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Yeah, it ought to just play itself.
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Posted on 9/10/25 at 12:39 pm to auggie
Labor is more expensive in the USA vs Asia, no question. But be aware that Gibson is NOT union labor. That is one of the main reasons Gibson moved from Kalamazoo (unionized Michigan) to Nashville, TN ... to evade unions.
Other factors that contribute to the higher cost of USA labor vs Asian labor is the former's employee health, dental, eye and life insurance packages, retirement packages, paid vacation and sick leave, workman's comp and other liability insurances, periodic merit and cost of living raises and promotions. AKA, things we all need and want from our employers.
Most players absolutely can afford an expensive guitar, but the approach to gear over the last three decades has favored quantity as much if not more than quality. Look at the catalyst question on this thread for an example, the should I get one "great" or two "good" instruments. When I was younger, we all had one nice electric, one decent backup, one nice acoustic, and that was it. Today, however, that's the exception, not the rule. Most of my clients have no less than a half dozen guitars, with many imports in the mix. Because they can be obtained so easily and cheaply.
Meanwhile, to test affordability alongside price, I just pulled a major retailer's page for a brand new vintage sunburst Gibson SJ-200. Without even looking at my credit score, income or household expenses, the retailer's page says they can put that $5,700 guitar in my hands for $119 a month for 48 months with zero interest.
Google tells me that is equal to the average monthly cable TV bill in America; and about $30 less than the average monthly cell phone bill in America. So nope, if someone wants and fiscally prioritizes owning a really nice, expensive American guitar instead of a half dozen Asian also-rans, there are ABSOLUTELY ways to make it affordable.
Other factors that contribute to the higher cost of USA labor vs Asian labor is the former's employee health, dental, eye and life insurance packages, retirement packages, paid vacation and sick leave, workman's comp and other liability insurances, periodic merit and cost of living raises and promotions. AKA, things we all need and want from our employers.
Most players absolutely can afford an expensive guitar, but the approach to gear over the last three decades has favored quantity as much if not more than quality. Look at the catalyst question on this thread for an example, the should I get one "great" or two "good" instruments. When I was younger, we all had one nice electric, one decent backup, one nice acoustic, and that was it. Today, however, that's the exception, not the rule. Most of my clients have no less than a half dozen guitars, with many imports in the mix. Because they can be obtained so easily and cheaply.
Meanwhile, to test affordability alongside price, I just pulled a major retailer's page for a brand new vintage sunburst Gibson SJ-200. Without even looking at my credit score, income or household expenses, the retailer's page says they can put that $5,700 guitar in my hands for $119 a month for 48 months with zero interest.
Google tells me that is equal to the average monthly cable TV bill in America; and about $30 less than the average monthly cell phone bill in America. So nope, if someone wants and fiscally prioritizes owning a really nice, expensive American guitar instead of a half dozen Asian also-rans, there are ABSOLUTELY ways to make it affordable.
Posted on 9/10/25 at 1:04 pm to auggie
quote:
My main telly is an Indonesian made Squier Standard. It's a very good guitar. I'll be keeping that one. The ceramic pickups and pots had to be upgraded though.
1) Could you ballpark how much it should cost to upgrade the pickup and pots on a Squire Tele I have. (see below)
2) Does the upgrade make a significant difference in the sound?
3) Is this repair easily done at home or will I have to bring it to the guitar shop?
Posted on 9/10/25 at 1:16 pm to TheFretShack
I made an edit to that post correcting about the Union thing.
I think Gibson employees probably do very well though, and that's a good thing.
But back to my original statement about those Epiphone 1957 SJ200s. They are incredible guitars; you need to try one out.
Now, if I was making big money as a guitar player, and rubbing shoulders with the high rollers in the biz, I might need a guitar that says Gibson on the headstock, but as it stands right now, people just hear the demos. They can't tell what kind of guitar I'm playing, because it's just a song demo.
I like having several guitars, so I can keep them in different tunings and pick them up as needed and tweak them pretty quickly.
Right now I have 5 acoustics that I use for different things and many others that never see the light of day, the most expensive cost under a thousand bucks, but they get the job done for me.
Things might change one day, but I don't expect it. Besides, if I ever was to become a famous picker writer, whatever, suddenly, my 500 dollar Epiphone will probably be worth 2,000 bucks, just because it's mine.
