• Devan
  • Devan
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Topic: Joe's Signature Guitars = Unobtainium, apparently

Ok, you've watched me rant on here before about the difficulties in getting one of Joe's signature guitars over here in Australia - some people have even paid me out for living in the 'wrong' place..  tongue

This time around, with the JB LP Studios that are coming out soon, I decided to do the "right" thing and try to order one through the proper channels.  I spoke to the local Gibson distributor in Australia, as well as my local music store in town.  They all said that there is at the moment NO allocation of these guitars for Australia, however, if I placed a firm order for one Gibson MAY allocate one or two for Australia, but that there was NO guarantee of this as they have to fulfill US orders first and see what was left for Oz.

Oh, and that they would not know availability until June/July - about 2 months after the US release.  And that if they ever got here the price would be around $2900  (Note: the USD and AUD are 1:1 at the moment).

I know that Joe said he wants to get his guitars into the hands of as many players as possible, but it looks like the Gibson sales & marketing team would like to put the brakes on that idea.

Joe - if you check in on this thread, I am coming to your last show on your Australian tour.  If you wanted to save the freight cost on a spare LP back to the States and wanted a spare few thousands to put towards your '59 repayments, I would love to buy one of your pre-loved backup guitars!  big_smile

JBLP Gold Top #129 - redubbed "#1 in Oz"
  • From: Canterbury
  • Registered: 2010-05-27
  • Posts: 310

Re: Joe's Signature Guitars = Unobtainium, apparently

Devan wrote:

Joe - if you check in on this thread, I am coming to your last show on your Australian tour.  If you wanted to save the freight cost on a spare LP back to the States and wanted a spare few thousands to put towards your '59 repayments, I would love to buy one of your pre-loved backup guitars!  big_smile

That would be really cool.

Can't you order one from the US?
Thats what I do. If you think Australia is bad, Trinidad has maybe 3-4 Gibsons for sale in the whole country.
If I bought the LP Studio I saw here (claimed to be new, looked otherwise) I would end up paying $1700 USD for it!!!

  • Grey
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Re: Joe's Signature Guitars = Unobtainium, apparently

Devan wrote:

Ok, you've watched me rant on here before about the difficulties in getting one of Joe's signature guitars over here in Australia - some people have even paid me out for living in the 'wrong' place..  tongue

This time around, with the JB LP Studios that are coming out soon, I decided to do the "right" thing and try to order one through the proper channels.  I spoke to the local Gibson distributor in Australia, as well as my local music store in town.  They all said that there is at the moment NO allocation of these guitars for Australia, however, if I placed a firm order for one Gibson MAY allocate one or two for Australia, but that there was NO guarantee of this as they have to fulfill US orders first and see what was left for Oz.

Oh, and that they would not know availability until June/July - about 2 months after the US release.  And that if they ever got here the price would be around $2900  (Note: the USD and AUD are 1:1 at the moment).

I know that Joe said he wants to get his guitars into the hands of as many players as possible, but it looks like the Gibson sales & marketing team would like to put the brakes on that idea.

Joe - if you check in on this thread, I am coming to your last show on your Australian tour.  If you wanted to save the freight cost on a spare LP back to the States and wanted a spare few thousands to put towards your '59 repayments, I would love to buy one of your pre-loved backup guitars!  big_smile

Devan you are correct. I contacted 3 Gibson/Epiphone dealers regarding the Epiphone JB model (including the main Australian distributor) and did not get any response at all. Unfortunately authorised dealers in the US are not allowed to sell direct to Australians because of licensing agreements.

Luckily the internet is your friend. Get a quote from price USA https://www.priceusa.com.au/order/?mod=order I haven't used them personally but they get good reviews.

They don't have any of the JB models listed on Musicians Friend, but I put in the cost of an average studio (USD1400) and through Price USA that would cost you around AUD1600 shipped. You would then have to run the gauntlet of GST and Import duties, but I imagine you would still be well under $2900. Gibson and their distributors are making a massive profit at our expense.

