The guitar market can be very confusing for people who are just entering it and want to buy a guitar.
Beyond the infinity of brands that exist, with different prices and quality standards, sometimes it’s very difficult to see what elements really make a guitar more expensive.
The answer should be logical; the better the sound, the more expensive the guitar is, but it’s not always this way. The features that determine the price of a guitar do not always have to do with its sound quality or durability.
Therefore, it is very important to be well informed to make a smart purchase and save a lot of money by buying a guitar that is not as expensive as others but has an incredible sound compared to them.
Consequently, we’ll review what makes a guitar more expensive, analyzing their manufacturing processes to help you buy your first guitar.
the reputation of the brand.
The main reason that affects the price of a guitar is the reputation of its manufacturer.
It’s not the same that a guitar has Gibson, Fender, or Taylor on it as any other brand that is not recognized worldwide.
Brands have quality standards that they usually accomplish in all their models. In addition, they sign advertising agreements with renowned artists in order to gain more popularity and to guarantee that their products are part of the musical elite.
Generally, the most recognized brands also have many years at the top of the market and have been part of the evolution of the instrument in recent years.
With these favorable considerations, companies are able to dominate the market by launching limited editions or simply focusing on producing a low number of units for certain models, which ends up increasing their price and making them more expensive.
The big companies can control supply and demand from the most comfortable position, which is why their guitars have the highest prices.
Also, this forces the competition to fight for prestige and privileges with better prices and more and more advertising.
Thus, prestige, trajectory, advertisements, and representative artists influence the price of a cheap guitar or an expensive guitar. For example, a collector’s edition guitar signed by a specific artist usually has a much higher price than the normal model of the same guitar.
But, of course, this has nothing to do with the sound of the guitar itself. It is true that brands maintain their quality standards, but that does not mean that a $3000 guitar will always sound better than a $2000 guitar.
It is quite likely that a $600 guitar from a less well-known brand can easily be matched with a more expensive guitar from a more established brand.
Therefore, when you’re trying to buy a guitar, you should always strike a balance between the sound of the guitar, the reputation of the manufacturer, and your personal taste.
It’s all about status, credibility, and prestige.
A guitar is more expensive for its manufacturing costs.
As with other products in different markets, the cost of labor is another factor that influences the final price.
The guitar market is not exempt from this. Therefore, a guitar can be more expensive or cheaper depending on the country where it was manufactured or its manufacturing method.
The most expensive guitars in the world are usually manufactured in America, as the cost of labor is one of the highest in the world.
This is why many companies relocate their factories to countries where wages are much cheaper.
Companies that have their factories in Asian countries such as China, India, or South Korea are able to sell their guitars at a more affordable price than the previous ones.
Of course, it is possible that their quality standards are not as high, but if they make them with the same products as in America, the difference between the models becomes smaller.
Logically, the construction and quality of the guitars vary depending on the country of manufacture, since the factories are ruled by the regulations of each nation.
On the other hand, it’s also unfair to compare the cost of a guitar made entirely handcrafted by a small team of Luthiers with a guitar built in a factory in an automated way.
This factor also has an impact on the increase or decrease of its final price.
the quality and price of its manufacturing materials.
And the last point that influences the final price of an expensive or cheap guitar is the cost of the manufacturing materials.
The manufacture of the guitar depends on these three topics:
- Wood
- Hardware
- Electronics.
Of course, the sound quality of the guitar depends on the quality of the wood. It’s not the same to buy a guitar made of poplar as an ash or linden one.
The most recognized brands usually use the best wood for their guitars; from there comes their faithful sound and also their high cost.
However, it doesn’t only depend on the wood; the electronic components of the guitar and its hardware must also be of high quality to achieve a great sound.
Microphones, in the case of an electric or electric acoustic guitar, are as important as the wood. They have a direct impact on the sound of the guitar, and, depending on the brand, model, and location, they give the model a different sound identity.
The rest of the components, such as the jack for the cable input and the whole electrical system, must also be of high quality to have the corresponding impedance and emit clear sounds.
Conclusions.
Guitars are not more expensive or cheaper simply because a company wants them to be. These three factors that we have mentioned are the ones that control their price and position in the market.
The better wood the guitar has, the higher its price will be, but its final price is not only that but also its manufacturing cost and the reputation of its brand.
Buying a guitar is not easy. If we have to make a recommendation, it would be to focus on the sound and your own personal tastes.
You just have to strike a balance between price, quality, and brand reputation to make a smart purchase.
If you are a beginner and you want to buy your first guitar, don’t focus so much on price. Try them out and choose the one you feel most comfortable with to learn your first chords and arpeggios.
Once you have enough knowledge and are ready for your first live shows, you will have the opportunity to buy a more expensive guitar to impress the audience.
