What the heck is Gibson up to in the UK?

[tremolo arm]

I have been thinking about acquiring a brand new Les Paul in the UK, but I can't find any around.

I have been to Denmark Street twice in the space of a month and none of the shops there have a singel new Les Paul...

Checking prices on the onlines sites, prices have jumped from £1499 to £1599 for the new 2008 Standards - and that's overnight. I assume this is partly due to the adverse exchange rate, but still - it feels very odd.

 

I heard someone say that Gibson is re-shuffling its distributor network for the UK, but the expectations were that this would lead to more availability and more affordable prices. Yet, the evidence is to the contrary.

 

Heck, there is even scarsity on e-bay, with prices for used Classics around £1000! Used Strandards are now way above a grand!

 

What is going on?

[Craig10119]

Well the stores in glasgow have the "old" standards at £1499 and the "new" standards at £1599. Basically the new ones are an extra £100. Having said that, I'd go for an old one any day. Not a fan of the new ones.

 

Gibsons are pretty scarce in the uk atm, but if you are really desperate for a new one, get a cheap (maybe £30 - £50) flight to glasgow and check guitar guitar. They have loads. Old and new. It's worth it to try one out, and the guys are really reasonable. I'm sure if you tell them that you've came from london, they might knock £100-200 off the price. Try sound control (now known as reverb). They usually give you a discount if you can talk the talk but their stock is pretty scarce.

 

Again, this is only if you're desperate to get a new les paul asap. If you're thinking of making the flight, let me know and I'll go to the stores and make a list of what models/finishes they have and prices etc. But remember, they might give you a discount on price. (i've had a few hundred knocked off every gibson that i've bought).

 

There'll be a shortage for a while yet. Think of it as a transitional phase between the old distributor and the new one.

[Asoa]

I completely understand, i too have been looking for a White Gibson for the last 6 months with out success.

 

I live in Kent and there is nowhere to buy a Gibson.

 

Mind you, I did find solace in two great guitar shops, "Andertons" in Guildford and the even better "Guitar Village" in Farnham (i had to drive to Surrey for these) both of which have a nice selection of Gibsons. Guitar Village also has an extensive range of ESP's which are very attractive especially for the price (sorry for mentioning the ESP word on this site!)

 

But what has really capped it for me is the price hike, only 2 months ago a Gibson Custom Shop was £1900 ish they are now anywhere between £2400 and £2700. Gibson are taking the p**s. I know you only get what you pay for but, come on. Besides which, the ESP Eclipse is only £1200 and is one hell of a guitar, just doesn't have the Gibbo name on the headstock.

[tremolo arm]

Thanks guys

 

I remember when I bought my first Les Paul 5 years ago, there were so many around in the UK that you were spoiled for choice. Something has changed with the distribution channel (previously Rosetti) and when I speak to shops, they all unanimously agree that it is for the worst. I guess things will become clearer over the next few months.

 

Craig, thanks for teh info about Glasgow. I guess I am not desperate to buy one (heck, I just bought a Custom Classic), but I was just wondering what was going on. I know what you mean about the 2008 Les Pauls. I have not played one but on paper they look too... mass produced... Interestingly, there is a good article in last month's Guitarist about the difference between the (now) Traditional and the (new) Standard. The Standard edged it but only just.

 

Asoa, good luck with the white LP. I have not seen one for sale for a long time. Cool guitar!

[Flight959]

Well, £1000 for a used Standard is just greedy! Period...

 

Denmark Street's guitar prices are so over inflated it's shocking...I would never buy a guitar there! Denmark St is not what it used to be.

 

Asoa...I have never been to Guitar Village but I have heard they are great... I only live in Croydon..

 

I saw an AWSOME R9 in Cranes music in Wales...One of the finest top's I have ever seen on a Gibson in the UK... It was £4030 new off the shelf! Ten mins later I had the guy down to £3200.... What a shocking drop in price...Just goes to show the mark up..

 

Rosetti used to be the Distributer for Gibson in the UK however Gibson no longer deals with them....Its now called Gibson UK...

 

Even the secondhand market in Gibson's has vanished here in the uk... May have something to do with the big financial break down..

 

Regards

Flight959