I am sick of Australians getting ripped of for things, especially as our dollar is so strong at the moment. Also, the Gibson "Limited Edition" philosophy pretty much guarantees they will never find their way over here.

Good luck with your search for a JB model. I have given up on getting one partly because of the reasons above, and partly because we have a baby on the way so my guitar funds have been severely curtailed  smile

  • Bill
  • Bill
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  • Registered: 2006-04-24
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Re: Joe's Signature Guitars = Unobtainium, apparently

I hate to say this,  but have you checked on ebay, to see if anything was available?

Bill

Official Joe Bonamassa Fan Website | Facebook | Twitter
bill@bonamassalive.com

Bill's Website

  • Devan
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Re: Joe's Signature Guitars = Unobtainium, apparently

Thanks for the replies guys...

@AndreS - See Greys response for why we cannot order from the US.  Nearly all Gibson dealers there are prohibited from shipping outside the US by their dealer agreements.  Strangely, this also includes Wildwood Guitars special runs such as the Bonaburst, which are not available from anywhere except Wildwood - yet they also will not/cannot ship outside the US.  roll

@Grey - Thanks for your words.  Yes, I am kinda getting fed up with the local distributors gouging us.  I have bought many other guitars from the states, and I hate doing my local music store out of business, but at the end of the day I cannot keep paying a 100% 'tax' on F and G guitars over here.  Oh and congratulations on your imminent new addition to the family.  Trust me, kids are a GREAT excuse for buying more gear if they decide to take up the guitar when growing up!  big_smile

@Bill - Finding JB sig gear on eBay and other 2nd hand sites is thin pickings at the best of times.  The last couple of JBLPs that I saw on there said 'US Shipping Only' too.  In this particular case, I wanted to buy a shiny new LP Studio fresh from the factory, but hey, at this stage I am willing to look at ANY JB sig gear...  cool

JBLP Gold Top #129 - redubbed "#1 in Oz"
  • Grey
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Re: Joe's Signature Guitars = Unobtainium, apparently

Devan wrote:

Thanks for the replies guys...



@Grey - Thanks for your words.    Oh and congratulations on your imminent new addition to the family.  Trust me, kids are a GREAT excuse for buying more gear if they decide to take up the guitar when growing up!  big_smile

Thanks Devan - I will be putting that to the test for sure...........

  • From: Canterbury
  • Registered: 2010-05-27
  • Posts: 310

Re: Joe's Signature Guitars = Unobtainium, apparently

Devan wrote:

Thanks for the replies guys...

@AndreS - See Greys response for why we cannot order from the US.  Nearly all Gibson dealers there are prohibited from shipping outside the US by their dealer agreements.  Strangely, this also includes Wildwood Guitars special runs such as the Bonaburst, which are not available from anywhere except Wildwood - yet they also will not/cannot ship outside the US.  roll
:

Same goes for Trinidad, but what I do is this; I have a Skybox (its an address in the USA where packages are sent  to, then the company who the Skybox is rented from, have their couriers deliver the package to me.
Its specifically for online shopping.
Does Australia have anything like that?
The rental fees are minimal here.

  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,857

Re: Joe's Signature Guitars = Unobtainium, apparently

Do you have friends or family in the US who could get one sent your way?

  • From: Memphis,Tn.
  • Registered: 2011-02-27
  • Posts: 43

Re: Joe's Signature Guitars = Unobtainium, apparently

Devan wrote:

Ok, you've watched me rant on here before about the difficulties in getting one of Joe's signature guitars over here in Australia - some people have even paid me out for living in the 'wrong' place..  tongue

This time around, with the JB LP Studios that are coming out soon, I decided to do the "right" thing and try to order one through the proper channels.  I spoke to the local Gibson distributor in Australia, as well as my local music store in town.  They all said that there is at the moment NO allocation of these guitars for Australia, however, if I placed a firm order for one Gibson MAY allocate one or two for Australia, but that there was NO guarantee of this as they have to fulfill US orders first and see what was left for Oz.

