Why do we pay so much $$$ for gear ...

LiveeviL2000

LiveeviL2000

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This topic came up in the Budget Gear thread.
Why do we pay so much for gear? For example: Pedals whos parts don't equal more than the parts of a $10 computer mouse.
Are the sum of the parts worth all that $$$?
Does it make sense to buy top name brand or is it better to buy the knockoff?
Lets see if we can answer some of these questions collectively.

Here is an example. I chose this example because I own the Gibson version.
Going by the specs below.
Is the mark up between the Gibson and Epiphone justified?
What makes the Gibson cost $1500 more than the Epi?
Now you might say, "was it worth it to you?" My answer would be, "I bought it because I always wanted a Gibson LP and this silver burst caught my eye."
So did I pay an extra $1500 for a logo? Sure there are some differences, but is it $1500 worth of difference?

and don't worry, you won't hurt my feelings if you think I'm nuts for buying it ... I think I'm nuts too so we are all on the same page!:)

Gibson Adam Jones Les Paul $2999
  • GENERAL
  • Number of Strings6
  • Left-/Right-handedRight-handed
  • BODY
  • Body TypeSolidbody
  • Body ShapeAdam Jones Les Paul
  • Body MaterialMahogany
  • Top MaterialMaple
  • Body FinishGloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
  • ColorAntique Silverburst
  • NECK
  • Neck MaterialMahogany
  • Neck Shape'70s Rounded
  • Neck JointSet Neck
  • Radius12"
  • Fingerboard MaterialEbony
  • Fingerboard InlayMother-of-Pearl Trapezoids
  • Number of Frets22
  • Scale Length24.75"
  • Nut Width1.695"
  • Nut MaterialGraph Tech NuBone
  • HARDWARE
  • Bridge/TailpieceTune-O-Matic Birdge with Stopbar Tailpiece
  • TunersGrover Rotomatics with Contemporary buttons
  • ELECTRONICS
  • Neck PickupBurstBucker 1 Humbucker
  • Bridge PickupDC High-Gain Humbucker
  • Controls2 x volume, 2 x tone
  • Switching3-way toggle pickup switch
  • MISCELLANEOUS
  • StringsGibson, .010-.046
  • Case/Gig BagHardshell Case
Epiphone Adam Jones Les Paul $1499
  • GENERAL
  • Number of Strings6
  • Left-/Right-handedRight-handed
  • BODY
  • Body TypeSolidbody
  • Body ShapeAdam Jones 1979 Les Paul Custom
  • Body MaterialMahogany
  • Top MaterialMaple
  • Body FinishGloss Polyurethane
  • NECK
  • Neck Material3-piece Maple
  • Neck ShapeAdam Jones Custom Profile
  • Neck JointSet Neck
  • Radius12"
  • Fingerboard MaterialEbony
  • Fingerboard InlayMother of Pearl Blocks
  • Number of Frets22
  • Scale Length24.75"
  • Nut Width1.692"
  • Nut MaterialGraphTech
  • HARDWARE
  • Bridge/TailpieceLockTone Tune-O-Matic and Stop Bar
  • ELECTRONICS
  • Neck PickupGibson Custombucker Humbucker
  • Bridge PickupSeymour Duncan Distortion Humbucker
  • Controls2 x volume, 2 x tone
  • Switching3-way toggle pickup switch
  • MISCELLANEOUS
  • StringsGibson, .010-.046
  • Case/Gig BagHardshell Case
 
Now that I could finally afford it I'm willing to pay more for the gear I've always dreamed of rather than to go with a less expensive choice even tho it may be just as good. It wasn't always like that, when I first dreamed of the gear I wanted the brand name mattered because others were indeed inferior at the time. Even though now cheap gear is better quality than ever before and there's so much more on the market to choose from, I still chose to fulfil my life long dream of owning the gear I've always dreamed of.
 
