Slash
Like many of you, I assume, I get all of the big music mail-order catalogs sent to my house. Though I’m not a huge gear head I certainly like to know what’s going on and look at the stuff I can’t afford. (If only this blog would make me some money.)
During my morning “routine” – y’all know what I’m talking about – I got a chance to flip through the latest catalog and came across one of Slash’s new Gibson Les Paul signature models.
Nice enough looking Les Paul. I’m not a huge LP fan, but it’s a very nice looking guitar and I’m sure it sounds great.
And then I saw the price…
Slash, his hat, and one of his signature guitars
$12,000.
I’m sorry, everyone; I try very hard not to be too explicit when I write, but… are you out of your fucking mind?!?!?!?! $12,000 for a factory-machined piece of wood? Not in a million friggin’ years should any guitar that wasn’t personally owned by someone of Jimi Hendrix’s musical pedigree be worth $12,000, let alone be available for sale at that price. My car isn’t even worth $12,000! (Yeah, I know, time for a new car.)
That’s just flat out stupid, ridiculous and, quite frankly, insulting. I don’t care how limited edition, one-off, and/or special you try to tell me this instrument is, unless it’s gold-plated and will do my laundry it’s not worth spending $12,000 to buy.
More to the point, I don’t understand why signature guitars in general are so much more expensive than the one the artist plays. Stick with me on this:
Slash learns to play guitar and before making it big with Guns N’ Roses he buys a Gibson Les Paul. Market price back then was probably $1,600 at the most (I’m guessing, of course). Throw in $150 worth of pickups (not sure if he even changed pups or not) and his guitar is worth about $1,750. He plays the crap out of it, it gets beat up, scratched, worn, and run through the ringer. So why then does an “authentic” Slash Les Paul reproduction now go for $4,000, $6,000, or $12,000? It’s not even his personal guitar! There is no way in hell inflation is the cause, as you can still buy Les Paul models for $1,600.
Would you pay $25,000 for this?
Vernon Reid’s signature Parker: $6,000
Jimmy Page’s signature Gibson: $11,000
Billy Gibbon’s signature Gibson: $16,000
Eddie Van Halen Frankenstein replica: $25,000
No f*&#ing way on all counts.
What it really boils down to is greed. I can’t think of anything else. Even the most handcrafted hollowbody or acoustic guitars should not cost $20,000. I just don’t see it. Perhaps someone could make a case for the wood used being extremely rare and therefore very expensive. Okay, I can sort of understand that. What I can’t reconcile in my head, however, is slapping someone’s name on something he didn’t personally make and charging so much money for it.
$10,000 guitars. $2,000 purses. $400 jeans. C’mon, people, wake up! $4,000-$5,000 is the absolutely highest I think one should “reasonably” spend on a guitar. I can’t speak to how much one should pay for jeans and purses, but I’m sure $2,000 ain’t it, either.
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Most of these customers are hobbyists, mainly doctors, lawyers etc, from what I have seen, not real fulltime players..
Take that for what it is. Cheers
So basically you’re implying that they make enough money to piss it away on a status symbol? Ridiculous.
even if that les paul was $500, i wouldn’t buy it because it has “slash’s” name on it. he’s a bum! possibly a wealthy bum, but a bum none-the-less.
hah! Not a fan, Bryan?
So here’s the question: is there a signature guitar out there that you would spend $6,000 on if a particular person had one?
Ok, so should I file “signature series” away with rare/vintage/antique in the Josh’s Pet Peeves cateogry?
I’m with you though, a name on a machine built guitar doesn’t do it for me, but I understand why it does for some people. Basically their hero has endorsed a product so it must be good. The price is a choice by smart marketing people of how many they expect to sell, how many they need to make such that it is still exclusive/rare – there will be a sweet spot on the curve which maximises revenue. That is to say Bruce buys a Slash guitar (his guitar hero), there are only 100 made (it’s rare), and it is priced at $12k which was just the right amount he was prepared to pay (smart marketing people pricing).
He’s a happy man our Bruce, and even if that doesn’t conform to our ideals; it’s good to be happy.
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I don’t think I have as much of a problem with vintage/antique if it’s a truly rare item and the idea is to use it as an investment piece. That, to me, is the same as classic cars or porcelain dolls; I’m fine with that (at least today I am hehe).
I think in essence it’s shady business practice. Charging way more money just for someone’s name being on it is dishonest. Call me naive or whatever, I just don’t see it. It’s the same damn guitar as the $2,000 version.
*sigh* Maybe I’m just a cranky old man anymore…
Its a no brainer for players who dont study guitar specs that much. Just like how many people like me use Jazz 3′s. Good enough for Petrucci good enough for me. Good enough for Slash, good enough for me.
You should see the Vinnie Paul ddrum kit. It is an over priced beginner kit costing nearly $8000. It’s sad that he left a more reputable company, who made him 2 different signature snares, just so try and cash in on that thing.
http://drums-percussion.musiciansfriend.com/product/ddrum-Vinnie-Paul-6piece-Signature-Skull-Flame-Shell-Pack?sku=581369
I don’t know much about drums, but $8,000 for a beginner kit sounds over-the-top to me.
Picks are one thing, but they are a far cry from $12,000 guitars. Plus, why play it just because they do? It’s fine if you try it and actually like it, but to use something just because such-and-such does is strange to me.
Jonny, you’ve actually opened me up to a new market to who I always thought endorsements were targeted to.
1. The kid worshiping his/her hero, therefore wanting all the same gear his/her hero has. These are usually cheap copies of someone current like the Slipknot Joey kit/snare.
2. The older player, who now has a ton of money, who wants to have the gear of the hero he/she worshiped as a kid. These are usually not serious players. They are guys who wished they kepted playing as a kid but instead got some corporate job and now instead of buying some boat, they buy an expensive replica like the Slash guitar or the John Bonham acrylic kit.
3. The player who is looking mimic a sound for a particular song or vibe they are going for. This isn’t usually found in signature instruments as much as it is hearing what instrument some used on a particular track.
and now your offering..
4. The player who is too busy to bother, so he/she’ll just use someone who they respect uses.
in most ways your absolutey right, lookaound you however – justify the price of thercks and mortar you live within!
can you?
its a simple supply and demand matter – i have a slash sig guitar which in the uk cost me £2500 – I LOVE IT! and as the other guy says it makes me happy – if i couldn’t afford it i wouldn’t buy it but WHY NOT if you can afford it????????
since the 90′s the cost and worth ratio of anything is shot to shit!
much respect and smiles
garrie