Speculation is getting out of hand...

[Robslalaina]

So you're going to buy a Solar and mod it into an RG instead of buying an Ibanez?

And... that's pretty much it Touché!

Ok now what in the cinnamon toast fuck is this? I bought one of these for $1200 used about eight years ago, sold it for $1K 6 years ago. Some of these prices are like the afternoon jewelry shows designed to prey on geriatrics with social security checks. There's been a couple of guitars I've been watching that are priced like

"How dare you say anything against the second hand prices people ask for? Sellers can ask whatever amount they want. A product is worth how much somebody is willing to pay for it. Buy it or shut it." Although there's some relevance to that kind of First World tough talk, fast forward X months/years with or without pandemic/economic crisis etc. and you find the same people collectively complaining about e.g. how they can no longer find early 90s LP Studios for less than a grand. There's something really boring about it all.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

"How dare you say anything against the second hand prices people ask for? Sellers can ask whatever amount they want. A product is worth how much somebody is willing to pay for it. Buy it or shut it." Although there's some relevance to that kind of First World tough talk, fast forward X months/years with or without pandemic/economic crisis etc. and you find the same people collectively complaining about e.g. how they can no longer find early 90s LP Studios for less than a grand. There's something really boring about it all.

Sellers can ask for whatever amount they want, but in this case, hopefully they won't get anywhere near what they're asking for. Anything over 25% of the list price would be daylight robbery.

 

[MAJ Meadows SF]

Debates over "fair market value" vs MSRP vs collectability vs "art" rage on.

I'd ask a cool 1 mil for my Valkenbyrd, because then I could fund the business and have anything I want built. However, since that may not be an option anymore, that particular piece is no longer on the market (that it never was on to begin with; I'll be buried with that axe).

"It is a 1-off, has completely unique artwork, is essentially collectable, why could I not ask for such an absurd price? Nobody will pay for it, but if someone does..."

Yeah I cringe re-reading that. Can't fathom asking for 1/100th of that even.

 

[OmegaSlayer]

BTW
Just checked an LTD Arrow (Violet Andromeda) on Sweetwater
$ 1399, which is € 1289
On Thomann, which has the lowest price in EU it's € 1499
On Strumentimusicali (biggest Italian store) it's € 1632

It's not going to end well

 

[Robslalaina]

What I'd like to know is whether these price increases enable manufacturers to recoup increased costs broadly speaking, or if they in fact enable them to generate more profit under the pretext of increased costs. Capitalism, etc, I know. I'm just curious.

BTW
Just checked an LTD Arrow (Violet Andromeda) on Sweetwater
$ 1399, which is € 1289
On Thomann, which has the lowest price in EU it's € 1499
On Strumentimusicali (biggest Italian store) it's € 1632

It's not going to end well

For fellow Europeans musicstore currently have interesting prices for a few models. Some are in stock, the others will be available March through May or something. Here's a few examples. There's quite a few I actually find tempting, like the Loomis or M80M!

ESP LTD SC-607 Baritone Purple Satin

LTD SC-607 Baritone Purple Satin at the best price. | GIT0052535-000

www.musicstore.com

Jackson Pro Series Signature Misha Mansoor Juggernaut ET7 Gulf Blue

Jackson Misha Mansoor Signature, 7-string, caramelized maple neck, graphite reinforcement, Jackson MM1 humbucker, EverTune bridge, locking tuners.

www.musicstore.com

Ibanez M80M Meshuggah Signature WK Weathered Black

8-string electric guitar, ash body, maple walnut neck, jatoba fingerboard, Lundgren M8P humbucker, Ibanez FX Edge-III bridge, gigbag

www.musicstore.com

Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 EB Satin Black

7-string signature guitar, neck-through, sandblasted ash top, Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis blackouts, Floyd Rose tremolo

www.musicstore.com

Jackson Pro Series Signature Josh Smith Soloist SL7 ET Aquamarine

Josh Smith (Northlane) Signature 7-string electric guitar with Bare Knuckel Impulse pickups and EverTune 7-string bridge, including case.

www.musicstore.com

Ibanez Prestige RG5328-LDK Lightning Through A Dark

The Ibanez Prestige RG5328-LDK Lightning Through A Dark is the ideal electric guitar for modern progressive metal and djent with the extended range of its eight strings.

www.musicstore.com

Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-7 Cobalt Slate

Aaron Marshall (Intervals) Signature 7-String electric guitar with basswood body, wenge neck and Schecter USA Solstice and Equinox humbuckers.

