Gibson Guitars Customers & "Gibson Guitar Employees"

Unhappy Gibson Customers & Employees
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What Are Customers Saying !
"Gyp son"

Short Note From Ed Roman
People will bash me all the more on the internet after they read this page.  Especially the people who have invested a lot of money on Gibson guitars.  From their perspective, discrediting me is a way to try to preserve the value of their grossly overpriced mass produced cookie cutter Gibson Guitars.

I'm Just The Messenger,  Please don't be mad at me for printing what people are sending me. True I am not a Gibson fan!!  I don't know if I ever will be. But I do have an open mind. And in the USA you are not considered a criminal for printing your opinions (popular or unpopular).

 

HEY GIBSON, ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME !!!!!

 

On Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 10:13 AM, Joseph De Sena, MD  Wrote
Ed,
I recently read your info on Ghostbuilders and "quality" of giants like Gibson, etc., and I couldn't agree more.  I collect guitars, and I have some winners and some losers in the bunch, and I have to tell you one of the biggest losers is a 2005 Gibson Les Paul Supreme that I paid about $4000 for.  When I took it out of the box, it wouldn't hold its tune, the action was embarrassingly high, the intonation was terrible, there were file marks on the fretboard and the binding, and the control knobs were set off-kilter in the body.  Being handy, and having built a guitar or two myself (which, sadly, turned out to be better players than the Supreme), I took off the strings, only to discover the tuning machines were all very loose.  I had to reset the instrument completely, and it still doesn't play like it should for the price.  It has now become my habit to remove the strings from any new guitar that comes into my possession, clean it, check all the hardware and fitments, and completely rework the action before I even strike a chord.  Sad, when you consider the price paid for some of the "gold standards".  On the other hand, I recently bought a beautiful neck-through, spalted maple model from a small, west-coast boutique company, and I can't say enough how impressed I am with the overall sound, action, build quality, and balance.  Though not pristinely perfect in quality, it easily rivals Gibson and Fender quality standards, and is a huge bang for the buck.  Keep up the good work, Ed, and don't stop letting the guitar-buying public know what really goes on with the guitar-building giants.  In this economy, there's nothing worse than throwing good money after bad merchandise, especially when it's been falsely advertised.  Be well.

 Sincerely,

Joseph De Sena MD.

 

 

“The Emperor Has No Clothes!”
7 of 7 people found this helpful

Pros

Great brand, and you would think it would be a great opportunity.

Cons

Insane CEO who is driving the brand and company into the ground. CEO rules by fear and intimidation and nobody at the exec level is willing to fight back. Those that express intelligent opinions or who do the right thing for the business are quickly fired. The CFO, head of HR, General Counsel, head of product marketing/management all quit in the last few months because nobody could take the toxic atmosphere anymore. The CEO's time is coming and the creditors are circling. That's what happens when you waste money, make idiotic business decisions and treat everyone from employees to customers to creditors like dirt. When the CEO is gone, Gibson can be a great company again. Hopefully that day will come soon but until then keep clear.

Advice to Senior Management

Get rid of the CEO before it is too late or before creditors  

Reprinted from
Glassdoor.com/Gibson
 

 

“Stay Away!”
5 of 5 people found this helpful

Pros

Requesting time off was never an issue.

Cons

High stress, low pay, and nothing makes any logical or common sense. Management is so far removed from the real world, they don't even have a clue, but to them it is all in the sense of "forward thinking." Continual negative almost hateful feedback and never any raises or reviews with also very unrealistic goals and expectations. Extremely bad policies towards customers and dealer base that are detrimental towards business growth and are borderline illegal. Company puts out sub-par product, but really exploiting the Gibson same to it's fullest degree. Trust me, the "mystique" of working at Gibson wears off really quickly when you realize that you are in Office Space, but even worse.

Advice to Senior Management

Change your dealer policies, have more positive reinforcement, and hire managers that know how to deal with people. For the CEO, let the managers do their job and stop micromanaging everything. Listen to sound advice when those below have good ideas. Some of the best ideas of businesses come from the bottom up not from the top down.
 

Re, Gibson Guitars
bigdognkat to me
show details 12:34 PM (15 hours ago) Reply

And I use the name "Guitar", in a very loose term! I took a "Gibson Black Beauty", as partial payment on a loan from a fellow picker recently.. After having my back adjusted by a doctor, from the ridiculous weight of the piece of crap, that left a permanent groove on my shoulder.

