Bartlett, Yarons, etc...

[ejecta]

^ IMHO there is a BIG difference between being jealous of what people have and watching people spend stupid amounts of money on gear that may seem to them not worth that amount of money.

 

[rlord1974]

^ IMHO there is a BIG difference between being jealous of what people have and watching people spend stupid amounts of money on gear that may seem to them not worth that amount of money.

But......the person spending the "stupid amounts of money" might not feel like it's stupid amounts of money to them personally. It is the outside, 3rd party observer that is feeling like it's "stupid amounts of money". It all comes down to the individual shelling out the dollars, and how they feel about it.

Getting back on topic: I personally wouldn't pay $10k for a guitar - ANY guitar. I would never play a $10k guitar for fear of devaluing it. I rarely play guitars at gigs that are worth greater than $2k, as I am just too nervous bringing them out. I've seen too many drunk idiots and unfortunate mishaps in my day. A former band member of mine bought a 1954 Gibson Les Paul Custom reissue back in the 90's. That same day, we drove to a big outdoor festival we were playing at. It was windy that day. He put his brand new LP on a stand and, during our show, the wind blew the stand over and the headstock broke. He never even got to play the guitar outside of the store it was purchased in. He ended up paying for the headstock repair and trading it in on an American Standard Tele. Talk about losing your shirt.

 

[marvcus]

At the outset, I don't fault anyone that can afford it to get what they want.

I think a portion of the lure of these is having something nobody else has; something percieved to be top-of-the-line.

Back in 2000, I had the choice of ordering a custom-spec Tom Anderson strat or take a chance on a local builder named Driskill who
did something completely different (and who I'd never heard of). Met w/ him a few times and decided to pull the trigger; I figured both
guitars are great, but everyone plays a strat...I wanted to be different.

Funny thing is, the older I get, the more I want to see how much tone I can pull out of everyday, off-the-shelf stuff "less expensive" gear. Some days I just want to sell it all and settle on a stock Charvel strat and an Egnater Rebel 20 and see what happens...

 

[Superunknown]

I have a Yaron on order for January 2014. I'm buying one because I truly love that style of guitar (I own a few Gibson's) and because I trust guys like Charlie and Pete who have played/own/owned the real 50's models...which are out of reach for me (150-300K). Secondarily, I believe the Yaron will be a reasonable investment for future value as well....

Check out this thread where Gil demonstrates his building techniques, etc:

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home-de ... build.html

 

[thegame]

Obtaining the right old growth wood, mating the resonances of the neck, fingerboard, body and top pieces so the entire instrument vibrates harmoniously, and winding the pickups tuned for the individual guitar. That takes time, the proper know how, and its something Gibson can't even fathom. Sure, even the holy grail LPs weren't constructed so meticulously, but if this is what it takes to make sure you get a magic one, then the 10K price tag isn't so unreasonable after all IMO.

 

[Heritage Softail]

^ IMHO there is a BIG difference between being jealous of what people have and watching people spend stupid amounts of money on gear that may seem to them not worth that amount of money.

Worth, especially in artistic items, is very personal. I would not impose my opinions on another as fact, or ever close to fact, related to worth.

The fact something sells at a price, that is proof of worth. Maybe not to many...

But the 10K designer builds sell.

Think of it this way...

Husbands spend way more on their wives fake boobs, and probably spend much less time playing with them.

Is it worth it? To a boob man. Not to an ass man..

 

[H Golf Sport]

I have a Yaron on order for January 2014. I'm buying one because I truly love that style of guitar (I own a few Gibson's) and because I trust guys like Charlie and Pete who have played/own/owned the real 50's models...which are out of reach for me (150-300K). Secondarily, I believe the Yaron will be a reasonable investment for future value as well....

Check out this thread where Gil demonstrates his building techniques, etc:

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home-de ... build.html

Ah thanks. I appreciate the craftsmanship and detail he does. Haven't looked through the whole thread.
Are the specs he copied different from a Gibson C/S guitar?

