The new Gibson. They have no interest in being price competitive

[wmachine]

Just released the new BB King model. $10k. Nothing $10k about it, but that doesn't matter. Gibson has already discovered that there are enough sheeple willing to pay extra to have them beat up their guitars and call it legitimate that they can just put any price on a guitar and sell it. Sadly they probably will.

https://www.gibson.com/en-US/Electr...campaign=2.21.23:+B.B.+King+Live+at+the+Regal

 

[jb_abides]

Unlimited Murphy Lab ES guitars run $6,800, with the Marcus King at $7k.

This is Limited to 100, so it's more in line with the Noel Gallagher at $10k, which did quite well for them.

So, yes, they are catering to a market which intersects with the artist's fan base, an appreciation of blues history, and the collector's eye towards the number produced.

For many, that's a landmark album; given how many people still buy Lucille models year after year, I have no doubt these will go.

So yes, there is zero interest in being competitive for pricing, why would they ask that question?

The real question for them is: was 100 the right number? or should it have been more? or will these linger and we break even on the labor?

Then, if they do a second run with small details changed, will there be whining... as happened when they did a second Chris Cornell drab.

 

[wmachine]

.............
This is Limited to 100, so it's more in line with the Noel Gallagher at $10k, which did quite well for them.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I admit that I didn't catch that it is limited to 100. It is still way over priced for what it is other than being limited. And yes, there probably will be 100 who want to pay more just because it is limited to 100. As long as there is enough fanfare. But it still indicates a shift in how Gibson wants to market guitars.

 

[jb_abides]

Well, $6k for a CS ES-335 plus maybe ~$1k for professional install of the B7 + Mono Varitone will get you close, so approximately $7k. You don't get exclusive Argentine Grey... or ML finish / aging treatment... so you see the cost of that process, the labor involved.

And safe assumption BB's estate gets their cut.

~Last 10 years, cumulative inflation is 30%. 2013 MAP = $7.8k.

 

[bursty]

when any company/business bends folks over a barrel for long enuff and folks just come back for more and keep on taking it then you have a recipe for acceptance of said bad business, of course without all the typical strange animal noises .......

 

[AA00475Bassman]

People pay the price Gibson charges , I not buying anymore custom shop guitars new .

 

[jb_abides]

A $300 guitar in 1959 would be $3000 in 2023 adjusted for inflation.

Are things really that bad when a new Original Collection Les Paul Standard lists for $2800?

Now factor in: additional hardware, labor-intensive Murphy Labs treatment, special finish color, artist licensing, and overall limited number produced...

Taking advantage of marketing buzz and collectible status? Yes! As many companies do.

I don't think they are gouging. Also consider, they probably use higher margins on special runs to cover keeping lower margins on other products.

 

[Amp360]

I see a few things that the internet seems to be oblivious to.

1- Of all the major brands, Gibson is the most affordable.

Show me the $1099 American-made PRS, Fender, Kiesel, etc. I won't even go into the nitro finish, etc. This is the entry-level price for a USA-made genuine Gibson Les Paul or SG.

2- Gibson's lowest-end model feels and sounds like a musical instrument. Has anyone here picked up a low-end (or high-end) Fender lately? They feel like disposable toys. Even the USA-made guitars are pretty pathetic regarding the quality of materials, fit and finish, and feel. I'll echo that statement for every brand FMIC owns.

This has been going on since at least the early 2000s, but it used to be that the USA Artist and USA Vintage reissues were nice guitars. I've played CS guitars that weren't as nice as the American Standard models from 87-94. I've bought a few Fender USA models (91 Plus, 90 EC, 87 Ultra, 93 Tele Plus), and they're some of the best guitars the company ever made. It's a shame to see what has been done to a brand brought back so well in the late 80s. What FMIC makes now makes even the worst CBS-era guitars desirable.

FMIC gets a pass because they'll put a brand name on anything, and forum posters can have a 'major brand' to post photos of, but the product is terrible.

3- Gibson's QC is as good/better than anyone else's. I've bought many new Gibson guitars over the past 20 years. I've had them arrive broken (Ed Roman had many of these on his site that I sent him). I've never had one arrive with any of the issues the forums would allow me to believe are commonplace.

4- While Gibson makes affordable models, their Custom/Historic lines are expensive. They're in the same range as what PRS and Fender charge for premium models. Sure, 10k for a BB King ES-335 is a lot of money. I wouldn't pay for it. However, it's a piece aimed at a certain collector and will sell out. Ditto the 10k V/Explorer thing they did.

I don't buy many new guitars. If I were to buy something new, it would be a Gibson because, looking strictly at pricing, they're the fairest, and I don't want to buy a guitar from China, especially these days. Some beginner-level guitars are coming out of Korea that are nice for what they are, but $1000+ is not a value. I've heard the 'it doesn't matter where the CNC is located' argument and maybe that's true, but I've yet to see the low-end import I want to buy. YMMV.

 

[LyleGorch]

Ju

I see a few things that the internet seems to be oblivious to.

1- Of all the major brands, Gibson is the most affordable.

