Just a word on pricing....

[puppyonacid]

Alot of threads have surfaced around here, especially from us euros, about pricing. Now, really, we all know it isn't EBMM's fault that they are priced so high over this side of the pond. Trade and tax laws and all that. But.......In all honestey it could be alot worse.

Thumbing through the latest copy of guitarist i found a review of a couple of new PRS's YAWN!!!!! Nothing against the brand. But the price! Forget it! Im talking about the tremonti, which for a base model clocks in at 2 and half grand (thats pounds sterling!). No Piezo, no mega sweet flame top! There's also the SC 250. The model shown has the same base price, but with an upgraded top you're looking at an extra 500 smackers plus around 300 for the gold hardware. Result? A guitar that set you back over 3 grand. And let me tell ya, the top I'm looking at on this model though nice, isn't a patch on some of the BeeFeRs I've seen around here.

And some of us have the nerve to whine about the tops.

Sorry for the ramble. But I'm just thankful the BP isn't making us pay for a name above a quality product (which I've no doubt PRS is). If I'm out of line, no worries. Just delete the thread and I'll say no more about it. I jsut thought a comparison like this would shed some light and a different angle on a topic that gets thrown up alot around here.

 

[Big Poppa]

YOu know pupppy your thread is kind of on the razors edge...I really cannot sit and criticize Paul Reed Smith or anyone else...we just do what we do. DO I think we have a better relative value in the higher end USA market....yes.....THat being said I think that Paul and company make fantastic stuff...just different

 

[pauldogx]

+1 to what BP said. I own both brands and they are just different approaches to the same end. Horses for courses. I am old enough to remember when all there was available was junk----and I'm talkin bout the big boys as well. There has never been a wider selection of awesome guitars --both production and custom built as there is now--you can get anything you want( now if I could just find a Luke with a Petrucci neck!!!LOL). Find what moves you and play it!!!

 

[Chris G]

+1 from me to.

When I bought my first Y2D (in the UK) I tried several PRS at the same time.

Did I buy the Y2D because it was fractionally cheaper? No. I bought it because although the PRS were lovely guitars the Y2D felt better to me.

On the wider issue any USA produced instrument is going to be expensive (that's economics) and pricing is always supply and demand. Always. The PRS Tremonti is a lovely guitar and clearly PRS will sell enough at that price to make it work for their company.

People moan and, although I've never met him, BP seems like a straight up guy who runs a company we like and produces products that we want to buy which are priced as he sees the market. If the Eurozone pricing is such an issue we can always get on a plane and go shopping in the US paying the duty on the US price when we return (not going to advocate breaking the law here). You can make your saving and have a short holiday (how long will it take to get to Pete Dubaldo's from Boston? Note: other dealers are available).

Then again I'm sure all this has been said before...

 

[puppyonacid]

YOu know pupppy your thread is kind of on the razors edge...I really cannot sit and criticize Paul Reed Smith or anyone else...we just do what we do. DO I think we have a better relative value in the higher end USA market....yes.....THat being said I think that Paul and company make fantastic stuff...just different

You know I had a feeling it might be.....I tried to avoid talking the PRS down. And really, it wasn't my intention to knock that brand. I like the look of most PRS's I've seen. They're not for me but I have no doubt what so ever that they are a great product! If Money was no object I'd defo have 1 or 2. But that's kind of my point. Money would have to be no object.

I jsut though it ironic that people (not everyone, and when most people are informed theyre cool with it!) complain about EBMM pricing over here, when there are companies putting out comparable products that are way more expensive. Nobody seems too bothered about that.

 

[pauldogx]

On this side of the pond Puppy you get the same type of price bashing on the PRS along the lines of "why would you spend that kind of money on a production guitar when you could have one custom built?" Who knows--people just need something to b*tch about!!! One thing that IS universally acknowledged over here is that EBMM are producing custom built quality instruments at production prices.

 

[Bungo]

I jsut though it ironic that people (not everyone, and when most people are informed theyre cool with it!) complain about EBMM pricing over here, when there are companies putting out comparable products that are way more expensive. Nobody seems too bothered about that.

Maybe they're grumbling about the pricing of those products elsewhere?

I've certainly had a good old rant on here about the astronomical cost of some of those ludicrous relic/replica things that certain large scale manufacturers have brought out in recent years!

