$5600 Import Les Paul Copy

[toomanycats]

This popped up on my screen a little bit ago. Yes, you're reading the thread title correct: Five Thousand and Six Hundred Dollars!

It is made in Japan, meaning it's an import. It is without a doubt a Les Paul copy. It's the ESP Alex Skolnick signature model.

I'm sure it's a heck of a nice guitar, but I cannot possibly conceive what could justify that price tag. Sure, we're used to Gibsons being priced in this range, and we know why this is the case. Namely, because at that price one is not just paying for an instrument, but also for "prestige," for the status symbol factor. In defense of Gibson it can at least be said that they have a long pedigree of super famous users, which by association the average joe can emulate by playing the same brand. And to be fair, above and beyond the hype there are some Gibsons that are amazing instruments. As many of you know the #1 in my stable is a Gibson Les Paul.

I know that Alex Skolnick is a fierce guitar player. I've listened to Testament since The New Order album first came out. If there was a "Big Five" instead of the "Big Four" my vote would be for Alex's band. I certainly know [mention]Narsh[/mention] has listened to the guy a heck of a lot, because I can hear it in his playing. I know that ESP Japan have a reputation as incredible guitars, and it sure does look pretty . . . though part of my mind still keeps registering "Harley Benton" when I look at it.

I also do not want somebody else's initials as an inlay on the fretboard of my guitar. One of you smart alecks (pun intended) is probably going to say, "Well, you seem to be okay with having Les Paul's name on your guitar." But Mr. Skolnick is not Mr. Les Paul, and you should know that.

Is there really a market for import signature instruments in this price range? With all due respect to Mr. Skolnick, the price of this guitar just seems nuts.


https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars ... src=3XBACR

[mickey]

As my old granny used to say "A fool and his money are soon parted."

I wouldn't pay that sort of cash for a Gibson Les Paul with someone else's name/initials on it.
Or my name or initials, come to think of it.

[tobijohn]

That's what the MIJ Yamaha SBGs are going for these days:

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical ... index.html

[Partscaster]

I dont like the horn, or the headstock. I bet it doesn't sound any better than my Callisto's with Dave Stephens humbuckers at 1/6th the price.

[Chocol8]

Hard pass.

[uwmcscott]

I am guessing that they wouldn't have made them if there wasn't a market. There's plenty of boutique guitars selling in that price range or more. PRS private stock models are 2-3x that cost. Plenty of Gibson custom shop models in or above that too. Take a gander at what Collings charges for a regular line single cut too. Even ESP themselves has the Navigator line which is quite spendy.

Bottom line, yes - there's still a lot of people out there with lots of money to blow on $6000 guitars, $75,000 pickups ( the 4 wheeled kind ), multimillion dollar second homes and all kinds other assorted crap.

[BatUtilityBelt]

I've never paid more than half that for any guitar, and then only rarely. So I'm in the NOPE camp. I would pay that for a guitar I considered actually worth it, but I just don't see any. Even the $3700 used mint condition PRS Wood Library Custom 24 that caught my eye the other day was nice, but not enough to warrant that money. If there is a market for them, so be it. I am more than happy with my guitars without getting anywhere near that market. I think they are, as some say, doctor/lawyer guitars.

[nomadh]

This popped up on my screen a little bit ago. Yes, you're reading the thread title correct: Five Thousand and Six Hundred Dollars!

It is made in Japan, meaning it's an import. It is without a doubt a Les Paul copy. It's the ESP Alex Skolnick signature model.

I'm sure it's a heck of a nice guitar, but I cannot possibly conceive what could justify that price tag. Sure, we're used to Gibsons being priced in this range, and we know why this is the case. Namely, because at that price one is not just paying for an instrument, but also for "prestige," for the status symbol factor. In defense of Gibson it can at least be said that they have a long pedigree of super famous users, which by association the average joe can emulate by playing the same brand. And to be fair, above and beyond the hype there are some Gibsons that are amazing instruments. As many of you know the #1 in my stable is a Gibson Les Paul.

I know that Alex Skolnick is a fierce guitar player. I've listened to Testament since The New Order album first came out. If there was a "Big Five" instead of the "Big Four" my vote would be for Alex's band. I certainly know @Narsh has listened to the guy a heck of a lot, because I can hear it in his playing. I know that ESP Japan have a reputation as incredible guitars, and it sure does look pretty . . . though part of my mind still keeps registering "Harley Benton" when I look at it.

