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Guitar Discussions -> PRS guitars - overpriced?
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PRS guitars - overpriced? - Champagne Charlie - 14:59 10-11-05
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I have discovered more guitar manufacturers than I ever knew existed since I
joined this NG, and the latest guitar maker I was taking a look at was PRS,
and I thought they made some excellent guitars. Anyway, there I was,
rumaging around their website and slobbering over the myriad of beautiful
instruments they had there. I especially fell in love with the McCarty
model....'Oooh! ;) As I perused these guitars, I sort of "priced them" in my
head and wondered how close I'd get to the real cost of them. I recall
thinking "Aw, that McCarty must be at least half a gand"! Then I checked out
the prices on a seller's site....'I couldn't believe it! TWO THOUSAND
POUNDS! Geez! The more "up-market" models were retailing for £3,500. I
always wondered at the mentality of those Gibson fanatics who justified such
high prices in the strangest of ways, but to come across what to me was a
previously unkown make, 'and', find them going for such an astonomically
high price was a real eye-opener. Okay, the PRS guitars are made from nice
woods and have cool finishes and their pickups are really good too, on spec.
But, the point I am making is, "is 'any' guitar actually worth that amount
of money"? I mean, what is it exactly that makes one piece of maple
different from the next piece of maple? Or, a coat of paint, or a knob and a
wiring job? In a previous post I asked about the Mr Potato guitars, and I'm
not saying they are in direct competition with one another....'coz they're
not! But, is there really a justifiable price differential here? I can find
a sub-£100 guitar in the UK and it is playable...'just! For £200 I can
definetely find a nice piece of wood and stick a pair of Seymour Duncs on it
and it will sound great , so what about the huge price of the PRS models
now? Mahogany back, maple top, rosewood fretboard, a couple of pickups and
some knobs....'comes to £3,500?? Hmm! Not only can I not afford that kinda
cash, but doubt that I would pay it even if I did have it. Am I just being
naive or am I missing something important here? Personally, I am having real
problems equating this amount of cash to this amount of guitar.
C.C.
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Re: PRS guitars - overpriced? - Rob Duncan - 15:04 10-11-05
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"Champagne Charlie" <FreeSoft@(SkipTheBrackets)Tiscali.co.uk> wrote in
message news:_ENcf.712$rP3.462@fe3.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
>
> I have discovered more guitar manufacturers than I ever knew existed since
> I joined this NG, and the latest guitar maker I was taking a look at was
> PRS, and I thought they made some excellent guitars. Anyway, there I was,
> rumaging around their website and slobbering over the myriad of beautiful
> instruments they had there. I especially fell in love with the McCarty
> model....'Oooh! ;) As I perused these guitars, I sort of "priced them" in
> my head and wondered how close I'd get to the real cost of them. I recall
> thinking "Aw, that McCarty must be at least half a gand"! Then I checked
> out the prices on a seller's site....'I couldn't believe it! TWO THOUSAND
> POUNDS! Geez! The more "up-market" models were retailing for £3,500. I
> always wondered at the mentality of those Gibson fanatics who justified
> such high prices in the strangest of ways, but to come across what to me
> was a previously unkown make, 'and', find them going for such an
> astonomically high price was a real eye-opener. Okay, the PRS guitars are
> made from nice woods and have cool finishes and their pickups are really
> good too, on spec. But, the point I am making is, "is 'any' guitar
> actually worth that amount of money"? I mean, what is it exactly that
> makes one piece of maple different from the next piece of maple? Or, a
> coat of paint, or a knob and a wiring job? In a previous post I asked
> about the Mr Potato guitars, and I'm not saying they are in direct
> competition with one another....'coz they're not! But, is there really a
> justifiable price differential here? I can find a sub-£100 guitar in the
> UK and it is playable...'just! For £200 I can definetely find a nice piece
> of wood and stick a pair of Seymour Duncs on it and it will sound great ,
> so what about the huge price of the PRS models now? Mahogany back, maple
> top, rosewood fretboard, a couple of pickups and some knobs....'comes to
> £3,500?? Hmm! Not only can I not afford that kinda cash, but doubt that I
> would pay it even if I did have it. Am I just being naive or am I missing
> something important here? Personally, I am having real problems equating
> this amount of cash to this amount of guitar.
