Guitar Prices Through The Years

[3notes]

I find this to be interesting...

Back in 2006 I bought a new Larrivee, OM-03R. I paid sticker price, $999.00. Loved that guitar.

I chose the Larrivee over a Taylor 314ce. Price of the 314ce was very close to the Larrivee, once again, year 2006.

I had to sell the Larrivee in 2013.

In 2017 I "replaced" the Larrivee I sold with a new OM-40, mahogany b/s. I paid $1,050.00, just over the cost of the OM-03R I had purchased back in '06. Very reasonable.

Now, back to the Taylor 314ce... I just looked at the cost today, MF has it marked at $1,800.00.!!!

This doesn't add up for me. Someone please help me understand this....

[Judson]

I think what a guitar is "marked" and what you actually pay ought to be much different in most cases.

The $1,800 Taylor 314ce is priced at (Minimum Advertised Price) MAP and any of the AGF sponsors will beat that substantially. In fact, if you negotiate with MF they'll come off that price too.

What was MAP for the Larrivee OM-40 you bought recently? Is it a cutaway with built-in electronics?

It could also be a case of comparing apples and oranges.

[Dwight]

Taylor's went up alot! Maybe Bob pay's his people more.

[jojobean39]

Some guitars go up substantially. Taylors have gotten really popular over the last ten years. I’ve noticed in worship bands, it’s nearly a requirement to have a Taylor guitar. Playing anything else is like playing a telecaster in a death metal band.

McPherson is another one that has just skyrocketed. I played their guitars about ten years ago and they were like $6000. Today, that same guitar is $12000. It’s doubled. That’s about 7% increase a year. More than double inflation.

[Cypress Knee]

In 2007 Gruhn advertised a new Martin D 28 at the MSRP of $2,849. They advertised a new Taylor 314 ce at MSRP of $2,138.

Today Gruhn is advertising a new Martin D 28 at MAP of $2,699. I do not know Martin MAP policies, but guessing 75%, then that implies an MSRP of $3,598.
The 314 ce at advertised at MAP of $1,799, implying an MSRP of $2,398.

So that would be a price increase of about 25% over the past ten years for the D 28, which includes a market correction with nasty consequences for many guitar makers. However, Gruhn's advertised a new D 28 in 2010 at an MSRP of $2,999, so the downdraft wasn't that bad for the D 28. The 314 ce has had minimal price increase, if you bought it new from Gruhn.

I used MSRP because it gives a consistent view of the suggested retail price for a new instrument. Prices in the secondary market can be all over the board and do not present an accurate reflection of the overall trend.

[3notes]

Originally Posted by Judson

I think what a guitar is "marked" and what you actually pay ought to be much different in most cases.

The $1,800 Taylor 314ce is priced at (Minimum Advertised Price) MAP and any of the AGF sponsors will beat that substantially. In fact, if you negotiate with MF they'll come off that price too.

What was MAP for the Larrivee OM-40 you bought recently? Is it a cutaway with built-in electronics?

It could also be a case of comparing apples and oranges.

Thanks for shedding some light on this for me.

Back in 2006 if I recall, both guitars were straight up acoustic. If so, I'm all wet on the 314ce in my original post. I'm actually thinking that the Taylor had the cutaway but not the electronics, but I could be wrong again. It was a long time ago....

The tag on the om-40 was $1369. I was very happy in that I didn't ask for a lower price. The dealer knocked off a chunk and then 10 minutes later dropped the price again, which put me at the purchase point. The dealer is known here on the forum but isn't well known.

In summary, I would say Taylor has increased while Larrivee has increased very little.

I did not know that MF will drop the price. Wow. Had no idea. Doubtful I would buy a guitar online, but it's good to know.

[Silly Moustache]

Hi, I started buying "expensive " guitars in 1999. a new Collings cost me £2750 (about $3900) . We generally pay "sticker" price in the UK and it includes 20% tax.

Good guitars have increased considerably since then - especially items imported from the USA because of the exchange rate, increased shipping costs. and because it is outside the EU.

A new stock Collings (if you can find one for sale) is closer to £4600 to £5000 ($6500-7000) and way beyond my paygrade.

[Steel and wood]

Martins in Australia have jumped incrementally. (As have a lot of American made guitars but not to the extent of Martin guitars).

Should have bought that D18 years ago in retrospect. (No offence to my Martin DM Mahogany Dreadnought which I love).

[mickthemiller]

Here in the UK it would have been a very good investment to have bought a Martin 18 or 28 series or a Gibson 45 or hummingbird 10 years ago. Used, these guitars, are fetching as much or very close to their new price back then. In fact, in 2015 I paid £1495 for a new J45, which I returned, the cheapest now is almost £2100.

[jpd]

Ah, the *good old days*. Over the decades I've seen new acoustics garner more value as time went on, and I've seen them tank! It all evens out in the end-it's just maintaining that balance until it does

[SpiderTrap]

When the boomers retiring now are gone , prices should drop because it will be such a small market for expensive guitars , companies will be eating them . Acoustic guitars will be considered antiques . Electronics or something else may take their place . Same as " DJ " s took over party music by pushing buttons . There wont be many people around who will pay $25,000 ( by then ) for an acoustic guitar , or have 10 +++ years or concentration to learn . It's instant gratification and acoustic guitar is NOT . The market's flooded now , People carrying a guitar case around will be considered out-dated or worse. It's the Bell Curve and it's headed down . Acoustic saw it's hey Day in the 70s.

[Epiphone100]

Originally Posted by mickthemiller

Here in the UK it would have been a very good investment to have bought a Martin 18 or 28 series or a Gibson 45 or hummingbird 10 years ago. Used, these guitars, are fetching as much or very close to their new price back then. In fact, in 2015 I paid £1495 for a new J45, which I returned, the cheapest now is almost £2100.

Yes indeed.......in 2003 I bought a new Martin 00015S for £799, today.........£1799 !! And as for Gibson !!!!

[musicman1951]

I purchased a new D-28 around 1972 for $395. The sales tax on my last guitar was $800. Times change.

[Taylor814]

I bought a D18 in 1974 for $320. Correcting for inflation, that equates to $1702 in 2018. The street price for a new D18 today is about $1870, so not much "real" price increase, as you might expect.

[DenverSteve]

Originally Posted by 3notes

..Guitar Prices Through The Years...

. Go up. Play ‘em if you got ‘em