PCB Perception

Gibson's PCB-based control layouts get a lot of grief — some of it fair, most of it not. This week's post is a bit of a rant about tradition, tone snobbery, and why complaints about PCB use in modern Gibson guitars are often aimed at the wrong target. I sometimes feel sorry for Gibson. Granted, many times in the past—and now and then in the present—they have made what seem, to the layperson, poorly-considered decisions. However, that said, I do have a some sympathy for them.It’s because of the 'tradition', you see. To a large extent, they’ve built their brand on tradition and heritage (ahem) and it’s been a pretty successful marketing strategy. Players buy into the idea that their instrument has a real link to the heyday of rock and roll and guitar history. It’s effective but there’s a sharp edge at the other side of this sword too: Every time Gibson tries something new, there’s a vocal lobby that immediately decries their efforts. The shouty people are sometimes correct (although…