Gibson price increase for 2023? Anyone heard?

[jtcnj]

For the last year or two, Gibson (and most everyone else) has had some steep increases.
Has anyone heard what is coming in 2023?

 

[lcw]

Haven’t heard but I snagged a couple before they do!

 

[Colnago]

I’ve heard that Epiphone is going up in Feb, I’d assume that Gibson will as well.
I can’t believe how much these are going up across the board and I can’t help but wonder when things will cool off as it doesn’t seem they will.

 

[Decadent Dan]

They jacked the Standard $400 in late ‘21, post bankruptcy and pandemic shutdown.
That was nearly 30%. They haven’t raised the Junior yet. They’ll probably leave the higher prices alone and raise the lower ones. Strategy, they don’t want to raise everything at once.

 

[An Abiding Dude]

I wonder if there is a post-pandemic glut of used guitars on the market from people who bought a guitar thinking they'd spend time with it, discovering they couldn't sustain interest in learning the instrument and end up selling it which means the volume of new guitar sales slows down and they raise prices to make up the difference and maintain their profit margin?

 

[Maguchi]

For the last year or two, Gibson (and most everyone else) has had some steep increases.
Has anyone heard what is coming in 2023?

Haven’t heard but I snagged a couple before they do!

^^^Yeah I got a couple too while the getting was good. A Explorer and a TV Yellow Special.

 

[Mitchey75]

Just had a quick look at the prices on the Sweetwater website. Some models were raised by 100 $ from March 2022 on, e.g.:

Gibson SG Standard
03/2022: 1,699 $ | 01/2023: 1,799 $

Gibson SG Standard '61
03/2022: 1,699 $ | 01/2023: 1,799 $

Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s
03/2022: 2,699 $ | 01/2023: 2,799 $

Gibson Les Paul Studio
03/2022: 1,599 $ | 01/2023: 1,699 $

Same for "Guitar Center"...

 

[PermissionToLand]

They jacked the Standard $400 in late ‘21, post bankruptcy and pandemic shutdown.
That was nearly 30%. They haven’t raised the Junior yet. They’ll probably leave the higher prices alone and raise the lower ones. Strategy, they don’t want to raise everything at once.

$200, actually:

SG Standard

The SG Standard was introduced in 1961, slotting above the SG Special and below the SG Custom. It has been one of the longest-lasting variants of the SG, only shortly being replaced by the SG Deluxe from mid-1971 to mid-1972. As they transitioned back from the Deluxe, there were some models with...

solidguitar.fandom.com

Generally speaking, Gibson's increases track with inflation. As inflation has cooled down recently (particularly the major drivers that were gasoline and automobiles), I think there would only be a small increase, if any, this year. But we'll see.

 

[Decadent Dan]

$200, actually:

SG Standard

The SG Standard was introduced in 1961, slotting above the SG Special and below the SG Custom. It has been one of the longest-lasting variants of the SG, only shortly being replaced by the SG Deluxe from mid-1971 to mid-1972. As they transitioned back from the Deluxe, there were some models with...

solidguitar.fandom.com

Generally speaking, Gibson's increases track with inflation. As inflation has cooled down recently (particularly the major drivers that were gasoline and automobiles), I think there would only be a small increase, if any, this year. But we'll see.

It was $1,399 now it’s $1,799

 

[jtcnj]

I have been eyeing the SG Tribute - specifically for the rounder neck profile.
Used prices look to be in the $950 range.
They are $1299 new - I think they were well under $1k 4 or so years ago.
I ordered a used one off Reverb last week.

If my EPI G400 had the rounder neck, I would not be looking for something else.

I thought prices would start to drop some with the recession fears, but I think the continuing supply chain / supply cost inflation will signal more price increases.

 

[PermissionToLand]

It was $1,399 now it’s $1,799

Where did you see it for that price? AMS had a sale in April 2019 for $1,349, but the Standard has not been $1,399 at regular price since 2018.

 

[Decadent Dan]

Where did you see it for that price? AMS had a sale in April 2019 for $1,349, but the Standard has not been $1,399 at regular price since 2018.

I bought an AMS Pelham Blue Standard in January 2021 and I thought it was $1,399 but it might have been $1,499.
Edit it was $1,499… $1,603.93 after tax.
Now it’s $1,924.93 after tax (7%}.
Still no hard case.
They can basically take it and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine.

 

[MR D]

WOW, 2 $$$GRAND$$$ for a GIBSON SG Standard, that's NUTS ! and GIBSON USA throws in the 490 R&T Pickups, the cheapest pickup's GIBSON USA Manufacturers and sells.......and THEN.......... THEN YOU GET TO ADD THAT POS of a SORRY A$$ soft-shell case...........WOWO !!!

