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Hi Guys,
I just want to share an experience I have had this year with the purchase of ANOTHER new guitar. It’s not a complaint or a moan or appeal for sympathy and I would only post it on this site as it is free from trolls and corporate Gibson haters who criticise as a hobby. Its just good to talk to other guitarists and get things off my chest. I was attracted to the 2015 model by the detailed Gibson spec (go look at the official site), the retailers who did in depth video reviews applauding the many innovations, the Gibson master luthier who extolled their virtues at the NAMM show and viewing and playing guitars in shops. People (mainly from the USA) objected to many things about this model from the Les Paul signature on the headstock (not sure how it effects the tone) to the robot tuners and wide finger board. They commented very loudly on various sites. There were numerous people who approved of the exact same things that were being criticised. Well, I liked it. The original RRP was £2,500 ($3,800) although the company I bought from was offering a special price of £1999. The salesman told me that they got a good price because they bought so many (yes, and I fell for it). The Tobacco Sunburst Candy was stunning and the wide board and low frets felt great under my fingers. I had to take it back once because it had a deformed string and it wouldn’t sound a note at the 13th fret (never heard of that before) and once because I was getting fret buzzing. Both problems were solved instantly. The robot tuners are amazing – one strum and its in tune and they make it so easy to change strings. However, it doesn’t stay in tune for long – certainly not as long as my Strat, Tele or even my little cheap Epiphone Les Paul Plus Top Pro. The intonation is not accurate (sharp) and I am taking it back again shortly. If that problem is solved and the tuning improved then it will be a great guitar. However, sales have been slow, it was clearly overpriced and retailers are cutting their losses and discounting in a stampede and I have seen some prices as low as £1576 (£1,000 in a few months). So I am told, the 2016 model is now in some shops with a more traditional spec (at a lower price) PLUS a “high performance” model, one without the G Force tuners and one with. I have written to G Force who tell me that they don’t know what the 2016 spec is and to Gibson who, as usual, haven’t replied. I did not buy my guitar as an investment (obviously) and once the teething problems have been resolved it will be a nice addition to the small collection BUT it is disconcerting to see your guitar depreciate at such a rate before your very eyes. I’m told that this often happens to Gibsons and that before long people will want them for their scarcity value being the 100th birthday model. I guess in 50 years time that might happen but I’ll be 118 and no longer able to cope with e bay or lift my Les Paul. Would be nice to hear of anyone else’s experiences. -
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I’m not a Gibson hater by any means but I refuse to feed the Gibson and/or Fender machines. They make great instruments but to me, they are grossly overpriced.
The situation that you described is very typical of a company that tries to have the ‘latest bells & whistles’ in order to outdo their competitors.
Look at Fender – how many Strat & Tele models are currently available?
Gibson – number of Les Paul and SG’s models available?In just a few years, many will be obsolete and no longer available except on the used market.
Why? A constant attempt to introduce this year’s best ‘bells & whistles’. They do this before they get bugs out these bells & whistles and who pays for it? The consumer with all of the headaches that accompany this effort. Yet the companies like Gibson continue to sell sell sell to fund their ‘research’ into these new features and we get stuck with the high price
No I don’t hate Gibson but I hate these business practices. This attitude has been tempered by working for a company that operated in the manner that I’ve described. And my experience is what keeps me from feeding Gibson & Fender. Too many other good companies that build great instruments that is a better buy for me.
I shall now get off of my soap box; one rant per day is enough
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I have a 2014 les paul standard
I havent had any problems with it
I kind of always wanted a les paul and was ready to get one at about the right time I think. it was the end of 2014 and the new 2015’s were coming out,so I could see they had stuff i didnt want on mine or the price increase,so I sprang and got one
It has the 120th banner @the 12th fret that some people hate,I could care less if its there
Its got a AAAA top that is beautiful but a plainer top would have worked too
I believe I got it during a 15% off sale from Sam Ash, I got it for $2500
the 2015’s i think were $3400-$3700?
After having it a year or so I almost wish I would have went with a traditional
my biggest complaint would be the weight relief, not a big fan of it.
I have 4 les pauls at my house right now, my 2014 gibson my 50’s tribute with p-90’s,my epiphone that I installed gibson 57’s in and a friends studio I think its a 2008 I believe it has the 490’s pick ups in it,and to me I like those pickups the best outta all of them
I have gibsons,fenders and a g&L they are all different animals, just depends what you want to do that day lol -
as far as all the different models and bells and whistles,I dont think its fair to just blame gibson and fender,although we are on a guitar forum here
but its the same thing no matter what you are trying to buy,be it a car,a refrigerator,a pair of shoes. ABS brakes, disc brakes,air bags,electric everything, its very hard to even find a car with manual roll down windows anymore
fridgs I just had to buy one ,they have 1 door, 2 doors 3 doors freezer top freezer bottom ice and water in door not to mention color,sizes ect
I just think every company out there is looking for the next greatest thing and not all of them are good -
as far as all the different models and bells and whistles,I dont think its fair to just blame gibson and fender,although we are on a guitar forum here
but its the same thing no matter what you are trying to buy,be it a car,a refrigerator,a pair of shoes. ABS brakes, disc brakes,air bags,electric everything, its very hard to even find a car with manual roll down windows anymore
fridgs I just had to buy one ,they have 1 door, 2 doors 3 doors freezer top freezer bottom ice and water in door not to mention color,sizes ect
I just think every company out there is looking for the next greatest thing and not all of them are goodAnd I agree, its just not Gibson & Fender but I used them for my soap box rant since we were talking about the problems the one chap was having
General Motor, Chevrolet in particular, has been notorious for a model that would run for 3-4 years and then be discontinued.