> C.C.
"Worth" is a variable term. It means different things to different people.
If you ask me, personally, if PRS guitars are worth the asking price...?
No. But if you have the money to spend on one, maybe so... But not to me.
Rob
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Re: PRS guitars - overpriced? - lars hodegron - 15:36 10-11-05
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Am I just being
> naive or am I missing something important here? Personally, I am having
> real problems equating this amount of cash to this amount of guitar.
> C.C.
Uh ohh.......avalanche!!
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Re: PRS guitars - overpriced? - Dr Hackenbush - 15:39 10-11-05
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"Champagne Charlie" <FreeSoft@(SkipTheBrackets)Tiscali.co.uk> wrote in
message news:_ENcf.712$rP3.462@fe3.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
>
> I have discovered more guitar manufacturers than I ever knew existed since
> I joined this NG, and the latest guitar maker I was taking a look at was
> PRS, and I thought they made some excellent guitars. Anyway, there I was,
> rumaging around their website and slobbering over the myriad of beautiful
> instruments they had there. I especially fell in love with the McCarty
> model....'Oooh! ;) As I perused these guitars, I sort of "priced them" in
> my head and wondered how close I'd get to the real cost of them. I recall
> thinking "Aw, that McCarty must be at least half a gand"! Then I checked
> out the prices on a seller's site....'I couldn't believe it! TWO THOUSAND
> POUNDS! Geez! The more "up-market" models were retailing for £3,500. I
> always wondered at the mentality of those Gibson fanatics who justified
> such high prices in the strangest of ways, but to come across what to me
> was a previously unkown make, 'and', find them going for such an
> astonomically high price was a real eye-opener. Okay, the PRS guitars are
> made from nice woods and have cool finishes and their pickups are really
> good too, on spec. But, the point I am making is, "is 'any' guitar
> actually worth that amount of money"? I mean, what is it exactly that
> makes one piece of maple different from the next piece of maple? Or, a
> coat of paint, or a knob and a wiring job? In a previous post I asked
> about the Mr Potato guitars, and I'm not saying they are in direct
> competition with one another....'coz they're not! But, is there really a
> justifiable price differential here? I can find a sub-£100 guitar in the
> UK and it is playable...'just! For £200 I can definetely find a nice piece
> of wood and stick a pair of Seymour Duncs on it and it will sound great ,
> so what about the huge price of the PRS models now? Mahogany back, maple
> top, rosewood fretboard, a couple of pickups and some knobs....'comes to
> £3,500?? Hmm! Not only can I not afford that kinda cash, but doubt that I
> would pay it even if I did have it. Am I just being naive or am I missing
> something important here? Personally, I am having real problems equating
> this amount of cash to this amount of guitar.
> C.C.
>
>
Its the same with jeans , why buy levi's when you can pay nowhere near as
much for a different name, people will always pay over the top for a name
and manufactures know it
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Re: PRS guitars - overpriced? - scullen - 17:21 10-11-05
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Is a Ferrari worth the money? Heck no! But we all want one anyway.
Businesses make a fundamental choice: sell a few things at high margins
to a select customer, or sell a lot to everyone and cut margins to the
bone. Sometimes there is a sweet spot between the two. PRS has chosen
the former.
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Re: PRS guitars - overpriced? - Dave Van - 19:27 10-11-05
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scullen wrote:
> Is a Ferrari worth the money? Heck no! But we all want one anyway.
>
> Businesses make a fundamental choice: sell a few things at high margins
> to a select customer, or sell a lot to everyone and cut margins to the
> bone. Sometimes there is a sweet spot between the two. PRS has chosen
> the former.
>
It's not just about margins. You think the workmanship and attention to
detail of an Epiphone is equal to that of an american made PRS? You can
cut corners in a lot of places and still keep fairly respectable margins
of profit.
Another model would be to sell a high quality product and keep your
margins where they are comfortable but cut out the middle man and offer
the product to the market at a more affordable price. Like Carvin.
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Re: PRS guitars - overpriced? - Leroy - 19:40 10-11-05
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What is your Squire worth in 10 years? What is a high end PRS worth in 10
years? How much money do you want to tie up? It's all relative to who you
are and what you have to invest. Non question.