I have a 2020 GIBSON USA 'MODERN' Series 'SG' Standard, paid $1445 'ALL-IN' w/HSCase ($1,250 w/out HSCase), swapped out the 490's free of charge w/'61R(Neck) & '57 Classic (Bridge) P-up's, KLUSON 'Revolutions' Locking Tuning Machines & a Duesenberg Les Trem II Tremolo were immediately mounted on the BAD-A$$ and the Guitar is actually pretty damn KILLER !!! and for $1,785 it got some up-grades that wouldn't hav happened at beginning of Guitar season (Early October )

BUT IDK EVEN $1785 for a well developed, CUSTOM Up-Graded and expertly crafted 6 LBS. pieces of wood ? Wood that sez GIBSON USA on it !!! This one particular 2020 SG 'MODERN' Standard really does frikkin RIP !!!but $1,785 is a lot of $$$$$$$ for an 'SG' Standard.

 

[papagayo]

Every year is the same story... That' s why I buy used guitars.

2016 SG '61 RI Proprietary Ltd Edition : 1300 €

 

[smitty_p]

Generally speaking, Gibson's increases track with inflation. As inflation has cooled down recently (particularly the major drivers that were gasoline and automobiles), I think there would only be a small increase, if any, this year. But we'll see.

Yes.

It could also be argued they have not risen as high as inflation.

When the Gibson Les Paul (SG) was released in 1961, the Standard model listed for $290.00. That would be approximately $2878.00 in today's money.

Today's price of $1799.00 would have been approximately $180.00 in 1961, which is actually $110.00 less than the catalog price at the time.

U.S. Inflation Calculator: 1635→2023, Department of Labor data

This inflation calculator uses the official US consumer price index and breaks down inflation by spending category. Enter any year since 1635 to adjust for inflation, measure change in purchasing power, and more.

www.in2013dollars.com

Gibson SG timeline - the 1960s >> Vintage Guitar and Bass

The Gibson SG guitar throughout the 1960s. A detailed look at variations over this period, plus pricing, Catalog appearances and advertising

www.vintageguitarandbass.com

https://www.gibson.com/en-US/Electric-Guitar/USA8LG109/Heritage-Cherry

 

[PermissionToLand]

I bought an AMS Pelham Blue Standard in January 2021 and I thought it was $1,399 but it might have been $1,499.
Edit it was $1,499… $1,603.93 after tax.
Now it’s $1,924.93 after tax (7%}.
Still no hard case.
They can basically take it and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine.

That explains it. So, the $1,499 price was set in 2019. If you adjust that for inflation, that comes to $1,767 in December 2022 (the most recent I could get).

IMHO it's the people who aren't keeping our wages tied to inflation like they do with the prices of their products, who should be shoving things where the sun don't shine...

 

[PermissionToLand]

Yes.

It could also be argued they have not risen as high as inflation.

When the Gibson Les Paul (SG) was released in 1961, the Standard model listed for $290.00. That would be approximately $2878.00 in today's money.

Today's price of $1799.00 would have been approximately $180.00 in 1961, which is actually $110.00 less than the catalog price at the time.

U.S. Inflation Calculator: 1635→2023, Department of Labor data

This inflation calculator uses the official US consumer price index and breaks down inflation by spending category. Enter any year since 1635 to adjust for inflation, measure change in purchasing power, and more.

www.in2013dollars.com

Gibson SG timeline - the 1960s >> Vintage Guitar and Bass

The Gibson SG guitar throughout the 1960s. A detailed look at variations over this period, plus pricing, Catalog appearances and advertising

www.vintageguitarandbass.com

https://www.gibson.com/en-US/Electric-Guitar/USA8LG109/Heritage-Cherry

To be fair, I believe those prices quoted in the catalogs were MSRP, not the street price. It's hard to make a perfect comparison because you also have factors like changes in the average discount from MSRP over the decades.

 

[lcw]

Moral of story, buy now, don't wait. Prices will always go up given time.

 

[Decadent Dan]

Yea, took em 60 years to get to $1,500 but evidently $100 a year increase is the new normal.

 

[smitty_p]

Yea, took em 60 years to get to $1,500 but evidently $100 a year increase is the new normal.

I guess I just don't think that $1799.00 is really that high of a price to pay for a quality, American-made, set-neck, bound fret board guitar in 2023.

Yeah, it's not chump change, but I think it's reasonable for what it is.