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Post subject: I just don't get it
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 7:24 pm
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DEAR ABBY,
I went to my local guitar shop today and they have this glass 360* case that they usualy put the best guitar in the shop in. Today they have a GIBSON LES PAUL in there for 4,300 BUCKS. That price seems unbelievable, so I take a closer look. The guitar is not a famous players signature model, it doesn't have fancy mother of pearl artwork. The only thing that I can see is gold accent hardware. and a pick guard.
So For the first time ever, I take a really good look at the GIBSON and EPIPHONE LES PAULS and the main difference that I can tell for when a guitar goes up in price is a better looking PICKGUARD and maybe LES PAUL STAMPED SIG IN THE HEADSTOCK.

I realize that the wood and pickups may be a highr grade, but the cheapest EPIPHONE LES PAUL is like $400 dollars and the most overpriced GIBSON LES PAUL is $4,3000. :shock:

How can a company justify a price difference like that?

When I go to look at FENDAR STRATS, I can see the diffference between a $200 SQUIRE STRAT and a $1,500 dollar FENDER HIGH END SRV STRAT or any other highend STRAT. FENDER atleast makes an obvious difference, so that you know why you are paying more.

THANK YOU ,
FRUSTRATED FENDER FAN

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Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 7:36 pm
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Didn't know "Dear Abby" played guitar. :lol:

And Gibson Les Pauls were overpriced to begin with. An Epiphone Standard is the same thing except for the headstock and polyester (or is it urithane?) finish. Oh, and the scarf joint headstock. Same woods and everything, alnico humbuckers...what a rip. :?


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Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 7:43 pm
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Actually I like my Gibson Les Paul (BFG), I don't think it was overpriced at all (well, that and I got it used). Gibson does make some nice guitars (still, I'm more of a Fender person). People could just as easily point at a Custom Shop Fender that costs $6000 and say that you were just paying for Fender on the headstock. I wouldn't judge a guitar before playing it.

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:15 pm
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I notice the Made in U.S.A. label cost considerably more than the made in China label, ya reckon thats a part of this riddle? Gibsons traditionally cost more than many other brands, much the way a Rolls Royce cost more than a Chevrolet (or most other luxury cars). Congrates on those who can afford the Rolls as well as the higher priced guitar. Personally, performance is the most important factor and once you reach a standard of life then cost is not an issue.
Hope you find your answers...


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:35 pm
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Not exactly the response that I would expect from die hard FENDER fans. The fact is that you can buy a top of the line FENDER for alot less than a GIBSON and still get better quality.

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2009 OVATION CELEBRITY DELUXE BLUE BURST QUILTED MAPLE
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"IT'S NOT ABOUT LOVING WHAT YOU WANT, IT'S ABOUT LOVING WHAT YOU'VE GOT."= SHERYL CROW


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:38 pm
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Those prices are there because someone will pay it.

A friend recently got one of those Smartwood (i think thats what their called, made from 'eco friendly woods') LP's for around the price of a Strat, and it is a damn fine guitar. granted I prefer my strats, but he prefers the feel and tone of his LP's. they sure sounded good when we played them together, though i haven't polled my neighbors to see if they agreed.


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:42 pm
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STRATUSA wrote:
Not exactly the response that I would expect from die hard FENDER fans. The fact is that you can buy a top of the line FENDER for alot less than a GIBSON and still get better quality.


I think the problem with expecting that, is that the die hard fender fanatics on this forum that can afford a top of the line Fender, can also afford a middle-to-top-of-the-line Gibson, without batting an eye.

If you have the money, and you think what you're buying is worth it, then whatever they're charging is the right price. Yeah, I would think more than 2k is WAY too much for a guitar, but I haven't had the privilege of holding a completely hand-built Fender Custom Shop Model, or a top of the line Gibson.

I've held a few LP Studios, possibly a Standard or two, but never really liked the feel of them, so didn't spend much time with them.


Also, to whoever made the car reference, I hope you weren't comparing Chevrolet quality to Rolls Royce quality, and if I read that right, you then called Chevy a "luxury car"?

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Post subject: Stay with Fender
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:43 pm
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Dude I completely agree, i have no idea how Guitar Prices fluctuate.... i understand economy blah. but there isn't a shortage of guitars, they are all mass produced, and even if they are made by hand. they are MASS PRODUCED!! Just like cars....they are 40.000 dollars but there are a trillion unowned.