When I first changed the strings, I thought I had broken the thing? As the bridge fell on the floor, when a the strings were removed!! No such luck! Then I took it to my favorite luthier, to try and see if the "Telephone Pole", Gibson laughingly refers to as a "Neck?, could be scalloped, or shaped down.

I was told he wouldn’t work on "Gibsons": as they are "Not worth the time or money to try and make playable!! I have been trying to sell or trade this monstrosity, but The only offer I have gotten was for a Fender "Squier", Korean Tele knockoff with a busted neck!! So I have decided to put the beauty to some sort of use!! I made a dart board out of the damn thing , It works pretty good, except the darts tend to break, when they hit the body at an angle!! Keep spreading the word on these "Overpriced Pieces of Shit!!
Reply Forward

I almost didn't print this one, for several reasons.

1:  It was an anonymous letter and I rarely print anonymous letters. Usually they aren't true!!!!
I did print his email handle, if anyone knows who this guy is please tell me. I am no fan of Gibson but I don't believe in lying about them either !!!!!

2:  I just don't believe this guy.  I mean I've heard plenty of horror stories about Gibsons!! The part I don't believe is where he states that he can't sell it.  Even though I think Gibson guitars are over rated & definitely over priced.  I know there are plenty of chumps out there lined up who will buy them for way too much money. 
That's what a 160 million dollar yearly advertising budget will get you.

3:  I think the only reason I printed this was because I am of the opinion that this guy hates Gibson for some good reason.  I think he is pretty upset, I think he is probably exaggerating in his letter to me.

 

“Corporate ”
5 of 5 people found this helpful

Pros

Incredibly well recognized brand name.

Cons

Terribly abusive CEO who is impossible to make happy because he is not in his right mind. Pays enormous salaries to people who aren't necessarily deserving of them and pays very little to others who have worked at the company for years and years.

Everyone at the corporate office is so beaten down and demoralized that the work ethic is in the toilet. No one is passionate about what they do and no one much cares for putting in a full day's work, taking pride in their work or really accomplishing anything. It has an effect on everyone. But again, this trickles down from the poor management at the very top.

Advice to Senior Management

Put your people over your bottom line and I promise your bottom line will improve because your people will work harder for you and be more invested in the company's bottom

 

Ian Pruitt to me
show details Dec 6 (2 days ago) Reply

So, I've been looking around on your website. I've always known Guitar Center sucks, and commissioned salesmen are all dicks, and pawnshop's sucks. But what I did find interesting was the whole ghost-building business. All these kids at my school buy Gibsons either because they look cool or because some celebrity uses them. I personally would rather have an Eastwood Airline Guitar, because they look awesome AND sound awesome. So I thought they all can't be that bad if all these celebrities use them, they just had to be set up properly. But it turns out that there not even made by Gibson.

The Slash Model like you said is made in China, but the one he uses is made by a personal luthier. What the hell!!! Anyways that just annoys the living crap out of me. I love your website, and I know you don't care what anybody says, which is nice. Everything that people say about you is either incredibly bad or extremely nice.

I personally don't know what to believe, but the next guitar I buy is probably going to be from you. I have always wanted a Gretsch, but couldn't afford one because of money issues. Right now I play and Epiphone Strat rip off, and it sucks. I know several musicians personally, and they've called it a piece of crap right to my face. Anyways, getting off topic, but I love the way you write your rants, and they ways you build guitars. I'm a little guilty of wanting to buy a corporate guitars. I've always wanted an original guitar. Have you noticed that a lot of guitars copy the strat or Les Paul? I don't know if your actually going to read this or not, but I love what you do. Keep on making guitars and not giving a shit about what people think.

Sincerely,
Ian Pruitt

 

Dear Ed
Thank you VERY much for ripping on Gibson. As a former employee of Gibson I know first hand at the lack of quality & craftsmanship. There are so many corners cut at that factory it's disgusting, particularly for a product that costs on the average about as much as a decent used car. We need to spread the word about this shady company. And you're right, most people are misinformed about Gibson and just want the "vanity" of having one. Thanks once again and let's get more rants about Gibson.
Benjamin Unwin
P.S. they treat their employees like shit too.
 

