Gibson Last straw...

[metlking]

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.

Yep, I found mine 20 years ago and never found anything to top it! It just fits me. It's worn and beat up and you couldn't offer me enough money to let it go...........I'll take it to the grave! Sure, they're not for everyone and thats a good thing. There's plenty of different guitars to satisfy everybodys needs. I wouldn't buy a new Gibson, too expensive. Maybe a Les Paul Jr or SG Classic. I bought mine in the late 80's for less than $600, and I bought several others that I still have and play on occasion. I love to watch them appreciate in value!

It's not just new Gibsons that go up in price every year, look around you!

 

[lex666]

Re: Gibson Last straw...

Yeah, but will recent production models increase in resale value? I know they won't bring in 1/2 million dollars, but will the value of each recent production model increase each year - just like the "new" price goes up every year?

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Gibson Last straw...

Yeah, but will recent production models increase in resale value?

If they follow the trend of Norlins, yes.

 

[The Golden Boy]

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.

And Gibson was financially gone when Henry bought it.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Gibson Last straw...

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

Those "tacky little black plastic signplates" were to cover up the tailpiece stud holes.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Gibson Last straw...

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.

If memory serves, there were about 20 of the original Explorers made, and around 100 Flying V's in 1958. Both flopped within months & were discontinued. An original Explorer is about as rare as a production guitar as there is, and priced accordingly. $600,000 shouldn't come as a surprise.

I think there were 1,700 burst made, 1958-1960.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Gibson Last straw...

Don t get me wrong..
1) Gibson guitars can be great.. I LOVE mine.

2)Yes, everything is going up in price.. Gas sure is... But it seems they go up just to milk the market. Quality seems to be in decline. Most of the standards and above Ive played have felt like they have poor fit and finish. Except the $4000 big ticket ones. Its Like the only ones they care about are the "collectable pieces".

3) I have no qualms with the old rare ones appreciating. Good ..

My beef is with the fact that it just seems they arent about players anymore. even the ad I saw was "collect me". And as I said, most that Ive played lately that the shops will let me touch without filling out a financial affidavit, have felt like they were skimped on..

Yes, I know there are some factors. Better wood, US employees get more money, but think about it...
You can get a Shecter, Mahogany with mahog set neck, Grover, tone pros, Duncan or EMGS with better fit and finish for 1/4 -1/2 the price.
I know there are differences, I have and have played both. But is there $2000 difference in just the wood?
I have a Micheal Kelly that is mahog/mahog neck, Real maple cap (flame veneer over it) Abalone inlays, EBONY board, great frets, grovers, tone pros bridge and tail, quality pickups. It plays great, sounds great. ( several people have even told me it sounds better than my Gibson) The neck doesnt have the hand cut waves down the sides. The wires inside were neatly bundled with a zip tie and cavity shielded. These can be had for $399 boys and girls..
Not going to appreciate, but I can play the hell out of it and not worry I might sweat on it..

A ugly Zakk Wylde V for $4500???? Need I say any more???

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Gibson Last straw...

sorry ya'll.. That turned into a full on rant... Im feeling much better now....:dance:

 

[kherman]

Re: Gibson Last straw...

Thanks goodness for
Edwards
Burny
Bacchus
Tokai


Most manufacturers increase a little bit each year.
Maybe $50 or so.

But, between the March M.F. catalog and the July M.F. catalog the Gibby LP Standard '50 has went from $2299 to $2529.

That's a $230 increase.


The LP Classic has increased by $290.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Gibson Last straw...

Yes, I know there are some factors. Better wood, US employees get more money, but think about it...You can get a Shecter, Mahogany with mahog set neck, Grover, tone pros, Duncan or EMGS with better fit and finish for 1/4 -1/2 the price. I know there are differences, I have and have played both. But is there $2000 difference in just the wood?

I really don't think their wood, frets, and finish are worth $2,000 or $3,000, and I don't think you'd see the average guitarist paying that for a stripped-down Gibson. But if the hardware & PU's are worth around $300, you're paying the difference for the wood.

Maybe the poor economy will bring Gibson back to reality in their pricing.

 

[Uk Ant]

Re: Gibson Last straw...

That's why I own Tokai's

And don't talk to me about the price of gas, petrol is about £5 ($10) a gallon over here.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Gibson Last straw...

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.

I'd like to know what the heck Gibson's gotta do with the auction price...

You can have an excellent CS Gibson instrument for less than a three grand. Most private Luthiers will charge you about that much for a Custom instrument.

The only reason I can think of ranting like this is that wasn't YOU the one that got rich for selling a rare vintage instrument.

In my case, I'm proud of modding cheap but good instruments and getting'em to sound great, and in some cases even bring'em to the same league of CS instruments.

Pepe aka Lt. Kojak
Milano, Italy

 

[KeeperOS]

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.

Erm, I beg to differ...

Case no.1:

(picture needs replacing but just when everything was done I broke the tone pot's ears while trying to install a new knob :9
2000 Fender MiM Std Strat, paid 150.000 drx (about 440€) for it and over the years about 450 more in upgrades (not counting tech fees). Right now all it needs is the in-the-works SDUGF P-90-in-a-Strat at its' neck and it's gonna be perfect. No compromise, and all that for under a grand.
The ultimate blues/rock machine, everything perfect (for me).

Case no.2

(now this photo might not be very good but at least it's the latest it could be, it has the floyd I am going to install tomorrow:9
Bought a couple of months ago for a mere 300€, just a couple of days ago I spent 380€ for a complete electronics overhaul using only the BEST I could get my hands on and tomorrow I'll spend 160€ more for the black Gotoh and maybe another 80€ for new tuners.
For a total of 920€ (again less than a grand) I will have (always IMO) the ultimate, perfect shred/metal axe. Again, exactly what I want/how I want it. No compromise!

