Guitar prices new and used today are just ridiculous

InactiveX · September 2023

Voxman said:

Guys, I appreciate all the interesting feedback but I think this thread has perhaps got a bit deflected by talking about beer & US elections, energy prices etc. I know there's a cost of living crisis at the moment but my post wasn't really about bigger political, international & fiscal monetary issues?

You say that now, but what happens when your guitar amp is too expensive to run?

Norlin4life · September 2023

Energy bills down but WTI going mad at the moment. Fuel is going to end up well over £2 lt within 13 months

thebreeze · September 2023

InactiveX said:

Voxman said:

Guys, I appreciate all the interesting feedback but I think this thread has perhaps got a bit deflected by talking about beer & US elections, energy prices etc. I know there's a cost of living crisis at the moment but my post wasn't really about bigger political, international & fiscal monetary issues?

You say that now, but what happens when your guitar amp is too expensive to run?

….for President?

crunchman · September 2023

Philly_Q said:

Voxman said:

Guys, I appreciate all the interesting feedback but I think this thread has perhaps got a bit deflected by talking about beer & US elections, energy prices etc. I know there's a cost of living crisis at the moment but my post wasn't really about bigger political, international & fiscal monetary issues?

@Voxman you really need to spend more time in Off Topic. But instead we're bringing it to you.

Only without Emp sidetracking everything because he lives in Off Topic and Politics.

DrJazzTap · September 2023

I can't see myself owning another PRS anytime soon. The days of a used custom 24 or 22 being under a grand are long gone.
I still cant quite fathom how a Korean made bcrich costs £1700. Part of it is me accepting a non US made instrument costing that much. Obviously the workers need to be paid a fair wage. And is a US made strat bolted together any differently?
Is second hand stuff actually selling though? I had the ce24 semi hollow for sale as low £1200 and no bites.

notsopro · September 2023

Voxman said:

Guys, I appreciate all the interesting feedback but I think this thread has perhaps got a bit deflected by talking about beer & US elections, energy prices etc. I know there's a cost of living crisis at the moment but my post wasn't really about bigger political, international & fiscal monetary issues?

Didn't want the thread to be political, but in the first post mentioned the words "Brexit" "Covid" and "inflation".

Sorry, you got what was coming to you.

Voxman · September 2023

Lol! OK guys... You win!

StefB · September 2023

Before this topic fades away until next time, anyone fancy an Indonesian MusicMan Sterling Sabre for £1,899.99?

https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/220112379390008--music-man-sterling-sabre-deep-blue-burst-rosewood-fingerboard

RaymondLin · September 2023

Since i also own a Gibson Class 5, with certificate, I have been keeping an eye on this...it has been listed for 3 years!

The strange thing is that the price of this has gone up, i swear it used to be around £3999, it has gone up £2k in the 3 years.

https://reverb.com/uk/item/33020296-gibson-custom-shop-class-5-les-paul-2002

Musicman20 · September 2023

StefB said:

Before this topic fades away until next time, anyone fancy an Indonesian MusicMan Sterling Sable for £1,899.99?

https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/220112379390008--music-man-sterling-sabre-deep-blue-burst-rosewood-fingerboard

WHAT?!?!?!?!

My USA EBMM Stingray Guitar cost £1150 new/sealed from the UK dealer. Maybe 5 years ago?

Offset · September 2023

StefB said:

Before this topic fades away until next time, anyone fancy an Indonesian MusicMan Sterling Sable for £1,899.99?

https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/220112379390008--music-man-sterling-sabre-deep-blue-burst-rosewood-fingerboard

Bloody hell. That is really quite unbelievable. I cannot in any circumstances imagine those selling.

Musicman20 · September 2023

I get it's an 8 string and it has a lot of tech in it....but £5k!?!?!?

Music Man Majesty | Okelani Blue - John Petrucci Signature - 8-String - Peach Guitars

GoldenEraGuitars · September 2023

@digitalscream i haven’t seen such a hot topic since coronavirus. Perhaps a separate sub forum titled “fucking hell!!!! HOW MUCH???”

Philly_Q · September 2023

Musicman20 said:

I get it's an 8 string and it has a lot of tech in it....but £5k!?!?!?

Music Man Majesty | Okelani Blue - John Petrucci Signature - 8-String - Peach Guitars

I noticed they had some new Music Man stock yesterday. I was quite taken with the Steve Morse one, but after taking the price on board I just went and looked at reviews of his signature DiMarzio pickups...

