I agree with you. I never understood why anyone would buy a new guitar that looks half beaten to death. Fender do this too. If you ever see the 'David Gilmour' signature Strat. It looks like a guitar you normally wouldn't give $100 for.
could it be a ploy for them to sell the guitars that they accidentally drop and damage at the factory? like .... polish.. polish.. polish.. OOPS!!!!! murphy lab...
😉....with the white plastik? Give me 80 Bucks. And black knobs. And a "Gilmour VST" with You Tube Clip: " How to play like Gilmour in 5 Minutes - better then he self". Than I would like to take it
I toured fenders corona factory a few times and they’re paying the custom shop guys extra money to make the guitars look worn. I don’t think a dropped body or neck at fender would leave the factory if they couldn’t set them up to play as good as one that wasn’t dropped. I never toured gibsons factory but I’d never buy one either. My les Paul is an Ibanez.
Talking with a shop assistant in Camden's Guitar Guitar, I learned how the relicing process accounted for about a thousand pounds of a three to four thousand pound guitar. Some people like it; to me it's criminal.
To support your point at 13:00, Hofner headstocks are the same, no matter what country they are produced in. Also, I recall in the very early- mid 80's Epiphones would sometimes have "Epiphone by Gibson" on the headstock or the truss cover.
I am 50 ...4 years ago or less when getting into guitar being old drummer most my life I never expected the marketing to be so full of crap!!!! You nailed it man!!!!!
Hi Danny, the best way to deal with "Mind Games." head wreckers, is to simply turn your back on them, and not play their pathetic little games, corporate policy is all about control, and is totally immature behaviour, like the school yard bullies ya had to deal with, simply walk away, and take your custom elsewhere.
Gibsons these days are inconsistent !! lol I have one of my Fender Basses that’s finished with nitrocellulose midnight blue ! I love it , the sound is insane ! However , I don’t keep this guitar out in temps above 80 and never use rubber stands . I had it painted in Nitro 10 years ago and not a single crack yet. I am 53 so I figure I will be too old or dead by the time it looks “Relic” ! Poly looks cheap to me but my other basses have it , Gibson does suck now ! They treat customers like crap !!
Spot On Dude, its all marketing B.S, I just bought a gorgeously finished Squier Custom Vibe 60`s Tele, and it plays far better than any Gibbo I`ve ever played, (but never owned.) They so massively over rated & over priced for what they are, given the choice between a Les Paul or any other brand, I`d go for a Gretsch Duo Jet, all day long. 😎🎸
Oh, there exist very good Gibsons, especially old SG - the Necks could stay very stable over years, and many of them have a comfortable low action. Every product which sold good (because the quality is good) comes to the point: the costs should be lower, cheaper parts which looks like the others, totally different wood.... other countries with other craftmanship, shorter time to dry a.s.o. The same way as my Ibanez JEM77FP from 1988 - Sounds, Feels and look other than the newer ones.
Great Wisdom here Danny, Thanks, ! Guitars do not need to cost thousands of dollars, There is not enough stuff in them that they need to be that expensive. I have learned to take an inexpensive guitar and make it play and sound very well and to my likeing.
Hey Danny, I have a couple of Gibsons but I was fortunate enough to get them in the early 2000s when they were appropriately priced, now my LP Custom sells new for $5000, it is ridiculous. I urge you to check out ESP/LTD, specifically the LTD EC-1000 models, they play better than most Gibsons I have played and are affordable and can look beautiful. Also maybe check out Solar guitars, but they are probably a bit too "metal" for your taste!
@@guitarhobbywithdannythemedic Eastman look good but I haven't played them. If you are looking for a serious Gibson alternative I recommend trying to find "Tokai" but I think they might be difficult to find in the USA. Also "Orville" formally managed by Gibson I believe, they make outstanding guitars if you can find them. The big lawsuit happening with Gibson right now involves "Heritage" who have a very interesting history but their prices are almost the same as Gibson themselves, apparently their QC is higher though and they have a claim at being the original Gibson company to a certain degree.
I am a hundred percent in agreement with what you are saying and because of your honesty I just subscribed to your channel. Did you see the new Gibson custom pickups you can get directly from them for five hundred dollars a set? Unbelievable!
I was sitting here laughing at your honesty. You totally hit the nail on the head. I've owned Gibsons in the past and still think they're over priced for what they are. These days I'd rather have fun with guitars, buy a cheaper option and use the saved money to modify it how I want. I really don't care any more what's on the headstock. But you're totally right about other companies - Fender have their Squier series (same headstock, varying degrees of quality), Fender (Gretsch) have their streamliner series (hardly noticeable from their higher price counterparts), PRS have their SE models (again, less features but still great playing guitars). Then you have Epiphones from Gibson making you feel like a second class citizen with their funky headstocks. Mind you, I think Epiphones are made better than Gibsons for a fraction of the cost. And I don't particular mind the headstock on their semi hollows. I haven't bought an Epiphone in years as there's even better options these days and they're also getting up in price for a budget guitar. If I was going to dump $4000-5000 on a nice guitar, I can get any luthier to create a custom guitar for those sorts of prices.
I feel like the quirks that Gibsons have are too major to justify the price. Their tuning stability and lack of durability kind of kills the fun of playing it. Are they too arrogant to make a model with locking tuners or locking nut? Smh
Lol you had me busting up. all thought I want a Les Paul standard gold top with nitro finish i have to admit you are right. Love the way you think. Great video my friend. God bless
You are right,Gibson guitars are over price.I own a Godin Artisan,this guitar has been a workhorse for me,for a fraction of the cost of a Gibson.Now i'm looking for a Les Paul type guitar.i'm not a fan of relic guitars,i don't get it,why people spend more money for those...
I bought my first LP over twenty years ago, a used 1990 Gibson LP Standard Heritage Cherry Sunburst. I want a Tobacco Burst or a Desert Burst, but not unless I hit the lottery. So my 1990 may be my first and last LP, and I'm good with that. Additionally, I replaced the stock pickups with a Seymour Duncan JB and a 59. Fair winds and following seas to all.
@@josephkemler4488 I bought a new Peavey T-60 in 1979. Traded it in on a new Peavey Wolfgang Standard over twenty years later (should kept the T-60). Almost two years later I dropped the Wolfgang and messed it up badly. Peavey wanted $800 to $900 to repair it, so I sold it to a lutherier for parts. Soon after that I got the 90 LP. About 15 years ago, I sold most of my gear to pay bills, which included my Taylor 314ce acoustic. I've been wanting another acoustic for a very long time. Yesterday I visited a Taylor dealer and purchased a new Taylor 814ce (zero interest made it fit the budget). Likely my last new acoustic. Life is good. Best to all. Update 15 Nov: Bought a Taylor 814ce last week. Thought it was a Builders Edition, but it wasn't. Returned it last weekend and ordered a 614ce Builders Edition. It should be here tomorrow. The wife ordered the Taylor BT1 for $99.
I checked Thomann's site before seeing this video- I was shocked to see new Gibson guitars going for prices that used ones go for here in the USA. What's up with that ? $ 500-$ 600 less and they were shipped overseas.......sounds like the US prices are inflated significantly . I saw custom shop guitars on the Thomann site that were actually less than many used ones on Ebay. It defies understanding........
50,000 guitar ( The Greenie ) sells for the same type of guitar ( R59) that cost 7,000. That's why I like Fender / Sire / Rickenbacker. I like the Epiphone name I'm not ashamed of have some of them.
I learned that in marketing class that such a thing is called a anchor, so that their other stuff they really intend to sell seems reasonable... this greeny comes with all kinds of stuff like a free tour and celebrity meets and shit.. the people buying it are rich rich rich fans who really want the perks and gibson gets to advertise that their green shit sold out at 50K... marketing bastards
On Craigslist there was a used Epiphone Player Pack SG junior in black matt.. it was the maxipad headstock, I was tempted to get it and transform it into a PRS headstock for the superior string alignment...
That's partly true but it's more complicated. Les Paul's have a sound that is unique. If you're playing jazz with your fingers with a clean sound on a solid body, the Les Paul has an amazing sound which alternatives like Tokai and PRS just don't nail.
@@guitarhobbywithdannythemedic Almost all high end purchases,.from cars to watches, clothing and jewelry are "psychological ",..LoL! Fender and PRS offer modern finishes that are as bullet proof and resistant to damage as modern science and engineering will allow if thats your preference. The logic behind offering a Nitro finish in a modern instrument is that,.like the mid century instruments ( 50's ,60s etc etc) the thinner finish from that earlier era simply wears out faster and was indeed much more prone to changes such as cracking and checking and paint fading due to things like temperature or sunlight or physical damage or whatever. Fender discovered in the mid 90s that many people venerated those older mid century instruments for the "stories" some of that "authentic" damage told about where those guitars had been and the various places they had traveled to. Such as what stages they might've been played, what gigs they might been performed with ,. on or whom else might've owned them or whatever. The look and feel of a 57 Start or 59 burst became something much sought after,.but yet there was a HORRIBLE IRONY!! Those older instruments cost a F@^#%#^^ fortune to buy LoL! A 50's or 60's Strat cost as much as a new car while a mid century "burst" cost as much as a house. A Les Paul Standard with a nitro finish is the same equivalent price as a new standard was back in the day. - ( 1960 price was $247.50 plus another $50 for the hard case ) ! -- The 1960 had Nitro and would show wear from playing or sunlight or temperature changes. ----The 2022 is Nitro and will show wear from playing or sunlight etc etc etc. a Relic job offers the ability to purchases an instrument thats already got the "look", and in the case of guitar necks being sanded down, the "feel' as well of something made decades ago. Some in this comments section might try to say its just marketing bullshit,..however have YOU ever tried comparing a custom shop neck to that sticky feeling waxy modern neck on regular Fenders ? Ive yet to meet the player ( gigging musican or not) whom prefers that waxy sticker poly neck to the custom shop feel,.LoL So,..discounting the odd exceptions like the "Green " Les Paul or the Mike McCready Strat,..relic instruments rarely cost any where near their authentic vintage counterparts . Id recommend a nice PRS McCarty Custom 24 for your or even a regular Strat with the Poly finish
I'll wager a significant proportion of their customer base consists of Baby Boomers and Generation Xers. For quality and innovation, one has to look elsewhere - (Eastman) China, (FGN) Japan, (PRS) Indonesia, and (Fender) Mexico come immediately to mind.
