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Elitist LP Custom in Wine Red - Why Discontinued?


Spro

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I remember missing the chance to buy the wine red Elitist LP Custom back when the online vendors were clearing them out, and I have been regretting not buying one. The white and black aren't bad, but that wine red was just awesome - anyone else wish they'd offer that color again? If they did, I'd get one, but otherwise finding them used isn't always easy because people seem to hold onto them. With the price of the Gibson LP Customs being quite a bit higher, it was nice to see this Elitist version for a lot less, and even if they had to charge a little more to source better wood for a transparent color such as wine red, I think people would still buy it. I think they should expand the Elitist line rather than shrink it down.

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There just isn't a market for them anymore. Most people who have the money for an elitist would rather get a lower end gibson because it says Gibson on the headstock. I though wine red was one of the coolest colors for a guitar. I think the last time I checked, they also discontinued wine red for the standard line LP Custom as well.

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I can see people wanting Gibsons but the last few I bought had sharp fret ends and other issues that you really shouldn't see in guitars at their price point. Even one of my Epiphone SG Specials doesn't have that. I know what you mean about the brand name for some people...frustrating for Elitist fans.

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Anyone know of a reputable store in the US that sells Elitists? I only check on Ebay or Craigslist but sometimes that can be risky and I was wondering if anyone knew of an online store with used Elitists - I haven't really seen any so far other than the big ones with their returns or blems.

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Anyone know of a reputable store in the US that sells Elitists? I only check on Ebay or Craigslist but sometimes that can be risky and I was wondering if anyone knew of an online store with used Elitists - I haven't really seen any so far other than the big ones with their returns or blems.

 

I see you are in Illinois.

 

Check out Naperville Music in Naperville Il. They are a full line Gibson/ Epiphone dealer and have a nice selection. They are privately owned and know guitars. They match all the big guys and if you are looking for something they can order it or being in the Chicago area have a good chance at finding it for you.

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I see you are in Illinois.

 

Check out Naperville Music in Naperville Il. They are a full line Gibson/ Epiphone dealer and have a nice selection. They are privately owned and know guitars. They match all the big guys and if you are looking for something they can order it or being in the Chicago area have a good chance at finding it for you.

 

Thanks! I'll check them out since Naperville isn't far away and I'll see what they might be able to come up with.

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I wish you the best of luck finding one in a music store. I travel a lot on business & am a notorious 'music store lurker' wherever I go.

 

The only elitists I've ever seen in any music store were in Monterrey, CA. I've never seen one anywhere else.

 

That said, don't be afraid to get one through MF or Sweetwater. First, the quality is consistently top-rate and their liberal return policies allow you to send it back with no hassles if you don't like it.

 

That said, I'll be shocked if you find a reason to send one back.

 

BTW, I went through the same anxiety myself when they discontinued the red wine. Fortunately one of the forum members wanted to sell his & I snagged it up.

 

I'm still planning to get a white one, though (just as soon as I sell my damn house)!

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I don't have much hope of finding a new wine red Custom, but my second choice might be a black one and personally I've never seen one at a store, either new or used. I buy from MF quite a bit and they have some good deals on blems sometimes but lately they've only had blem Standard Plus LPs. I'm not in the market for one right now since, like many people, I have more guitars than I need but if anyone has a wine red Custom and wants to sell it, maybe they'll let me know here. MF had them for around $800 I believe when they were clearing them out, which is a great deal and I bought one of the 3 pickup plus top limited edition Customs instead. Have been thinking about the wine red ever since...

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I don't think many people have an informed answer as to WHY Elitists are slowly being discontinued. It's been said here that people would rather buy a low end Gibson. Maybe. But I've seen interest in Elitists grow on these boards over the past two years. I personally believe that Elitists and Gibsons can coexist in the same market.

 

My guess is that Gibson prefers to not have a product out there that is so close in quality to what they offer that it dilutes the appeal of Gibson products. Why pay that much for a Gibson when I can get virtually the same thing for much less? Those of you who disagree with this statement are entitled to your views. Just keep in mind that there are many out here in the Elitist-land who disagree with you... :-

 

When it comes down to it, Elitist production seems to be dwindling and the reasons why are only guesses on guitar forums.:-({|=

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I think the reason Gibson wants to bury the elitists in favor of the low-end Gibbys is pretty simple: Markup. Considering the Quality vs. Price aspect of elitists I'm inclined to think Gibby isn't making a ton of money off of them. Those low-end Gibsons, on the other hand, are probably another story.

 

Look at the Melody Maker. It's basically a $99 guitar Gibson sells for $379.

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I think the reason Gibson wants to bury the elitists in favor of the low-end Gibbys is pretty simple: Markup. Considering the Quality vs. Price aspect of elitists I'm inclined to think Gibby isn't making a ton of money off of them. Those low-end Gibsons' date=' on the other hand, are probably another story.

 

Look at the Melody Maker. It's basically a $99 guitar Gibson sells for $379.

 

[/quote']

 

I really hope they keep the Elitists in production. I love Gibson/ Epiphone but they really need to take a look at Fender and how they market stuff. Most of the Fender MIJ line is special stuff like the burst Tele with a bigsby I have been looking at.

 

I would like to see the Elitist line continue to have either Epiphone designs like the Riviera or Casino or have the Epiphone versions of the signature models so you really know you are getting the same thing but with a different headstock. Also pick a specific classic Gibson model from a certain year like the 65 G400/ SG with the maestro or a 345.

 

Leave the stock Epiphone line to have generic 335s or Lps or SGs and the Elitist line to make specific accurate Gibson models so we have a choice. I would really like the Elliot Easton model but I can't spend $4600 for the Gibson. I would buy an Elitist version though. Righthand please in blue.

 

I think Gibson/ Epiphone has some kind of internal identity crisis that Fender does not seem to have with their line.

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ha ha...classic:

 

WARNING: IF I GET ONE MORE QUESTION ABOUT THE TRUSS ROD COVER NOT SAYING "ELITIST" THEN THIS AUCTION ENDS. UNFORTUNATELY YOU WILL NOT KNOW WHO ASK IT, BUT I AM TIRED OF ANSWERING THE SAME OLD QUESTION OVER AND OVER AGAIN. IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS EITHER BUY A BLANK ONE AND WRITE "ELITIST" WITH SOME "WHITE OUT" OR BETTER YET, MOVE ON TO ANOTHER GUITAR.

 

NOTICE: READ THIS ENTIRE LISTING CAREFULLY

 

My Elitist truss rod cover says "Gibson", but the white lettering is faded considerably. You can easily see this is the "REAL THING" and the serial number, "Elitist" emblem on the back headstock and plugging it in to your amp will be enough to satisfy any conspiracy theorist.

 

The current Elitist Les Paul Standard, listing # 330240725843, has a truss rod cover with "Gibson" on it. The faded Wine Red SG currently for sale has nothing on the truss rod. I have seen many Elite/Elitist w/o any lettering on them. I hope this ends this repetitive questioning around this issue.

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dubstar:

Right after reading your post' date=' I promptly sent an email to that guy.

I bet I don't have to tell you what I asked him. =D> [/quote']

 

Haha...oh man that is funny.

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Gosh, I WISH they'd reintroduce the Elitist '61 SG and the Rivieras!!

Even if they kept the "Elitist" line, to models that were old favorites,

in the original Kalamazoo line, Sheraton, Riviera, Casino, etc.

that would be better than phasing the line out, altogether! I hope

it turns out to be an "unfounded rumer!" But, who knows?

 

CB

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