I used to own a antique/curio store, and also sold guitars I bought at yard sales, after I cleaned and fixed them. I think any horrible guitar can be made good if u have the know-how and tools. Thanks to CNC machines, guitars today are better than ever. A new Jap Gretsch is better than a 1950s USA version. Heresy, but true.
I love my Squier Jaguar bass and guitar, but take the USA Jazz bass to first-time jamz bcuz snobs are everywhere.
If the current guitar heyday keeps going, I think we might see an end (or at least decrease) in snobbery. I think fewer people will care about the name on the headstock. At least that's my guess.
Right now, we're in a wonderful time to be guitar players - though that's a bit diminished with the increased shipping costs. For now, and probably only while the shipping is as expensive as it is now, a $170 guitar is now $230 - or more. As current stock is sold, the prices are rising to adjust to the massive increase in shipping costs.
Funny enough, just a few years ago all the major rags were saying that guitar was dead. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of articles claiming that the guitar was dead and that its popularity was decreasing so rapidly that it'd be about the end of the guitar market.
Then came the lock downs and it seems that everyone and their kid brother bought at least one guitar.
So, in the next year or three, I'd expect to see the used market values plummet as tons of wall ornament guitars get sold en masse.
And I plan on buying a bunch of 'em. I have a vast collection of guitars, like a shameful number of guitars. I might actually start a collection of cheap guitars - only keeping what's reasonably good.
I also agree... With enough know-how, you can make many guitars playable. I've been playing for more than fifty years. I've done a lot of my own luthier work - and can do a setup that includes everything from reshaping the saddle for intonation to cutting a new nut. I can replace frets, level frets, polish frets, etc... If it's a working truss rod, I can probably make it fairly straight while under tension. If not, I can possibly steam the neck and straighten it that way.
Also, these days they have a PLEK. There's no excuse to not have a damned near perfect guitar. Though, so far, Gibson is the only one to PLEK their guitars prior to retail. They kinda had to do so, as their reputation was declining rapidly and they were having a hard time selling $3800 guitars. Their CQ was in the shitter.
At one point I had 80 + guitars, now it's about 35, still too many! Or...not enough??
--yes, the snobbery has let up a bit. I showed my 'real' Tele fren my $190 LJ Tele, and he was pretty confused. I caught him playing it later...I don't really care what people think, for years my main was a Pearl Strat that I 'Van Halened' (but no stripes) and scalloped...I got lots of abuse for it but it sounded and played great. Wish I still had it!
I pretty much only use a scalloped guitar when I cover Malmsteen. I only cover Malmsteen when I'm showing off to people who don't know much about actually playing a guitar. So, those don't get used often. I'm well into the triple digits when it comes to number of guitars owned. I'm a bit unusual in that I've been playing for more than five decades and never, not once, sold a guitar. (I've given a few away, however.)
With Gibson, you're paying for the tech and the name on the headstock. There have been period where they really didn't make good guitars. Still, my favorite will always be the Les Paul. For all its faults, it does make a great tone even before you start adding effects. I own more Les Paul examples than your nearest music store has in stock. I never owned a cheap one until just recently.
Gibson is the biggest joke on Earth. I have several DeArmond guitars that I would put up against any LP or SG ever made. They can be had for 500-1000 bux.
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