I very much agree with everything you said here, except for doing away with the bulk of the Epiphone brand and rebranding it Gibson EP... Let's be really honest here.. up until just recently when Gibson resolved their Chapter 11 restructuring and reshuffled their company hierarchy, for 2 decades or more prior to that, Gibson manufactured guitars with QC that was questionable, at best, but yet the high price tags remained. Another commenter stated this perfectly that Gibson has been trying to exist and remain valid solely on their past reputation...facts are facts, almost impossible to dispute them. But that's where Epiphone came in... During that time, Epiphone pretty much kept Gibson afloat; particularly the late 1990's Japanese and Elitist models were very often meeting or bettering Gibson's quality at a fraction of the price. Even when they shifted to Korea during the 2000's and now in China. The MIJ Epiphones were so good that more people were buying them than the Gibsons, so much so that Gibson shut down production on many of those models and then moved operations to Korea. Don't get me wrong, I'm not putting down Gibsons, I've owned a few before and loved them, but I've owned strictly Epiphones since I bought a MIK Les Paul Standard back in 2000, as well as a Les Paul Deluxe, 1956 Reissue Goldtop, and the newer 2020 SG Standard and Les Paul Special. I've modded most of them to Gibson specs and use aftermarket boutique pickups, and still come out far below the cost of their Gibson counterparts. But even factory stock, they still play, feel and sound amazing!
We're on the same page, brother. After perusing both Gibson and Epiphone, I concluded that a) the finish _is_ inferior, b) the fingerboard and fretwork are hit-and-miss at best, and c) once I'd held the Epiphone Modern (Epiphone's one-off, sufficiently different enough model to warrant consideration as an Epiphone original), that it would take virtually nothing but some dialing in to have a bullet-proof, Swiss-army type guitar that would withstand the elements and would be able to be massaged into the best playing guitar on the planet. I couldn't have been more right. And that all happened without swapping out the Probuckers, though I am considering SDs, if I can find some that give me confidence that they'll be better than the Probuckers. The Burstbuckers are not in contention, and neither are the PAFs. The Probuckers and CTS pots are that good. And once I resurfaced frets and fretboard, Bob was my uncle. I had no trouble getting ultra-low action that can be played effortlessly for practically unlimited periods of time. Which is precisely what I end up doing. Playing endlessly, while emoting in the only way I know how.
Wanted to buy a Gibson so bought a classic Les Paul 2015 model and a epiphone 59 Les Paul and love the epiphone, I was saving to buy the standard Les Paul but think I'll save myself some money and buy a Hagstrom ultra max, Gibsons are over priced for what they are as there is tons of mid priced guitars made to a high quality these days
Good segment; you shoot right from the hip. I enjoyed your 'fighting spirit. I've never played nor ever will play the guitar. And the screenshot of 11K for a guitar? You flashed on the screen. Nuts! At a thrift shop, I bought a friend's grandson a beautiful guitar to have a little fun with. The sticker price was $5.00, and I asked if I could have a small discount as it was a gift for a child. I ended up paying $4.00 plus tax. Not that I have a clue about a guitar, but Gibson seems to be playing a mug's game, and there must to be a lot of mugs out there. I think Gibson isn't going to sponsor any of your vlogs, huh. Off-topic, I'd like to see a video about your (you say you have 8) caps. The prices, available sizes/colors/etc. That would be different.
Great video. Really enjoyed it. You nailed it or at least you said what most think and are embarrassed to say out loud. I would really like to find out what is the REAL differences are between a Gibson pickup and an Epiphone pickup. I have seen comparisons on RUclips and maybe it’s me but I find the differences minimal?? Yes there is a difference but is that difference worth the enormous price difference? And lastly why. How much cost savings in manufacturing is there between the two pickups?? Lol fun and games.
they make different, then they try to trick ppl into thinking it means better and charge more... different is not better.. better is better, but ART IS SUBJECTIVE there is no real better.
@@guitarhobbywithdannythemedic you are right again. Good insight. Thanks for the video. Shared. Good response from other viewers. Nailed it. Reminded me of the fable Emperor new close. Thanks again.
I got new in 1983 Gibson les paul custom pearl white with chainsaw case and fender stage lead 100watts x12in. Amp for 1200.00 still have them! Actually aged! Agree! Thanks!
The nitrocellulose finish slowly gets absorbed into the wood. That's why older guitars sound better. Consider stradivarius violins. It's true it doesn't protect the finish. It's to enhance tone.
That makes no difference to the tone. Those old nitro finishes were junk really, it falls right off after it dries. There are many better finishes now but, people want the junk.
@mike3f0 that is so true there is no difference. So many videos out there tested the stuff, and guy named jim did a really good job testing and proving all these myths to be fake.. I believe gibson knows those are myths and instead of trying to better the population, they just milking them of their money... one of the reasons why I do not like gibson.
Sake of argument: Jordan with Nike. You didn't wear old shoes of his, but you bought a new pair via association. If you found a sweet Strat with maple neck and pick wear do you dismiss it? What if it was unknowingly Knopfler's? Still dismissed? Now what if it's Yarzo Spatflute's? Still dismissed? Did the wear chase you off? SRV landed a used Strat that cost $300 as a birthday gift, and played Riviera Paradise on it... Dismissed? Now what if you were the FIRST owner of that instrument, or Johnny Winter's $250 used white Firebird, or Clapton's Beano? Were they any good BEFORE they got them? When I go shopping, that is what I look for... A legacy in waiting. I play like Yarzo, never gonna be Yngwie; but, man, when the next player finds an instrument that was cared for and played, after I'm done, WATCH OUT! Plant the tree for fruit and shade you'll never enjoy, because, soon, lots of Somebody Elses will. And the Beat Goes On....
I really liked the video, love how you talk and articulate your thoughts man. One thing: all you said is true, but you’ve missed quite a big chunk of the brand’s history… back then guitars were as expensive as they are now, they were made for the pros. So the price is the one thing. Then again, suing other companies is stupid in my opinion, since all the guitars are pretty similar (think about acoustic guitars… what if Martin wanted to sue all the acoustic makers); Fender doesn’t sue Shechter, Suhr, Harley Benton etc. One last thing: I have a Mexican Fender Road Worn, I like the relic mind game. It gives it the vintage/played vibe, but if it hadn’t that it would still be a good guitar (obv my guitar was 1200$ new and now is worth 700$, not 7000$ like the Murphy lab, which I have never tried myself). Great video man, keep up the good work
Not sure if somebody mentioned it before, but there is a possible explanation for such a difference in prices between the guitars from Thomann and the ones sold locally. When you order from Thomann and you don't live in Europe, the prices do not include taxes, while your local stores do include taxes in the final prices. Maybe it is different in America, but, in my country, buying almost anything music-realted is significantly more expensive, than ordering the same products from Thomann. Even the cheapest guitars are usually twice as expensive as what is asked for them on Thomann. Nonethelss, you made many great points. I would also add that the built quality of Gibson guitars is not as good as what you would expect from a guitar in this price range. Tuners are usually not in line and much worse than the cheapest Chinese-made tuners in terms of tuning stability. Sometimes the frets are not polished well, etc. If you want a nice single-cut guitar, look for some Japanese brands. ESP LTD, Grassroots guitars (a brand owned by ESP for the domestic market), Tokai's and Burny's. They usually don't sell for more than 600-1000$ and offer everything a Gibson guitar has but made way better.
thomann adds tax to some jurisdictions, on their site you select a country, and then it displays a price, u add it to cart and it tells you if that price have VAT been added or not... Here in my country, we have SALES TAX which is to be added to the 2800 dollars.. for a total of around: $3020... and yes agree
A lot of what you say true! Too funny! Picked up a used PRS SE with a Poly finish from China that still looked and played as new from a Studio musician on Reverb. I played it for hundreds of hours and took it all over the states, and when I sold it, it still looked Mint. I picked up a Gibson LP Standard from a friend for a good price that had the Nitro finish. It had a lot of buckle rash and dents and dings and scratches (not quite Murphy Lab) but I got it for a great price. Now with just a few months of play and travel it truly looks like a relic'd guitar, plus it has lots of marks in the finish from various guitar stands. I guess if love a beat-up guitar look, then go for the Nitro, and if not go for the Poly. I did take off a bit of just the neck finish on the LP to make it easier to play. I don't like a gloss neck on any guitar. To me, I'm much more picky about the tone of the acoustics I play. I love everything about my Martin 000-15M and feel I won the lottery with that particular guitar. It's one of the most affordable all mahogany guitars they have and fairly plain. I also built beautiful OM style acoustic from scratch with wood and parts from Luthier's Mercantile Intl that took about a year and half as I'm not an experienced Luthier for sure. Made a few mistakes along the way but fixed them all. It cost me about $2800 in materials for the guitar which was not so bad as I paid for the wood and parts as progressed through the build. I also spent about $1,900 in tools from Stew Mac and other places, but it was a super fun project and sounds similar but even nicer than my old Martin D28 with a little brighter highs. I think it's prettier than the martin D-45 at half the cost and has my name inlaid in the headstock. The hardest thing for me was getting the complex abalone purfling perfect but I would recommend building your own guitar. I think I could knock out a Strat or a LP that would rival the most expensive custom shop guitars if I had a few months now and for way way cheaper!