Music Man Steve Morse Y2D BFR | Jade Burl - Peach Guitars

Nerine · September 2023

Musicman20 said:

I get it's an 8 string and it has a lot of tech in it....but £5k!?!?!?

Music Man Majesty | Okelani Blue - John Petrucci Signature - 8-String - Peach Guitars

The bridge pickup doesn’t look wide enough for the string spacing.

crunchman · September 2023

Musicman20 said:

StefB said:

Before this topic fades away until next time, anyone fancy an Indonesian MusicMan Sterling Sable for £1,899.99?

https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/220112379390008--music-man-sterling-sabre-deep-blue-burst-rosewood-fingerboard

WHAT?!?!?!?!

My USA EBMM Stingray Guitar cost £1150 new/sealed from the UK dealer. Maybe 5 years ago?

There is no guarantee that the US guitar is any better.

That doesn't mean that the price isn't still totally outrageous though.

soma1975 · September 2023

The push for guitars, amps and pedals to be a lifestyle accessory as opposed to the tool of a musician has created this absolute mess. All born out of investment management firms investing heavily in these companies and then demanding year on year exponential growth.

Sod the lot of them.

ToneControl · September 2023

swiller said:

I bought a USA standard strat in 1989 for 350 brand new. Which was discounted from £375-400 i think.
Recently got a S/H version of same year, same guitar £750, which pretty much is the going rate.

Pint of beer in 1989 - about £1.
Pint of beer 2023 £4-5

Think gibsons are OTT i agree, but fenders (especially 80s/90s SH USA standards) are v good vfm today.

Hasn't beer gone up more than other stuff because people drink less of it when they go out now?
I looked up inflation since 1989

it says

£100 in 1989

£318.32 in 2023

Value of 1989 British pounds today | UK Inflation Calculator (in2013dollars.com)

Greatape · September 2023

ToneControl said:

swiller said:

I bought a USA standard strat in 1989 for 350 brand new. Which was discounted from £375-400 i think.
Recently got a S/H version of same year, same guitar £750, which pretty much is the going rate.

Pint of beer in 1989 - about £1.
Pint of beer 2023 £4-5

Think gibsons are OTT i agree, but fenders (especially 80s/90s SH USA standards) are v good vfm today.

Hasn't beer gone up more than other stuff because people drink less of it when they go out now?
I looked up inflation since 1989

it says
£100 in 1989 £318.32 in 2023

Value of 1989 British pounds today | UK Inflation Calculator (in2013dollars.com)

So....an overly simplistic view I'm taking, yes, but should we expect American Pro strats to be about £1200-1300?

So about a £500 premium due to factors other than general inflation?

Musicman20 · September 2023

I'm also surprised about how much new product is released every single week, and not just everyday music items, high end pedals, £20k Gibsons, new modellers.

Offset · September 2023

Philly_Q said:

Musicman20 said:

I get it's an 8 string and it has a lot of tech in it....but £5k!?!?!?

Music Man Majesty | Okelani Blue - John Petrucci Signature - 8-String - Peach Guitars

I noticed they had some new Music Man stock yesterday. I was quite taken with the Steve Morse one, but after taking the price on board I just went and looked at reviews of his signature DiMarzio pickups...

Music Man Steve Morse Y2D BFR | Jade Burl - Peach Guitars

I'm sure it's a lovely guitar but it's ruined by the truly ugly and crude-looking tailpiece.

Bigsby · September 2023

Greatape said:

ToneControl said:

swiller said:

I bought a USA standard strat in 1989 for 350 brand new. Which was discounted from £375-400 i think.
Recently got a S/H version of same year, same guitar £750, which pretty much is the going rate.

Pint of beer in 1989 - about £1.
Pint of beer 2023 £4-5

Think gibsons are OTT i agree, but fenders (especially 80s/90s SH USA standards) are v good vfm today.

Hasn't beer gone up more than other stuff because people drink less of it when they go out now?
I looked up inflation since 1989

it says
£100 in 1989 £318.32 in 2023

Value of 1989 British pounds today | UK Inflation Calculator (in2013dollars.com)

So....an overly simplistic view I'm taking, yes, but should we expect American Pro strats to be about £1200-1300?

So about a £500 premium due to factors other than general inflation?

Hmmmm. An equally simplistic approach would be to take a different arbitrary year, 1975, and determine that an American Pro Strat should be about £2,250* today. So they're actually about £500 cheaper due to factors other than general inflation.