And then there was the Ford Pinto and Mustang II…….And who could forget the AMC Pacer & Gremlin!!
And….the Maverick Grabber! a crappy car with a 302 ci engine and racing stripes….yeah, right!
As one that stays informed on guitars, I find it comical how many versions of the Strat, Tele, Les Paul, SG, etc etc is being marketed when there is so little difference in the actual hardware and performance. Yet the parent companies justifies the added price of every model and there must be a market for these guitars or they wouldn’t produce them.
The real story is told when these guitars end up on the used market – all of those super sleek don’t gather any extra money for the owner.Don’t take me wrong – there are certain Les Paul’s that I would love to have but not for the money that they bring.
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in my opinion all the I cant think of the word for them right now, but its like the slash model,the Eric Clapton model ect im not interested,or the relic models.
I guess if i want a worn out guitar id like to be the one to wear it out?
in my opinion theres to many custom models,didnt we use to custom our stuff our selves? -
Thanks for your comments guys.
Have a look at a site called “Guitar in Your Pocket” and read the Gibson reviews. I don’t know who this person is but he does seem to have done a thorough review and come up with some pretty positive comments. I hope he isn’t the son of the Gibson CEO.
On the car front it seems that the boss of VW has walked away with millions in his golden goodbye! Where is the justice in this world.
StratPlus66
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Thanks for your comments guys.
Have a look at a site called “Guitar in Your Pocket” and read the Gibson reviews. I don’t know who this person is but he does seem to have done a thorough review and come up with some pretty positive comments. I hope he isn’t the son of the Gibson CEO.
On the car front it seems that the boss of VW has walked away with millions in his golden goodbye! Where is the justice in this world.
StratPlus66
VW is a big seller here. Been on the news more then Pepsi commercials.
The melody of the notes is what expresses the art of music . 🙂 6stringerPete
It really is all about ”melody”. The melody comes from a language from our heart. Our heart is the muscle in music harmony. The melody is the sweetness that it pumps into our musical thoughts on the fretboard. 🙂 6 stringer Pete
Pete
Active Melody
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It’s interesting but the company who makes the robot tuners (Tronical) also make them for Fender and I have seen them being demonstrated on Strats. I haven’t seen a concerted campaign about Fender and it looks as though Gibson took all the flack! Maybe because Gibson did not give a choice and I understand that completely. I took my Gibson to a Guitar Jam this weekend and a prominent internet teacher played it. He thought it played very well and the tone he got out of it was amazing (much better than me). All the other people who attended thought it was very impressive. No accounting for taste is there?
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Very interesting to share these stories….and prices paid. I stopped playing for many years, sold everything long ago. But started up again 2 years ago so I have been buying…. and selling….but since I had been out of the market so long, decades, I re-engaged with music friends, and my local non-chain, famous retailer in town, where I used to buy. Given the prices out there and all the info available, this is now no different than buying a car. Model year ends, excess inventory, used on Ebay & Reverb, online retailers, etc. More choice than ever. Buying new doesn’t mean buying current model year.
Obviously, if you must have this year’s new model that’s a choice. But out of the 7 guitars (4 Gibsons & 3 Fenders) now in my inventory, only 3 were purchased brand new, and everything well under $1800, however not current model year…a 2014 Gibson Les Paul Classic Double Cut 120th Anniversary (AAA finish, etc) excellent quality not an issue to report,…but paid $1200 less than the listed prices….for example. Always wanted a Telecaster, well I came across a model called American Special, Texas Custom pickups, made in USA, original bridge, etc. Tried some out…nice….looked for a few months, just bought one new “open box” for $600 on ebay its brand new, stickers still on pickguard, case candy untouched…they retail $900..or a 1996 Fender American STD Strat, incredible condition…$700..again on ebay. Sorry people in Europe, shipping and duties usually kill these deals.
So my experience this last 2 years is that if you are patient and know what you want you can avoid the current model year prices. I am amazed at how big the used market is. To GNL’s point….honestly, what can be revolutionary on a guitar? The tone woods are the same, yes quality, OK some wood is better, but that’s not new, pickups, bridges, tuners, OK PLEKING….quality of materials is the only real parameter, and ultimately tone, comfort etc…..what is revolutionary? Not to mention the quality of some brands coming out of Asia which are excellent. I find it funny when a guitar brand lists the fact that is has some icon on the headstock as a feature, this is a feature in a $3000 instrument?…..I wonder how guitar pricing stacks up with say violins over the last 20 years? Some mfg’s are becoming gimmicky….having said all that I still have a harder time with e $2000 refrigerator that has a computer, than a $2000 Les Paul STD! LOL
Roberto
Roberto
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