How Will The New Epiphone Prices Affect Gibson Guitars

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[jamesgibson]

I agree with Philip. He is right they want us o pay the high prices we pay for USA guitars but for foreign made guitars.

[Darth.Shredder]

My issue isn't so much that import guitar prices are rising, it's that companies like Epiphone (and Jackson, etc.) are finding ways to manufacture them as cheap as possible, then raising prices instead of lowering them and still giving you things like "Indian Laurel" fretboards. Shifting production to China is a cost saving measure, especially for Epiphone since Gibson owns their own factory over there. Instruments are made in China because labor and materials are cheaper than anywhere else, there are no regulations, "mahogany" can be almost anything and they can mass produce instruments at a much higher pace. It doesn't cost them more in China compared to Japan, Korea, Indonesia or Mexico, it costs much less... so why are they charging more than ever? The fact that you can still buy a "Chibson" for $200-$300 proves there are hefty markups on Epiphones.

[hwnfrd]

I was just on the Fender Build you own guitar page and built up a lefty Telecaster wondering how much it would cost. The final price was like $1299.00, this is for a custom built Fender. Correction, my bad the price was like $2099, sorry for the mistake.

[halbertking]

The plan is " To Make More Money " .

[brunoornelas]

I have an epiphone 59 lazarus, its a fine instrument with awesome specs. I waited a long time to buy a Les paul and epiphone was in the back of my list. Until I played it, sounds amazing with my marshall sv20h. My point is, cnc machines make it possible to build a great spec guitar that doesnt cost an arm and a leg, and as for the made in china, no one complains when there is an apple icon in front of our fancy laptops and phones.

[Lavabug]

$1400 for MIC guitar is ridiculous. USA made Kiesels, Gibsons and many more can be had for that much or less. Who buys these?

[rowbags]

I've got three Chinese-built guitars currently. An Eastman semi-acoustic, which is hand-made to a level that I simply couldn't afford from the US, and a Gretsch, which is pretty good and was an affordable way to try the distinctive pickups. In many ways, though, the star of the show is the Squire J. Mascis Jazzmaster which I bought a couple of weeks ago - it would be a great guitar at any price, and is almost insanely good value for money at around £450.

[jamesmarkham]

If you look at reverb right now. The $1700 epiphone firebirds have only sold one of them. I’m wondering if that has to do with it being reverb or if they aren’t selling too well.

[jdb]

Do you think if people stopped buying imported guitars would the American made guitars be selling for the current import prices?

[mattj]

The flip side of higher profit margins is opening yourself up to cheaper competition. Epiphone became Gibson's way of selling guitars to people who couldn't afford a Gibson guitar. You got a guitar that is owned by Gibson but made in Korea, as is my '92 Les Paul that I bought out of college and still love to play today. Now if they raise the Epiphone price point to roughly where a cheaper Gibson would be, or just slightly below it, some folks will just pay the extra for the American made real-deal but more will just go to another brand that will offer a decent $500-$700 option. I think it's fine to make them overseas, but there should be a proce point to reflect it.

[drippinglass]

In 2016 I bought a brand new Gibson Firebird V from Sweetwater. It was $1050. It’s the sunburst so you can see the wood they used. Now, $1699 for the made in China Epiphony that is solid color… so who knows what wood they are using. And thick poly finish. It’s ridiculous.

[danthegeetarman]

💯💯💯💯 Except for my 00s USA/corona fenders, all of my favorite guitars are either Korean made or Indonesian made. Buuut, I’m scared that even the Indonesian stuff will be up there with Korean/Japan stuff _price wise_ . Need to get them all now before they go up to MIJ/MIK prices

[bassyey]

Sold my Fender Performer Jazz bass for a Japanese bass. US doesn't mean anything nowadays, except for suckers who's still in honeymoon phase lol. The Japanese bass I bought is legitimately better in every way. Luckily, some sucker still bought my unit for my price. Planning to minimize my gear.

[itslikethesamebutdifferent]

The way i see it, there are always going to be Gibson, Fender USA guys and so those brands will always have a market. I do see more and more people leaning towards imported guitars as a huge margin of them have quality made guitars, a lot more so than back in the day like 20yrs ago where imports meant you were getting crappy quality for the most part. That and the fact that US made guitars are going up in price so much so that a lot of buyers are turning to used made in the USA gear or imported guitars.

[GameLord]

I'm not all that old. I'm a 90's kid in fact. I remember a time where a top end Epiphone was $700ish back in the mid-late 2000s. It's absolutely insane to know that they've nearly tripled in price, whilst the QC, and build quality have absolutely tanked.

It sure says a lot when you can get a Kiesel custom made to your specs for not much more than what the average Epiphone goes for these days.

[zombiezilla]

As a guitarist with about 50 years experience, I have gone from being a Gibson/Epiphone mega-fan in my youth to being a fan of great quality builds. I don’t care who made them, where they were made, when they were made, etc. I care only about the sound and playability of the instrument. Harley Benton currently makes better Teles than Squire (and many Fenders, too), and at about half the price. I own both. But Gibson simply offends me now, because of their ridiculous pricing and the lack of quality control and proper setup on their instruments.

[keithmcduffie]

I'm glad I bought my Epiphone 60's Les Paul Standard GT 3 years ago. Things are getting CRAZY! It's Excellently made, plays like a dream and was only $500.

[JeremiahHartmanPhotography]

It really depends on the factory it's made. I went to get a new Jazz Bass...ended up buying the Squier CV 60s bass instead of the Fender RI 60's because the Squier had a better setup, frets, and sound over the Fender..I was shocked because I was fully prepared to buy the Fender 60s RI...but the Squier was just better.. Now I'm looking at a Fender Johnny Marr sig Jaguar for 21-2500...and debating on buying the Squier 60's 400ish and putting the JM pickups and electronics in it.

[bigwavedave]

I have an epiphone 335 block inlay pro model that I love so much that I don't have a need for the US made for triple the cost

[se]

There is simply no value on buying an epiphone for more than $1000. For that price you better buy a Schecter or an Ltd, or even a Mexican Strat