Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

$9999.99 for a guitar? lol...I'd rather be the seller than the buyer

There's nothing that goes into a guitar that remotely justifies those prices, unless it's encrusted with diamonds or something... (& I'd rather drop dead than be seen playing one of those :lmao: )

 

[dominus]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

To me, it's like people who aren't deep into the automotive hobby b1tching about a guy who buys one of these instead of sensible transportation like a Camry.

Completely disagree.

There's a difference between buying an old car and buying a *new* guitar that's priced high just to be a collector's piece.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

High end musical instruments are a textbook case of the law of diminishing returns.

Yes, an instrument made with the finest tone woods should outperform one lovingly crafted from plywood. Does this actually matter? Not necessarily.

To take my own home-recording experience as an example, I have recorded with any number of guitars over the decades. Not all of the session notes still exist. Sometimes, I manage recall the exact details of the guitar, pickup and even plectrum thickness that I used on the day. Usually, I do not. Occasionally, the playback sound can only be, say, a Telecaster or a Les Paul. Nearly always, the one distinctive thing about the recordings is that it is definitely me playing.

It ain't what you play. It's the way that you play it.

 

[Rodney Gene]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

Completely disagree.

There's a difference between buying an old car and buying a *new* guitar that's priced high just to be a collector's piece.

Both are collectors items. 'Collectibles', limited runs, one-of-a-kinds etc are not limited to antiques. I think GJs point is that there is no difference in what someone finds enjoyable to collect (new or old) or what they spend their money on. Collecting is not about pragmatism. Some expenses make no sense to someone else. It doesn't fit with their mindset or lifestyle.

Cheers and respect,

RG

 

[Rodney Gene]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

High end musical instruments are a textbook case of the law of diminishing returns.

While I understand the intent of this statement, I disagree 100% with this part. My experience shows me the complete opposite in that every high-end purchase I have ever made is still a fantastically wonderful instrument which has far exceeded any price I have paid for it and will continue to be a well-made instrument when I die and pass it on. Quality is never a poor purchase. The point of diminishing returns happens with cheap gear. For me this includes mics, cables, preamps, interfaces, monitors, guitars, strings, all of it. Buy cheap, I pay the price somewhere. Cheers, RG

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

I suspect that the objection to high end instruments is that the price increment is not directly proportional to the perceived quality increment. Obviously, in order to perceive any difference, one must experience the instrument under discussion. This done, it is almost always disappointing to play anything of lower quality. You will be aware that something essential is lacking.

It does not automatically follow that the finest instrument is the right one for a specific musical application. (This is why I have a Fender Jaguar. Horrid guitar but unique and necessary sounds.) Another popular false assumption is that instrument quality is directly proportional to player ability.

 

[JordanM82]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

Personally I am not much for guitars that are simply for collecting, it's just not my thing. I want a guitar to play it, period. That doesn't mean that I believe everyone should think that way. I know two people who I work in the studio with who have a seriously large collection of antique and custom/private stock guitars. They enjoy collecting, those guitars have serious value to them (and they have sold many of the ones over the years and I have never seen them take a significant loss, mostly they profit). Sure it doesn't fit into our Philosophy of Use for a guitar, but do they need to abide by our POU?

That being said, I own 2 PRS guitars. A 2008 Mira MT and a 2011 DC3, both are dinged and scratched and worn. I play them regularly on stage and in the studio. They are EXCEPTIONAL quality instruments and if I could go back in time I would purchase them again provided I had the means. This is not meant as a dig to people who prefer to buy production or import guitars and upgrade them, or to those who simply can't afford an instrument like this yet (I hope someday you all can, because it is worth it); however, these instruments are definitely worth their price and in my opinion no "upgraded" guitar will ever have the tone, playability, feel or overall excellence that these guitars do (Not just PRS, but premium instruments of that ilk). There is a huge difference between a MIM Fender with $600 worth of upgrades and a good setup vs. a Suhr Classic. The Fender can be a GOOD guitar. Certainly a gigging quality guitar, and I have seen people prefer their upgraded guitars of that kind because it has value to them. It will never in my opinion approach the Suhr.

