Gibby strikes again

[Old Woody]

Well , I guess it was only a matter of time before Gibson would hop on the Epi bandwagon but with the cost of the Gibson Casino and the Gibson Texan they follow those over priced models with this
Epiphone | Frontier (USA Collection) - Antique Natural you can get the made in Indonesia Masterbilt version for $799.00 all I can say is Gibson wtf?

 

[soulman969]

$4000 vs $800 makes it a rather easy choice if value counts.

But you have to wonder whether or not this may be the only option for many US manufactured products. Not just guitars.

Since it's almost impossible for US guitar builders to compete with Asian built pricing in the sub $1000 price range they're left with producing far less volume of much pricier top end US models as a way to remain profitable stay in the game.

 

[Supersonic]

I'm not sure I get your point. Sure it's a ton of money but it's made right alongside Gibson Hummingbirds and Doves which are around the same price like they were back in the day.

Like you said, there's the option of the $800 Indonesian one for us mere mortals that can't afford to drop 4k on a high end Made in USA instrument.

 

[Biddlin]

Like you said, there's the option of the $800 Indonesian one for us mere mortals that can't afford to drop 4k on a high end Made in USA instrument.

Here's my 2¢: With guitars, talking price is like talking about the frame around a Van Gogh. I have a bunch of guitars that all have one thing in common. I like them. They play as well as my old hands can play them, they sound good and I paid what I thought they were worth or less, in the case of a couple of $250 Gibbos so cheap I checked to make sure they weren't hot. I think we spend way too much time worrying about the "economics" instead of just playing and loving guitars.

 

[pohatu771]

This is just another option. Until they decide to stop making sub-$1000 import Epiphones, it feels like complaining for the sake of complaining.

These are intended for people who are already buying Gibson guitars but want these historic Epiphone models, not Epiphone players who are looking for a way to spend more money.

A Gibson Dove, which has almost identical specs, is $300 more than this Frontier.

There is a market for these and for the $800 Masterbilt model.

 

[Davis Sharp]

These are intended for people who are already buying Gibson guitars but want these historic Epiphone models, not Epiphone players who are looking for a way to spend more money.

That clears things up somewhat. I was wondering what their target market is. It's upmarket for the usual Epi buyers and I don't know if people who spend $4K on a guitar will want one with a budget-conscious, Asian-made label. But if they give enough away to known performers, buyers will follow.

 

[Old Woody]

I'm not sure I get your point. Sure it's a ton of money but it's made right alongside Gibson Hummingbirds and Doves which are around the same price like they were back in the day.

Like you said, there's the option of the $800 Indonesian one for us mere mortals that can't afford to drop 4k on a high end Made in USA instrument.

Yeah I guess I just want more mid priced stuff from them sort of like the choices Breedlove gives you although I've never played one.

 

[pohatu771]

That clears things up somewhat. I was wondering what their target market is. It's upmarket for the usual Epi buyers and I don't know if people who spend $4K on a guitar will want one with a budget-conscious, Asian-made label. But if they give enough away to known performers, buyers will follow.

They aren't buying a "budget-conscious, Asian-made label." They are buying a modern incarnation of the vintage Kalamazoo models that sell for thousands of dollars.

Aren't Epiphone fans the ones who say it doesn't matter what it says on the headstock? Why is that suddenly not true when the Epiphone is expensive?

 

[Kostas Kritsilas]

its not that Epiphone buyers would say that, it is people who want to put out $4K for a guitar who would say that.

For that kind of money, you could spend a bit more and get a Dove, or even a Martin D-16/18. For what those people are looking for, the Epiphone name is an issue. People that are willing to spend that kind of money, are not the typical Epiphone buyers (who are looking for the best price/performance, not the name on the headstock).

 

[Davis Sharp]

They aren't buying a "budget-conscious, Asian-made label." They are buying a modern incarnation of the vintage Kalamazoo models that sell for thousands of dollars.

Aren't Epiphone fans the ones who say it doesn't matter what it says on the headstock? Why is that suddenly not true when the Epiphone is expensive?

I don't think you got my point. Maybe @Kostas Kritsilas explained it better.

 

[Raiyn]

Meh, they're a nice thing for the "collectors" market. If I ever pulled a reverse Dylan, I'd probably go after one of those carbon fiber rigs so I wouldn't have to deal with the pitfalls of thin carbohydrate foam.

That said, that Acoustasonic Jazzmaster seems way more up my alley.

 

[pohatu771]

That said, that Acoustasonic Jazzmaster seems way more up my alley.

The Jazzmaster unseated the Telecaster as my preference if I ever go for an Acoustasonic. I haven't ruled one out entirely. Right now, it's tied with the Martin 0-15 Pattengale Special as a potential next guitar.

 

[Green Manalishi]

Like you said, there's the option of the $800 Indonesian one for us mere mortals that can't afford to drop 4k on a high end Made in USA instrument.

Well, at least there "was" a high quality, Made In Indonesia, Masterbilt line - before they discontinued most popular models AND, moved the Final Run over to cheap China... don't look now but both G-C and M-F are selling stock Made In China... reading way down at the bottom of Specs. Gotta read the fine print..

 

[Raiyn]

Your point? Both countries are perfectly capable of producing good instruments. Also, "G-C" and "M-F" fall under the same corporate umbrella so it's pretty obvious they'd stock the same stuff.

 

[Davis Sharp]

It's funny how the perceived hierarchy of manufacturing locations goes. Japan was cheap until Korea came along. Then Japan became good and Korea was cheap. When China came along, Korea got magically better. IIRC, Indonesia came after China (for Squier). So Indonesia should be crap until Vietnam produces more.

Some of these companies have been making guitars longer than PRS and Taylor. They know how to build to a price point, high or low.

 

[Raiyn]

It's funny how the perceived hierarchy of manufacturing locations goes. Japan was cheap until Korea came along. Then Japan became good and Korea was cheap. When China came along, Korea got magically better. IIRC, Indonesia came after China (for Squier). So Indonesia should be crap until Vietnam produces more.

Some of these companies have been making guitars longer than PRS and Taylor. They know how to build to a price point, high or low.

∆ This ∆

 

[Imerkat]

It's funny how the perceived hierarchy of manufacturing locations goes... When China came along, Korea got magically better.

Well the magic is called experience and worker tenure.

 

[Raiyn]

Well the magic is called experience and worker tenure.

Yeah, because I'm sure prejudices against a poorer country / people have absolutely nothing to do with it. Skill and experience don't end at borders.

 

[Davis Sharp]

Well the magic is called experience and worker tenure.

I don't buy that. People have no problem with the quality of a Chinese-made smartphone or computer because there's no longer a hierarchy of western, developed nation, manufacturing in consumer electronics. It's not as if Asians have never made stringed instruments before guitars.

 

[Space1999]

Hey, dentists and heart surgeons have to buy guitars too!