I like the comparison to your car's finish! This is exactly why I don't like reliced guitar finishes from any manufacturer! I don't relic my car, why on earth would I relic my guitar??
Im guilty as charged on every point you made, but this video is so brutally honest and on point that it made laugh (at myself) for 15 minutes straight. Thank you!!! subbed!
Love this video! You make a lot of great points and there's a lot of food for thought here. I think that Gibson has been peddling the notion that there is something mystical or magical about their guitars for a long time. The sales pitch "Only a Gibson is good enough" is older than I am, and that's pretty old. Wood is wood. Wire is wire. Magnets are magnets. Zinc is zinc. There is nothing magical about the sound of Gibson guitars. The old sound that a lot of players chase is mostly in the amplification that they had back then. I would rather play my Ibanez Artist through Eric Clapton's Cream-era rig than play his psychedelic SG through my current amp.
what was so terrible about it? did you want one because of the name or was it more like you played a bunch and the GLP was for you but somehow the one you got on christmas was different?
@@guitarhobbywithdannythemedic I thought I replied to this already but : the neck angle is wrong and it makes it necessary to jack the bridge very high to prevent fret buzz everywhere. This also causes the strings to cut into rear of bridge between bridge and tailpiece hard. Also it has noticeable 60 cycle hum as well as the documented static thru amp if you touch the rear cavity covers. Terrible quality guitar.
Well apparently alot of people want guitars with a relic look . It's everywhere now . Coolest cars are barn finds with patina . Firearms with the well worn finish are also desired . Don't forget about clothing also . Personally I'd never buy jeans with holes and thread bare either but alot of people do . In the Norlin era of Gibson they started using plasticier in the finish . They really don't check like guitars of the earlier periods . New isn't always better . Car finishes today are really thin . It doesn't take much to get down to the metal . All in the name of weight savings for more mpg . Guess it's all in what you like .
YES there IS a market for all kinda stuff. as long as the marketing department does they job and brainwash enough people... or sometimes a market for NONSENSE can also happen by media fearmongering.. example, the corona fear mongering from the liberal media caused A TOILET PAPER SHORTAGE!!! The Market for Toilet paper blew its top off, people were selling it on the black market at above retail even... People believe all kinds of nonsense... I rather focus on reality and dude, I did NOT buy any toilet paper at ALL throughout the whole fear mongering episode.... I knew I did not need any more than usual and I had a standard supply in inventory, I will not be paying big money for a nitro finish... So people want nitro finish? yeah true.. but is it just nonsense like the toilet paper? there are Zealots that will argue both sides.
Honestly this fella hit the nail on the head when it comes to the Nitro Finish on Gibson guitars, and I have been waiting for someone to finally say it out loud. I see so many people pretending that Nitro Finishes are some how good.. I laughed so hard I almost fell out of my chair when he started talking about the finish on Gibson guitars. Nitro finishes are crap when it comes to longevity or protecting the guitar in any actual way. This fella hit just about every one of my major gripes I have with Gibson as a company, most of those gripes are the same gripes I have with most guitar manufacturers, but I find I have significantly more anger at Gibson for it. Mostly because Gibson way over charges for the guitars they make, so much so that its down right insane to me.
thats RIGHT.. if Gibson charged a reasonable price and still had money to sue everybody, then thats fine with me... I AM NOT FUNDING THEIR LAW DEPT FOR NO REASON.
A musician with some common sense ! Finally ! I've observed most 60's and 70's star guitarist's and most of these artist are most never seen with they're Gibson LP's. Eric Clapton plays one of the "cleanest" strat's out there and in my eyes it looks great. Reverend Bill F. Gibbons plays all kinds of different guitars, but the last few concerts I saw him, NO LP. Jeff Beck plays a "clean" strat. Hardly see Joe Walsh sporting his LP these days (mostly strat or tele or other). Mark Knophler is seen with his strat mostly these days as well. Jimi Hendrix known mostly for his strat's back in the day. Also most of these pro's retire a guitar when it gets dirty, cracked, or worn out looking. I compare it to seeing a wealthy rocker like Sir Paul Mac going up on stage wearing rags for cloths, beat up dirty sneakers and dirty hands. NOT gonna happen. I'm with ya all the way. Fender could clean up they're act some what too.
Gibson is rock'n'roll fantasy camp. Who buys Les Pauls? 1. Cork-sniffing RUclipsrs who work as Gibson's online sales force. 2. Middle aged guys who are finally making enough money, but have had to bury their rockstar dreams years ago. I happen to love the Les Paul design, because I have WANTED to own one of these since I was 12. And at 12, you obsess over every little detail. You never outgrow the weird snobbery of what a 12 year old thinks is "best". You never really learn beyond that view of the world. The Gibson headstock is not even a good design in terms of keeping the guitar in tune, or preventing horrible cracks if the guitar should fall over. So ... would I buy a Heritage? An Eastman? An Epiphone? Maybe, but first I'd have to put a big bandaid over the mouth of the 12 year old in me screaming "This is not accurate! This is not the REAL thing!" And this illusion, this legend, this marketing fairy tale is the only truly successful product Gibson puts out.
actually. the thoughts on the science of the finish on a Stradivarius actually benefit from micro cracks in the finish. and these cracks result from playing too. increase in surface area, blah blah blah... but... you definitely can't hear the patina on a Les Paul lol.... hahaha. your wallet will feel it though. that being said. i love playing the R8 historic i have. Speaking of lawsuits. Loving my The Heritage guitars as much or more 😉. and what you described sounds a lot like a monopoly.
I'm 54 and I am guessing you are younger but in my generation. Excellent points you bring up but I'd like to comment on a few. I don't know if I am 100% right but these are the myths I have heard about old guitars in general. I too was looking at buying a Gibson but probably won't unless a ridiculous used deal comes up. I grew up in S. IL around a lot of old polka guitar playing guys. It sounds silly but they made pretty good money at it for they did have Gibson, Fender, Magnatone amps. Ampeg Amps, Fender Twins etc. You get the idea they had quality gear and they would let me borrow their guitars until I got my Electra Westone. I always heard the finish issue was from playing a hot humid dance hall all night and then when leaving in Winter and it was 0 degrees outside & boom ruined finish. The finish would do the cracking thing big time. Why use that finish? The myth I always heard was the wood ages better and vibrates more with the thinner lacquer finish. The science backs this up... lol I'm joking there is no study that was done. It sort of makes sense thinner finish more vibration then poly but less durable. I do wonder what you think. Endorsements by players is rather a smart move. It's not the end all but it does give exposure to the brand. There was a company out of Memphis in the 1980s by the original name of Strings and Things. They had advertising materials of artists using their instruments that included Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons, Billy Squire (pink guitar in the" Rock Me Tonight" video that sort of did no one any favors), Elliot Easton, 38 Special etc. Gibson seems to be over doing it with their models. S&T was just starting out and needed all the help they could get. The original company did not make it but they to me shook up the guitar industry more than most. I think Gibson picked up on this more so but like I say seem to over do it. The Epiphone thing I always heard was the typical result of a we beat you business mentality. Fender did/does the same thing with Guild. We basically won bought you out and now you are going to be our cheap line. Yes, they do things to make them second best (you mentioned the head stock and where they are made) but I truly believe this is some weird business dominance over a former competitor and not a direct slight to the consumer. All that being said it is a dumb ass way of doing things. A better way to go is the Heritage Guitar/Harmony Guitar setup. I do know they are made in the same Kalamazoo (former Gibson) factory and I think they have the same parent company. I have a Harmony Comet and it is pretty wonderful for a low $1,000 ish guitar and before I would spend mucho dollars on a Gibson I'd look high and low for a Heritage 150 which appear to be pretty reasonable (less than $2,000) used (but they are in fair conditioned as in relic by Murphy Labs... no extra fee). The relic reason thing I have heard is that if you bought a perfect new guitar a player would be too worried about dinging it and less able to play it... about the only thing to me that makes sense. I have also heard well the vintage ones are so much and this is close to that sigh yeah ok but neither seem worth it to me. Lastly, the price point. There are guitars I wanted when I was in high school that I could not afford and my skills playing did not require. I still want those guitars and still have limited playing skills lol. I do have more income but not THAT much of an income. I believe there are enough guys and gals who were like me then that now DO have that income to sustain Gibson prices. I stumbled across Chris Mitchell Guitars (CMG) and really for me I'll just get one of them exactly how I want it for less money. CMG is not the end all. I am sure their are other alternatives but it is an American company doing a few things to keep the price down for just regular players. I apologize about the long post but well I have been researching all this for awhile. The big eventual Gibson purchase probably will never happen anyway your video touched a nerve. Thanks
I read the whole thing. I think that one way to think about it, is that requirement.... it isnt playing skills, but creative desires... they say they sound unique and a recording artist may want one for the specific sound.. like the story of slash's fake gibson, he wanted the sound...
fully agree with you! do yourself a favor and check out harley benton guitars. very affordable and well finished (and great service). I have several myself (for several years) and they are still as beautiful as when I got them.
@@guitarhobbywithdannythemedic hi Danny, that became clear to me at the end of your video(!), I had already posted the response. I came across the video on my timeline; totally agree with your opinion! I'm going to subscribe😉
I always thought the same about the EPi headstock, although I called them banjo headstocks and did not reference a female hygiene product 😂😂 I am so sick of this lawsuit thing, you are spot on about it increasing cost! I see it as lawsuit era 2.0!
After gibson smashed all the firebird x guitars with the excavator and and all the lawsuits and the creepy mark agnesi "we're coming after you"video I said I will never buy any new gibson product ever again.
