What is going on with the new Les Paul Studio pricing?
- Thread starter blakejcan
- Start date
muttznmongrelz
New member
Re: What is going on with the new Les Paul Studio pricing?
Personally, I'll stick with my '82 Standard, which I picked up for a little more than the price you indicate for the New Studios.
Personally, I'll stick with my '82 Standard, which I picked up for a little more than the price you indicate for the New Studios.
Mr 9finger
Digitally Challenged
Re: What is going on with the new Les Paul Studio pricing?
They dropped the price majorly on the 2012 Studio models because everyone was throwing a hissy fit about the Grandillo fingerboards they used and no one was buying them. So they went back to Rosewood on the 2013 models and jacked the price back up to $1400. Pissered me off cuz I paid full price for my 2012 Studio and they dropped the price 3 months afterwords $400 I was freaking IRATE. I called AMS and they did knock some of the price off since I did the 12 pay program, but they couldn't do the whole $400 since I was well out of their 45 day price match guarantee. Awesome on AMS's part, but really crappy for Gibson to pull that stunt.
They dropped the price majorly on the 2012 Studio models because everyone was throwing a hissy fit about the Grandillo fingerboards they used and no one was buying them. So they went back to Rosewood on the 2013 models and jacked the price back up to $1400. Pissered me off cuz I paid full price for my 2012 Studio and they dropped the price 3 months afterwords $400 I was freaking IRATE. I called AMS and they did knock some of the price off since I did the 12 pay program, but they couldn't do the whole $400 since I was well out of their 45 day price match guarantee. Awesome on AMS's part, but really crappy for Gibson to pull that stunt.
blakejcan
Well-known member
Re: What is going on with the new Les Paul Studio pricing?
but outside of the fingerboards the tech specs are completely the same aren't they?
I mean, I picked up a blowout 70's Firebird last year with baked maple and shoot, it's fine by me and that rosewood sure isn't worth $400 in my mind.
but outside of the fingerboards the tech specs are completely the same aren't they?
I mean, I picked up a blowout 70's Firebird last year with baked maple and shoot, it's fine by me and that rosewood sure isn't worth $400 in my mind.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: What is going on with the new Les Paul Studio pricing?
I would be careful with those assumptions. All Gibson specs are approximate. I noticed that while there are many fine Studios coming out of their works that the average Studio seems to be a bit more dead than the average standard. You don't know what they do to the wood and how they select it.
Full agreement on outrage about the fretboard stunts.
But the current studios still have laminated rosewood fretboards right?
I would be careful with those assumptions. All Gibson specs are approximate. I noticed that while there are many fine Studios coming out of their works that the average Studio seems to be a bit more dead than the average standard. You don't know what they do to the wood and how they select it.
Full agreement on outrage about the fretboard stunts.
But the current studios still have laminated rosewood fretboards right?
Mr 9finger
Digitally Challenged
Re: What is going on with the new Les Paul Studio pricing?
Yup, that's the only difference. Just a fretboard change. I don't even think they changed the pickups like they did in a lot of other models. Hell you're better off buying one of the decade series. Some of them come w/ Burstbuckers over the 490 series and they're cheaper! I love my Studio, it plays and feels just fine. I think the Granadillo board feels and plays smoother than Rosewood. Traditionalists though, what ya going to do? I certainly don't think a Rosewood board warrants a $400 difference though. Then again, I don't see $1100 difference between the Studio and Standard. Sure you get binding and a flame top, but I can do w/out the binding. Not a fan of it anyway. I'm not saying I wouldn't buy a Standard money permitting because I wood, but it's not something I have to have either.
Yup, that's the only difference. Just a fretboard change. I don't even think they changed the pickups like they did in a lot of other models. Hell you're better off buying one of the decade series. Some of them come w/ Burstbuckers over the 490 series and they're cheaper! I love my Studio, it plays and feels just fine. I think the Granadillo board feels and plays smoother than Rosewood. Traditionalists though, what ya going to do? I certainly don't think a Rosewood board warrants a $400 difference though. Then again, I don't see $1100 difference between the Studio and Standard. Sure you get binding and a flame top, but I can do w/out the binding. Not a fan of it anyway. I'm not saying I wouldn't buy a Standard money permitting because I wood, but it's not something I have to have either.
blakejcan
Well-known member
Re: What is going on with the new Les Paul Studio pricing?
I'm mostly perplexed because I'm looking at an '05 LP studio on craigslist and it's like $600 which seems normal to me. It looks great. Ebay has them for all about the same price. I'm assuming an '05 would have the rosewood board too.
I'm mostly perplexed because I'm looking at an '05 LP studio on craigslist and it's like $600 which seems normal to me. It looks great. Ebay has them for all about the same price. I'm assuming an '05 would have the rosewood board too.
Mr 9finger
Digitally Challenged
Re: What is going on with the new Les Paul Studio pricing?
