Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???

[The Dali]

I love the looks of these guitars... and I love that you can get them for $800 - $1200 most days. Which begs the question... why are they so cheap (relatively speaking)?

Quick look online... (Sweetwater)

Gibson SG Standard $1300 - $1700
Gibson Explorer Standard $1300 - $1800
Gibson Les Paul Standard $2800 - $4800
Gibson 335 (studio) $2000 (standard) $3000

Hell, a similar Carvin SH675 is $1500...

The Midtown's are no longer made, and usually carry all the same details as the above (binding, hardcase, MOP inlays, etc) yet fetch less than a grand on the used market. I don't get it - any thoughts??

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???

I think one reason is that they simply don't carry the name like a Les Paul or a 335 does. They were also relatively cheap to produce as I recall, considering they typically had a cutout for the electronics.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???

Every once in awhile Gibson throws us a bone, and really proves they can deliver a quality guitar at an affordable price. They just don't do it often, in order to stay a premium brand.

When the Midtown came out, I was amazed that they were about the third of the price of a Memphis ES-335, but wasn't a far lesser instrument. I assumed the body was laminated or much easier to manufacture, being a flat top chambered semi hollow. It turns out that it's a solid mahogany chambered semi hollow.
Ironically, an ES-335 is a laminated maple body, but is more difficult to produce.

I guess it's just one of Gibson's good bargains, much like the LP Classic Custom that came out around the same time.....a Custom for $1500.

 

[The Dali]

Re: Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???

I think you may be right. I have an Ibanez Artcore that I love, but I may have to save up for a Midtown. Such a nice looking guitar and a nice price for premium appointments.

 

[The Dali]

Re: Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???

I think one reason is that they simply don't carry the name like a Les Paul or a 335 does. They were also relatively cheap to produce as I recall, considering they typically had a cutout for the electronics.

Agree - but other than the carve top they cannot be much cheaper to produce than a Les Paul Standard, which is literally twice the price.

 

[The Dali]

Re: Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???

Some eye-candy.

 

[The Dali]

Re: Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???

I do recall they used the Richlite fingerboard...

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???



Sorry for the picture, my house tipped over last night, LOL!!!

First off they are closer in tone and design to. L.P. Florentine than a 335 or 339? Still very resonant but not quite as acoustically sound as its big brothers. Although, they are much better at retarding against feedback!!!

Obviously they have used some cost cutting measures like the control plate in back & having a flat top instead of the arched top which saves money in a couple different areas. I.E.- being easier & cheaper to build all the way up to not having to cut the humbucker rings to form over the cap?

With all that said I'm going to have to agree with the name recognition statement! I'd say its as much as a factor in the price as any of these other things if not more? I absolutely love my Midtown Stranded to death! Not only is it one of the nicest guitars I've ever had the pleasure of owning, it's one of the best I've ever had the chance to play!!!

The Plecked fretboard has enough of a crown to it that it plays really nicely but it can still be setup with shredstick action!!! I've got a SH-14/PGN set in mine so pickup wise it's smooth & clean in the neck & aggressive in the bridge with a beautiful split sound in switch position 2! IMHO its a fantastic choice for anyone who wants a Solid Body Gibson & a Semi-Hollow but can't afford both! It kinda gives you the best of both worlds & it does it at a great price point!!!


On the flip side-
I have played some others (same year, model, Etc.) in stores that were not nearly as nice as mine!!! So if you do buy one be sure to get one that you can play before you pay or at the very least make sure they have a decent return policy!

Yeah sometimes you can find them on Reverb for $700-$800, I've even seen them AS-IS as low as $650, but if they are that cheap there's probably a reason. Stuff like super flat frets from a overzealous Pleck machine or Corian nuts that have been epoxied in to survive a nuclear apocalypse but won't stay in tune no matter what you do!!!

Like everything else that Gibson does these days they are mostly alright for the most part but some are better than others! So just shop around & don't let cost be the only deciding factor...

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???

I do recall they used the Richlite fingerboard...

Perhaps the older models, mine has a beautiful silky smooth Rosewood fingerboard?

 

[The Dali]

Re: Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???

Not sure about the fingerboards... they might have stopped using the Richlite once the RW became a non-issue.

Oh, another nice thing about these is the ease of pickup and control swaps compared to regular semi-hollow guitars!

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???

Not sure about the fingerboards... they might have stopped using the Richlite once the RW became a non-issue.

Oh, another nice thing about these is the ease of pickup and control swaps compared to regular semi-hollow guitars!