I don't understand this "road worn" - it is Fake. In fact. In Germany was the guitar summit: This "Murphy Lab" and a expensive, original "59 Les Paul" were play by Thomas Blug, a german well know Player, and he like the Original better, told something, why..... and i sit at Home with a 500€ Ibanez AR220 wich had the same construction, Stock pu's - and could play the same way, same Sound ( for me better ) with more sustain, overtones etc. - but for 5% the Price. The owner of the Murphy told, he took an ibanez Stock PU in this "super Les Paul"..... seems like Religion. The People want to Sound like the old heroes, and they think, a crackled guitar and the real Amp or a plug in could make it with some you tube Clips. But they dont realize the years of PLAY THE GUITAR made the tone.
I don't understand the hatred and misunderstanding here of nitro? Its a great finish. The nitro of today is different than the old nitro and will hold up longer. I believe most companies...Gibson/fender have an undercoat also and spray the new variation of Nitro heavier than in the old days. Personally I like having a nitro finish and watching it wear in naturally...Smells great too, which means nothing I know but I still like it. Used Heritage H-150 Standard is the perfect price point for a les paul..IMO. Has everything you seem to want, SD pickups, Made in Michigan...Fantastic build and excellent Nitro finishes on the maple tops. Used they run around 1700 - 2000. I am in the process of saving for one myself at the moment.
I know where you are coming from.. Plastiziers are added and all that.. but the finish still cracks, people do that to brand new gibsons to relic it themselves.. hot and cold, hot and cold, hot and cold, then they admire all their cracks... People do the strangest things....
As someone who started on a $150 squire and $250 Epiphone ES-335 I agree. I now own custom shop fenders, a new 2020 R8 new, not VOS or aged. I agree 100% with the Murphy lab crap, played multiple heavy aged and I did not like it at all. Furthest I’d ever go would be VOS. I think Gibson guitars are great but the level of snobbery is at an all time high.
I agree with all your points but it should come with a minor correction in that Les Paul designed the guitar and licensing was with Gibson. Subscribed!
Now, I wasnt alive then, but I heard les paul designed THE LOG, and it was Mccarty of gibson that invented and patented the les paul... but either way, gibson disgusts me so much with their shenanigans
But Danny, the Nitro allows the guitar to breathe! 😂 I own two Gibson's (LP & SG). One US Fender Pro2 Strat. One US Schecter Custom Shop PT. One US PRS CE-DW/CU-24(Floyd). And 2 PRS SE's (CU-24 & 245). Three of them have a Nitro finish while the other 4 have a Poly finish. I definitely think a "thin" Poly coat is superior to Nitro because Nitro is very soft, dings easy and wears fast while Poly does none of that. However, if a Poly finish is too thick the guitar can feel like a toy. Thin Poly is the way to go.
8:44 haha thanks for bringing this up. I tried to order from Sweetwater and they wouldn’t even ship to Asia. Few days later I saw a listing for a brand new Custom from Basel, Switzerland. Purchased it and got within 3 days in perfect condition. I even get to choose the weight I want. Sorry if this is slightly out of context.
Even better. Just change the corporate name to Gibson Epi. Keep the foundation “brand” epis from the classic years - Casino, Coronet, Sheraton. Keep the current brands and eliminate the Gibson versions of the Epi classics. Make Gibson the premium brand with some on-ramps like the SG and LP DC, Jrs as on-ramp to the premium level. Eliminate the Epi versions of Gibson premiums. Maybe some of the Chinese built LPs , SGs, etc could be pay of the on-ramp up premium except they carry the Gibson brand. Then have an R&D line and a custom-built line. Just some thoughts.
I worked in a guitar store in the 90's, we routinely threw out boxes of old guitars that customers traded in, because they were too beat up to sell. They were stripped of all their hardware and electrics and then binned. Better players were sent off to be refinished (brand dependent) and the good players that looked garbage were donated to charities etc. Point is, no one wanted a scratched up, dinged piece of garbage, not even for a "great price". So many of the strats, maestros, jaguars and other Fender guitars we threw out back then would be worth thousands in today's stupid market. Before I moved out of my parent's house I had a wall of old fenders that I had kept rather than throw out, most of which were players. I wouldn't have dreamed of gigging them, I would have been laughed out of the venue. If I want a new guitar, I want a durable finish that stays like new as long as possible. It has 0 impact on "tone" with solid bodies and it holds it's color with age. Nitro is stupid and was only used because it was readily available and cheap in the 50's. There was no affordable alternative back then. This whole "it's for the tone" or "it lets the wood breathe" or "it's how you know it's authentic" is absolute garbage. I have a luthier friend that has built me a few guitars over the years, he sings the "collector tune" to his wealthier customers but laughs at them when they leave. I know for a fact he is easily capable of making a "Gibson" replica that not even a "professional appraiser" wouldn't be able to spot as fake. What makes me laugh is the fact that anyone who bought such a fake would actually be getting a better guitar than the original it pretends to be. He wouldn't do this however, he can sell his custom built guitars for far more than a Gibson copy and they take less work to make (not needing to match every detail). He also won't sell to anyone who wants a "relic" job. TLDR, for $2000+ I would rather get a fully custom built boutique guitar from a skilled luthier that is exactly the guitar I want than a piece of garbage with shoddy QC and "features" that make it look even more like crap. I love a good Les Paul but sadly, Gibson doesn't make them anymore.
I agree with you that what they call relicking the guitar (beating the XXXX out of it) makes absolutely no sense to me. As you said, I wouldn’t buy a new car and accept it if it had scratches all over it. It’s not just Gibson doing this,all the major electric guitar makers are doing this and charging a premium for it. I have to assume there are enough idiots out there to pay a premium for this XXXX.
Great content.... not to mention the mod shop and demo shop scam. People fall for it hook line and sinker. They refinish seconds and sell them for a premium. If you refinish an originsl gibson, it loses 40 percent. Go figure.
Dude, you are so funny! You made me laugh so hard with that Epiphone Maxipad joke. Totally true. I’ll never unsee it. I agree though. I’ve always wanted a Gibson but I’m not buying from them for all of your reasons stated. Also, I love Les Paul. His inventions made the industry what it is today; multi-track recording, the electric guitar itself… the man was a genius and such a character.
Gibson also used to tell you that the thickness and heaviness of your Les Paul had a big affect on the 'tone' of your guitar. Then, when they realised that people weren't buying them anymore because they were too heavy for modern players, they started chambering them. However, they maintained that this had no affect on the 'tone' (they meant 'sustain') of the guitar. This is the way they mess with people's heads and people believe them. Marketing BS. In terms of value, Gibson are quite low down the list. In terms of BS, however...
The emperor has no clothes. Two guys had a bet, which is more important, one said marketing the other said product. The guy that said marketing won the bet. He marketed the Pet Rock.
The honesty from this video is amazing.
thank you!
Totally agree with your assessment! The new stuff is simply cash grab priced out of reach. Cheers
I agree with you. I never understood why anyone would buy a new guitar that looks half beaten to death. Fender do this too. If you ever see the 'David Gilmour' signature Strat. It looks like a guitar you normally wouldn't give $100 for.
could it be a ploy for them to sell the guitars that they accidentally drop and damage at the factory? like .... polish.. polish.. polish.. OOPS!!!!! murphy lab...
😉....with the white plastik? Give me 80 Bucks. And black knobs. And a "Gilmour VST" with You Tube Clip: " How to play like Gilmour in 5 Minutes - better then he self". Than I would like to take it
....🤔 in 1988 I have paid >500 DM more for a hole called "monkey grip" AND 300+ for Flower look, but this is today the higher benefit
I toured fenders corona factory a few times and they’re paying the custom shop guys extra money to make the guitars look worn. I don’t think a dropped body or neck at fender would leave the factory if they couldn’t set them up to play as good as one that wasn’t dropped. I never toured gibsons factory but I’d never buy one either. My les Paul is an Ibanez.
Talking with a shop assistant in Camden's Guitar Guitar, I learned how the relicing process accounted for about a thousand pounds of a three to four thousand pound guitar. Some people like it; to me it's criminal.
To support your point at 13:00, Hofner headstocks are the same, no matter what country they are produced in. Also, I recall in the very early- mid 80's Epiphones would sometimes have "Epiphone by Gibson" on the headstock or the truss cover.
You should look into Music man well built and no QC issues
I am 50 ...4 years ago or less when getting into guitar being old drummer most my life I never expected the marketing to be so full of crap!!!! You nailed it man!!!!!
Gibson is milking a Brand name and dropping the ball the whole way with those that truly pay attention.
Hi Danny, the best way to deal with "Mind Games." head wreckers, is to simply turn your back on them, and not play their pathetic little games, corporate policy is all about control, and is totally immature behaviour, like the school yard bullies ya had to deal with, simply walk away, and take your custom elsewhere.
The Gibson Les Paul standard in Australia is nearing AUD $5000.This is USD $3,100
have you tried thomann? I think thoman may ship down under with a little VAT
Gibsons these days are inconsistent !!
lol I have one of my Fender Basses that’s finished with nitrocellulose midnight blue !
I love it , the sound is insane ! However , I don’t keep this guitar out in temps above 80 and never use rubber stands . I had it painted in Nitro 10 years ago and not a single crack yet. I am 53 so I figure I will be too old or dead by the time it looks “Relic” ! Poly looks cheap to me but my other basses have it ,
Gibson does suck now ! They treat customers like crap !!
Harvard, the FBI and Morpheus wants to know your location📍
Spot On Dude, its all marketing B.S, I just bought a gorgeously finished Squier Custom Vibe 60`s Tele, and it plays far better than any Gibbo I`ve ever played, (but never owned.) They so massively over rated & over priced for what they are, given the choice between a Les Paul or any other brand, I`d go for a Gretsch Duo Jet, all day long. 😎🎸
Oh, there exist very good Gibsons, especially old SG - the Necks could stay very stable over years, and many of them have a comfortable low action. Every product which sold good (because the quality is good) comes to the point: the costs should be lower, cheaper parts which looks like the others, totally different wood.... other countries with other craftmanship, shorter time to dry a.s.o. The same way as my Ibanez JEM77FP from 1988 - Sounds, Feels and look other than the newer ones.
