My local shop just released the price list of the full Gibson line ..

[EuroAussie]

My local guitart shop normally stocks around 6 Gibson acoustics at any time. Its where Im bought my AL SJ.

 

But on their website they now listed every imanagable model available with a price tag.

 

While some were very reasonable for example $2000 for a non cut-away Songwriter, the asking price for the Jackson Brown came at $12,200, the J-45 Legend at $11,500 .... whle get this, the Monarch, $21,000 !

 

Crazy, aint it .. ?

[ParlourMan]

Makes me feel better about the cash I dropped on the SJ-200TV, though ;)

 

Even with huge financial boost to my income/savings I couldn't see me ever paying 10K for a guitar, never mind 20k....

[ritchie69]

Definitely crazy...however, the street price is considerably lower than the list price.

[EuroAussie]

The thing is that this is THE retail price, they do not go or provide discounts below this listed price.

 

Definitely crazy...however, the street price is considerably lower than the list price.

[ritchie69]

The thing is that this is THE retail price, they do not go or provide discounts below this listed price.

Really? the other stores in your area also have the same prices?

[j45nick]

In the US, those are the nominal MSRP. Even a store like Guitar Center will typically give you about 20% off, depending on the model. High end models sometimes get a bit more off.

[ritchie69]

In the US, those are the nominal MSRP. Even a store like Guitar Center will typically give you about 20% off, depending on the model. High end models sometimes get a bit more off.

Here in Italy the same...for instance, the songwriter deluxe non cut, is listed around 2000 euros, the street price is around 1600 euros...

[pfox14]

Maybe the store has pay a much higer price for guitars they don't actually stock like the Jackson Browne model.

[j45nick]

Just as follow-up, I checked a couple of prices at GC.

 

The L-OO Legend has a MSRP of $7086 US, and a store price of $5499, which is 22% off list.

 

The J-45 TV has a MSRP of $3724, and a sell price of $2999.

 

Those seem to be pretty typical store prices, although I know you can often do better.

[zombywoof]

And I thought I got sticker shock looking through the Elderly catalog. For me it will remain a waiting game. But I sleep well enough knowing that if I bide my time, something I just can't seem to live live without will eventually show up used at one of the local stores or somebody I know will finally decide to part with one of their treasues.

[Murph]

It's only money.....

 

Buy two !

 

[Denis57]

My local guitart shop normally stocks around 6 Gibson acoustics at any time. Its where Im bought my AL SJ.

 

But on their website they now listed every imanagable model available with a price tag.

 

While some were very reasonable for example $2000 for a non cut-away Songwriter, the asking price for the Jackson Brown came at $12,200, the J-45 Legend at $11,500 .... whle get this, the Monarch, $21,000 !

 

Crazy, aint it .. ?

 

I'll take two!

[GotTheSilver]

I just checked the prices at GC/Musician's Friend online here in the good ol' US of A for some of Gibson's higher end models. These should all be the MAP prices in this country.

 

Jackson Brown 1/A = $4,500/$6,000 = no change

L-00 Legend = $5,500 = I believe no change from what it had been

J-45 Legend = $7,200 = I believe this is higher than what it had been, but not sure. Can anyone confirm?

Hummingbird TV = $4,000 = no change

J-45 TV = $3,100 = increase of $100, I believe. Anyone confirm?

 

All in all, does not look like much has changed here. I feel for those of you in other countries who have to pay much higher prices for these guitars!

 

I do look forward to buying a JB1 and an L-00 Legend, though likely will try for the used market. But an increase in the prices for new could cause an increase in the used prices.

[EuroAussie]

The impression I get is that the standard and TV models are consistent than US pricing, sometimes better like $2k for a Songwriter.

 

Its when you start getting inot the more 'exotic' models where prices go through the roof..

[j45nick]

 

I do look forward to buying a JB1 and an L-00 Legend, though likely will try for the used market. But an increase in the prices for new could cause an increase in the used prices.

 

On the plus side, those selling these models used may or may not check the new prices before putting them on the market. There is not a huge market for some of these high-end models. For example, for what you pay for a new L-OO Legend ($5400), you should be able to find a near-pristine original one. Ditto for the J-45 Legend. For me at least, an original was more desirable, but I couldn't find a truly good one for what I paid for the Legend, and it was essentially a new guitar.

