Gibson goes wild, unveils new consumer electronics lineup

While a company not typically associated with consumer electronics can make the leap at any point, it's usually a relatively modest entrance, but Gibson has apparently had a bit too much fun at NAMM, and has thrown its logo on just about every device it could think of in the process. You won't find much of anything new in Gibson's lineup of consumer electronics, but if you're a Gibson purist and live life one riff at a time, these goods are for you. The company announced its own line of USB 2.0 Gibson Signature Series Les Paul flash drives, which currently come in a 1GB flavor and mimics a 1959 Les Paul Standard, and the firm plans to roll out more collectible drives shaped like other classic instruments in the future. Additionally, a 500GB external HDD was released, boasting USB 2.0 and a glowing Gibson logo on the side, and it seems that the firm is looking to snag a bit of that high-end interconnect market by offering up "premium gold" versions of optical audio, USB, and HDMI cables. Also on tap was a 7.1 AV receiver with a built-in guitar input, XM capability, and HDMI 1.3 video switching, various forms of recordable media, a dual-layer DVD recorder, surge protectors, and a few home theater speakers to boot. Although pricing is still up in the air at this point, it looks like you'll have the opportunity to get your external storage, surround sound gear, and a few spare E-strings all at the same place here soon.

[Via Macworld]

[andrew @ Jan 19th 2007 10:34AM]

this is really pretty pathetic.

[Karl @ Jan 19th 2007 10:42AM]

Aye, this is what happens when MBAs and young "marketing professionals" are given too much discretion to *ahem* adapt a classic brand.

[eric @ Jan 19th 2007 11:00AM]

Think about how much music is recorded digitally these days. Storage makes a lot of sense as a brand extension. Hobbyist guitar players will love to jam along w/ media... check out things like the JamPOD. Gibson is smart to expand their product line to keep guitar players interested.

[Peter @ Jan 19th 2007 12:17PM]

eric, you wouldn't happen to work for Gibson would you? I have tons of Gibson guitars and do you really think i'm going to plug them into a receiver instead of my vox ac30?

[Jim @ Jan 19th 2007 12:05PM]

What Gibson needs to do is release a few models of "premium" Guitar Hero controllers with official stylings and paint jobs. That would be awesome.

[Vince D @ Jan 19th 2007 3:31PM]

How about THIS wild idea - maybe Gibson could put some of this wasted effort into emulator amps or reissue tube amps like Fender does. Sure would be a loth closer to their core business.

[noname @ Jan 19th 2007 12:08PM]

It's not like Gibson doesn't do digital: http://www.gibson.com/DigitalGuitarNew/gibsonDigital.html

[eric @ Jan 19th 2007 3:22PM]

Haha, no, I don't work for Gibson! Personally, I don't have a nice small tube amp at the moment, so plugging in would be handy. Also taking line out of effects into a receiver would be cool = e.g. my original Ibanez tube screamer into some amplification just for messing around.

[Austin @ Jan 19th 2007 12:56PM]

WOW! 512megs?!?! That's like the equivalent of...what...5 zip disks. Or OVER 355 floppy disks. Or almost an hour of uncompressed audio.

I didn't know technology had already jumped this far into the future.

[Elroc @ Jan 19th 2007 2:49PM]

Hack the Gibson!

[B-rad @ Jan 19th 2007 3:19PM]

Gibson has gone from Seth Lover to meth lover.

[BAMF @ Jan 19th 2007 4:34PM]

"...and it seems that the firm is looking to snag a bit of that high-end interconnect market by offering up "premium gold" versions of optical audio, USB, and HDMI cables."

Oh, I guess I was mistaken about these standards all being DIGITAL! WTF is a gold-plated cable gonna do for digital audio, particularly the gold-plated OPTICAL cable?!

[krusty @ Jan 19th 2007 7:41PM]

Say, that external hard drive looks suspiciously similar to the Rosewill enclosure I have.