Fakin' it - All the way from China......

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Just to make sure everyone understands, The photo I posted IS A REAL GIBSON LES PAUL CUSTOM NOT A FAKE.

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[ProfGumby]

If I could afford to, I'd only buy from inside-the-border builders, but until such time as I hit the lottery big, that just isn't going to happen.

We live in a global economy now, and the fact that my basses are a US label but built overseas by builders chosen by the parent label are as close as I can afford to do.

And that is what is called Capitalism. The manufacturers realize they would otherwise lose these sales to "other" companies.... and this is not the issue here, or an issue with me either.

 

[ProfGumby]

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Holy Mother of all things bass related! That Red 8 String is calling my name!!! Anyone have an idea of MSRP?

 

[hdracer]

Agreed!

There is a reason Gibson has Epiphone and Fender has Squier and others have their import line.

But then, an Epiphone is not a Gibson nor is a Squier a Fender, They are different and the companies have offered a price pointed option of their main lines.

Many here have said, over and over an Epi T Bird does not play like or feel like or sound like a Gibson T Bird.

As to affording what one wants, many times if a guy would save a little longer or get a part time job to afford the bass of choice there would not be this issue. I also remember reading a post here that adjusted for inflation, new Fenders are less expensive now than back in the early 70's.

Hell, I would love it if a T Bird Studio was about 300 bucks today! Or if a MIA Fender was priced the same. But it ain't happening unless I buy a stolen one of a meth addict.....

+1 I have worked hard and saved my money. I budgeted out things like a vacation or a new truck so I could buy my Gibson's, Fender's and Rickenbacker.

 

[hdracer]

Cool pics!

Yeah, I wonder if any of them worked on mine.

 

[Florox]

Dude, this is one lame argument.

It doesn't serve anybody right to rip-off their logo and ideas. If you don't want to buy a Gibson or Rick then don't buy it. That's your prerogative. What they charge is their business. You can always choose not to buy it if you feel it is overpriced. That's the marketplace.

Are you in a band? Do you record? If people feel some songs on a particular album you cut are not up to par then it's OK (according to your philosophy) if people pirate your stuff and deprive you from making any money from it.

It is also my choice to have an opinion, and that's what this is. I believe it serves them right. They also fool their costumers with crappy workmanship in some instances. The main difference is that these guys sell it cheap. This is how capitalism works, and if you don't abide by it, move out of the U.S., because the U.S. and China have the most rampant capitalist economies ever.

I wouldn't like someone stealing my work, for sure. But then again, I would never try to fool my costumers, or make them believe I'm something else that I'm not. I think you shouldn't make generalized examples, as my problem is specific to Gibson. I think we should respect other people's opinions and do whatever makes us happy. Does it make you happy to play Gibson? Great.

If you can't afford it, well...buy a Squire. Resenting a company because they price their merchadise out of your range is kinda silly. It isn't wrong for them to do. If you want the goods, get more money--or settle for lesser goods.
Just because you don't have the green to pay for the stuff, doesn't mean that someone should punish them or steal it from them. It just means you need to earn more green.
Can't afford a Ric? That gets filed under "Your Fault".

It is not out of my price range at all, that's your assumption! Assuming that I don't want to get something because I am not able to is silly. As I said, right and wrong is subjective, as there isn't an universal set of morals, no matter what country you're from. I think Gibsons and Rickenbackers are horribly overpriced, but I don't condemn Rickenbacker, because although I believe they charge way too much for what their instruments are, they're a hardworking family company. Yet Gibson is a company whose philosophy is :"Overprice instruments so as to fool the costumer into thinking that more money equals a better instrument".

Don't condemn companies for living off of greed if you subsist out of it too.

 

[thomashawk]

I've noticed "Fender" decals floating around these threads, and I have definitely seen them on Warmoths for years. I have little sympathy for someone willing to blow $8k on a ripoff resold bass that they could not recognize as a ripoff.

Also, if you have any issues in "supporting Chinese business practices," unfortunately you will have to throw away and never again purchase a single stitch of clothing. From K-Mart to Hugo Boss to Levi's - all China.

 

[NickInMesa]

This site is extremely slow, proving that people are just addicted to good deals and don't give a crap about shifts in economic hegemony as well as quality. Hey, if it says "Rolex", "Louis Vuitton" or "Fodera", who cares if it's junk?

Instant gratification and small term glee is all that matters.

Hopefully the Chinese will become the new Americans, we will become the new Chinese and a source of cheap labor, so that we can, just like in the 1920s, work our butts off 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, no safety net whatsoever.

Hail to the return of the glory days.

 

[smperry]

This thread has gotten political in a few places. Closing it for now.