Franklin on Craigslist in Nashville

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 19 Jan 2010 10:52 pm

Michael Douchette had his Tammy Wynette Franklin guiter listed at $6500, it didn't sell and the price kept coming down to the last price he published here was $3250 shipped to your door. I saw one offer of $3000 shipped. It looks like he's finally sold it.

Based on this, I think the craigslist guy is dreaming.

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=163277

Franklin · Post by **Franklin** » 19 Jan 2010 11:16 pm

The older model Franklin's play and sound just as well as the new guitars........Other than some small cosmetic design changes like glossy formica and aluminum trim instead of the flat formica Dad used on the earliest guitars, the design of his changer and all of the mechanics, materials, and the dimensions of the cabinet design remain exactly the same today as it was on the first guitars.

The yellow and red guitar I am now using as my main axe, because it has dual p'ups on both necks, is the guitar I used on Shania's, Strait's, Knopflers, Alan Jackson's, sessions---It's also the guitar seen on the timejumper clips that Jamie posted. Its age is around 26 years old......It was never rebuilt.....It has all of its original parts and NO sign of mechanical wear.......Its been flown around the world on the straits tour and we all know how abusive the airlines can be.......Its not just me with stories like this...Its the testimonials from all of the owners of Dad's guitars that established the reputation the Franklin guitar has today........Because these guitars are not being traded around, the price keeps rising. No manufacturer can set the price for their used guitars.......Consumer demand drives the prices up......In a poor economy, some folks need to get some extra cash. They start to sell off their collectables and when too many old vintage Fender and Gibson guitars are available as is the case today, their prices drop............Paul

Kyle Everson · Post by **Kyle Everson** » 20 Jan 2010 1:27 am

Henry, I agree that it sucks how dramatically the prices have risen. I can tell you that I'm glad I got mine at the price I did, and I still had to invest a little more for my setup, etc.

I also wish my dad would've had a '66 Twin lying around so I wouldn't have had to pay 2 Gs for mine

The Franklin guitar sound may not work for everyone, but it does for me and obviously a lot of other players around this town and the world. No other guitar has the midrange "cut" like these guitars do, at least that I've played.

Paul, I sent you a PM.

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 20 Jan 2010 8:56 am

I remember see a Black Franklin just as the one in the picture here and it was 8/7 I think and I could've got it for $2000. You know I wish I'd bought that guitar but at the time I was covered up with guitars and that was the last thing I needed. I'd be playing that guitar now. I think it was on a swap forum on the Carter site but it's been so long I don't remember now. The one that got away!

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 20 Jan 2010 9:51 am

Jack Stoner wrote:6500 for a Franklin D-10 in good or better condition is a fair market price. Mr Franklin told me my 81 D-10 is worth that range, or even more considering what some have offered him for a used one.

The economy has nothing to do with musical instruments in this category.

Maybe, I'm missing something here. If these guitars are worth $6500, why didn't the guys that made these statements buy Michael's for $3250 and flip it for a quick two or three thousand?

What something is worth in matket value is what a willing buyer and seller can agree on. No more, and no less.

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 20 Jan 2010 9:57 am

IMO, pedal steels for whatever reason can mean different things to different people. I have my own "hot buttons", so when a psg came on the market that had been owned by Buddy Emmons, (my hero), I bought it. I also knew the history behind the guitar, so the the timing was a coincidence and I'm grateful. IMO, this is the marketplace. What someone is willing to pay for what they want and hopefully both are happy about the deal. I feel good when I read, here on the Forum that there was a meeting of the minds and everyone is happy. I've never had the pleasure of playing a Franklin, but if I was a little younger I would be tempted to buy one myself. I have a lot of respect and admiration for the Franklin family.

Jamie Stoner · Post by **Jamie Stoner** » 20 Jan 2010 10:04 am

I was absolutely in awe when Mikey put his up for sale at first, but 6500 was way out of my price range. Obviously I kept watching it and once it got to the right amount, and the fact that my tax refund is enough to finance the purchase I took advantage of it. I am not in the market to buy and resell, but would rather have an attention getting piece of history that will hopefully never lose its value. All of my instruments are on display in my funeral home, and I am putting together a wall of memorabilia to go around them. I also enjoy playing everything I have, it doesn't just sit. I believe the economy plays a big part in everything, most are just cautious right now to spend a lot not knowing what tomorrow will bring. On the other hand if someone has a lot of money laying around to buy an impulse item, then it doesnt matter what the economy is, imho.

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 20 Jan 2010 11:31 am

Jamie Stoner wrote: All of my instruments are on display in my funeral home, and I am putting together a wall of memorabilia to go around them.

When's the service? With the turn country music has taken away from steel guitar, funeral services for them might be in order. Should we send flowers?

BTW: I agree with everything you say. The economy certainly plays a part in people's spending habits, especially for "toys". I'm glad you and Mikey came to an agreement you could both live with. I've never played a Franklin guitar, but I've heard Mikey D. and Donna Hammett play them live and they always sounded great. I'd say their right up there with Emmons, MSA, etc... plus you got a good piece of country music history to go with that one, and with Micky being a straight up guy, you know that it's exactly what he says it is. There's so many instrumnents out there that don't get sold because people have the preceived idea that they're worth a lot more than anyone is willng to pay for them. Fiddles are the absolute worst. There's all kinds of $200 fiddles hanging on people's wall because they think their worth thousands.

I have a buddy that's into coin collecting and he's always showing me in a book what a coin is worth. Book say's $100, but he bought it for $25 and expects to sell it for $35. Don't take long to figure out that the "book" price is not realistic. Same thing as list price for a Fender or Gibson guitar...... nobody pays the list price. It just there for reference.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 20 Jan 2010 12:47 pm

Rick,
Mike's guitar is a single neck it could have something to do with his original asking price. I don't think the state of country music has anything to do with it.
Congrat's to all!