Great Wisdom here Danny, Thanks, ! Guitars do not need to cost thousands of dollars, There is not enough stuff in them that they need to be that expensive. I have learned to take an inexpensive guitar and make it play and sound very well and to my likeing.
yeah.. its a piece of wood!
Hey Danny, I have a couple of Gibsons but I was fortunate enough to get them in the early 2000s when they were appropriately priced, now my LP Custom sells new for $5000, it is ridiculous. I urge you to check out ESP/LTD, specifically the LTD EC-1000 models, they play better than most Gibsons I have played and are affordable and can look beautiful. Also maybe check out Solar guitars, but they are probably a bit too "metal" for your taste!
I hear eastman is worth looking into.. maybe..
@@guitarhobbywithdannythemedic Eastman look good but I haven't played them. If you are looking for a serious Gibson alternative I recommend trying to find "Tokai" but I think they might be difficult to find in the USA. Also "Orville" formally managed by Gibson I believe, they make outstanding guitars if you can find them. The big lawsuit happening with Gibson right now involves "Heritage" who have a very interesting history but their prices are almost the same as Gibson themselves, apparently their QC is higher though and they have a claim at being the original Gibson company to a certain degree.
the messed up thing is, Heritage now have to spend money on lawyers too, I hope Heritage wins and sue gibson for their lawyer costs!
Agree, ESPs are an entire class above Gibson for less money
Totally agree! I have a Gibson Les Paul Standard and the finish mars up terribly.
You need to check out the Schecter solo two. Great guitar for $999.00
I am a hundred percent in agreement with what you are saying and because of your honesty I just subscribed to your channel. Did you see the new Gibson custom pickups you can get directly from them for five hundred dollars a set? Unbelievable!
$500 a set, it better come with dinner and a celebrity host spinning that pick up while you eat.
I watching the whole night long your videos and enjoy them all.
I was sitting here laughing at your honesty. You totally hit the nail on the head.
I've owned Gibsons in the past and still think they're over priced for what they are. These days I'd rather have fun with guitars, buy a cheaper option and use the saved money to modify it how I want. I really don't care any more what's on the headstock.
But you're totally right about other companies - Fender have their Squier series (same headstock, varying degrees of quality), Fender (Gretsch) have their streamliner series (hardly noticeable from their higher price counterparts), PRS have their SE models (again, less features but still great playing guitars). Then you have Epiphones from Gibson making you feel like a second class citizen with their funky headstocks. Mind you, I think Epiphones are made better than Gibsons for a fraction of the cost. And I don't particular mind the headstock on their semi hollows. I haven't bought an Epiphone in years as there's even better options these days and they're also getting up in price for a budget guitar.
If I was going to dump $4000-5000 on a nice guitar, I can get any luthier to create a custom guitar for those sorts of prices.
I feel like the quirks that Gibsons have are too major to justify the price. Their tuning stability and lack of durability kind of kills the fun of playing it. Are they too arrogant to make a model with locking tuners or locking nut? Smh
Lol you had me busting up. all thought I want a Les Paul standard gold top with nitro finish i have to admit you are right. Love the way you think. Great video my friend. God bless
Thanks 👍 and did you know, epiphone STILL make and sell the maxipad models!
love you! Agree totally
You are right,Gibson guitars are over price.I own a Godin Artisan,this guitar has been a workhorse for me,for a fraction of the cost of a Gibson.Now i'm looking for a Les Paul type guitar.i'm not a fan of relic guitars,i don't get it,why people spend more money for those...
I bought my first LP over twenty years ago, a used 1990 Gibson LP Standard Heritage Cherry Sunburst. I want a Tobacco Burst or a Desert Burst, but not unless I hit the lottery. So my 1990 may be my first and last LP, and I'm good with that. Additionally, I replaced the stock pickups with a Seymour Duncan JB and a 59.
Fair winds and following seas to all.
Heartbroken story Heritage/broken neck but the Dealer gave me a new one..back in '82..$650 then..worth $2.500 nowadays
@@josephkemler4488 I bought a new Peavey T-60 in 1979. Traded it in on a new Peavey Wolfgang Standard over twenty years later (should kept the T-60). Almost two years later I dropped the Wolfgang and messed it up badly. Peavey wanted $800 to $900 to repair it, so I sold it to a lutherier for parts. Soon after that I got the 90 LP. About 15 years ago, I sold most of my gear to pay bills, which included my Taylor 314ce acoustic. I've been wanting another acoustic for a very long time. Yesterday I visited a Taylor dealer and purchased a new Taylor 814ce (zero interest made it fit the budget). Likely my last new acoustic. Life is good. Best to all.
Update 15 Nov: Bought a Taylor 814ce last week. Thought it was a Builders Edition, but it wasn't. Returned it last weekend and ordered a 614ce Builders Edition. It should be here tomorrow. The wife ordered the Taylor BT1 for $99.
Thank you.
Great information
sweet bro, cool insights....
I checked Thomann's site before seeing this video- I was shocked to see new Gibson guitars going for prices that used ones go for here in the USA. What's up with that ? $ 500-$ 600 less and they were shipped overseas.......sounds like the US prices are inflated significantly . I saw custom shop guitars on the Thomann site that were actually less than many used ones on Ebay. It defies understanding........
50,000 guitar ( The Greenie ) sells for the same type of guitar ( R59) that cost 7,000.
That's why I like Fender / Sire / Rickenbacker.
I like the Epiphone name I'm not ashamed of have some of them.
I learned that in marketing class that such a thing is called a anchor, so that their other stuff they really intend to sell seems reasonable... this greeny comes with all kinds of stuff like a free tour and celebrity meets and shit.. the people buying it are rich rich rich fans who really want the perks and gibson gets to advertise that their green shit sold out at 50K... marketing bastards
On Craigslist there was a used Epiphone Player Pack SG junior in black matt.. it was the maxipad headstock, I was tempted to get it and transform it into a PRS headstock for the superior string alignment...
Gibson is all marketing , that what they make guitars are secondary.
Gibson is kept alive by old men reliving their golden years, rich people who don't play them, brainwashed gatekeepers, and celebrities. It's horrible.
That's partly true but it's more complicated. Les Paul's have a sound that is unique. If you're playing jazz with your fingers with a clean sound on a solid body, the Les Paul has an amazing sound which alternatives like Tokai and PRS just don't nail.
some people say that may be psychological...
@@guitarhobbywithdannythemedic Almost all high end purchases,.from cars to watches, clothing and jewelry are "psychological ",..LoL!
Fender and PRS offer modern finishes that are as bullet proof and resistant to damage as modern science and engineering will allow if thats your preference.
The logic behind offering a Nitro finish in a modern instrument is that,.like the mid century instruments ( 50's ,60s etc etc) the thinner finish from that earlier era simply wears out faster and was indeed much more prone to changes such as cracking and checking and paint fading due to things like temperature or sunlight or physical damage or whatever.
Fender discovered in the mid 90s that many people venerated those older mid century instruments for the "stories" some of that "authentic" damage told about where those guitars had been and the various places they had traveled to. Such as what stages they might've been played, what gigs they might been performed with ,. on or whom else might've owned them or whatever.
The look and feel of a 57 Start or 59 burst became something much sought after,.but yet there was a HORRIBLE IRONY!!
Those older instruments cost a F@^#%#^^ fortune to buy LoL!
A 50's or 60's Strat cost as much as a new car while a mid century "burst" cost as much as a house.
A Les Paul Standard with a nitro finish is the same equivalent price as a new standard was back in the day. - ( 1960 price was $247.50 plus another $50 for the hard case ) !
-- The 1960 had Nitro and would show wear from playing or sunlight or temperature changes.
----The 2022 is Nitro and will show wear from playing or sunlight etc etc etc.
a Relic job offers the ability to purchases an instrument thats already got the "look", and in the case of guitar necks being sanded down, the "feel' as well of something made decades ago.
Some in this comments section might try to say its just marketing bullshit,..however have YOU ever tried comparing a custom shop neck to that sticky feeling waxy modern neck on regular Fenders ?
Ive yet to meet the player ( gigging musican or not) whom prefers that waxy sticker poly neck to the custom shop feel,.LoL
So,..discounting the odd exceptions like the "Green " Les Paul or the Mike McCready Strat,..relic instruments rarely cost any where near their authentic vintage counterparts .
Id recommend a nice PRS McCarty Custom 24 for your or even a regular Strat with the Poly finish
I'll wager a significant proportion of their customer base consists of Baby Boomers and Generation Xers. For quality and innovation, one has to look elsewhere - (Eastman) China, (FGN) Japan, (PRS) Indonesia, and (Fender) Mexico come immediately to mind.
As a brand. I imagine Epiphone makes them most of their money.
I very much agree with everything you said here, except for doing away with the bulk of the Epiphone brand and rebranding it Gibson EP...
Let's be really honest here.. up until just recently when Gibson resolved their Chapter 11 restructuring and reshuffled their company hierarchy, for 2 decades or more prior to that, Gibson manufactured guitars with QC that was questionable, at best, but yet the high price tags remained. Another commenter stated this perfectly that Gibson has been trying to exist and remain valid solely on their past reputation...facts are facts, almost impossible to dispute them.
But that's where Epiphone came in... During that time, Epiphone pretty much kept Gibson afloat; particularly the late 1990's Japanese and Elitist models were very often meeting or bettering Gibson's quality at a fraction of the price. Even when they shifted to Korea during the 2000's and now in China. The MIJ Epiphones were so good that more people were buying them than the Gibsons, so much so that Gibson shut down production on many of those models and then moved operations to Korea.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not putting down Gibsons, I've owned a few before and loved them, but I've owned strictly Epiphones since I bought a MIK Les Paul Standard back in 2000, as well as a Les Paul Deluxe, 1956 Reissue Goldtop, and the newer 2020 SG Standard and Les Paul Special.
