Over and again in these outstanding videos is the notion of pride and quality..attention to detail. Historic processes preserved. The quality and dedication of the organization is amazing. I definitely want to visit!
I play a 2021 Les Paul Standard. The cherry sunburst finish is so gorgeous, sometimes I stare at it before I return it to the case. Coo to see how much effort and craftsmanship go onto creating the finish.
I just showed this video to my son, who's a paint sprayer in a furniture factory. He was astonished to see people spraying with either no mask, or an inappropriate mask. Even with good extraction, the fumes will get them!
That's what I was thinking. What's the point of wearing masks if they're not even covering their noses? I guess with masks such as these there would be no protection from fumes even if they did wear them properly.
I sprayed automotive 2 part catalyzed finishes without a mask because I didn't know any better. I was new. So I did what I saw the painter do. I was his "helper" so I did primer and some small parts with color & clear. He never told me I needed a respirator so I did it without one. That lasted about 6 months and it got to the point where I was having pain in my ribs daily. I used to joke with my ex that she must have been kicking me while we were asleep. It wasn't real bad. It hurt but not enough to keep me from work or anything. Plus I had a gf, her 2 kids, and 1 of our own on the way plus bills so I went to work no matter what I felt like. So one night I wake up and I can't breathe. Literally almost can't inhale. I was having a HARD time. Like my lungs were spasming or something. So I went to the ER and the doctor treated me like I was faking and gave me Tylenol and sent me home. Like I was an addict seeking a fix. 2 weeks later, I got to a 2nd ER because now I have pain on the other side. They did 1 x ray and admitted me IMMEDIATELY for emergency surgery. It seems that I had over 2.5 LITERS of fluid in my chest. There was so much that it was crushing my heart to HALF OF ITS NORMAL SIZE! Because of that, my resting heart rate at the time was never below 100 bpm because my heart was beating twice as fast as usual in order to continue to supply the volume of blood my body needed. The cardio-thoracic surgeon told me I couldve died at literally any moment with how much my heart was being crushed by the fluid. At any time. And I had no idea. They cut my ribs open with a 12 inch incision going left to right, about 4 inches below my arm pit. The doc said when he went into my lungs, it looked like play-doh stuck in carpet from all of the junk I inhaled that caked up in my lungs. He said he cleaned out as much as he could but it was like picking play-doh out or carpet. I spent the next 8 days in ICU and the next 6 after that In the trauma ward, where they usually treat gunshot victims and stuff. One of the worst times of my life. I lost everything I had while I was there. Yea. My gf kicked me out while I was almost dead in ICU. Then when I got out, she wouldn't let me come get my stuff. Not my clothes. Not my furniture. Nothing. She tried to keep it all, saying "you have clothes and furniture at your parents. Go there." uh no. I took my clothes and furniture to our house. So I had zero support from her either. She kept complaining about me trying to get sympathy from people because I posted on Facebook that I got admitted to the hospital. Yea. That ain't all of it. After my daughter was born, she wouldn't let me see her. Then she moved and took my daughter and wouldn't tell me where they went. So I spent every day for the next 2 months looking for them and I found them... Only for my ex, my daughter's mother, to cause the death of my child a year later. She decided that texting was more important than actually paying attention to the road while she was driving. And she wrecked. And that wreck killed my child. My only child. That day was July 1, 2014. Today? Today is June 30, 2023. Just 1 day away.... Tomorrow will be 9 years that she's been gone and it's no easier today than it was on July 1, 2014. 😔
You'll find peace if you can forgive them. We all must die, we just don't get to pick when. Reincarnation exists, our souls live forever, so have no fears, it's all just a test maybe, or it's all just pointless. Peace be with you.
I was fortunate enough to purchase my dream guitar, goldtop with a bigsby in 2017 after 30 years of dreaming, and I'm here to tell you the fit and finish and playability is fantastic!!
Got a Flying V a couple of months ago, my second ever guitar, and I will never forget the nitro smell after picking it up. I just fell in love. Beautiful guitar, excelent quality, awesome sound.
If it makes you feel any better I took the tour of the Gibson Memphis factory before they closed it down, and it was crap! If you want a really good guitar factory tour try the Martin place in Nazareth or the Huss & Dalton one in Staunton, I've done them both and they are really excellent. Huss & Dalton is free!
@@georgevanwin And you can tour the PRS factory in Setevensonville, MD right off the Bay Bridge, that is you could until the pandemic. When they resume them is anybody's guess, but probably not until there is a vaccine.
Bought a new 2020 Les Paul Classic in Honeyburst this year and could not be happier! Perfect fit and finish, plays and sounds amazing and a true visual work of art. Great job Gibson! Thank you for a guitar I will enjoy and treasure the rest of my playing life.
Another fun episode. My Standard '50s LP and my SG Standard 61 came out absolutely perfect. Everyone who touched these two guitars did an outstanding job. I had a jam session before the lockdown where during the post jam beers a fried of mine decided to joke about my Standard '50s not being a custom shop (we both have R9s). I had him play my Standard '50s and that shut him up in seconds. The problem then was prying my guitar back from his hands as he didn't want to put the guitar down. I don't think it is better or just as good as an R9, as it shouldn't be, but it can hold its own. Sounds beautiful, not a single cosmetic issue, looks good and it's extremely comfortable to play.
2019, I got my Les Paul Classic, fantastic Guitar, sold eight Epiphones right after that, because none of them stood up to that Les Paul! And it’s a sweet Lefty 🥰🥰🥰
It really is a pleasant experience to see highly skilled people doing such fine, detailed work. That Gibson continues to make great guitars on such a large scale is a testament to their legacy and their commitment to maintain the highest standards possible. I do not know what the saturation rate from lacquer overspray in the factory air is, but I do know that OSHA oversees conditions there.
