Charvel Nova 7 NAT "Betty"

looks incredible

I do take umbrage with imports priced like this

Strandberg is a big culprit with this kind of pricing. A new Boden prog is $2400 which I think is very hard to justify for an indo cortek build

I bought a used one for about 1500. I love the guitar to death and it’s flawless , but there’s definitely that “unique Strandberg design tax” going on
 
spawnofthesith said:
looks incredible

I do take umbrage with imports priced like this

Strandberg is a big culprit with this kind of pricing. A new Boden prog is $2400 which I think is very hard to justify for an indo cortek build

I bought a used one for about 1500. I love the guitar to death and it’s flawless , but there’s definitely that “unique Strandberg design tax” going on
Click to expand...
If it’s flawless , uses premium materials why do you think it’s overpriced? The same guitar built in the US would be $4k +
The Cort instruments that cost a lot less use different processes and cheaper materials.
 
Eagle said:
If it’s flawless , uses premium materials why do you think it’s overpriced? The same guitar built in the US would be $4k +
The Cort instruments that cost a lot less use different processes and cheaper materials.
Click to expand...


Veneer? Richlite board instead of ebony? Can you confirm that the swamp ash body is any different than the swamp ash used on say an SE swamp ash special? I guess I don't know how much the bespoke trem costs, but even with a generous estimate at a "retail value" between that, the suhr pickups and SS frets I'm still not seeing that massive price being justified as anything more than strandberg being a bit greedy because they know they can be. Then you look at the sigs that aren't even really more feature laden just different aesthetically and you're approaching $4k on some of those....
 
spawnofthesith said:
Veneer? Richlite board instead of ebony? Can you confirm that the swamp ash body is any different than the swamp ash used on say an SE swamp ash special? I guess I don't know how much the bespoke trem costs, but even with a generous estimate at a "retail value" between that, the suhr pickups and SS frets I'm still not seeing that massive price being justified as anything more than strandberg being a bit greedy because they know they can be. Then you look at the sigs that aren't even really more feature laden just different aesthetically and you're approaching $4k on some of those....
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Gibson used Richlite on LP customs for several years. Veneer top less good but not unheard of. I’m surprised you think $2.5k is expensive for a professional musical instrument. Look and other instruments for examples.
 
Eagle said:
Gibson used Richlite on LP customs for several years. Veneer top less good but not unheard of. I’m surprised you think $2.5k is expensive for a professional musical instrument. Look and other instruments for examples.
Click to expand...


I don't have a problem with richlite, but I know a lot of folks were not happy about the LPCs using it lol.

However, when strandberg swiched from full thickness figured tops and ebony boards to veneers and richlite and than jacked up the prices... well that sounds like a cash grab to me

I feel like you aren't really seeing my point. ~$2500 usd gets you a flagship gibson, the most expensive the US electronics S2s, close to the price of the tier up prs bolt on models, and the most expensive US fender models with change to spare...

We know the cost of labor for a US built instrument is substantially higher than an Indonesian built instrument. And Gibson and PRS aren't pulling any veneer stunts at that price point either lol
 
I have swallowed the pill for expensive amps but my jury is still out for these above $1k guitars, let alone $2.5k and up. I know that seems crazy but if what I have works and sounds great to me; ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
 
It does seem a touch high if it's made in Indonesia, but depends on the finishing quality. My Ibanez AZ2204N is made in Japan and I guess it costs $2200 new (was $2000 a year ago). I would be shocked if the Indonesian Charvel could match the quality of this MIJ Ibanez, especially with the jumbo stainless steel frets perfectly finished. But maybe that's the 7-string and Floyd driving up the cost.
 
On a related note; I always think the gold charvel logo sticker and lighter or gold colored hardware on a lot of these charvel super strat guitars looks not good to me. Like gawdy in every direction without going full blown abalone.
 
Jarick said:
It does seem a touch high if it's made in Indonesia, but depends on the finishing quality. My Ibanez AZ2204N is made in Japan and I guess it costs $2200 new (was $2000 a year ago). I would be shocked if the Indonesian Charvel could match the quality of this MIJ Ibanez, especially with the jumbo stainless steel frets perfectly finished. But maybe that's the 7-string and Floyd driving up the cost.
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Back of the headstock says Korea.
 
spawnofthesith said:
I don't have a problem with richlite, but I know a lot of folks were not happy about the LPCs using it lol.

However, when strandberg swiched from full thickness figured tops and ebony boards to veneers and richlite and than jacked up the prices... well that sounds like a cash grab to me

I feel like you aren't really seeing my point. ~$2500 usd gets you a flagship gibson, the most expensive the US electronics S2s, close to the price of the tier up prs bolt on models, and the most expensive US fender models with change to spare...

We know the cost of labor for a US built instrument is substantially higher than an Indonesian built instrument. And Gibson and PRS aren't pulling any veneer stunts at that price point either lol
Click to expand...
$2.5k absolutely does not get a flagship Gibson.
 
Maybe we all need to reset expectations of USA guitars....

Charvels are $2500+ for basic models
Fenders are $1800+ for the new Standards
PRS are $2400+ for S2's and $2600+ for CE's
Gibsons are $1600-2000 for LP Studios and $3k+ for Standards

Imports are going to be $1k+ for decent ones and $1500+ for good quality apparently.

Best solution seems to be not buying new guitars!
 
Jarick said:
Maybe we all need to reset expectations of USA guitars....

Charvels are $2500+ for basic models
Fenders are $1800+ for the new Standards
PRS are $2400+ for S2's and $2600+ for CE's
Gibsons are $1600-2000 for LP Studios and $3k+ for Standards

Imports are going to be $1k+ for decent ones and $1500+ for good quality apparently.

Best solution seems to be not buying new guitars!
Click to expand...


FWIW Gibson reversed some of their price hikes, faded standards are now $2300, plain top are $2600, and figured are $2700

They have some over $3k model standards with "custom shop" tops that seems to be a new thing/cash grab :LOL:
 
spawnofthesith said:
feel free to address my actual points


parts/cost of labor/material of an indonesian strandberg is not equal to the same costs of an LP standard and they are both about the same price
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The materials can cost the same and the time spent can be more. An LP standard is pretty good value as an instrument but the build quality is not very good. The Strandberg doesn’t have a high margin and has extra tiers of involvement that need paying . I also don’t think it’s overpriced.
Also remember smaller companies don’t have the same preferential pricing on a lot of their materials and processes that the big companies do.
If Cort made their own version with a similar spec it would cost considerably less at the distribution because the manufacturer cut would be the actual cost of production.
With Strandberg it isn’t them adding an unusually high margin it’s a lot more people involved that need a cut.
 
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