Epiphone price increase over the last few years! :o (semi rant!) /shock

[marc2211]

So probably in my top 2 guitars to play is surprisingly an Epiphone Les Paul Standard Goldtop I bought in March 2018. Digging out the bill, I paid 335 Euro new, which seemed fair at the time. It’s always on my guitar stand and plays wonderfully. I changed the pickups to SD 59s and it has a bone nut installed, but it’s pretty much untouched. I really love it and keep it at my work apartment.

Back at home (1k km away!) I just sold a CV Esquire, and was keen on buying another LP to use with my main amp, a Marshall Studio Silver Jubilee, and thought of buying another Epi Les Paul as it would pair well with the amp and I have nothing with humbuckers at home.

At the same store I bought the original LP (Music Store Professional de) the cheapest new Epi LP Standard is now 550 Euro, a 60% price increase in 4 years!!!! The highest model Epi LP is now over 800 Euro!!! What on earth happened?!

I fancied a model with the new headstock, but at this rate I’ll find a used one, or look to another brand… super disappointing discovery as the Epi has been great for me :/

I’ve not tracked prices recently - wondering if these kind of increases are across the industry, or specific to particular brands?

 

[bgmacaw]

They did make changes to their product line since 2018, mainly upgrading their middle and higher end models. I suppose they wanted to improve Epiphone's market position vs competitors. This accounts for some of the price increase. Of course, the other thing that happened since 2018 that's driving price increases across everything we don't talk about here.

 

[Killing Floor]

There was a global (TDPRI banned topic) that halted production of manufactured goods for a year and set a chain reaction which disrupted supply chain in every category. It was all over the news.

 

[jvin248]

... new Epi LP Standard is now 550 Euro, a 60% price increase in 4 years!!!! The highest model Epi LP is now over 800 Euro!!! What on earth happened?!
...wondering if these kind of increases are across the industry, or specific to particular brands?

Everywhere. Two trends:
1 - more people kept home = more online orders and new players soaking up supplies for a few years bumping the used market prices sky high.
2 - Most global fiat currencies are running rampantly high due to excessive printing. Research hyperinflation and watch for the signs ... "signs signs everywhere are signs"

As far as getting a new HH LP style guitar .. check out the Harley Benton SC 450 or 550.

.

 

[Red Ryder]

Everything is higher, it's called consumerscrewing, which is a corporate term for consumer screwing.

 

[1 21 gigawatts]

The new "inspired by Gibson" Epiphones are better guitars than previous models. The construction is closer to the original, and the electronics are much improved (CTS pots, 50's wiring, Gibson designed pickups). They have essentially become Asian-made Gibsons, so the price increase is justified.

Inflation, supply chain issues, and increased interest in guitars (hot market) since 2019 accounts for the rest of the price increase.

 

[backporchmusic]

I watched the price on the USA Casino go from 2499 to 2999 and then 3299. It went from "I may buy one on a 15% off coupon sale" to nope, not for that money.

 

[Peegoo]

It's nothing new. About 15 years ago you could buy a top-line MIM Strat for $249 everywhere, at regular price. This price was constant for at least 10 years. Then costs started creeping higher, and we are where we are...

 

[68tele]

Check out Grote, Firefly, etc...very nice playable guitars for low $.

 

[FSRCustomTeleHHGT]

It's nothing new. About 15 years ago you could buy a top-line MIM Strat for $249 everywhere, at regular price. This price was constant for at least 10 years. Then costs started creeping higher, and we are where we are...

Your math implies that 5 years ago top of the line MIM Strats were still $249 new. You couldn't even get a Squier Vintage Modified Stratocaster for that price in 2012, let alone 2017. But going back to the first part: 2007 was 15 years ago. If you take a look at the Wayback Machine for 2007, and Sweetwater's Fender page for October of that year, the LOWEST priced MIM Strat was $399. And the MIM Classic Player 60s Stratocaster was $799! Your figures are WAY off.

In fact here's a page from a 2002 Musician's Friend catalog. It lists the MIM Standard (not top-of-the-line) $349.

I'm not sure how far back you'd actually have to go to find any MIM at $249 new, but I'm certain that if any ever were priced that low, it was in the 20th Century. Here's 1998 Musician's Friend catalog page. Claims Fender Strats "as low as $279." Still not $249 (also not top-of-the-line, which is $459), but getting closer:

Incidentally, you can get a limited edition MIM Fender Player Stratocaster at Adorama brand new for $649 right now. Adjust that for inflation and it's much cheaper than the MIM Player's of 15 years ago.

 

[bgmacaw]

Your math implies that 5 years ago top of the line MIM Strats were still $249 new.

You could find used MIM Standards in the $200 to $300 range pretty easily back then though. Just like in the 80's you could get a 70's Strat for that amount. It's always good to find someone who hasn't kept up with the market and is selling at prices from 5+ years ago.

 

[Fendereedo]

That wonderful word, inflation springs to mind

 

[tarheelbob]

Demand skyrocketed
Supply plummeted
Transportation costs (gas) WAAAY up
Global inflation

that should explain most of it......

 

[Peegoo]

Your math implies that 5 years ago top of the line MIM Strats were still $249 new. You couldn't even get a Squier Vintage Modified Stratocaster for that price in 2012, let alone 2017. But going back to the first part: 2007 was 15 years ago. If you take a look at the Wayback Machine for 2007, and Sweetwater's Fender page for October of that year, the LOWEST priced MIM Strat was $399. And the MIM Classic Player 60s Stratocaster was $799! Your figures are WAY off.

In fact here's a page from a 2002 Musician's Friend catalog. It lists the MIM Standard (not top-of-the-line) $349.
View attachment 998641

I'm not sure how far back you'd actually have to go to find any MIM at $249 new, but I'm certain that if any ever were priced that low, it was in the 20th Century. Here's 1998 Musician's Friend catalog page. Claims Fender Strats "as low as $279." Still not $249 (also not top-of-the-line, which is $459), but getting closer:
View attachment 998643


Incidentally, you can get a limited edition MIM Fender Player Stratocaster at Adorama brand new for $649 right now. Adjust that for inflation and it's much cheaper than the MIM Player's of 15 years ago.

What I meant by "up until about 15 years ago...," and the price being "constant for 10 years," is they were $249 for about 10 years up until about 15 years ago. It was around 15 years ago the price began creeping up.

 

[FSRCustomTeleHHGT]

What I meant by "up until about 15 years ago...," and the price being "constant for 10 years," is they were $249 for about 10 years up until about 15 years ago. It was around 15 years ago the price began creeping up.

Okay. But your numbers are still way off as I've demonstrated. You mentioned top of the line MIM. The Standard was never that. The ones that were were in the $499 range at the turn of the century.

 

[marc2211]

Amazingly, the new Epi LPs in my local store have gone up another 20€ since I posted!

 

[NHFlyCaster]

I yelled, Don't Look Ethyl!

But, it was too late ...