I've modded most of them to Gibson specs and use aftermarket boutique pickups, and still come out far below the cost of their Gibson counterparts. But even factory stock, they still play, feel and sound amazing!
so well written! thank you
We're on the same page, brother. After perusing both Gibson and Epiphone, I concluded that a) the finish _is_ inferior, b) the fingerboard and fretwork are hit-and-miss at best, and c) once I'd held the Epiphone Modern (Epiphone's one-off, sufficiently different enough model to warrant consideration as an Epiphone original), that it would take virtually nothing but some dialing in to have a bullet-proof, Swiss-army type guitar that would withstand the elements and would be able to be massaged into the best playing guitar on the planet. I couldn't have been more right. And that all happened without swapping out the Probuckers, though I am considering SDs, if I can find some that give me confidence that they'll be better than the Probuckers. The Burstbuckers are not in contention, and neither are the PAFs. The Probuckers and CTS pots are that good. And once I resurfaced frets and fretboard, Bob was my uncle. I had no trouble getting ultra-low action that can be played effortlessly for practically unlimited periods of time. Which is precisely what I end up doing. Playing endlessly, while emoting in the only way I know how.
Wanted to buy a Gibson so bought a classic Les Paul 2015 model and a epiphone 59 Les Paul and love the epiphone, I was saving to buy the standard Les Paul but think I'll save myself some money and buy a Hagstrom ultra max, Gibsons are over priced for what they are as there is tons of mid priced guitars made to a high quality these days
Good segment; you shoot right from the hip. I enjoyed your 'fighting spirit. I've never played nor ever will play the guitar. And the screenshot of 11K for a guitar? You flashed on the screen. Nuts! At a thrift shop, I bought a friend's grandson a beautiful guitar to have a little fun with. The sticker price was $5.00, and I asked if I could have a small discount as it was a gift for a child. I ended up paying $4.00 plus tax. Not that I have a clue about a guitar, but Gibson seems to be playing a mug's game, and there must to be a lot of mugs out there. I think Gibson isn't going to sponsor any of your vlogs, huh. Off-topic, I'd like to see a video about your (you say you have 8) caps. The prices, available sizes/colors/etc. That would be different.
You get an Original Gibson for 400 Bucks ? Which Model ? Where ?
4.00 Dollars is actually cheap for a guitar
Spitting a lot of truth. It’s interesting to hear another perspective on common marketing tactics.
Could not agree more. Good job.
The Sire L7 is 600$ they have arguably better feeling necks (Satin with rolled edges) I would look into them if were you, you might like them.
Great video. Really enjoyed it. You nailed it or at least you said what most think and are embarrassed to say out loud.
I would really like to find out what is the REAL differences are between a Gibson pickup and an Epiphone pickup. I have seen comparisons on RUclips and maybe it’s me but I find the differences minimal?? Yes there is a difference but is that difference worth the enormous price difference? And lastly why. How much cost savings in manufacturing is there between the two pickups?? Lol fun and games.
they make different, then they try to trick ppl into thinking it means better and charge more... different is not better.. better is better, but ART IS SUBJECTIVE there is no real better.
@@guitarhobbywithdannythemedic you are right again. Good insight. Thanks for the video. Shared. Good response from other viewers. Nailed it. Reminded me of the fable Emperor new close. Thanks again.
Good job Ive said the same thing why pay all that money for a custom shop relic ? I will relic it myself but I take care of my guitars . Good post .
INDEED... unless you intend to hang the murphy lab as an exhibit piece, buying one to play when others are watching is kinda dishonest...
Lol! "Maxi pad" headstock 😂😂👍🏼
I got new in 1983 Gibson les paul custom pearl white with chainsaw case and fender stage lead 100watts x12in. Amp for 1200.00 still have them! Actually aged! Agree! Thanks!
The nitrocellulose finish slowly gets absorbed into the wood. That's why older guitars sound better. Consider stradivarius violins. It's true it doesn't protect the finish. It's to enhance tone.
stradivarius.... very rare stuff... *thumbs up*
@@guitarhobbywithdannythemedic I also consider guitars as beautiful pieces of artwork and engineering.
That makes no difference to the tone. Those old nitro finishes were junk really, it falls right off after it dries. There are many better finishes now but, people want the junk.
@mike3f0 that is so true there is no difference. So many videos out there tested the stuff, and guy named jim did a really good job testing and proving all these myths to be fake.. I believe gibson knows those are myths and instead of trying to better the population, they just milking them of their money... one of the reasons why I do not like gibson.
I like trashed looking guitars. Mostly cause they were supposed to be cheaper
Not only Gibson, Fender too :) agree with you . Thank you for sharing :)
Lately they experienced a lot QC issues, the solution? Calling it Murphy's Lab
Sake of argument: Jordan with Nike. You didn't wear old shoes of his, but you bought a new pair via association.
If you found a sweet Strat with maple neck and pick wear do you dismiss it? What if it was unknowingly Knopfler's? Still dismissed? Now what if it's Yarzo Spatflute's? Still dismissed? Did the wear chase you off?
SRV landed a used Strat that cost $300 as a birthday gift, and played Riviera Paradise on it... Dismissed?
Now what if you were the FIRST owner of that instrument, or Johnny Winter's $250 used white Firebird, or Clapton's Beano? Were they any good BEFORE they got them?
When I go shopping, that is what I look for... A legacy in waiting. I play like Yarzo, never gonna be Yngwie; but, man, when the next player finds an instrument that was cared for and played, after I'm done, WATCH OUT!
Plant the tree for fruit and shade you'll never enjoy, because, soon, lots of Somebody Elses will.
And the Beat Goes On....
You're a Legend, I enjoyed your video, you got guts lol
I’m sale mine Gibson after this , I don’t care how much I get. Amazing honest review.
Nice one bud,fells like all the comments agree,somthink feels of,100% ebay
You fleshed out with words my thoughts on why I've always been so hesitant to overpay for a Gibson. Well done.
I really liked the video, love how you talk and articulate your thoughts man. One thing: all you said is true, but you’ve missed quite a big chunk of the brand’s history… back then guitars were as expensive as they are now, they were made for the pros. So the price is the one thing. Then again, suing other companies is stupid in my opinion, since all the guitars are pretty similar (think about acoustic guitars… what if Martin wanted to sue all the acoustic makers); Fender doesn’t sue Shechter, Suhr, Harley Benton etc. One last thing: I have a Mexican Fender Road Worn, I like the relic mind game. It gives it the vintage/played vibe, but if it hadn’t that it would still be a good guitar (obv my guitar was 1200$ new and now is worth 700$, not 7000$ like the Murphy lab, which I have never tried myself). Great video man, keep up the good work
Great video! I like Gibsons but man...the les pauls made in Japan are good stuff like FGN, Edwards and Tokai.
Not sure if somebody mentioned it before, but there is a possible explanation for such a difference in prices between the guitars from Thomann and the ones sold locally. When you order from Thomann and you don't live in Europe, the prices do not include taxes, while your local stores do include taxes in the final prices. Maybe it is different in America, but, in my country, buying almost anything music-realted is significantly more expensive, than ordering the same products from Thomann. Even the cheapest guitars are usually twice as expensive as what is asked for them on Thomann.
Nonethelss, you made many great points. I would also add that the built quality of Gibson guitars is not as good as what you would expect from a guitar in this price range. Tuners are usually not in line and much worse than the cheapest Chinese-made tuners in terms of tuning stability. Sometimes the frets are not polished well, etc. If you want a nice single-cut guitar, look for some Japanese brands. ESP LTD, Grassroots guitars (a brand owned by ESP for the domestic market), Tokai's and Burny's. They usually don't sell for more than 600-1000$ and offer everything a Gibson guitar has but made way better.
thomann adds tax to some jurisdictions, on their site you select a country, and then it displays a price, u add it to cart and it tells you if that price have VAT been added or not... Here in my country, we have SALES TAX which is to be added to the 2800 dollars.. for a total of around: $3020... and yes agree
A lot of what you say true! Too funny! Picked up a used PRS SE with a Poly finish from China that still looked and played as new from a Studio musician on Reverb. I played it for hundreds of hours and took it all over the states, and when I sold it, it still looked Mint. I picked up a Gibson LP Standard from a friend for a good price that had the Nitro finish. It had a lot of buckle rash and dents and dings and scratches (not quite Murphy Lab) but I got it for a great price. Now with just a few months of play and travel it truly looks like a relic'd guitar, plus it has lots of marks in the finish from various guitar stands. I guess if love a beat-up guitar look, then go for the Nitro, and if not go for the Poly. I did take off a bit of just the neck finish on the LP to make it easier to play. I don't like a gloss neck on any guitar. To me, I'm much more picky about the tone of the acoustics I play. I love everything about my Martin 000-15M and feel I won the lottery with that particular guitar. It's one of the most affordable all mahogany guitars they have and fairly plain. I also built beautiful OM style acoustic from scratch with wood and parts from Luthier's Mercantile Intl that took about a year and half as I'm not an experienced Luthier for sure. Made a few mistakes along the way but fixed them all. It cost me about $2800 in materials for the guitar which was not so bad as I paid for the wood and parts as progressed through the build. I also spent about $1,900 in tools from Stew Mac and other places, but it was a super fun project and sounds similar but even nicer than my old Martin D28 with a little brighter highs. I think it's prettier than the martin D-45 at half the cost and has my name inlaid in the headstock. The hardest thing for me was getting the complex abalone purfling perfect but I would recommend building your own guitar. I think I could knock out a Strat or a LP that would rival the most expensive custom shop guitars if I had a few months now and for way way cheaper!
