amazing! Go Gibson!

Oh btw, click "like" if you love Henry and you're sorry for all the bad things you have said about him.

 

[1allspub]

Gibson just bough most of the colors from 2012 back for 2016. Gibson.com: Gibson Les Paul Standard

2012's Standard Colors:

1. Heritage Cherry Sunburst
2. Light Burst
3. Honey Burst
4. Tea Burst
5. Desert Burst
6. Fireball
7. Translucent Amber
8. Translucent Black
9. Ebony
10. Gold Top
11. Blue Mist

The only color not to return is Trans Black.

And actually... Trans Black is coming back too!
http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-GIB-LPNSTDP16-BLCH1
Gibson 2016 Les Paul Standard - Transparent Black | Sweetwater.com

 

[JMB1984]

They were exciting back in 2012. There are none of the things people liked from the last year or two like the newer finishes, the non weight relieved trad, the larger strap buttons or the clip in PG. they seem to be working in extremes all the time instead of finding a balance.

Worst of all, 2016 makes the 5th year with no signs of a Standard or full gloss Studio with a 50s neck profile. I bet they could excite more players if they would vary it up a little and release all models with 50s and 60s profiles like they have been doing with the Trad Pro and Studio Deluxe models for a while.

 

[1allspub]

They were exciting back in 2012. There are none of the things people liked from the last year or two like the newer finishes, the non weight relieved trad, the larger strap buttons or the clip in PG. they seem to be working in extremes all the time instead of finding a balance.

Worst of all, 2016 makes the 5th year with no signs of a Standard or full gloss Studio with a 50s neck profile. I bet they could excite more players if they would vary it up a little and release all models with 50s and 60s profiles like they have been doing with the Trad Pro and Studio Deluxe models for a while.

Actually, my 2016 Trad does have the large button straps of recent years (thankfully).

I hear you about the other stuff you mentioned. And you make a valid points, but I think there are also valid reasons (from a business perspective) for why they did what they did this year.

• Screwless/removable PG: a great, novel idea (I bought a lightly used one on eBay just to have one in case I ever needed it, I liked the idea so much)... but I've read reports of the pickup rings (with the slots cut in them to receive the PG's tabs) warping because presumably the cutouts affected their structural integrity.
  
• Finishes: such a subjective thing... they can obviously only make so many colors in a given model year... I suspect (opinion here) that some of the more novel finishes from recent years weren't that great of sellers... soooo...back to what sells well.
  
• Neck profiles: I'm a 50s neck guy too and I'll join you in lamenting the lack of 50s neck variety on different models... but, at the same time... I think we are in the minority. Most folks prefer the 60s (I used to) and adding more neck profiles to individual LP models would generally increase production costs... which would equate to increased retail price as well (the Trad Pros are GC custom orders... that's what GC wants, so GC pays for that specifically--they also have satin backs and plain tops on those models as well to help keep costs down). And after the abysmal 2015 year (both from a pricing/sales perspective as well as a new features perspective) I can certainly see Gibson wanting to offer the most popular/safe choices and keep the final retail price as low as possible (the last thing they want/need in 2016 is a bunch of unsold inventory at the end of the year, like with the 2015s).

In the end I don't think any of these 2016 choices are/were made to do anything other than get the most generally appealing product out at the most reasonable price. Which... anytime a company does that... I'm all for it. Just sayin'....

That said... a reasonably priced full gloss Studio with a fat, early 50s neck & large strap buttons in a candy Tobacco Sunburst with 59 Tribute Humbuckers... yeah, I'd love to see that!

 

[cristi tanasescu]

Blue mist?



F yeah!!!

 

[moreles]

For 2017, maybe Gibson can go to 100% Richlite cast, molded bodies, necks -- everything! -- with digitally printed, hi-res "wrap" finishing that allows the purchaser to specify the appearance of any LP ever made. A hologram sticker of Les will magically make everything legit, and each instrument will come with a certificate with Henry's rubber-stamped signature declaring it to be an honest-to-goodness, unique, best ever, pick-of-the-mass-manufactured-litter, Holy Grail guitar. Thanks heavens the 2015 nonsense is over and maybe Gibson can try to make some good guitars in 2016.

