New USA Coronets

[RockStarNick]

A friend of mine, who is a vintage Coronet aficionado, also mentioned that the pickguard isn't quite right.

I dunno.

In the day-and-age of 100% spot-on vintage replicas being all the rage, it's odd to "reissue" something that not just deviates from vintage, but omits such a key, signature, differentiating element of the original. (NY pickup)

[zhivago]

wondering about a Firebird pickup...I dunno...just daydreaming at the moment!

That would make a total WEAPON of a guitar

100%!!


One thing to mention is that most of the original pickups on these guitars were fairly weak...a P90 will definitely make it more appealing to most people...it's a great time to play guitar, as we have so many options for pickups that could drop in there...TV Jones, anyone? That would also be maximum awesomeness!

[F15hface]

Man, so close. They really needed to do the proper pickup, to make this irresistible for me.
Could it have been that hard to reproduce? Probably not worth the R&D.

I REALLY REALLY wish they had too. Even if it was $200 more I'd still go buy one tomorrow.

I'm VERY tempted by a black one but I did buy a guitar last week so...

Aren’t these basically like a mirrored telecaster? Very you.

[JSett]

One thing to mention is that most of the original pickups on these guitars were fairly weak...a P90 will definitely make it more appealing to most people...it's a great time to play guitar, as we have so many options for pickups that could drop in there...TV Jones, anyone? That would also be maximum awesomeness!

Yeah, I'd put something interesting in for sure.

I have just read though that the bodies aren't the same thickness as the originals, and the neck profile is a modern slim rather than the chunky 50s ones which is a disappointment. And they've widened the nuts from a lovely 41mm to 43mm. Idiots.

Aren’t these basically like a mirrored telecaster? Very you.

I'm only a recent Tele convert really, and it's not my favourite shape for sure (pretty uncomfortable), but I like SGs and double-cuts...I just dislike the neck heel wobble. BUT, I love 50s design and those knobs

[F15hface]

I played one of these at the gibson garage today. Really enjoyed it, a number of specs mean I don't desperately want one but it could definitely be a contender with an LPJ for me. Neck profile had a bit more shoulder than I like but wasn't bad for a slim taper. I've been spoiled by my V I think, the faded finish and rounded neck just feel too good and knowing Gibson can do that everything else they do feels lacking.

They got 4 and have sold 3 so it seems decently popular. Apparently the USA Jrs fly out the door, so possible that these have successfully hit the same point in the market.



It had better fit and finish than the 3.5x more expensive Firebird XII I also played. Neither had glaring issues, but the Firebird had some paint in places it shouldn’t’ve.

[seenoevil II]

Didn't Gibson abandon their patent/trademark for the cornet? Then, this boutique brand started making incredibly nice ones, only for Gibson, with absolutely no legal leg to stand on, to threaten the company with long and costly litigation that would bankrupt the company even though they were in the wrong?

I kinda hate that I've more less settled on the Gibson side of the fence as a player, because they such a dogshit company.

This is a very cute guitar. And the original is even cuter.

No other guitar model in history invites you make one yourself like this one. It's practically an advertisement for template bits. Save for the fancy knobs and headstock nameplate, this looks like a template out of popular mechanics in the 50s.

[F15hface]

Didn't Gibson abandon their patent/trademark for the cornet? Then, this boutique brand started making incredibly nice ones, only for Gibson, with absolutely no legal leg to stand on, to threaten the company with long and costly litigation that would bankrupt the company even though they were in the wrong?

Yes, Satelite Amps had the trademark for a bit and made early 60s style coronets. Gibson claimed they had not abandoned the trademark because they allegedly made some for artists in the 2010s. There are 2010s custom shop prototypes out there but it does feel very scumbaggy. I’m happy to buy used Gibsons, but cannot see myself giving them money for a new guitar.

[zhivago]

They made some Korean-made Coronets in the 90s too, so I don't think this lapse of copyright was as clear as it was made out to be...they even made some US made ones in the 90s.

For what it's worth,...I think Satellite's guitars looked awesome...he should have just made a couple of small amends to the guitar's design and dumped the name which would have probably enabled him to keep on making them...instead they are rare as hens teeth...I've wanted one for years but have never seen one in the UK.

[zhivago]

I remember seeing this ad in a guitar magazine from the US sometime in the 90s/early 00s?

[F15hface]

I remember seeing this ad in a guitar magazine from the US sometime in the 90s/early 00s?

I know I’ve seen that pickup layout but thought it was with a reverse explorer headstock.

Definitely agree that doing an exact copy with the Coronet name wasn’t the smartest move.

[seenoevil II]

Ok, reading up on it, the issue with Satellite guitars wasn't as clear cut as I thought.

Ironically, if they had made about a many changes that Gibson had for these reissues, they'd have likely been ok.

Still though, it's scummy. The irony being that letting them alone would've increased sales of any Gibson reissues by keeping the model relevant and desired.

I've said it numerous times here, but it bears repeating. After moving factories twice, and every person involved in their development long being dead all gibsons are counterfeit. Same for fender and everyone else.

Mass production pushes the illusion that any two objects are the same. For a guitar made of wood, the illusion is an even harder sell. But when it's different stands of different species of trees being milled by different types of tools by different people in different places...well the magic is gone.

Hell, when it comes to implements of culture, should patents or trade marks even be allowed?

[Caddy65]

Gee, I began playing cornet in band in 7th grade but it looked nothing like that. Oh, coronet.

[andy_tchp]

They made some Korean-made Coronets in the 90s too, so I don't think this lapse of copyright was as clear as it was made out to be...they even made some US made ones in the 90s.

Correct, and there were a couple of different versions of the Korean ones.

I had one with the two 'OBL' pickups (one single coil, one splittable Humbucker) that had something to do with Bill Lawrence, and the very cool 'batwing' headstock. It'd probably be worth something now, I sold it cheap on consignment locally as nobody here wanted to buy it for $180.

[zhivago]

They made some Korean-made Coronets in the 90s too, so I don't think this lapse of copyright was as clear as it was made out to be...they even made some US made ones in the 90s.

Correct, and there were a couple of different versions of the Korean ones.

I had one with the two 'OBL' pickups (one single coil, one splittable Humbucker) that had something to do with Bill Lawrence, and the very cool 'batwing' headstock. It'd probably be worth something now, I sold it cheap on consignment locally as nobody here wanted to buy it for $180.

Wow!! Very cool!! What colour was it?

[andy_tchp]

They made some Korean-made Coronets in the 90s too, so I don't think this lapse of copyright was as clear as it was made out to be...they even made some US made ones in the 90s.

Correct, and there were a couple of different versions of the Korean ones.

I had one with the two 'OBL' pickups (one single coil, one splittable Humbucker) that had something to do with Bill Lawrence, and the very cool 'batwing' headstock. It'd probably be worth something now, I sold it cheap on consignment locally as nobody here wanted to buy it for $180.

Wow!! Very cool!! What colour was it?

From the factory it was an ugly, ugly gold the same as this one.



I did a quick scuff/respray in something approximating sonic blue and it looked much better. Will try and find a picture, the pics from my listing were lost by imageshack.