There is this one store in Ocha no Mizu that had a literal wall of used Les Paul Customs. Good prices, too... well back then when the yen was strong, at least.
When I bought my slightly beat up black custom (second-hand), it was on a wall like that. Most of the other customs were reissues, and were out of my price range. But if there had been a '54 reissue custom with the p90 and staple pickups, I'd probably have begged my wife to get the credit card out that day.
Truth be told, I bought the black Les Paul custom because I love my white custom and I had a "why not both" moment, but I've got to get one of those '54 reissues someday.
As for Gibson guitars being overpriced, I think it depends on what you're getting. If you buy a US-made guitar, you are going to be paying more for something that may not be apparent. For example, you are paying more for the same labor just by virtue of the US having more ethical labor compensation than some other countries where you can make a guitar for much cheaper. That's just a fact of life. But, the reputation is that US guitars are the best and I haven't seen much to disabuse me of that notion, personally.
I haven't owned a guitar not made in America or Japan in 15 years. I gather that guitars made in Korea and China have improved exponentially in that time period and a number of new markets have opened up, such as Indonesia, but my experience was kind of iffy, so I'm hesitant to go back. Especially when I can afford "nicer" guitars. And even though I don't buy guitars with the intention of reselling them, if you buy a "premium" guitar like a Gibson, they tend to hold their value pretty well. Especially if you take care of them for 10-15 years.
Case in point, my white custom. Mine is a 2002. I bought it second hand. I remember how much they cost when new, and I paid about 90% of that price adjusted for inflation. More on the custom pricing later.
Regardless, I have always thought that Gibson should have incorporated their mid-range epiphone models into the main Gibson line. Just like how you buy a Mexican Strat, you get an Indonesian (Wherever they make Epiphones) Gibson.
I'm sure they want to keep Gibson a premium brand, but at what cost?
I have to disagree there. An epiphone Les Paul is a real Les Paul, legally speaking. They might cheap out a little in relation to the Gibson models, but they're still the real deal. They're available, plentiful and affordable. And they sell in really high numbers. Put Gibson on that headstock and sales of Gibsons would drop. It seems that the only people who have an issue with epiphone are the people who want their epiphone to say Gibson on the headstock.
It makes you feel like a sucker, honestly. I always thought it was funny that you are left to feel like a poor loser for having a studio, which is a $1500 guitar!
When I bought my first Les Paul, a studio was £500, a classic was £980, a standard was £1400 and a custom was £1800. I bought a standard, although truth be told, I wanted a custom. I could've waited another month and bought the custom, but I was 17, and that money was burning a hole in my pocket. The studio, in particular, was a bargain back then. I saw tons of guitarists using them back when I started gigging.
A few years later, production of all Les paul customs was moved to the custom shop. They're still the exact same guitar and are made in the exact same way, but the prices have more than doubled in the last 15 years. The only consolation is that they come with much nicer cases now.
The ultimate question: Should it be? Is it a guitar worthy of $1500? I can't say for sure, but it does seem like you are paying a premium for features that are available on cheapo guitars for a literal fraction of the cost and that's frustrating. An ebony LP studio vs. an ebony LP Classic is basically just binding, but they want you to pay $500 extra for it.
There's that made in USA price bump. And a good hard case, too. And binding is a really labour intensive process. The fret nibs are a pain in the butt to do too. I have a friend who builds his own guitars using nothing but hand tools and elbow grease. His guitars have garnered praise from the likes of Roman Rist and Freddy Gabrsek, but he refuses to do fret nibs because they're ultimately pointless and extremely time consuming.
Meanwhile, you can almost buy a whole separate Epiphone Les Paul standard for that price difference, and that guitar has binding!
And it's made in china, which you've already covered. Don't forget poly finishes, veneer tops, cheaper pickups*, pots, switch/etc. Most of which have a minute/non-existent effect on sound, but they are pretty massive savings when you add them all up.
*I only mention the pickups because epiphone put Gibson pickups on their high end stuff.
So, considering how much of a premium you pay, if Gibson today isn't offering a product that goes above and beyond, then they deserve the hate they are getting. No room for the smallest mistake at that pricepoint.
Most of the price difference can be attributed to the higher cost of labour in the US, the more intensive labour processes (nitro Vs poly finishes) and the higher quality components used. Most Gibson hardcases are made in Canada, although some have been made in Costa Rica. Every hardcase I've owned was made by TKL in Canada. That's another cost right there.
And then there are the actual maple tops Vs the veneers/photoflame. Even the highest end esp eclipse comes with a veneer top, and those things are far more expensive than a Les Paul.
Birthday present off my wife, explorer now crossed off my list. Now time to make either make some room in my rack or get a new stand just for this.
Nice. Happy new guitar day/birthday.
I got a couple of Gibson SGs that I'm probably gonna sell. Just can't gel with them and I'm over the whole Gibson thing. Yeah they make great guitars but as Astor pointed out, there's a lot of "holy grail" searching when it comes to Gibsons where you have to find the "right one". And yeah it probably won't happen in a guitar store and more likely be found in a dusty attic somewhere. Basically when it comes to Gibson I'm done with the hunt. If I ever get another Gibson it would have to come to me like fate and be mind blowing.
I can't say I agree with the "holy grail" part. It's more like finding a store with a good selection who don't put poorly setup guitars with major issues on their sales floors. Obviously, Gibson deserves some flack here, because PRS and fender seem to do a better job of supplying their dealers with guitars without issues, but I guarantee you that I could go to ochanomizu right now and find a ton of Gibsons in my price range that I'd be happy to own.
Sadly, not everyone has that option.
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THR30II
