blatant consumer and price ridiculousness!

[CaptainDesslock]

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

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?

[ailean]

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.

[WezV]

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. 

[nfe]

Always remember that important maxim:

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


 :roll:  :P

[Denim n Leather]

Meh. If you have the money to the point where this is disposable (or even justifiable) then I say more power to ya!

[AndyR]

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 :)

[indysmith]

Makes me sick that people will pay that sort of money for things!
A guitar simply cannot be worth that.
It just can't.

[Jonny]

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.

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.

[MDV]

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.

[Denim n Leather]

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!

[Denim n Leather]

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?!

[MDV]

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.

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.

[Dr. Vic]

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:

[Jonny]

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!

[Ratrod]

There was an $10.000 Epiphone ES295 as well.

Someone with huge fingers is working at MF.