As i drift into the madness... i am sure simplifying lately & down sizing ..but i always been a huge fan of play what inspires you.. & allow your tastes to changing as you change..never box oneself in with gear.. be inspired by it..but in my case tone should always be the main factor..does it get used in music making
 
LiveeviL2000 said:
All good points and yes, owning that piece of gear you always wanted but couldn't afford until later in life is absolutely a thing.
But my question is, are they gouging us for what amounts to a few dollars of better hardware and a name?
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It's interesting point..the fender JMJ Mustang bass was stupid price for a MIM but it is a killer piece of gear that fits in between the other 2 bases i use in mixes. had no clue who he was..i bought on spec & fender USA didnt have what i was looking for. I must say its one of the nicest guitars i ever owned. It gets played & displayed proudly & the monthly sweetwater payment only stings a lil cause its so good lol
 
Dang, that Epi is expensive.
I had an Epiphone traditional pro 3, that I upgraded everything, including a bone nut and stainless steel frets.
It ended up being a solid player, but it never grabbed me, even after the upgrades.
I made a fortunate trade for a 2010 Gibson Les Paul Studio. I had 600$ on the guitar I traded.
As soon as I picked it up, it was like a lightning bolt, felt good in my hands, plays as smooth as silk and sounds fantastic.
I sold that Epi, and don't miss it all.
I have one really expensive guitar which, at my playing level is not justified. But that was a smoking deal too.
Just my 2c
 
willmunny said:
Dang, that Epi is expensive.
I had an Epiphone traditional pro 3, that I upgraded everything, including a bone nut and stainless steel frets.
It ended up being a solid player, but it never grabbed me, even after the upgrades.
I made a fortunate trade for a 2010 Gibson Les Paul Studio. I had 600$ on the guitar I traded.
As soon as I picked it up, it was like a lightning bolt, felt good in my hands, plays as smooth as silk and sounds fantastic.
I sold that Epi, and don't miss it all.
I have one really expensive guitar which, at my playing level is not justified. But that was a smoking deal too.
Just my 2c
Click to expand...
yeah man thats the keeper..when that lightning bolts hits, ya just know it. My 2014 Gibson SGJ for $399 was just like that. The tone is amazing..into Marshalls & Fender.,,any genre, strumming, leads it just works
 
I think it just depends on what it is. I have a $50 chorus pedal that sounds amazing right next to some $150 stompboxes and I think they all work well together. Sometimes you have to pay more because a lot of items don't have any decent off-brand offerings on the market. For instance who even makes a decent tube screamer clone other than Maxon? Also although the Maxon is a great TS clone it really isn't that much cheaper than the Ibanez, so at that point I feel like you might as well get what you really want...
 
Mad_Hater said:
I think it just depends on what it is. I have a $50 chorus pedal that sounds amazing right next to some $150 stompboxes and I think they all work well together. Sometimes you have to pay more because a lot of items don't have any decent off-brand offerings on the market. For instance who even makes a decent tube screamer clone other than Maxon?
Click to expand...
Joyo's Vintage Overdrive pedal is actually quite good.
 
I struggled for years with the idea of paying $3k+ for my Charvel Guthrie Govan model. I always felt the law of diminishing returns kicks in around $1,500-2,000. I was wrong. It's exceeded my expectations in every way and is the best playing and sounding guitar I've ever held.

Could I have gotten close for 1/2 that? Sure. Could I have built my own for less? Maybe. DIGAF? Not even a little.

No regrets at all.
 
Have noticed this..Last few months FB & CL. If you got cash , high end stuff is able to be got cheap, The market is so saturated & nobody is liquid like they used to be. This is the most backed up i ever seen it. Holding my last chunk of gear that is going towards Christmas to sell.
 
Just to be clear.
I love that LP. It sounds huge and plays amazing. I don’t regret a single penny spent on it.
The question is, are products overpriced for what they are?
And I’m talking about gear in general. Not just guitars.
I’m talking cables, pedals, straps, picks, strings, etc…
 
Lots of gear out there is not worth what they're charging. Not to me anyway.

In 2021 I went guitar shopping, I had a $2000 budget. I went into Guitar Center and I played every guitar in the shop. I tried a $2000 Gibson Les Paul. It was okay. I tried an $800 Strat (Player Plus), it was a bit nicer than my $300 MIM but not enough better to be worth buying. I tried an $1800 Am Pro II Strat, and struggled to find a reason it was more expensive than the Player Plus other than the S1 switch. Note to self, I still want to add an S1 switch to my old MIM Standard.

I tried a $470 Les Paul copy (PRS SE245). It felt better in my hands than the Gibson. It sounded like the sounds in my head. The finish is a gorgeous high gloss clearcoat that makes every other guitar in the shop look cheap (though it's hard to photograph well). Yeah, that's the one that came home with me. I am absolutely convinced that I bought the best guitar they had in the store that day.

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