Dead horse? Pricing of import production guitars...

[GOHOINC]

Recently I saw a Sarah Longfield signature strandberg boden on sweetwater. I dont really know who she is outside of a youtube metaller, dont know if I care anymore than that either. The multicolored doppler finish on her sig model is rad looking and I've always wanted a headless guitar, her sig is irrelevant. In any case, the guitar was $2400, not the most expensive but not cheap either...

Then I found it was made in Indonesia which makes it the most expensive production model "import" guitar I think I've ever seen. Most of what I see as "high end" imports cost about half as much. A good luthier is a good luthier no matter where they are or come from. Same with guitars. That being said, once I saw country of origin I immediately recoiled and had a fairly negative reaction given the price. That price point is usually for USA made, boutique or even some custom guitars in the used market. Would any of the rest of everyone even consider an import production guitar in that price range? What am I missing here?

 

[crankyrayhanky]

"these are guitars that can grab your senses and help take you to the country of your imagination"

so imagine it's made in the USA

 

[skullfxr]

I would have a very hard time dropping that much cash in an Indo guitar. Sheesh. I will be honest and say that it does bother me.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Recently I saw a Sarah Longfield signature strandberg boden on sweetwater. I dont really know who she is outside of a youtube metaller, dont know if I care anymore than that either. The multicolored doppler finish on her sig model is rad looking and I've always wanted a headless guitar, her sig is irrelevant. In any case, the guitar was $2400, not the most expensive but not cheap either...

Then I found it was made in Indonesia which makes it the most expensive production model "import" guitar I think I've ever seen. Most of what I see as "high end" imports cost about half as much. A good luthier is a good luthier no matter where they are or come from. Same with guitars. That being said, once I saw country of origin I immediately recoiled and had a fairly negative reaction given the price. That price point is usually for USA made, boutique or even some custom guitars in the used market. Would any of the rest of everyone even consider an import production guitar in that price range? What am I missing here?

Kids... spending their parents money... on whatever gear the YT "Influencer" Du Jour claims to be FIRE!!!

That's what. They could careless where, by whom, or how much the gear costs. Just that they can post it on Insta/Snap/YT and be cool. It's a scary new world.

 

[Mailman1971]

That is insane.

 

[skullfxr]

If it's over $2k new, for me it better come from a first world country. Lol

 

[Valtyr]

If it was built with $2000+ quality then it wouldn't bother me.........but I never buy a guitar in that price range without trying it first.

 

[ClintN667]

Im down to one guitar for a bit and it was an Indonesian Solar that I got for 1k. It has locking tuners, ss frets, luminlay, and a hipshot bridge. It plays great as well. Now I go shopping for other guitars and Im always putting them back on the rack after looking at specs. I tried the Nita Strauss signature. $1600 bucks and for the life of me besides the pickups I cant see why its so expensive considering its highly likely its made in the same factory as my guitar. I have a second one coming at the end of the month same specs except with and evertune bridge for $100 more. The 2.x model Solar are pretty cool but they are average for what you can get in that price range. The 1.x models are damn hard to beat. I have a custom Mayones on order that ended up being less than Sarah's sig strandburg.

Im not that picky on where a guitar is made if the quality and specs is there. This seems like an odd cash grab that Im not sure would pay off for the company. Not sure whats justifying the cost on this one.

 

[mooncobra]

two grand + for an import from Indonesia?? PREPOSTEROUS!!

 

[Mailman1971]

two grand + for an import from Indonesia?? PREPOSTEROUS!!

Truth!!!!

 

[godgrinder]

Kids... spending their parents money... on whatever gear the YT "Influencer" Du Jour claims to be FIRE!!!

That's what. They could careless where, by whom, or how much the gear costs. Just that they can post it on Insta/Snap/YT and be cool. It's a scary new world.

Also the same people that says Gibson or PRS are overpriced while they have $1599 piece of firewood with pretty veneer on top.

 

[Beyond Black]

If it's over $2k new, for me it better come from a first world country. Lol

This! $2400 for a guitar built by Indonesians making slave labor wages? GTFO!!!

 

[Getupngiver]

I fully agree that import prices have gone crazy. I've seen some recent Korean made LTD's with a price tag of $1500. Who's buying that with what you can get in the used market for the same price?

 

[jsp]

I fully agree that import prices have gone crazy. I've seen some recent Korean made LTD's with a price tag of $1500. Who's buying that with what you can get in the used market for the same price?

What Korean LTD is $1500? Aside from the Ouija which was were limited and adds a big fanboy tax.

 

[Getupngiver]

I fully agree that import prices have gone crazy. I've seen some recent Korean made LTD's with a price tag of $1500. Who's buying that with what you can get in the used market for the same price?

What Korean LTD is $1500? Aside from the Ouija which was were limited and adds a big fanboy tax.

The Ouija is the exact one I was thinking about, looks cool but it's still just a LTD with a nice paint job. Same goes with the MIM Satchel Charvels at $1400

 

[ke2]

If it's over $2k new, for me it better come from a first world country. Lol

This! $2400 for a guitar built by Indonesians making slave labor wages? GTFO!!!

That is my concern as well. It must be a SICK overhead on that guitar. A good guitar is a good guitar, but the production cost has to be taken into consideration. Indo made guitars can be nice, and shit.

I've had both.

 

[skullfxr]

I would take Korean over Indo though. Better reputation in my experience. Still would not spend $1.4k on one though.

 

[splatter]

I have a Korean Schecter that I paid $1350 for . The quality is as good as any guitar I've owned . I would not buy a guitar made in Indonesia.
If you want a headless guitar I would suggest a Kiesel

 

[skullfxr]

I have a Korean Schecter that I paid $1350 for . The quality is as good as any guitar I've owned . I would not buy a guitar made in Indonesia.
If you want a headless guitar I would suggest a Kiesel

I have always had good results with Korean, but still IMO at $1350 I would rather have USA, MIJ, etc. But a good guitar is a good guitar, but I would not buy Indo.