Hi there--
I haven't purchased any of your guitars (doh!) but I found you site incredibly informative, and wanted to send you a heads-up if someone hadn't already.
You bashed Les Pauls (which I think was deserved-- I started playing on a Les Paul and have owned quite a few) and it reminded me of a "Some Assembly Required" episode I saw on cable (the Discovery Channel). They show the process of making this and that, and they had an episode in the Gibson factory where they followed a Les Paul through the factory.


I've built my own electrics for decades . . . Not that I'm a super expert, but I know one end from the other. I was AMAZED watching this. Yeah, the host was building one and he did the usual "I don't know what I'm doing but I'm trying" job. But, the REAL guys putting them together . . . There was one shot where a guy was slamming unbent fret wire into the neck with a VERY big hammer (I suppose the hammer bent the fret to the fingerboard?) from one long piece of wire (I thought you prebent and precut?) and then nipping it off afterwards. He slammed them in like he was putting up drywall--fret down, bam bam, nip, fret down, bam, bam, nip . . . For something that everyone thinks is "the top guitar there is" it was truly horrible.
In the space of the ten minutes or so they were in the Gibson factory I saw at least six or eight things I would NEVER do to my own guitar . . . If you haven't already, you need to watch it for yourself. Amazing.
Anyway, I love your site, and just thought you might like to see this.
Don


Thanks Don

Gibson  has been getting with murder for years. They have a core base of uninformed close minded people who simply don't get what is going on in the world today.
I am noticing it more and more that many people are starting to smarten up. I am encouraged by the amount of letters like yours that I get.  I should print them all but there just isn't room. Someone should start a website "Gibson Quality Issues .com or something stronger maybe.  I have hundreds of letters on file that I could send them.  If you know any one interested in putting up a site I will subsidize them !!!!

Ed 

Hi Ed,

 Love the site (Especially the "Rants")

I'm surprised not to see any mention of the intonation problems associated with USA made Gibson guitars.

 
On most Gibson electrics the scale length from the nut to 12th fret is 24.562"

No problem with that...but the scale length above the 12th fret is 24.75.

That means OK intonation from the nut to 12th fret (especially with Buzz Feiten Tuning System or similar), but really BAD intonation above the 12th fret.   At the 22nd fret, the error is about 0.04".
About half the width of the fret)
Copies (including Epiphone) don't have this fault.
 
What do you think?
Regards,
Phil Hartley

 

Hello Phil...

I'm not much of a Gibson Fan myself, In fact I could go on about that for a long rant !!!! 
The reason I haven't said anything about this in my rants is. Basically I didn't know about it. 

After I read your letter, I do concur with your findings !!!!

I don't like the short stubby necks, I don't like the fret size, I don't like rosewood fretboards with plastic inlays (on supposedly American Guitars)
I never even got in as deep as the tuning problem !!!
Although I never met an SG that would hold tune without a lot of neck & fret work.....

Ed

Based in Bolton, near Manchester, in the Northwest of England, owner Phil Hartley is a well respected guitar repairer and technician with many years of experience. During this time the services of Phil Hartley Guitar Repairs have been used by music shops throughout England.

As a former head of large retail guitar department and through his many years as a guitar teacher, Phil Hartley has gained first hand knowledge of the problems encountered by guitarists of all abilities and budgets.

Whether your beginners’ guitar has developed a tuning problem or you’ve worn away the frets on your guitar, you can rest assured that each will receive the same level of care and attention to make your guitar the best it can be.

All repairs are carried out by Phil Hartley. Work is never subcontracted out nor is it ever assigned to a trainee or apprentice.

Phil Hartley is an approved retrofitter of the Buzz Feiten Tuning System.  See the new Buzz Feiten page for details of this revolutionary intonation system.

“Don't think your experience will be different.”
11 of 11 people found this helpful

Pros

Great heritage company, seems like a prestige post for resume.

Cons

The worst place I have ever worked. The CEO is the worst ever, resulting in the most dysfunctional corporate culture I have ever experienced or even heard of.

I was repeatedly assigned projects that had nothing to do with the job I was hired for, and things that I had no experience with. For example, I was once asked to do a project using a specific new software that the company had purchased, and given a deadline of two days. The software was recently released and very complex, and I had never used it, nor had anyone else in my department. I opened the tutorial, and it was 3 DAYS long. And I was charged with learning the software and producing this very complex report in 2 days. When I explained the problem to the CEO, he laughed and said, "Guess you'll have to sleep here," and walked away. When the project was not completed on time (duh), I was reprimanded and written up.

