Martin 1940D28 Posted September 4, 2015 Posted September 4, 2015 Biggest JOKE of the last almost half century. Be it automobiles, guitars, bread, sunshine, mostly brains.
Smurfbird Posted September 4, 2015 Posted September 4, 2015 Agreed. Everything is a limited edition these days. Far too many "collectible' editions of you-name-it. Something tells me those investing and not playing these instruments will not see the return on their investment they are hoping for. In fifty years, unless a new generation of kids discover guitars in a big Beatles on Ed Sullivan way, there won't be a big enough market for vintage unplayed guitars. They will be easy to come by. While the old non-limited edition guitars that gather collectible prices today will likely do just fine. Since they are the real deal. Just my 2 cents.
onewilyfool Posted September 5, 2015 Posted September 5, 2015 Limited editions…..yah, only over hyped by "signature" models
Bozz Posted September 5, 2015 Posted September 5, 2015 I look forward to the Limited Editions every year and love some of them. But, I am not really a subscriber to the thinking that prevails here that every guitar must remain 100 percent original forever. If a guy wants to swap out tuners, or pick guards, or bridge pins, or whatever. More power to him if that's what floats his boat. It's the same deal with Limited Editions. Some of them are pretty darn cool. It's not sacrilegious for guitar companies to offer variation.
bayoubengal1954 Posted September 5, 2015 Posted September 5, 2015 Limited editions…..yah, only over hyped by "signature" models I totally agree with you about signature models, OWF. Which makes it awkward to admit I just bought one. In my case the signature model had the exact specs I wanted (all hog, deep body 00, 1 3/4" nut) and the price was not crazy high (ended up getting 45% off MSRP). If the guitar specs match your desires exactly and it happens to be a signature model, then I say go ye therefore.
Smurfbird Posted September 5, 2015 Posted September 5, 2015 That goes for Ltd. Editions, too. If it fits your needs, it fits your needs. It's just gotten to be a tired marketing ploy, in general.
fortyearspickn Posted September 5, 2015 Posted September 5, 2015 Martin1940, I agree up to a point. I have an LE Miller Beer Can. 24 ounce, with a lot of elaborate, decorative labeling. TEX/MEX edition. ( "Limitado Edicion" ) I have been admiring it on the kitchen counter. Need to recycle it I guess, since it's served it's purpose. But - I have to agree with Bozz - for Gibson at least - I don't view the concept as Marketing as much as offering variation of the standard model. Logically - the production quantity would have to be 'limited' of it would be a standard production version. People who buy a standard, signature or an LE just to put in a vault as an investment to sell at a small profit the year before they die ... just have too much money. I jumped at a chance to get a J45 KOA , because I didn't wan t rosewood or mahogany. So - whatever floats your boat.
zombywoof Posted September 5, 2015 Posted September 5, 2015 Coincidentally, a week or so back there was a "Public Service" post on AGF that MF or somebody was blowing out a Limited Edition Gibson something or the other for about $1K off the price sticker. I do not think I would go as far as to call these guitars a "joke." I think the thing is not only does Gibson release a ton of Limited Edition guitars but they recycle them. Maybe a bit different bling but how many Limited Edition rosewood body J-45s has Gibson come up with. In the last ten years I can only think of two Limited Edition guitars that were so sought after they soared in value almost immediately after they became unavailable. The first was, of course, the Martin 0-45B Joan Baez model which cost a fortune to begin with. The other is that Epiphone Sir Paulie Texan. Guitars in the first run which were made in Bozeman and signed by Paul quickly doubled in value and have just kept going up. In general though, Martin seems to have figured it out. Instruments like the Steve Stills D-28 and Dave Crosby 12 string are sought after. Why though. I do not have a clue. But then again, I am a notorious cheapskate so do not have a dog in this hunt.
bobouz Posted September 5, 2015 Posted September 5, 2015 The variety of specs can be a good thing, but the price is too often a bad thing.
