Gibson CS LP DC junior or Gibson CS SG special?

The DC junior or the SG special?

  • The DC junior in TV yellow.

    Votes: 4 30.8%
  • The SG special in cherry.

    Votes: 11 84.6%

  • Total voters
    13
Also, That price seems pretty good from Thomann at about 1375 Euro.
I think this is the same guitar at MusicZoo for $1799 USD

 
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I am curious, Grump. If you could buy a guitar from over in Europe or Asia somewhere and get a PRE shipping Pre Import duty price, what would it be? In other words, approximately how much does shipping and importing add to it?

Let's say for example we in the USA can buy an SG Special for $500-$750 used/ new or a Standard for $1500-$1700, how much would be added to get it to you? Not in WON but in USD. I am seeing that $1 = about 1170 Won.

This is an $1800 guitar in the US/Japan. I think you have state taxes there that may alter the price, state by state.

In Euros, it's a bit more expensive due to European VAT.

Because it's going outside Europe, I don't pay EU tax, so the price of the guitar I paid was US$1,484 (I,330 Euros on my invoice). I also paid US$55.76 shipping fee to Korea - Thomann has famously cheap shipping costs. Thusfar I've paid US$1,539 for the guitar which sounds cheap until you add in Korean import tax which is on the total price of item plus shipping.

I don't know how much the import tax will be, top end is 30%, US$461, which would mean the guitar cost me US$2000 - that's what I'm prepared to pay for that guitar, so not cheap...

Korea has a flat rate of 10%, and an added 10-20% on 'luxury goods', plus they recently signed a FTA which shouldn't cover these goods, but you just don't know what taxes will be applied; I am hoping for an Xmas present from Korean customs (yeah, I know, the opposite is more likely...) of low import tax. So that's the maths, the guitar will cost me between US$1500-2000 - time will tell. :)

As a comparison, I suspect this guitar is fairly similar (no 2018/2019 SG specials made it to Korea) and costs US$1786. I prefer the ltd.ed SG (obviously, or I would have bought that LP special):

Screenshot 2019-12-17 at 00.31.28.png
 
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^ thanks Chilli, very kind. I think I've found this guitar at an ok price (depending on import taxes???).

Also, That price seems pretty good from Thomann at about 1375 Euro.
I think this is the same guitar at MusicZoo for $1799 USD


I've seen that link and a couple of other US sites too, a few in Japan (all/mostly sold) and one other in Germany who I think may be linked to (or buying from) Thomann.

This is what it would cost me buying from the US:

Screenshot 2019-12-17 at 00.35.16.png

US$250+ more - the shipping doesn't look very "free"... :)
 
Nope, not free

I see where you say this, "Thusfar I've paid US$1,539 for the guitar which sounds cheap until you add in Korean import tax which is on the total price of item plus shipping. "

I know you are accustomed to the higher costs of EU and ASIA, but $500 or less is how my ears hear "Cheap"

In fact, I would prefer $100 or less for almost everything, unless it is food. Then I like it for $5 or less.
I am currently fortunate enough to be driving a truck I got for $1 from a friend's dad, and my last car was a $200 1983 Honda Station wagon I got at an auction. I love that car too, I usually can get replacement tires for it for about $1 apiece rims and all.
 
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Just for you, Gahr - expensive at about $1800-$2000 depending on import tax, and I suppose a risk ordering from Thomann (but I can, and have in the past, return it if there's a problem), but it's just such a nice guitar:

View attachment 35584

The only info/review I can find on it is here (although I saw a few in Japan being sold at $1800 and a couple in the US being sold at $1800 too): Gibson SG Special Vibrola Aged Cherry

Bought from here: Gibson SG Special Vibrola Aged Cherry

Wow. This is without a doubt one of the best-looking guitars I have seen in a very long time.
 
What is the name of this bridge with the arm...

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Thanks!
How about Gibson Lightning Bar bridge with Gibson Vibrola tailpiece!
 
I think that nails it. And you always have the option of just hardtail stringing from the bridge if you want to or don't like the wang bar.
Yes sir! I found this pic of Pete Townshend's 1967 SG Special (One of the ones that he didn't break on stage, ha ha...) that got auctioned off about 5 years ago. He pretty much always removed the vibrola:

image-placeholder-title.jpg

EDIT: And it sold for $50,000!
 
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^ that is nice...

There's a lot of specials, different types... whether a 61 (like the CS on page 1), a 64 (which I think the one I'm getting is mostly based on) a 67 (the batwing, Townsend one is a 67' - could be wrong), other like the Classic - just so many nice SG Specials. I tell ya, if I had enough money and a stable place (not a stable as in horses... :) ), I'd love a few different specials (and a couple of juniors)(should probably get two or 3 LP juniors/specials too)(would need a 61 SG std)(and an SG 66/67 batwing)...

:dood:
 
Wow. This is without a doubt one of the best-looking guitars I have seen in a very long time.

I hope so - I don't like buying blind, much prefer to test it out and feel it in my hands first, but I hope it looks that good and plays/sounds as good as me 2018 SG junior.

That is a nice SG Mr Grumpy, a big congrats. Hope the tax man doesn't sting you too hard. Enjoy (when it gets there). Cheers

Thanks Ivan. I've been looking at your pedal builds and getting some inspiration - very close to buying a Tonebender kit and trying to put it together!

It sure has got me gasing for a Special as well...

They are sexy, Gahr. The SG standards are great, the juniors are great, but the specials also have something sexy going on... If you got a guitar like this, the tuners would be straight off for a set of strip button tuners... I reckon you'd do something to the bridge/tail as well... :)

Right, it's just the short-mount version. The short and long mount ones function exactly the same but the long-mount ones are "fancier" and went on more expensive models, while these went on "student" models. I think they look cool as hell.

Makes sense. &, I've never liked wiggling sticky things, but this one looks cool to my eyes. I'm crap at bending, so I'm interested to see if I can get some bluesy runs going with some bends from the wiggle-stick. I've got a three week holiday from next Monday (was planning to go to Okinawa, but spent the money on the guitar...), so I hope it comes soonish (optimistic for the Xmas period, could take 3 or 4 weeks...) so I can play it loads in peace with no work considerations.
 
They are sexy, Gahr. The SG standards are great, the juniors are great, but the specials also have something sexy going on... If you got a guitar like this, the tuners would be straight off for a set of strip button tuners... I reckon you'd do something to the bridge/tail as well... :)

It seems I'll be gasing for a Special for quite some time to come, though. I just pulled the trigger on a vintage bass instead. I have wanted a "proper" Gibson EB0 for a long time, and I just found this 1963 specimen in a nice condition at a very decent price. Getting "permission" from the wife to buy a bass is easier than a guitar as well, because she will actually be playing it a bit. I'll probably be selling a couple of amps I don't use much these days to finance it (NOT my vintage Gibson amps, of course!). Anyway, pics and a NBD tread when I get it. Probably won't be here until after Christmas, I guess.
 
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The SG basses are really nice, and I find playing bass quite a lot of fun, so I'd love one too. If your wife's playing it that's a win win for you. Make sure you do a NBD!

You still got that vintage (was it a 65'?) junior?
 
The SG basses are really nice, and I find playing bass quite a lot of fun, so I'd love one too. If your wife's playing it that's a win win for you. Make sure you do a NBD!

You still got that vintage (was it a 65'?) junior?
Still have the junior. A '65, yes. I have been playing it quite a lot lately, it is absolutely screaming. It is definitely a keeper, but could use a new nut. Might take it to the guitar doctor's sometime this spring.
E34e9j7.jpg
 
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