Gibson Custom Shop Hosts Guitar Fantasy Camp
August 7, 2000Last year, the Gibson Custom Shop created an industry first -- a member's only Custom Direct club
that offers the opportunity to view and purchase rare and one-of-a-kind
instruments directly from the Custom Shop, via an affiliation program with the
dealer. The program continues to be a huge success, and over 100 guitar
lovers have signed up.
This month, Gibson Custom Shop scored another first by hosting a Gibson
Fantasy Camp for its Custom Direct members. The camp, which took place on
June 30th-July 1st, allowed members to work a full day in the Custom Shop,
side-by-side with Gibson's luthiers.
Each member was given a guitar pre-form that they worked, at each station in
the factory, learning to route, carve, sand, finish, etc. The entire guitar
manufacturing process was covered extensively, everything from wood selection,
to applying a sunburst finish by hand. In doing so, members were able to experience and learn first-hand how guitars are manufactured.
Also at the camp, the Member's Banquet took place on Saturday July 1. The
members were treated to celebrity appearances by rocker Webb Wilder and
country artist Lee Roy Parnell as they performed with the Custom Shop
in-house band. Over 100 Gibson Employees joined the members for dinner and
dancing, and awards were given to commemorate their attendance, as well as for
the best sunburst finish from the previous day's Fantasy Camp. Fred
Edelmaier, of Calumet City, IL., won a Custom Shop Les Paul for his
sunburst, while other members went home with Custom Shop gold watches and
jackets.
Gibson Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz said, "the Gibson Custom Direct
Program is extremely successful because it benefits both the consumer and the
retailer. The guitar buyer has unprecedented access into Gibson's vaults, and
the retailer can increase revenue with no additional inventory costs."
Custom Shop General Manager, Rick Gembar said, "anyone who has ever toured
the factory has seen exactly what a painstaking process it is to hand-build a
guitar. The Fantasy Camp allowed our club members a complete hands-on
experience into this process, plus the opportunity to socialize with the
luthiers who build their instruments." For more information, visit their web site at www.gibson.com. |
