Dammit those Gibson prices

['63-Strat]

there's just no way a new gibson is worth 9k, even as an investment IMO. You can easily get a very nice vintage gibson at that price that will hold it's value.

True to a degree, but you're essentially stuck with a LP Jr/SG Special for that kind of cash for a solid body Gibson electric. These guys' collections are just as much for the "Ohhh and Ahhh" factor as they are for any true investment purposes. A Pearly Gates replica has alot more "wow" to it than a tocacco burst Jr. And to date, many of the limited run LPs have actually gained in value.

As for vintage guitars holding value, try telling that to the guys who payed top dollar for a P90 Goldtop or TV Jr at the peak of the market a few years back. About the only "guarantees" when it comes to vintage Gibsons are '57-'60 LP Standards and original Explorers and Vs.

I think you could find a pretty nice vintage LP custom for 9k that will hold it's value better than a historic for example is all I meant. Obviously not an all original 57-60 standard but there is still lots to be found for quite a bit less than that too in my experience. I'm interested to see which of the limited run LPs have actually gained in value, I certainly wouldn't pay new prices period for a used recent historic let alone more.

 

[Les Zombie]

The rossington les pauls was 3500 new in 2003 and a few years ago they was selling to 10k, i own one and turned down a offer of 8500 last year.

The dicky betts goldtop was 4k new and i saw a few in the last couple months sell for 8k.

The jimmy page aged and signed number 1 sold for 25k new and a few months later one sold for 50k, then back in 2007 a few of them sold for 100k.

Jimmy page number 2 was 25k new and sold for 35k later that year.

Pearly gates aged and signed was 24k new and i seen a few sell for over 30k.
I have the vos version and paid 7k and last year i turned down a few offers of 8k.

But not every sig model goes up or maintains their value, stuff like the zakk wylde and joe perry boneyard are over 4k new and sell for 2500 to 3k used.

The regular 59 reissue is almost 6k new at certain stores and that same guitar used is around 3500 to 4k. So most gibsons have ok resale but i dont recommend buying them as a investment.

I have a 50th anni 59 reissue with the gold coa and i bought it used for 4500 and i turned down a couple offers of 6k last year.

The allman les paul was 13k new and a few years later was going for 15 to 20k but the value has startd to drop lately.

Then theres the custon shop slash model that has the snake on the body and neck and it has went up in value, i was buying one 5 years ago used for 7k and i skipped it. I saw one sell last year for 20k.

 

[Les Zombie]

I also wanna say to anybody thinking about buying les paul that they should shop around and not just buy from a big retailer like gc.
Gibson has alot of markup on their guitars and i always had a good relationship with my dealers i bought from and they let me see their dealer sheets and pricing. I used to have some good hookups but lately i been buying used.


I was looking for a new lemonburst R9 last year and gc was asking 6k and i saw one at willcutts and they asked 4200, they wasnt one of my hookups but they gave me a nice price and they still was making a decent profit. I ended up buying a jimmy page instead but if i wanted a new gibson i would definately go to willcutts or somebody like wildwood.

Music is good and dont pay attention to the pricing on their site, i bought from them a few times for alot less than they was asking, sometimes on limited edition stuff like a jimmy page they wont discount. But on a reissue historic or sonething that is normal production they will give a discount.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

Buy expensive signature Les Pauls, put them in safe keeping don't play them = sell for profit later and beat the stock market?

 

[Les Zombie]

You never know what will be good for making a profit, i still dont think anybody should buy a guitar as a investment. If you can afford to buy it and play it thats fine but i wouldnt wanna take a chance on buying something like that just for the sake of making cash.

Gibson made a jeff beck signed les paul and nobody wanted it for the 25k that they was asking and they sat on the shelves for years.

 

['63-Strat]

The rossington les pauls was 3500 new in 2003 and a few years ago they was selling to 10k, i own one and turned down a offer of 8500 last year.

The dicky betts goldtop was 4k new and i saw a few in the last couple months sell for 8k.

The jimmy page aged and signed number 1 sold for 25k new and a few months later one sold for 50k, then back in 2007 a few of them sold for 100k.

Jimmy page number 2 was 25k new and sold for 35k later that year.

Pearly gates aged and signed was 24k new and i seen a few sell for over 30k.
I have the vos version and paid 7k and last year i turned down a few offers of 8k.

But not every sig model goes up or maintains their value, stuff like the zakk wylde and joe perry boneyard are over 4k new and sell for 2500 to 3k used.

The regular 59 reissue is almost 6k new at certain stores and that same guitar used is around 3500 to 4k. So most gibsons have ok resale but i dont recommend buying them as a investment.

I have a 50th anni 59 reissue with the gold coa and i bought it used for 4500 and i turned down a couple offers of 6k last year.

The allman les paul was 13k new and a few years later was going for 15 to 20k but the value has startd to drop lately.

