What does Tier A mean?

[dedalus]

I have just bought a LP Standard 2013 in Desert Burst. Fantastic guitar. But it was also labelled as "Tier A".

I have asked Gibson what that refers to, and they don't really answer the question. They just sent back that my guitar is "LP Standard 2013 Premium Flame in Desert Burst with AAA grade top". I'm cool with it. But all over the web are 2013 LP Standards labelled "Tier A" and only on 2013 models that I can see.

Can anyone shed any light on what Tier A refers to?

 

[GuitarFace]

Maybe a local shop thing. Probably in reference to the top.

 

[Bigfoot410]

Tier A = $1000 more.

 

[Schweitzer]

Why not ask the horse's mouth directly, bro?

 

[Rocco Crocco]

^
he did. 3rd sentence in the OP.

 

[musicmaniac]

Was the tier printed on the box or papers? Or was it on the guitar itself?

 

[dedalus]

It was on the label and the box - it is not on the Gibson paperwork or the guitar itself.

However, if you google "Gibson Tier A" you get back a selection of guitars from a range of sellers all of which are 2013 LP Standards with various colours and finishes.

Some has suggested elsewhere on this forum that Gibson in 2013 graded their woods in this way reflecting challenges they had getting sustainable woods in that year, but I have no idea if that's true.

To be clear. I don't really care, just curious - I bought the guitar and it's a fantastic looker and a player.

 

[KissGuitar]

I bought a 2013 Standard premium plus with an AAAA top and the box said it was "Tier A" and not "premium plus". I think it was just Gibson's way of documenting the guitar with a different name.

 

[Schweitzer]

^
he did. 3rd sentence in the OP.

My fault. I didn't expect Gibson to use such a term.

Waiting for a "custom super legit top tier quintuple A" axe now.

 

[Bigfoot410]

Top Men should look into this Tier A thing. Maybe it's a rival group.

 

[02589]

It's a Gibson thing...

 

[RRfireblade]

It's a Gibson thing...

Hmm... Now I gotta go digging through my old boxes....

 

[02589]

I tried to do a little research when I first got mine and basically came up with nothing. At first, I thought they were all quilts, but that theory died.

Gibson likes to blur the lines and use words that don't mean anything specific. Perhaps it means it could be any of these A, AA, AAA, etc....as opposed something less.

 

[RRfireblade]

I tried to do a little research when I first got mine and basically came up with nothing. At first, I thought they were all quilts, but that theory died.

Gibson likes to blur the lines and use words that don't mean anything specific. Perhaps it means it could be any of these A, AA, AAA, etc....as opposed something less.

It would be funny if it is nothing but inventory code for what shelf to put the box on in the warehouse.

 

[stgreg]

I think it's their elite way of labeling the "stage" of the flame... or, I don't have a clue! And, as per "BigFoot410".. fancy word = $1000. more..

 

[Prometheus]

It's a Gibson thing...

Does Gibson send their guitars like this?
Feels like the box has the sticker saying "Come and steal me"...

 

[Vortex]

It would be funny if it is nothing but inventory code for what shelf to put the box on in the warehouse.

That's the first thing I thought too.

 

[Bigfoot410]

That's the first thing I thought too.

Cool if it were that simple, but it looks like it's in the model code.

LPSAQTACH1= Les Paul Standard Amber Quilt Tier A Chrome Hardware 1st quality? Dunno.

 

[Schweitzer]

1st quality?

lol

 

[musicmaniac]

It was on the label and the box - it is not on the Gibson paperwork or the guitar itself.

However, if you google "Gibson Tier A" you get back a selection of guitars from a range of sellers all of which are 2013 LP Standards with various colours and finishes.

Some has suggested elsewhere on this forum that Gibson in 2013 graded their woods in this way reflecting challenges they had getting sustainable woods in that year, but I have no idea if that's true.

To be clear. I don't really care, just curious - I bought the guitar and it's a fantastic looker and a player.

This sounds feasible to me.