I've bought two Gibson guitars recently. The 60th Anniversary 59 and the 63 Les Paul SG. Both are really amazing. I've yet to detect any errors or things that I didn't find top notch. Unlike other ones I had purchased just a while back, like the Alex Lifeson Les Paul, it was not an outstanding instrument. I think they are doing great work right now.
@@gibsonguitar Why do Gibsons smell like vanilla cookies? I noticed the painters don't wear respirators when applying the finishes. Isn't lacquer harmful to breathe? Thanks.
Bought my first Gibson and first Les Paul just some days ago. Because of the - let's say "tinted" - past of Gibson I was quite sceptical and especially worried about quality. However with the money-back guarantee of the vendor I decided to give Gibson a chance as I always wanted to own a Les Paul. The last days I thoroughly checked the guitar over. There was no reason for me to worry: She is just perfect, a sparkling beauty (in Burgundy), excellent quality and ... boy.. she can sing!! From where Gibson is coming, I fully understand the sceptics - I was one as well. But hey, "Gibson, you did it"! Wish there will be factory tours in the future again to see the birthplace of my beauty. I missed the opportunity last time I was around :-(. In the meantime, hope there will be more episodes of "The Process"!
Thank you Gibson Guitar builders! You guys Rock! My '19 Traditional and Classic are two fine instruments. You guys and gals should be very proud for what you do. I am proud of you!
I liked this video before I even watched it! Because I’ve been waiting for this part. And now I finished watching, I want to like it a couple of times more! Love it!
Thanks a lot for this series of videos! It shows in detail why a Gibson guitar costs what it costs! And it is amazing to learn about the people and their faces BEHIND those instruments! Greetings from a proud owner of a Custom Shop Les Paul from Germany!
The fact that none of the artisans in the spray booths applying the sunbursts and clearcoats ARE NOT wearing appropriate respirators PPE stands out like DOG BALLS. There is a reason the Automotive industry did away with Nitrocellulose in the 50's. JFC Gibson look after the health of your workers breathing that shit in.
That's exactly what I was thinking. I used to know a guy who was a professional spray painter and he had all sorts of respirators and face shields that he wore at work. In the video I saw one woman with a paper surgical mask and that was it. Of course I am no expert and these folks know a lot more about this than I do. And most folks tend to look out for themselves so I am assuming they are aware of the risks. But still it looks pretty dangerous to me.
Actually, if you look at 2:00 you'll see someone spraying a burst, and she's wearing a face mask, but I assume the booths they have will have sufficient enough extraction facing towards where the guitars are being sprayed, that way any excess spray and fumes are drawn away from the painter, so they don't breath in or ingest any particles of paint
@@widdlemeister Nah doesn't work that way! Surgical face masks etc are a waste of time. If you look at Automotive refinishing they work in professional spray booths and even with the extraction fans etc still wear the proper masking and PPE. That tells you something! Nitrocellulose is still the best finish for guitars, but the proper safety precautions need to be strictly adhered to, otherwise long term exposure will result in serious medical conditions and /or possibly death. There is no excuse for a company such is Gibson not providing 21st century proper safety equipment for these painters.
Totally agree! The lady doing the burst didn't even have the paper mask covering her nose! When looking at other factory tours, the people doing the finishes always have respirators etc. but it seems Gibson is cutting corners and putting the workers at risk.. Not impressed, not at all!
It honestly isn’t nearly as bad as people make it out to be. I might have just gotten lucky but my Standard was literally perfect right out of the box besides a standard tune up of course.
All the heart passion and dedication for they're craft and still you can walk into any guitar shop and find only three good Gibson guitars out of a hundred
How do they keep the paint off the binding? I don't see it taped off and I see a few shots where the paint is definitely covering the binding or parts of the binding, is there a specific method for wiping the paint off or is there another method for keeping the paint off the binding?
I can’t believe most of those individuals are spraying paint and nitro without wearing respirators of some sort😳😳😳 That can’t possibly be a good thing long term.
That's because of the electrical charge they apply during lacquering through the truss rod, as shown in the video. The lacquer stays electrical charged, and that's the crackling and popping you hear when touching the finish on new Gibsons.
You can easily automate the painting that is done by hand too. I could personally have done that for you way back in 2002 and im pretty sure there are many others in the US that could have done it way before that! With a 100% result!
How can they spray without respirators? Do they just have a super effective ventilation system? When I spray nitro without a mask, it gives me a migraine.
What happens if they mess up? Like they accidentally move the wrong way while spraying and it screws up the sunburst look. That's the kind of thing I'm curious about. How do you fix a mistake like that?
Loved this series. Is this current process similar to what you did in the 70’s? I ‘m lucky to own an early 70’s SG so I’m interested in understanding it’s manufacturing steps
@@gibsonguitar I am looking at a Jimmy Page Telecaster. BTW, I have a cheapo Les Paul Tribute, which I love, in Satin Cherry Burst (2019 Model). Doesn't have the gloss finish, and no binding, but its still a LP to me. I also bought a PRS recently and it has a Nitro finish, and it took about two months for the smell to fade away in my office/studio. Smelled like Play Dough when I was a kid. I have a Fender, PRSs and a Gibson and guess what, I love them all. Play a different one each day. Best of all worlds I guess. God bless the American guitar manufactures. I am try to keep all of them in business.
Maybe like his number#3 Les Paul? The one that was a late 1969 Deluxe converted to full sized humbuckers and resprayed plum red. Later installed with the Parsons B-bender in the mid 80’s. He played this guitar as seen in the No Quarter unledded DVD and at Castle Donnington 1990 concert.
Hi guys, would anyone know to tell me what type and model of paint they use to pass on the guitar. IS IT TYPE A FOLDER THAT PASSES IN THE GUITAR SOMEONE KNOWS THE NAME ??