 

[H Golf Sport]

Obtaining the right old growth wood, mating the resonances of the neck, fingerboard, body and top pieces so the entire instrument vibrates harmoniously, and winding the pickups tuned for the individual guitar. That takes time, the proper know how, and its something Gibson can't even fathom. Sure, even the holy grail LPs weren't constructed so meticulously, but if this is what it takes to make sure you get a magic one, then the 10K price tag isn't so unreasonable after all IMO.

Does he describe his system for mating resonances and tunning pickups? Sounds interesting.

 

[BackCrack]

...mating the resonances of the neck, fingerboard, body and top pieces so the entire instrument vibrates harmoniously...

What? Nah. If these builders are even remotely lucky enough to find old timber, they're going to be blowing & going with that stuff.

 

[ConcreteVampire]

Deleted post in this thread?

Or am I hallucinatin?

 

[fenderbender4]

Wow, I didn't know Wylde used Yaron LP's.

Gibbons plays Bolin.

As to the price, I see R9's that are new pushing $7,000 so I can see how a "limited edition" one being close to the $10K mark. If the name on the headstock is that important, then a clone builder will never make sense. A well-crafted instrument made as close to the actual "Golden-Era LP's" will make perfect sense to someone looking for those criteria first.

 

[Nico]

I have a Bartlett, and I am very happy with the guitar.
It is significantly better built than an R9, no question...

Does it sound 3 times better? I don't know. Some R9 with upgraded electronics and pickups do sound incredibly well too.

Is it a great guitar? YES! Is it worth it? Its not a bang for the buck for sure. But if you like Les Pauls and have the money, why not?

I think Yarons are overpriced, and know for a fact that he does not make every part of his guitars like he claims.
And not all his lumber is old sourced mahogany like he claims either.
I would take a good historic with braz board over a Yaron

 

[H Golf Sport]

Deleted post in this thread?

Or am I hallucinatin?

Double posted. Sorry.

 

[glip22]

All this because it shipped in a crappy case and box.

 

[1meanplexi]

Randy Rhoads used a Bartlett.

John Sykes uses a Max.

John Norum uses a Yaron.

Zakk Wylde uses both Bartlett and Yaron.

What do you think? Serious players like that are going to use Norlin era Les Pauls, the ones widely considered the worst Les Pauls Gibson ever made to tour the world, and write and record landmark rock tunes played on classic rock stations around the world? You have got to be kidding me. If you are serious about this hobby, you can't be using inferior stuff like this. And it is well known, you can't make a good Les Paul in the United States, well, you can make a good one. But is a good one good enough for you? Not me! I'm Chubtone! A guy on a forum, screwing around on a forum when I should be working. I'm freaking important man!

A Les Paul is just not that important to me that I would spend that much on the best version of it available. I'm happy to look at the pictures of them though....... while listening to Randy or Sykes tear it up on their Norlin eras.

I know these responses are somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but they are starting to sound like some of Digi's rants towards the end...

So... all these great players... good for them... everyone should play whatever they want or was available or they could afford and got used to making work at the time... there is no question that you can make great music with great tone with even cheaper gear... Eddie sounded damn good on those $200 pieces of shit he slapped together...

Seems to me that some people would like to buy something awesome made by a single craftsman and they are willing to pay double what Gibson charges for guitars typically built by a team. Gibson has economies of scale that no guy making 10-15 guitars a year can match. That one guy's time and effort is worth it to some people... For example, didn't Randy buy a pretty pricey handmade classical guitar at one point? Was that really necessary? Couldn't he have played just as awesome and sounded just as good on a guitar that was a fraction of the price he paid? I think Eddie paid $20K for two Les Pauls in the early 80s (turned out a great investment, but who would have known at the time). What a waste...he sounded just as good on the crap he slung together...

I'm not 1/1000th of the guitarists you mentioned above... Hell, I'm not 1/1000th of the guitarist you are, but if I, or anyone else have this guitar hobby and appreciate that craftsmanship and wanna pay for it, who cares. And who cares what any of these other guys play?

