Well, that's a bite in the buttocks!

[cozmik_cowboy]

I believe you will concur when I say that, for over a century, the 2 biggest names in jazzboxes have been Gibson and Epiphone, no?
 
I just looked at every guitar on each website, and between them, for full-sized, full-hollow electric guitars there is now a grand total of the Gibson "Chuck Berry  1955 ES-350T"  - which (you will note by the "T") ain't even really one; it's a thinline.
 
That's it.  Gibson and Epiphone now make full-sized jazzboxes to the tune of a grand total of Z, S, and N.  Nada. Zip.  Negatory, good buddy.  Nary a single, solitary one, I tell you!!!!!!
 
To quote one of my father's favorite refrains, "The whole world's turning to horse manure".

Peter (who is, now more than ever, very glad that Heritage still makes real Gibsons.......)

[edwardofhuncote]

I will concede on summa dat... but are you sure they just haven't finished rolling out advertising on product? I read a thread on TalkBass recently where it looked at a glance like they had discontinued all bass production except for the T-bird, when in fact you just had to click a different tab. Or something like that... it was more a failing of web design.

I had high hopes for Gibson with the new mgt, and still do. Their acoustic division discontinued banjos several years ago, and yet right across town in Hendersonville, TN is one of the world's leading experts on prewar Gibson Mastertone banjos. It makes absolutely no sense to me why Steve Huber isn't heading that department, and putting them back on top of that market. I guess there's a reason me and the Ol' Man never made a full-time gig outta' building them too.   

[edwin]

I'd be shocked.

[hieronymous]

Or maybe they're trying to get things back on track after the changeover?

[keith_h]

They still have a bunch of ES 335 models on their website and what looks like a follow on for the ES 135 called the ES 235. However the classic full body electric and acoustic jazz boxes all have been discontinued. It has also been rumored that Gibson won't accept custom shop orders for them either. 

Ibanez still manufacturers their George Benson series of jazz guitars. I own a 1980 GB10 which I still like better than the Norlin era Gibsons. Heritage Guitars still manufactures an ES 175 called the H-575. I have no idea if they are still of the same quality as when the founders built the guitars but in the early years they were considered better built than Gibsons.

Edit:
I guess what I'm getting at is there are a number of alternatives to Gibson in the jazz box space and historically they were better quality for a better price.

[cozmik_cowboy]

They still have a bunch of ES 335 models on their website and what looks like a follow on for the ES 135 called the ES 235. However the classic full body electric and acoustic jazz boxes all have been discontinued. It has also been rumored that Gibson won't accept custom shop orders for them either. 

Ibanez still manufacturers their George Benson series of jazz guitars. I own a 1980 GB10 which I still like better than the Norlin era Gibsons. Heritage Guitars still manufactures an ES 175 called the H-575. I have no idea if they are still of the same quality as when the founders built the guitars but in the early years they were considered better built than Gibsons.

Besides Ibanez & Heritage, Eastman also makes some fine jazzboxes.

Edit:
I guess what I'm getting at is there are a number of alternatives to Gibson in the jazz box space and historically they were better quality for a better price.

I won't argue that point.  But what I'm getting at is, this is Gibson and Epiphone who aren't making them!  Those two companies made the full-size, full-hollow electric guitar what it is (and BTW, speaking of losing your roots - when was the last time they either one made an acoustic archtop??)

This is akin to Alembic saying "We're not going to make basses anymore."

Peter (who has since discovered that Washburn has abandoned the jazzbox market, too)

[pauldo]

Truly sad. 

Paul (who can often be heard muttering “my reality no longer suits me”)

[cozmik_cowboy]

Those two companies made the full-size, full-hollow electric guitar what it is (and BTW, speaking of losing your roots - when was the last time they either one made an acoustic archtop??)

I remembered last night - Epi did have a line of acoustic archtops a few years ago.  Those are also gone, though.

Peter

[gtrguy]

That's too bad. However, I also play an Ibanez GB10 and love it to death. Their products are going strong. I also think Eastman make great stuff, for a fraction of the cost of big US companies.
What's going on, America?

[elwoodblue]

...Paging Uli,


 Anyone one up for a Behringer Jazzbox