 

I have only seen a couple of J-45 and L-OO Legend models for sale used since I've been looking. For a lot of buyers, a used Blues King will be more financially rational than a used L-OO Legend, even though they aren't exactly comparable. And a J-45 TV is a really good guitar no matter how you look at it, for less than half the cost of the J-45 Legend.

 

When the cost of a new repro model meets or exceeds that of an excellent vintage model, most buyers at this level will probably choose vintage.

[ParlourMan]

On the plus side, those selling these models used may or may not check the new prices before putting them on the market. There is not a huge market for some of these high-end models.

 

That's true nick, there's also another point, a lot of the buyers in this market won't shell out anywhere near that kind of money for a 2nd hand online purchase they can't see/feel/touch/play.

 

For example, for what you pay for a new L-OO Legend ($5400), you should be able to find a near-pristine original one. Ditto for the J-45 Legend. For me at least, an original was more desirable

 

That's the thing, the 'originals' market is a much safer bet than the reproductions based on recent/current pricing.

 

...but I couldn't find a truly good one for what I paid for the Legend, and it was essentially a new guitar.

 

I'd say in a lot of cases the modern guitars will be better, not everything vintage is glorious, but the 'investment' value of the piece is much more guaranteed, hard to say that long-term it's not a better idea to go with the vintage because of that safeguard.

 

When the cost of a new repro model meets or exceeds that of an excellent vintage model, most buyers at this level will probably choose vintage.

 

Yeah, I would say so... you also find these models are unrealistically priced as 2nd hand instruments, some are advertised at the 70-75% new price, the general market operates around 55-60. It's definitely food for thought...

 

[j45nick]

 

you also find these models are unrealistically priced as 2nd hand instruments, some are advertised at the 70-75% new price, the general market operates around 55-60. It's definitely food for thought...

 

 

I paid about 55% of the new street price for my 18-month-old L-OO Legend. I thought that was fair, which is the reason I jumped on it. It may well not be worth more than that in my lifetime, but I'm treating this one as a keeper.

[GotTheSilver]

On the plus side, those selling these models used may or may not check the new prices before putting them on the market. There is not a huge market for some of these high-end models. For example, for what you pay for a new L-OO Legend ($5400), you should be able to find a near-pristine original one. Ditto for the J-45 Legend. For me at least, an original was more desirable, but I couldn't find a truly good one for what I paid for the Legend, and it was essentially a new guitar.

 

I have only seen a couple of J-45 and L-OO Legend models for sale used since I've been looking. For a lot of buyers, a used Blues King will be more financially rational than a used L-OO Legend, even though they aren't exactly comparable. And a J-45 TV is a really good guitar no matter how you look at it, for less than half the cost of the J-45 Legend.

 

When the cost of a new repro model meets or exceeds that of an excellent vintage model, most buyers at this level will probably choose vintage.

 

 

I know this is taking the thread off the original topic a bit, but I agree with a lot of what J45nick and Parlour Man have said. I will just add my own personal perspective, for whatever that is worth! I love both vintage and new guitars. I bought my J-45 Legend sight unseen off eBay for not much more than the MAP on a J-45 TV, and I am very happy with it. It is a truly great guitar! Having a Legend, I would still love to have a vintage 40s/early 50s J-45/SJ. I have gone just the opposite direction with L-00s. I have a vintage L-00 that has an awesome sound. Still, I would love to have a Legend version of this guitar. Maybe I am crazy, maybe I am just too subject to the throws of GAS, but I still like having both old and new guitars, even if they are of the same model. Others' views obviously may differ.

 

And I also agree that the J-45 TV is a great guitar no matter how you look at it. Looking at the cost of each new, I would go for a TV over the Legend. In fact, that is exactly what I had intended to do. However, when I had the opportunity to get the Legend at what I felt was a very good price, I went for it.

 

You do see the Legend J-45s and L-00s on eBay from time to time. I have had a number of good experiences on eBay, once I overcame my initial hesitations. I would not hesitate to buy an L-00 Legend on eBay, if timing, funds, price all work out.