This is actually false. I've had 2 Gibson employee's(1 former/1 current I think still) confirm that all the Mahogany bodies used for LP's and SG's are the same grade and come usually from the same pallet. The only time it's differentiated grade wise is body blanks for the custom shop. The only real difference is they try to pick the nicer looking grain for the Standard and Traditional models w/ the satin or gloss backs. Nicer looking doesn't necessarily equate to better sound. And I do mean try. The last time I talked to my buddy that works/ed in the Memphis plant, he said they were going as hard as they could and still not keeping up with demand on trying to get the "new" models out. Apparently their turn over rate is killing them in both quality and ability to meet production quotas.
This is actually false. I've had 2 Gibson employee's(1 former/1 current I think still) confirm that all the Mahogany bodies used for LP's and SG's are the same grade and come usually from the same pallet. The only time it's differentiated grade wise is body blanks for the custom shop. The only real difference is they try to pick the nicer looking grain for the Standard and Traditional models w/ the satin or gloss backs. Nicer looking doesn't necessarily equate to better sound. And I do mean try. The last time I talked to my buddy that works/ed in the Memphis plant, he said they were going as hard as they could and still not keeping up with demand on trying to get the "new" models out. Apparently their turn over rate is killing them in both quality and ability to meet production quotas.
Mr 9finger
Digitally Challenged
Re: What is going on with the new Les Paul Studio pricing?
Yeah. Only the 2012 models had the funky fretboard woods as far as I know.
Yeah. Only the 2012 models had the funky fretboard woods as far as I know.
uOpt
Something Cool
Lucid_Lunatic
Rebelyellologist
Re: What is going on with the new Les Paul Studio pricing?
I like the ebony board Studios. Not sure what all years they made them, but you could get two on the used market for what they are asking for a new one.
I like the ebony board Studios. Not sure what all years they made them, but you could get two on the used market for what they are asking for a new one.
tubecrunch
New member
Re: What is going on with the new Les Paul Studio pricing?
I always assumed this was the case. The sound quality has been so random for so long, it makes sense that the body blank selection was mostly random.
I always assumed this was the case. The sound quality has been so random for so long, it makes sense that the body blank selection was mostly random.
TattooedCarrot
New member
Re: What is going on with the new Les Paul Studio pricing?
Just saw in the new GC flyer that R7 and R8's are now $4,500. Wow. I'm a big Gibson nut and never used to complain about the prices too much, but I'm kinda shocked with these new prices I'm seeing. The new SG standard on the other hand looks to be priced just about right basically being a 61RI but now $600 less than they were before. Gibson is hard to figure out.
Just saw in the new GC flyer that R7 and R8's are now $4,500. Wow. I'm a big Gibson nut and never used to complain about the prices too much, but I'm kinda shocked with these new prices I'm seeing. The new SG standard on the other hand looks to be priced just about right basically being a 61RI but now $600 less than they were before. Gibson is hard to figure out.
youngthrasher9
New member
Re: What is going on with the new Les Paul Studio pricing?
The Studio Deluxe II was $1400 at GC when I tried it. It was the nicest Les Paul I've ever played. I've played several studios, and one poorly taken care of Custom.
The Studio Deluxe II was $1400 at GC when I tried it. It was the nicest Les Paul I've ever played. I've played several studios, and one poorly taken care of Custom.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: What is going on with the new Les Paul Studio pricing?
In Gibson's kinda defense, Fender has severely upped the price for the AVRI line Jan 1st. However, Fender upgraded the models and at least the bassist seem to think the 2013 AVRI are noticeably better than the previous line.
In Gibson's kinda defense, Fender has severely upped the price for the AVRI line Jan 1st. However, Fender upgraded the models and at least the bassist seem to think the 2013 AVRI are noticeably better than the previous line.
TattooedCarrot
New member
Re: What is going on with the new Les Paul Studio pricing?
@uOpt, yea I noticed that as well. $1200 AM Standard Strats and $1600 Deluxe Strats. I understand prices will go up, but these seem like quantum leaps beyond the 2-3% average annual inflation rate. When you have basic production Gibsons over $2500 and Fenders getting close to that, I just have to wonder if people can really afford to keep buying them? I guess they can, or the prices wouldn't be that high but it leaves me scratching my head. In my mind, an LP standard is still a $1500 guitar and an Am Strat is still an $800 guitar. I rarely buy new anymore unless its a screaming deal or its something unique that I just gotta have. Used is soooo much better.
@uOpt, yea I noticed that as well. $1200 AM Standard Strats and $1600 Deluxe Strats. I understand prices will go up, but these seem like quantum leaps beyond the 2-3% average annual inflation rate. When you have basic production Gibsons over $2500 and Fenders getting close to that, I just have to wonder if people can really afford to keep buying them? I guess they can, or the prices wouldn't be that high but it leaves me scratching my head. In my mind, an LP standard is still a $1500 guitar and an Am Strat is still an $800 guitar. I rarely buy new anymore unless its a screaming deal or its something unique that I just gotta have. Used is soooo much better.
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