*Based on Bell's catalogue price (inc. tremolo but without waterproof cover!) and the BoE inflation calculator.

guitars4you · September 2023

Musicman20 said:

I'm also surprised about how much new product is released every single week, and not just everyday music items, high end pedals, £20k Gibsons, new modellers.

Tell me about it

i can understand the ‘marketing’ needs of a company but new products all the time and swapping changing all the time is OTT

I’d favour more ‘factory special runs ‘ of same/ similar models to create extra interest and sales - ie hot rod custom tweaks , different finishes, be it aged or clean, different pickups etc - But not this perpetual annual change

kentuckyklira · September 2023

willo said:

swiller said:

I bought a USA standard strat in 1989 for 350 brand new. Which was discounted from £375-400 i think.
Recently got a S/H version of same year, same guitar £750, which pretty much is the going rate.

Pint of beer in 1989 - about £1.
Pint of beer 2023 £4-5

Think gibsons are OTT i agree, but fenders (especially 80s/90s SH USA standards) are v good vfm today.

Yeah I agree with this. There are some fair prices for Fenders out there. Gibson is just in a strange place with collectors craving certain finishes, flame, years etc. A certain mythology has built up around Les Pauls in particular. Fender still seems like, outside of Custom Shop, to be seen more as a player's tool.

I don´t know about the UK but, here in Germany Gibson prices tend to go through the roof occasionally till people stop buying them. Then Thomann and/or Music Store will start blowing last years models out and prices will go down a bit and then it all starts over again.

Whitecat · September 2023

kentuckyklira said:

willo said:

swiller said:

I bought a USA standard strat in 1989 for 350 brand new. Which was discounted from £375-400 i think.
Recently got a S/H version of same year, same guitar £750, which pretty much is the going rate.

Pint of beer in 1989 - about £1.
Pint of beer 2023 £4-5

Think gibsons are OTT i agree, but fenders (especially 80s/90s SH USA standards) are v good vfm today.

Yeah I agree with this. There are some fair prices for Fenders out there. Gibson is just in a strange place with collectors craving certain finishes, flame, years etc. A certain mythology has built up around Les Pauls in particular. Fender still seems like, outside of Custom Shop, to be seen more as a player's tool.

I don´t know about the UK but, here in Germany Gibson prices tend to go through the roof occasionally till people stop buying them. Then Thomann and/or Music Store will start blowing last years models out and prices will go down a bit and then it all starts over again.

This kinda happens here - year end blowouts definitely happen - but of course the picks of the litter are usually gone by then, so you have to keep that in mind.

CavemanGrogg · September 2023

Whitecat said:

kentuckyklira said:

willo said:

swiller said:

I bought a USA standard strat in 1989 for 350 brand new. Which was discounted from £375-400 i think.
Recently got a S/H version of same year, same guitar £750, which pretty much is the going rate.

Pint of beer in 1989 - about £1.
Pint of beer 2023 £4-5

Think gibsons are OTT i agree, but fenders (especially 80s/90s SH USA standards) are v good vfm today.

Yeah I agree with this. There are some fair prices for Fenders out there. Gibson is just in a strange place with collectors craving certain finishes, flame, years etc. A certain mythology has built up around Les Pauls in particular. Fender still seems like, outside of Custom Shop, to be seen more as a player's tool.

I don´t know about the UK but, here in Germany Gibson prices tend to go through the roof occasionally till people stop buying them. Then Thomann and/or Music Store will start blowing last years models out and prices will go down a bit and then it all starts over again.

This kinda happens here - year end blowouts definitely happen - but of course the picks of the litter are usually gone by then, so you have to keep that in mind.

I don't agree with the part that I've bolded in your quote, a hell of a lot of guitars nowadays, and I'd even go so far as to say the majority of guitars that are bought today, are bought based off of their spec sheets rather than how they actually feel, sound and play in the hand. How many people people write off guitars based off of weigh - I do it with nut width, alone without even looking at the guitar beyond a web page for it, as in not even seeing the guitar in person. As they say, one man's lump of coal is another's diamond.

Greatape · September 2023

Bigsby said:

Greatape said:

ToneControl said:

swiller said:

I bought a USA standard strat in 1989 for 350 brand new. Which was discounted from £375-400 i think.
Recently got a S/H version of same year, same guitar £750, which pretty much is the going rate.

Pint of beer in 1989 - about £1.
Pint of beer 2023 £4-5

Think gibsons are OTT i agree, but fenders (especially 80s/90s SH USA standards) are v good vfm today.

