Gibson Guitars Prices

[Boston Joe]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

buy used....plain and simple.

I couldn't agree more... Wait! I CAN agree more... :laugh2:

I have had much better luck purchasing used guitars due primarily to that break in period where you'll know it the instrument is a player and has resolved any inherent issues. New guitars seem to have too many surprises that they want to spring on you within a year from the intial purchase ("Surprise! My pickups went bad" "Surprise! My paint wants to peel!" "Surprise! My, hardware corrodes at 51% humidity" "Surprise! My wood just concluded that it would prefer to revert to it's original pre-milled state!") Not the rule, of course-- but at least with a used instrument, the problems have (hopefully) revealed themselves to the previous owner. Some used instruments can still present unforeseeable issues, but at half the cost. And you can usually flip them at no loss.

Oh-- and you may suddenly be treated like a pariah by the owners of the music if you come back complaining about some issues with your new purchase. Again, not always-- many of them are more than happy to appease you (heck, some pawn shops I frequented even have a 30 day warranty on instruments).

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

funny that some will pay $3k+ for a Gibson and change the pickups. For that price, you should be able to get the guitar you want and not have to replace anything.

Excellent point. There must be something magical about the combination of the letters G-I-B-S-O-N that makes all logic go out the door.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

Now that I own a Les Paul, every time I walk into a guitar store I head for the LP's and compare them to the one I have.

When did you get a Les Paul? I didn't know you had one.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

I'd love to bag on them, except when I pick mine up, realizing my non-Gibsons and Fenders are all in their cases in the closet, it makes it kinda difficult. I guess just play what you want. Pauls n Strats for me. :13:

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

When did you get a Les Paul? I didn't know you had one.

He bought a 2003 LP Standard in LightBurst finish from TattooedCarrot a while back....... :dance: I'm interested in seeing pics of it myself. I love checkin out the different wood grain patterns on their maple tops.... :newangel: :32:

 

[Nite_Maresz_25]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

Gibson Guitars Prices

{on the higher end models when their isn't a sale} IS ****EN OUTRAGOUS!

I say a wine red les paul (looked like a standard) with gold hardware today at guitarcenter for 3000$
But then again i also say a sg faded special (brown) for 400.(nice guitar btw)

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

When did you get a Les Paul? I didn't know you had one.

Yup, bought TC's 03' Standard Lightburst. Gibson says it's Desert Burst, but it looks Honey Burst to me and has the letters "LB" in the front control cavity, so go figure. It's an awsome example of a LP.

I'll take some pics tomorrow providing the sun comes out and post em' up.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

Yup, bought TC's 03' Standard Lightburst. Gibson says it's Desert Burst, but it looks Honey Burst to me and has the letters "LB" in the front control cavity, so go figure. It's an awsome example of a LP.

I'll take some pics tomorrow providing the sun comes out and post em' up.

What in the hell does TC even own anymore? lol
I had no idea you'd bought one. I saw the pics of it in the test area. It looks good man.

 

[frankencat]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

Yep, I have been on a personal Gibson "boycott" for about 4 or 5 years now and after owning and playing LP's for 20 years before that I can honestly say that if I never owned or played another one it would not be a big deal. They are SO overpriced and the quality is spotty at best. There are Japanese and Korean mfgrs that are making totally playable guitars that are every bit the instrument that Gibsons are for as low as 25% of the price of an LP. YMMV.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

I've got three Historic Reissue Les Pauls right now. I'mmaking up for your boycott.

I've yet to play any guitar, I mean ANY guitar, including my much beloved old PRS McCarty that I sold to T4D, that stacks up to any of my Reissues. I wanted the PRS to be a Gibson in tone and it's not. So I sold it and bougth more Gibsons.

When you find that tone that tickles you inside, you hang onto it. For me, it's nothing but a Les Paul these days.

Tonight I went out and played my old beat to crap MIM Strat and a rather recent Hwy 1 Tele. Should sell them both as they don't do it for me any longer. Just don't do anything for me. It's amazing.