I also do not want somebody else's initials as an inlay on the fretboard of my guitar. One of you smart alecks (pun intended) is probably going to say, "Well, you seem to be okay with having Les Paul's name on your guitar." But Mr. Skolnick is not Mr. Les Paul, and you should know that.

Is there really a market for import signature instruments in this price range? With all due respect to Mr. Skolnick, the price of this guitar just seems nuts.


https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars ... src=3XBACR


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Maybe it's just me but personally I'd pay the extra 5k over an agile just to have a mahogany back in a color I recognize as a wood color.

[Chocol8]

PRS private stock models are 2-3x that cost. Plenty of Gibson custom shop models in or above that too. Take a gander at what Collings charges for a regular line single cut too. Even ESP themselves has the Navigator line which is quite spendy.

Those guitars have an established history and a track record of healthy second hand prices.

[fullonshred]

That's what the MIJ Yamaha SBGs are going for these days:

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical ... index.html

Barring a LARGE Lottery winning I guess I will never own one. I guess I "should" have bought one when a much nicer model could have been had for 3k give or take. Oh well.

[rrobbone]

Wow.

I marvel at this. That much cash would be more than enough to buy every tool you would need to build that guitar, plus enough lumber, hardware, and electronics to screw it up nine times before getting that result on the tenth.

[solteroblues]

If that were $1000 and actually looked like the pictures, it would be on its way to my house right now. At $5600, it looks too much like the $239 version that every kid in GC has abused and "pre-relic'd"

[solteroblues]

One other thought, these guitars exist because they're supposed to be an affordable, attainable version of a $5600 Gibson R9, but when the copy looks like a caricature of the real thing, and then the price matches, its defeating the entire purpose.

I have heard of Alex, and I've heard of Testament, but I would have never known that he was part of Testament without googling it. I could never justify paying so much extra for a signature model of someone I'm not even that familiar with, and can't imagine there is that big of a demand for him - but maybe I'm wrong.

[toomanycats]

these guitars exist because they're supposed to be an affordable, attainable version of a $5600 Gibson R9, but when the copy looks like a caricature of the real thing, and then the price matches, its defeating the entire purpose.

Bingo!

[golem]

Look at what Dusenberg charges for a guitar probably made in the same factory as Reverend. Granted, they may do assembly and painting in Germany. But... that's $3K+ for a guitar made in Korea (where that's likely more than the monthly salary of the workers).

But generally speaking, if the market supports it who am I to argue. Time will tell.

For example, I'm super impressed by the highest end guitars created by Ibanez in Indonesia so far.

[tobijohn]

...For example, I'm super impressed by the highest end guitars created by Ibanez in Indonesia so far.

The build quality on the most recent three or four Indonesian Harley Bentons I've bought is unreal...

[uwmcscott]

Those guitars have an established history and a track record of healthy second hand prices.

ESP/Navigator/Edwards does as well - albeit not as much here in the US as overseas.

And to be honest, there are very few guitars in that price range that appreciate in value if you buy them new. Ask a dealer like Dave's or Eddies - they generally mark this kind of stuff at about 80-85% of retail even if it's only a few months old when they sell them as "used". So bottom line, you are almost assured of losing money on any of them.

But the OP's question was is there a market for this kind of thing really - and there definitely is. Not only that, but there's a population of people who regularly buy and sell ( at a loss ) or trade guitars in this price range just to have whatever the coolest and latest might be. The volume of high end used gear coming in and out of Daves via trade/consignment/etc is ridiculous, and they are very upfront about what they will give you for your gear, and what they will mark it at when they put it on the floor.

[toomanycats]

...For example, I'm super impressed by the highest end guitars created by Ibanez in Indonesia so far.

The build quality on the most recent three or four Indonesian Harley Bentons I've bought is unreal...

What models John?

[tobijohn]

...For example, I'm super impressed by the highest end guitars created by Ibanez in Indonesia so far.

The build quality on the most recent three or four Indonesian Harley Bentons I've bought is unreal...

What models John?

B-stocks of the following:

https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_ben ... nburst.htm

https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_ben ... yellow.htm

https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_ben ... cherry.htm

https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_ben ... _black.htm