We know the big names in the guitar industry has subsidiary brands to capture the market segment with affordability in mind. The ones you see above are some of the well known sub-brands with arguably a strong presence. However, we do realize the instruments manufactured by these brands are becoming downright unaffordable lately. If you are a beginner or a fledging player & hope for something decent with an equally decent price tag, these brands are currently letting you down.
Yes, we are aware of how the EBMM range of instruments exude that boutique sensation & the Sterling sub-brand was conceived to subtract the exquisite price factor from the equation. However a $2.4k model in the range, albeit half of the EBMM version, is telling buyers that the sub-brand version simply cannot shake off the extravagant price tag.
PRS SEs are also inching slowly, but surely, towards the costly price brackets. Notice how these instruments are being decorated with fancy tops (yes, majority of them are veneer... heck some could even be photo tops) so dear prices could be accounted for accordingly.
Epiphone - the affordable 'Gibson', remember? It's quickly becoming the stuff of memory; we would one day reminisce its affordability. Trending - Gibson signature models trickling into the Epiphone turf with questionable affordability. Culprits - Hammett, Mustaine, Slash et al. The one you see above: Kirk Hammett's Greeny LP with the open book Gibson headstock outline.
LTDs surpassing the $1.5k mark is a very daunting prospect. We can definitely acquire a used Japanese guitar in this price bracket & be happier. Again, LTD is among the brand names that are slowly opiating the masses into accepting the fact that higher prices are deserving by virtue of looks & endorser affiliations.
There are other examples & the brand names documented are not exclusive in this discussion. I see players with limited purchasing power reverting to the lesser brand names in search of good instruments that won't petrify their bank accounts; Bacchus, Aria, Grass Roots, Yamaha, Stagg, etc. Back in my time, we had to resort to names like Vester, Vantage, Samick ... it's like going full circle. I see the sub-brands riding on their greater counterparts' reputation & they are not about to stop this deceit any time soon. These so called affordable labels are no longer stand alone considerations when it comes to affordability; no manufacturer today wants to offer bona fide affordable instruments to the masses. It's still about the money.
Pics: ESP / EBMM / Gibson / PRS
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