Oh, and that they would not know availability until June/July - about 2 months after the US release.  And that if they ever got here the price would be around $2900  (Note: the USD and AUD are 1:1 at the moment).

I know that Joe said he wants to get his guitars into the hands of as many players as possible, but it looks like the Gibson sales & marketing team would like to put the brakes on that idea.

Joe - if you check in on this thread, I am coming to your last show on your Australian tour.  If you wanted to save the freight cost on a spare LP back to the States and wanted a spare few thousands to put towards your '59 repayments, I would love to buy one of your pre-loved backup guitars!  big_smile


Ok, If you go to;www.Gibson Custom Shop Memphis.com; they have a retail store there that you might be able to order LP JB edtion thru them.............

Off of his fingers comes the sounds of a new Blues Legend; his name is Joe Bonamassa,ooppsss I said it again
  • From: Sussex UK
  • Registered: 2009-07-12
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Re: Joe's Signature Guitars = Unobtainium, apparently

RustyB4u wrote:

Ok, If you go to;www.Gibson Custom Shop Memphis.com; they have a retail store there that you might be able to order LP JB edtion thru them.............

I suspect that this would also fall fowl of the same restrictive trading issues between the Aus importer and Gibson USA. It is as a say restrictive trading that things like the European Union try to overcome but still go on, - don't think that there are any trading agreements between USA and Aus so unlikely that anything can be done.  sad

My YouTube channel with plenty of my Joe's videos dating from 2009 inc his first Hammersmith Odeon ones:
http://www.youtube.com/ian916fun

Ian916's Website

  • mbcl
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Re: Joe's Signature Guitars = Unobtainium, apparently

There is an easy way around this, simply have so someone buy one for you and then ship it on.

Martin
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  • Devan
  • Devan
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Re: Joe's Signature Guitars = Unobtainium, apparently

Thanks for the suggestions everyone - I've spoken to about 3 separate dealers in the US about this, but nearly all Gibson authorised dealers (basically the only ones you can preorder special issue guitars through) are restricted from selling outside the country.

And yes, if I knew someone well enough over there, I could perhaps ask them, but unfortunately, I don't have any friends or relatives that I trust enough to order a $2K+ guitar and get it shipped across who are living in the US at this point in time...  hmm

JBLP Gold Top #129 - redubbed "#1 in Oz"
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Joe's Signature Guitars = Unobtainium, apparently

Sounds like eBay is the route you'll have to go... plenty of selection there.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
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Re: Joe's Signature Guitars = Unobtainium, apparently

Ian916 wrote:
RustyB4u wrote:

Ok, If you go to;www.Gibson Custom Shop Memphis.com; they have a retail store there that you might be able to order LP JB edtion thru them.............

I suspect that this would also fall fowl of the same restrictive trading issues between the Aus importer and Gibson USA. It is as a say restrictive trading that things like the European Union try to overcome but still go on, - don't think that there are any trading agreements between USA and Aus so unlikely that anything can be done.  sad

Australia does have a Free Trade Agreement with the U.S. I don't think we get a lot of benefit from it though - I think it heavily favours the U.S. We can get Oreo cookies in our supermarkets though now - 99 cents! Seriously though, if we have a FTA with the States, surely that should lead to cheaper goods including guitars?

  • mbcl
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Re: Joe's Signature Guitars = Unobtainium, apparently

Contact Duncan at Angel Guitars Edinburg, UK. He will get you one no problem. Tell him Virgil Mcmahon's Manager gave you his details. There problem sorted.


Devan wrote:

Thanks for the suggestions everyone - I've spoken to about 3 separate dealers in the US about this, but nearly all Gibson authorised dealers (basically the only ones you can preorder special issue guitars through) are restricted from selling outside the country.

And yes, if I knew someone well enough over there, I could perhaps ask them, but unfortunately, I don't have any friends or relatives that I trust enough to order a $2K+ guitar and get it shipped across who are living in the US at this point in time...  hmm

Martin
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