So... I also have to ask. Why did you bother buying a Charvel Custom Shop for triple the list price, when you sound just as awesome playing the Pro Mods and per many comments, they feel awesome as well? Could it be a similar reason? Maybe... And, of course, I know you are a dealer, but the ratio of your price between the custom shop and pro mods has to be similar...

Just some thoughts... Oh yeah, and how do I get in on those Instanbul-made 5150 III clones? I wanna be the first on my block!!!

Steve

That is an excellent point in regards to Ed's guitars he threw together. Does everyone remember a few years back when Ed's Frankenstein was recreated to the exact specs down the quarters he had on the original? Anyway, I had a chance to play one here in Milwaukee at the local guitar center, 25K price tag and all. To my point.....I still sounded like me, 25K or 200 nothing changes the way that I or anyone approach's the instrument. With that said, If had the loot I would have snatched that thing up in a heart beat. Had some MoJo and for me, priceless !

 

[Chubtone]

Deleted post in this thread?

Or am I hallucinatin?

I deleted another of my lunatic rant posts in this thread. I got reprimanded by a forum guy for deleting it because he loved it.

 

[Chubtone]

Wow, I didn't know Wylde used Yaron LP's.

You messing with me? I am this close to taking the bait. You are good. You are really, really good. If you are this subtle, you are about to become my new favorite forum member

 

[FourT6and2]

Randy Rhoads used a Bartlett.

John Sykes uses a Max.

John Norum uses a Yaron.

Zakk Wylde uses both Bartlett and Yaron.

What do you think? Serious players like that are going to use Norlin era Les Pauls, the ones widely considered the worst Les Pauls Gibson ever made to tour the world, and write and record landmark rock tunes played on classic rock stations around the world? You have got to be kidding me. If you are serious about this hobby, you can't be using inferior stuff like this. And it is well known, you can't make a good Les Paul in the United States, well, you can make a good one. But is a good one good enough for you? Not me! I'm Chubtone! A guy on a forum, screwing around on a forum when I should be working. I'm freaking important man!

A Les Paul is just not that important to me that I would spend that much on the best version of it available. I'm happy to look at the pictures of them though....... while listening to Randy or Sykes tear it up on their Norlin eras.

Yup, best Les Pauls I've ever played were Norlins. I even bought a really stunning History R9. But returned it after two weeks. It just didn't sound as good as my crappy Norlins.

 

[ConcreteVampire]

Deleted post in this thread?

Or am I hallucinatin?

I deleted another of my lunatic rant posts in this thread. I got reprimanded by a forum guy for deleting it because he loved it.

Lol! Ok... Thanks for fessin...

I was goin to AGREE with you, And say i miss KAGE, Ralphie, Ed, etc.... As well...

But when my ass logged in after payin attention to my Jo for a minute...

Poof! Forum Alzheimer's! Haha...

(I still owe you a six pack btw...)
But I plan on driving down and molesting an import Charvel over it!

 

[steve_k]

What's the deal with these? I know they are hand built but are they that different in spec from a Gibson historic? Even historics seem way overpriced. I don't get why people are going nuts and paying 10k+ for them.
Granted I'm not a les Paul guy. Not bagging on how anyone spends there money but that's a lot of coin for a guitar sight unseen. Not to mention ordering from foreign countries, several year waiting lists, etc...
What is so different about these from a 2k used r8 or r9? Just hype? Scarcity?

The guys building the replica's have blue-printed actual 59's down to the most minute detail - including wood density, electronics, routing, chambering, etc. Being carved and built by hand and not a CNC machine is time consuming and the man-hours add up. You are paying for research, time, demand and as you suggest - maybe some hype.

If you have the money, and your goal is to have an authentic recreation of the original 58/59 without the $250,000 price tag, then the replica builders are your only option. If buying a used or over-the-counter, mass produced reproduction is good enough, then the Historics are the way to go.

BTW, I know a guy who has went through the Historics over the years with a fine toothed comb and his opinion was that the closest to a real 59 that Gibson got was in 2007. There was a run of about 100 R9's produced by Gibson that year that came close. Something about the wood source, density, etc. being a good match.