Guitar and amps out of control.

[Hard&Heavy]

How many of you think that this has got out of hand over the past 10 to 20 years? I can remember being able to buy a brand new les paul custom for $800 back in the late 70's now these guitars are going from 3g's and up and not just Gibson but a lot of companies in general. And amps are the same way and I know because I own a few of them. This not meant to be a nasty thread, but to see how many of you agree.

I am at the point that I am going to be moving a lot of gear and go back to marshall's either modded or boosted up front.

I will keep just a few things but the rest are going bye bye.

 

[Tone Monster]

It's all relative. EVERYTHING has gone up. A lot.

 

[PWE Amplification]

How many of you think that this has got out of hand over the past 10 to 20 years? I can remember being able to buy a brand new les paul custom for $800 back in the late 70's now these guitars are going from 3g's and up and not just Gibson but a lot of companies in general. And amps are the same way and I know because I own a few of them. This not meant to be a nasty thread, but to see how many of you agree.

I am at the point that I am going to be moving a lot of gear and go back to marshall's either modded or boosted up front.

I will keep just a few things but the rest are going bye bye.

As a builder I can tell you that costs have gone through the roof in the last few years, everything from parts, raw materials, overhead, transport etc.

 

[RJF]

Everything has gone up. I am willing to spend the extra money on stuff that is made here, by american workers. Or at least friendly countries like Germany, U.K. etc.

That Thrasher amp is pretty stinkin' cheap, but rumor has it's made by our enemy, China. No thanks.

But yeah, part of the reason why stuff "costs" so much here anymore is because of the decisions that have been made the last 30-50 years in this country. Our dollar is in shambles, every industry is over regulated, we are over taxed, all of which has driven the cost of doing business much higher than it needs to be.

 

[cardinal]

Everything's expensive. But the "good" news is that these overseas guitars (Korea, etc) are pretty darn nice these days IMHO. So much so that I question whether I need the fancier guitars I have.

You an still get a made in the US Carvin for not too much. I wish other companies could replicate that model. It's not like Fender and Gibson aren't extensively using CNC too. Fender especially.

As for amps, I think Mesa still offers a great product at an accessible cost. There are a lot of cheaper amps that seem cool, but I'd rather have my Mesa and an old Marshall.

 

[Bob Savage]

I think most Americans completely underestimate the costs, labor, equipment and operational overhead costs that goes into running a business. We've been brainwashed by the artificially deflated costs of Chinese and other products and services from overseas.

This topic causes me to rant and get into my thoughts on what's going to happen to this country if we don't wake up and I'm not going to do that, but I will say this, if we don't wake up before it's too late just wait and you'll see even greater offsets between your salary and the cost of products.

 

[charveldan]

How many of you think that this has got out of hand over the past 10 to 20 years? I can remember being able to buy a brand new les paul custom for $800 back in the late 70's now these guitars are going from 3g's and up and not just Gibson but a lot of companies in general. And amps are the same way and I know because I own a few of them. This not meant to be a nasty thread, but to see how many of you agree.

I am at the point that I am going to be moving a lot of gear and go back to marshall's either modded or boosted up front.

I will keep just a few things but the rest are going bye bye.

As a buyer I can tell you that costs have gone through the roof in the last few years, everything from parts, raw materials, overhead, transport etc.

QFT

 

[cardinal]

I generally agree with Bob here, but Mesa and Carvin seem to have found a model that I think works well. I love Mesa amps and they are not outrageously expensive. Carvin guitars are hideous, but that could be fixed. But they are built reasonably well and I love the options.

But the cheap Chinese amps and Korean guitars are severely skewing what people expect for low costs.

 

[Hard&Heavy]

Don't get me wrong... I love these amps and guitars they are killer and I do understand because I own and run a daycare and the cost of maintaining it is through the roof.

This was not meant as a dig against anyone in particular.

It was just to see what you all think...

 

[Badronald]

I'm amazed by the cost of everything.
I don't buy stuff anymore.....unless it's on sale, used, or I need it.
Of course I need food and clothing, but besides that and things for the house and cars...

 

[Rdodson]

Blame the Federal Reserve which keeps flooding the economy with $$$ in order to prop up the banking system. The result is INFLATION, which ends up outside the reported numbers because materials, food, & energy are excluded (so they can keep the cost of Social Security down).

 

[rocknrolla]

As a small business owner who employs (and insures) several employees I can tell you first hand that the extra expense to the end user certainly isn't boosting profit margins. The cost of running a business is astronomically high compared to the past and the rules and regulations we must follow are absurd to say the least.
Most businesses have kept the same or lower margins over time as the costs of insurance, raising tax burdens, and costs and added fees for materials and fuels have made it almost economically impossible to keep our doors open.
Before anybody demonizes the "greedy" business owners look at what they must go through to continue supplying their product.