As others have said...where the shit are the masks! Just ordered a respirator to do a quick job, I considered it overkill but what the hell! Well done Gibson you just told the nation that their health isn't a concern when it comes to spray paint!
Their spray booths suck the fumes out IIRC, so they actually don’t require them. My friend owns a body shop and I was wondering the same thing, but he has the same type of setup.
@@darthjarjarbinks8953 even so, having a proper booth doesn't mean you shouldn't wear a respirator. Vapors and fumes can easily contact you when you're that close to them. Super bad for you.
Anyone know what the most common reddish back color is called and how to match it? I have a few chips on the back of my trad that i want to match up as best as i can get it
Ever wonder why that new shiny Gibson guitar in the middle of winter is filled with all sorts of crackles of static? Gibson, saving the environment one guitar at a time.
Very cool, thank you Gibson. I'm a long time fan purchasing my first Gibson back in 1976. As a 14 year old boy it took me a year to save up $525 for a brand new Les Paul Deluxe, and it came with a HS case too!
Unfortunately the nitro finish discolours very easily. I just got a new Gibson LP with a white binding. The neck binding turned brown where the foam rubber of the guitar rack touches it. I've used that rack for many years and it's always full of guitars with no issues, but this was the first Gibson with a bright white binding I've ever put in it....even my Epiphones with white bindings were never harmed. This discolouration on my new LP only took one day to happen. Be advised. Apparently this is very common.
It is common, you have to make sure the material that touches your guitar is safe for nitro finishes. Usually manufacturers will indicate but best to ask if they don’t.
I've got a nitro finish guitar (custom made, not Gibson) and it's the worst finish ever. It's soft and just being in the case has given it a rash from the floofy velour stuff. So my question is: is this normal for nitro or was mine not cured properly? I've spent hours trying to work out how to fix it but should I strip and poly it? It's an Alder solid body
from who? idiots need to take personal responsibility,especial when MSDS- (material safety data sheets) sheets are available within arms reach for every volatile or dangerous workplace item used and explain every element of proper use and handling.its a video fucktard,thats why no masks
@@trillrifaxegrindor4411 Low wage workers often have no option but to take what the company gives them. It's either do your job with the stuff they give you or get out. If we are talking about a company that's based in a first world country, they sure as hell should be providing respirators etc. to their workers. Yeah, they cost money, so Gibson seems to put the workers at risk instead of investing in proper equipment.
@@trillrifaxegrindor4411 Fucktard? Hold a mirror shoulder high pal. The fact that they are not wearing a respirator is unacceptable. The should be made to wear them . End of discussion!
Larry Mar I believe that Gibson’s booths would pass OSHA standards without requiring PPE. I can tell you from over 30 years of professional experience that OSHA and the EPA both stay on top of manufacturers that use Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) like nitro. I have a high air volume commercial spray booth for guitar finishing and never get so much as a whiff of nitrocellulose odor while it runs and I am spraying with an HVLP gun. It takes a lot of air volume to achieve this but is well worth the expense. A standard N95 mask will not protect the lungs from VOCs in lacquer and thinner. It can be helpful with dust. To trap VOC’s you need something like a 3M 7500 or 400 series mask with replaceable 6001 or similar cartridges. www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/All-3M-Products/Personal-Protective-Equipment/Reusable-Respirators/N=5002385+8711017+8720539+8720550+3294857497&rt=r3. www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Organic-Vapor-Cartridge-6001-60-EA-Case/?N=5002385+3294780292&preselect=8720539+8720550+8720746&rt=rud. If you don’t have decent enough airflow the cartridges may have to be replaced every day. They’re uncomfortable for use over 30-40 at a time too which is why more than adequate airflow is a better solution. I’ve had experience with Positive Air Pressure (PAP) respirators for finishing n environments where sufficient airflow couldn’t be achieved to eliminate operator exposure. We used something like this: www.envirosafetyproducts.com/respirators-safety-protection/powered-air-respirators-papr/3m-versaflo-papr-systems.html. Operators still didn’t like them but they were more comfortable and got the job done
Hi Gibson!! I’m a huge fan of your brand and you make my favorite guitars. I do have a small request. Could you please do a reissue of “The Les Paul”? The model that Steve Howe played except offer it in more options than just natural or wine red. Also, PLEASE MAKE IT HAVE A LEFT HANDED OPTION!!!!
I find it hard to believe that they check even half of the guitars for qaulity control seeing all the Gibson guitars that came to Spokane guitar center 86% at least had finish drops and fret boards separating from the neck and maybe other not so noticable problems as well!??!
B free de Rock I believe that Gibson’s booths would pass OSHA standards without requiring PPE. I can tell you from over 30 years of professional experience that OSHA and the EPA both stay on top of manufacturers that use Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) like nitro. I have a high air volume commercial spray booth for guitar finishing and never get so much as a whiff of nitrocellulose odor while it runs and I am spraying with an HVLP gun. It takes a lot of air volume to achieve this but is well worth the expense. A standard N95 mask will not protect the lungs from VOCs in lacquer and thinner. It can be helpful with dust. To trap VOC’s you need something like a 3M 7500 or 400 series mask with replaceable 6001 or similar cartridges. www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/All-3M-Products/Personal-Protective-Equipment/Reusable-Respirators/N=5002385+8711017+8720539+8720550+3294857497&rt=r3. www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Organic-Vapor-Cartridge-6001-60-EA-Case/?N=5002385+3294780292&preselect=8720539+8720550+8720746&rt=rud. If you don’t have decent enough airflow the cartridges may have to be replaced every day. They’re uncomfortable for use over 30-40 at a time too which is why more than adequate airflow is a better solution. I’ve had experience with Positive Air Pressure (PAP) respirators for finishing n environments where sufficient airflow couldn’t be achieved to eliminate operator exposure. We used something like this: www.envirosafetyproducts.com/respirators-safety-protection/powered-air-respirators-papr/3m-versaflo-papr-systems.html. Operators still didn’t like them but they were more comfortable and got the job done
Just imagine if they had of been working to these principals last year... and the year before.. and the year before that... and the one before that, oh and that decade before that...