So there is something to be said for higher end guitars, for me, I just want the ones you are going to play... leave the collecting to the people who will let me play their guitars without owning them.

 

[marvelous_seven]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

Things you own end up owning you.

 

[orpheo]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

Things you own end up owning you.

My initial thought was: nah, don't talk so stupid. But I'm inclined to agree. I never cared, for example, much for jacksons but I love my Soloist. it's an amazing instrument. Wish it were built better, though. The fretwork is abismal.

 

[dominus]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

Both are collectors items. 'Collectibles', limited runs, one-of-a-kinds etc are not limited to antiques. I think GJs point is that there is no difference in what someone finds enjoyable to collect (new or old) or what they spend their money on. Collecting is not about pragmatism. Some expenses make no sense to someone else. It doesn't fit with their mindset or lifestyle.

Cheers and respect,

RG

The car wasn't a collectors item when it came out, that's the point I was making. If I had the money, I probably would buy a bunch of 70s muscle cars. I'd drive them on nice days though, I wouldn't just keep them sitting somewhere.
I wouldn't buy a 2013 $200,000+ (or whatever they cost, as I don't keep up on that stuff) one-off collector's piece car that's priced that way just to be expensive.

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

Money is relative.

Bill Gates is walking to his car one day and spots a bill lying on the ground. How large a denomination must that bill have for it to be worth the 10 seconds it would take Mr. Gates to bend over, pick it up, and place it into his wallet? Answer: $10,000.

For some folks, the time it takes to whip out their checkbook costs them more than the $10K that guitar would. At that level, $5K, $10K, even $25K is all the same. Why should PRS, Fender, or Gibson leave that much money on the table?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

There are things in this world worth getting bent out of shape about. For me, a guitar that somebody else buys with their own money is not one of them. Some people spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on extra kids they don't really need. None of it is my business.

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

Q: 'how did you come up with this great song/riff/solo'?
A: 'well, I wrote it on my Private Reserve PRS, wouldn't have happened with a standard production line guitar'

Said no one ever

 

[kilphody]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

Money is relative.

Bill Gates is walking to his car one day and spots a bill lying on the ground. How large a denomination must that bill have for it to be worth the 10 seconds it would take Mr. Gates to bend over, pick it up, and place it into his wallet? Answer: $10,000.

For some folks, the time it takes to whip out their checkbook costs them more than the $10K that guitar would. At that level, $5K, $10K, even $25K is all the same. Why should PRS, Fender, or Gibson leave that much money on the table?

People with unlimited resources don't care what anything costs. They want, they get. Why not a pretty PRS for 10K or a 59 LP for 70K?
PC

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

Q: 'how did you come up with this great song/riff/solo'?
A: 'well, I wrote it on my Private Reserve PRS, wouldn't have happened with a standard production line guitar'

Said no one ever

How much did your nicest guitar cost? Tell us about all the great songs you've played on it that you couldn't play on a less expensive guitar.

How much did your car cost? Tell us about all the great places you've gone where you couldn't have driven in a less expensive vehicle.

How big is your house? Tell us about all the great times you've spent with your family that couldn't have happened in a more modest home.

I don't mean to pick on you specifically. I thought about this a lot on the drive home, about how jealousy and cognitive dissonance play into threads like this. Personally, I try not to get jealous or even use the "sour grapes" strategy in resolving my thoughts or feelings about what others have. I try to be happy with what I have without relying on negative thoughts about those with less or those with more.

Guess what, guys -- this is all relative. Each of us is going to look like a king or a peasant compared to somebody. Some players will tell you that a new MIA Strat is an ostentatious waste of money. But that probably won't be the guy who just bought one. Most of us are self-appointed determiners of the precise location of that line between "really nice guitar" and "crazy ridiculous not worth it psycho expensive". And, we tend to draw that line somewhere north of what we're willing to spend ourselves.

It's just like driving on the freeway; everybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and everyone driving faster than you is a maniac. Nobody's luxury sports car could possibly be worth the money, because you'd rather spend it on a nice house. Well, the driver of that nice car probably has a nice house, too. Probably makes a lot more money than we do. So? We have our money, and we do the best we can to take care of our needs with it. I think you'll find most of us are in the same situation in that regard.