Later, when I was fired (with no severance, by the way), my "failure" on the above project was one of the reasons cited.

Advice to Senior Management

Oust the CEO!!!!!!

Apr 22, 2009

1.0
 

Details    GIBSON GUITAR COMPANY

 
Employee Morale 1.0
Recognition & Feedback 1.0
Senior Leadership 1.0
Compensation & Benefits 3.5
Fairness & Respect 1.0
Career Opportunities 1.0
Work/Life Balance 1.0
Communication 1.0
Disapproves of CEO

 

Gibson Guitar Manager in Nashville, TN:   (Past Employee - 2009)

“Not as cool as it sounds....Run & don't look back”
8 of 8 people found this helpful

Pros

The people other than the CEO and a couple of other executives.

Cons

The CEO and his trusty sidekick...If you are far enough down in the organization, you are not likely to feel their wrath. If you are at a manager or executive level, look out. There is no strategic vision for the company and whenever something goes wrong one of these two will point the finger. Everything is done at the whim of the CEO. Instead of a leadership team working together, the executives become conditioned to survive for their existence. Most are terminated before they can leave on their own. For those lower in the organization there is virtually no communication or leadership provided because their managers are doing all they can to survive and keep their own jobs.

Advice to Senior Management

Convince the other owner to replace the CEO. As that is unlikely, find a new job.

Apr 16, 2009 

1.0
 

Details

Employee Morale 1.0
Recognition & Feedback 1.0
Senior Leadership 1.0
Compensation & Benefits 3.5
Fairness & Respect 1.0
Career Opportunities 2.5
Work/Life Balance 1.0
Communication 1.0
Disapproves of CEO

 

Gibson Guitar Nah in Nashville, TN:   (Past Employee - 2008)

“Every word in all of these reviews is true.”
8 of 8 people found this helpful

Pros

You're boss will probably be fired in 90 days so there's often opportunities to move up in the company rapidly. When you get fired you'll probably keep getting paid since they will forget to stop sending the checks.

Cons

Uh, you'll probably get fired in 90 days? Your priorities will change daily and you will be held accountable for things other fail to deliver that are out of your control. You won't get a review or pay increase promised by your manager because "it's not a good time to request approval". It's never a good time. Great fun!

Advice to Senior Management

Continue stabbing people in the back, looking out for yourself, and hang on to that bloated salary for as long as you can.

 http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Gibson-Guitar-Reviews-E6869.htm

Ryan to me
show details Aug 31 (1 day ago) Reply

Hey Ed

I was recently on a Les Paul forum and I noticed this hateful assed post about "why does Ed Roman hate Les Pauls?"...I hate Les Pauls too.. matter of fact...my review of a Les Paul could be summed up in two words: "shit sandwich"...anyway...they go on and on about how terrible of a human being you are but not one.. I repeat NOT ONE could respond, or even bring up, the facts you state about Les Paul necks, headstock angle, cheap wood, foreign construction that claims to be from the U.S.  You've deprogrammed me...and seeing these people bitch and bitch about you and they like Les Pauls "just because" & "they rock" and "Ace Frehley plays them" isn't good enough in my book...  I come from Missouri.. the show me state..&  I've been shown your guitars.. I've been in your shop...and I've also seen Les Paul's..  played them..

Hell my father has an original 52 without a serial number he bought at a pawn shop in 1964 that's been sitting in a case and sees the light of day once every 5 years when he gets it out..  Its a 50 something year old piece of shit...oh it gets a tone, sure...but hey if I eat at a Mexican restaurant my asshole will produce a tone too.. big deal !!


peace on the hill brother!!!
Ryan
Missouri.

Thanks for your kind letter and your support,  I appreciate it.    People are people!!!
Forgive them father for they know not what they are talking about. Ha Ha 
What were you doing on that stupid forum anyway ???
I can convert that 52 to a 58 or 59,  I can make it playable anyway !!!!!
Some vintage geek will buy it on Ebay, because he thinks the mojo will rub off on him. 
I've done it before !!!!  And I'll do it again,  that should piss off those retards on the forum.