"scullen" <stevecullen@charter.net> wrote in message
news:1131661317.842734.320930@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> Is a Ferrari worth the money? Heck no! But we all want one anyway.
>
> Businesses make a fundamental choice: sell a few things at high margins
> to a select customer, or sell a lot to everyone and cut margins to the
> bone. Sometimes there is a sweet spot between the two. PRS has chosen
> the former.
>
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Re: PRS guitars - overpriced? - Keith Adams - 19:45 10-11-05
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Now you're talking.
I dont want a freaking Ferrarri scullen. Just like I dont want a PRS
guitar.Funny as it may seem.Its easier to build a reasonable copy of a
PRS than it is to duplicate a pair of Levis.I've never seen a good copy
of them.Wrangler makes better britches but they arent a copy of any
brand.
"Champagne Charlie" <FreeSoft@(SkipTheBrackets)Tiscali.co.uk> wrote in
message news:_ENcf.712$rP3.462@fe3.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
I have discovered more guitar manufacturers than I ever knew existed
since I
joined this NG, and the latest guitar maker I was taking a look at was
PRS,
and I thought they made some excellent guitars. Anyway, there I was,
rumaging around their website and slobbering over the myriad of
beautiful
instruments they had there. I especially fell in love with the McCarty
model....'Oooh! ;) As I perused these guitars, I sort of "priced them"
in my
head and wondered how close I'd get to the real cost of them. I recall
thinking "Aw, that McCarty must be at least half a gand"! Then I
checked out
the prices on a seller's site....'I couldn't believe it! TWO THOUSAND
POUNDS! Geez! The more "up-market" models were retailing for £3,500. I
always wondered at the mentality of those Gibson fanatics who justified
such
high prices in the strangest of ways, but to come across what to me was
a
previously unkown make, 'and', find them going for such an
astonomically
high price was a real eye-opener. Okay, the PRS guitars are made from
nice
woods and have cool finishes and their pickups are really good too, on
spec.
But, the point I am making is, "is 'any' guitar actually worth that
amount
of money"? I mean, what is it exactly that makes one piece of maple
different from the next piece of maple? Or, a coat of paint, or a knob
and a
wiring job? In a previous post I asked about the Mr Potato guitars, and
I'm
not saying they are in direct competition with one another....'coz
they're
not! But, is there really a justifiable price differential here? I can
find
a sub-£100 guitar in the UK and it is playable...'just! For £200 I can
definetely find a nice piece of wood and stick a pair of Seymour Duncs
on it
and it will sound great , so what about the huge price of the PRS
models
now? Mahogany back, maple top, rosewood fretboard, a couple of pickups
and
some knobs....'comes to £3,500?? Hmm! Not only can I not afford that
kinda
cash, but doubt that I would pay it even if I did have it. Am I just
being
naive or am I missing something important here? Personally, I am having
real
problems equating this amount of cash to this amount of guitar.
C.C.
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Re: PRS guitars - overpriced? - Sacramento Dave - 21:36 10-11-05
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"Champagne Charlie" <FreeSoft@(SkipTheBrackets)Tiscali.co.uk> wrote in
message news:_ENcf.712$rP3.462@fe3.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
>
> I have discovered more guitar manufacturers than I ever knew existed since
I
> joined this NG, and the latest guitar maker I was taking a look at was
PRS,
> and I thought they made some excellent guitars. Anyway, there I was,
> rumaging around their website and slobbering over the myriad of beautiful
> instruments they had there. I especially fell in love with the McCarty
> model....'Oooh! ;) As I perused these guitars, I sort of "priced them" in
my
> head and wondered how close I'd get to the real cost of them. I recall
> thinking "Aw, that McCarty must be at least half a gand"! Then I checked
out
> the prices on a seller's site....'I couldn't believe it! TWO THOUSAND
> POUNDS! Geez! The more "up-market" models were retailing for £3,500. I
> always wondered at the mentality of those Gibson fanatics who justified
such
> high prices in the strangest of ways, but to come across what to me was a
> previously unkown make, 'and', find them going for such an astonomically
> high price was a real eye-opener. Okay, the PRS guitars are made from nice
> woods and have cool finishes and their pickups are really good too, on
spec.
