@#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

[TheArchitect]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

Build a les paul clone through warmoth for less than $1000. Yes, that has to include the good quality pickups, finish, and fretwork.

You're guessing is completely off. I would venture to say a gibson standard is worth around $1300 for the quality. People who play guitar often froget that we're the lucky musicians, we don't have to pay $20k to have something descent.

Can't be done. First, they don't make setneck parts. Second you haven't considered the cost of a good tech to level frets, cut nuts etc. If you think any shmuck can do those things well without a good amount of experience your nuts.

 

[hareek]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

OK, a Standard is $2299.99 a GT is $2549.99, thats a total difference of $250. Now, the GT has different wiring with the factory push/pull pots, high pass filter and independent volume controls...Im not saying that those things are a major difference but it is more parts and more labor to wire them up. They also come with the flame on the face, no matter how ulgy you think it is it is again more materal and time to do it then it has an Ebony fingerboard, ebony costs a good bit more than rosewood. All in all I would say that $250 for those "upgrades" are just fine. If you don't like the flames why not just get a Stndard or even a Black or White Studio with an Ebony fingerboard.

Nobody complains about Fender guitars that are $2000-$3000 and those are alder and ash bodies with bolted on necks, nobody complains about the $2000+ guitars from Ibanez that have basswood bodies, or the $2000+ made in japan ESP guitars, the nearly $3000 made in japan Gretsch guitars, the close to (and over in some cases) $3000 Dean guitars...so why does everybody feel the need to hate Gibson?

you can get an american series strat for $900 or $1000 and its the exact same components and quality as the $2000 and $3000 jobs. Only fenders I know of that cost that much are specials, custom shop, or reissues, but not new standard stratocasters. Gibson isn't marketing a product much better than an american series strat when it comes to hardware and wood quality. Granted its a different sound and feel and some stuff is more expensive, its not $1500 to $2000 more expensive, IMO.

 

[hareek]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

The new epiphones suck and so do the new gibsons, and they are both a complete rippoff!

tell that to the beatles!

and sorry for these late posts everyone. I've been gone for a while and I'm trying to play catch-up.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

you can get an american series strat for $900 or $1000 and its the exact same components and quality as the $2000 and $3000 jobs. Only fenders I know of that cost that much are specials, custom shop, or reissues, but not new standard stratocasters. Gibson isn't marketing a product much better than an american series strat when it comes to hardware and wood quality. Granted its a different sound and feel and some stuff is more expensive, its not $1500 to $2000 more expensive, IMO.

The thing you run into is that there is a lot more time, and labor involved in setting in a neck and bolting on a neck. Same thing with Laminations.

With a strat you are looking at maple neck, alder/ash body, and a skunk stripe. That's 3 kinds of woods, only 1 small lamination on the neck and a 2-3 pieces of wood for the body, but you also have those all pre-laminated IIRC.

For a Gibson or similiar (and I say similiar because I'm taking up for lots of companies) you have a piece of mahogany for the body (more expensive than alder or ash) a piece of maple for the body (more cost) and then for the neck a piece of mahogany (barely more expensive unless you get a flamed neck) and then rosewood fingerboard (granted Fender does this too on request) then you pay for more elaborate inlays on the fingerboard, on the headstock you will have a Holly veneer (my Godin has this too) and on many model the name inlaid.

So all those things are going to add to the cost.....albeit not 3 times as much, but when you get to the Gibson Custom Shop you are paying for people doing more of the work, not CNC machines. Not that it's good or bad, it just is.

Luke

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

The Beatles played old Epiphones back in the day when they were well built guitars, and before Henry J/Greedy Rich Boy bought the company. Henry does'nt care about the working musician, all he cares about is his multimillion dollar bank account and supporting his cocaine habit.

I agree that the Beatles played OLD Epis which are very different guitars.

Now I don't like Henry either, but there is no need for personal attacks. He is simply practicing economics.

One thing we are overlooking consistently is the increasing worthlessness of our currency in the US. Which is one of the reasons for the cost increases. Raising minimum wage is going to exacebate the problem and raise the prices even more this next year.

Luke

 

[Wattage]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

What is with insulting people who play a certain type of guitar, this is really getting pitiful.

What has happened to this place lately?

 

[BloodRose]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

Nobody complains about Fender guitars that are $2000-$3000 and those are alder and ash bodies with bolted on necks, nobody complains about the $2000+ guitars from Ibanez that have basswood bodies, or the $2000+ made in japan ESP guitars, the nearly $3000 made in japan Gretsch guitars, the close to (and over in some cases) $3000 Dean guitars...so why does everybody feel the need to hate Gibson?

Ive never seen a $2000 Ibanez. Esp Japan makes great stuff that would be taylor made for that kinda money.