Thanks Again
Ed

Hi Ed Roman
I'm glad to see someone else is standing in the wind against Gibson, I have many times wanted to build a web-site called "gibsonsucks.com" I have many more stories that I have amassed in my last 20 years as a guitar repair person in Toronto.  I do repairs for several dealers besides my own clientele. I have been forced to deal with the less than intelligent cretin's at Gibson for parts & warranty issues. They are even worse than Rickenbacker when it comes to helping a customer solve a problem. They have repeatedly lost and/or screwed up guitars, They have treated me like a complete fool when I deal with them. They have lied to me more than 100 times.  F#@K Gibson !!!!!!

Lowell K. Roberson
Precision Guitar Repair
Toronto CA,
 

I appreciate your correspondence, I have considered doing a website that targeted Gibson's screw-ups myself. I just never seem to get around to it.  To date I have a total of 22 different websites.
Ed Roman  10/13/08

Todd Kennedy to me
show details 2:34 PM (1 hour ago) Reply

Hey Ed

I tend to agree with everything you have to say about Gibsons.
However there is one model I have really fallen in love with. I wasn't quite sure why I felt this model was so superior to my other Les Pauls. ( I have several ) but after reading your article and Gibson comparisons, I figured out why.
This guitar has a three piece maple neck (unfinished) as you stated is the preferred wood for necks by most luthiers. It also has an Ebony fretboard also something you feel every electric should have. The guitar also came stock with Grover tuners instead of the old Kluson's.

The guitar is fully bound front, back, neck, and headstock and comes stock with EMG pickups and is made in Gibsons Custom shop.
I picked it up on E-bay for $2500.00 and it has become my favorite guitar to date. I am 47 years old and been playing since the 70,s so I've owned a ton of guitars. Currently have 14 in my collection (two of which are 80,s Hamer's ) The greatest and most underrated guitars on the used market, a sentiment you seem to share with me.

Anyhow the Gibson I am speaking of is a Gibson Zakk Wylde model. It truly is a great guitar. I will never again buy an off the shelf "Jipson" (pun intended) as they are complete crap for the money they charge. However the custom shop re-issues have impressed me and are leaps and bounds better than the off the shelf crap. Most of them are made with quality woods and long neck Tenons and resonate like a good paul should. However their prices are indeed ridiculous .Luckily the used market has recognized this and you can now get a good custom shop 1956, 57, 58, 60 re-issue for around $2000.00. I have a 59, & a 58 and along with my Zakk Wylde model have fallen back in love with the Les Paul.

Zakk Wylde apparently did his homework when he designed his signature model as it does seem to meet all of your benchmarks for a quality guitar. Anyhow just some food for thought.

I have recently retired to Las Vegas from LA. bought a small mansion (foreclosure) and am looking forward to meeting you and spending some of my hard earned baby boomer cash at your store.

I now have the money to spend but still prefer to spend it wisely and get value for my money. What are your thoughts on the above named guitar?  can you concede that Gibson may have actually made a good (although overpriced ) guitar ? or are you locked into the belief that all Gibsons are crap ?

Cheers
Keep the great Rants coming

Todd Kennedy
 

I Will Most Definitely Never Concede !!!
I am still firmly locked into the belief that there are more than 30 brands of guitars that are better than Gibson Les Pauls, SG's, etc etc.

Important......  It's not just the quality that I don't like, You started your letter by agreeing with me on everything I say. I don't think you actually would agree with everything I say about Gibson's In fact I doubt that you have read too many of my articles. I believe you are a really a Gibson lover that is looking for a way around the multitude of problems.

The 22 fret, stubby neck, big heel, improper pickup placement &  set neck are only 5 things that cannot be addressed through quality of construction. Those are all design faults that should cause a complete redesign of the basic structure of the guitar.

Not to mention the angle splayed headstock, the 17 Degree tilt, no volute are not fixable simply by putting a good set of tuners on the guitar.

The spring mounted pickups is a forgivable error only because almost everybody does it. But that still does not make it right.  No amount of good quality construction can fix all these basic design flaws.

True the Zakk Guitar does have a 3 piece maple neck which is a step in the right direction structurally, But a maple neck on a Les Paul is counterproductive to the one good sound it does get. Also the ebony neck is too bright for the Les Paul signature sound.  Most Les Paul lovers want rosewood fingerboards and mahogany necks.