Hasn't beer gone up more than other stuff because people drink less of it when they go out now?
I looked up inflation since 1989

it says
£100 in 1989 £318.32 in 2023

Value of 1989 British pounds today | UK Inflation Calculator (in2013dollars.com)

So....an overly simplistic view I'm taking, yes, but should we expect American Pro strats to be about £1200-1300?

So about a £500 premium due to factors other than general inflation?

Hmmmm. An equally simplistic approach would be to take a different arbitrary year, 1975, and determine that an American Pro Strat should be about £2,250* today. So they're actually about £500 cheaper due to factors other than general inflation.

*Based on Bell's catalogue price (inc. tremolo but without waterproof cover!) and the BoE inflation calculator.

Absolutely. Although the further back you go, the more inaccurate the comparison. Furthermore, this comparison doesn't allow for the oscillations in exchange rate.

Bigsby · September 2023

Greatape said:

Bigsby said:

Greatape said:

ToneControl said:

swiller said:

I bought a USA standard strat in 1989 for 350 brand new. Which was discounted from £375-400 i think.
Recently got a S/H version of same year, same guitar £750, which pretty much is the going rate.

Pint of beer in 1989 - about £1.
Pint of beer 2023 £4-5

Think gibsons are OTT i agree, but fenders (especially 80s/90s SH USA standards) are v good vfm today.

Hasn't beer gone up more than other stuff because people drink less of it when they go out now?
I looked up inflation since 1989

it says
£100 in 1989 £318.32 in 2023

Value of 1989 British pounds today | UK Inflation Calculator (in2013dollars.com)

So....an overly simplistic view I'm taking, yes, but should we expect American Pro strats to be about £1200-1300?

So about a £500 premium due to factors other than general inflation?

Hmmmm. An equally simplistic approach would be to take a different arbitrary year, 1975, and determine that an American Pro Strat should be about £2,250* today. So they're actually about £500 cheaper due to factors other than general inflation.

*Based on Bell's catalogue price (inc. tremolo but without waterproof cover!) and the BoE inflation calculator.

Absolutely. Although the further back you go, the more inaccurate the comparison. Furthermore, this comparison doesn't allow for the oscillations in exchange rate.

I'm not sure it can ever be 'inaccurate' if the comparative year is arbitrarily chosen - each year will be as 'accurate' as every other year. It's only a matter of how long you're choosing to measure price changes over. As for exchange rates, I'm not sure what your point is? They'll be factored into the £ prices, in just the same way that inflation is!

notsopro · September 2023

Speaking of what the point is..

what’s the point in worrying about what a guitar cost in 1975… it’s 2023.

Greatape · September 2023

Bigsby said:

Greatape said:

Bigsby said:

Greatape said:

ToneControl said:

swiller said:

I bought a USA standard strat in 1989 for 350 brand new. Which was discounted from £375-400 i think.
Recently got a S/H version of same year, same guitar £750, which pretty much is the going rate.

Pint of beer in 1989 - about £1.
Pint of beer 2023 £4-5

Think gibsons are OTT i agree, but fenders (especially 80s/90s SH USA standards) are v good vfm today.

Hasn't beer gone up more than other stuff because people drink less of it when they go out now?
I looked up inflation since 1989

it says
£100 in 1989 £318.32 in 2023

Value of 1989 British pounds today | UK Inflation Calculator (in2013dollars.com)

So....an overly simplistic view I'm taking, yes, but should we expect American Pro strats to be about £1200-1300?

So about a £500 premium due to factors other than general inflation?

Hmmmm. An equally simplistic approach would be to take a different arbitrary year, 1975, and determine that an American Pro Strat should be about £2,250* today. So they're actually about £500 cheaper due to factors other than general inflation.

*Based on Bell's catalogue price (inc. tremolo but without waterproof cover!) and the BoE inflation calculator.

Absolutely. Although the further back you go, the more inaccurate the comparison. Furthermore, this comparison doesn't allow for the oscillations in exchange rate.

I'm not sure it can ever be 'inaccurate' if the comparative year is arbitrarily chosen - each year will be as 'accurate' as every other year. It's only a matter of how long you're choosing to measure price changes over. As for exchange rates, I'm not sure what your point is? They'll be factored into the £ prices, in just the same way that inflation is!

No, absolutely - poorly explained by me.

There are different factors causing that, of which exchange rate fluctuations are part of it (and there have been several shocks in recent years). But then companies can also increase their prices above and beyond increases due to rising costs, in order to increase their margins, satiate shareholders, etc. Obviously, price rises are not uniform across all products and services.

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Guitar prices new and used today are just ridiculous

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