Why are Les Paul Customs cost more but don't hold value?

[Texas07R8]

Just wondering here... A Les Paul Custom normally costs more than a Standard Les Paul.. You get the ebony fretboard, MOP inlays, etc... besides the name "Custom" with the fancier appointments are more costly to produce than a Standard.

So why is it that Customs on the used market seem to always cost less than another LP of similar age and condition. I've seen countless LP Customs that sold for a few hundred dollars more than a standard but on resale a few years later they typically sell for a few hundred less than a standard?

Is it just me noticing these prices on just the guitars I happen to see or is there a consensus that Customs typically drop in value on resale over a Standard?

 

[Deus Vult]

i see customs go for more than std most of the time. customs seem to hold out around 2000-2400. stds these days go for 1400-1800 most of the time.

gibsons dont seem to hold value unless there is something special (Braz, Murphy, etc) about them

 

[Tim Plains]

I've noticed that too. There's a 2008 used Black Beauty at my local music shop. The price tag is $2,600. The guy who traded it in got $2,100, I know for a fact. Right beside is is a brand new 2008 BB for $4,100. Which one would you buy?

I think it's one of two things.

1. Gibson punishes you for buying a new Custom. Think about it, those fancy appointments probably only cost Gibson a few extra pennies. Yet, the list price is an additional grand.

2. The Custom falls into the same category as the R9. Ultra high end and people that buy a new one pay a hefty premium.

 

[backline]

...those fancy appointments probably only cost Gibson a few extra pennies...

Oh I dunno, the back binding, etc., adds time and labor hours in routing, gluing (waiting for the glue to set too), scraping level. Same-same the head binding and inlaying. Plus little details: the body is multiple bound, not just a single layer.

I can see they'll charge for that. All to make a guitar that is somewhat less sought after in the used market.

'Course it could all change overnight when the next wunderkind infant that plays like Mahavishnu John Mclaughlin (like Frank Zappa predicted) chooses to get famous holding a Custom in pictures.

 

[racerratt]

i see customs go for more than std most of the time. customs seem to hold out around 2000-2400. stds these days go for 1400-1800 most of the time.

gibsons dont seem to hold value unless there is something special (Braz, Murphy, etc) about them

Really?

I've got a 76 LP custom tsb. that I paid $726.00 in 1976 and now they go for anywhere between $2000 and $4000 depending on the condition.

 

[LongBeach]

raceratt, I think he was refering to the newer Customs.
(but thanks for rubbing that in my face )

Custom - solid body w/ all the bells and whistles.
Standard - weight releived, some bells, no whistles.

Honestly, buying used at the moment is a crap-shoot with prices,
depending are where you do your purchasing?

 

[Ed B]

Really?

I've got a 76 LP custom tsb. that I paid $726.00 in 1976 and now they go for anywhere between $2000 and $4000 depending on the condition.

here.s why.....

$726.00 in 1976 had about the same buying power as $2,756.19 in 2008.
Annual inflation over this period was about 4.26%.

 

[backline]

Gawd I hate math. Especially that kind.

It reminds me of when used Telecasters were just old guitars you could pick up for a couple hundred bucks.
In fact if I'm not mistaken, I believe in 1976 I picked up one for $211.

But the math on old Tele's has gotten really skewed.

 

[Tuxedo Kaz]

raceratt, I think he was refering to the newer Customs.
(but thanks for rubbing that in my face )

Custom - solid body w/ all the bells and whistles.
Standard - weight releived, some bells, no whistles.

Honestly, buying used at the moment is a crap-shoot with prices,
depending are where you do your purchasing?

According to the Gibby site, the non B7, non 68RI Customs---the regular custom is still weight relieved.

 

[LongBeach]

According to the Gibby site, the non B7, non 68RI Customs---the regular custom is still weight relieved.

10-4, wont make that mistake again

 

[Boleskinehouse]

My two '08 '68s might gain some interest over the years due to being 40th anniversary models. Even though Gibby never said anything about it. They are both rare colors too.

 

[The_Sentry]

Hmmm.....Maybe it's the weight.......

 

[Tim Plains]

According to the Gibby site, the non B7, non 68RI Customs---the regular custom is still weight relieved.

Regular Customs don't have long neck tenon, either...if anybody cares.