Zakk Wylde is awesome, I have known him for more than 25 years, I wonder how much better he would sound on a Turner model one or on a JET or a Quicksilver.

I have been very merciful towards Gibson on what I have written above,  If I spent more than five minutes on this I could have listed at least 6 or 7 more unforgivable design flaws.

I didn't even mention the backbreaking weight, I didn't elaborate on the glue in neck that tends to deaden the resonance from the fingerboard. I could go on and on.

Zakk Wylde is a great guitarist, he's also very hardheaded when it comes to Gibson,  reminds me of the way I used to be when I was riding Harley's for 34 years of my life.  (Don't try to confuse me with the facts, I've already made up my mind.)

Gibson will never change their design.  If they did, they would be admitting to the world that they were wrong all these years. Believe me that will never happen. It's simply an ego thing !!!!!

They could easily redesign the guitar, when I worked there back in 1991 this was being discussed on a daily basis. No one could figure out how to fix the problems and still save face.

Image is everything to Gibson, building the best guitar comes somewhere else down the road !!!!!

Ed Roman

 

Apr 6, 2009

3.0
 

Details

 
Employee Morale 3.5
Recognition & Feedback 1.0
Senior Leadership 1.0
Compensation & Benefits 2.0
Fairness & Respect 2.0
Career Opportunities 1.0
Work/Life Balance 4.0
Communication 1.0
Disapproves of CEO

 

Gibson Guitar Employee in Nashville, TN:   (Past Employee - 2009)

“Greatest Guitar Brand in the World or Confused?”
5 of 7 people found this helpful

Pros

Great people. The people I worked with at Gibson were second to none. Gibson was always somewhere that I was proud to tell people I worked. The company has an amazing history and being a part of that is very gratifying. Being a musician in Nashville, it was also very fun to work with people with whom I had so much in common. Lots of musicians of different types work for Gibson and they're fantastic people. Every now and then Gibson would also throw a cool party or give you a t-shirt or something (who doesn't love a free t-shirt?), but not very often...

Cons

There are quite a few down sides unfortunately. The main one that came into play for me was financial. I worked at Gibson for three years and never received a review or a cost of living raise of any kind. At the point to where we were supposedly going to be given raises and be allowed reviews, the process was stalled for various reasons and eventually we were told "The raises are on Henry's desk, so that's all we can do..." If our supervisors are to be believed, that means that Henry ignored a large percentage of his employees (what else is new) and chose to fill his time with other things rather than make sure his employees were happy and taken care of.

Also, Henry likes to pretend that he runs a tech company. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to realize that he holds the greatest guitar brand in the history of the world in the palm of his hand. Instead of making guitars that his customers want- the Les Pauls, SGs, Flying Vs, etc; guitars with historic value and instant charisma, He'd rather try to reinvent the wheel buy producing guitar that tune themselves (that is, for about five minutes... then they break and the customer is forced to begin the convoluted customer return process).

Advice to Senior Management

Wake up. You run a guitar company... not a tech company. Gibson guitar is not Microsoft. Henry Juszkiewicz is certainly no Bill Gates. It's time for you realize that you have a sure thing and present yourself as that sure thing- the coolest guitars in history... not the lamest.

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Mar 16, 2009

1.0
 

Details

 
Employee Morale 1.0
Recognition & Feedback 1.0
Senior Leadership 1.0
Compensation & Benefits 2.0
Fairness & Respect 1.0
Career Opportunities 1.0
Work/Life Balance 1.0
Communication 1.0
Disapproves of CEO

 

Gibson Guitar Management in Nashville, TN:   (Current Employee)

“CEO is ruining the company.”
9 of 9 people found this helpful

Pros

Great brand, rich heritage, legendary products. With exception of CEO and 1 or 2 others there are some great people at the company.

Cons

The CEO is the most erratic and unprofessional person I have ever met. He is ruining the company's reputation in the industry and preventing the company from meeting its true potential. The CEO conducts unbelievable micromanagement on every detail. Nobody is empowered to do anything on their own. There is a complete lack of internal communication (except for public berating) or any form of a positive team oriented environment.

Advice to Senior Management

Let people do the job they were hired to do and that they know how to do far better than the CEO. Somehow force the CEO out if you want the company to survive.