longjohn Posted September 5, 2015 Posted September 5, 2015 What Smurfbird said " They will be easy to come by " I wanted a 12 fret Gibson, looked hard at the L-00 model, pretty plain Jane - decal on peg head, dot fret markers with a nice striped pick guard = $2900 & tax. Then I noticed the Keb Mo, a much nicer looking guitar, mother of pearl inlays peg head & fret markers, no pick guard, which I prefer = $2500 & tax. It really made no difference to me what they called it, it was a 12 fret Gibson, that looks darn good. I bought mine 2nd hand, didn't look as if had been out of the case to many times, 35% less than new without tax. On these signature guitar though I just wonder how many artist are actually consulted. Going to get a new truss rod cover, CurlyLarryMo, just to keep some of the originality to her, lol
Red 333 Posted September 5, 2015 Posted September 5, 2015 Coincidentally, a week or so back there was a "Public Service" post on AGF that MF or somebody was blowing out a Limited Edition Gibson something or the other for about $1K off the price sticker. I do not think I would go as far as to call these guitars a "joke." I think the thing is not only does Gibson release a ton of Limited Edition guitars but they recycle them. Maybe a bit different bling but how many Limited Edition rosewood body J-45s has Gibson come up with. In the last ten years I can only think of two Limited Edition guitars that were so sought after they soared in value almost immediately after they became unavailable. The first was, of course, the Martin 0-45B Joan Baez model which cost a fortune to begin with. The other is that Epiphone Sir Paulie Texan. Guitars in the first run which were made in Bozeman and signed by Paul quickly doubled in value and have just kept going up. In general though, Martin seems to have figured it out. Instruments like the Steve Stills D-28 and Dave Crosby 12 string are sought after. Why though. I do not have a clue. But then again, I am a notorious cheapskate so do not have a dog in this hunt. Here are two on ebay, now: $49K McCartney Texan $45K McCartney Texan Red 333
JuanCarlosVejar Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 In my opinion limited editions should not be purchased with collectable value in mind , they should be purchased because you like the features Examples : if your dream guitar was a pelham blue J 45 or a quilted maple J 185 then it makes sense imho. If i could put out a ltd edition run it would be : A L 200 Emmylou Harris all koa or a cherry red J 200 with double everly brothers guards , but that is just me As for sigs I would love to have the following lefty models: Pete Townshend SJ 200 Kris Kristofferson Southern Jumbo Sheryl Crow Southern Jumbo JC
onewilyfool Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 I totally agree with you about signature models, OWF. Which makes it awkward to admit I just bought one. In my case the signature model had the exact specs I wanted (all hog, deep body 00, 1 3/4" nut) and the price was not crazy high (ended up getting 45% off MSRP). If the guitar specs match your desires exactly and it happens to be a signature model, then I say go ye therefore. Bayou….I hear you! If a guitar is good, it is good, signature or not! I guess I object to the high cost of the signature!!!….lol…..Craig's list is a bit of a hobby for me…..and I must say the used "Signature" models, definitely have a lower drop in price than, "standard" models…..just saying….BIG drops….(Aaron Lewis signature model comes to mind…..)
slimt Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 I think the term Limited edition means 1 out of 100 or so made for each year, every year after .. of the same model, But really how many models of a j45 can you make..? its still a j45. with a higher price tag.
Willie King Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 What Smurfbird said " They will be easy to come by " I wanted a 12 fret Gibson, looked hard at the L-00 model, pretty plain Jane - decal on peg head, dot fret markers with a nice striped pick guard = $2900 & tax. Then I noticed the Keb Mo, a much nicer looking guitar, mother of pearl inlays peg head & fret markers, no pick guard, which I prefer = $2500 & tax. It really made no difference to me what they called it, it was a 12 fret Gibson, that looks darn good. I bought mine 2nd hand, didn't look as if had been out of the case to many times, 35% less than new without tax. On these signature guitar though I just wonder how many artist are actually consulted. Going to get a new truss rod cover, CurlyLarryMo, just to keep some of the originality to her, lol A fellow traded me three guitars for a Martin 00017SM that I had. Wanting to replace it with another 12 fret I found a SJ-12 fret and haven't looked back. Like it better than the Martin. Was in Music Villa a month or so ago and a fellow came in looking for a J-45. I pointed out the SJ-12 fret they had and he ended up buying. I was there on vacation as was he. I think we are both happy with that guitar, limited edition of not.
zombywoof Posted September 6, 2015 Posted September 6, 2015 I was talking with a friend who is a big Martin guy. Just for grins I asked him about the Limited Edition thing. He had an interesting take about it. He used his Norman Blake 000-28B which he bought used as an example. He said while the Adi top and Braz rosewood body is nice, it would not have been enough to get him to fork over the rather hefty amount of cash he had to lay out even for a used guitar. What sold him was that structurally the guitar is different than what Martins normal offers. The bracing is not as radically scalloped as you find in stock guitars while the combination of the 14 fret body and 12 fret neck allowed Martin to shift it forward to just below the soundhole. The guitar also has a smaller 00 size soundhole and a 1 13/16" nut. While my friend is not a Gibson guy, his take on Gibsons is that at most you may get a 12 fret neck, different body wood and different bling. But underneath the hood it is still the same as any off the shelf instrument.
BluesKing777 Posted September 8, 2015 Posted September 8, 2015 And now for a fine example of 'limited editions': BluesKing777.
mr newhaven Posted September 8, 2015 Posted September 8, 2015 I agree to a point...sometimes the ltd edition models can be very interesting variants on classic tried and true models...signature models always bothered me but that's a different post all together. I just picked up a LG-2 banner reissue...all mahogany and its amazing!!! I know other posts address this model in particular and it should technically be labeled an LG-1 instead if a 2 for accuracy but I love the thing...regardless if they only made 50 or not. I imagine that they did a small run to just celebrate the diversity of their back catalog...they used a members LG-1 as a prototype and that in and of itself is very cool too...the story behind that is worth a read and I don't know any of the parties involved but it just goes to show that this community really has the goods!! I can post pics tonite after work but just wanted to chime in!
Dotneck Posted September 8, 2015 Posted September 8, 2015 Biggest JOKE of the last almost half century. Be it automobiles, guitars, bread, sunshine, mostly brains. I think any limited edition guitars that I don't like are dumb. The one that have a mix of features that I like are okay.... \:D/
58 Relic Posted September 8, 2015 Posted September 8, 2015 1441481611[/url]' post='1691389']Here are two on ebay, now: $49K McCartney Texan $45K McCartney Texan Red 333 No Hard Case !!
bobouz Posted September 8, 2015 Posted September 8, 2015 No Hard Case !! I have the Terada-Japan (Elitist) version that was released at the same time as the Bozeman model. It comes with the same case & it's essentially a hard case with a soft cover. Very nice, as is the instrument!
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