www.musicstore.com

ESP LTD H3-1007 Baritone See Thru Black Sunburst

7-string electric guitar, set-thru, 27" scale length (686 mm), flamed maple top, Seymour Duncan Sentient & Pegasus, TonePros Bridge

www.musicstore.com

ESP LTD M-7HT Baritone Black Metal Black Satin

7-string electric guitar, Alder body, Maple neck, Seymour Duncan Blackened Black Winter, Hipshot bridge, Locking Tuner

www.musicstore.com

ESP LTD EX-7 Baritone Black Metal

Electric guitar, Set-Thru, 27" scale length, mahogany body, maple neck, Thin andProfil, stainless steel frets, EMG 81, TonePros Bridge, Locking tuners

www.musicstore.com

Ibanez Iron Label RGIXL7-BKF Black Flat

7-String electric guitar, Extended Range Guitar, Nyatoh body, Maple-Amaranth (Purpleheart) neck, Gotoh Locking Tuners

www.musicstore.com

 

[OmegaSlayer]

Thanks @Robslalaina
Definitely some better prices

 

[bostjan]

What I'd like to know is whether these price increases enable manufacturers to recoup increased costs broadly speaking, or if they in fact enable them to generate more profit under the pretext of increased costs.

The most basic principal of capitalist pricing is to set the price as high as the market will bear. The only time how much it costs to make something comes into play is when you are deciding whether or not to make the thing in the first place.

So, with inflation on the rise, prices are going to rise, not to recoup higher costs, but because people expect it.

If there is competition, then the cost of the components used to manufacture the product kind of naturally set a floor on the pricing, but that's not the intent, but rather a consequence. To the consumer, there is probably no difference, really - you either want to buy it or do not want to buy it.

If anyone out there thinks that the cost of a product reflects the cost to manufacture the product, they are not in the capitalist mindset at all.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

The most basic principal of capitalist pricing is to set the price as high as the market will bear. The only time how much it costs to make something comes into play is when you are deciding whether or not to make the thing in the first place.

So, with inflation on the rise, prices are going to rise, not to recoup higher costs, but because people expect it.

If there is competition, then the cost of the components used to manufacture the product kind of naturally set a floor on the pricing, but that's not the intent, but rather a consequence. To the consumer, there is probably no difference, really - you either want to buy it or do not want to buy it.

If anyone out there thinks that the cost of a product reflects the cost to manufacture the product, they are not in the capitalist mindset at all.

Not all of us are American

 

[bostjan]

Not all of us are American

Knowing this is a joke, this is not directed at you, but, just as a general point of discussion: capitalism is not really an American thing. It started as a sort of de facto economic system in the Mediterranean and spread throughout Europe slowly until the industrial revolution, at which point it became very important in places like the UK. The USA, for all of our constant huffing and puffing about how capitalist we are, we truly are not, and we shouldn't be. Pure capitalism is a horrible economic system. Look at some of the former Eastern Bloc countries that swung too far toward capitalism and how it's been a double-edged weapon for them. Meanwhile, China is fully embracing state capitalism, where the economy is fully capitalist, but the government is the ultimate owner of everything, and how that's tearing apart not only the environment but human rights and safety.

But that's a total derail. The used guitar market is doing the purely capitalist thing right now and trying to drive prices of used gear way beyond practical limits just to see what happens. When 10% of the gear out there is listing used for more than the price new, and that piece of gear is in stock new, well, that's where we join in on this thread and laugh about how stupid it is. When the vendors and manufacturers catch on and drive the new price up 50% because they see people willing to pay these inflated prices, we'll all be making the surprised Pikachu face...

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Knowing this is a joke, this is not directed at you, but, just as a general point of discussion: capitalism is not really an American thing. It started as a sort of de facto economic system in the Mediterranean and spread throughout Europe slowly until the industrial revolution, at which point it became very important in places like the UK. The USA, for all of our constant huffing and puffing about how capitalist we are, we truly are not, and we shouldn't be. Pure capitalism is a horrible economic system. Look at some of the former Eastern Bloc countries that swung too far toward capitalism and how it's been a double-edged weapon for them. Meanwhile, China is fully embracing state capitalism, where the economy is fully capitalist, but the government is the ultimate owner of everything, and how that's tearing apart not only the environment but human rights and safety.

But that's a total derail. The used guitar market is doing the purely capitalist thing right now and trying to drive prices of used gear way beyond practical limits just to see what happens. When 10% of the gear out there is listing used for more than the price new, and that piece of gear is in stock new, well, that's where we join in on this thread and laugh about how stupid it is. When the vendors and manufacturers catch on and drive the new price up 50% because they see people willing to pay these inflated prices, we'll all be making the surprised Pikachu face...

Yes, very much a joke - made in the full knowledge it's extremely hypocritical coming from a Brit

 

[Emperoff]

When the vendors and manufacturers catch on and drive the new price up 50% because they see people willing to pay these inflated prices, we'll all be making the surprised Pikachu face...

You mean now?

 

[bostjan]

You mean now?