Les Pauls vs SGs- Price

[filtersweep]

Ok - I own a range of Les Pauls: R8, Standard, and Tribute (for P90s).

i also own an SG Standard- traded a MIM Cabronita Tele for it. I didn’t need another Gibson, but an even local trade like that?!? It has a massive neck that the previous owner couldn’t deal with.

Granted an SG has its pickups oriented differently, is a feather weight, has no body binding, etc.

But what makes them cost roughly half what a Les Paul costs? New or used? Like an LP Standard vs an SG Standard?

 

[SWeAT hOg]

Less finish work, less binding, less processing time (no cap), etc....it all adds up.

 

[filtersweep]

Less finish work, less binding, less processing time (no cap), etc....it all adds up.

To half price? This is what baffles me. Sure, you don’t get much variety in tops or finishes, but everything else is on par - if not better— than on my Les Pauls.

 

[Caretaker]

More people want Les Pauls so they charge more.
Also, as stated above, it`s a lot easier financially to make an SG.
For the most part it`s just plain mahogany,
No ookmatching flame tops.
One piece of wood.
No binding.
Cookie cutter guitars.

 

[MSB]

carved maple top + binding


less is more sometimes

 

[Cjsinla]

To half price? This is what baffles me. Sure, you don’t get much variety in tops or finishes, but everything else is on par - if not better— than on my Les Pauls.

There’s not as much difference in price in the newer versions. According to Gibson.com, there is only a 25% to 30% difference in price.

 

[VictorB]

SGs are up there...

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Gibson-Custom/61-59-Fat-Neck-SG-Limited-Edition-Electric-Guitar.gc

Depends where you shop I suppose.

 

[Christosterone]

Gibson '61 / '62 SG Custom Reissue 1987 - 1991 | Reverb

While they were in the catalog as '62 reissues, these post-Norlin SG Custom Reissues more closely model the spec and feel of a '61 Les Paul (SG) Custom.

reverb.com

 

[filtersweep]

Hey- no doubt you can cherry pick extremes.

I am just comparing garden variety Standards across a given year.

 

[Christosterone]

Hey- no doubt you can cherry pick extremes.

I am just comparing garden variety Standards across a given year.

I bought a 50s tribute husk from stratosphere for $599....it’s bananas

wish it was pore filled and glossy though

sg is an awesome guitar....just not a les Paul...
that being said, some are badass....
most are not my cup of tea if choosing between a bound, capped lester

-Chris

 

[SWeAT hOg]

To half price? This is what baffles me. Sure, you don’t get much variety in tops or finishes, but everything else is on par - if not better— than on my Les Pauls.

No bursts on SGs...time consuming process, as is making arch-top, body binding, adds up...but I’m not seeing them sell at 2X the price of an LP...usually similar to a LP Studio...which has less finishing.

 

[filtersweep]

I bought a 50s tribute husk from stratosphere for $599....it’s bananas

wish it was pore filled and glossy though

sg is an awesome guitar....just not a les Paul...
that being said, some are badass....
most are not my cup of tea if choosing between a bound, capped lester

-Chris

No doubt. There is a reason I have three Les Pauls and only one SG.

Around here, I can find a used, minty SG Standard for $850- easily. And an LP Standard starts around $1500 if its neck is still intact. The neck and hardware are all basically the same.

 

[efstop]

My SG Special was $1600 CAD (new), my Tribute was $460 (blowout at BestBuy) but I have about $1200 in it with parts swaps, a case and a yet to be installed Les Term II. So, still cheaper than the SG, and a new SG Special or Standard is still pricier than a new Tribute, and the same price as a new Studio.

An SG Special or Standard is about 60% of the price of a current LP Standard, in Canada.
The SG Tribute is 44% the cost of an LP Standard.
So many permutations of each model, so make your choice and pony up

 

[Christosterone]

If this had white binding and a capped top i would buy it ASAP...

2019 Gibson USA SG High Performance BODY & NECK HP AA Top "Blueberry Fade"

Your finest resource for guitar parts! Fender, Gibson, Charvel, Seymour Duncan, Guitar Bodies, Guitar Necks, Loaded Pickguards, Guitar Pickups and more...

stratosphereparts.com

-Chris

 

[ARandall]

A slab type guitar where the body could be completed ready for neck gluing within 1 work shift is always going to be much cheaper than a 2 wood species bookmatched bound carved top guitar with a burst finish......its always been a mystery why they are actually so close in price really.

 

[Injector]

LPs cost more to make, and they're more desirable. Hence the higher price. You can see an easier example with the Les Paul Special. Slab body, no maple top, no carving, no body binding. Much cheaper than a Les Paul Classic or Standard.

 

[budg]

I have a LP Tribute and SG 61 Standard. Obvious to me is that the selecting a maple cap , gloss finishing a LP and the binding around the body are the biggest factors. 1799 vs 2499 , more work involved in the LP. Leave the binding off the LP, no gloss finish , MOP on the headstock and no hard shell case brings a LP around 1100 .

 

[Tim Plains]

Desirability is most of it. Why only charge $x for something when you can get $xx for it?

 

[Les Paul Newb]

SGs are WAYYYY cheaper to manufacture. It’s not even close.

 

[moreles]

I have a really nice old SG/LP Custom, and while the headstock, fretboard, and neck have the same complexity, handwork, and level of quality and finish as my LP, the body of the guitar is a different story, Even the beveling and non-mirror-image horns, both beautifully designed and executed, are way, way more easy to produce than a LP top carve, binding/scraping, etc. And while mine is beautiful old mahogany, there's less of it, and no bookmatched maple top, etc. I prefer SGs to LPs, so I'm glad the prices are so much more reasonable.