 

[kilphody]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

I live in motels and play 10k guitars. When I was in Paris I stayed at the GeorgeV and wrote a hit single on a guitar I bought on the street for 5 Francs.
PC

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

LOL! interesting dialog! Yes Evan, my point exactly! And Im in NO way bashing on people with means buying nice things. If you save for it, earn it or what have you, enjoy it how you wish. If I had the means, Id surely have either an exotic sports car or an expensive classic muscle car. All I was wondering, is at what level, does it go from being a better or nicer made guitar, than just an ornament or collectors piece? PRS for example.. Thier SE lines play and sound really good and are gigged with often these days. The regular PRS lines are supposed to be better. Those are say $2200-3500. Is a $9000 dollar PRS going to be a better player, or just a collectable with exotic woods and inlays for beauty? I suck the same if Im playing my squier or my most expensive guitar. Im both proud of and embarassed when I play my more expensive guitars. Cuz Im not player enough for some that I have. I do feel the difference between certain levels of build quality. But, unless I was collecting, I dont think there would be much if any benefit to my playing to spend $9000 for a guitar. If it would instantly make me have Pagey's skills, then Id sell a kidney... And, also, Ive seen a million times on forums that it makes a better impression when you show up to a gig with pro tools. I just wonder at what point does it go from having a great tool, to having an ornament?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

ProTools?

 

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

How much did your nicest guitar cost? Tell us about all the great songs you've played on it that you couldn't play on a less expensive guitar.

That's the thing - beyond minimal quality there are diminishing returns. There are guitars that are bad enough to have negative impact on your playing. My nicest guitar isn't my most expensive guitar, BTW. And hey, I own only two guitars...

How much did your car cost? Tell us about all the great places you've gone where you couldn't have driven in a less expensive vehicle.

How big is your house? Tell us about all the great times you've spent with your family that couldn't have happened in a more modest home.

You can always look at the stuff you own and think that you can do with less... or more... this is somewhat pointless as it could be taken to any direction, at will.

I don't mean to pick on you specifically. I thought about this a lot on the drive home, about how jealousy and cognitive dissonance play into threads like this. Personally, I try not to get jealous or even use the "sour grapes" strategy in resolving my thoughts or feelings about what others have. I try to be happy with what I have without relying on negative thoughts about those with less or those with more.

Where did you read any negative thoughts about others in my post? I didn't call them 'Blues Lawyers' or anything. They could be my favorite musicians or friends... people are entitled to their own opinion... if they have spent $10k on a guitar I hope they had a philosophy behind it. I am entitled to have a philosophy about why I don't need it. If anyone asks me I would tell them what I'd do... and the OP asked...

Guess what, guys -- this is all relative. Each of us is going to look like a king or a peasant compared to somebody. Some players will tell you that a new MIA Strat is an ostentatious waste of money. But that probably won't be the guy who just bought one. Most of us are self-appointed determiners of the precise location of that line between "really nice guitar" and "crazy ridiculous not worth it psycho expensive". And, we tend to draw that line somewhere north of what we're willing to spend ourselves.

There's north and then of course there's outer space.

It's just like driving on the freeway; everybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and everyone driving faster than you is a maniac. Nobody's luxury sports car could possibly be worth the money, because you'd rather spend it on a nice house. Well, the driver of that nice car probably has a nice house, too. Probably makes a lot more money than we do. So? We have our money, and we do the best we can to take care of our needs with it. I think you'll find most of us are in the same situation in that regard.

If someone is driving 7 or 8 times faster than I am, then yes, he's a maniac, and will probably have problems staying attached to the surface. If someone spends more money than I do on anything - it's his right... however there is a point where it starts looking a little funny.

And jealousy is really not the case here. If the oil billionaires of the UAE want to build their houses on artificial islands do you think that I don't like it because I'm jealous or because I consider it to be just a little over the top??? (even if one ignores the damage to environment, and literally throwing money in to the ocean). Really, if someone else here agrees that this is stupid, is he also jealous?

 

[kilphody]

Re: Big money guitars? IE PRS Private reserve etc..

It's not the guitar. It's you. If you have the inherent ability.. just twitch a rubber band.
PC