• Registered: 2006-06-30
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Topic: Gibson to raise prices for 2015

Found this yesterday:
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Leading up to the release of its 2015 models, the Gibson Guitar Company has planned a series of changes to its guitar lineup including a general price increase across the board. Whereas MAP (manufacturer advertised price) for a 2014 Les Paul Standard with a normal flame top comes in at $2999, the 2015 equivalent will start at $3879, marking a roughly 29% increase.
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"Gibson USA continues to raise the bar of Quality, Prestige and Innovation with the new line up of 2015 guitars. All Gibson USA guitars except for the Les Paul Supreme, Firebird and Derek Trucks SG will ship with the G-Force tuning system. Among many of the added features is the new Zero Fret Nut which is a patented applied for nut that has adjustable action capabilities. The new Tune-O-Matic Bridge features a hex wrench adjustment on thumbscrews for easy action adjustments. All guitars receive a professional set up with accurate intonation, and a new PLEK program with 27% lower fret wire. All models now have Pearloid Inlays and the fingerboard is a thicker one piece rosewood which is sanded and buffed with a new oil treatment for smoother and easier playability. To take it a step further Gibson USA has increased playing comfort by widened the neck and fingerboard by .050 per side. Sparing no expense, Gibson USA even changed the internal wires from 28 awg to 26 awg, along with a new and improved jack design and together they give you an improved uninterrupted signal. For 2015 Gibson will be producing gloss lacquer finishes and no more Satin or Vintage Gloss finishes. On top of all the upgrades Gibson USA did not stop there. They are now introducing a removable Les Paul pick guard with NO SCREWS NEEDED. In honor of Les Paul's 100th birthday all LP and SG guitars will carry the 100 logo on the headstock and a Les Paul Hologram on the back of the headstock for authenticity and tribute to the man himself. To wrap everything up, each 2015 Gibson USA guitar ships in a Gibson Hard Shell case."

And so castles made of sand melts into the sea, eventually.........
  • timb
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Re: Gibson to raise prices for 2015

airportdon wrote:

Whereas MAP (manufacturer advertised price) for a 2014 Les Paul Standard with a normal flame top comes in at $2999, the 2015 equivalent will start at $3879, marking a roughly 29% increase.

Yikes. On http://reverb.com/blog/gibson-to-increa … s-for-2015 it also says that the lower cost satin finish guitars will be discontinued, and that the Min-Etune (renamed G-Force) will be standard on almost all models.

I don't know if I'm an anomaly, but I don't want an automatic tuner. I guess the market will respond to these changes, and if people stop buying as many they'll revert.

timb's Website

  • From: Georgia
  • Registered: 2010-12-01
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Re: Gibson to raise prices for 2015

timb, I'm with you on this, i want to tune my own guitar.

  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
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Re: Gibson to raise prices for 2015

The only thing Gibson USA improved is the used guitar market.

  • From: over yonder....in PA
  • Registered: 2009-02-09
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Re: Gibson to raise prices for 2015

I'll stop buying imports when I'm more impressed with Gibson. Over the past few years, their quality has been inconsistent and they all feel like toys to me - just my opinion.

"The way I like to look at it is....if that's the last time I ever got to play, I'd better give it everything I've got." -SRV
  • Registered: 2014-07-17
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Re: Gibson to raise prices for 2015

Spider wrote:

The only thing Gibson USA improved is the used guitar market.

+1

7 Reply by ZeyerGTR (edited by ZeyerGTR 2014-09-11 09:41:48)

  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2010-04-15
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Re: Gibson to raise prices for 2015

Spider wrote:

The only thing Gibson USA improved is the used guitar market.

Yup.  I really like my Les Paul, but I think they'd be better served insuring all their nuts are cut properly first, before adding gizmos.  It's really inexcusable given the price point.  Also, how about options like stainless or EVO frets?  That'd add a lot more value (I do realize some folks don't like them, but a whole lot of people do).  I guess we'll see what happens.

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8 Reply by RoadcaseBoy (edited by RoadcaseBoy 2014-09-11 09:46:18)

  • From: Seymour Duncan's Hometown, NJ
  • Registered: 2012-03-05
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Re: Gibson to raise prices for 2015

Can't wait to see the 2018 limited edition "Historic" Standard and Studio line ... without G-Force tuning ... and available in 5 Satin and Vintage Gloss colors ... at a higher MAP of course.

