I muat have jist woke from a coma. Why the F**k are some ESP guitars in the $6000 to $10000 range???

[saxxamafone]

I paid stupid money for my ESP 7 string Steph Carpenter signature.

But I’m a quality over quantity guy.

Been playing guitar for over 30yrs and have 2 electrics, 1 bass and 1 acoustic right now

 

[scottosan]

Actual gold parts? Gary Holt's DNA in the battery cavity? Each guitar played at every show on a tour?

I can't imagine, even if a small Japanese man hand carved each guitar in a candle lit dojo and then each artist signed it and was hand delivered to each customer, why these are so damn much. I'm obviously out of touch.

Why are some Gibsons in the same range. At least all ESP luthiers are players unlike Gibson. I have an ESP Navigator Les Paul and it beats my CS Les Paul.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

I paid 4k for my jackson. It was tough, but i love the thing. Without being a lot more wealthy, I couldn't justify buying another guitar for more than 3k. But over 6 just seems outlandish, unless it is an old acoustic. I have played sooo many great guitars under 1500 that I would just build my own if it was between that and 6-10

I have piles of guitars, some expensive, some only moderately expensive. But the ones I play most were snagged used for around $1000-$1500 (although admittedly, about 10+ yrs ago!), often modded after that. I don't feel the need to have only prestige guitars, as I'm not trying to impress dentists or lawyers. I just need them to have good tone, good frets, and stay in tune.

 

[Beyond Black]

I just could not pass the IIC+ RI deal for USA price although it is still stupid high. The 1959HW price was too good the be dismissed. I was not really searching for these but since the price was a bit more reasonable so I thought I’d jump on the deals.

The C+ RI is a stone killer, have fun with that beast.

 

[Alpha Stryke]

That’s me on the far left, and my little cousin playing my blue sunburst Bich back in 1985.
Not long before that I bought it used for $575 and it fucking ruled. Was my main axe up until around ‘89 when I got bit by the Flying V bug and never looked back.
Sold it to my buddy who still has it to this day.
View attachment 447987

Phuck-yeah ! Nice guitar Hippie.

 

[RaceU4her]

im perfectly content with my $200 Kelly that i believe is made of compressed saw dust, the neck profile on that thing is perfect, and the invader i have in there rips

 

[Beyond Black]

Phuck-yeah ! Nice guitar Hippie.

Shit got much hippier than that. Lol
If you look really closely you’ll see Dio’s “Last in Line” demon peeking out from my button up.

 

[johnny q]

It seems since Covid, companies have a sense of entitlement to charge exorbitant prices for products and services. Hell, Sheptone pickups will cost you over 800 bucks these days!

 

[anomaly]

My $229 squier affinity tele suits me just fine. Aaaaaand no one is swiping it on me

I don't see anything wrong with cheap guitars, as long as they play well. Might want to swap the pickups though?? I've got a cheap Yamaha that I really dig.

 

[70 Mach 1]

I don't see anything wrong with cheap guitars, as long as they play well. Might want to swap the pickups though??

Pickups are fine for what i play.
They sound great.

Only weak link are the tuners.
They all are holding but instead of a small nudge to tune up you have to go a half turn.

 

[Jccobb2]

They're expensive, but in Japan you can go and spec out a custom down to the level of picking your wood. This was on Ochanimizu in Tokyo. I almost dropped 5gs in there!

 

[Jakem]

They're expensive, but in Japan you can go and spec out a custom down to the level of picking your wood. This was on Ochanimizu in Tokyo. I almost dropped 5gs in there!


View attachment 448015

This is from Big Boss’ 2nd floor, right? Went there couple of weeks ago.

 

[Rackman]

Do I miss the days when you could buy neck through US Jacksons and high end ESPs for $1200 minty used all day long? Sure. Were they an economic anomaly? Yeah.

I like what ESP-USA and Jackson CS give you at the price point relative to Gibson. But you do have to realize some retailers are marking up CRAZY.

$3500 for a set neck type guitar is in line with 1950s pricing with inflation. Guitars in the $4K range if they've got stainless frets or special features I think is reasonable.

 

[Jccobb2]

This is from Big Boss’ 2nd floor, right? Went there couple of weeks ago.

Yep! tucked off a little side street, but still a cool shop.

 

[Rackman]

Yep! tucked off a little side street, but still a cool shop.

Can you reasonably conduct business with guitar shops in English? I'm going to our offices in Fujisawa at some point, and I thought I might take the train up and do some guitar shopping but I know about 10 words of Japanese and won't likely improve before then.

I've had good experiences buying from Japanese shops like Ishibashi on Reverb but presumably they're self selecting for wanting American business.

 

[Jakem]

Can you reasonably conduct business with guitar shops in English? I'm going to our offices in Fujisawa at some point, and I thought I might take the train up and do some guitar shopping but I know about 10 words of Japanese and won't likely improve before then.

I've had good experiences buying from Japanese shops like Ishibashi on Reverb but presumably they're self selecting for wanting American business.

I was able to get answers to all my questions in English in every guitar shop I visited in Tokyo; Ochanomizu shops, Fender flagship store, Ikebe and Ishibashi shops in Shibuya and another Ikebe shop in Akihabara.

 

[Beyond Black]

Unfortunately even used guitars are going up like mad now - try and buy a BCR, Hamer, Dean, Jackson, Charvel etc from the 80s or 90s now

And it seems like everything just sits at these ridiculous prices. Everybody thinks they’re sitting on the GD Holy Grail.

 

[Rackman]

And it seems like everything just sits at these ridiculous prices. Everybody thinks they’re sitting on the GD Holy Grail.

There's definitely a strategy of overpricing stuff and letting it sit for years if necissary.

Doesn't bother me though. If I want it I make an offer and if they reject it, I just don't buy. Other dealers price reasonably and things move.

 

[SonVolt]

They've been like this for a few years now.

What I want to know is WHO THE FUCK IS ACTUALLY BUYING THESE?

No one I imagine. Have you ever tried to sell an ESP or even an LTD? There’s no market. They sit there for months and months and months.

 

[Beyond Black]

There's definitely a strategy of overpricing stuff and letting it sit for years if necissary.

Doesn't bother me though. If I want it I make an offer and if they reject it, I just don't buy. Other dealers price reasonably and things move.

There's definitely a strategy of overpricing stuff and letting it sit for years if necissary.

Doesn't bother me though. If I want it I make an offer and if they reject it, I just don't buy. Other dealers price reasonably and things move.

What strategy, to artificially inflate the market so idiots think that their gear is actually worth these ridiculous asking prices?