Roguetitan
New member
Without a doubt IMO Gibson guitars are definitely overrated.
Gidge
Lapdance Test Dummy
PRS overrated..
if I knew there were pics of hot trannies I would have been here sooner...
if I knew there were pics of hot trannies I would have been here sooner...
didgijimmy
vexed
i think that the term "best materials" is subjective. each different wood contributes to ones own tonal preference, im no luthier, but i think that many people will agree. that being said, many "cheap quality" a la wallmart guitars feature rosewood, contributing to your point. I just believe that when i pay for an instrument, not only am i paying for quality(and i think most woods are equally reliable) i am paying for the overall sound and feel of the instrument. if a competitor thinks that they have a successful combination of these, then they take the liberty of raising the price. I definitely agree with the consensus of this thread, im just saying that materials is a subjective matter.
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Sailjunkie
New member
I guess I'll chime in...
My opinion in general is that, yes, primarily Gibson and PRS are overpriced, however, I managed to buy a couple of real nice Gibsons used for very good prices. I have a '91 Les Paul Studio that I purchased for $750.00, and a 2001 ES 135 for $700.00...both guitars are nothing short of awesome! The ES 135 (now long discontinued) can be had these days for around $900-1000.00 and bears a striking resemblence (SOUNDWISE) to a $2500.00 ES 335. I also own a PRS Custom SE...say what you will, but at $400.00 used, it sounds better than a lot of $800.00 to $1000.00 guitars...it's a flat top (made in Korea) though so no one seriously considers it a PRS...but I do. Bottom line...buy used...I've seen beautiful Les Paul Standards on Craigs List for as low as $1250.00 (expensive, but not $2000.00).
My opinion in general is that, yes, primarily Gibson and PRS are overpriced, however, I managed to buy a couple of real nice Gibsons used for very good prices. I have a '91 Les Paul Studio that I purchased for $750.00, and a 2001 ES 135 for $700.00...both guitars are nothing short of awesome! The ES 135 (now long discontinued) can be had these days for around $900-1000.00 and bears a striking resemblence (SOUNDWISE) to a $2500.00 ES 335. I also own a PRS Custom SE...say what you will, but at $400.00 used, it sounds better than a lot of $800.00 to $1000.00 guitars...it's a flat top (made in Korea) though so no one seriously considers it a PRS...but I do. Bottom line...buy used...I've seen beautiful Les Paul Standards on Craigs List for as low as $1250.00 (expensive, but not $2000.00).
lpdeluxe
The Precision Bass Guy
We've been through the dotcom bubble and the housing bubble, and I suspect the "vintage" bubble is next to be deflated.
This does not address the OP, whose question is meaningless: most overrated/overpriced, according to what criteria, at what time, under what circumstances? I have a Gibson Les Paul I paid $750 for in 1997, and it sure as hell ain't overrated or overpriced. I may think that a '57 gold top at $113K is, but that's just my perception.
You're trying to apply objective standards to something that is totally subjective: that is, the value of a device that can range anywhere in one's perception from a necessary tool to a toy to jewelry.
I'm not against acquiring the tools needed to perform one's musical obligations: I own a couple of resonator guitars, a couple of acoustics, three basses and three electrics. With my admittedly utilitarian perspective, practically everything out there is overpriced, but then I remember the era before "used" became "vintage" and prices were affordable, but, again, that's just me.
There's a simple cure for what you consider to be overrated or overpriced: don't buy it. Are you listening?
This does not address the OP, whose question is meaningless: most overrated/overpriced, according to what criteria, at what time, under what circumstances? I have a Gibson Les Paul I paid $750 for in 1997, and it sure as hell ain't overrated or overpriced. I may think that a '57 gold top at $113K is, but that's just my perception.
You're trying to apply objective standards to something that is totally subjective: that is, the value of a device that can range anywhere in one's perception from a necessary tool to a toy to jewelry.
I'm not against acquiring the tools needed to perform one's musical obligations: I own a couple of resonator guitars, a couple of acoustics, three basses and three electrics. With my admittedly utilitarian perspective, practically everything out there is overpriced, but then I remember the era before "used" became "vintage" and prices were affordable, but, again, that's just me.
There's a simple cure for what you consider to be overrated or overpriced: don't buy it. Are you listening?
Seafroggys
Well-known member
This is kinda scary. It says Detroit on your location, but my guitarist has a Les Paul and an ES 135 and just recently bought a PRS used.
Of course his PRS cost more money, but still....kinda scary.
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Sailjunkie
New member
That is a bit weird, isn't it?
Well, just shows your guitarist has great taste in guitars
Well, just shows your guitarist has great taste in guitars
M
MCI2424
New member
Forget the prices for a minute. I went to GC and spent an hour playing virtually every acoustic guitar including the $5000 Martins. I will be damned if there was even 1 guitar I would spend any money on there. Every one within their pricerange sounded like ass. I have been playing for 43 years (I am 48). I played in a gigging band in the late 70s-early 90s and now only for hobby. I will say today's guitars just don't stack up in sound and workmanship to 60s-70s models. The Martins were the biggest dissapointment of all.
I
Ibuildmyguitars
New member
"they're not even built with the best materials - mostly we're talking mahogany and rosewood here - not AA or AAA Maple and Ebony."
Mahogany and rosewood are some of the best materials you can use. Mahogany is stable and strong, perfect for a neck or a body. Rosewood is far more stable than ebony for a fingerboard. "Stable" means the wood is less likely to warp with changes in temp/humidity.
What are you looking for in a guitar? Is it a status symbol? Is it a trophy? Or is it a tool?