"I was in Space for less than 2 weeks … and suddenly Jeaniene’s back … half the Band is off the gd wagon … we have comedians opening for us … and the nice kid that ran our website is now a kleptof’nmaniac.  Boy ... did you guys miss me!!"  Phil Valentine - Road Manager - Staton House Band

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  • timb
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Re: Gibson to raise prices for 2015

Let's hope history views this as the guitar version of "New Coke". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Coke

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10 Reply by Hogsniper (edited by Hogsniper 2014-09-11 12:11:42)

  • From: Chesterville, Ohio
  • Registered: 2014-06-20
  • Posts: 188

Re: Gibson to raise prices for 2015

turd ferguson wrote:
Spider wrote:

The only thing Gibson USA improved is the used guitar market.

+1

Another +1

Getting back into guitar after 15-20 years I was shocked at the high prices and terrible quality I saw in the non-custom shop products.  Add another 30% and any brand loyalty I may have had is just about dead.

  • Registered: 2013-08-02
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Re: Gibson to raise prices for 2015

I haven't bought a new Gibson for years - if I'm in the market, I look for older used models that I like. In my opinion, they haven't made a Les Paul in recent years that in anyway lives up to the old Les Paul Classics from 5 or 6 years ago.

But already nowadays you can get used Gibsons in nice shape for sometimes 50% of their new value, so its a no brainer for me (I even prefer beat up ones, since I use them on the road quite a bit and beat them up myself anyway)

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Re: Gibson to raise prices for 2015

I wonder if that 29% price increase is going to be for custom shop models also. I was really hoping to get an R9 sometime next year... if that is off the table, what are your favorite alternatives? I dig the Bartlett Retrospec, but at $6,000 its still way too expensive.


Logan

Block inlay Gibson ES-335, 50th anniversary American Strat, '61 RI White SG, '62 RI Relic Strat, Replica Korina Flying V, Gold Tone Paul Beard Resonator,  '58 Les Paul RI, American Highway 1 Fender Strat, Breedlove Acoustic, Stonetree Joe Bonamassa Custom, HIWATT Lead 100R, Reeves Custom 30.
  • From: Georgia
  • Registered: 2010-12-01
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Re: Gibson to raise prices for 2015

I only buy used anyways. There is not a new guitar out there that I crave.

  • From: N.Wales, UK
  • Registered: 2009-03-06
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Re: Gibson to raise prices for 2015

Spider wrote:

The only thing Gibson USA improved is the used guitar market.

Dead on.

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2010-11-23
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Re: Gibson to raise prices for 2015

Spider wrote:

The only thing Gibson USA improved is the used guitar market.

+1

  • timb
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Re: Gibson to raise prices for 2015

Logo33 wrote:

I wonder if that 29% price increase is going to be for custom shop models also. I was really hoping to get an R9 sometime next year... if that is off the table, what are your favorite alternatives? I dig the Bartlett Retrospec, but at $6,000 its still way too expensive.


Logan

I shopped for a used custom reissue. The market values them like museum pieces, and even inconsequential "flaws" that aren't material for a guitar to be played makes them significantly cheaper than new or mint models on the used market. I bought a mostly unplayed 2010 gold top R7 that was way less because it had small screw holes around the strap button from a non factory bigsby that had been removed. It was mounted with a vibramate, so the top was unaltered. But it was much less than a even non custom shop Les Paul Standard, and with the price increases, perhaps even cheaper then a 2015 Studio Pro. :)

Tim

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  • From: New Hampshire, USA
  • Registered: 2010-12-21
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Re: Gibson to raise prices for 2015

Spider wrote:

The only thing Gibson USA improved is the used guitar market.

You got that right I am sitting on a gold mine. No more newbies for me my used units just went up by 29 % yahooooo

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  • Registered: 2010-08-27
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Re: Gibson to raise prices for 2015

Buy a new Heritage.  Even less expensive than Gibson now, and better quality-at least more consistent.  Made by some of the guys who had their built the original 58-60 Les Pauls