Show me the $1099 American-made PRS, Fender, Kiesel, etc. I won't even go into the nitro finish, etc. This is the entry-level price for a USA-made genuine Gibson Les Paul or SG.

2- Gibson's lowest-end model feels and sounds like a musical instrument. Has anyone here picked up a low-end (or high-end) Fender lately? They feel like disposable toys. Even the USA-made guitars are pretty pathetic regarding the quality of materials, fit and finish, and feel. I'll echo that statement for every brand FMIC owns.

This has been going on since at least the early 2000s, but it used to be that the USA Artist and USA Vintage reissues were nice guitars. I've played CS guitars that weren't as nice as the American Standard models from 87-94. I've bought a few Fender USA models (91 Plus, 90 EC, 87 Ultra, 93 Tele Plus), and they're some of the best guitars the company ever made. It's a shame to see what has been done to a brand brought back so well in the late 80s. What FMIC makes now makes even the worst CBS-era guitars desirable.

FMIC gets a pass because they'll put a brand name on anything, and forum posters can have a 'major brand' to post photos of, but the product is terrible.

3- Gibson's QC is as good/better than anyone else's. I've bought many new Gibson guitars over the past 20 years. I've had them arrive broken (Ed Roman had many of these on his site that I sent him). I've never had one arrive with any of the issues the forums would allow me to believe are commonplace.

4- While Gibson makes affordable models, their Custom/Historic lines are expensive. They're in the same range as what PRS and Fender charge for premium models. Sure, 10k for a BB King ES-335 is a lot of money. I wouldn't pay for it. However, it's a piece aimed at a certain collector and will sell out. Ditto the 10k V/Explorer thing they did.

I don't buy many new guitars. If I were to buy something new, it would be a Gibson because, looking strictly at pricing, they're the fairest, and I don't want to buy a guitar from China, especially these days. Some beginner-level guitars are coming out of Korea that are nice for what they are, but $1000+ is not a value. I've heard the 'it doesn't matter where the CNC is located' argument and maybe that's true, but I've yet to see the low-end import I want to buy. YMMV.

just bought brand new ‘59RI, nice dent under pickguard. Creeps.

 

[ADP]

The guy's at new Gibson are a stain on the brand. It's an absolute disgrace.

 

[somebodyelseuk]

Could be worse. It was $50k for a 'Greeny' Les Paul that you had to travel to Nashville to collect and then they made you spend an evening with Kirk Hammett and Gibson's CEO.

 

[goldtop0]

These guys know what they're doing, they make to the market, you don't like it you don't buy it, pretty simple.
For me, a 335 fan, I won't be buying one.

 

[J T]

If you are buying a new Gibson and you talk to the dealer, will you actually be paying MSRP?

 

[clapciadrix]

There were imperfections on golden era Gibson guitars. Maybe I’m not understanding the OP, but the Gibson’s guitars of the fifty’s and sixty’s were not without production flaws. They were manufacturing a lot less product, but the quality wasn’t always perfect.
I’m not saying that Gibson today is doing everything right or that they couldn’t do better. I’m just pointing out that product flaws have always been a part of their guitars.

 

[J T]

Nothing wrong with aged guitars. It takes extra time and effort to do that. Whats wrong with a higher price for the time and effort?

 

[Amp360]

Could be worse. It was $50k for a 'Greeny' Les Paul that you had to travel to Nashville to collect and then they made you spend an evening with Kirk Hammett and Gibson's CEO.

I worked with Metallica last summer. I can tell you that spending time with him would be better than spending time with another member of that band.

KH is a pretty decent fellow. Not pretentious and is a great player and really assessable. As for Greeny, I think the history is great, but I didn't get the hoopla. Lots of MoJo with that one.

Greeny was right here:

 

[Bob Womack]

Ju

just bought brand new ‘59RI, nice dent under pickguard. Creeps.

That, and the screw holes by the neck and in the waste, are facts of life with LP pickguards.

You folks do know that when Agnesi came in he returned the Standard model to its normal configuration and dropped the price by over $500, don't you? You don't want a Chevy Chase sig, don't buy the silly thing.

Bob

 

[Dumpster Chicken]

Too rich for my blood.

 

[somebodyelseuk]

I worked with Metallica last summer. I can tell you that spending time with him would be better than spending time with another member of that band.

KH is a pretty decent fellow. Not pretentious and is a great player and really assessable. As for Greeny, I think the history is great, but I didn't get the hoopla. Lots of MoJo with that one.

Greeny was right here:

Maybe, but I wouldn't pay money to do it.

 

[Triplet]

Evolution (same person)

Step 1: Punk who can’t afford a Gibson guitar (of any kind)

“Gibson is so overpriced; I can get what I want out of a Japanese knockoff”

Step 2: Owner of a Gibson Studio or plain-Jane Standard

“Man, I would never buy a Custom shop guitar. That $hit is so overpriced for what you get. F’n never do it”

Step 3: Owner of a couple Custom Shop Gibsons

“Holy $heeit, look at what they want for that Collector’s Choice (enter appropriate special run). I’ll just wait and get a used one when the hype is over…”

Step 4: Owns several CCs and now looking for affordable vintage…………..