Thanks for sharing this. I was curious about the nitro clear coat. I’ve heard y’all spray eight coats many times yet Ive noticed when removing a clear coat on a Gibson it is really thin. I’m refinishing a SG that I found in a pawn shop in Purcell, OK. It is stamped on the back of the headstock, ‘Not for resale Promotional use only’. It has 2 volume knobs & 1 tone knob. It’s a slim tapered neck. Serial #91231329. Whoever the artist was that rejected this guitar should have reconsidered. How it ends up in a pawn shop in OK is a shame but I’m not complaining. It plays, feels and sounds great with upgraded pickups. It will have a new look.
I have a Les Paul Tribute. Great guitar for $1100 dollars. Bought it direct from the factory. Took it to a Luthier at my guitar shop, asked him to look it over, and he said there was nothing wrong and gave it his stamp of approval, for what its worth.
I wonder what brand lacquer Gibson uses. I would imagine it's something that's specially made for Gibson. I read some time ago that the "gold dust" for the goldtops is still made by the same company that made it in the 50s. It's actually brass or bronze dust, or something of that nature. You just can't beat lacquer in my opinion...A real French polish would be good too, but not for an instrument that is played aggressively like an electric guitar.
Perhaps somebody actually involved with Gibson can tell us why they are painting without respirators? That would help quell some of the speculation in the comments
I watched this 3 times,this kind of stuff is so interesting to me.I have seen that lady in another video and she is a true artist.Rock on Gibson and i hope you reopen soon soon im waiting on a Bengal burst Axcess custom that i ordered.
912328 you screwed up with over spray on the neck binding, mounted the truss rod cover too high and miss sprayed the neck joint. fine Gibson Quality" the bridge wobbles the tuners stick. but it looks good on the Burst. you just wanted this back right? '
Imagine finishing guitar for your fave artists personally. Fantastic.
I have Epiphone's snakepit guitar, Gibson too expensive for me at the moment, but I would die for one in midnight blue
imagine imagining
Over and again in these outstanding videos is the notion of pride and quality..attention to detail. Historic processes preserved. The quality and dedication of the organization is amazing. I definitely want to visit!
Rubbish!!!! It looks like only , I paid 10 K for a Gibson Flying V custom and it’s a piece of junk good for wood 🪵 fire 🔥
I play a 2021 Les Paul Standard.
The cherry sunburst finish is so gorgeous, sometimes I stare at it before I return it to the case.
Coo to see how much effort and craftsmanship go onto creating the finish.
I absolutely love all "The Process: Episodes"". I look forward to the next video release. Please Gibson keep them coming.
Thank you for watching!!!
Love her southern accent! Nitro finish rules. Thanks for the Great Guitars for decades ❤️
I just showed this video to my son, who's a paint sprayer in a furniture factory. He was astonished to see people spraying with either no mask, or an inappropriate mask. Even with good extraction, the fumes will get them!
same in the PRS factory tour
UA-cam needs laugh reacts haha 😂
Wtaf
That's what I was thinking. What's the point of wearing masks if they're not even covering their noses? I guess with masks such as these there would be no protection from fumes even if they did wear them properly.
I sprayed automotive 2 part catalyzed finishes without a mask because I didn't know any better. I was new. So I did what I saw the painter do. I was his "helper" so I did primer and some small parts with color & clear.
He never told me I needed a respirator so I did it without one. That lasted about 6 months and it got to the point where I was having pain in my ribs daily. I used to joke with my ex that she must have been kicking me while we were asleep. It wasn't real bad. It hurt but not enough to keep me from work or anything. Plus I had a gf, her 2 kids, and 1 of our own on the way plus bills so I went to work no matter what I felt like.
So one night I wake up and I can't breathe. Literally almost can't inhale. I was having a HARD time. Like my lungs were spasming or something. So I went to the ER and the doctor treated me like I was faking and gave me Tylenol and sent me home. Like I was an addict seeking a fix.
2 weeks later, I got to a 2nd ER because now I have pain on the other side. They did 1 x ray and admitted me IMMEDIATELY for emergency surgery. It seems that I had over 2.5 LITERS of fluid in my chest. There was so much that it was crushing my heart to HALF OF ITS NORMAL SIZE! Because of that, my resting heart rate at the time was never below 100 bpm because my heart was beating twice as fast as usual in order to continue to supply the volume of blood my body needed.
The cardio-thoracic surgeon told me I couldve died at literally any moment with how much my heart was being crushed by the fluid. At any time. And I had no idea. They cut my ribs open with a 12 inch incision going left to right, about 4 inches below my arm pit. The doc said when he went into my lungs, it looked like play-doh stuck in carpet from all of the junk I inhaled that caked up in my lungs. He said he cleaned out as much as he could but it was like picking play-doh out or carpet. I spent the next 8 days in ICU and the next 6 after that In the trauma ward, where they usually treat gunshot victims and stuff. One of the worst times of my life. I lost everything I had while I was there.
Yea. My gf kicked me out while I was almost dead in ICU. Then when I got out, she wouldn't let me come get my stuff. Not my clothes. Not my furniture. Nothing. She tried to keep it all, saying "you have clothes and furniture at your parents. Go there." uh no. I took my clothes and furniture to our house. So I had zero support from her either. She kept complaining about me trying to get sympathy from people because I posted on Facebook that I got admitted to the hospital.
Yea. That ain't all of it. After my daughter was born, she wouldn't let me see her. Then she moved and took my daughter and wouldn't tell me where they went. So I spent every day for the next 2 months looking for them and I found them...