Right on, Danny !! Tell it like it is.
I like the comparison to your car's finish! This is exactly why I don't like reliced guitar finishes from any manufacturer! I don't relic my car, why on earth would I relic my guitar??
makes no sense to me!
Im guilty as charged on every point you made, but this video is so brutally honest and on point that it made laugh (at myself) for 15 minutes straight. Thank you!!! subbed!
Simply put, well said sir.
Love this video! You make a lot of great points and there's a lot of food for thought here. I think that Gibson has been peddling the notion that there is something mystical or magical about their guitars for a long time. The sales pitch "Only a Gibson is good enough" is older than I am, and that's pretty old. Wood is wood. Wire is wire. Magnets are magnets. Zinc is zinc. There is nothing magical about the sound of Gibson guitars. The old sound that a lot of players chase is mostly in the amplification that they had back then. I would rather play my Ibanez Artist through Eric Clapton's Cream-era rig than play his psychedelic SG through my current amp.
I always wanted a Gibson Les Paul.
The wife bought me one 3 or so Christmas s ago.
Biggest music gear disappointment of my life.
Terrible.
what was so terrible about it? did you want one because of the name or was it more like you played a bunch and the GLP was for you but somehow the one you got on christmas was different?
@@guitarhobbywithdannythemedic I thought I replied to this already but : the neck angle is wrong and it makes it necessary to jack the bridge very high to prevent fret buzz everywhere. This also causes the strings to cut into rear of bridge between bridge and tailpiece hard.
Also it has noticeable 60 cycle hum as well as the documented static thru amp if you touch the rear cavity covers.
Terrible quality guitar.
you should bring it to gibson and demand they fix it.. maybe with the help of a big channel like that troglys green dinosaur show!
Can pickup 5-6 Epiphones and experiment with finishes yourself.
or a bunch of plain wood and experiement with finishes or cheap guitar kits from thomann...
The thing about the headstock/low class people is right on point. Disgusting and classist.
DISGUSTING!!
Great video! Gibson came up the same time as the auto market. Same marketing
Well apparently alot of people want guitars with a relic look . It's everywhere now . Coolest cars are barn finds with patina . Firearms with the well worn finish are also desired . Don't forget about clothing also . Personally I'd never buy jeans with holes and thread bare either but alot of people do .
In the Norlin era of Gibson they started using plasticier in the finish . They really don't check like guitars of the earlier periods . New isn't always better . Car finishes today are really thin . It doesn't take much to get down to the metal . All in the name of weight savings for more mpg . Guess it's all in what you like .
100% bro! I got myself an ESP Eclipse & put a Gibson 490T Bridge humbucker and it SMOKES! 😁 Tokai is my other favorite Strat...F Fender too! 😁
I would never buy gibson parts... just the name makes me wanna puke..
@@guitarhobbywithdannythemedic 😂
it has nothing to do with the mind.. its its...... mmmmfff gag... ughhhhh BLUUUBBB..
So true. I’ve had a Les Paul custom & SG. The SG broke in the case with no trauma. Will never buy Gibson again.
Yeah, but I just played one. Now I want it.
Some people love nitro tho, the new fender vintage II are all in nitro . There a market for that kind of finish .
YES there IS a market for all kinda stuff. as long as the marketing department does they job and brainwash enough people... or sometimes a market for NONSENSE can also happen by media fearmongering.. example, the corona fear mongering from the liberal media caused A TOILET PAPER SHORTAGE!!! The Market for Toilet paper blew its top off, people were selling it on the black market at above retail even... People believe all kinds of nonsense... I rather focus on reality and dude, I did NOT buy any toilet paper at ALL throughout the whole fear mongering episode.... I knew I did not need any more than usual and I had a standard supply in inventory, I will not be paying big money for a nitro finish... So people want nitro finish? yeah true.. but is it just nonsense like the toilet paper? there are Zealots that will argue both sides.
This video has me thinking. If thomann can't ship a Gibson to the USA I wonder if they will ship a fender.
I think they wont..
no squire either... no PRS
Honestly this fella hit the nail on the head when it comes to the Nitro Finish on Gibson guitars, and I have been waiting for someone to finally say it out loud. I see so many people pretending that Nitro Finishes are some how good.. I laughed so hard I almost fell out of my chair when he started talking about the finish on Gibson guitars. Nitro finishes are crap when it comes to longevity or protecting the guitar in any actual way. This fella hit just about every one of my major gripes I have with Gibson as a company, most of those gripes are the same gripes I have with most guitar manufacturers, but I find I have significantly more anger at Gibson for it. Mostly because Gibson way over charges for the guitars they make, so much so that its down right insane to me.
thats RIGHT.. if Gibson charged a reasonable price and still had money to sue everybody, then thats fine with me... I AM NOT FUNDING THEIR LAW DEPT FOR NO REASON.
Me:who hurt you?
Danny the medic:Gibson
Me:😂
Danny your knowledge of the Gibson Scam is invaluable to your subscribers. Your custom build is more valuable. WTG
This is my first time i have watched this channel and is 100% right about what he is saying.
A musician with some common sense ! Finally !
I've observed most 60's and 70's star guitarist's and most of these artist are most never seen with they're Gibson LP's. Eric Clapton plays one of the "cleanest" strat's out there and in my eyes it looks great. Reverend Bill F. Gibbons plays all kinds of different guitars, but the last few concerts I saw him, NO LP. Jeff Beck plays a "clean" strat. Hardly see Joe Walsh sporting his LP these days (mostly strat or tele or other). Mark Knophler is seen with his strat mostly these days as well. Jimi Hendrix known mostly for his strat's back in the day. Also most of these pro's retire a guitar when it gets dirty, cracked, or worn out looking. I compare it to seeing a wealthy rocker like Sir Paul Mac going up on stage wearing rags for cloths, beat up dirty sneakers and dirty hands. NOT gonna happen.
I'm with ya all the way. Fender could clean up they're act some what too.
Gibson is rock'n'roll fantasy camp. Who buys Les Pauls? 1. Cork-sniffing RUclipsrs who work as Gibson's online sales force. 2. Middle aged guys who are finally making enough money, but have had to bury their rockstar dreams years ago. I happen to love the Les Paul design, because I have WANTED to own one of these since I was 12. And at 12, you obsess over every little detail. You never outgrow the weird snobbery of what a 12 year old thinks is "best". You never really learn beyond that view of the world. The Gibson headstock is not even a good design in terms of keeping the guitar in tune, or preventing horrible cracks if the guitar should fall over. So ... would I buy a Heritage? An Eastman? An Epiphone? Maybe, but first I'd have to put a big bandaid over the mouth of the 12 year old in me screaming "This is not accurate! This is not the REAL thing!" And this illusion, this legend, this marketing fairy tale is the only truly successful product Gibson puts out.
my goodness! like, are u a poet? this was so good to read!
actually. the thoughts on the science of the finish on a Stradivarius actually benefit from micro cracks in the finish. and these cracks result from playing too. increase in surface area, blah blah blah...
but... you definitely can't hear the patina on a Les Paul lol.... hahaha. your wallet will feel it though.
that being said. i love playing the R8 historic i have.
Speaking of lawsuits. Loving my The Heritage guitars as much or more 😉.
and what you described sounds a lot like a monopoly.
I'm 54 and I am guessing you are younger but in my generation. Excellent points you bring up but I'd like to comment on a few. I don't know if I am 100% right but these are the myths I have heard about old guitars in general. I too was looking at buying a Gibson but probably won't unless a ridiculous used deal comes up. I grew up in S. IL around a lot of old polka guitar playing guys. It sounds silly but they made pretty good money at it for they did have Gibson, Fender, Magnatone amps. Ampeg Amps, Fender Twins etc. You get the idea they had quality gear and they would let me borrow their guitars until I got my Electra Westone. I always heard the finish issue was from playing a hot humid dance hall all night and then when leaving in Winter and it was 0 degrees outside & boom ruined finish. The finish would do the cracking thing big time. Why use that finish? The myth I always heard was the wood ages better and vibrates more with the thinner lacquer finish. The science backs this up... lol I'm joking there is no study that was done. It sort of makes sense thinner finish more vibration then poly but less durable. I do wonder what you think.
Endorsements by players is rather a smart move. It's not the end all but it does give exposure to the brand. There was a company out of Memphis in the 1980s by the original name of Strings and Things. They had advertising materials of artists using their instruments that included Joe Walsh, Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons, Billy Squire (pink guitar in the" Rock Me Tonight" video that sort of did no one any favors), Elliot Easton, 38 Special etc. Gibson seems to be over doing it with their models. S&T was just starting out and needed all the help they could get. The original company did not make it but they to me shook up the guitar industry more than most. I think Gibson picked up on this more so but like I say seem to over do it.
The Epiphone thing I always heard was the typical result of a we beat you business mentality. Fender did/does the same thing with Guild. We basically won bought you out and now you are going to be our cheap line. Yes, they do things to make them second best (you mentioned the head stock and where they are made) but I truly believe this is some weird business dominance over a former competitor and not a direct slight to the consumer. All that being said it is a dumb ass way of doing things. A better way to go is the Heritage Guitar/Harmony Guitar setup. I do know they are made in the same Kalamazoo (former Gibson) factory and I think they have the same parent company. I have a Harmony Comet and it is pretty wonderful for a low $1,000 ish guitar and before I would spend mucho dollars on a Gibson I'd look high and low for a Heritage 150 which appear to be pretty reasonable (less than $2,000) used (but they are in fair conditioned as in relic by Murphy Labs... no extra fee). The relic reason thing I have heard is that if you bought a perfect new guitar a player would be too worried about dinging it and less able to play it... about the only thing to me that makes sense. I have also heard well the vintage ones are so much and this is close to that sigh yeah ok but neither seem worth it to me.
