Are $8K to $10K CS Les Paul's really necessary ?

ErikH said:
In 1959, a Les Paul Standard cost $295 (add case + $42.50). A Les Paul Custom $395 (add case + $47.50). See link below for price 1959 price list.

https://forgottenguitar.com/2016/02/...ist-from-1959/


What's the inflation rate from 1959 to 2021? From the site link below: The dollar had an average inflation rate of 3.64% per year between 1959 and today, producing a cumulative price increase of 817.71%.

https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1959


According those numbers:

$295 in 1959 is worth $2,707.25 today (2021)
$395 in 1959 is worth $3,624.96 today (2021)

I'll add in the case to the price:

Standard w/ case: $337.50 in 1959 is worth $3,097.28 today (2021)
Custom w/ case: $442.50 in 1959 is worth $4,060.87 today (2021)


Based on those numbers, today's MAP prices for non-Custom Shop models are not far off. In fact, a GoldTop Les Paul Standard today runs $2499 w/ plush case.

Maybe the bigger question to ask is this, "Is the Custom Shop necessary?" I mean, their prices are high (Fender's aren't far off either in certain instances), and with the regular production line of Standards and Customs priced where they are, why have a Custom Shop? Certainly it's not necessary. ;)

:opcorn:
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And yet, there are other product categories out there whereupon what you would pay, say, $5000 for back in the 80s (my first computer IBM PS/2), you get an incredible amount of value for the same price ($5000) today (killer rig) due to much improved performance (Moore's Law for one). The new PC outperforms the old by so much, it's miles apart... therefore incredible value for the same face value price.

The other point of course is Gibson can price their goods by loosely following inflation year by year all they want to (which it appears they do to some degree), but the fact is the average worker's wages, year by year, are not commensurate with said inflation.

The purchasing power of the dollar has steadily decreased since 1913.
 
BTW, I own a 2008 Custom Shop '61 LP/SG Custom reissue.

It's a great guitar, but I'd be willing to bet I could get similar performance from an SG Standard (sans the fretboard differences; ebony to maple).

EDIT: ...after a proper setup.

The color, not so much (my CS is stock metalflake sparkle green).
 
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jeremy said:
quality wise, i want the custom shop. price wise, if people will pay it then make sense to offer it
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The quality on my new Goldtop is stunning. I do not have a single complaint about the guitar. The QA document that came with the guitar was meticulous including a picture of the guitar on the bench during final inspection. It plays and sounds as expected.

qEJhNlC.jpg
 
Look what Edward Van Halen used on Van Halen 1 first album a $200? Ibanez Destroyer and home made $130 strat(Frankenstein), amazing isn’t it.
 
alex1fly said:
Collecting and playing are two very different activities.
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Yes indeed. If you're collecting, that's a whole 'nother conversation. But if we're talking about playing, those collections are unnecessary.

Honestly, though? Even if I had $8000 to spend on an effing guitar, I wouldn't do it. Way better ways to spend my money.
 
Necessary?
Absolutely not.

Would make me feel better about spending several grand on a custom spec'd guitar from any of a number of buiders that I consider far superior (Not that I'm planning to)?
Absolutely yes.
 
If I had 10K to drop on a guitar I would not spend it on a customer shop guitar but there are vintage Gibsons in that price range I would love to own.
 
Securb said:
The quality on my new Goldtop is stunning. I do not have a single complaint about the guitar. The QA document that came with the guitar was meticulous including a picture of the guitar on the bench during final inspection. It plays and sounds as expected.

qEJhNlC.jpg
Click to expand...

i love my traditional too and the fit and finish is good. gibson has been, and ill be the first to admit i havent tried many new ones since i got my trad so maybe things have changed, inconsistent with their qc, fit and finish, and setups in the normal line. the custom shop stuff ive played has always been top notch, which it better be for the cost.
 
jeremy said:
i love my traditional too and the fit and finish is good. gibson has been, and ill be the first to admit i havent tried many new ones since i got my trad so maybe things have changed, inconsistent with their qc, fit and finish, and setups in the normal line. the custom shop stuff ive played has always been top notch, which it better be for the cost.
Click to expand...

The Custom Shop QC is what the Standard line QC *should* be...

...when you're paying a couple thousand for a guitar.
 
totally agree. and maybe its changed. i worked in music stores for a bunch of years and i was appalled by what gibson was sending and asking thousands for. if you are handy with a nut file and know how to do a good setup thats fine, but most dont
 
AlexR said:
there is some truth to the fact that the chassis on a $2000 production line Gibson is not the same as the most exclusive reissue..
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You realize that that is not true, right?

And if you don't, could you please explain/describe to me what the dramatic differences are. (And please don't tell me it's the wood. That would be admitting that the $2000 Gibsons are no better than the $500 Epiphones).
 
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