Only for my ex, my daughter's mother, to cause the death of my child a year later. She decided that texting was more important than actually paying attention to the road while she was driving. And she wrecked. And that wreck killed my child. My only child. That day was July 1, 2014. Today? Today is June 30, 2023. Just 1 day away....
Tomorrow will be 9 years that she's been gone and it's no easier today than it was on July 1, 2014. 😔
You'll find peace if you can forgive them. We all must die, we just don't get to pick when. Reincarnation exists, our souls live forever, so have no fears, it's all just a test maybe, or it's all just pointless. Peace be with you.
I was fortunate enough to purchase my dream guitar, goldtop with a bigsby in 2017 after 30 years of dreaming, and I'm here to tell you the fit and finish and playability is fantastic!!
Got a Flying V a couple of months ago, my second ever guitar, and I will never forget the nitro smell after picking it up. I just fell in love. Beautiful guitar, excelent quality, awesome sound.
We love the smell of Nitro in the morning!!!
The most waited part of that long waited show.those finishes are amazing!
This place is heaven!
Wish I could visit it one day.
They don't do tours, so unless you're a 'star' customer, you're out of luck!
@@georgevanwin I know :-(
If it makes you feel any better I took the tour of the Gibson Memphis factory before they closed it down, and it was crap! If you want a really good guitar factory tour try the Martin place in Nazareth or the Huss & Dalton one in Staunton, I've done them both and they are really excellent. Huss & Dalton is free!
@@georgevanwin And you can tour the PRS factory in Setevensonville, MD right off the Bay Bridge, that is you could until the pandemic. When they resume them is anybody's guess, but probably not until there is a vaccine.
Bought a new 2020 Les Paul Classic in Honeyburst this year and could not be happier! Perfect fit and finish, plays and sounds amazing and a true visual work of art. Great job Gibson! Thank you for a guitar I will enjoy and treasure the rest of my playing life.
Jimi Hendrix was my favorite Gibson player. He played an SG and a Flying V.
he also had a 54 custom! with the alnico staple in the neck
Another fun episode. My Standard '50s LP and my SG Standard 61 came out absolutely perfect. Everyone who touched these two guitars did an outstanding job.
I had a jam session before the lockdown where during the post jam beers a fried of mine decided to joke about my Standard '50s not being a custom shop (we both have R9s). I had him play my Standard '50s and that shut him up in seconds. The problem then was prying my guitar back from his hands as he didn't want to put the guitar down. I don't think it is better or just as good as an R9, as it shouldn't be, but it can hold its own. Sounds beautiful, not a single cosmetic issue, looks good and it's extremely comfortable to play.
Thank you for your support!!!
Love "The Process" series. More please
More episodes are coming!!! Thanks for watching.
2019, I got my Les Paul Classic, fantastic Guitar, sold eight Epiphones right after that, because none of them stood up to that Les Paul! And it’s a sweet Lefty 🥰🥰🥰
It really is a pleasant experience to see highly skilled people doing such fine, detailed work. That Gibson continues to make great guitars on such a large scale is a testament to their legacy and their commitment to maintain the highest standards possible. I do not know what the saturation rate from lacquer overspray in the factory air is, but I do know that OSHA oversees conditions there.
I've bought two Gibson guitars recently. The 60th Anniversary 59 and the 63 Les Paul SG. Both are really amazing. I've yet to detect any errors or things that I didn't find top notch. Unlike other ones I had purchased just a while back, like the Alex Lifeson Les Paul, it was not an outstanding instrument. I think they are doing great work right now.
I love these behind the scenes videos. I traded my J-45 for a LP Traditional that I absolutely love playing.
Bought my LP Standard brand new in "96. Still plays and sounds great!
This is lovely, love you Gibson... Never leave us...
"I Love the smell of Nitro in the morning... smells like...Gibson"
We want everything to smell like nitro!!! Thanks for watching.
@@gibsonguitar GET YOUR STAFF PROPER RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT
Gavin j they are in state of the art booths, it probably has really good ventilation, so they don’t need them
I do love that smell!
@@gibsonguitar Why do Gibsons smell like vanilla cookies? I noticed the painters don't wear respirators when applying the finishes. Isn't lacquer harmful to breathe? Thanks.
loving this series
Thanks for watching!!!
Great job Gibson! Wishing you many more years of making great guitars.
Thank you kindly!
Bought my first Gibson and first Les Paul just some days ago.
Because of the - let's say "tinted" - past of Gibson I was quite sceptical and especially worried about quality. However with the money-back guarantee of the vendor I decided to give Gibson a chance as I always wanted to own a Les Paul.
The last days I thoroughly checked the guitar over. There was no reason for me to worry: She is just perfect, a sparkling beauty (in Burgundy), excellent quality and ... boy.. she can sing!!
From where Gibson is coming, I fully understand the sceptics - I was one as well. But hey, "Gibson, you did it"!
Wish there will be factory tours in the future again to see the birthplace of my beauty. I missed the opportunity last time I was around :-(. In the meantime, hope there will be more episodes of "The Process"!
Great video. It is cool to watch these videos and know that my guitars went through this process.
No one wearing a respirator when spraying nitro? I can’t imagine that the spray booth is so good that you aren’t inhaling some spray.
they are inhaling a lot of spray
Thank you Gibson Guitar builders! You guys Rock! My '19 Traditional and Classic are two fine instruments. You guys and gals should be very proud for what you do. I am proud of you!
And they smell soooo good when you open up that new case 🥰🥰😍👌
So I'm reading the comments and trying to figure out once and for all, is that wonderful smell indeed from the nitrocellulose finish?
Got a 2019 Les Paul Standard when I heard the quality was good. I love it. That brand new lacquer smell
There’s nothing like the smell of a new Gibson
Would love a job there it looks amazing 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
I liked this video before I even watched it! Because I’ve been waiting for this part.