 

[puppyonacid]

Maybe they're grumbling about the pricing of those products elsewhere?

I've certainly had a good old rant on here about the astronomical cost of some of those ludicrous relic/replica things that certain large scale manufacturers have brought out in recent years!

Good point!

And a bit fat +1 on those relics. What I'd like to know is, if you bought one of those EVH relics:

1. Would you be scared to scratch it?

2. How would you know?

 

[Astrofreq]

My guess is that PRS is just a better known brand, so they can get more for their guitars. They are great guitars, but not worth near the money they ask, at least to me.

 

[TNT]

I think PRS guitars are worth the money!! I know Musicman Guitars are better!!

 

[dstockden]

its nice to see a balanced opinion for a change, the fan boy thing can get a bit stupid sometimes, ok we all love our balls but continually slagging everyone else doesnt make us superior. i dont own a PRS and dont want to, they look pretty but they just arent for me, i own to MM's and various other bits and pieces.
Puppy has a good point on value, BP made a good point too.
as did TNT and everyone else so far.
lets our balls and let those who love others love their choices!

 

[Bungo]

Good point!

And a bit fat +1 on those relics. What I'd like to know is, if you bought one of those EVH relics:

1. Would you be scared to scratch it?

2. How would you know?

Ha ha! I'm sure I read something somewhere about one of these old nails being up for sale secondhand in 'mint unplayed condition!'

Huh????

 

[DrKev]

I've played a few PRS here and there and they just don't gel with me. I don't like the sound or feel. Pretty as hell but I'm not really into the fancy top thing (yes, I'd take a simple CBP Luke over a BFR, any day). Thinking about it now, I only pay attention to the prices of guitars I'm actually interested in owning. So I've never looked at prices of PRS! Like any of the high end Fenders or Gibsons or whatnots; good looking - very often, well made - yeah, but do they feel like they're worth the money? Not to my mind, so I really don't know or care how much they cost.

We always think of price as being set in stone, because it applies to everyone who walks into the same store. But price too is subjective, even if indirectly - each person has their own budget and requirements and preferences and, most importantly, their own ideas of what is worth what amount.

 

[Colin]

Ha ha! I'm sure I read something somewhere about one of these old nails being up for sale secondhand in 'mint unplayed condition!'

Huh????

I've got a bag of NOS nails if you're interested?

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I see EBMM as the new Fender and PRS as the new Gibson. Both make fantastic guitars, but are a different breed. I would love a PRS of some description but they are out of my price range.

 

[unclerico]

I remember as a beginner you get stuck in those 2 categories, Fender and Gibson, even though a les paul was my first guitar and I had good times with it, I still think that the best guitar I have ever played was the Petrucci. MM is well worth your money, and I thank BP for that. Now I can get a job confidant that I won't waste my cash on some guitar thats ok. Now I can get a guitar thats worth every dime.

 

[bovinehost]

its nice to see a balanced opinion for a change

I think opinion here is as balanced as it ever was, keeping in mind this is not really an "open" forum and is, in fact, the manufacturer's official forum.

If the thread was about bashing or praising PRS and that was its sole reason to exist, it wouldn't last long. That's not because there aren't good and bad things to say about PRS or many other brands, but because it's not focused on what we do here. This one survives, as have many others, because "Choice is good" - to paraphrase Big Poppa.

A respectful, intelligent discussion will almost never be killed (with one hard and fast exception that I can think of). Just remember that this isn't an open forum, that we do need to focus, that you guitarists are a wild and weird breed and that MOST of the moderating I'm forced to do is on THIS side of the forum!

In other words, I don't think it's such a change. Do you, really?

Jack

 

[TNT]

"wild and weird bunch" - why I've never. . . . . . . . . ., where's our forum attorney (BP), we guitarists need council!

 

[bovinehost]

"wild and weird bunch" - why I've never. . . . . . . . . ., where's our forum attorney (BP), we guitarists need council!

Now see, YOU are normal.

At least amongst THIS group.

Arin and I have talked about it more than a few times - most of the moderation challenges come from the guitar side. Must be an ego thing, eh?

 

[JohnnyD19]

"wild and weird bunch" - why I've never. . . . . . . . . ., where's our forum attorney (BP), we guitarists need council!

well..... admit it we are o.k. but were not as weird as drummers just remember that