Les Paul prices

[Dennis Logan]

:) I'm in the market for a Les Paul.

I have done a lot of price comparing.
I have Gibson's list price on the models I am considering.
I have the normal selling prices of the major dealers (33% off list price).
I also have a couple examples of "Clearance" prices (50% off list price).

It appears that the dealers sell all @ 1/3 off list. If they have them in stock for a while, they sell them @ 1/2 off list. This tell me that they probably get them from Gibson for around half of list cost.

Can anyone verify this?

Examples:
- STD Premium Plus - list=$4028, reg price=$2660, clearance=$
- STD black - list=$3178, reg price=$2120, clearance=$
- STD faded - list=$3018, reg price=$2000, clearnace=$1700
- STD color - list=$3448, reg price=$2300, clearance=$1689

[Tele Master]

I am not sure about actual numbers, but it does make sense that if you buy right from Gibson that the price would be cheaper. Half off seems a bit much, but I am sure there would be some sort of discount because you are not dealing with a distributor therefore you don't have to pay to cover their costs.

[suicidalmoose]

some of the bigger music websites offer ridiculous discounts when trying to clear stuff, the only problem you have is the fact that Les Pauls aren't the most ever changing type of Guitar and I can't see why they'd put one on Clearance unless of course a particular colour wasn't popular or they had an excess stock, but it's pretty unlikely. the 33% off is likely as most music websites are very competitive with eachother eg: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guitar/Electric?sku=517516 has a 34% off.

Music stores won't be so competitive and you might have to heckle them a bit to get a good price. Then again if you pick a music store that fills online orders as well they might have similar prices.

[Dennis Logan]

Does anyone know, for sure, what Gibson charges their dealers for their guitars?

My guess is that they charge the dealers around 1/2 of list price.
Then the dealers advertise list price with a 1/3 off.
Then if they have a couple that are not moving, they sell them at cost, which is 1/2 off list.

Can anyone verify this?

It would be nice to know, when negotiating with the Gibson dealers, what their cost is.

Thanks

[aschleman]

Most likely it's the way you said... Dealers pay half the list and sell for 1/3 off list. BUT, Gibson is a pretty big time franchise and I almost garauntee that they sell their guitars to big name dealers (Guitar Center/Musicians Friend... etc.) for a lot less than 1/2 list... It's probably a cost based on annual sales margins and supply and demand curves... So it may fluxuate annually. But on average I would say 1/2 list is probably pretty decent. Gibsons prices are so inflated that it's ridiculous... I can't even justify buying a Gibson... I love my two Fenders....

[Dennis Logan]

:) Thanks for the info.

I love my Fender Stratocaster too. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

But…… I would like to own a Les Paul too.
It will be a challenge to me to get what I want for just a little over a dealer's cost.

I know how dealers are really pressured to maintain a certain sales volumes with Gibson.

It is my understanding, talking with one of the Sam Ash’s salesman, that Sam Ash lost their Gibson dealership because they could not maintain a certain volume that Gibson dictated.

Knowing this, I feel Gibson dealers will sell a Les Paul at their cost to help maintain their numbers, especially at the end of a month, if they are behind.

So, if I could get a new Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s neck, that has a list price of $3200 and an asking price of $2112 (33% off) for $1600 (50% off) or less, I might be able to justify the purchase.

Especially knowing that the resell value of Les Paul guitars are good and could probably get my money back, if I had to sell it.

Again, this is why I would like to know, for sure if most dealer’s costs are around ½ the list price.

[aschleman]

I can't tell you for sure. But I can almost bet you're pretty close... One thing that you can do is check Ebay.... Don't look for a private seller... look for dealers that are selling Gibsons. Often times, Guitar Center along with other dealers will put guitars on Ebay to unload them... Because Ebay gets a lot of traffic. So check into that. Like I said though... stick to the dealers because you never know who is just there just to screw you out of your money.

[suicidalmoose]

what you said with the dealers thing must be the reason why guitars cost 50 - 100% more in any country except america. it's so annoying! i actually justified a 100 pound (200 us dollar) shipping fee the other day and still saved 200 pounds (400 us dollars) on the guitar! it's ridiculous. Check Thomann.de, very occasionally they can beat a US seller, they are, as far as I know, a dealer.

[Dennis Logan]

Oh, I'm a "eBay-junkie".
I found my Stratocaster on eBay for $650.
I bought my Fender amp and guitar case on eBay.
I have bought many "Blues Jam" CDs on eBay.

I am a IT Manager at my company and buy all types of computer stuff for my company, family and friends on eBay too.

I started on eBay looking for a Les Paul.
I have found, so far, that there are no good deals on Les Pauls on eBay.
Even used Les Pauls are selling for almost regular new selling prices at the dealers.
That's why I know, if I buy a Les Paul, I could unload easy, on eBay.