Lastly, the price point. There are guitars I wanted when I was in high school that I could not afford and my skills playing did not require. I still want those guitars and still have limited playing skills lol. I do have more income but not THAT much of an income. I believe there are enough guys and gals who were like me then that now DO have that income to sustain Gibson prices. I stumbled across Chris Mitchell Guitars (CMG) and really for me I'll just get one of them exactly how I want it for less money. CMG is not the end all. I am sure their are other alternatives but it is an American company doing a few things to keep the price down for just regular players. I apologize about the long post but well I have been researching all this for awhile. The big eventual Gibson purchase probably will never happen anyway your video touched a nerve. Thanks
I read the whole thing. I think that one way to think about it, is that requirement.... it isnt playing skills, but creative desires... they say they sound unique and a recording artist may want one for the specific sound.. like the story of slash's fake gibson, he wanted the sound...
fully agree with you! do yourself a favor and check out harley benton guitars. very affordable and well finished (and great service). I have several myself (for several years) and they are still as beautiful as when I got them.
I am already a big HB FAN! first heard of them through the China Guitar Skeptic channel guy
@@guitarhobbywithdannythemedic
hi Danny, that became clear to me at the end of your video(!), I had already posted the response. I came across the video on my timeline; totally agree with your opinion! I'm going to subscribe😉
thanks!! HBs are soooooo good...
Forget G and get Tokai. I switched my G to Tokai and man, i couldn't be happier.
I love this guy! Keepin it real
I always thought the same about the EPi headstock, although I called them banjo headstocks and did not reference a female hygiene product 😂😂 I am so sick of this lawsuit thing, you are spot on about it increasing cost! I see it as lawsuit era 2.0!
After gibson smashed all the firebird x guitars with the excavator and and all the lawsuits and the creepy mark agnesi "we're coming after you"video I said I will never buy any new gibson product ever again.
I’m a Gibson Les Paul fan boy; for better or worse. These days, there are so many great guitar options, you can buy whatever makes you happy.
I don't understand this "road worn" - it is Fake. In fact. In Germany was the guitar summit: This "Murphy Lab" and a expensive, original "59 Les Paul" were play by Thomas Blug, a german well know Player, and he like the Original better, told something, why..... and i sit at Home with a 500€ Ibanez AR220 wich had the same construction, Stock pu's - and could play the same way, same Sound ( for me better ) with more sustain, overtones etc. - but for 5% the Price. The owner of the Murphy told, he took an ibanez Stock PU in this "super Les Paul"..... seems like Religion. The People want to Sound like the old heroes, and they think, a crackled guitar and the real Amp or a plug in could make it with some you tube Clips. But they dont realize the years of PLAY THE GUITAR made the tone.
I fell the same! and Gibson should consider dropping the epiphone and do Gibson EP! they'd sell like hot cakes!
I don't understand the hatred and misunderstanding here of nitro? Its a great finish. The nitro of today is different than the old nitro and will hold up longer. I believe most companies...Gibson/fender have an undercoat also and spray the new variation of Nitro heavier than in the old days. Personally I like having a nitro finish and watching it wear in naturally...Smells great too, which means nothing I know but I still like it. Used Heritage H-150 Standard is the perfect price point for a les paul..IMO. Has everything you seem to want, SD pickups, Made in Michigan...Fantastic build and excellent Nitro finishes on the maple tops. Used they run around 1700 - 2000. I am in the process of saving for one myself at the moment.
I know where you are coming from.. Plastiziers are added and all that.. but the finish still cracks, people do that to brand new gibsons to relic it themselves.. hot and cold, hot and cold, hot and cold, then they admire all their cracks... People do the strangest things....
@@guitarhobbywithdannythemedic I hear ya. I am not a fan of the relics in most situations. The joy is in wearing them in over time on your own.
As someone who started on a $150 squire and $250 Epiphone ES-335 I agree. I now own custom shop fenders, a new 2020 R8 new, not VOS or aged. I agree 100% with the Murphy lab crap, played multiple heavy aged and I did not like it at all. Furthest I’d ever go would be VOS. I think Gibson guitars are great but the level of snobbery is at an all time high.
I agree with all your points but it should come with a minor correction in that Les Paul designed the guitar and licensing was with Gibson. Subscribed!
Now, I wasnt alive then, but I heard les paul designed THE LOG, and it was Mccarty of gibson that invented and patented the les paul... but either way, gibson disgusts me so much with their shenanigans
On that we agree!
I agree when your paying 10000.00 it should be thin nitro at worst.
But Danny, the Nitro allows the guitar to breathe! 😂
I own two Gibson's (LP & SG). One US Fender Pro2 Strat. One US Schecter Custom Shop PT. One US PRS CE-DW/CU-24(Floyd). And 2 PRS SE's (CU-24 & 245). Three of them have a Nitro finish while the other 4 have a Poly finish. I definitely think a "thin" Poly coat is superior to Nitro because Nitro is very soft, dings easy and wears fast while Poly does none of that. However, if a Poly finish is too thick the guitar can feel like a toy. Thin Poly is the way to go.
LOLOLOL
8:44 haha thanks for bringing this up. I tried to order from Sweetwater and they wouldn’t even ship to Asia. Few days later I saw a listing for a brand new Custom from Basel, Switzerland. Purchased it and got within 3 days in perfect condition. I even get to choose the weight I want. Sorry if this is slightly out of context.
I couldn't agree more.
Even better. Just change the corporate name to Gibson Epi. Keep the foundation “brand” epis from the classic years - Casino, Coronet, Sheraton. Keep the current brands and eliminate the Gibson versions of the Epi classics. Make Gibson the premium brand with some on-ramps like the SG and LP DC, Jrs as on-ramp to the premium level. Eliminate the Epi versions of Gibson premiums. Maybe some of the Chinese built LPs , SGs, etc could be pay of the on-ramp up premium except they carry the Gibson brand. Then have an R&D line and a custom-built line. Just some thoughts.
Danny, you are a breath of fresh air in the guitar RUclips space. I am a fan and have subscribed keep it up.
oh thank you!
Gibson guitars were more affordable to purchase and collect decade ago. They're great investment, also can be great sounding instruments
I worked in a guitar store in the 90's, we routinely threw out boxes of old guitars that customers traded in, because they were too beat up to sell. They were stripped of all their hardware and electrics and then binned. Better players were sent off to be refinished (brand dependent) and the good players that looked garbage were donated to charities etc. Point is, no one wanted a scratched up, dinged piece of garbage, not even for a "great price". So many of the strats, maestros, jaguars and other Fender guitars we threw out back then would be worth thousands in today's stupid market. Before I moved out of my parent's house I had a wall of old fenders that I had kept rather than throw out, most of which were players. I wouldn't have dreamed of gigging them, I would have been laughed out of the venue.
If I want a new guitar, I want a durable finish that stays like new as long as possible. It has 0 impact on "tone" with solid bodies and it holds it's color with age. Nitro is stupid and was only used because it was readily available and cheap in the 50's. There was no affordable alternative back then. This whole "it's for the tone" or "it lets the wood breathe" or "it's how you know it's authentic" is absolute garbage. I have a luthier friend that has built me a few guitars over the years, he sings the "collector tune" to his wealthier customers but laughs at them when they leave. I know for a fact he is easily capable of making a "Gibson" replica that not even a "professional appraiser" wouldn't be able to spot as fake. What makes me laugh is the fact that anyone who bought such a fake would actually be getting a better guitar than the original it pretends to be. He wouldn't do this however, he can sell his custom built guitars for far more than a Gibson copy and they take less work to make (not needing to match every detail). He also won't sell to anyone who wants a "relic" job.
TLDR, for $2000+ I would rather get a fully custom built boutique guitar from a skilled luthier that is exactly the guitar I want than a piece of garbage with shoddy QC and "features" that make it look even more like crap. I love a good Les Paul but sadly, Gibson doesn't make them anymore.
I agree with you that what they call relicking the guitar (beating the XXXX out of it) makes absolutely no sense to me. As you said, I wouldn’t buy a new car and accept it if it had scratches all over it. It’s not just Gibson doing this,all the major electric guitar makers are doing this and charging a premium for it. I have to assume there are enough idiots out there to pay a premium for this XXXX.
yeah... there are also people who pay good money to be slapped in the face.... the world is strange.
Great content.... not to mention the mod shop and demo shop scam. People fall for it hook line and sinker. They refinish seconds and sell them for a premium. If you refinish an originsl gibson, it loses 40 percent. Go figure.
Dude, you are so funny! You made me laugh so hard with that Epiphone Maxipad joke. Totally true. I’ll never unsee it. I agree though. I’ve always wanted a Gibson but I’m not buying from them for all of your reasons stated. Also, I love Les Paul. His inventions made the industry what it is today; multi-track recording, the electric guitar itself… the man was a genius and such a character.
I wonder if they Les Paul's big guitar in the early videos are still being made... they looked big..
Gibson also used to tell you that the thickness and heaviness of your Les Paul had a big affect on the 'tone' of your guitar. Then, when they realised that people weren't buying them anymore because they were too heavy for modern players, they started chambering them. However, they maintained that this had no affect on the 'tone' (they meant 'sustain') of the guitar. This is the way they mess with people's heads and people believe them. Marketing BS. In terms of value, Gibson are quite low down the list. In terms of BS, however...
they call them RELIC-GUITARS
im wondering why Mercedes not selling relic cars 5 times more then the regular price
The emperor has no clothes. Two guys had a bet, which is more important, one said marketing the other said product. The guy that said marketing won the bet. He marketed the Pet Rock.
This is why I play Tokai (Les Paul) Love Rocks.
I doubt that...
How have I not seen you before? You’re so are so damn funny. 😂 Funny but it’s true. Every thing you just said is true. Funny af man. 🤣