IINM, they only made 25 of the relics and they went to extreme lengths to get every detail of the wear and tear right. To the point of routing for the Floyd and then filling the hole and routing for the synchronised trem.

So while a big price tag, I reckon it's justified. Whether the price tag can be justified by the buyer is another thing entirely...

the people who buy these type of guitars are people who are fans of the artist and it's not about having a similar looking guitar at a fraction of the price and i bet most who buy it don't even want it for the tone...but for the exclusivity in it and of course the collect ability of a short limited run ....

just like people invest/buy original art

so yeah if you a fan and can afford it it's more than just another guitar

but would i buy one ...hell no ?

There must have been a more exclusive (signed? more reliced?) version that was limited to 25, because you can still get one (relic) on Sweetwater and MF, and I doubt we would have seen 1 of 25 hanging on the wall in our shops.

But I take your point re the work put into it.

I think your last line is actually the key to the whole limited edition/signature/relic debate that rages so viciously sometimes.
:applause:

PS: it was a Kahler! 8)

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: IINM, they only made 25 of the relics and they went to extreme lengths to get every detail of the wear and tear right. To the point of routing for the Floyd and then filling the hole and routing for the synchronised trem.

So while a big price tag, I reckon it's justified. Whether the price tag can be justified by the buyer is another thing entirely...

Banditman wrote: If you can honestly afford one and are a big fan, why not? You only live once.

+1 I agree. Buy it if you can afford it, I would !!!!! So what if you don't sound like DG .... just get it!!

Seems you are right el guapo. It's not a limited edition - I must be confusing it with the EVH guitar.

Your points (and Keira's) stand, though. Eye of the beholder, buy what you're willing to pay for, etc.

To be honest I get quite bewildered when Gibson release (yet another) 59 reissue and the first 100 comments on the page are people who get really really angry with Gibson for the price of something whose improvement/differentiation they consider microscopic or illusory. If you don't think it's worth it, don't buy it, and buy what you think is worth it.

I wouldn't pay 75k for this Strat, but I have no problem with people who want to. And no doubt there are things I would sell my mother for that others think are stupid. Basically we're all irrational beings who try to be rational or appear so, but every now and then reveal ourselves and our inconsistencies.

It seems the view is that this price is justified by the name and the perceived value, not the actual build quality and gear used in the strat.

What would the "optimal" value for money strat be; i.e. Best all round packaged equipment in a strat setup?

Hnq wrote: It seems the view is that this price is justified by the name and the perceived value, not the actual build quality and gear used in the strat.

What would the "optimal" value for money strat be; i.e. Best all round packaged equipment in a strat setup?

if you asking ... what is the best strat out there quality wise? you may as well ask "how long is a piece of string?"

simply because it's very personal.....

also as mentioned above a lot of the tone is from the player..... i would bet that Eric Clapton or John Mayer could pick up a 100% stock Squire/cort/SX strat copy bought for under R2000 and still sound good on it ....


guitars are all about personal tastes ....i am a great example ...cos personally i favour USA made guitars ...yet my current tele partcaster has USA(fender custom shop) pickups and USA hardware BUT a chinese made body ...which irks me BUT it sounds real good .....yet i WILL change it soon as i find something i like ...i'm just "wired" that way ...
but maybe that won't bother you .... BUT it bothers me ..especially for electric guitars

these days there are so many budget instruments that with minor mods will be 100% giggable on any stage or studio, but it's the players attitude/mindset that will dictate what is right for them


so buy what you happy with,,,there are some strat type guitars that are great value for money or just buy a USA standard strat or deluxe if you can afford it ....

and the best advice is buy 2nd hand it's way cheaper and you get much more bang for your buck

but follow your mind cos you will only be unhappy if it's not what you want

It's not the original guitar obviously. But it's cost a lot to copy. So price is probably justified.
Same way would cost an artist a lot to make an exact replica of a famous painting; with every quirk and time weathering faithfully produced.

"This is a perfect copy of DG's guitar". What's that worth to you?

Are there other art forms where there is a market for high cost, faithful replicas of historically interesting, but flawed originals?

I got the limited edition which includes a copy of the "Black Strat" book and DVD.

You have to hold play one to appreciate the sound and feel of t his beauty.

As an added bonus the case was also reliced and my book was signed by David himself as well as his guitar tech.

Oh yes - it was one of only 25 made like this.