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

SG John said:
To answer the question of what’s the cost difference between made in USA, Europe, or China.

USA and Europe both have a reasonably high standard of living. Then add overhead as lease, federal and state taxes, unemployment insurance, property insurance, health insurance, 401K contributions. Or, in the case of the EU, the same types of taxes to insure everything is done legally, above the boards, people are paid a respectable wage.

China, it is most likely child labor or an underpaid minion with a gun to their head.

That’s the difference. And if it’s purchased from Amazon, you know Jeff Bezos is screwing any business that sells on his platform.
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Let's be real, America has more prison labor than China does, and plenty of underpaid labor too. Our minimum wage for food service workers is lower than China's minimum wage, and our low wage workers are not provided health care or housing like China's are. I wouldn't say China's system is better, but ours ain't perfect.
 
dirocyn said:
Let's be real, America has more prison labor than China does, and plenty of underpaid labor too. Our minimum wage for food service workers is lower than China's minimum wage, and our low wage workers are not provided health care or housing like China's are. I wouldn't say China's system is better, but ours ain't perfect.
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I forgot to mention in Gibson or Fender’s case, there is CEO pay which is on average 1500 times larger than the next highest paid employee (also an exec or lawyer). Yes, made here isn’t what it’s cracked up to be. But in the case of smaller companies, they do have higher operational costs. Especially if you want to be out of scrutiny. Why companies will often leave states like New York or the People’s Republic of Massachusetts to cash in on chain gang labor in Alabama or Mississippi. They could never get away with it here.
 
Ok a rare moment of seriousness from me.

good points have been made between the erection jokes and what not.

Here are my takeaways from this brief discussion.

Why do they charge so much?
Because we will pay for it so why charge less.
Because overhead is high and people need to get paid.
Because everyone between the manufacturers and the consumers want a piece.
All valid points.

As it has been pointed out. Personal choice drives the market.
Some of us buy with our heads some with our hearts and everything in between.

In the end, we all want nice gear for a good deal and “nice” means different things to each of us. In the end, no matter the cost or the brand or where it was built. As long as it gets us playing and creating. I guess that’s what makes the cost worth it.

And we also learned.
The F hole is NOT for the woody you get from stroking your guitar’s neck.

Sorry couldn’t stay serious for an entire post.
 
I also usually buy used stuff, and try not to pay too much for it. I miss the eighties and early nineties when everyone was selling their stuff really cheap to pay their crack dealers. I got a lot of good stuff back then. Probably no different in the south with meth dealers now, but I don’t live there.
 
SG John said:
I also usually buy used stuff, and try not to pay too much for it. I miss the eighties and early nineties when everyone was selling their stuff really cheap to pay their crack dealers. I got a lot of good stuff back then. Probably no different in the south with meth dealers now, but I don’t live there.
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Yeah, 90% of my gear purchases have been used, anything new, has been on sale.
I am a cheapskate that likes cool things
 
My most expensive guitar was the Ovation I bought in 1974. $650. I didn’t spend anywhere near that till I bought the blue Strat a few years ago. Also new. The other three guitars were used when I bought them. All at a decent price. And considering with the exception of when I played on my churches worship team…. I’m a bedroom player. In fact. The strat has never seen outside….. except when the FedEx driver delivered it from Sweetwater.

So pretty much. I don’t get GAS for an expensive LP or custom shop Fender. I’m perfectly content with what I have sitting here.
 
LiveeviL2000 said:
Ok a rare moment of seriousness from me.

good points have been made between the erection jokes and what not.

Here are my takeaways from this brief discussion.

Why do they charge so much?
Because we will pay for it so why charge less.
Because overhead is high and people need to get paid.
Because everyone between the manufacturers and the consumers want a piece.
All valid points.

As it has been pointed out. Personal choice drives the market.
Some of us buy with our heads some with our hearts and everything in between.

In the end, we all want nice gear for a good deal and “nice” means different things to each of us. In the end, no matter the cost or the brand or where it was built. As long as it gets us playing and creating. I guess that’s what makes the cost worth it.

And we also learned.
The F hole is NOT for the woody you get from stroking your guitar’s neck.

Sorry couldn’t stay serious for an entire post.
Click to expand...
My worst piece of gear is still better than anything I ever thought I'd own until recently. In the last few years, because I could finally afford it, I've bought gear that's WAY above my pay grade.
 
