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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

2867.0. "Prices/Places to buy a Les-Paul around Boston" by MOSCOW::BERGMANS () Thu Dec 16 1993 02:58

    I will come to the U.S. mid-february and I am contemplating to buy a
    Standard Les-Paul (Sunburst)
    
    What is a good price in the Boston region (no mail order, I need to go,
    try, fall in love, and buy....)
    
    A couple of years ago I was comming on a very regular base to the Acton
    region and I visisted frequently a shop which was very focussed on
    Gibson. It was about half an hour drive from going West on the Pike and
    North. (On 128?) 
    
    I believe that the place was in Tweksbury (did I get that right) but I
    might be totally wrong on the name of the place.
    
    Does that ring a bell ? Is that shop still there ? Can somebody correct
    the name of the place if I am wrong ? DO they have good prices ?
    
    Regards
    
    Jean-Paul

    
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2867.1good taste in guitars......NAVY5::SDANDREAIf mistakes were dollars....Thu Dec 16 1993 10:019
    I think the suggessted retail on a Les Paul std is about $1500 (I
    think).......I would guess you could scarf one at about 30% off that, maybe 40% if you
    get lucky.....
    
    Used Pauls are going for $650 to $900 in my area......(VA)
    
    Good luck and good choice!  I LOVE mine!
    
    dawg
2867.211663::GOODWINFri Dec 17 1993 13:3421
re: .0

You're probably thinking of Tewksbury Music in Tewksbury MA.  They are
a Gibson dealer.  IMO, their prices are nothing special.  Certainly no
better than any of the other Gibson dealers in the Boston area.

If you're looking to find 'that special' guitar before you buy, you might
want to visit one of the areas higher volume Gibson dealers such as  E.U.
Wurlitzer. It has been mentioned elsewhere in this file that they generally
have a good selection to choose from.

I'm not really up on current prices as I have not bought any new guitars
recently, but as a general rule, you should be able to get one in the range
of 20 to 40 percent off the manufacturers suggested list price. IMO, A 20%
discount represents a fairly poor deal and 40% off is a great deal.

Also remember that in Massachusetts there is a 5% state sales tax on top
of whatever price you find.  New Hampshire, where there is no sales tax,
is not far from Boston.

/Steve
2867.3Bet you guys didn't know about good ole MA's "use tax"DREGS::BLICKSTEINDown on that shreddin' flo'Fri Dec 17 1993 14:3612
    ALso note that EU's and Daddy's have stores in both NH and MA.
    
    If you're buying anything much above $500 you might want to arrange
    to pick up the items at the NH stores and avoid the MA tax.  I know
    that both of these stores WILL (or at least "have") done this for
    customers.
    
    Now, technically, YOU are obliged to pay a "use tax" (equivalent
    to the sales tax), when you bring it back into MA.  But no one ever
    does and it's basically unenforceable. 
    
    	db
2867.4Go Mid-West Young Man/WomanTROOA::BUCKTONFri Dec 17 1993 15:019
    How about guitar stores in the Minneapolis area? I live in the Great
    White North of Thunder Bay, Canada, but venture into Minnesota from
    time to time.
    
    Currently have a 2 strats, but I'm looking around for a 335 or similar.
    
    Bucky
    TBay
    
2867.511663::GOODWINFri Dec 17 1993 15:0810
re: use tax

Ya,  I can remember back when the MA state troopers were sent up to hang
out at the state line to catch MA residents bringing new appliances back
from NH....  but then the NH troopers started citing the MA troopers for
loitering...  

How's that for an example of our tax dollars hard at work for us?

/Steve
2867.6I could write oodles on how much I hate the state of MADREGS::BLICKSTEINDown on that shreddin' flo'Fri Dec 17 1993 15:407
    > How's that for an example of our tax dollars hard at work for us?
    
    Steve,
    
    Don't get me started.
    
    	db
2867.711663::GOODWINFri Dec 17 1993 16:036
    Remember too, that technically MA isn't a state, but rather a
    'commonwealth'.   I don't really know what the difference is,
    but judging from the name, it must mean something like 'your
    dollars are really everyone elses dollars'   8^)
    
    /Steve
2867.8WEDOIT::ABATELLIFri Dec 17 1993 16:207
    
    RATHOLE ALERT!
    
    Oh gawd, here we go again!
    
    
    <next unseen>
2867.9OK fer Ferinner'sSALEM::LAYTONThu Dec 23 1993 10:018
    The author in .0 is evidently not a resident of the Great Commonwealth
    of M-word, therefore has no tax obligation if he buys an instrument in
    Cow Hampshire, and then boards a plane at Logan...the GC o' M would
    have to prove intent to avoid the tax, blah, blah, blah....
    
    For .0, not an issue.
    
    Carl
2867.10yo, tovarisch...MKOTS3::BROWNB52 pilots do it in the buffTue Jan 18 1994 14:073
    is Moscow the location or the node name (?)
    
    I suppose that Gibsons aren't real common in the CIS/FUSSR...
2867.11Yes the location code is MOSCOWMOSCOW::BERGMANSThu Jan 20 1994 05:4829
    Yes the location code is Moscow.
    
    You would probably be surprised by what is available in Russia and by
    the skills of the local guitar heros.
    
    There is one shop in Moscow that has a full assortiment of Gibsons,
    Fenders, Rickenbackers, PRS, Marshalls, Mesa etc.....
    
    The prices are much higher given the import taxes.
    
    Ther are also a couple of local manufaturers which are building good
    guitars.
    
    I own two "Russtones" which have been made specially for me. I got
    to the factory and I have choosen the woods the necks the pick-up wiring
    etc...
    
    I paid about 400$ for each. They are VERY nice instruments.
    
    I have a Strat which I left in Switzerland, but I needed one guitar
    in Moscow. That is how I found out about Russtone and it turned out
    to be a very nice experience.
    
    I still NEED a Les-Paul anyway .......
    
    Regards
    
    Jean-Paul 
    
2867.12more on Russtones?RICKS::CALCAGNIkant sheck dees bluzeThu Jan 20 1994 13:065
    Someone in the Boston area is (or at least was) importing Russtones.
    The ads didn't give much detail about the axes themselves; could you
    describe them in more detail?
    
    /rick