All companies have pricier offerings. But most have good stuff for reasonable line too.
ESP. LTD stuff is great at a working mans price.
Schecters are steep but they have the Diamonds that are great for a working mans price.
Fender has the Mex models and even the satins or Route1s or whatever which are nice AND affordable


All Gibsons keep going up and they are not consistatly good. You have pricey and steep.
The fadeds are supposed to fill that spot, but the they are not consistant and they keep going up too.
The Custom shop models (which are LESS custom than Carvin) are the price of a car..
Im not bashing Gibson.. I love the guitars (good ones) and WISH I could afford more. But I dont like the pricing or the fact that they seem to be cutting quality corners.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

The Beatles played old Epiphones back in the day when they were well built guitars, and before Henry J/Greedy Rich Boy bought the company. Henry does'nt care about the working musician, all he cares about is his multimillion dollar bank account and .

a) Do you have any evidence that he has a

b) Would you rather Gibson was run by some poor guy who worked at gasoline stations all his life and knew nothing about how to run a major corporation?

c) You'll never find a major guitar maker that "cares about the working musician". They care about them to the extent that they continue to hand over money for their guitars. When that stops the "caring" stops. Even one-man-shop luthiers don't do it for free -- in fact, they generally charge a lot more. So tell me who it is that DOES "care about the working musician"?

 

[Aceman]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

Whoever runs Gibson doesn't know how to run a major corporation well either...I can at least work with the guy from the gas station!

 

[Scott_F]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

The Beatles played old Epiphones back in the day when they were well built guitars, and before Henry J/Greedy Rich Boy bought the company. Henry does'nt care about the working musician, all he cares about is his multimillion dollar bank account and QUOTE]

Stratcat, you are way out of line here. Keeping it respectful applies to other companies as well. C'mon dude. You can argue all you want about Gibson's policies or QC or whatever, but calling their president a coke head is irresponsible and slanderous.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

So tell me who it is that DOES "care about the working musician"?

Well, I'd put in a vote for Fender. MIM Standard Strats are one of the biggest selling guitars in the world, and they decided to put MJ frets in them. Bigger frets can be dressed more times than vintage w/o requiring a refret, something many working musicians can't afford. Also, I bet the average joe likes big frets better. Would sticking with vintage wire have hurt their sales? Obviously not.

 

[choppermn]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

Gibson is the benchmark all others aspire to achieve.
I bought an Agile 3000, and it's got some real paul tone.
I'm sure someday i'll have the $$ to afford a Paul, but i'll fly to Vegas, buy a handmade guitar, pay for a hotel, a few nights of heat in the dead of winter. And still have saved a bundle, 2500 for a Les Paul seems ridiculous.:smokin:

 

[Liquid]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

+1 i`m amazed by their knowlege.

sorry that people have opions other then yours kind sir.:fing25:

 

[Liquid]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

the only thing that i am sure of after reading all 7 pages is that both liquid and stratcat are under 18 years old. I love it when the kids go down to the local guitar center and play a les paul and then decide that every Gibson sucks

Im very sorry that because I dont like a guitar company you feel the need to insult me for my age. I find it sad that you make so many asumptions just because I dont like gibson. And Im sorry I think that if you buy those overpriced planks of wood you should be kicked in the head.:fing25: :fing25: :fing25: Ya ban me any time now. btw im over 18.
p.s. **** you.

Profanity - voilation of terms - first warning

 

[Mike M.]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

What about LP Studio's? Are they of decent quality and reliability? Yeah, they've gone up in price as well but as long as you don't need all the fancy appointments $1,200.00 sounds pretty good when compared to the higher priced models.

 

[Ez74]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

Im very sorry that because I dont like a guitar company you feel the need to insult me for my age. I find it sad that you make so many asumptions just because I dont like gibson. And Im sorry I think that if you buy those overpriced planks of wood you should be kicked in the head.:fing25: :fing25: :fing25: Ya ban me any time now. btw im over 18.
p.s. **** you.

your mom wears army boots

 

[Liquid]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

your mom wears army boots

Who told you? :eek13: (dont say her cause you can do much better)

 

[Liquid]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

I did`nt tell you about my opinion on fender v gibson!
But if you like i`m a owner of 4 fenders right now.I`v owned several gibsons les pauls as well and i base my opinion on that,nothing else.
I did play gibson les pauls for ten years or so.I did recordings,played live and a hole lot of other **** with them. I think they are absolutly fantastic guitars and
nothing comes even close to them when it gets serious.
Why i play fenders you ask,i like them too.I need singles and a hb in the bridge,that`s how simple it is. Fender make great guitars but i can`t get any of my fenders sound like a true gibson. My SD buckers help me get some nice fat tones,though.
If a glp is worth it`s money i don`t know but,in 1957 you could get a new
glpc for 375$ and a goldtop for 247,50$. do the calculation yourself and see
if it`s more expencive now.
EDIT: for the record,fender pricelist 1957...strat 274,50$ tele 199,50$ and esquire at 164,50$.
My wild guess is that it`s a lot cheaper to get a new quality fender/fibson guitar now than back then. your to spoiled

I never said you gave your opion you just seem to be talking down on mine for some reason. And when did fender come into this Im just saying I dont like gibson cause they cost so much and I hate the feel of there necks especially lps and sgs.

 

[Liquid]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

Well,i read all the pages. sorry if i hurt your feelings

Umm no just eh you seemed to be coming after me a little more then necessary. I mean I admit I wasn’t exactly kind either but I didn’t directly attack anyone either. Eh what ever this forum has been going to he11 recently.

 

[Liquid]

Re: @#$&$&@ gibson, why so much $$$

Don`t take it personally,seems to me like some people like it a bit hot in here
People just like to argue,it`s harmless

Well you did directly make fun of me for my age (even though you were wrong) and it just seemed unnesscary over a descusion on guitars and it dosnt add anything to the conversation.