Gibson, well over priced, PRS extremely overpriced!! I scared a sales guy at Sam Ash one day because i picked up a PRS SC250 "les paul rip off" and started wailing on it. The tag was like 2700 dollars.

There is no rhyme or reason to the tag. Name and Novelty plays heavily into it. I love Les Pauls, a bit heavy but i'd play any version of one even a rip off.

Can't say that for a Fender Strat though. I won't play a rip off because the factory setup of a real strat can't be beat. I love Fender Strats Very reasonably priced Play like a dream, extremely versitile not heavy, so comfortable you don't want to put them down. Even on the lower end models Squiers are extremely well made.

Fender only charges high end prices for Custom Shop guitars and that's ok because they are LIMITED or ONE OFF's, Gibson and PRS have HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of their high guitars.

And Leo Fender was a Genius when he was desiging these guitars he wanted a guitar that had easily replacable parts, bolt on necks, a pickguard that you can pull off and virtually replace all the electronics, and a tremelo that comes right out. Great stuff

Stay Fender.


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:52 pm
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STRATUSA wrote:
Not exactly the response that I would expect from die hard FENDER fans.

Most of us here prefer Strats. But in fact Leo Fender and Les Paul the people, not the brands, were friends. So I see no reason for us to feel animosity towards the other brand. after all you don't have to buy it.

i read a thing by Les Paul where he said that Leo gave him one of the original 'canoe paddles' and he has never gotten rid of it.


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 8:18 am
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Twelvebar wrote:
Those prices are there because someone will pay it.


Exactly! It's just like anything else. is it worth that amount of money? Only the buyer can decide.

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 9:30 am
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I am not here to defend Gibson prices but there are some differences.

To get an Epi that is comparable to the Gibby you would be looking at the Epi LP standard @ US$ 550, anything less than that will not be mahagony.

A Gibby LP standard is @ US$ 2,300ish...let's say 4.5 - 5x more money.

An American Standars Strat is also @ 4.5 - 5X more tha a Squire strat...225ish vs 1000.

Besides the obvious differences there are some lesser seen differences such as: Electronics (pots, caps, wiring), Hardware (pot metal vs carbon steel). Additionally, American labor costs more tha Chinese labor. Keep in mind, OSHA, EPA etc also play a factor in the price point in US made products.

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:22 am
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Gibsons are great guitars. No doubt. I much prefer Strats. I can afford pretty much any gear I want - within reason. I choose Fender guitars for my electrics.

I've gone a couple times to buy a Les Paul. I tried to like them. No matter what I do, they just don't feel right to me, and I get no inspiration at all when I play them. Just a personal thing.


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:28 am
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'Had the same thought, gazing wistfully / confused / a little aggro at the Fender rosewood George Harrison style Telecaster at the local Sam Ash, which is priced way above $3,000.

Huh?


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:52 am
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STRATUSA wrote:
Not exactly the response that I would expect from die hard FENDER fans. The fact is that you can buy a top of the line FENDER for alot less than a GIBSON and still get better quality.


Well, even though I prefer strats for a ton of reasons, I can see why someone else would like a gibby better and pay for it.

The MIA or even Deluxe strats don't have the nice inlay work, the fretboard binding, the thicker mahogany body, or the beautiful flame/quilt tops in a variety of very beautiful finishes and bursts. Some les pauls are absolutely beautiful and top notch, I don't think anyone will argue that.

For me? I don't necessarily want a super pretty guitar for my main guitar. I like a beat up strat, and better yet - I love the tone, the feel and the vibe of a strat. It's more in line with the way I am.

A good Les Paul would be a great guitar I could play. A good Strat is part of me. Big difference.


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:08 am
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bruno690 wrote:
A Gibby LP standard is @ US$ 2,300ish...let's say 4.5 - 5x more money of the Epi

Besides the obvious differences there are some lesser seen differences such as: Electronics (pots, caps, wiring), Hardware (pot metal vs carbon steel). Additionally, American labor costs more than Chinese labor.

There are bigger differences than that. For Gibson vs Epi, it is not like the way we compare Fender MIMs to MIAs, where the gap is so close. An Epiphone Les Paul does not play and sound like a Gibson Les Paul Standard. The Epi LPs look great, but they are a lot farther away than just a tone-pot and tuning machine from the real deal. (this is no slam on Epi guitars, by the way)

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