Makes you wonder !!!!!

[FOG01]

Originally Posted by AndrewG

Poor analogy; you can have world class surgery in Cuba, for example, for very little money. Cuba's medical training is so highly regarded that their medics can gain accreditation to practice in the US. It is also rated around the same as the US (US=36, Cuba=39) in quality of healthcare, according to the World Health Organisation, so there's that to consider...
Or come to England and get fixed for free.

First rule of economics... No such thing as a free lunch, or surgery. Somebody is paying for it.

Back to the guitar. I paid A LOT for a guitar that is above my skill level, for now... To a degree I paid for the name (Taylor), and I've done the same for a Martin as well. It's all part of the experience for me and if it didn't sound right the name would cease to be important.

[JP Richardson]

Originally Posted by RP

Yeh, there is that. I've come to accept that I'll probably spend north of $1995 for a new acoustic guitar even though that's precisely what I spent for my first new car, a VW Super Beetle in 1972....

My first new car was also $1995.00 A 1979 Ford Fiesta Bright yellow. Wanted the new Honda Prelude but couldn't swing the payments.

[SouthpawJeff]

Not sure it's hype or smoke and mirrors? Martin, Taylor etc charge thousands simply because people will pay thousands. There's a certain point where it costs x dollars to manufacture a guitar profitably. Above that it seems to be "how much will people pay?"

These companies mass produce guitars and buy materials by the truck load. I'd love to know the difference in total materials cost between the least expensive laminate guitar and the high end ones.... maybe $100? Sure you could have more hours in inlay work and fine tuning. But enough to make the numbers work?.... not in my opinion anyway.

I'm a cabinetmaker by trade. I look at guys like Christopher Peacock or Poggenpohl for instance whose kitchens run 3-4x what smaller shops would charge for the same kitchen. Is it because they're better quality? I'm sure those who sign the checks would say so. I'd say though that people are paying for the name. Not smoke and mirrors, just free market and people's desire to pay for status and name. And if it works for them....then all is good🙂

I haven't really shopped expensive guitars in years. Last time was when there was still a big box music store around, ( think it was Mars?). I remember being excited at the chance to play so many high end guitars, (not common for a lefty). I played several guitars including Martin and Gibsons that were well out of my budget.... didn't like any of them. Nicest playing/sounding guitar I found was a Larivee that was well under $1k! Still wish I bought it🙁 So for me when it comes to acoustics it's all about the individual guitar and how it works for me. If I can find one that fits my needs for x dollars, I have no reason to spend more. Electrics.... well that's a different story😁

Jeff

[Bob from Brooklyn]

I just got back from playing a Martin 15 series vs. a similar non-Martin. The Martin was way better. 3 or 4 times better? That is up to the buyer to decide.

[MichaelD23]

Gotta agree. I picked up a Tanglewood Parlor and it plays just fine and sounds quite good, especially for fingerpicked country blues. It's not quite the guitar that my Larrivee Parlor is, but for less than half the cost, it's a fine instrument. And it's a very good looking guitar, as well, with a nicely executed slotted headstock.

Originally Posted by Athens

Sometimes it just all comes together and a great sounding instrument is born, regardless of price.

We don't see too many Tanglewoods on this side of the pond, but the ones I have had the opportunity to play were great playing and sounding instruments.

[vindibona1]

I was faced with a similar dilemma 37 years ago when buying my first "good" acoustic. I had $1000 in my budget and would have pretty much used it up with a Martin D28 which I was gassing for (were they THAT much money back then???). Then the local shop keeper brought out this Alvarez Yairi. Played them both. Liked the Yairi BETTER. When I asked how much $175 w/OHSC was pretty much a no brainer. Still have the Yairi. Once had GAS for a "real" D28 but a trip to GC with my Yairi, playing them side by side cured my gas once again. Sometimes it just happens that way. [My daughter has it now and there's no way I'm going to be able to ever steal it back ]

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by FOG01

First rule of economics... No such thing as a free lunch, or surgery. Somebody is paying for it.

Back to the guitar. I paid A LOT for a guitar that is above my skill level, for now... To a degree I paid for the name (Taylor), and I've done the same for a Martin as well. It's all part of the experience for me and if it didn't sound right the name would cease to be important.

I don't think AndrewG said or implied anything about "free Lunches".

As far as the variance between American and Far Eastern guitars are concerned, Whilst I have my own share of relatively expensive pieces, I'd agree that US products are, (often) good but far overpriced, which has opened up the market for the Far eastern makers who are now parallel quality wise and superior in competitiveness.

[FOG01]

I have limited experience with guitars but the brands I tried before deciding to pay more were noticeably inferior in terms of playability, sound and workmanship. There are many I've yet to see however. The guitar I have now is in a sense an heirloom for me.

If I ever get to the point where I play out somewhere, I'd have to find a more expendable alternative.

[Brucebubs]

Originally Posted by HHP

The headman in Cuba didn't think so. When he needed surgery, he flew in a bunch of Swiss doctors.

Wow, that doesn't sound so good, have you seen their cheese?

[Mr. Jelly]

There's one thing that glares out about the guitar quality / price discussion. The point that the inexpensive guitar has to be excused. If they are such great guitars why is anyone making excuses for them?

[Jabberwocky]

Originally Posted by AndrewG

Or come to England and get fixed for free.

Thank you but I rather like to keep me dangly bits for a little while longer.

[Jabberwocky]

Originally Posted by HHP

Let's say you need life saving surgery. You go to 5 top surgeons who graduated from the best med schools and have decade long reputations as best in their field. They all tell you the surgery will cost you about $100,000.

You find another surgeon, not well known, credentials from a Caribbean med school, who tells you he will do it for $10,000.

Which is more dubious?

Carribbean surgeon; you only have $10 000. Top surgeon won't save you at a discount.

[Silly Moustache]

I guess that there are a lot of us - esp. baby boomers - who were willing to pay Martin and Gibson prices (when we could) because we wanted the guitars that our musical heroes had. That surely had some effect on me.

Few American guitars were available to us during the '60s, and initially Japanese guitars (and many other products) were poor in quality and because of the destruction of many British and German factories, there was a distinct shortage of guitars so the "american consumerist dream" of was something that captured our imagination.

My first American guitars were mostly troublesome in various ways, until my '73 D35, and then my '98 Collings perfection,

If I was a teen/twenties guy buying guitars now, I would be primarily looking at the better Far eastern instruments - not American made instruments - not because they are bad - few are, but because they are over priced.

[muscmp]

Originally Posted by HHP

Realistically speaking, there's more hype, marketing, and smoke and mirrors in your average $300 guitar than in your typical $3000 guitar.

i second that!

play music!

[Long Jon]

Originally Posted by AndrewG

Yep; but I can't hear 'mystique', 'tradition' or 'reputation'.

You don't have to, you can see it, right there on the headstock, which should always read "Martin".


(OK, better put a smiley , hopefully avert a war,,, . There ya go.)