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DirtySteve said:
I know. So was I...kind of.
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Actually I do relate ...I've probably put 10K into software plugins. I consider that no doubt to be gear as valid as the DAW itself.

Not talking the hacked 10K Waves Diamond bundle that people would steal back in the day then say "they have about 10K in plugs" either. Lol.

I've actually heard that one here. ;)
 
Sapient said:
Actually I do relate ...I've probably put 10K into software plugins. I consider that no doubt to be gear as valid as the DAW itself.

Not talking the hacked 10K Waves Diamond bundle that people would steal back in the day then say "they have about 10K in plugs" either. Lol.

I've actually heard that one here. ;)
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The only thing I understood was "Actually I do relate". :rolf2:
 
LiveeviL2000 said:
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
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Everything is over priced but that's another topic.
I think both of those guitars are over priced. I do think products (brands) branding like Gibson are built up to a point they become more desireable.
Then again I just got my Les Paul Classic.
Pedals are all over priced. Even the knock offs. The enclosures have become pricey.
It is supply and demand. The Marshall price in the states has gotten ridiculous. They have started coming back down a little.

The only thing consumers can do is not pay for the higher prices. It's the only way to send a message.
 
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@ibmorjamn unfortunately marketing people know how to get you wanting something and will get you to pay almost anything for it.

I’m probably going to ramble a bit here. It’s late and I’m tired.

Why do you think there are signature series guitars. Think of that rockstar you idolize and you might pay top dollar for that Jimi Hendrix Cry Baby Wah pedal.
Or that Jerry Cantrell signature series Les Paul.

As for boycotting … fat chance.
People will want that piece of gear that they believe will get them to the next level or garner the respect or awe of their peers.
And that thinking all comes from marketing. It’s all a head game when it comes to advertising.
Granted, there are pieces of gear that really are awesome to some but not to everyone.
I absolutely love my HX Stomp. Some people may not see the value in it.
I have a closet full of pedals I barely use if at all. At one point my pedal board had 16 pedals. And why do I have all that … because I was told “this was used on famous so and so board and you can achieve that tone”
Now I have 6, 7 if you count my tuner.
Hell, my most fun set up is an SD1 to a Joyo Zombie to a Carvin 412. And it sounds amazing!
I was basically hypnotized into a tone chasing mindset.
Now, I just want to sound like me.

I’m sure we have all spent thousands of dollars on gear we didn’t really need.
But it’s not about need for most of us. It’s “want” and what drives what we want?
….
Advertising

Ok. Wide ranging blabbering is done.

Have a good night all.
This gear addict needs rest.
 
LiveeviL2000 said:
@ibmorjamn unfortunately marketing people know how to get you wanting something and will get you to pay almost anything for it.

I’m probably going to ramble a bit here. It’s late and I’m tired.

Why do you think there are signature series guitars. Think of that rockstar you idolize and you might pay top dollar for that Jimi Hendrix Cry Baby Wah pedal.
Or that Jerry Cantrell signature series Les Paul.

As for boycotting … fat chance.
People will want that piece of gear that they believe will get them to the next level or garner the respect or awe of their peers.
And that thinking all comes from marketing. It’s all a head game when it comes to advertising.
Granted, there are pieces of gear that really are awesome to some but not to everyone.
I absolutely love my HX Stomp. Some people may not see the value in it.
I have a closet full of pedals I barely use if at all. At one point my pedal board had 16 pedals. And why do I have all that … because I was told “this was used on famous so and so board and you can achieve that tone”
Now I have 6, 7 if you count my tuner.
Hell, my most fun set up is an SD1 to a Joyo Zombie to a Carvin 412. And it sounds amazing!
I was basically hypnotized into a tone chasing mindset.
Now, I just want to sound like me.

I’m sure we have all spent thousands of dollars on gear we didn’t really need.
But it’s not about need for most of us. It’s “want” and what drives what we want?
….
Advertising

Ok. Wide ranging blabbering is done.

Have a good night all.
This gear addict needs rest.
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That is true but the gear in itself does not make you play better, it inspires you to play more. In general.
Most of the sig stuff is cool stuff, I just never intend buying it unless it's less than face value.
 
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