Gibson Last straw...

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B

BloodRose

Professional Scapegoat
First, let me apologize for another flame thread.. But PLEASE read to my main point and tell me if you agree..
First, their prices nauseate me. It is it really feasable to go up no less than $300 per year? AND most of the models in the catalogs now are at least $3000-4000. Sad, cuz I love my Gibsons. But.. Ill never buy another..

Here is the final blow.. Im looking at a car magazine today and see a pic of an old Explorer (with bigsby, yuck)... The ad talks about how a guy bought this for his son for $247.50 (something like that) way back when and just auctioned it off for $611,000. And the whole thing is about how they are collectable and you could be half a million richer for buying a Gibson.. And to invest, call your local dealer..
NOWHERE does it discuss that they make music, or that they play good or anything.. You remember "only a Gibson is good enough"?? This says to me that they ONLY want the collector willing to dole out obscene money and prob doesnt care if it plays worth a crap or not.
I dunno, makes me hot and makes me understand more why I dont like to pick them up at the shops any more cuz they dissappoint me. But hey, they look great in the glass cases... :33:
 
Re: Gibson Last straw...

ive never been a huge gibson fan. originally it had nothing to do with the company, just never picked up a gibson that i bonded with. i think i prefer the strat or prs scale lengths. anyways, these days, even if i loved gibson, i would never buy one. i completely agree that they are overpriced and considering the number of LPs ive seen for 2000+ that have some serious QC issues....its disgusting.

as for the buying to make money later...im not against that. if some1 wants to pay me half a million for some vintage gibson then let them, lol. if im not playing it then ill happily take their money and laugh. people collect all sorts of things with the idea of reselling or passing down to their kids so they can sell them or whatever, no reason why they shouldnt do it with guitars.
 
Re: Gibson Last straw...

That's why I'm a Fender guy. I'd like to have a Gibson, though... to take a doodage on. How 'bout you eat THAT, Henry?
 
Re: Gibson Last straw...

Ayrton said:
Wow, I am dying to hear what Explorer brought $600k.
Click to expand...

It's probably an original '58-60. They made less than 100 of them and they go for insane prices on the collector market. In terms of rarity, there are 10-20 bursts for each original Explorer.
 
Re: Gibson Last straw...

FWIW, a 50's Limba Explorer selling for $600k is a pretty good price, I've seen them bring more...they are more rare than 50's Les Pauls BY FAR

Anyway on to the topic...like it or not, vintage guitars have become something investers look at. The insane price increase in 50's Les Pauls in the past 10 years alone is amazing from an investment stand point. I don't like it one bit but it is what it is.

On the price issue, look at the prices of ALL guitars...they are all going up. I see Tele's and Strats all day long for $3000+ and no body seems to have a problem with that at all...

If you want a Gibson buy one if you have issues with their QC, selling prices, adds, investment points of view, whatever simply don't buy a Gibson or learn to swallow whatever issues you have and get one.
 
Re: Gibson Last straw...

Wow. Makes me happy I bought my 1986 Les Paul Custom for $450 back in 1990. Looks like it's worth it for me to get it refretted and possibly refinished at the prices they're going for now.
 
Re: Gibson Last straw...

Yep, glad I bought my guitars and amps when I did. Bought my Studio with case new for around $1,100.00 and bought my Standard with case used for $1,600.00.

I'll experimant with pickups here and there but as far as anymore big dollar items are concerned, I'm glad to know that I'm done with all of that.
 
Re: Gibson Last straw...

Ayrton said:
Wow, I am dying to hear what Explorer brought $600k.
Click to expand...

Ill dig up the ad tommorrow.. It appears to be Korina or natural anyhow, has a Bigsby and a tacky little black plastic signplate with white letters stuck on the front that says Custom model
 
Re: Gibson Last straw...

Yeah i don't like Gibson as a company. I read they're currently owned by two Harvard graduate lawyers...so it makes sense they're just trying to appeal to money.

However, as guitars, Gibsons are extremely hard to beat. They just sound RIGHT...

Luckily there are still a few obscure, weird ones out there for decent prices...got my SG-X a little over a year ago and it was only $600...i really hope the value of these guitars keep going up so that i can retire early or something.

But I have to wonder how much of the apparent 'price gouging' is being caused by the weak U.S. economy...
 
Re: Gibson Last straw...

My 77 Les Paul is a rock solid guitar. I only had to have the guitar set up once and never had to touch the truss rod or the intoneation.

I like all my guitars - mostly Fenders, Gibsons, Carvins. I agree that Gibson could do better on marketing. Trying to fool the public about their new (cheap arse) finishes makes me laugh.
 
Re: Gibson Last straw...

I love Les Pauls. The guitars are fantastic, the pickups are fantastic. I didn't pay more than 1800 when I bought both my LP standards new so probably never will spend more than that on a Gibby when I can get a PRS. At least with PRS I can get similar sounds, less bulk and a better deal!
 
Re: Gibson Last straw...

I have no opinion on guitars as investments.

If, however, you're buying one to play Gibson's prices are bordering on outrageous for off-the-rack gear. There are *very* good builders out there who will build you a killer guitar to your specs for $2k. Move on up into what seems to be the typical Gibson price range these days and you can get a guitar from a well-known builder that'll absolutely blow the doors off just about any Gibson out there. It all depends on how important the name on the headstock is to you.

But really it's no big deal. There are more choices in good to great gear at lower prices than ever before. Gibson should be all but irrelevant to players, they're the Harley Davidson of the guitar world: lower quality and far higher prices than their competitors but with a solid enough brand to get away with it ... for now.
 
Re: Gibson Last straw...

Whine and moan as much as you want about Gibson, but when you play one that fits, there's not much out there that can top it.
 
Re: Gibson Last straw...

Rid said:
Dats dem bombshell news doodz...
Too me those planks are still just friggin tools.
Click to expand...

yup, i love my guitars but i use them to make music and deflect flying beer bottles, not as investment pieces or for bragging rights, maybe as a club to wack a moron or two but its been a while since i had to do that.
 
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