What's so special about this?

Calum13

https://m.thomann.de/gb/gibson_citation_na.htm?o=0&search=1533301074 ;

I don't see what can make a guitar this price unless it's vintage or previously owned by someone famous. Surely it didn't cost Gibson anywhere near that price to make it. And why would it cost nearly £3000 less for it in a different colour.

ESBlonde

It's for the tinkerers amoungst us, you get to fit your own choice of aftermarket pickups without having to deal with the old set first.    ;-)







Or,

It's a truely hand crafted guitar with a hand carved and tuned top and back. The finest of materials used by skilled craftsmen and marked up by Gibson. remember that the most valuable guitars tend to be acoustics rather than thos modern 1950s designs.

Calum13

ESBlonde said:

It's for the tinkerers amoungst us, you get to fit your own choice of aftermarket pickups without having to deal with the old set first.    ;-)







Or,

It's a truely hand crafted guitar with a hand carved and tuned top and back. The finest of materials used by skilled craftsmen and marked up by Gibson. remember that the most valuable guitars tend to be acoustics rather than thos modern 1950s designs.

Yes I suppose it can't be too easy to make one of those by hand. Although I think that's absurdly priced when one of those burst les pauls is about ten times as much! 

guitars4you

Never sure if it was hype or a rumour, but regarding the original Citations made during the 70's, I was told they were built by one luthier - When he retired, or died, that was the end of the model as no other builder had the ability, or experience to build such a guitar - can anyone shed any light on this

It was the flag ship model in the archtop line, to sit above the Super 400 and L5 - Some tagged it the Strad of archtop models

Not sure who at Gibson has the skill level to build such guitars today, but many hand built arch top guitars from the USA now have similar price tags, be it Benedetto, Buscarino etc - far more skill in building such guitar compared with a CNC approach to knocking out a shed load of Tele bodies

As for 3k difference in price - Gibson have often charged more for an all natural model - Harder to find a spruce top and maple back/sides that are free of any blemish, stain etc  As such it has to be so clean and perfect - Minor mineral stains can be covered with a burst finish - I dare say other builders and/or finishers on here can add more to this

Winny_Pooh

Most of that price is simply Gibson custom shop markup. They can and they do because most guitarists are lame label snobs.

OilCityPickups

£22,000 quid over a Les Paul gets you a maple neck with a volute ... so the headstock won't fall off :-)

p90fool

I know it sounds crazy but you probably wouldn't lose money on a Citation, it's a bit like buying Ronaldo. 

designerseye88

Wish all Gibson's we made with this level of skill and passion

Strangefan

designerseye88 said:

Wish all Gibson's we made with this level of skill and passion

I doubt you would, as they would cost more than (pretty much) anyone would pay for an electric guitar. 

designerseye88

Strangefan said:

designerseye88 said:

Wish all Gibson's we made with this level of skill and passion

I doubt you would, as they would cost more than (pretty much) anyone would pay for an electric guitar. 

Passion costs nothing. Just a shame that here is a snippet of what Gibson could do 

Rocker

It is priced at that level because it is exclusive.  Today, nobody really 'needs' a watch but people are prepared to fork out vast sums, in many cases way in excess of the price of the Gibson, for watches made by Rolex or Patek Phillipe. Shows the time of day as does your mobile phone but.....

Whitecat

Rocker said:

It is priced at that level because it is exclusive.  Today, nobody really 'needs' a watch but people are prepared to fork out vast sums, in many cases way in excess of the price of the Gibson, for watches made by Rolex or Patek Phillipe. Shows the time of day as does your mobile phone but.....

^^ this - the price of things tends to be mostly unrelated to what they actually cost to make. 

Danielsguitars

My other guitar building friend made a benedetto style archtop, it took him 2 years part time and it's a work of art, i still need to finish it

Anyway whilst in guitar guitar they had an 8k gibson one, we asked to have a go and it was just dead compared to my friends, Gibson trades off that name imo 

I honestly don't think mass produced will ever get made as well as someone who cares about the whole build, time and money don't come into it, it's about making it the best you can with the best materials you can buy, admittedly most won't give a shit so won't pay the money

p90fool

I hardly think you can call a Citation mass produced, or say that they don't care about it. 

I'm also sceptical about the whole "my mate's guitar is better than any Gibson" thing - I've heard it countless times over many decades and it's been utter bullshit every time. 

gringopig

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