Then theres the custon shop slash model that has the snake on the body and neck and it has went up in value, i was buying one 5 years ago used for 7k and i skipped it. I saw one sell last year for 20k.

Wow. I'm not saying those figures are wrong, but I do think those people/collector's are insane

I love my '63 historic 335 but even for the good price I got on it used I thought it was steep. New price? No way, more than new? Lol. As good as a lot of the historic stuff I've played is, I still don't think it really compares to vintage pieces either. The '58 LP my old guitar teacher in Vancouver had (later sold to Keith Scott of Bryan Adams fame) was just appallingly good, as was his dot inlay 335, though I can't remember the year now.

 

[JackBootedThug]

i'm a gibson fanboy who has dropped serious coin on them over the years, but fuck gibson. really. shit just pisses me off.

 

[JonVengeance]

Gibson has dropped the prices on some of their guitars. SGs Standards are now $1199, a drop of $400 from a few years back. I got a new on brand new last year for $999 and it's an amazing guitar. They also have that standard Traditional Pro, or whatever it's called for $1899. The ones I played were really nice.

If I want a handmade Gibson I'll get a Heritage or get one from a custom builder. There are dudes making some really sweet copies for around $2000.

 

[Les Zombie]

Sg standard is a nice guitar, i had one 3 years ago and i thought it was nice. I think its worth the 1200 bucks.

 

[steve_k]

The rossington les pauls was 3500 new in 2003 and a few years ago they was selling to 10k, i own one and turned down a offer of 8500 last year.

The dicky betts goldtop was 4k new and i saw a few in the last couple months sell for 8k.

The jimmy page aged and signed number 1 sold for 25k new and a few months later one sold for 50k, then back in 2007 a few of them sold for 100k.

Jimmy page number 2 was 25k new and sold for 35k later that year.

Pearly gates aged and signed was 24k new and i seen a few sell for over 30k.
I have the vos version and paid 7k and last year i turned down a few offers of 8k.

But not every sig model goes up or maintains their value, stuff like the zakk wylde and joe perry boneyard are over 4k new and sell for 2500 to 3k used.

The regular 59 reissue is almost 6k new at certain stores and that same guitar used is around 3500 to 4k. So most gibsons have ok resale but i dont recommend buying them as a investment.

I have a 50th anni 59 reissue with the gold coa and i bought it used for 4500 and i turned down a couple offers of 6k last year.

The allman les paul was 13k new and a few years later was going for 15 to 20k but the value has startd to drop lately.

Then theres the custon shop slash model that has the snake on the body and neck and it has went up in value, i was buying one 5 years ago used for 7k and i skipped it. I saw one sell last year for 20k.

Interesting and thanks.......you have been tagged as the official Les Paul pricing consultant

Steve

 

[King Crimson]

I hate Gibson Les Pauls - always have.

 

[yngzaklynch]

Does Gibson still even make a quality quitar? In recent years I've seen so much sloppy work from them, Flawed finishes, binding that looks poorly applied, nuts that look like a chipmunk chewed on them, sub par fret work, etc... Anderson, Suhr, Ernie Ball Musicman, Charvel/Jackson, Hamer, PRS... way better quality IMO.

Jim

 

[steve_k]

Does Gibson still even make a quality quitar? In recent years I've seen so much sloppy work from them, Flawed finishes, binding that looks poorly applied, nuts that look like a chipmunk chewed on them, sub par fret work, etc... Anderson, Suhr, Ernie Ball Musicman, Charvel/Jackson, Hamer, PRS... way better quality IMO.

Jim

That's sort of the point I was trying to make. They are pricing their custom shop/VOS guitars like some of the hand made, boutique builders - where I know damned well that the guitar will be flawless, stay in tune, etc. You pay $4000 for a Gibson, sight unseen and unplayed. the fucker may be a lemon. They have got way too many lines to juggle around and maintain control over - is all I am saying.

I do like Les Paul's, but less and less if it is made by Gibson. For just a bit more money, I can have one made to spec. And, that's where I am questioning their pricing. It is easier to find an older Les Paul beater on ebay. At least you know it survived a while and should hold tune and have a decent action and hasn't been converted to a Chinese fake.

Steve

 

[Les Zombie]

The rossington les pauls was 3500 new in 2003 and a few years ago they was selling to 10k, i own one and turned down a offer of 8500 last year.

The dicky betts goldtop was 4k new and i saw a few in the last couple months sell for 8k.

The jimmy page aged and signed number 1 sold for 25k new and a few months later one sold for 50k, then back in 2007 a few of them sold for 100k.

Jimmy page number 2 was 25k new and sold for 35k later that year.

Pearly gates aged and signed was 24k new and i seen a few sell for over 30k.
I have the vos version and paid 7k and last year i turned down a few offers of 8k.

But not every sig model goes up or maintains their value, stuff like the zakk wylde and joe perry boneyard are over 4k new and sell for 2500 to 3k used.