I've got a Godin LGp90 at my office and it's a great little guitar, but it's there in case someone breaks in and steals it, I've not lost much.

You guys keep on boycotting Gibson. I'll keep buying them. You can have my fair share of the Asian guitars. I don't want any of them.

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

Yup, bought TC's 03' Standard Lightburst. Gibson says it's Desert Burst, but it looks Honey Burst to me and has the letters "LB" in the front control cavity, so go figure.

It is in fact a lightburst (hence the LB scratch), and that's what it's referred to on Gibson's website. The deserburst is much darker, and much browner. Here's the link to Gibson's page that shows the various colors, the lightburst example is your guitar almost dead-on.

http://www.gibson.com/products/gibson/lespaul/Standard02.html

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

I didn't really "get it" until I bought one that was made perfectly right. I'm seriously blown away by the guitar. It looks simple, but unplugged it's so loud and the pickups are really amazing stock. I was going to buy some Harmonic Design VP90s, but I can't do it now (I love them too much). I've never played a guitar quite like this one and I know it's going to be my main player. It's not the name, it's the tone... and that speaks for itself.

I was quick to dismiss Gibson, especially after the Les Paul Standard I had a long time ago (some of you may remember that), but this makes up for everything. It does something to me inside when I play, it's like I've found an old friend or remembered an old pleasant memory from my past. I pick it up and it sounds, feels, and looks right to me and there's no other explanation for it. A lot of Gibsons I've played were terrible, but this one is un-freakin'-believable.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

It is in fact a lightburst (hence the LB scratch), and that's what it's referred to on Gibson's website. The deserburst is much darker, and much browner. Here's the link to Gibson's page that shows the various colors, the lightburst example is your guitar almost dead-on.

http://www.gibson.com/products/gibson/lespaul/Standard02.html

It's amazing how we each see the same thing just a little different. To my eyes, the LB pic on the Gibson website looks more like a washed HC sunburst. There really is no red in the burst that I bought from you, at least to my eyes. I saw the LB scratch in the neck pup cavity, and the L5+ in the bridge pup cavity.

So I e-mailed Gibson with the Serial # and the markings in the bridge cavity, and they told me it was:

A 2003 Gibson Les Paul Standard 50's neck in Desert Burst. The "+" means nothing as far as customer service knows.

I don't think the guitar is desert burst at all....not nearly dark enough. So right here is a small example of perhaps Gibson not even knowing EXACTLY what they assign to serial #'s. It's all interesting and meaningless at the same time....I don't care if Gibson called the color of my LP "Puke Ass Redneck Drunken Bastard Throw Up Brown"....it's still the EXACT color I have always wanted in a Les Paul.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

....You guys keep on boycotting Gibson. I'll keep buying them. You can have my fair share of the Asian guitars. I don't want any of them.

+1

 

[Davey]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

well, i havent played a real gibson yet .. touched one, yes, but they didnt allowme to play it (bastards)

and i rather like this color
http://www.gibson.com/products/gibson/lespaul/images/lp5+6+dbnh_wall.jpg

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

People are fine with those instruments because more often than not, you get what you pay for. You get premium wood from experienced luthiers and they are usually flawless... try finding that on most Gibsons .

Yeah, after posting that I figured it was more of a quality control thing than the plopping down of $3000.00 & then changing out the nut, pickups, tuners etc.....

I think used is the way to go when it comes to any high end guitar. I'm still under a $1000.00 on every guitar I own....the MIA Brian Moore C-55 I got in a trade...for a MIM FENDER STRAT!!!

If I made a living at playing music, I would want the best tool available....for my purposes though, my gear works just fine for me.