And now I finished watching, I want to like it a couple of times more!
Love it!
My Les Paul is my pride and joy. Thank you Gibson employees. You do great work.
Thanks a lot for this series of videos! It shows in detail why a Gibson guitar costs what it costs!
And it is amazing to learn about the people and their faces BEHIND those instruments!
Greetings from a proud owner of a Custom Shop Les Paul from Germany!
Glad you enjoy it! More to come.
The fact that none of the artisans in the spray booths applying the sunbursts and clearcoats ARE NOT wearing appropriate respirators PPE stands out like DOG BALLS. There is a reason the Automotive industry did away with Nitrocellulose in the 50's. JFC Gibson look after the health of your workers breathing that shit in.
That's exactly what I was thinking. I used to know a guy who was a professional spray painter and he had all sorts of respirators and face shields that he wore at work. In the video I saw one woman with a paper surgical mask and that was it. Of course I am no expert and these folks know a lot more about this than I do. And most folks tend to look out for themselves so I am assuming they are aware of the risks. But still it looks pretty dangerous to me.
Actually, if you look at 2:00 you'll see someone spraying a burst, and she's wearing a face mask, but I assume the booths they have will have sufficient enough extraction facing towards where the guitars are being sprayed, that way any excess spray and fumes are drawn away from the painter, so they don't breath in or ingest any particles of paint
@@widdlemeister Nah doesn't work that way! Surgical face masks etc are a waste of time. If you look at Automotive refinishing they work in professional spray booths and even with the extraction fans etc still wear the proper masking and PPE. That tells you something! Nitrocellulose is still the best finish for guitars, but the proper safety precautions need to be strictly adhered to, otherwise long term exposure will result in serious medical conditions and /or possibly death. There is no excuse for a company such is Gibson not providing 21st century proper safety equipment for these painters.
@@jimbonacum8917 Extremely dangerous long term.
Totally agree! The lady doing the burst didn't even have the paper mask covering her nose! When looking at other factory tours, the people doing the finishes always have respirators etc. but it seems Gibson is cutting corners and putting the workers at risk.. Not impressed, not at all!
Y'all are awesome! ROCK ON!!!
Whats the chance of you guys selling a candle that smells like a new gibson? that paint smell is great
We’re on it
I would like to see your quality control process, because I've seen lots of complaints about it.
It honestly isn’t nearly as bad as people make it out to be. I might have just gotten lucky but my Standard was literally perfect right out of the box besides a standard tune up of course.
Now I'm jonesing for a LP, thank God there are payment plans available.
Make it happen brother!!!
All the heart passion and dedication for they're craft and still you can walk into any guitar shop and find only three good Gibson guitars out of a hundred
How do they keep the paint off the binding? I don't see it taped off and I see a few shots where the paint is definitely covering the binding or parts of the binding, is there a specific method for wiping the paint off or is there another method for keeping the paint off the binding?
I’ve been going through the comments wondering the same thing
They use a scraper to scrape it off later. It sounds crude but its actually much cleaner in the long run than taping. Taping can leave fuzzy edges.
@@charlies2174 Except Gibson guitars often end up having ridges where binding meets the wood because of uneven scraping.
What is the lady doing with the paintbrush at 5:08? Surely not touching up a defective paint job on these crazy expensive guitars?
That's what it looks like
I can’t believe most of those individuals are spraying paint and nitro without wearing respirators of some sort😳😳😳
That can’t possibly be a good thing long term.
I would love to take a tour!!! And grab a nice burst to take home...who's with me?!?!?!?!
I’m with you! Also, I call dibs on the Gibson Les Paul Standard ‘50s Tobacco Burst
Haha, it would be great if part of taking the tour included a free guitar of your own choice...come on Gibson, have a heart :-)
@@AndrewKarczewski Be ready to pay at least 3000$ for admission price :P
Can’t believe these guys are applying lacquer in small spray booths without resperaters. Wonder what labor turnaround is at Gibson.
Or how OSHA feels
Why do all your new guitars have static issues? Cracks and pops from the finish on all new Gibson’s.
That's because of the electrical charge they apply during lacquering through the truss rod, as shown in the video. The lacquer stays electrical charged, and that's the crackling and popping you hear when touching the finish on new Gibsons.
Keep 'em coming Gibson x
We will, and make sure to check out episodes 1-9. Thanks for watching!!!
You can easily automate the painting that is done by hand too. I could personally have done that for you way back in 2002 and im pretty sure there are many others in the US that could have done it way before that! With a 100% result!
How can they spray without respirators? Do they just have a super effective ventilation system? When I spray nitro without a mask, it gives me a migraine.
Mine has a fingerprint in it. What step of the process is that added?
What happens if they mess up? Like they accidentally move the wrong way while spraying and it screws up the sunburst look. That's the kind of thing I'm curious about. How do you fix a mistake like that?
This is Gibson, they don't give a damn. I think they call it "character".
Loved this series. Is this current process similar to what you did in the 70’s? I ‘m lucky to own an early 70’s SG so I’m interested in understanding it’s manufacturing steps
Gibson, if you're reading this, you're my favorite guitar brand. Please do something with Jimmy Page again!
We would love to work with Jimmy again too!!!
@@gibsonguitar I am looking at a Jimmy Page Telecaster. BTW, I have a cheapo Les Paul Tribute, which I love, in Satin Cherry Burst (2019 Model). Doesn't have the gloss finish, and no binding, but its still a LP to me. I also bought a PRS recently and it has a Nitro finish, and it took about two months for the smell to fade away in my office/studio. Smelled like Play Dough when I was a kid. I have a Fender, PRSs and a Gibson and guess what, I love them all. Play a different one each day. Best of all worlds I guess. God bless the American guitar manufactures. I am try to keep all of them in business.