 

[JMB1984]

Actually, my 2016 Trad does have the large button straps of recent years (thankfully).

I hear you about the other stuff you mentioned. And you make a valid points, but I think there are also valid reasons (from a business perspective) for why they did what they did this year.

• Screwless/removable PG: a great, novel idea (I bought a lightly used one on eBay just to have one in case I ever needed it, I liked the idea so much)... but I've read reports of the pickup rings (with the slots cut in them to receive the PG's tabs) warping because presumably the cutouts affected their structural integrity.
  
• Finishes: such a subjective thing... they can obviously only make so many colors in a given model year... I suspect (opinion here) that some of the more novel finishes from recent years weren't that great of sellers... soooo...back to what sells well.
  
• Neck profiles: I'm a 50s neck guy too and I'll join you in lamenting the lack of 50s neck variety on different models... but, at the same time... I think we are in the minority. Most folks prefer the 60s (I used to) and adding more neck profiles to individual LP models would generally increase production costs... which would equate to increased retail price as well (the Trad Pros are GC custom orders... that's what GC wants, so GC pays for that specifically--they also have satin backs and plain tops on those models as well to help keep costs down). And after the abysmal 2015 year (both from a pricing/sales perspective as well as a new features perspective) I can certainly see Gibson wanting to offer the most popular/safe choices and keep the final retail price as low as possible (the last thing they want/need in 2016 is a bunch of unsold inventory at the end of the year, like with the 2015s).

In the end I don't think any of these 2016 choices are/were made to do anything other than get the most generally appealing product out at the most reasonable price. Which... anytime a company does that... I'm all for it. Just sayin'....

That said... a reasonably priced full gloss Studio with a fat, early 50s neck & large strap buttons in a candy Tobacco Sunburst with 59 Tribute Humbuckers... yeah, I'd love to see that!

Good to know about the strap buttons. I wonder if they will stay or if Gibson is just using them up before return to the ones from 2012. Though I think it's too hard to say if the guitars were tougher sells because of the finishes alone or because of all the other changes implemented at the same time. I think there should be a few "safe" finishes as well as new ones to keep it interesting.

As for guitar necks variety, I don't really see it costing more. They have to put a neck on the guitar either way and they could easily designate certain finishes for each to make it easier to know what guitar has what (like they already do with Trad pro). Otherwise they won't really intice the 50s neck Traditional players to buy the newer features if the all have 60s necks. It goes the other way too. I'm sure there are a lot of 60s neck players that would have liked to have had a 60s neck Traditional available on a regular basis beyond the limited runs and the Trad Pros.

 

[TeeRav19]

I actually got my hands on a 2016 Traditional in Honey Burst at my local GC this weekend. It was a beautiful playing and sounding guitar for not a bad price. I am in the market for a LP R8, but if I was looking to save a little cash - I would strongly consider the '16 Traditional. P.S. the tops on these things are gorgeous!!

 

[1allspub]

Good to know about the strap buttons. I wonder if they will stay or if Gibson is just using them up before return to the ones from 2012. Though I think it's too hard to say if the guitars were tougher sells because of the finishes alone or because of all the other changes implemented at the same time. I think there should be a few "safe" finishes as well as new ones to keep it interesting.

As for guitar necks variety, I don't really see it costing more. They have to put a neck on the guitar either way and they could easily designate certain finishes for each to make it easier to know what guitar has what (like they already do with Trad pro). Otherwise they won't really intice the 50s neck Traditional players to buy the newer features if the all have 60s necks. It goes the other way too. I'm sure there are a lot of 60s neck players that would have liked to have had a 60s neck Traditional available on a regular basis beyond the limited runs and the Trad Pros.