...........That's not to say that if the right Gibby came along for a good price, I wouldn't jump on it. I almost jumped on TC's before Jeff beat me to it!!! :wink:

 

[jabsalt]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

i have a '97 Gibson LP Standard and after hearing all the ranting about the reissues I went to try some, my little old standard has more resonance, more articulation than these reissues. i'm pretty much done with all major manufacturers. i think the best bang for the buck are the small custom luthiers who although charge 2-3k for their axes actually care about their product, you get to speak to the actual builder and end up with a quality item. i'm happy with my LP but i'm done with them anyway. :nono:

 

[Stratcat]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

I've got three Historic Reissue Les Pauls right now. I'mmaking up for your boycott.

I've yet to play any guitar, I mean ANY guitar, including my much beloved old PRS McCarty that I sold to T4D, that stacks up to any of my Reissues. I wanted the PRS to be a Gibson in tone and it's not. So I sold it and bougth more Gibsons.

When you find that tone that tickles you inside, you hang onto it. For me, it's nothing but a Les Paul these days.

Tonight I went out and played my old beat to crap MIM Strat and a rather recent Hwy 1 Tele. Should sell them both as they don't do it for me any longer. Just don't do anything for me. It's amazing.

I've got a Godin LGp90 at my office and it's a great little guitar, but it's there in case someone breaks in and steals it, I've not lost much.

You guys keep on boycotting Gibson. I'll keep buying them. You can have my fair share of the Asian guitars. I don't want any of them.

Different strokes for different folks, The fact of the matter is, some of the Asian Les Pauls are built better than the new Gibson guitars being made today, for a lot less money. I am glad that you have that much money to spend on new Gibsons Scott.

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

It's amazing how we each see the same thing just a little different. To my eyes, the LB pic on the Gibson website looks more like a washed HC sunburst. There really is no red in the burst that I bought from you, at least to my eyes. I saw the LB scratch in the neck pup cavity, and the L5+ in the bridge pup cavity.

So I e-mailed Gibson with the Serial # and the markings in the bridge cavity, and they told me it was:

A 2003 Gibson Les Paul Standard 50's neck in Desert Burst. The "+" means nothing as far as customer service knows.

I don't think the guitar is desert burst at all....not nearly dark enough. So right here is a small example of perhaps Gibson not even knowing EXACTLY what they assign to serial #'s. It's all interesting and meaningless at the same time....I don't care if Gibson called the color of my LP "Puke Ass Redneck Drunken Bastard Throw Up Brown"....it's still the EXACT color I have always wanted in a Les Paul.

Definately an error. Desert Burst has black around the edges of the the flamed maple top and is more of a darker brown in the center of the maple top. I don't see how they could have made a recording error like that. LightBurst and DesertBurst look nothing alike. I could understand a mixup with other colors that are offered in the standard series but it amazes me how badly someone can mess up and mistake LightBurst for DesertBurst. Perhaps the person who records the serial numbers and colors of each guitar at the Gibson factory needs to get themselves a pair of glasses...... :smack:

 

[muttonchopsrule]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

See, that's where I gotta disagree. Yes, the good ones are hard to beat, but it seems like almost every one they turn out these days has something wrong with it. No guitar should ever need a new nut or a fret level straight from the factory. If Gibson had the quality level that their pricing indicates they should, this wouldn't be an issue. New PRS's and Hamers are expensive, but no one ever complains about their prices because they have the top-notch quality to back it up. When you buy one of those, you know you're getting one of the best instruments money can buy. When you buy a Gibson, you just hope the strap buttons aren't screwed in at an angle and that there are no permanent marker lines in the finish. :smack:

Ryan

i'd have to go with TattooedCarrot on this one...although i've only owned one gibson thus far, i haven't run into any problems with it. it looks excellent, plays excellent, and sounds excellent. i was even hesitant to put the JB in it because it sounded really good stock (but i had the money so what the hell, right?). trust me, i know what you're talking about though, i've seen people bring gibsons into my local shop to have the nut repaired because the low E or high E strings would slip right out of the nut slots. that kind of crap shouldn't happen, but as long as you've looked over every possible aspect of the instrument before you pay for it and insured that everything is how it should be, then there's no reason that you shouldn't be getting your money's worth.