Maybe like his number#3 Les Paul? The one that was a late 1969 Deluxe converted to full sized humbuckers and resprayed plum red. Later installed with the Parsons B-bender in the mid 80’s. He played this guitar as seen in the No Quarter unledded DVD and at Castle Donnington 1990 concert.
I don’t think we’ll get anything from jimmy page/Gibson anytime soon because he’s working with fender
Gibson is number one I sure would like a Gibson Les Paul
Awesome video!
Great offering here.. Karen's a babe !! Great work !!
'The tear drop sun burst....'
leave the 'edge' sb to Fender.
It's very great job..but why they didn't use a filter mask during spraying?
Hi guys, would anyone know to tell me what type and model of paint they use to pass on the guitar. IS IT TYPE A FOLDER THAT PASSES IN THE GUITAR SOMEONE KNOWS THE NAME ??
Very nice, thank you!
Thank you for watching!!! Be sure to check out episodes 1-9.
I’ve had my 50s Standard LP for 5 months and I love it it’s my lockdown baby, great guitar Gibson 👍
As others have said...where the shit are the masks! Just ordered a respirator to do a quick job, I considered it overkill but what the hell! Well done Gibson you just told the nation that their health isn't a concern when it comes to spray paint!
Their spray booths suck the fumes out IIRC, so they actually don’t require them. My friend owns a body shop and I was wondering the same thing, but he has the same type of setup.
@@darthjarjarbinks8953 even so, having a proper booth doesn't mean you shouldn't wear a respirator. Vapors and fumes can easily contact you when you're that close to them. Super bad for you.
Agree, look at those vapors floating….. that aerosolized lacquer will kill quickly.
Anyone know what the most common reddish back color is called and how to match it? I have a few chips on the back of my trad that i want to match up as best as i can get it
Amazing!!!
Thank you! Cheers!
ahhhh! made my day,, Thanks Gibson
Thanks for watching!!!
Ever wonder why that new shiny Gibson guitar in the middle of winter is filled with all sorts of crackles of static? Gibson, saving the environment one guitar at a time.
Great Vídeo!!
Very cool, thank you Gibson.
I'm a long time fan purchasing my first Gibson back in 1976.
As a 14 year old boy it took me a year to save up $525 for a brand new Les Paul Deluxe, and it came with a HS case too!
I don't have a Gibson, but I really appreciate this UA-cam series. Thanks for posting these.
What song is in the background
Unfortunately the nitro finish discolours very easily. I just got a new Gibson LP with a white binding. The neck binding turned brown where the foam rubber of the guitar rack touches it. I've used that rack for many years and it's always full of guitars with no issues, but this was the first Gibson with a bright white binding I've ever put in it....even my Epiphones with white bindings were never harmed. This discolouration on my new LP only took one day to happen. Be advised. Apparently this is very common.
It is common, you have to make sure the material that touches your guitar is safe for nitro finishes. Usually manufacturers will indicate but best to ask if they don’t.
Dream job!!!
We agree!!!
holy shit i would havenever thought to powder coat i need to know what type of coating is used though.
I've got a nitro finish guitar (custom made, not Gibson) and it's the worst finish ever. It's soft and just being in the case has given it a rash from the floofy velour stuff. So my question is: is this normal for nitro or was mine not cured properly? I've spent hours trying to work out how to fix it but should I strip and poly it? It's an Alder solid body
50s heritage cherry burst les paul standard is next guitar goal. 🤘🏻 when ever my county in Pennsylvania lifts the virus order. Now they say June 4th.
Hang in there, thanks for watching.
Those guys with no mask in the spray boot are probably dead by now ! Loved watching this finshing process though, thanks !
Painters not wearing a mask. More lawsuits on the way.
from who? idiots need to take personal responsibility,especial when MSDS- (material safety data sheets) sheets are available within arms reach for every volatile or dangerous workplace item used and explain every element of proper use and handling.its a video fucktard,thats why no masks
@@trillrifaxegrindor4411 *kiss*
@@trillrifaxegrindor4411 Low wage workers often have no option but to take what the company gives them. It's either do your job with the stuff they give you or get out. If we are talking about a company that's based in a first world country, they sure as hell should be providing respirators etc. to their workers. Yeah, they cost money, so Gibson seems to put the workers at risk instead of investing in proper equipment.
@@trillrifaxegrindor4411 Fucktard? Hold a mirror shoulder high pal. The fact that they are not wearing a respirator is unacceptable. The should be made to wear them . End of discussion!
Larry Mar I believe that Gibson’s booths would pass OSHA standards without requiring PPE. I can tell you from over 30 years of professional experience that OSHA and the EPA both stay on top of manufacturers that use Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) like nitro. I have a high air volume commercial spray booth for guitar finishing and never get so much as a whiff of nitrocellulose odor while it runs and I am spraying with an HVLP gun. It takes a lot of air volume to achieve this but is well worth the expense. A standard N95 mask will not protect the lungs from VOCs in lacquer and thinner. It can be helpful with dust. To trap VOC’s you need something like a 3M 7500 or 400 series mask with replaceable 6001 or similar cartridges. www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/All-3M-Products/Personal-Protective-Equipment/Reusable-Respirators/N=5002385+8711017+8720539+8720550+3294857497&rt=r3. www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Organic-Vapor-Cartridge-6001-60-EA-Case/?N=5002385+3294780292&preselect=8720539+8720550+8720746&rt=rud. If you don’t have decent enough airflow the cartridges may have to be replaced every day. They’re uncomfortable for use over 30-40 at a time too which is why more than adequate airflow is a better solution. I’ve had experience with Positive Air Pressure (PAP) respirators for finishing n environments where sufficient airflow couldn’t be achieved to eliminate operator exposure. We used something like this: www.envirosafetyproducts.com/respirators-safety-protection/powered-air-respirators-papr/3m-versaflo-papr-systems.html. Operators still didn’t like them but they were more comfortable and got the job done
Hi Gibson!! I’m a huge fan of your brand and you make my favorite guitars. I do have a small request. Could you please do a reissue of “The Les Paul”? The model that Steve Howe played except offer it in more options than just natural or wine red. Also, PLEASE MAKE IT HAVE A LEFT HANDED OPTION!!!!
