Why are new R8's $4,500?

[toymaker]

Also..just to add..I saw a '60 LP with a 200k price tag...does that mean they are SELLING for that...no.

It means someone is looking to score big on a sucker..or get some free advertising. Benny Binnion used to famously display a million bucks for the tourist to take a pic with for free..of course while they were there, might as well take your chances for 20 at the tables.

Put high end stuff at stratsphoric prices and let the kiddies hold it and dream...not a bad ploy.

 

[Khank]

Most dealers can give you a great price on a new 2013 Les Paul, you just have to ask!

True. I mean anyone who pays the prices listed for high-ticket guitars at Musicians Friend, Sweetwater, etc., is just wasting money. Guitar Center tags them at online prices, but has always given me at least 15% off. My favorite local retailer doesn't even bother jerking around, they just tag all the higher priced guitars well below online prices, and then they don't have to dicker.

Examples:

Les Paul G0: tagged $3800, sold to me for $3200
Gibson Hummingbird: tagged $3050, sold to me for $2500
Martin D41: tagged $4000, sold to me for $3150
Gibson ES175: tagged $4000, sold to me for $3200

I saved thousands by purchasing locally as opposed to online stores. And the price of an R9 new online today is what, $6300? I got mine locally for under $5k.

Online pricing is just stupid for high ticket instruments.

 

[nicolasrivera]

Mesa Boogie products that are for sale from their dealers will not give you a discount, the listed price is the final price, Mesa does not allow their dealers to give lower prices.

I do not know why are they so stiff on their pricing.

 

[jhun1976]

I wouldn't sell my R8 for that cheap. In fact, this is the only guitar I prolly wouldn't sell.

 

[toymaker]

As to Mesa and their product..its because they do value their dealers..

Gibson has MAP, but wont cut you off if you sell below that price..just advertise it openly.

I have mixed feelings on the no exceptions pricing. Really though, it encorages a level playing field and stronger customer support. Nothing like spending 2 hours helping someone out, setting them up with a couple of guitars or amps to try out..giving them space and checking in and closing the sale on a high end product to hear "such and such offered to me for this price, will you match it". Of course the competition is basically a mail order house who has no store front and 2 employees.

Its hard work for small shops to make it without the inet..and not everyone has the knowledge to make sharp websites, pdf flyers and such. Of course, if you do..you can make alot of volume once its established..but getting established takes time, money and alot of work.

No exception pricing also benefits used product..as you can price high and haggle lower..always a good thing for experienced sellers who have something scarce and in demand.

 

[jamman]

Because they can . Imo , is the answer . And they charge more for R9's and R0's because you get lighter/better grade of Mahogany , some times darker fret boards and a better grade of Maple tops . Is that worth 1.5 - 2K and + more ? Well, it seems so as Gibson sells a whole lot of them every year .

 

[JimmyAce2006]

even though the minimum advertised price is 4500 most dealers will actually sell between 3700-4000. and the dealers who sell them who are not licensed dealers will sell for about 3300-3600. of course, if it is a special run, it will cost more.

 

[The Wedge]

I'm not really into buying used, nor do I sell my stuff. I'd gladly pay an extra $1000 for a VIRGIN!

 

[trmckn]

I wouldn't sell my R8 for that cheap. In fact, this is the only guitar I prolly wouldn't sell.

I think that might be the prettiest R8 I've ever seen...

 

[duck2k]

This was a limited run of lemon plaintops in 2009 to celebrate the '59. I will not sell this baby either.

 

[Eternal Scar]

I wouldn't sell my R8 for that cheap. In fact, this is the only guitar I prolly wouldn't sell.

What year is that R8?Amazing top for sure!

 

[THDNUT]

When I first heard about the Historics in 2007 I think the R8's were like $3,000 or so new and the R9's were up to $4K. Now a plain top is $4,500? At least the one that I saw at Guitar Center today is. It's a lemon Burst with a little grain in the top, nice, but nothing special.

Do people actually pay these prices?

I don't know where you saw NEW R9s for 4K in 2007. MAP in '06 was $5199 (for VOS). I bought 2 R9's in '06 (on sale) a VOS for $4200 + tax and a gloss for $4450 + tax.

 

[Khank]

I don't know where you saw NEW R9s for 4K in 2007. MAP in '06 was $5199 (for VOS). I bought 2 R9's in '06 (on sale) a VOS for $4200 + tax and a gloss for $4450 + tax.

Well, MAP to me is the same as "List Price", and retail is usually about 30% off of that. That puts a $5,200 list price at $3,640 retail. Prices seem to vary greatly. For example, Musicians Friend retails 2013 R9s for $6,300. I paid $5,000 locally. That's about 80% off retail (going by Musicians Friend's price), and I don't even know what the MAP/List price would be.

Regardless, I'm not positive that R9s were $4K in 2007, it's when I first found out about them through a friend who was telling me prices. I was like "there's no way I would ever spend that kind of money on a guitar" back then.

The point I think I was trying to make here is that $4,500 for a new R8 plain top seems absolutely outrageous beyond all that is sensible. There must be an incredible loss on resale value because I just bought a minty used 2011 R8 plain top for $2,500 with all the bells and whistles.

 

[THDNUT]

Well, MAP to me is the same as "List Price", and retail is usually about 30% off of that. That puts a $5,200 list price at $3,640 retail. Prices seem to vary greatly. For example, Musicians Friend retails 2013 R9s for $6,300. I paid $5,000 locally. That's about 80% off retail (going by Musicians Friend's price), and I don't even know what the MAP/List price would be.

Regardless, I'm not positive that R9s were $4K in 2007, it's when I first found out about them through a friend who was telling me prices. I was like "there's no way I would ever spend that kind of money on a guitar" back then.

The point I think I was trying to make here is that $4,500 for a new R8 plain top seems absolutely outrageous beyond all that is sensible. There must be an incredible loss on resale value because I just bought a minty used 2011 R8 plain top for $2,500 with all the bells and whistles.

MAP is minimum advertised price. That's the lowest price Gibson will let an authorized dealer advertise them for in print. List price (MSRP) of an R9 VOS in '06 was about $8100. Gloss was $8400 or so. I wasn't a member of this forum until '12 and I couldn't find any used ones for sale back then. You're smart to buy used...let the original buyer take the depreciation hit. Go to Gibson's website and look at the custom shop LP re-issues. Gibson lists the MSRP for each model. You'll be shocked..........

 

[Deus Vult]

$2600 R8 in 2008. Back when I had a lot more walking around money



the other thing that one should add is that buying in person with a fist full of cash can often net you a better deal than buying with an AMEX over the phone. Cash is (still) king.

 

[AxeBuilder]

Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate!