Very Expensive Guitars

I don't think it takes a genius to know that if you spend $200.00 on a guitar you get one sound, but when you spend double that amount, you get a better sounding guitar. Generally it will have more sustain and it will no doubt just sound better.

Here's the debate. When you check out some of the guitars from the early 60's or the late 50's some of the prices can go anywhere from $2,000.00 to $15,000.00. One guy told me that a 59 or 60 Les Paul is considered vintage or a 56/57/58 Fender Strat. All the really great guitar players use the vintage years. The question is.....Do they really sound a lot better? Is the high price simply an indication of the rarity and demand? Can you get the same sound from simply knowing what effects to use?

The guy told me the reason for the better sound is two main reasons. One.....when the wood on the guitar ages it hardens and it causes the sound to vibrate in such a way to cause it to sound better. Secondly, the wiring in the pickups is unique compared to later years. I suppose you could always find a great guitar for less than $2,000.00 and perhaps change the pickups. What would be the need for someone to go out and pay $9,000.00 for a 59/60 vintage Les Paul? Can you get the same sound for much less?

Id say Im quite knowledgeable on the prices of gibsons. Hours and hours Ive wpend sifting through them and Ive bought a few. Generally the year of a gibson doesnt affect its prices unless its a 50s or 60s. Infact people often prefer newer guitars in beter condition. Its good because you can get a 70s Les paul with a few dings in it for les than a 2000 model. Yeah its true about the wood affecting the tone but If its older than 10 years then an extra ten doesnt make a significant difference.
My hero slash loves his two 1980 Les Paul standards, its the luck of the draw because ever guitar sounds difference, but some sound awesome!

People who spend lots of bucks on vintage guitars are usualy collectors and not realy looking for tone or stuff ... Can't blame them , others pay millions for some old painting or an antique.

If someone looking for tone & can afford $15,000 for one guitar , then he can probably have a couple of guitars customly made of best woods to his own specifications that would sound like nothing else , and perhaps a custom amp too (not sure if that's a great idea) !

My 2 cents.

True - i´d always say: when you are thinking about geting a real expensive guitar (2.000 bucks and more) then consider getting a custom made one from a good luthier - that way you can be sure to get the best for your money plus it has your very own design. Also luthiers tend to use exclusive woods that already are very old (100 years and more) to provide a great tone.

The price on standard guitars is of course an indicator for its quality. Of course the quality-leap from 200 to 800 bucks is much bigger than from 1000 to 1500 bucks - the more expensive the guitars, the smaller are the quality-differences) - to get a guitar thats realy twice as good as a 3000 dollar guitar would probably cost you 5 times as much - and as for the old expensive guitars - i say screw them - quality has improved alot and any 800 bucks guitar can blow away any old dusty axe IMO