Those saying you'll never be able to own one, just remember that the 2nd hand prices are not nearly that crazy. And in many repects the older product is better. I've said it before: guitars are not cars. Among musicians there's no cachet in buying new. Nor does it make the instrument more 'yours' that one than you bought 2nd hand but you've played and loved for years.
Saying that, 2nd hand prices will increase.
I can acknowledge that the guitar companies are in a bit of a fix - especially in the recession. They make a product that practically never wears out, and keeps its value over time. By now, there are so many damn Stratocasters in the world, that if every guitar player had to buy one, no one would technically need to go into a shop for it (that said, a lot are in the hands of hoarders with 40 Strats or whatnot). The longevity of their product means that the market is flooded.
I think maybe, with Fenders being more affordable it's easier to say, "Buy another one. We've put bells on this one!" Whereas probably most Gibson owners have that one Les Paul Standard/Classic/Traditional/Historic that satisfies their yen and can't really justify another at the price.
But Gibson does risk their brand collapsing like this. They risk, as Alan says, being seen as a 'poser' brand (and that's already started to happen - working musos telling me they can't 'risk' their Gibsons for actual work is a problem).
The weird thing was that this director had Gibson riding high in the nineties with the idea that they were the best they'd been since the '60s, desirably expensive, but attainable to an American kid who saved for six months on their first job.
The price of a Les Paul Standard in SA is going to be hilarious. I've heard talk of the price after discount topping R50k.
Saying that, 2nd hand prices will increase.
I can acknowledge that the guitar companies are in a bit of a fix - especially in the recession. They make a product that practically never wears out, and keeps its value over time. By now, there are so many damn Stratocasters in the world, that if every guitar player had to buy one, no one would technically need to go into a shop for it (that said, a lot are in the hands of hoarders with 40 Strats or whatnot). The longevity of their product means that the market is flooded.
I think maybe, with Fenders being more affordable it's easier to say, "Buy another one. We've put bells on this one!" Whereas probably most Gibson owners have that one Les Paul Standard/Classic/Traditional/Historic that satisfies their yen and can't really justify another at the price.
But Gibson does risk their brand collapsing like this. They risk, as Alan says, being seen as a 'poser' brand (and that's already started to happen - working musos telling me they can't 'risk' their Gibsons for actual work is a problem).
The weird thing was that this director had Gibson riding high in the nineties with the idea that they were the best they'd been since the '60s, desirably expensive, but attainable to an American kid who saved for six months on their first job.
The price of a Les Paul Standard in SA is going to be hilarious. I've heard talk of the price after discount topping R50k.
These are the guys who will go buy a brand new 2014 model straight from the distributor or store.