The regular 59 reissue is almost 6k new at certain stores and that same guitar used is around 3500 to 4k. So most gibsons have ok resale but i dont recommend buying them as a investment.

I have a 50th anni 59 reissue with the gold coa and i bought it used for 4500 and i turned down a couple offers of 6k last year.

The allman les paul was 13k new and a few years later was going for 15 to 20k but the value has startd to drop lately.

Then theres the custon shop slash model that has the snake on the body and neck and it has went up in value, i was buying one 5 years ago used for 7k and i skipped it. I saw one sell last year for 20k.

Interesting and thanks.......you have been tagged as the official Les Paul pricing consultant

Steve

theres plenty of guys that know way more about this stuff than me.

 

[steve_k]

The rossington les pauls was 3500 new in 2003 and a few years ago they was selling to 10k, i own one and turned down a offer of 8500 last year.

The dicky betts goldtop was 4k new and i saw a few in the last couple months sell for 8k.

The jimmy page aged and signed number 1 sold for 25k new and a few months later one sold for 50k, then back in 2007 a few of them sold for 100k.

Jimmy page number 2 was 25k new and sold for 35k later that year.

Pearly gates aged and signed was 24k new and i seen a few sell for over 30k.
I have the vos version and paid 7k and last year i turned down a few offers of 8k.

But not every sig model goes up or maintains their value, stuff like the zakk wylde and joe perry boneyard are over 4k new and sell for 2500 to 3k used.

The regular 59 reissue is almost 6k new at certain stores and that same guitar used is around 3500 to 4k. So most gibsons have ok resale but i dont recommend buying them as a investment.

I have a 50th anni 59 reissue with the gold coa and i bought it used for 4500 and i turned down a couple offers of 6k last year.

The allman les paul was 13k new and a few years later was going for 15 to 20k but the value has startd to drop lately.

Then theres the custon shop slash model that has the snake on the body and neck and it has went up in value, i was buying one 5 years ago used for 7k and i skipped it. I saw one sell last year for 20k.

Interesting and thanks.......you have been tagged as the official Les Paul pricing consultant

Steve

theres plenty of guys that know way more about this stuff than me.

On RT? I doubt it....but, let's hear from them if there are.

Steve

 

[Steinmetzify]

This was educational as all hell, guys......I've got some sick LP GAS goin on right now, but just can't justify the prices yet.

I'm not a collector, I'm a player; can't see trying to come up with thousands for a guitar that is eventually gonna get beat up enough that I wouldnt be able to sell it anyway.

Used market for older beaters a better deal all around? Or should I look for a custom build? Thoughts? Are there custom builders on RT that do LPs that you'd recommend?

Thanks,

Stein

 

[Ventura]

I just wrote this matter of fact and to the heart response about my thoughts on Gibson. The Coles Notes version on it is:

- I don't dig their rockstar signature models
- I don't dig their VOS nonsense
- I don't dig their forging ahead in the realm of digi-techno weirdness
- Their QC has definitely been scritinized, but lets not forget how many guitars they produce

On the flipside:
- My two best playing axes are both Lesters
- My other favourite 4 are all, taaaa-daaaaa, Lesters
- I don't care a rat's ass how much I pay so long as it makes me feel like the above mentioned two do
- Of the others I own, they're all unique and offering something tonally special
- I play a LOT of different guitars, but ALWAYS feel like I'm at home when I throw on a Lester

I have a number of fine Les Pauls, and I've also HAD a number of fine Lesters. The ones I've kept are because they're beautiful playing guitars (to me). I feel tapped into something very special when I play them. They're cosmically enhanced man...can't describe. Of the ones I've let go?? Some have been rack rate reissues, some have been vintage collectors' models - but if they didn't play or sound right, off they went.

My keepers?? Priceless. I mean that in the truest sense, to me, I could and would never sell them, the money's just not worth the magic they afford me. Done.

V.

 

[The Hoff]

Yeah

 

[Stramm8]

I've owned several '58 historics and various standards over the years but lately even used LPs are out of line with what I'm willing to spend on one. The first LP I ever bought back in '95 was a black standard and I paid $500 for it used. I took my brother with me when i bought it and when we got in the car he said "I can't believe you just paid $500 for a guitar" That was the best one I ever owned but of course, I ended up selling it

I'm on the road a lot for work so I usually hit a GC at night and play guitars. The best one I've played lately is the studio deluxe. $1399 and they play like butter. Why the hell would someone buy a new one for $2k or more?? If I ever buy another LP, I'll get a deluxe or another Edwards...

 

[Les Zombie]

I have a 68 reissue in silverburst and its the sleeper of my lesters, something about it i really love.
I paid 2300 for it used and i think its worth every penny, the wierd thing is that it was a limited run of 68 lesters and gibson didnt even make a silverburst in 68. Its one of my favorite colors and i like the specs on the 68 better than the regular silverburst les paul custom i had a couple years ago.