I just got my latest copy of Sweetwater's Pro Gear catalog. Gibson guitars have YET AGAIN gone up in price. $5940.00 for a Les Paul Custom? Are you friggin kidding me??? Well Gibson, you've pretty much guaranteed that I'll never buy another one of your guitars. Thanks...

Considering the standard ones are going around $3000, I'm not that surprised. 
 
I've always dug the Traditional LP, which are a bit less expensive, but, at $2600, there's no way in heck I can imagine putting that much money on a guitar. It's a dream of mine to own one, but one I wouldn't allow myself to live unless I magically became the next Jimi Hendrix or was booked for a sold out stadium tour something. Otherwise, it just doesn't make sense. 
 
TBH, I'm absolutely happy with my inexpensive SGJ. I'd really love a standard, classic red one, but that's not happening either. 
 
I could maybe see myself getting one of those LPJ - I've played a couple of them last time I went to GC - rather fine guitar for my taste. I'd probably wait until the end of the year for closeout sales though...
 
 

yeah, it sucks; but I'd blame QE and the central bank more than Gibson.

I can see a future when a loaf of bread is $100

Yet, in the meantime, a brand new standard Fender strat (US) retails for relatively little more than mine cost me in 1996, IIRC.

That's what I'm saying... I know the central bank and QE are bringing the value of the dollar down, but other manufacturers don't seem to be jacking their prices up like Gibson seems to be. I agree that their J series is at a decent price point, but last year an SG Standard was $1199, now it's $1699. Six months ago a Les Paul Custom was $4999, now it's $5940. A thousand dollars in six months?

Well nothing remains the same- and Gibson in Kalamazoo started moving @ '74.
In some eyes the fact that equipment and people making those guitars stayed...
and created Heritage guitars - which means something to some people. To others...I guess it's in the name for whatever reasons that I'm pretty sure I don't share.
I'm glad they are still making them and keeping some US people working but that's about all it means to me.
 
I do know if I were to pay that much for a guitar I'd know the luthier and the details about every little bit of the
build and guitar...and he'd know me.
 
 
 
 
 

Well you know, I bought my on sale at about the end of the year last year (October around I think without looking) and it did not cost anymore than a decked-out Fender Strat.
 
A couple of new ones coming out I guess sometime:

http://www2.gibson.com/Pr...014/ES-335-Studio.aspx

http://www2.gibson.com/Pr...014/ES-339-Studio.aspx
 
And that is Gibson's price which they probably won't sell for when those guitars arrive whenever I suppose soon!
Maybe at GC right now, I have not looked.
 
Of course I bought the Epi last year also in the es-339, which is fine also.
 
A guy gave an independent review of it, but the price has gone up this year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWw90TR-Erw
 
and for me just a LP which is the Gibson one I bought on sale just is not a guitar I was used to. The es-335 is though, and well, to each his/her/spacealien own I guess.

 
But who wants a 120 Anniversary Thing-a-Ma-Bobber on the fret anyway. ??
 
Think I will have a cookie, but I bought the Traditional LP, and just until recently they had others but at a slightly increase in price. (no chambering for the Traditional both in 2013, and again in 2014) (Standard is modern weight relief - rounded triangles I think, but it is usually all written down when looking at them).
 
Epi sells good though.
 
(Reason for edit - new guitar sound - fumble fingers).
 
 

mmmmmmmmmmm.........................seems to be the same price at GC, well, looks like the one I guess in previous post.
 
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Gibson-ES-339-Studio-Semi-Hollow-Electric-Guitar-110179256-i3693355.gc
 
Probably perhaps not everyone will have those.
??
 

Leadfoot,

I wonder if they print different catalogues for different regions? Mine was waiting for me when I returned from Vegas. I see a Sweetwater LP Custom for $4,999 and and Alpine White LP Custom for $3,999. The Sweetwater one seems to be a special addition. The LP Traditional is in this catalogue for $2,399 and the LP Classic for $1,899. I really don't see just a plain old Standard in this edition, closest being a LP Standard with Min - Etune, at $2,699. Still a fair amount more than I paid for my first LP back in 1982...I believe that was right around $1,000.

If I was to buy another LP these days I would probably shop the used market. With a little patience I think you could find an extraordinary deal. New, I would probably go with a Classic for $1,899, it's all the LP I would need. I am pretty happy with my LP Studio Plus however, bought it used for approximately $700.

The ones that I don't get are the Relic Strats or Tele's. A Relic Telecaster for $4040? To own a guitar someone beat up on purpose? I am equally as much a fan of Fenders as I am Gibson's, I have owned and loved both. Prices on both brands are going up as material costs and labor wages increase.

Lately I have been eyeballing the Fender Squire Classic Vibe Strats. Now there is some serious bang for the buck.

Leadfoot
last year an SG Standard was $1199, now it's $1699. 

I've received the catalog earlier this week but didn't get to really check it out yet. $1699? Man, the standard SG just went from "out of my league" to "I can't even afford to dream about one".