> But, the point I am making is, "is 'any' guitar actually worth that amount
> of money"? I mean, what is it exactly that makes one piece of maple
> different from the next piece of maple? Or, a coat of paint, or a knob and
a
> wiring job? In a previous post I asked about the Mr Potato guitars, and
I'm
> not saying they are in direct competition with one another....'coz they're
> not! But, is there really a justifiable price differential here? I can
find
> a sub-£100 guitar in the UK and it is playable...'just! For £200 I can
> definetely find a nice piece of wood and stick a pair of Seymour Duncs on
it
> and it will sound great , so what about the huge price of the PRS models
> now? Mahogany back, maple top, rosewood fretboard, a couple of pickups and
> some knobs....'comes to £3,500?? Hmm! Not only can I not afford that kinda
> cash, but doubt that I would pay it even if I did have it. Am I just being
> naive or am I missing something important here? Personally, I am having
real
> problems equating this amount of cash to this amount of guitar.
> C.C.
>
>
> > There is a saying about business " What ever the Market Will Bear" And
obviously they are selling allot of guitars so there is people willing to
spend the money. When I started playing guitar real American made Strats
were $400. That was allot of money then. Like you I would say I'd never
spend that on a guitar. Look at the price of every thing now . The $3000 is
like that $400. now. I have a PRS and the way I look at I can afford it, I
don't think I'll ever sell it , What's the same guitar going to cost in 20
years? Everyone's Values and situation are Deferent.
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Re: PRS guitars - overpriced? - Gordon 101 - 02:46 11-11-05
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Champagne Charlie wrote:
> I have discovered more guitar manufacturers than I ever knew existed since I
> joined this NG, and the latest guitar maker I was taking a look at was PRS,
> and I thought they made some excellent guitars. Anyway, there I was,
> rumaging around their website and slobbering over the myriad of beautiful
> instruments they had there. I especially fell in love with the McCarty
> model....'Oooh! ;) As I perused these guitars, I sort of "priced them" in my
> head and wondered how close I'd get to the real cost of them. I recall
> thinking "Aw, that McCarty must be at least half a gand"! Then I checked out
> the prices on a seller's site....'I couldn't believe it! TWO THOUSAND
> POUNDS! Geez! The more "up-market" models were retailing for £3,500. I
> always wondered at the mentality of those Gibson fanatics who justified such
> high prices in the strangest of ways, but to come across what to me was a
> previously unkown make, 'and', find them going for such an astonomically
> high price was a real eye-opener. Okay, the PRS guitars are made from nice
> woods and have cool finishes and their pickups are really good too, on spec.
> But, the point I am making is, "is 'any' guitar actually worth that amount
> of money"? I mean, what is it exactly that makes one piece of maple
> different from the next piece of maple? Or, a coat of paint, or a knob and a
> wiring job? In a previous post I asked about the Mr Potato guitars, and I'm
> not saying they are in direct competition with one another....'coz they're
> not! But, is there really a justifiable price differential here? I can find
> a sub-£100 guitar in the UK and it is playable...'just! For £200 I can
> definetely find a nice piece of wood and stick a pair of Seymour Duncs on it
> and it will sound great , so what about the huge price of the PRS models
> now? Mahogany back, maple top, rosewood fretboard, a couple of pickups and
> some knobs....'comes to £3,500?? Hmm! Not only can I not afford that kinda
> cash, but doubt that I would pay it even if I did have it. Am I just being
> naive or am I missing something important here? Personally, I am having real
> problems equating this amount of cash to this amount of guitar.
> C.C.
>
>
>
Hi Charlie
As a mid priced guitar they are very good. Have a '91 CE3 I have been
very happy with. I don't find the price high for a pro axe. Gibson has a
lower cost to value than PRS. Fenders quality varies from guitar to
guitar greatly. Typically I spend 200 dollars or more on a pro setup
after purchase, not needed for the PRS.
As you live outside the U.S.A. be very cautious of guitars marked "For
Export Only" on the tags, as these seem to be factory seconds. NO PRS is
a second and they don't use foreign countries to dump substandard product.
Gordo
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