Willingness to spend on different guitars?

Astral Traveler

Astral Traveler

Ambassador of Both Time and Space
Country flag
Great you think, another one of AT's silly questions... Yes, maybe I'm getting bored working from home and my mind invents questions that demand answering? Yes, that's probably it, I'll go with that...

It struck me lately that I'm willing to spend different amounts on different types of guitars, not because I have a preference, or maybe that's exactly what I have...

I seem to be willing to spend significantly more on SG's than on any other type of guitar. While I may be partial to SG's as a type, my favorite guitar is a Strat, it cost me $800 or $850, I can't remember exactly. Both SG's I have owned have been significantly more expensive than that and I'd be willing to pay even more for one, if it was THE one, while I kind of feel like $800 for a strat is about as high as i'd go, they really don't get much better after that. Am I just being crazy? (Mr @Beagle doesn't need to answer that last question, I know you far too well to be surprised by the answer).

How about you?
 
Astral Traveler said:
Great you think, another one of AT's silly questions... Yes, maybe I'm getting bored working from home and my mind invents questions that demand answering? Yes, that's probably it, I'll go with that...

It struck me lately that I'm willing to spend different amounts on different types of guitars, not because I have a preference, or maybe that's exactly what I have...

I seem to be willing to spend significantly more on SG's than on any other type of guitar. While I may be partial to SG's as a type, my favorite guitar is a Strat, it cost me $800 or $850, I can't remember exactly. Both SG's I have owned have been significantly more expensive than that and I'd be willing to pay even more for one, if it was THE one, while I kind of feel like $800 for a strat is about as high as i'd go, they really don't get much better after that. Am I just being crazy? (Mr @Beagle doesn't need to answer that last question, I know you far too well to be surprised by the answer).

How about you?
Click to expand...

I've always had cheap guitars for the most part. I played a 1959 Sears Silvertone for a number of years. Only had 18 frets.

My first "big" purchase was a brand new Ibanez Destroyer DT-555 in 1984 which cost about $875.00 with HSC at the time.

After my Destroyer was stolen, my bandmates bought me a then new 1987 Squire Stratocaster that I played daily for 28 years.

In 2004, I bought a brand new Schecter Hellraiser C1 with case for $1,200.00 which is the most I ever spent on a guitar.

I then proceeded to purchase 4 brand new Gibson's between 2017 and 2019 - 3 Les Paul's and one SG. Those were all in the $800 to $1,000 range.

Every one of them was plagued with problems, several of which would require luthier intervention to repair.

Ultimately , I went back to a Schecter Hellraiser C1FR so I could forget about tuning stability and just focus on playing.

To be totally honest, I wouldn't purchase any guitars other than Schecter or Jackson...and from this point forward, I would likely build something from Warmoth/Musikraft parts before I would shell out another dollar on a production model.

FWIW...
 
Astral Traveler said:
Great you think, another one of AT's silly questions... Yes, maybe I'm getting bored working from home and my mind invents questions that demand answering? Yes, that's probably it, I'll go with that...

It struck me lately that I'm willing to spend different amounts on different types of guitars, not because I have a preference, or maybe that's exactly what I have...

I seem to be willing to spend significantly more on SG's than on any other type of guitar. While I may be partial to SG's as a type, my favorite guitar is a Strat, it cost me $800 or $850, I can't remember exactly. Both SG's I have owned have been significantly more expensive than that and I'd be willing to pay even more for one, if it was THE one, while I kind of feel like $800 for a strat is about as high as i'd go, they really don't get much better after that. Am I just being crazy? (Mr @Beagle doesn't need to answer that last question, I know you far too well to be surprised by the answer).

How about you?
Click to expand...

The most I've ever paid is just over £500 (Though that would be a wee bit more in today's money). I don't honestly think that spending any more will get me better.
 
I'm not after actual numbers, as those vary from person to person. What I'm curious about is if there's a significan difference between what you're willing to spend on certain different models.
 
Right now, I'm on the hunt for the "right" Gibson ES-345 or ES-335, or maybe even a 355. I'll even look at Heritage, Collings, and a few others. I'm willing to spend more on this purchase for the right guitar, and to finally have one. I've always shied away from them in the past due to price tag being just out of my range, and now regret it. I could have probably had a real nice one if I bought twenty plus years ago, but that would have involved coming up with money I didn't have at the time. Right now, I probably have enough cash on hand to start looking at Heritage H-535 and H-555 models, but the ES-345 is really what I'm after.
 
Last edited:
yes
Gibson Ill spend more than most other brands
Fender --- I find (to my hand/ear) the CV Squire line is as good (for my use and purpose) as the more pricey MIM or USA models
Peavey is an "ASTRAL-nomic" ;) value -- and USA made vintage QUALITY gear can be had for used Epiphone and Squire $$$ andis stupid GOOD KIT
B.C Rich -- USA Id plunk coin down if I found the right one

but frankly all the NEW "INDO/CHINA/ KOREAN" stuff that Epi and PRS Warwick Gretsch and MANY MANY other brands are getting USED (or new) Gibson /Fender prices for ..........uhm -- nope --andI have noticed the pricing of the imports has ROCKETED in the last 6 months or so to (in some cases ) just stupid levels

ALL that is doing is making "them" more $$$
I dont know for a fact--but-- I bet the PROFIT MARGINS for the Indo/China stuff are at min. 2-3 times the margins for the USA made stuff

DEAN is a good example -- the USA made bass guitars (by hand small numbers (usually 25 pcs a run) right here in Tampa Fl) are 3 grand and up
top of the line overseas stuff is 800.00
But Ill wager you the profit percentage (and overall sales VOLUME ) way out shines in the Asian stuff.

just thought for food.....................................(Ill take a grilled cheese sammich please)
 
yeppers..........................

they really arent in the same league other than they are guitars-- w/ 6 strings

Jackson is a light -- floyd loaded thin neck metal shred beast with modern pickups etc.

the LPR is a 13 lb "funky" low impedance pickup clean machine with loads of tonal options (all clean as a whistle) Les felt the gutiar should convey CLEAN TONE to the board then it can be manipulated altered etc etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top