Les Paul pricing

[LarryUK]

Hello. Looking on this site I've noticed big price differences in basically the same guitar.

Ie. Les paul Custom..$5504

Les paul Custom-

57 ,2 pick up ..$6351

Les paul Custom-

50th anniversary -

1960.................$7058.

This is just an example of the price difference.

There's a greater difference on the Les Paul Standard.

I'm in the UK and over here the price difference would be even more.

Why is this?

[guitarworld]

Hi Lashurst,

 

It's very simple! Here in the UK we are well and truly ripped off on ANY imported Guitar, even when we buy it in the UK. If Gibson charge say $5000 for an instrument, it will sell for £5000 here in the UK. There is no adjustment for exchange rates, whatever they are at the time. So if you want to buy a Les Paul Custom here, it will cost about £2500. In the states the same guitar will set you back about $2000 dollars. It wouldn't be worth importing one, as the duty would cancel out any saving. We are all forced to pay these prices, for Gibsons, Taylors, etc then theres the warranties, but I don't want to start on that one!!!!!!!

 

Guitarworld.

[Tim Plains]

The Les Paul Custom has a weight-relieved body and short neck tenon. Mahogany body & maple top.

 

The '57 Custom is a historic reissue - meaning, it has a solid body and long neck tenon. It also has other differences compared to the regular Custom. All mahogany.

 

The 50th anniversary 1960 Custom is an anniversary model and obviously will cost more money due to it's collectibility. I believe there is also no top on this guitar - meaning, it's just one piece of mahogany. I think the '57 Custom has a separate mahogany top.

[LarryUK]

I understand that there's a difference in construction and materials. But, it's only wood and the wood doesn't cost $1500 more. As for collectability. Why would you want to pay more for what is really a 'copy'? It might be me getting old. But here in England we are ripped off all the time and this just seems to me to be Gibson cashing in on gullible customers. Too many 'special edition' guitars for it to be right.

[Tim Plains]

It is what it is. In the Gibson world, they reserve the lighter and arguably better wood for Custom Shop guitars. That costs you, the consumer, a premium as they say good, light wood is getting harder and harder to find.

 

As for the "Why would you want to pay more for what is really a 'copy'?" comment - welcome to the world of Gibson Les Pauls. People buy Gibson R9s and pay thousands more to have them more like the original '59 Les Paul.