Are guitar prices getting out of control?

[BigBellyRocker]

I've seen Gibson Les Paul, ESP, and Suhr guitars going from $5,000 to the high $7,000 dollars. WTF is going on? Are these companies paying these luthiers more than doctors? Give me a fucking break.

 

[8len8]

They just now provide high end classics for high prices. You can still get reasonably priced guitars from them too. Otherwise try Carvin - great quality for the price.

 

[neilli]

It seems that prices for premium guitars have 'jumped' a fair bit in the last couple of years. Gibson prices seem especially nuts to be honest. And while Suhr (for example) make awesome guitars no doubt, 5k+ for a bolt-on is hard to justify for me.. and yup, I realise that's kind of screwed 'logic' because it's not like set or thru necks are so so much more complex..

 

[Bloodrock]

The guitar market is shrinking and is overesaturated. Young people view the guitar as grandpa's instrument. Companies are betting on selling fewer, better guitars to their older wealthier customers.

 

[cecilbag]

It seems that prices for premium guitars have 'jumped' a fair bit in the last couple of years. Gibson prices seem especially nuts to be honest. And while Suhr (for example) make awesome guitars no doubt, 5k+ for a bolt-on is hard to justify for me.. and yup, I realise that's kind of screwed 'logic' because it's not like set or thru necks are so so much more complex..

I don't think it's screwed logic at all. If you get a quality neck and body, they bolt together pretty nicely. There's quite a bit more going on with a neck through. Most new prices are crazy, lately I've been sticking with used but damn if I don't want a new custom shop Charvel. They somehow sprinkle pixie dust or something on those monsters

 

[maddnotez]

The guitar market is shrinking and is overesaturated. Young people view the guitar as grandpa's instrument. Companies are betting on selling fewer, better guitars to their older wealthier customers.

Pretty accurate. I told this guy I know I can't upgrade my monitor because I'm buying a guitar amp. His reply was "who still plays guitar?"

 

[cardinal]

The flip side is a lot of cheap stuff actually is really nice these days. Sure, $5k for a Gibson is pretty nuts, but a $500 Epiphone is a wonderful guitar.

 

[Mesa\Kramer]

There are buyers and people in that income level with expendable cash so guitars are made for those who can afford in the $5,000 + range

Just as equal i think there are more and more better quality guitars at lower prices these days than ever before

PRS SE's
LTD's
Schecter
Gibson Faded etc.

 

[sytharnia1560]

The flip side is a lot of cheap stuff actually is really nice these days. Sure, $5k for a Gibson is pretty nuts, but a $500 Epiphone is a wonderful guitar.

yeah this. Even the cheapest squire's are miles better than some of the crap that was around when I started playing in the mid 80's

As people get older they tend to have more disposable cash so that is who the high end market is aimed at...as I get older I seem to have less cash so yeah I stick to the cheap stuff and make it work for me

 

[Stealthtastic]

As a dealer I'm pretty surprised by how good some of the cheaper guitars we get in are. We throw a lot of guitars too but...yeah. You can get a pretty good guitar at any price point nowadays.

 

[psychodave]

Personally, I think it is insane when I see Gibson Les Pauls selling for $10,000 and Reliced Strats for $8,000. I'd love to own some of the high dollar guitars, but I can't justify the price tag even though I'm the player their sales team goes after. Of course there are some exceptions, like small builders who have taken the time to make exact recreations that even the original manufacturers can do. Those builders command top dollar and get it.

I'll stick with my cheap Charvels that were made by the same guys that started the company back in the 70's. They are now master builders at Fender... But Charvel doesn't command that crazy master built price tag.

 

[rottingcorpse]

I think a dream build is worth just a little more than you can afford. That's why it's a dream build. And if it's your only guitar....then why not?

I'd pay 5k+ for a Ken Lawrence explorer. But not for a Les Paul or bolt on strat.

 

[andross182]

I have yet to talk to someone who thinks that their Private Stock PRS was a purchase they regretted. I am sure you can buy any top end axe at almost any price point. A skilled luthier is worth their weight in gold and I assume they get paid quite well for what they do.

I myself will probably never pick up a PS PRS, but my next one quite possibly will be an artist pack model. Different strokes for different folks. Currently my amp journey is done, so the only thing left is guitars and pedals.

 

[Shawn Lutz]

It does seem to be getting out of hand. $3000-4000k seems the price for a typical quality guitar and its about $1500 too much from the big guys. I'd pay that to a smaller boutique builder for a custom order. I never got the prices of Suhr's, great guitars but premium prices for non premium wood. I will not pay that for any newer guitar from bigger MFG's. I'll let original owners lose their asses when they sell em once the latest and greatest models hit the market So I buy guitars people pay 4500-5000 for in the $2000-$2500 range (R7 and BB7 57 RI's) but I'm a cheap fucker haha

I admit I may have paid more for a purple sparkle custom shop tele I paid around 2k for shipped but it was new and I had to have it

And just to put things in perspective on the RI, Historics and CC's. If you want an accurate reissue of a aged 59 LP CC, Tru Historic 10k ish for a R9 is a lot cheaper than an original 59 burst

 

[chunktone]

The flip side is a lot of cheap stuff actually is really nice these days. Sure, $5k for a Gibson is pretty nuts, but a $500 Epiphone is a wonderful guitar.

This! I find it hard to justify the price of a Gibson, so went with an Epiphone classic LP used for $300. Where they really cut corners on these is the pickups and hardware. Threw on some Planet Waves locking tuners and a set of Motorcity Detroiter's, sent it to Glaser's to have a bone nut installed and I'm good! I'd stack it up to a Gibson any day. Oh, and I used to work for Gibson, and have literally played thousands of LPs. YMMV

 

[Tone Zone]

I think it's great that you have so many great guitars available in the $800-$1500 range, that it is absolutely not necessary to spend $2K+ unless you just prefer to splurge. Just to name a few: Kiesel Guitars and the PRS S2 Series. And, then you have the over saturated used market to choose from as well.

 

[Michi]

The flip side is a lot of cheap stuff actually is really nice these days. Sure, $5k for a Gibson is pretty nuts, but a $500 Epiphone is a wonderful guitar.

This very much for me!

 

[155]

I bought a squier tele for $89 and its a great playing,looking and sounding guitar ...go figure..anybody that pays retail for a gibson is a fool...

 

[mniel8195]

Suhr makes guitars starting at $2000 and you can even buy those new for $1850 from dealers. A 7k guitar is way different in wood, stain, and inlay options. Worth the price if your willing to pay it.

 

[bobbyd]

I bought a squier tele for $89 and its a great playing,looking and sounding guitar ...go figure..anybody that pays retail for a gibson is a fool...

now, this is where stuff starts to get a bit sideways, IMHO.

we all love guitars, and hopefully love PLAYING them. but our choices in what guitars to buy and play surely don't have anything to do with who we are as people.....

i know that 155 is just venting a little, and i don't mean to single you out - your post just happened to be one out of hundreds i see on the forums regularly.....stuff like "only an idiot would buy a Fender Mater built Strat" and such....

but really - i wish that we could leave the gear out of it. the gear has done nothing wrong.

picking one guitar brand over another does not make you cooler, give you rock hard erections lasting longer than 4 hours, or raise your talent level or IQ points. it's just a hunk of wood with strings that we plug into MAPS and rock out with our cocks out....and hopefully HAVE FUN