My point of course is that your statement would be right if you replaced "one" (as in Gibson) with "the one guitar":

"when you play the one guitar that fits, there's not much out there that can top it."

That can be ANY guitar from ANY manufacturer and at ANY price point.
Thing is only Gibson cashes out those "maybes" in advance...

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Gibson Last straw...

Here´s how it´s always worked...

Gibson sells to rich guy who wants to be a musician. After it collects dust, he sells to buy Harley.

Musician buys for half price from rich guy, and then makes music with high quality guitar.

 

[DonP]

Re: Gibson Last straw...

The only reason I can think of ranting like this is that wasn't YOU the one that got rich for selling a rare vintage instrument.

+1 - sour grapes.

If you can't afford it, don't buy it. It's that simple. If people didn't buy, Gibson wouldn't sell, and they'd be out of business. Obviously they know what they are doing.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Gibson Last straw...

If you can't afford it, don't buy it. It's that simple. If people didn't buy, Gibson wouldn't sell, and they'd be out of business. Obviously they know what they are doing.

Forgive me if I don't confuse "good business" with "honest business"...

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Gibson Last straw...

How much more honest can they be?

Seriously, if people don't want to buy a Gibson, they don't have to. This day and age, you can walk into any well stocked music store and have at least 5 different brands to choose from. People buy Gibsons because they can afford them and because to them those guitars are worth it.

As far as my previous comment, I stand by it. Hate on Gibson all you want, but when you play that LP/SG/335/Byrdland/ that clicks with you, you'll not think of other guitars the same way.

Let me put it this way: Even though Gibson has taken a beating in QC lately and people are dissilusioned with them, they're still the standard, the measuring stick. Whenever ANYONE releases a set neck, mahogany, twin 'bucker axe, they're guaged by whether or not they're better or worse than a GIBSON Les Paul.

Not PRS. Not Hamer. Not Carvin. Not Fender or Schecter.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Gibson Last straw...

I'd like to know what the heck Gibson's gotta do with the auction price...

My point is that this seems like a greed ad.

You can have an excellent CS Gibson instrument for less than a three grand. Most private Luthiers will charge you about that much for a Custom instrument.

Yeah, Id rather have a Jet or something.

The only reason I can think of ranting like this is that wasn't YOU the one that got rich for selling a rare vintage instrument.

Id have been thrilled if it were me... I dont have that kinda luck..:smack:


In my case, I'm proud of modding cheap but good instruments and getting'em to sound great, and in some cases even bring'em to the same league of CS instruments.

I do the same bro.. I have a Squier strat that a bud of mine who paid $1200 for a custom Fender back in the day, wanted to trade me cuz mine smoked his.
I have abunch of great playing axes with less invested than ONE of these Custom Shop gibsons
Pepe aka Lt. Kojak
Milano, Italy

KHerman,
True!! to the alternatives! True to the increases. Thats not inflation, thats rape.. You guys seen deliverence??


Yeah, Im man enough to admit that some of it is sour grapes. I ALWAYS dreamed of having a Black LP Custom. For a couple of years they were $1999. Then they went up alittle bit.. THEN.... Gibson decided to call them Custom shop models and CRANKED the price.. They didnt change the way they were made at all. Only the title and the price.

But then, the quality started to fall. Last black custom I played, had a price tag of well over $3000 and it didnt fell or play good..

Again, Im sorry to fan the flames. The can be great and I LOVE LOVE LOVE my explorer.. And my Paul is sweet too.. I just dont like the money hungry attitude..

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Gibson Last straw...

I don't have a problem with Gibson really. I bought all my Les Pauls used. I bought my SG's and Explorer from Musicians Friend. I bought my ES-135LE and Flying V from some other dealers.....And I just bought one of these new (about 20 minutes ago) for $899.

I've wanted one since they came out as a guitar of the week, but just wasn't up for paying the $1169 for it. I think I got a good deal. If I don't like it I'll send it back, but I know I'll like it.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Gibson Last straw...

How much more honest can they be?

Seriously, if people don't want to buy a Gibson, they don't have to. This day and age, you can walk into any well stocked music store and have at least 5 different brands to choose from. People buy Gibsons because they can afford them and because to them those guitars are worth it.

As far as my previous comment, I stand by it. Hate on Gibson all you want, but when you play that LP/SG/335/Byrdland/ that clicks with you, you'll not think of other guitars the same way.

Let me put it this way: Even though Gibson has taken a beating in QC lately and people are dissilusioned with them, they're still the standard, the measuring stick. Whenever ANYONE releases a set neck, mahogany, twin 'bucker axe, they're guaged by whether or not they're better or worse than a GIBSON Les Paul.

Not PRS. Not Hamer. Not Carvin. Not Fender or Schecter.

Well, sure, just like whenever somebody builds a bolt-on they are gauged according to how better/worse they are to a FENDER Strat/Tele/whatever.

But this is just the simple result of being the first company to introduce that specific product to the public.
But that's IT. Being the first, not the best.
I mean, anyone wanting the best Strat and knows what he's doing would definitely choose a Suhr, Tom Anderson or whatever while if he wanted to have the best Strat designed by Leo he'd buy a G&L.

However the people with the knowhow are the minority.
99.5% of the people that buy guitars STILL think that since Fender and Gibson were the first, they must also be the best, you know, kinda like the OFRs built today MUST be "better" than the Gotohs/Edges of today because, after all, OFR stands for Original Floyd Rose? *sneer*

I stand by my previous comment as well.
If there is one guy that can build something then there are at least another dozen or so fully capable of building it just as good, if not better than him.