 

[Kramerman]

Being a cheap bastard with Champagne tastes yeah I feel things have gotten out of control but somehow I still do what I have to when the gear I want gets my heart racin'.
The one thing that bugs the hell out of me is companies like PRS brainwashing people into thinking a Korean guitar is worth close to $1k. I own two PRS' and love'm and have played some of the SE line but they aren't worth the $$ they are retailing for. I'm building a pedal board currently and the amount of money I've thrown at that would drive my wife to beat me senseless if she really knew how much I've spent on that endeavor.

 

[rocknrolla]

And remember. They wouldn't charge what they do if people weren't buying. Big companies probably know a thing or two about making money. They may even have taken a few classes on the subject.
Nobody is holding a gun to anyone's head making them buy their products. Free market is just like nature's natural selection.

 

[JimmyBlind]

I own two PRS' and love'm and have played some of the SE line but they aren't worth the $$ they are retailing for.

I don't even think the PRS USA guitars are worth what you pay for, personally. Don't get me wrong, they really are wonderful guitars, but custom shop prices for standard guitars? I don't buy into it.
There's a much more intimate construction process with the smaller guitar builders that I think better justifies a premium.

Plus PRS charge a premium for the different tops. If i'm paying nearly 4000 bucks for a guitar, I don't want to know that the maple top on my guitar isn't the 'best' top I could have had. For that money I expect to be given the best top they could find & not just for them to mass produce a bunch of exactly the same spec guitars & for them to say "That one's pretty nice, we'll write a 10 on the head stock in silver marker & charge someone more for that one". It's a totally subjective classification by PRS.

 

[garey77]

I'm down to support the smaller companies. That's how the big boys got started, right?! I like knowing my amp/guitar was built by somebody that I can reach and talk to about it, if need be; that little bit of extra connectable availability. Although, companies like Mesa and Diezel, albeit larger manufacturers, have reputable and stellar customer support, so there's that, too.

 

[Schaf]

I agree with what many people are saying here. A lot of things went in to the recent rise in prices. But just think about fuel alone. That's going to significantly impact all the goos that we get. When fuel went up a few years ago we all had less in our pocket and then groceries and essentials went up as well. Now we have less money in our pocket and products are higher. Not to mention the most recent government debacle that's going to take even more money out of the middle class peoples pockets.

But I wonder how much higher Gibsons prices are if any wehen you factor in inflation?

 

[Bob Savage]

But I wonder how much higher Gibsons prices are if any wehen you factor in inflation?

Seems pretty much aligned.

What cost $800 in 1977 would cost $2988.39 in 2012.
Also, if you were to buy exactly the same products in 2012 and 1977,
they would cost you $800 and $205.31 respectively.

http://www.westegg.com/inflation/

 

[thiswaythatway]

I own two PRS' and love'm and have played some of the SE line but they aren't worth the $$ they are retailing for.

I don't even think the PRS USA guitars are worth what you pay for, personally. Don't get me wrong, they really are wonderful guitars, but custom shop prices for standard guitars? I don't buy into it.
There's a much more intimate construction process with the smaller guitar builders that I think better justifies a premium.

Plus PRS charge a premium for the different tops. If i'm paying nearly 4000 bucks for a guitar, I don't want to know that the maple top on my guitar isn't the 'best' top I could have had. For that money I expect to be given the best top they could find & not just for them to mass produce a bunch of exactly the same spec guitars & for them to say "That one's pretty nice, we'll write a 10 on the head stock in silver marker & charge someone more for that one". It's a totally subjective classification by PRS.

I have a PRS SC58 and for $2200 brand new it has a better top on it than any Gibson I could find up to 4k. And what's a custom shop price? 4k? Charvel custom shop prices are through the roof for basically a bolt on glorified strat and you don't even get a maple top.

 

[thiswaythatway]

But I wonder how much higher Gibsons prices are if any wehen you factor in inflation?

Seems pretty much aligned.

What cost $800 in 1977 would cost $2988.39 in 2012.
Also, if you were to buy exactly the same products in 2012 and 1977,
they would cost you $800 and $205.31 respectively.

http://www.westegg.com/inflation/

I bought a Les Paul Custom in 1987 for $700 brand new. Same guitar now costs $4,000.

I do LOVE how the costs of flat screen TV's is dropping like Obama's approval rating.