Tribute Guitars, are they worth it?

krissovo · #1 December 18th, 2006

Well it bonus time again at work so once again I will treat myself to another axe.

I am interested in your opinions on tribute guitars, are they worth it? In my local store they have a Rory Gallagher replica and I had a play today and she sounds sweet! But so does the American Delux Strat and the Telecaster at half the price.

Rory's replica is even more battered than most, even down to miss match of tuners and cracked pick guard. Look at this fella:

Lcjones · #2 December 18th, 2006

While I think it's cool to have Tribute guitars, it's kind of like buying a pair of Levi's that look all worn and tattered for twice the price of a pair of unbleached, untorn Levi's. On the other hand, I'm sure some of the Tribute models include things like the custom wound pups the original artist likes.

I guess the only real advantage is future value or collectible value of any particular Tribute guitar.

**

mattz196 · #3 December 18th, 2006

The workmanship to "age" these new guitars is impressive, but I just don't get it, I find it a strange concept, sort of real imposters, Shabby chic guitars .

allthumbs · #4 December 18th, 2006

That is a reliced tribute guitar. I have the SRV sig which is not reliced. If I had to do it over again, I would have gotten a good strat and upgraded the hardware to get the equivalent at much less money. Unless there are significant features on a tribute axe that contribute to the tone and can't be obtained any other way, I wouldn't buy it. Tribs and sigs are just giving you bragging rights all things being equal. Just my opinion.

krissovo · #5 December 18th, 2006

I guess your right, I wonder if there is any investment value in these as I would probably not air this in public. It would be more of a home treat as there would be too much expectation if people watched me play. Plus the price tag is just under €4000 but would it drop in value? I guess it is too much risk in the end.

I do like the aged guitars though, its like getting new shoes I hate them until they have been broken in a bit.

highway_star · #6 December 18th, 2006

oddly enough when I saw the thread title, Rorys 'tribute' guitar immediately sprung to mind!

Like others I just dont 'get' this idea at all. Rorys axe really was a relic this is a 'new' relic?

Might have value I guess but I dont know just how many of these they made. I'd buy a top of the range USA strat instead (if I had £1,000

!!!).

allthumbs · #7 December 18th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by krissovo

I guess your right, I wonder if there is any investment value in these as I would probably not air this in public. It would be more of a home treat as there would be too much expectation if people watched me play. Plus the price tag is just under €4000 but would it drop in value? I guess it is too much risk in the end.

I do like the aged guitars though, its like getting new shoes I hate them until they have been broken in a bit.

Yeah, but they are really not broken in. Sanding and using a hammer is not the same as a guitar that has been played hard for decades.

coldethyl · #8 December 18th, 2006

Recently as some are aware, I purchased a Fender American Series Stratocaster and fell in love with it virtually as soon as I plugged her in and played it.

I had the option of getting Joe Satriani's signature series Ibanez (JS1000) but the Strat won me over with a nicer tone and cheaper price.

My advice would be to go for the guitar that really does it for you.
Weigh up whether it's worth your hard earned money or not.

Andy S · #9 December 18th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by krissovo

I guess your right, I wonder if there is any investment value in these as I would probably not air this in public.............. I guess it is too much risk in the end.

From what I've heard, from two friends that work at/own music stores, a few years ago the "collectibles" market sort of exploded with a rash of Gibson LPs and some middle aged Strats going for big bucks. A lot of people bought newer LPs and Strats in hope of them appreciating in value. Well, once the older stuff that was supposedly made better than todays stuff was bought up by collectors rather than players, the market came to a halt.

According to the two guys, folks didn't want to spend what Gibson & Fender were asking for new stuff. Especially since the quality wasn't supposed to be as good. So they started buying old, used stuff. That was what triggered the collectors market.

Now it's overdone and all the prices (except on Gibson LP Studio models opn Ebay it seems) are running high and not a lot of movement in sales.

So, if you bought it for appreciated resale value, you need to stop and think, how popular was Rory and will there be a demand for that axe?, 10 years from now.

Now, if you realy got into his sound and his playing, and you really love the axe cause it was one of those moments where the guitar just "talked" to you and you gotta have it. That's an entirely different situation. Buy it.

But if it was for the hope of it appreciating a great deal.........hmmm...better investigate the market for it.

Of course, this is just my opinion based on two guys on this side of the pond. Your mileage may vary!!

Good luck and congrats on the bonus.

I got one , too!! but it was already decided on where it was going to be spent.....needless to say, it was not a musical item!

krissovo · #10 December 18th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by highway_star

Might have value I guess but I dont know just how many of these they made. I'd buy a top of the range USA strat instead (if I had £1,000

!!!).

All I know is that originally 40 were made for Europe but they have since made more but if it is much more than that then my head says its not worth it but my heart loves it.

coldethyl

I get where you are comming from, i did try the american delux with the s1 switch as well at over half the price and it also blew me away. The only thing with fenders is that unless there is something really special about it its just like owning a mass produced car where nearly everyone else has one. I did email a great Irish luthier today about a custom job if i went for a strat, he would do some work for me on the pups, setup and paint job for well under the price of a tribute axe so it has me thinking.

Bluesyzep · #11 December 18th, 2006

I'm split on this. While I like some of the re-issues out there it's seems weird to spend that kind of money on a broken guitar.

Stratrat · #12 December 18th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by krissovo

...my head says its not worth it but my heart loves it.

While I agree that the 'tribute' axes might not be worth what they're asking, it's pretty hard to put a price on what you said above. If you truly love the guitar and the way it plays/sounds, and can afford it, it really doesn't matter what it's worth monetarily or what anybody else thinks.

allthumbs · #13 December 18th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratrat

While I agree that the 'tribute' axes might not be worth what they're asking, it's pretty hard to put a price on what you said above. If you truly love the guitar and the way it plays/sounds, and can afford it, it really doesn't matter what it's worth monetarily or what anybody else thinks.

True dat.

Ballard · #14 December 19th, 2006

I'm split on the subject as well. While it's cool to own a tribute guitar, they don't do much for developing your own style. I'd much rather have my own beat up guitar that I've played hard for years- it would mean much more.

For example, they're selling Eric Clapton's Blackie replicas as well. I mean, that guitar won't make you Eric Clapton.. so you really are paying for a broken guitar.

737blues · #15 December 19th, 2006

Got to be honest and say that I personally would feel a right tosser walking onto a stage with an artificially 'experienced' guitar. I guess it depends upon your viewpoint whether using a copy of a real guitar God's ax is actually a tribute or an expensive insult, but then I'm an old square anyway. (I also hate designer label clothes)