Gibson vs. Heritage

[Kuz]

For me, this is a completely different situation than Heritage vs. Gibson. This is a situation of two completely different types of guitars that are not equivalent. One is a semi solid and the other is completely hollow. You're looking at two completely different sounds and two completely different playabilities. Now if you matched an ES 335 with an H535 you may have had a more difficult choice.

+1 need to compare apples to apples and then let the best guitar win.

I don't know how you could compare a semi-hollow plywood guitar to a solid wood hollow body archtop? The dimensions, playabilty, and tone would be different even if they were two guitars from the same manufacturer (ie a 335 vs an ES-175).

[jster]

I don't want to wade into this debate. I have owned one of each. Which one did I like better? The older one.

But I do want to point out something. I haven't run the numbers, but Gibsons probably aren't appreciating much in real terms, if at all. Rather the USD is losing value as they print more and more money. That Gibson probably buys fewer tanks of gas or sirloin steaks or ounces of gold than it did when you bought it. Still, much better place to park your money than the stock market.

[Flint]

+1 need to compare apples to apples and then let the best guitar win.

I don't know how you could compare a semi-hollow plywood guitar to a solid wood hollow body archtop? The dimensions, playabilty, and tone would be different even if they were two guitars from the same manufacturer (ie a 335 vs an ES-175).

I understand that this is apples and oranges in one sense. In another sense, sometimes you need to decide between an apple and an orange.

So OK, here are two quite dissimilar guitars. You can afford one. You're willing to buy whichever one turns your crank. If you're in the market for EITHER a pickup truck OR a sports car, and you can't afford both, it's not much help to compare different pickup trucks. You have to decide which one is a better use of your money.

[fumblefingers]

So...wich one in the end???

in the end?

i would say that while the Heritage is certainly well built, has quality parts, and no doubt delivers a lot of bang for the buck, the Gibson has that classic beauty and shape. costs more, no doubt.

[Kuz]

I understand that this is apples and oranges in one sense. In another sense, sometimes you need to decide between an apple and an orange.

So OK, here are two quite dissimilar guitars. You can afford one. You're willing to buy whichever one turns your crank. If you're in the market for EITHER a pickup truck OR a sports car, and you can't afford both, it's not much help to compare different pickup trucks. You have to decide which one is a better use of your money.

I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

How do you know if you picked the best apple or best orange? You picked an orange over an apple, but you may have missed out on a better orange.

Gibson makes great stuff and so does Heritage. It comes down to what individual guitar floats your boat and the 335 did it for you. No shame in that.

[Patrick2]

in the end?

i would say that while the Heritage is certainly well built, has quality parts, and no doubt delivers a lot of bang for the buck, the Gibson has that classic beauty and shape. costs more, no doubt.

Hey . . ff . . did you see the pictire that petepanico posted with that question?? I really don't think you caught the drift of which "ends" he meant when he asked .. "which one . . . IN THE END"

[Bluedawg]

Collings guitars are truly in another league vs. Gibson and Heritage. The workmanship and attention to detail is extraordinary.

So while the Gibson vs. Heritage price difference is a complex picture considering the similar guitar quality, the Collings comparison is of a genuinely significant and consistent difference in quality - and a non-linear price difference.

One could argue that Heritage and Collings are understandably priced on a non-liner price/quality curve, and that gibson guitars are significantly over-priced, yet sell for other reasons (as I make sheep sounds in the background).

But of course to each his own in this fine day of archtop riches in the whole market.

Chris

I've been fortunate enough to play a couple of Collings archtops and I own a City Limits Deluxe solid body.

Workmanship and QC are definately excellent on the Collings guitars,

but my ears and hands still like the sound and feel of the Gibbies as much or more than the Collings I've played ..

I have found Gibbies with little or no QC issues and I took them home rather than search for or order a Collings archtop ... The Gibsons are expensive enough, I certainly can't afford to shell out the street price for a Collings archtop

I've liked the heritage guitars that I've tried ... enough to bring a Sweet 16 and a Golden Eagle home with me ... but they are few and far between even in the US and I traded away my Golden Eagle years ago

My Sweet 16 is still my go to gigging guitar and the only guitar I own that has paid for itself in gig money earned.

[fumblefingers]

Hey . . ff . . did you see the pictire that petepanico posted with that question?? I really don't think you caught the drift of which "ends" he meant when he asked .. "which one . . . IN THE END"

i caught it. did you see my response?

[rhoadsscholar]

Dude, dude, dude, who shops for L-5s at Musician's Friend? It is like going to Walmart for a Patek Phillipe.

Look, man. I have an issue with the numbers you quoted. Over at an authorized Gibson dealer, an L-5 Wes Montgomery Sunburst has a MAP of $7799. Street is $6850. Lower if you pay cash. A Natural L-5CES has a MAP of $9999. Street is about $8700.

Yes, you can find an L-5CES used for $5000......NORLIN ERA ones. And pretty well used ones at that. A post 90s Jim Hutchins L-5CES Natural is more like $6500 in Excellent Plus condition.

You forget about rate of appreciation on a Gibson. Yessiree, Gibson archtops appreciate in price every year. So, you may have bought a circa 1998 L-5CES Natural for $5000 in 1998 and may sell it for $6500 in 2012.

What's the rate of appreciation on a Heritage?

THE EAGLE CLASSIC IS NOT LAMINATE. IT IS ALL SOLID WOODS like an L-5CES.
The Eagle Classic is not the equivalent of an L-5CES. The Eagle Classic has laminated back and sides and a solid spruce top. It is like the L-5 Studio. Last I observed, the L-5 Studio was selling from upwards of $3000 to $4000. I believe the L-5 Studio had a street price of below $3000 when it was launched in the late 90s.

The Golden Eagle is the L-5CES's equivalent in that it has a solid carved spruce top and solid maple back and sides. Ask Joe Vinikow how quickly he sells L-5 Wes Montgomery archies. Joe V. sells them even before he has time to list them. The last one I know, a 1998 Sunburst, fine and curly, sold for $6500. How much was it in 1998, new? $4500, if my memory serves me.

A wise gentleman, Danny, a fine jazz player and collector of Gibsons, shared with me that he bought a Super 400 Western Sky for $4300 in 1993 and sold it for $5400 in 1994 or 1995. That same Super 400 Western Sky is selling for upwards of $8500 today.

I don't look at guitars as investment but smart money is on Gibson. I was quoted $5650 plus dollars on a Heritage Super Eagle in 2009. I notice that same Super Eagle selling for $3000 and under today.

Find me a Heritage which has doubled in price or at least, appreciated. Every Heritage loses its owner money. There is no chance of appreciating unlike the much reviled Gibson. You may say that the market is made of up fools for allowing Gibson to jack up its MSRP every year but the market buys it. The market won't buy it for Heritage.

THE eagle Classic is an all solid wood guitar like an L5-CES. it is not laminate