[GotTheSilver]

It may well not be worth more than that in my lifetime, but I'm treating this one as a keeper.

 

Halalujah!!!

[ParlourMan]

55% Nick? Wow, that's cool... very realistic price if you ask me, the ones I've seen for much much higher were out of line with market norms I found. Especially as there's no warranty or anything, 55% sounds more of a convincing case than 65-75% for sure.

 

On the Vintage Vs New, the one fact that is often overlooked about speculation of what our guitars will have in future worth, all our guitars (modern model owners) are reproductions, it might be foolish to compare them to 'originals'. While the differences could be argued out for many many pages, and yes it IS still a Gibson after all... but you can't second guess an antiques market and that is exactly what it would be. Originals are king..... regardless of worth outside of collectable status.

[j45nick]

55% Nick? Wow, that's cool... very realistic price if you ask me, the ones I've seen for much much higher were out of line with market norms I found. Especially as there's no warranty or anything, 55% sounds more of a convincing case than 65-75% for sure.

 

On the Vintage Vs New, the one fact that is often overlooked about speculation of what our guitars will have in future worth, all our guitars (modern model owners) are reproductions, it might be foolish to compare them to 'originals'. While the differences could be argued out for many many pages, and yes it IS still a Gibson after all... but you can't second guess an antiques market and that is exactly what it would be. Originals are king..... regardless of worth outside of collectable status.

 

 

It's always difficult to decide what's an "original" in the case of the J-45, since it seems to have been in production virtually continuously since 1942. Except for the square J-45s--"sorry" to those of you who own them--if it was made by Gibson, and it's a J-45, it's "original". Maybe not vintage, but original.

 

That's what I like about the L-OO Legend: it's essentially a "new" 1937 guitar. The ultimate under-the-bed find.

[j45nick]

 

You do see the Legend J-45s and L-00s on eBay from time to time. I have had a number of good experiences on eBay, once I overcame my initial hesitations. I would not hesitate to buy an L-00 Legend on eBay, if timing, funds, price all work out.

 

I have now bought four guitars off ebay and two off craigslist in the last couple of years. All except two have been totally accurately represented, and those other two were borderline accurately represented. Of course, I've been pretty careful in what I've bought, too. No "project" guitars, although I've been tempted.

[ParlourMan]

I know what you mean Nick, but half or more of the value of a 37 L-00, is it's from 1937... same as a 1942 J-45, I suppose after the glory days when Gibson changed hands they became reproductions and not originals.

* not my exact personal views, just a summation of the banter that fires about the marketplace.

Re-issue is just a nicer way of saying reproduction really, isn't it?

Aside that, 55%, great buy.......

[j45nick]

I know what you mean Nick, but half or more of the value of a 37 L-00, is it's from 1937... same as a 1942 J-45, I suppose after the glory days when Gibson changed hands they became reproductions and not originals.

 

 

Generally agree with you on that, although I believe the best guitars coming out of Bozeman are the equal of the best Gibson has ever built. All they lack is the character that can come with age. And remember that not all guitars age equally. There are some J-45's and L-OO's from the 30's, 40's, and early 50's that are nothing to write home about tone-wise. I've played some of them.

 

I looked hard for a good 30's L-OO, and they wanted $3-4K for guitars that I thought were in pretty mediocre condition, many with saddles shaved down to the nub, and you know what that means. You were definitely paying for the year rather than the playability or quality of the guitar. That's when it dawned on me that a new guitar, built exactly the same way and directly patterned on one of the best examples of the type, was a pretty rational alternative for me.

 

I've spent way too much money with luthiers over the decades bringing sad, ancient orphan guitars back to life. And they are still usually compromised in some way, either as players or as collectibles.

[ParlourMan]

Generally agree with you on that, althought I believe the best guitars coming out of Bozeman are the equal of the best Gibson has ever built.

I agree and have said as much on this forum a few times.

All they lack is the character that can come with age. And remember that not all guitars age equally. There are some J-45's and L-OO's from the 30's, 40's, and early 50's that are nothing to write home about tone-wise. I've played some of them.

I'd be hard pressed to agree more.. I've played some vintage stuff to that I thought was collectable trash, it's only value lay in its age...