If you hear of any deals, please email me (djlogan33@cs.com).

[humbledan]

Last year I visited the Gibson factory in Memphis. After the tour, I stopped in their retail store and was pretty much amazed that they offered NO discount off their suggested retail price. What you see is what you pay. I questioned the sales staff about this and they had no excuse. I suppose they figured that after taking the tour and listening to all the hype, people would be ready to pay their inflated prices.
Not me.

[aschleman]

Isn't the factory in Nashville???

[Dennis Logan]

This January, during the "International Blues Challenge", in Memphis, I also toured the Gibson factory. They only make the "B.B. King" type guitars there.

Your right, their store at the factory had the guitars at full list price.
But, there were models that I had not seen before and I also learned a lot about the Les Paul guitars models and neck sizes, that I did not know.

I want to tour the Gibson factory in Nashville, where they make the Les Paul guitars, within the next couple of months.

I'm sure Memphis and Nashville is NOT the place to buy a Gibson guitar at a good price. If you are in Memphis or Nashville checking out guitars, they think that you will be willing to pay more.

If I keep shopping, I am sure I will be able to buy a Les Paul, that I want, for a price a little over cost. Meanwhile I will keep enjoying playing my Stratocaster. Check out the attached picture of my Strat. :cool:

[Jon Broderick]

It used to be that all guitar stores negotiated all prices like used car dealers. Some probably still will negotiate, though it is less common than it used to be.

Armed with as much knowledge as you have, you should be in a good position to negotiate. Find three dealers who have the color/model you want. If there are no local dealers, call up some online dealers on the phone and ask them. Talk to them about pricing. Be respectful and you should get at least some discount beyond 33%. You might even get to 40% off.

That is what I would try next. Hope that helps.

[Dennis Logan]

:) I was in Tennessee over the weekend at a Gibson guitar dealer.

He verified that they gets Les Paul guitars, from Gibson in Nashville, for 1/2 list plus shipping.

I can buy order any Les Paul from him at 40% off list, which would just cover his cost and shipping.

Since he is out of state, I would pay no local sales tax.

Used Les Paul guitars are selling for more than this on eBay.

[Lordathestrings]

... Used Les Paul guitars are selling for more than this on eBay.

Ya don't say...

>This (http://cgi.ebay.ca/1958-58-59-Gibson-Les-Paul-Standard-Uber-Flame-top-Real_W0QQitemZ7415462296QQcategoryZ38086QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)< is ridiculous! $200,300.00 and "The Reserve is not met". Fugeddabowdit! :p

[6strngs_2hmbkrs]

Ya don't say...

>This (http://cgi.ebay.ca/1958-58-59-Gibson-Les-Paul-Standard-Uber-Flame-top-Real_W0QQitemZ7415462296QQcategoryZ38086QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)< is ridiculous! $200,300.00 and "The Reserve is not met". Fugeddabowdit! :p
oh yeah dude! original 50's les pauls have sold for over a million... not to actual guitar players, but to very wealthy collectors. of course, it has potential to keep rising in value the older it gets.

[Dennis Logan]

I guess being patient, shopping at multiple websites and multiple music centers, in multiple states, paid off.

I beleive I landed a good deal on a new Gibson Les Paul 50s-neck (Ebony).

The best deal I was offered was from an out-of-state dealer.
I was offered 40% off list plus shipping (Gibson list is $3,178).
I was offered $1,899 plus $30-shipping. I almost took this deal.

I kept looking on eBay and found a even better deal.
I found a brand-new (2006) LP, that a guy bought on 5/16/06 at Guitar Center for $2,129 plus $106-tax ($2,235).

I won the bidding at $1,351 plus shipping.
I received the guitar on Friday. It was all that I expected.

Deals are out there... :)

[Andrew Sa]

Deals are always there to be had...you just have to look around. I have a specific sales person that I usually deal with, and I usually get over 40% off of list price...it usually works out to about 20% less than I would pay anywhere else.

also, if you know what you are talking about, salespeople tend to give you bigger discounts, probably because they figure they cant bull**** you and make you buy that way.

[Lordathestrings]

I guess being patient, shopping at multiple websites and multiple music centers, in multiple states, paid off....I won the bidding at $1,351 plus shipping. I received the guitar on Friday. It was all that I expected.

Deals are out there... :)

I'm very glad to see that. Guitars like >mine (http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4337)< are selling for only a little bit less than that these days, so I would say you did very well. Too often, I see the prices that people pay for Gibsons, and I just sigh and shake my head.

[Dennis Logan]

:D I was lucky to win a bid on a brand new 2006 Bibson Les Paul Standard (50s neck) for $1351 last month.

Gibson List - $3178.
Dealer price- $2119.

[magicninja]

Best deal ever. (http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18534)