limited run ethics

[rottingcorpse]

Pretend you buy a USA limited run guitar (150 pieces). It's supposed to be a collector guitar with a cert and everything. Pretty expensive.

10 years later the same company does another run, with specs closer to the hero guitar the first run was based off of. Even more expensive.

If you were a fan of the hero, would you feel worked over? The first run is now devalued drastically.

 

[Steinmetzify]

Yup. I'd be bent. What came out? I miss something? Haven't been looking at the NAMM stuff...

 

[lessthan12]

I know I saw that Fender is doing another run of the Frankestrat replica,now in a run of 300. If I were one of the people who originally bought one of the original 25 Id probably be furious

 

[cardinal]

I'd be pissed. If it were a month after the first run, it'd be terrible. I'm not sure 10 years after the first run in any better. It was advertised and sold as limited the first time. Seems like going back on their word by doing another run.

 

[Shark Diver]

I bought a limited run Radiant Red EB JP6 once. They said that was the only time they'd use that color. Less than a year later they put it out as a stock color. When I contacted them they said mine was different because mine had a black headstock, and the news ones had a matching headstock. I was so pissed I dumped the guitar. But it was a great guitar.

 

[neilli]

I'd say buy / order an actual one-off rather than one of 150. When there's a 'hero' involved, they're always going to churn out more because, well, there's money in them thar hills...

 

[MIchbiking]

ESP did it to my iron cross

 

[Ventura]

It's all marketing. And market-testing.

"Limited run" has no statute of limitations. It might be limited run for that model and year, but there's nothing stopping them from doing it at any other given time. Furthermore, depending on how fast they get bought up? They know they've got an ace when the chips are down and they (the manufacturer) need to top-up sales for whatever fiscal year. Boom - make another "limited run" model, done.

It's just a marketing ploy. Furthmore, I typically look at "signature" guitars and "limited run" guitars with skepticism. The whole notion started when ACTUAL real-life hard-to-find guitars sought by collectors started becoming a bit more mainstream - you know, the Fender non-caster/broadcaster, the infamous Les Pauls, the infamous Strats, Doug Irwins, and so on. Show me an attic stored '59 Lester and I'll take that any day over the '59 reissues - but so it goes...

If it's artist driven? No way. That's just a turn-off to me. But YMMV.
Peace,
Mo

 

[DannyM]

If you are looking at guitars as investments and resale value is important then I guess that sucks...sell the first one and try and break even, make profit, or take a loss and buy the new and improved one and hope your investment does better this time. Who knows, Maybe the new run will suck and the first run will be sought after and the new run ends up increasing the value of the first one.

If you bought the limited run guitar because its a cool and rare guitar to play then play it....it's still cool and rare and sounds and feels the same.

If you bought it for hero worship then it shouldn't really bother you as you can still worship the hero and the first run guitar.

 

[garey77]

It's all marketing. And market-testing...

If it's artist driven? No way. That's just a turn-off to me. But YMMV.
Peace,
Mo

This. First, money talks. Second, I personally don't like having another person's name on my guitars.

 

[rottingcorpse]

Note, I don't have one. I'm just disappointed in the company and the estate.

 

[cardinal]

Oh, is this Dean and the Dime Bolt guitar? Any time an Estate is involved, it's going to get squirrelly because reissuing sig guitars how it can print money. And Dean, well...

 

[Rock Bodom]

"Limited runs" of anything, not just guitars, trap many a speculator. The problem is that collectibles that are manufactured ("instant collectible") versus ones that are the natural product of time, changing tastes, and declining availability can be manipulated too easily.

While it may feel unethical (it's always a bit of a punch to the gut to see a reissue of something rare you already have, even if you weren't in it for the money), think of it the other way. A bunch of people were already getting shut out from getting a guitar they might want because supply was being kept artificially low to inflate the price. Some people benefit from a reissue, others feel screwed. Which gets back to...buy a guitar because you love it, and don't care if it loses value over time.

 

[Greazygeo]

The first run is worth more anyway, so you should hope they do put out more later.

 

[Red_Label]

Meh... many "original limited runs" seem to be more highly prized by collectors, and thus... worth more. I never buy something because it's a limited run... I buy it because I like it and it's a great value. Which means I've had very few limited runs!

 

[Badronald]

It's all marketing. And market-testing...

If it's artist driven? No way. That's just a turn-off to me. But YMMV.
Peace,
Mo

This. First, money talks. Second, I personally don't like having another person's name on my guitars.

So you don't play a Fender or Gibson then. Cool.

 

[Ventura]

I was waiting for the smartass Leo Fender and Lester William Polsfuss retort.

There it is.

Moving along....

 

[Badronald]

I was waiting for the smartass Leo Fender and Lester William Polsfuss retort.

There it is.

Moving along....

I know, I know. It was just so easy.......

 

[Ventura]

I was waiting for the smartass Leo Fender and Lester William Polsfuss retort.

There it is.

Moving along....

I know, I know. It was just so easy.......

 

[FrankTheThird]

Yeah, I just...Dean man, even the Dime estate, i kind of get "confused" since I personally love Dime and the music he created and I know his Sig stuff supports his family, but it's just a bit much in my opinion. I'm all for them making the sigs, but just tone it down a bit on how many and the cheesy ass designs and up the overall quality.