Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: CaptainDesslock on May 28, 2009, 05:09:49 AM

Title: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: CaptainDesslock on May 28, 2009, 05:09:49 AM
As someone who loves constantly looking at gear I always come across something that raises an eyebrow:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Martin-D28-Authentic-Acoustic-Guitar?sku=513360 (http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Martin-D28-Authentic-Acoustic-Guitar?sku=513360)

I just don't get it, 33,000 for an acoustic? What drives people to spend this kind of money on a guitar?  Surely there are even luthiers on this forum that can make an acoustic that sounds just as good for a 1/10th of the price.

So my question is, just where does this sort of ridiculousness stem from and why are people willing to pay it?
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: ailean on May 28, 2009, 05:56:57 AM
I guess in the case of this one, partly the materials. Brazilian rosewood is not easy to come by these days. And partly I guess this is going to have been made by a master luthier, and they can charge what they want :)

People who buy it will either be so well off that they don't care about the price, and investor looking to speculate, or a professional musician (who has that kind of money to throw around). Some of it will be elitism as well, it's not what the guitar is worth so much as the average bod just can't afford it.

I do think it's overpriced, but supply and demand will let them get away with it.
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: WezV on May 28, 2009, 09:16:53 AM
The materials are rare and expensive... but not that rare and expensive.   i guess material costs will be less than 3% of that price tag.  the experience and expertise is worth a lot... but its still pushing it just a tad - especially since it doesnt have the name of that master luthier attached to it

its pure elitism. 

Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: nfe on May 28, 2009, 12:07:02 PM
Always remember that important maxim:

If it's expensive, it's probably worth it.


 :roll:  :P
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: Denim n Leather on May 28, 2009, 12:12:19 PM
Meh. If you have the money to the point where this is disposable (or even justifiable) then I say more power to ya!
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: AndyR on May 28, 2009, 12:18:39 PM
I thought it was 30's D-28, and was getting ready to put forward a different point of view...

...until I followed the link :lol:

Agree with all :)
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: indysmith on May 28, 2009, 03:23:06 PM
Makes me sick that people will pay that sort of money for things!
A guitar simply cannot be worth that.
It just can't.
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: Jonny on May 28, 2009, 03:25:18 PM
Meh. If you have the money to the point where this is disposable (or even justifiable) then I say more power to ya!
Indeed.

The fact you can sometimes afford guitars that are a couple hundred is, compared to some people, the same in this situation.

Quote
First off, I'm tired of people saying this is a good guitar, but not worth the money. At 32 grand, this thing is dirt cheap. I bought 5 of these guetars because they are such a great deal. It comes with a case, but you don't need it because if it brakes you can easily replace it. When I go to gigs I just throw this thing in the back of my truck with some good old dakota dirt and drive away. My only complaint is that one time when I was using it at a gig I was in the middle of country roads by john denver and the neck fell off. People were disapointed that I couldn't play the bridge. Besides that great guitar!

Five!? Wow.
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: MDV on May 28, 2009, 03:32:48 PM
The reason there are guitars, or anything, that expensive is some people are willing to and able to pay it.  

Retailers only sell for prices that enough people are willing to pay. End of.
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: Denim n Leather on May 28, 2009, 03:33:28 PM
Meh. If you have the money to the point where this is disposable (or even justifiable) then I say more power to ya!
Indeed.

The fact you can sometimes afford guitars that are a couple hundred is, compared to some people, the same in this situation.
Precisely!
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: Denim n Leather on May 28, 2009, 03:34:04 PM
The reason there are guitars, or anything, that expensive is some people are willing to and able to pay it.  

Retailers only sell for prices that enough people are willing to pay. End of.
Never! As long as the Interwebs are alive, there will be endless debate about drivel! How else are we supposed to stay pacified until Skynet takes over?!
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: MDV on May 28, 2009, 03:34:09 PM
Meh. If you have the money to the point where this is disposable (or even justifiable) then I say more power to ya!
Indeed.

The fact you can sometimes afford guitars that are a couple hundred is, compared to some people, the same in this situation.