I agree that factory guitars can be overpriced. But it seems that a lot of guitar players don't know what goes into building guitars. It's just an expensive process. It's astounding to me that any guitar can sell for under $1k new, considering all the processes that are involved. I chuckle when people claim what a guitar "should cost" when they have no idea how to build a guitar.
Mahogany and rosewood are some of the best materials you can use. Mahogany is stable and strong, perfect for a neck or a body. Rosewood is far more stable than ebony for a fingerboard. "Stable" means the wood is less likely to warp with changes in temp/humidity.
What are you looking for in a guitar? Is it a status symbol? Is it a trophy? Or is it a tool?
I agree that factory guitars can be overpriced. But it seems that a lot of guitar players don't know what goes into building guitars. It's just an expensive process. It's astounding to me that any guitar can sell for under $1k new, considering all the processes that are involved. I chuckle when people claim what a guitar "should cost" when they have no idea how to build a guitar.
didgijimmy
vexed
you echo my sentiments exactly
That is kind of the feeling I got from this thread too, i dont think that gibsons are worth it, just because ive played higher quality feeling guitars, that cost heaps less--they are out there, but i do understand why they cost so much and wish others would too. I don't actually build my own guitars, but i have a friend who is a basement luthier, and i have helped him. just for a standard strat stlye guitar, i bet we put 15 hours into the thing, it was a pretty custom job though. And if you are paying that kind of money for a gibson, you expect it to be built by professionals, not minimum wage payed kids. thats alot of money just in labor there. I agree with ibuildmyguitars it is a wonder they can get them out as cheap as they do.
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Ibuildmyguitars
New member
Even more astounding is the $600 new acoustic with a solid top. 
It's disgusting, really.
It's disgusting, really.
didgijimmy
vexed
hmmm
the more i think about it, i am relle curious how they can afford to do this, i guess assembly lines and such, but even still with allowing cure time and athe amount of care i would like to think are put into these babys i think they must be cutting more corners than i had thought of before. o well i love my gibson copy.
the more i think about it, i am relle curious how they can afford to do this, i guess assembly lines and such, but even still with allowing cure time and athe amount of care i would like to think are put into these babys i think they must be cutting more corners than i had thought of before. o well i love my gibson copy.
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Ed Dixon
New member
Guitars are a lot like cars. What they sell for and what they are worth are not necessarily the same figure. It depends on so many factors beyond condition, horsepower, color, etc. It can also be emotional, which also changes things.
I have Fender, Gibson, and PRS guitars. For new models, PRS come in better shape than Gibson, for similar $. Fender are similar, but way less $.
Once you get into the over $500 range, you can get very good playable great sounding guitars. Once you get over $1000, the differences are usually other factors like finish, gold plating, fret boards, specific models, etc. Most of these affect neither the sound or long term dependability of the guitar in any substantial way.
Ed
I have Fender, Gibson, and PRS guitars. For new models, PRS come in better shape than Gibson, for similar $. Fender are similar, but way less $.
Once you get into the over $500 range, you can get very good playable great sounding guitars. Once you get over $1000, the differences are usually other factors like finish, gold plating, fret boards, specific models, etc. Most of these affect neither the sound or long term dependability of the guitar in any substantial way.
Ed
Light
New member
This sentence right here shows your ignorance about guitar building. You might want to fix that before you start spouting crap like this.
Light
"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
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stevieb
Just another guy, really.
Didn't vote, 'cause I didn't see this poll option:
"ANYTHING from ANYBODY'S "relec'ed" line.
That has got to be the STUPIDEST trend in guitars, ever.
"ANYTHING from ANYBODY'S "relec'ed" line.
That has got to be the STUPIDEST trend in guitars, ever.
G
Guitarer
New member
Having priced out the cost of building my own guitar (Parts alone)...I would be spending about $900 without paying for anybody elses labor. And regardless of the fact that many of these guitars are made in bulk by machinary, (on more expensive guitars at least) pickups are handwired, paintjobs are done by humans, guitar pieces are assembled by hand, hell, the woods get hand sorted by quality from the beginning.
When looking at it in that perspective, I don't see many guitars as being truly overpriced.
When looking at it in that perspective, I don't see many guitars as being truly overpriced.
Roguetitan
New member
and this sentence right here just goes to show you think you know it all but you don"t so you might just need to STFU all together
Light
New member
and this sentence right here just goes to show you think you know it all but you don"t so you might just need to STFU all together
I don't know everything, but I DO know that anyone who suggests that mahogany and rosewood is less than excellent material is a fool. And giving me a neg rep for it is proof of pettiness.
Light
"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
Armistice
Son of Yoda
Guys, you're fighting over a comment made by someone 4 years ago. And as far as I can work out, that was about the last comment flat1ine ever made on this BBS.
Chill and let it die.
And as far as building guitars go, both Light and Muttley have been acknowledged by most of the board over the years as having a huge amount of knowledge of the topic and have always been willing to help a member with a query.
Cheers
Chill and let it die.
And as far as building guitars go, both Light and Muttley have been acknowledged by most of the board over the years as having a huge amount of knowledge of the topic and have always been willing to help a member with a query.
Cheers
R
ruined
reaper addict
Not sure why, but the words "Custom Shop" always bothered me. I think it comes from overhearing kids at guitar stores saying things like: "what if so and so made a custom shop model?! high five!"
As if it's a standardized, apples-to-apples thing. Idk, maybe I'm the one that's wrong, but when I hear "custom shop", I get pissed off. It just bothers me.
As if it's a standardized, apples-to-apples thing. Idk, maybe I'm the one that's wrong, but when I hear "custom shop", I get pissed off. It just bothers me.