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 20 Jan 2010 2:10 pm

Theresa Galbraith wrote:Rick,
Mike's guitar is a single neck it could have something to do with his original asking price. I don't think the state of country music has anything to do with it.
Congrat's to all!

You might have something there. Mike's original asking price was $6500, but it didn't produce any buyers. I know I'm in the minority, but having two necks means nothing to me because I don't play ANY C6. I never liked it well enough to take time to learn. Besides learning just a few simple licks on the E9 neck has taken me 20 years.

It's a joke, but maybe not so far from the truth. The state of country music is in reference to Jamie mentioning that his guitars are on display in his funeral home. First thing I thought of was "display" as in a corpse. I might give him a fiddle to "lie in state" with his collection too. If he'd said "on display at my business" it wouldn't have hit me that way.

Jamie Stoner · Post by **Jamie Stoner** » 20 Jan 2010 6:47 pm

I have a fiddle in state as well!!!I play it every now and then too...as well as a Epi Les Paul Custom, Epi DOT, Copley Acoustic Bass, and Copley Acoustic. One of my best friends was met at the funeral home, because he saw my Sho Bud and is a fellow forum member. I have people that stop by just to play, and have a band that gets together and practices there too. So its not like a museum...LOL I have an atmosphere at our funeral home to make our families feel comfortable...and by offering some of my interests it draws attention and creates something to talk about other than the main reason most people are there. I am by all means a non traditional funeral director, but in the end the needs of our families ALWAYS come first.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 20 Jan 2010 8:21 pm

Well, a D10 just sold in the want ads; the asking price was $7,500. Considering the speed at which it sold (8.5 hours), I can only assume the seller got close to his asking price. This is pretty much proof in the pudding.

Jamie Stoner · Post by **Jamie Stoner** » 20 Jan 2010 8:24 pm

I believe the one on CL also sold because the second ad is closed.

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 21 Jan 2010 8:07 am

One of my best friends was met at the funeral home, because he saw my Sho Bud and is a fellow forum member. I have people that stop by just to play, and have a band that gets together and practices there too. So its not like a museum...LOL I have an atmosphere at our funeral home to make our families feel comfortable...and by offering some of my interests it draws attention and creates something to talk about other than the main reason most people are there. I am by all means a non traditional funeral director, but in the end the needs of our families ALWAYS come first.

Ironic when the funeral home is the liveliest place in town.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 21 Jan 2010 10:05 am

Hey, people are dying for his business!

Jeff Evans · Post by **Jeff Evans** » 21 Jan 2010 10:25 am

Swinging, musical funeral homes are not as rare as we'd imagine. Really.

Lead man deadpans after yet another bone-chilling number finishes to the usual spooky silence: "Gee, sure is dead in here tonight."

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 21 Jan 2010 1:44 pm

$6500 for a steel guitar? Or even half that? Whew.

I've got two D-10 1974 Emmons P/P's, 8 x 4, one bought new for $1200 and one bought about 6 years ago for $1800, and they do me just fine. I owned other brands of guitars between these purchases and ultimately decided that the Emmons P/P was the guitar for me.

You can pay thousands for a guitar, but you don't have to.

Danny Hall · Post by **Danny Hall** » 21 Jan 2010 2:13 pm

Most of us get a kick out of owning nice stuff. I used to drive a Mercedes back and forth to work when a Corolla would have been fine.

Age gets in the way too. I'll be darn if I'll pay $14000 for a '64 Tele that is identical to the one I bought new for $159 back in '64. Pure stubborn cussedness I guess.

I say buy what you want and pay what you need to. If that don't work out for you, get another job.

Danny (6 Saturdays a week and lovin' every minute)

Jamie Stoner · Post by **Jamie Stoner** » 21 Jan 2010 3:10 pm

hey cal....ill give you 3000 for that pair of Emmons...

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 21 Jan 2010 3:53 pm

Ha Jamie, I plan to take these guitars to the grave with me.

Jamie Stoner · Post by **Jamie Stoner** » 21 Jan 2010 3:54 pm

yah...and you got them for the right price too...ive never played an Emmons...

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 21 Jan 2010 5:55 pm

I saw a picture on the Show Pro web site of PF with a new Franklin guitar and the text said the cabinet was built at Sho Pro's factory. Does Sho Pro build the cabinets for Franklin guitars, or was this a one time thing.

Paul Franklin playing his
new Franklin steel guitar
in Dallas. (The cabinet
was built at our factory.)

Jamie Stoner · Post by **Jamie Stoner** » 21 Jan 2010 6:16 pm

i believe they work together a bit because I talked to show pro about a 12 string and they were going to get the changer from paul.

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 23 Jan 2010 12:31 am

Hell guys, a guitar is worth what you are prepared to pay for it -- !
Check this 52 telecaster out I saw at a music shop in Dallas in 08 when I was there for the steel show ...would you consider this a bit over the top or not

Rick Campbell · Post by **Rick Campbell** » 23 Jan 2010 11:09 am

Rick Campbell wrote:I saw a picture on the Show Pro web site of PF with a new Franklin guitar and the text said the cabinet was built at Sho Pro's factory. Does Sho Pro build the cabinets for Franklin guitars, or was this a one time thing.

Paul Franklin playing his
new Franklin steel guitar
in Dallas. (The cabinet
was built at our factory.)

bump, does anyone know the answer to this? Just curious.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Franklin on Craigslist in Nashville

OT but rich