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Mar 25, 2009

3.0
 

Details

 
Employee Morale 1.0
Recognition & Feedback 3.0
Senior Leadership 2.0
Compensation & Benefits 2.5
Fairness & Respect 3.0
Career Opportunities 3.5
Work/Life Balance 4.5
Communication 1.5
Disapproves of CEO

 

Gibson Guitar Anonymous in Nashville, TN:   (Current Employee)

“Corporate management exemplifies best efforts at mediocrity.”
5 of 6 people found this helpful

Pros

Don't know what else you want to do.

Cons

Micromanaged to the nth degree. Culture of bitter employees that are settling because they do not know what else they would do if they did not work at Gibson. Management does not make business decisions. All direction is based on emotion and subject to change with the wind.

Advice to Senior Management

Make a plan and commit to it. Lead your employees. If you believe something is worthwhile and communicate it to your employees, the dedicated people will believe in it too. Oh, and please take down the Gibson Commandments. They are an insult to every deserving employee that has been slighted.

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Mar 2, 2009

1.0
 

Details

 
Employee Morale 2.0
Recognition & Feedback 1.0
Senior Leadership 1.0
Compensation & Benefits 2.5
Fairness & Respect 1.0
Career Opportunities 1.0
Work/Life Balance 1.0
Communication 1.0
Disapproves of CEO

 

Gibson Guitar Executive in Nashville, TN:   (Past Employee - 2008)

Pros

Great brand! If you love guitars, you'll love the products.

Cons

Henry Juszkiewicz, the CEO, is simply a horrific leader. He is the most incompetent executive I've ever worked with. Henry is mentally unstable and incapable a dealing with high quality professionals. Good executives last 3-6 months then leave on their own accord, or because Henry fires them. Not only does Henry lack professionalism, he lacks the self confidence to be around high quality professionals.

Advice to Senior Management

The current owners should turn the company over to professionals. Gibson will always be an underperformer as long as HJ runs the company.

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Mar 2, 2009

1.0
 

Details

 
Employee Morale 1.0
Recognition & Feedback 1.0
Senior Leadership 1.0
Compensation & Benefits 3.0
Fairness & Respect 1.0
Career Opportunities 1.0
Work/Life Balance 1.0
Communication 1.0
Disapproves of CEO

 

Gibson Guitar Account Manager in Vianen, South Holland (Netherlands):   (Past Employee - 2008)

Pros

It's a good name to have as an employer in the CV. The brand is widely known and this gives more opportunity for a next career step.

Cons

Everything related to the way employees are treated is negative at Gibson.

Advice to Senior Management

There are very enthusiastic and prepared people working in Gibson. Please invest in them. At the moment you are just having frustrated employees. You are just making an initial investment in employees that after few years are turning to better companies to work for, bringing away all their knowledge.
If you want to make something big of Gibson you have to start treating your employees like humans first of all!

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Feb 22, 2009

1.0
 

Details

 
Employee Morale 2.0
Recognition & Feedback 1.5
Senior Leadership 2.0
Compensation & Benefits 3.5
Fairness & Respect 1.0
Career Opportunities 1.0
Work/Life Balance 2.5
Communication 1.5
Disapproves of CEO

 

Gibson Guitar Anonymous in Nashville, TN:   (Past Employee - 2009)

Pros

Most of the people at middle management and below are wonderful - senior management is fine as long as they make it, but commonly most were out in a mere months. Employees are smart and talented and try to do the best of their ability with the limited resources given to them.

Additionally, Gibson looks great on a resume and if you can work here and make it, you can work ANY where.

Cons

Due to the maniacal micromanagement and whim based directives of the CEO, Gibson sucks the soul from all of its employees. Everyone suffers from a severe lack of resources, consistently changing brand messages, directives and products as well as deal with the continuous revolving door of management and product managers throughout the divisions. Additionally the consistent lack of paying debts/bills, makes any employee’s job infinitely harder as we try to find vendors and businesses that will work with us and attempt to meet the ridiculous, unobtainable goals set by CEO.