Spending money recording is more important to me, and if needed, I can hire plenty of guitar pickers with expensive guitars.
I think Gibson employees probably do very well though, and that's a good thing.
But back to my original statement about those Epiphone 1957 SJ200s. They are incredible guitars; you need to try one out.
Now, if I was making big money as a guitar player, and rubbing shoulders with the high rollers in the biz, I might need a guitar that says Gibson on the headstock, but as it stands right now, people just hear the demos. They can't tell what kind of guitar I'm playing, because it's just a song demo.
I like having several guitars, so I can keep them in different tunings and pick them up as needed and tweak them pretty quickly.
Right now I have 5 acoustics that I use for different things and many others that never see the light of day, the most expensive cost under a thousand bucks, but they get the job done for me.
Things might change one day, but I don't expect it. Besides, if I ever was to become a famous picker writer, whatever, suddenly, my 500 dollar Epiphone will probably be worth 2,000 bucks, just because it's mine.
Spending money recording is more important to me, and if needed, I can hire plenty of guitar pickers with expensive guitars.
Posted on 9/10/25 at 1:20 pm to Crow Pie
I have a set of Fretshack's pickups in my Squier Standard Telly.
You would not believe the difference they made in that guitar.
I think he's online right now, he can hook you up, but also, you can buy damn good Fender vintage pickups at a good price. Around $150.
That's a great looking guitar BTW.
If you can read schematics and solder well, you can do it yourself. It's not hard.
Depending on where you live, you can probably pay someone to change them out for $75 or less.
Another thing, I would almost bet that guitar has a humbucker rout at the neck pickup position. That would give you a lot of options.
You would not believe the difference they made in that guitar.
I think he's online right now, he can hook you up, but also, you can buy damn good Fender vintage pickups at a good price. Around $150.
That's a great looking guitar BTW.
If you can read schematics and solder well, you can do it yourself. It's not hard.
Depending on where you live, you can probably pay someone to change them out for $75 or less.
Another thing, I would almost bet that guitar has a humbucker rout at the neck pickup position. That would give you a lot of options.
This post was edited on 9/10/25 at 1:59 pm
Posted on 9/10/25 at 1:24 pm to auggie
quote:
All I can say is " try them out". Then you can decide for yourself.
This would make sense if you said they were just as good. But you said the Epiphone "smokes" the Gibson, meaning that the cheaper version is significantly better than the premium version.
I think there is probably just a lot of variation among all models and your friend just got himself a good one. I would be shocked if that pattern held over multiple units.
Posted on 9/10/25 at 1:36 pm to Bjorn Cyborg
quote:
This would make sense if you said they were just as good. But you said the Epiphone "smokes" the Gibson, meaning that the cheaper version is significantly better than the premium version.
I posted " It smokes any Gibson, I've ever tried out and that's a lot." I stand by that statement too.
Maybe it's just me, but I think it's pretty clear that I was referring to that particular guitar. It is the only one I have ever played, but from most reviews I've seen, people are pretty happy with them.
I've seen two complaints about buyers not realizing how big they are, and 1 complaint about sharp edges on the nut. A 5 minute fix.
This post was edited on 9/10/25 at 1:42 pm
Posted on 9/10/25 at 2:28 pm to Bjorn Cyborg
quote:
I would be shocked if that pattern held over multiple units.
Do you think Gibson Custom shop would allow their name to be attached to a product with hit or miss quality standards? I don't think they would.
I think if quality becomes sketchy, they would shut down production of that model quickly.
I guarantee you, they have some very dependable quality control people onsite, and their futures will depend on how this goes.
This post was edited on 9/10/25 at 2:33 pm
Posted on 9/10/25 at 3:27 pm to auggie
quote:Thanks. It's easy to pick up and play being it is so simple and compact. That's great, but I bought it because of the raw, straight-edge rock sound it puts out.
That's a great looking guitar BTW.
This one may be worth the upgrade cost since it's an everyday player. I have some that I don't play much that I wouldn't want to spend money on just to sit on the rack,
Posted on 9/10/25 at 4:42 pm to Crow Pie
quote:
Thanks. It's easy to pick up and play being it is so simple and compact. That's great, but I bought it because of the raw, straight-edge rock sound it puts out.
This one may be worth the upgrade cost since it's an everyday player. I have some that I don't play much that I wouldn't want to spend money on just to sit on the rack,
I just read up on that guitar, it got some really good reviews.