Interesting thought about the strap buttons... I hope they don't go back to the small buttons as the large ones are clearly and objectively superior (my 2012 always wanted to come off the strap). I don't gig, just play at home and jam with friends, so I've never bothered with strap locks... but I was seriously considering them with the 2012. My new 2016 solved that problem with its bigger/better buttons.

As for colors... well, I for one love innovative colors. That purple in 2015 was to die for... but, to be honest, I just couldn't make myself buy one as much as I liked it. I mean, I'd have to own a lot of LPs in all the traditional "safe" colors before I'd venture out into the more progressive ones. But I agree, I think they should (and most likely will in the future) offer wilder colors again. It's just... they got so stung in 2015 can't blame them for returning to home base and going with a proven formula for a year (or two) to recoup and regroup.

As for necks, you can put me firmly in the camp of, "I wish all models were offered in 60s Slim Taper profile, 59 profile and early 50s profile." That said, there's logistics involved on any factory floor the more variations/options you introduce into the mix... and with those logistics comes more cost. It's just a fact of manufacturing. It may not be a huge cost (probably isn't that big a deal and I can totally get on board with any argument that says they should do it anyway)... but to say it doesn't cost any more to offer more neck options on a given (or every) model... well, that's just not true from a logistics perspective. My degree is in business operations/manufacturing processes (with a minor in accounting) and trust me every little variation has some kind of cost associated with it. But again, I agree with you... I'd still like to see them do it anyway. I think it would probably more than pay for itself in extra sales of models currently off people's buying lists because of the wrong neck profile.

 

[nagha]

I like it when Gibson is desperate and chastened.

 

[JMB1984]

Interesting thought about the strap buttons... I hope they don't go back to the small buttons as the large ones are clearly and objectively superior (my 2012 always wanted to come off the strap). I don't gig, just play at home and jam with friends, so I've never bothered with strap locks... but I was seriously considering them with the 2012. My new 2016 solved that problem with its bigger/better buttons.

As for colors... well, I for one love innovative colors. That purple in 2015 was to die for... but, to be honest, I just couldn't make myself buy one as much as I liked it. I mean, I'd have to own a lot of LPs in all the traditional "safe" colors before I'd venture out into the more progressive ones. But I agree, I think they should (and most likely will in the future) offer wilder colors again. It's just... they got so stung in 2015 can't blame them for returning to home base and going with a proven formula for a year (or two) to recoup and regroup.

As for necks, you can put me firmly in the camp of, "I wish all models were offered in 60s Slim Taper profile, 59 profile and early 50s profile." That said, there's logistics involved on any factory floor the more variations/options you introduce into the mix... and with those logistics comes more cost. It's just a fact of manufacturing. It may not be a huge cost (probably isn't that big a deal and I can totally get on board with any argument that says they should do it anyway)... but to say it doesn't cost any more to offer more neck options on a given (or every) model... well, that's just not true from a logistics perspective. My degree is in business operations/manufacturing processes (with a minor in accounting) and trust me every little variation has some kind of cost associated with it. But again, I agree with you... I'd still like to see them do it anyway. I think it would probably more than pay for itself in extra sales of models currently off people's buying lists because of the wrong neck profile.

Maybe so. I should have said, "I don't see them costing much more" because I didn't mean to imply there won't be any costs at all. However, I still think they are pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things since the processes are already in place. Whatever the costs are, they are costs worth allocating instead of those associated with things people don't really want like G-Force and big design changes such as wider fret boards. What's more important here in the discussion here is: YES, they should do it!

 

[nutsauce]

Really happy with my 2016 Studio.

 

[1allspub]

Maybe so. I should have said, "I don't see them costing much more" because I didn't mean to imply there won't be any costs at all. However, I still think they are pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things since the processes are already in place. Whatever the costs are, they are costs worth allocating instead of those associated with things people don't really want like G-Force and big design changes such as wider fret boards. What's more important here in the discussion here is: YES, they should do it!

Absolutely cannot argue with you here...they certainly could have allocated resources better.

 

[PixMix]

... click "like" if you love Henry and you're sorry for all the bad things you have said about him.

Zero like as of now.