*There is nothing fair or humanly decent about having your hands tied by HJ and then having to explain/please people at other divisions whose hands are equally as tied. I was consistently berated by other divisions based on decisions of HJ that affected them and my work for them.
*Everything must be approved by the CEO and due to his own whim it involves a high level of immediacy, however, he will blatantly ignore the needs and review process to get things accomplished.
*There is no recognition on the job other than being fired – no reviews, no raises, no incentives…
*Because of the ridiculous nature of HJ management, directives, lack of paying bills, crappy equipment, etc. Gibson pits departments and divisions against each other. I think people attempt to play nicely and work together well, but eventually people have to fight each other for the sake of their jobs, departments, and directives.
* There is no training because there is no one with experience enough to train. Not to mention, starting work here is like getting thrown into the desert – no corporate/brand information, no orientation on the company itself, no training materials for the phones, copiers, printers, etc., no help from IT on setting up phones, passwords, emails, etc., no company directory (phone #s, emails, titles, etc.), no office equipment or even chair… I could go on and on. Ultimately how do we expect to put a consistent, clear message to the public when internally people have no idea what our goals, messaging, and even the products are?
* The assets to my job – i.e. the servers and technological equipment – are absolutely abysmal. Countless days are spent firefighting in an attempt to keep the websites, not to mention internal infrastructure, from crashing down.

Advice to Senior Management

Most of the employees are an incredible group of people. They work hard and have a camaraderie that can be matched bar none. They all deserve reviews, acknowledgement for their hard work and raises. The extensive process of getting hired proves the caliber of employee and I simply cannot fathom why the people are consistently treated so badly and with such ill regard for their talents and abilities. Not only is it a waste but it will ultimately be the demise of this company

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 http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Gibson-Guitar-Reviews-E6869.htm

  

Jan 30, 2009

2.0
 

Details

 
Employee Morale 2.0
Recognition & Feedback 3.5
Senior Leadership 1.0
Compensation & Benefits 3.5
Fairness & Respect 1.0
Career Opportunities 2.0
Work/Life Balance 2.5
Communication 1.0
Disapproves of CEO

 

Gibson Guitar Anonymous in Nashville, TN:   (Past Employee - 2008)

“Some things will never change...”
9 of 9 people found this helpful

Pros

The prestige of being 1) in the music business and 2) related to the best known, highest quality guitar product going.

Cons

Everything is directed by one person at the top, no continuity in management (3 to 6 mo average life span for execs) and poor overall decisions made for the business which are personal rather than as a corporation.

Advice to Senior Management

There is no real senior management, just a top man. I would say, learn hiring skills (if you have to turn over 24 to 25 execs in 5 or 6 positions over a 3 year time, you must be bad at judging people or knowing what you really need) and then let MANAGEMENT run the areas of the company; not be told everything to do and fired when they can't execute ludicrous demands made without any justification.

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Jan 19, 2009

2.0
 

Details

 
Employee Morale 2.0
Recognition & Feedback 1.5
Senior Leadership 1.0
Compensation & Benefits 3.5
Fairness & Respect 2.0
Career Opportunities 3.5
Work/Life Balance 3.0
Communication 3.5
Disapproves of CEO

 

Gibson Guitar Finishing in Nashville, TN:   (Past Employee - 2008)

Pros

Having the ability to say you worked for Gibson Guitars.

Cons

Frustrating work atmosphere. Read the reviews, they are all mostly true. I have worked for other manufacturers. Other places you are not sure if the company will be there in a year, ay Gibson you are not sure if YOU will be there in a year.

Advice to Senior Management

Learn how to treat your employees. At the end of the day we are what make the product and when we suffer, the product suffers.

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Ed Roman Comments

The Product Is The Final Measurement, When I worked at Gibson in 1990 & 1991. Believe it or not I was treated quite well!!! I left the company when my contract ran out because they could not afford me to pay me what I wanted.  I was on a Hiatus from the retail business.  I went back to the retail business because it was suffering from me being an absentee owner.

The product in the early 90's was the best I have seen from the current management,  in 1997 it started a long slow spiral downward.  I think that people who buy Gibson Guitars are foolish and have more money than brains.  This attitude makes me a rather unpopular person on the Internet.
But I am not here to be in a popularity contest. I stand by my convictions that Gibson is an overpriced guitar if they sold them for about half,  I might not be so down on them. 

I am not proud to have worked at Gibson, I have seen

 

Read What Gibson Employees are saying about Gibson   
If You Are A Gibson Employee Go to this website & Tell The World What The World Needs To Know
Especially if you worked in the repair department or had to deal with warranty issues
 http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Gibson-Guitar-Reviews-E6869.htm

 

 

 

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