It has the same pickups as the classic vibe models. They're OK, but not great.
That guitar does have a humbucker rout at the neck, as I suspected, so you have several choices about what to do.
Here is a store with a lot of Fender telecaster pickups in stock.
I do quite a bit of business with them because they ship fast and no markup on Fender stuff.
LINK
Fretshack has an online site on Facebook. The Fretshack, Baton Rouge, Louisianna.
Posted on 9/10/25 at 7:25 pm to FirstCityDawg
This might be the place.
This post was edited on 9/10/25 at 7:26 pm
Posted on 9/10/25 at 8:33 pm to Crow Pie
Nice looking guitar. I love the natural wood.
Posted on 9/10/25 at 8:57 pm to awestruck
I've watched that before. I think the guy is from Murfreesboro, Tn.?
Pretty eye opening as to what woods really mean on a solid body guitar.
I like basswood myself, it's cheap and takes stain very well. It's just soft enough to work with easily too.
I guess that's why the Japanese like using it so much.
Pretty eye opening as to what woods really mean on a solid body guitar.
I like basswood myself, it's cheap and takes stain very well. It's just soft enough to work with easily too.
I guess that's why the Japanese like using it so much.
Posted on 9/10/25 at 11:12 pm to auggie
I don’t agree with that guy at all. I will say I don’t play guitar, I play bass and there are for sure differences in all the woods. I hear differences in his video. Maybe some don’t.
The key is to sit and just play it acoustically. I have basses made from swamp ash, ash, alder, and some unknown light china wood ( probably pawlonia). They are all different.
Fretboard wood even more so. If someone can’t feel and hear a difference between maple, rosewood, ebony, etc, I don’t know what to say.
I’ve learned that maple fretboards are what really work for me and that’s all I have now.
The key is to sit and just play it acoustically. I have basses made from swamp ash, ash, alder, and some unknown light china wood ( probably pawlonia). They are all different.
Fretboard wood even more so. If someone can’t feel and hear a difference between maple, rosewood, ebony, etc, I don’t know what to say.
I’ve learned that maple fretboards are what really work for me and that’s all I have now.
Posted on 9/11/25 at 4:07 am to wareaglepete
quote:And I only play acoustics where wood and even their orientation matter. With things such as quarter sawn or it's medullary rays being considered important.
I will say I don’t play guitar, I play bass and there are for sure differences in all the woods
I was pretty certain some here wouldn't agree and was really interested in their take?
As this goes against what's generally accepted.
Posted on 9/11/25 at 4:50 am to awestruck
It’s a divisive topic for sure. Just watched Les Claypool on Rick Beato discussing it and he is just like me and says people saying tonewoods don’t matter is nonsense.
Posted on 9/11/25 at 9:16 am to wareaglepete
Everything matters in guitar tone, but the most important factors are:
1. Amp/signal chain
2. Your play style
3. Pickups
4. Distance between pickups and strings
5. String gauges
Everything after that is somewhat negligible for tone, but can have a huge impact on intonation, comfort, and playability.. The main thing that "tone wood" can impact (which is statistically significant, but isn't THAT huge) is sustain. However, a bolt on vs neck through construction typically impacts sustain even more.
1. Amp/signal chain
2. Your play style
3. Pickups
4. Distance between pickups and strings
5. String gauges
Everything after that is somewhat negligible for tone, but can have a huge impact on intonation, comfort, and playability.. The main thing that "tone wood" can impact (which is statistically significant, but isn't THAT huge) is sustain. However, a bolt on vs neck through construction typically impacts sustain even more.
This post was edited on 9/11/25 at 11:07 am
Posted on 9/11/25 at 9:32 am to wareaglepete
quote:
some unknown light china wood ( probably pawlonia)
I had a telecaster made of pawlonia once. It was a great sounding guitar. Seafoam Green. It had a light mint colored pickguard and reminded me of a factory 56 Chevrolet paintjob.
It was so light, it was hard to believe it was real wood. I didn't keep it long, somebody wanted it really bad and I was afraid that it wouldn't last very long.
Posted on 9/11/25 at 11:48 am to auggie
that jap strat rec at the start of the thread is a pretty good answer
Can't go wrong with a tele/strat.
Can't go wrong with a tele/strat.
Posted on 9/22/25 at 9:03 pm to auggie
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