You’ve probably heard a lot of speculation about how much it costs to buy a new guitar. Or maybe you’ve even heard the old saying that the price of a new guitar is strictly in inverse proportion to its quality—a claim that seems to be based in some factual truth. These statements are often thrown around by more experienced musicians, who have their own experiences with buying new gear and can therefore sympathize with those struggling under the burden of having to purchase everything from scratch. But they are also commonly heard by inexperienced players, who aren’t aware that there are various factors that go into determining the price of any given instrument. Falling prey to this sort of speculation only serves to make other people feel less secure about their purchases, which will only make them hesitate again another time. So what is the real reason why new guitars are so expensive? Let’s look at the facts:
What determines the price of a new guitar?
Like any other product, the price of a new guitar depends on a number of factors. First of all, there’s the price of raw materials. This has been dropping constantly for decades—since the ‘70s, in fact, when the “Green Revolution” of agriculture made the most of modern techniques to push the cost of corn and wheat down to almost nothing. So while almost every instrument is made of wood, the process of building it is made up of a lot more than just the materials used to make the body and the neck of an instrument. From the drilling of the holes to the assembly of the parts, every step along the way is a job that’s conducted by humans, and it’s safe to assume that when the price of raw materials drops, the price of a finished product drops with it. Another factor that affects the price of a new guitar is the manufacturer’s cost of production. This involves everything from the cost of the machines used to make the parts of an instrument to the wages paid to employees and the overhead costs that go along with running a manufacturing facility. All of this costs money, and generally speaking, when a manufacturer can make more money by lowering their prices, they will. But not all manufacturers have the same business costs or work in the same way. Some of them may have very low overhead costs or may make a significant portion of their money from selling parts, which means that if a manufacturer could cut the cost of production by just a few dollars, they would make more money. So, price-cutting by one manufacturer may result in an increase in the price of instruments by another.
Prices vary based on brand, model and year
As we’ve said, the price of a new guitar depends largely on the cost of the raw materials that go into it, as well as on the manufacturer’s cost of production. However, the cost of a new guitar also depends on a number of other factors, one of which is the price of the raw materials at a given time. When a certain tree is felled to make a certain instrument, a certain set of circumstances has to be in place for this to happen. And part of that is the price of the raw materials. So if the cost of wood drops significantly, then a manufacturer can use less expensive wood, or even make the same instrument with plywood instead of a solid wood body. This means that the new guitar will have the same sound and feel, but the price will be much lower. Another factor that affects prices is the brand. Generally speaking, the more expensive the brand, the better the instrument. But of course there are exceptions to this rule—many brands can be found in the middle or at the bottom of the price range, and it’s not uncommon for a cheap guitar to sound pretty good, especially if it’s used. But generally speaking, everyone wants the best at the best price, and so it’s no surprise that prices are highest at the top end of the market.
What affects the price of an old guitar?
The price of an old guitar also depends on a number of factors, but here’s one that you might not have considered: the condition of the guitar. When you’re buying an old guitar, you don’t want to save a few dollars on the price of the raw materials and get a crappy guitar that sounds like crap. So, the first thing you should do when browsing for a used guitar is pay attention to the condition of the instrument. The way you do this is simple: just look at the guitar and listen to it. You want to make sure that the guitar is in good enough condition that you feel confident that it is not going to fall apart on you at any moment, and that it’s going to sound as good as it possibly can. When you’ve decided on the condition of the guitar, you can move on to the price of an old guitar. Generally speaking, if the guitar is in good condition, has been played a lot, and is at least a few years old, it should be in the mid to low price range, which is to say, under $300. If the guitar is in better condition, has been played very little, is at least six years old, and has been kept in the case, the price may be higher.
Why is used gear so much cheaper?
One of the things that affects the price of an old guitar is the condition of the old guitar. If you find a used guitar in good shape and at least six years old, all the factors that we’ve discussed above should be taken into account and the guitar should be priced in the mid-to-low price range. However, one factor that goes into the price of an old guitar that you may not have considered is the price of the raw materials. Raw materials are always going to cost more than the finished product they go into, and they’re also going to cost more when the demand for that raw material is higher. This means that when there’s a huge demand for guitars, such as during the Christmas rush or when a new pop star releases a new album, the cost of the raw materials goes up, raising the price of a new guitar. When these spikes in demand are over, the demand for guitars drops down and the raw materials go back down to their normal, lower cost.
Is there any way to save money on a new guitar?
Another thing that affects the price of a new guitar is the price of the raw materials. The more expensive the raw material is, the lower the price of a new guitar made with that raw material. For instance, a new guitar made entirely out of rosewood is going to be much more expensive than a new guitar made of a variety of other woods, all of which are relatively cheap. The price of an expensive raw material, such as rosewood, will affect the price of a new guitar, which means that there is a way to save money on a new guitar, but it has to be done after the purchase has been made.
Final Words: Should You Buy New or Used Gear?
The truth is that one of the best ways to save money on a new guitar is to buy an old one. Yes, we know that the sight of an old guitar is intimidating, but it can be one of the best ways to get a great deal on a new guitar. You may have to drop your standards a little bit, but an old guitar is better than a new guitar nine times out of ten, and it’s worth saving up for.