Gibson Guitars Prices

[Jeff_H]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

I've been as harsh a critic about Gibson quality as anyone....yet still I wanted one, but a good one. Even the guys over at the LP forum, who are as fanatic about Les Pauls as we are about Duncan Pickups, bash Gibson quality on a regular basis. Does Gibson need better quality control? Absolutely. Should a $2000 Standard need a nut job and a fret level...no.

With all that said, I got my hands on a fantastic example of Gibson quality, and I couldn't be happier. I adjusted the action to my own taste, installed some quality pickups and the result is magic. There is something about a properly set up LP through a Marshall that is tough to beat.

Remember, the majority of people who buy Les Pauls are nowhere near as picky as we are here. Most probably play with action much higer than those of us here. With the action set high, the nut cut and frets don't seem nearly as bad. And really, the bottom line speaks for itself...Gibson is selling a ton of Les Pauls. Standards, Classics, RI's, custom shop models. There is no shortage of demand. They'll continue to charge what people will pay. I personally prefer to buy used, but for my next LP (57RI GT) I'll likely find a good shop like the one Curly bought, and have them find me a perfect one.

Food for thought.

 

[ankalar]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

I'd love to own a nice Les Paul, but I'd take a Hardtail over it any day.

 

[Stratcat]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

You know what Gibson can do these days with their guitars? :newangel: :fing25:

10 4 Good Buddy. :22:

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

Just a quick question/observation:

Why are we so set to jump on the price of a new Gibson, but everyone is fine with the cost of a PRS, Grosh, Anderson, Suhr, McNaught, Melancon etc etc etc.....???

 

[nuntius]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

Just a quick question/observation:

Why are we so set to jump on the price of a new Gibson, but everyone is fine with the cost of a PRS, Grosh, Anderson, Suhr, McNaught, Melancon etc etc etc.....???

You don't really get threads about quality slipping on those... It's very very rare I've heard anyone complain about the quality of a PRS. You always get people who say they don't like them, but not with people saying they have some of the quality issues we've heard about Gibsons.

Edit: In fact, if I'm honest, I've don't recall hearing any critiscisms on quality on those guitars.

Gibson (with the exception of maybe PRS) is a far far larger name than any of those... Even many non-guitarists have heard of a Gibson Les Paul. That will open them up to a larger base for critiscism with anything they do, because they have such a huge reputation to uphold..

Thats my view on it anyway...

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

Just a quick question/observation:

Why are we so set to jump on the price of a new Gibson, but everyone is fine with the cost of a PRS, Grosh, Anderson, Suhr, McNaught, Melancon etc etc etc.....???

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

With that said, the right dealer will give you a quality Gibson at a good price (a couple hundred less than MF). One dealer I've dealt with recently is Centre City Music in San Diego. I dealt with the owner Saul over the phone and not only was his customer service top notch, but the product he gave me was as well. I'd be lying if I said that the '60 RI Les Paul Special doesn't resonate as well as the Grosh I've sworn by. It sounds amazing unplugged and the binding, grain of the wood, and pickups are amazing... enough to make it my main player.

 

[Johtosotku]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

I gotta say this from working at a big chain music store there for awhile...Gibson has had some major quality control problems with some of their lines...If I pay 3k or more for a 58,59,or 60 historic reissue LP,it had better be better than perfect! That's still alot of money to shell out and have high action because the nut was cut crappy....I've seen this issue in more than one instance...You don't see this with the Heritage Les Pauls made at the Kalamazoo Old Gibson factory today..I think Gibson is currently chopping their own head's off with the current ways they are choosing to do business with stores that have been carrying their line for many years...Don't beat me up cause this is just my opinion...We all have em! :13:

Value for money is an entirely different and purely subjective thing, often very influenced by the financial wellbeing of the person in question.

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

The prices that Gibson Guitar is charging these days is Outrageous!
This company no longer caters to the working musician, but to rich collectors and millionares. Gibson will never get another cent of my hard earned money!

They don't want your hard earned money, they're after the easy come - easy go deep pockets of those other guys.

 

[TattooedCarrot]

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've owned a lot (and I meant a lot) of Gibsons, and while I've had to deal with a couple lemons that should have never been, the QC issues are nowhere as bad as the nay-sayers would have you believe.

 

[A Skater]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

I've played a Gibson SG and I think it's Gibson's best guitar. I've played an LP, and I find it heavy and overrated. I wanted to try out Tom DeLonge's Gibson until I came up with a conclusion.

The TD model is $2,000+. I can just build my own custom, for a lot less, and be happier than having paid those 2,000+ dollars. Conclusion? I wouldn't pay that much for a Gibson, especially with so many flaws. I'd rather give that money to a good guitar brand like PRS, which may be overpriced, but the quality is perfect.

 

[Old Ghost]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

are they of good quality? definitely

Nope. Not always.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

Gibson sued PRS and I thought that sucked...You do hear about people that don't like the PRS product,but quality control isn't a problem when you buy a PRS....

John

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

hey john, where did you get that Tokai love rock and how much was it?

How's the quality of everything on it? I'm really digging that lester!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

hey john, where did you get that Tokai love rock and how much was it?

How's the quality of everything on it? I'm really digging that lester!

You had to ask so here goes! LOL....

Got the guitar off E Bay(Where else)...The guitar was only allowed to be sold outside of the USA because it has the exact same headstock shape and appointments of a 59 Gibson Les Paul...It's a 2001 LE Lefty that came to me from Canada and I payed $1200 for it including the customs taxes when I received it...The guitar was excellent before I did anything to it,as were the original nickel covered PAF copy pickups(Now in my buddie's Kramer)...

I put a vintage bone nut on it,Duncan 59 in the neck and a Hybrid A5 C/59B in the bridge...The original 3 way switch was hokey and was replaced with an actual Gibson 3 way...I also upgraded the mini pots with all CTS 500K pots and Sprague orange drops on the tone controls...Amazingly enough my guitar has the same weight(Around 9 lbs)and feel of a high end Gibson...The body and neck are mahogany and the top is sycamore maple(I THINK?)...I bought mine brand new and it came with a Hamer Plush case..I Love this guitar and it plays and sounds as great as it looks...It's a lefty and I'm very fortunate to own it... :dance: I have no problems keeping this guitar in tune and it looks like it has actual Kluson vintage green knobbed tuners without a Kluson stamping? The Tokai stuff is very close to the real deal and just a great guitar..Their stuff has been this way for many many years now!

 

[Stratcat]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

They don't want your hard earned money, they're after the easy come - easy go deep pockets of those other guys.

It is sad but true bro. :smack:

 

[nepalnt21]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

would you like to own one? yes

not me. i take a fender over a gibson any day.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

buy used....plain and simple.

 

[Mincer]

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.

 

[Stratcat]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

buy used....plain and simple.

Good advice. :wink:

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Gibson Guitars Prices

It's kind of unfair to compare Gibson to McNaught, Shure, or other small batch semi-custom or custom builders. Of course if you commission even a semi-custom guitar you should get all of the appointments you want.

Gibson is (for the most part) a standard line, standard product offering company, just like PRS. Many, many people change things on PRS guitars....specifically pickups and the old non-adjustable stoptail/bridge combo's, the same as they do on Gibson. Do I think that for $2k Gibsons should come with upgrades such as locking tuners, lightweight aluminum tail pieces and locking bridges, yes.

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. I must say that in the short time I've had mine and been in guitar stores, the quality seems to be on the upturn. Again, I was as harsh a critic about Gibson quality as anyone. Is my opinion skewed because I own one now, maybe, maybe not. But I do see better fretwork and finish one the standard models and up.