Quote
First off, I'm tired of people saying this is a good guitar, but not worth the money. At 32 grand, this thing is dirt cheap. I bought 5 of these guetars because they are such a great deal. It comes with a case, but you don't need it because if it brakes you can easily replace it. When I go to gigs I just throw this thing in the back of my truck with some good old dakota dirt and drive away. My only complaint is that one time when I was using it at a gig I was in the middle of country roads by john denver and the neck fell off. People were disapointed that I couldn't play the bridge. Besides that great guitar!

Five!? Wow.

I think the guy that bought 5 was being sarky, jonny ;)

Edit - and yeah, I've been in situations where an "extavagant purchase" has been anywhere from £100 to £3000 for me in the last 10 years, and it depends purely on your available income and how much you want the thing. When it was 100 ish the thought of spending thousands on gear entered my head only as something other people with more money than sense do. This is not the case. Its just the desire/available income ratio, for anything, no matter how much you earn or what it costs. Or it is with me anyway. I can perfectly see how someone with hundreds of thousands or millions in disposable income would look at this, then their bank ballance and if they wanted it enough decide to buy it.
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: Dr. Vic on May 28, 2009, 04:13:11 PM
Some people buy a guitar the price of good car...

......

And sometimes people buy a car the price of a beautiful house...

It's a simple fact : some people can easily pay for this "standard of living", indeed brand like Porsche do have excellent financial results...   

So, is this elitism ? Yes ! But, well, so what ?!

As for me I don't need such a pricey guitar to be happy, simply because I won't be able to appreciate it.
In fact I don't even know, honestly if having this guitar could even make me want play it.. :euuuh:

And when I see with what kind of guitar the most well-known and highly talented guitarists started their careers, well this gives some relativity, and makes you understand  a 30 000 $ guitar won't help you play better, won't make you happier, and won't make you a guitar heroe ! :non:
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: Jonny on May 28, 2009, 04:14:08 PM
It's just depends who's commenting and who's buying does the opinions come positively or negatively.

Christ I remember when I got £1 for being good and I was over the $%&#ing moon!
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: Ratrod on May 28, 2009, 06:52:52 PM
There was an $10.000 Epiphone ES295 as well.

Someone with huge fingers is working at MF.
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: WezV on May 28, 2009, 06:55:44 PM
There was an $10.000 Epiphone ES295 as well.

$10 dollars for an epi - excellent ;)
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: Denim n Leather on May 28, 2009, 07:02:43 PM
There was an $10.000 Epiphone ES295 as well.

$10 dollars for an epi - excellent ;)
If you have the Dollar sign $$$$, you don't need to say 'dollars' also, you sarcy bastid!! :)
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: Dr. Vic on May 28, 2009, 07:29:27 PM
If you have the Dollar sign $$$$, you don't need to say 'dollars' also, you sarcy bastid!! :)

 :haha:

one of a kind input  ^^
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: WezV on May 28, 2009, 11:11:14 PM
fair enough.... that was the gin typing!!
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: Ratrod on May 29, 2009, 11:32:47 AM
Sorry, in Holland we use a dot instead of a comma at the thousand mark. Gimme a break.
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: WezV on May 29, 2009, 11:38:07 AM
and in turkey they use 3 decimal places instead of 2, which is what your post reminded me of. for saying maths is supposed to be a universal language there is still plenty of room for international confusion!!

you know what, my typing seems to be getting much worse.  i think i do too much on auto-pilot.  You wouldnt believe how often i have had to use the delete key to write this!
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: noodleplugerine on May 29, 2009, 12:04:34 PM
There are loads of acoustic luthiers with prices starting at 10k, assuming those building this one are of a similar calibre, this might not be that odd.
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: Johnny Mac on May 30, 2009, 06:52:27 PM
I'd drop 4 or 5 grand on a Lowden if i had it without batting an eyelid. They're the loveliest acoustics I've played. 10 or 15  is too much for me. Saying that so is 4 or 5!
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: Dr. Vic on August 04, 2009, 11:25:24 AM
I find the Les Paul Goldtop really gorgeous, but is this one made of gold ?

WTF ?!?!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Michael-Jackson-Signed-1952-Gibson-Les-Paul-Tito-Played_W0QQitemZ160350208927QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item25559e039f&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 :shock:
Title: Re: blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!
Post by: WezV on August 04, 2009, 11:35:56 AM
i dont mind the conversion work to get rid of the 52 les paul issues but it does seem a bit much for a star guitar with worn off signitures.