They throw it away
I don't feel bad for you Chipson buyers!
How long does it take for new employees to stop staring and drooling, with all the incredible guitars hanging and riding around the plant?
I find it hard to believe that they check even half of the guitars for qaulity control seeing all the Gibson guitars that came to Spokane guitar center 86% at least had finish drops and fret boards separating from the neck and maybe other not so noticable problems as well!??!
aunt jenifer had to send 2 50’s standards back because of damage to the upper neck leading into the nut, 2 in the span of a week.
Awesome video, but when do they run over them with bulldozers?
I am shocked... none of the painters wear a respiratoryprotectionmask while working with the nitro lacquer
B free de Rock I believe that Gibson’s booths would pass OSHA standards without requiring PPE. I can tell you from over 30 years of professional experience that OSHA and the EPA both stay on top of manufacturers that use Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) like nitro. I have a high air volume commercial spray booth for guitar finishing and never get so much as a whiff of nitrocellulose odor while it runs and I am spraying with an HVLP gun. It takes a lot of air volume to achieve this but is well worth the expense. A standard N95 mask will not protect the lungs from VOCs in lacquer and thinner. It can be helpful with dust. To trap VOC’s you need something like a 3M 7500 or 400 series mask with replaceable 6001 or similar cartridges. www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/All-3M-Products/Personal-Protective-Equipment/Reusable-Respirators/N=5002385+8711017+8720539+8720550+3294857497&rt=r3. www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Organic-Vapor-Cartridge-6001-60-EA-Case/?N=5002385+3294780292&preselect=8720539+8720550+8720746&rt=rud. If you don’t have decent enough airflow the cartridges may have to be replaced every day. They’re uncomfortable for use over 30-40 at a time too which is why more than adequate airflow is a better solution. I’ve had experience with Positive Air Pressure (PAP) respirators for finishing n environments where sufficient airflow couldn’t be achieved to eliminate operator exposure. We used something like this: www.envirosafetyproducts.com/respirators-safety-protection/powered-air-respirators-papr/3m-versaflo-papr-systems.html. Operators still didn’t like them but they were more comfortable and got the job done
I want a '68 Les Paul retro in black.
What city is it?
Nashville, TN
@@gibsonguitar I'm from Greenville, MS not too far from Memphis TN. That woman's accent sounded familiar. Thanks
Just imagine if they had of been working to these principals last year... and the year before.. and the year before that... and the one before that, oh and that decade before that...
Unfortunately, sometimes you get a leader who's asleep at the wheel. Next thing you know, the ship has run aground.
Thanks for sharing this. I was curious about the nitro clear coat. I’ve heard y’all spray eight coats many times yet Ive noticed when removing a clear coat on a Gibson it is really thin. I’m refinishing a SG that I found in a pawn shop in Purcell, OK. It is stamped on the back of the headstock, ‘Not for resale Promotional use only’. It has 2 volume knobs & 1 tone knob. It’s a slim tapered neck. Serial #91231329. Whoever the artist was that rejected this guitar should have reconsidered. How it ends up in a pawn shop in OK is a shame but I’m not complaining. It plays, feels and sounds great with upgraded pickups. It will have a new look.
I was never able to afford a Gibson. But one day I wil.
I have a Les Paul Tribute. Great guitar for $1100 dollars. Bought it direct from the factory. Took it to a Luthier at my guitar shop, asked him to look it over, and he said there was nothing wrong and gave it his stamp of approval, for what its worth.
this is the gibson custom?
Intro was recorded on a tele deluxe 🎸
Nick Perri doesn’t own a Tele Deluxe. The Intro was played on a Gibson Custom Shop ‘59 Les Paul reissue he refers to as “The Duck.”
@@gibsonguitar damn I was just memeing. Didn't expect a reply hah
I wonder what brand lacquer Gibson uses. I would imagine it's something that's specially made for Gibson. I read some time ago that the "gold dust" for the goldtops is still made by the same company that made it in the 50s. It's actually brass or bronze dust, or something of that nature. You just can't beat lacquer in my opinion...A real French polish would be good too, but not for an instrument that is played aggressively like an electric guitar.
Porfavor 🥺 tem como vocês me dar uma guitarra??
I literally watch these to read the complaints in the comments.
That said, my 2011 SG is a beaut. Because theres very little on it to go wrong.
Perhaps somebody actually involved with Gibson can tell us why they are painting without respirators? That would help quell some of the speculation in the comments
one of the spray people has a mask on but it's not covering her nose. Also, why is she spaying nitro without a respirator?
I watched this 3 times,this kind of stuff is so interesting to me.I have seen that lady in another video and she is a true artist.Rock on Gibson and i hope you reopen soon soon im waiting on a Bengal burst Axcess custom that i ordered.
Thanks for watching and thanks for your patience. We can't wait to get back to work making guitars.
@@gibsonguitar Any idea when the factory will reopen? Approx?
Yall need to take some notes from historic makeover when i comes to finishes
And because of that nitro these guitars hum like crazy in the winter the first few years....
?
@@AndGuitar Google Gibson static/humming
no breathing masks in spray booths? How do you get away with that stuff? No rules in TN.? Oy vey
912328 you screwed up with over spray on the neck binding, mounted the truss rod cover too high and miss sprayed the neck joint. fine Gibson Quality" the bridge wobbles the tuners stick. but it looks good on the Burst. you just wanted this back right?
'