The Problem with "Elites"

Last week, I received a trade offer on my Contemporary Stratocaster, but not before I had to answer a few questions.

First, I was asked where I'd put the value of the Strat.  I replied it was tough to say, and that the best bet was to make the offer - the worst I could say was no.  Besides, you never negotiate against yourself.

He responded that he wasn't sure my guitar was worth what his was, so he'd think about it and get back to me.  Fine by me, but you could have thought about it without getting me involved.

Two days later, "Trader Joe" offers his Epiphone "Elite" SG in a straight up trade.

Sigh.

Elitist Attitudes

My opinion of Epiphone has been slowly shifting since my acquisition of that Les Paul awhile back, but I'm still not what you'd call a fan overall.  Still, I'm trying to temper my bias, so I wasn't ready to dismiss this offer right away.  Both guitars are in the "more than $500, less than $1K" ballpark, so consideration was required.

If you're not familiar, "Elite" Epiphones are Japanese built, supposedly on par with the better offerings from ESP/Edwards and the like.  Prices, if I'm right, were (are?) between $1K-$2K depending on the model.

See the problem?  At $1K-$2K at retail, you're looking at a guitar someone is looking to sell at $600-$1K on the used market.  Are they well built guitars? Probably.  In fact, I bet they're probably better made than the equivalent Gibson.  Does that mean I want one?

Nope.

Yeah, but...

This must be the most used phrase uttered on a regular basis by these owners, as in "Yeah, but they're just as good as...".  The owner is probably right, but you're never going to convince anyone to buy.

Why not? Well, let's take that SG as an example.  If Gibson Standards are going for around $1K on the used market, and the Epiphone G400 can be had for around $200 used, where does that put this thing in the range?  $500? $600?

How much can you get an SGJ for?  $400?  A SG Special Faded? $500-600?  Now where does this Elite sit in value?

No, they're probably not as good, but they're a Gibson, and that means you're never uttering "yeah but..." when you're trying to sell it.  Maybe the seller will find that one person looking for that perfect guitar, regardless of name on the headstock.  It has to feel right, sound right, and be right.  Maybe your Elitist is that guitar.

Maybe?  I meant probably not.

Stu...Stu...Studios!

Yeah, I know the Phil Collins song is "Sussudio".  Close enough.

The point was to share an example of a different model.  Here is an Epiphone Elite Les Paul Studio for sale currently:

The ask? $950.  

I'll pause a moment whilst you clean the milk from your  mouth which was obviously evacuated rapidly in response to the price.  Go ahead, I'll wait.

Clean?  Great.  I think my point is clear, but just to touch on details not associated with the name on the headstock - the finish lacks the "depth" of a typical Gibson Studio's Wine Red finish, and the inlays are dots instead of trapezoids.

Would this seller haggle?  Probably, but for around $800 you could have a Gibson Les Paul Studio and never have to explain why your Epiphone is "just as".

...But put some custom builder name on that (Terry McInturff comes to mind) and people would line up.  I bet the build quality is fantastic.

So pretty.

Guitar players are a special lot.