Why doesn't Gibson do a Snowy White 57 reissue?

BowynMadley

I've always loved gold tops and personally I think the man and the guitar are of legendary status. With strong links to Pink Floyd and Thin Lizzy without mentioning his solo career. 57 heavy relic gold top with black pickup rings and aged hardware? Surely I can't be the only one?

Off you go guys. Discuss

Bo

richardhomer

They probably will - along with his next door neighbour's LP - and his cousin-twice removed's.....

pintspiller

They haven't done it to go with the Lynott Precision that Fender hasn't done either

stickyfiddle

He's not actually very famous, particularly in the USA or Japan. And more importantly it's not a burst so that rules out all those crazy people who buy anything if it says 1959 on the tag.

IvisonGuitars

stickyfiddle said:

He's not actually very famous, particularly in the USA or Japan. And more importantly it's not a burst so that rules out all those crazy people who buy anything if it says 1959 on the tag.

True. And Gibson can't do an aged Goldtop properly IMO.

Limited Edition 'True Historic' Goldtop....I have NEVER seen an original look like this....

SteveRobinson

That's awful. The Dicky Betts aged models though were sublime. Tom Murphy did those I think?

olafgarten

That is terrible, the Bonamassa Goldtop is aged well. 

shugz

That's horrendous. They are actively selling that?

Cheers
Hugh

IvisonGuitars

shugz said:

That's horrendous. They are actively selling that?

Cheers
Hugh

It was a limited edition as well....they were quite proud of it...

richardhomer

miserneil said:
It was a limited edition as well.

Good to know they didn't make many of them....

artiebear

That is comedically bad ! ,sold my beat up 54 last year. compared with that , it was possible to describe it as ex demo (as used by certain retailers, you understand ....) Having seen every variation on the ageing, wearing, crazing and general natural distress placed upon original 50's gold tops, I cannot remember seeing one gone so bad, though I guess it must be out there if the boys in Nashville managed to recreate it !

IvisonGuitars

And yet it can be done. Here are 2 examples that are IMO exceptionally done. Both 2014 guitars made by one of the worlds best...

Gassage

If they were going to do one, they'd have to form an orderly queue for one of Old Black (Neil Young)

DrBob

stickyfiddle said:

He's not actually very famous, particularly in the USA or Japan. And more importantly it's not a burst so that rules out all those crazy people who buy anything if it says 1959 on the tag.

That said I think he did have a bit of a following in Japan. I think I read an interview where he said he was presented with a replica of his 57 by a Japanese fan.
Mind you I suppose it only takes one 

stickyfiddle

DrBob said:

stickyfiddle said:

He's not actually very famous, particularly in the USA or Japan. And more importantly it's not a burst so that rules out all those crazy people who buy anything if it says 1959 on the tag.

That said I think he did have a bit of a following in Japan. I think I read an interview where he said he was presented with a replica of his 57 by a Japanese fan.
Mind you I suppose it only takes one 

Entirely possible he's got quite a following over there, but does it overlap with the rich-man-Gibson-buyer demographic? i saw a crapload of bursts when I was over there a month ago, but only a very small number of goldtops (CS or otherwise)

artiebear

Compared with the Collectors Choice / Aged / True Historic prices ( bearing in mind that the target market seems to be the obsessive multiple model collector, no disrespect to the guys who buy because they found "the one" within this range of models), when it comes to Gold tops, the real thing is relatively obtainable. I have seen 52 to 54 conversions that would be considered reasonable compared to the current limited edition etc. burst repro stuff being pushed out. There are some lovely reissues / historic models being turned out, but mostly in an attempt to deal with us ordinary guys aspirations towards the unobtainable era bursts, while the differential drops a fair bit beyond this ( that being said PAF loaded 57's are heading up there as well ).

artiebear

by the way @miserneil , those two look fantastic ! 

Whitecat

Yeah, non-bursts (and to a lesser extent goldtops) just don't move, at least not at the prices Gibson wants for those kinda models. The Tom Scholz Collector's Choice didn't even finish the run, I don't think I've ever seen on for sale above 200 or so (300 being the most they make of CC models). I'd argue Tom is way better known internationally than Snowy. 

Unless they go with a super-limited numbers run... but even then...

Neckwringer

miserneil said:

stickyfiddle said:

He's not actually very famous, particularly in the USA or Japan. And more importantly it's not a burst so that rules out all those crazy people who buy anything if it says 1959 on the tag.

True. And Gibson can't do an aged Goldtop properly IMO.

Limited Edition 'True Historic' Goldtop....I have NEVER seen an original look like this....

That looks like it belonged to Peter Green.....before he cut his nails!!!

Personally for me the best GT re issue would be Blind Owl's guitar from the Woodstock appearance.

BowynMadley

I doubt they'll ever be able to reproduce the exact colour because the don't use the crescent bronze paint that they did in the 50s. It had real metal flakes in it hence why some of the really worn ones turn green. It's the metal oxidising. 

mburekenge

miserneil said:

And yet it can be done. Here are 2 examples that are IMO exceptionally done. Both 2014 guitars made by one of the worlds best...

@miserneil  Draw droppingly delicious.