There was a Midtown Custom line that may have been the ones featuring Richlite instead of ebony since they were being sold for much less.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???

Also if you don't get the sunburst custom model available on Reverb, you're doing it wrong.

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???

Not sure about the fingerboards... they might have stopped using the Richlite once the RW became a non-issue.

Oh, another nice thing about these is the ease of pickup and control swaps compared to regular semi-hollow guitars!

I just swapped out the Burstbuckers in mine for a SH-14/P.G.N. set & God does it make you appreciate that plate!!! I typically hate working on Semi's! I mean to the point where if someone brings one in for some internal work I charge double my normal rate!

This was actually kinda fun!!! No pulling pots up with fishing line, no having to use 3 rolls of blue tape so I don't scratch anything, and best of all no get my fingers stuck inside stupid F-Holes!!!

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???

Just my opinion, but the 2015 model year, namely the wider neck, might have something to do with the discounted pricing. Sounds like overstock as well. I played one locally. Sadly, that one probably shouldn't have made it out of QC. The G-Force was factory replaced with Grovers and one machine was installed irritatingly crooked. The bass side of the nut looked like someone had taken a Dremel to it. Cosmetic, but still shouldn't be OK on a 1K+ guitar. That aside, I can see why some people like them. I was looking for a semi-hollow and the Gibson wasn't my thing. It's a chambered guitar with F holes. Different animal than a laminated semi. Not a fan of the wider neck/fretboard myself. But other than the cosmetic issues it was a solid guitar. I do agree that it was one of Gibsons better values in terms of features for the price.

ps. I like/liked the Burstbuckers.

 

[musicalmartin]

Re: Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???

Just my opinion, but the 2015 model year, namely the wider neck, might have something to do with the discounted pricing. Sounds like overstock as well. I played one locally. Sadly, that one probably shouldn't have made it out of QC. The G-Force was factory replaced with Grovers and one machine was installed irritatingly crooked. The bass side of the nut looked like someone had taken a Dremel to it. Cosmetic, but still shouldn't be OK on a 1K+ guitar. That aside, I can see why some people like them. I was looking for a semi-hollow and the Gibson wasn't my thing. It's a chambered guitar with F holes. Different animal than a laminated semi. Not a fan of the wider neck/fretboard myself. But other than the cosmetic issues it was a solid guitar. I do agree that it was one of Gibsons better values in terms of features for the price.

ps. I like/liked the Burstbuckers.

i have a Pelham Blue Midtown Standard .Blown out at 599 UKP which was very cheap .In fact so cheap I couldnt say no .My one is perfect and even the dreaded autotune works though i keep an open mind on all that.It has a bound rosewood fingerboard .The burstbuckers are fine for the blues and jazz I play in bars but seem to rock fine when the occasion demands it .My only bug is that I am very old and the case weighs a tone .No idea about the neck being wider .Its fine for my tiny hands.I bought it 2015 and have just had to tighten up the jack socket a bit .Sorry to awake an old thread ....

 

[Mincer]

Re: Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???

I think the flat & non-arched top and slightly different size makes them simply not sound like a 335. They sound good, but don't have the 'thwomp' of a 335. More like a semi hollow LP, which isn't bad, unless you are expecting it to sound like a 335.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???

Just read your title again. Perhaps it's more appropriate to think of it in terms of quality rather than price. Definitely not cheap price since I could get a couple other great guitars of better quality for that price, so it must be referring to Gibson's cheap quality. Yes it has some nice convenience features, but that's not really what's important when laying down the money.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???

You know it's funny a bunch of my buddies had them when they came out and I don't think anyone kept theirs that I know of?

They seemed nice enough, I like the one that was kind of like a black Standard. I think most folks just expectged a bigger sounding guitar than they were.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???

I never owned one because every one that I tried out in the stores just felt cheap and sounded bad. I really wanted to like them when they came out because you could own a "genuine Gibson" for a seemingly reasonable price (compared to other Gibsons).

Now I don't care about "genuine Gibson" because that's just a name. I'm more concerned about quality, playability, and sound. And there are sooo many other guitars that put "Gibson" to shame in those categories for less than 1/4 the cost.

If you at least have the IQ of a carrot and have a limited bank account, this is a no-brainer.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Why are the Gibson Midtown guitars so cheap (relatively)???

I think we all know Gibson slapped their name on several models on the low end- especially guitars that might have been worth half of what their MAP was. They knew people would fall for it. Now there are a lot of these instruments out there as people bought them, then realized they weren't great guitars. So now they are dumping them.