Guitar prices

Paul Norman (RIP) · Post by **Paul Norman (RIP)** » 27 Jan 2015 10:45 am

I wonder why a used guitar with several years on it or has been played by someone famous should be asked to bring as much or more as a brand new one.
If I get someone famous to play mine , Is it worth more?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 27 Jan 2015 10:49 am

Paul,
I'm not famous but I am notorious. Is that close enough?

Paul Norman (RIP) · Post by **Paul Norman (RIP)** » 27 Jan 2015 11:08 am

I Thought you were famous Erv. If you play mine I can be famous.
I can play a song that Buddy plays. He sounds a little different tho.
Seems like he has a little more ring to it.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 27 Jan 2015 1:00 pm

Because that sort of stuff is significant to some people ot there, that's why! They feel that a player imparts part of himself to the instrument, and that that carries it's own value, which sometimes far exceeds that of the instrument itself.

Maybe this will explain it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyt3-Uy4gVQ

~

DG Whitley · Post by **DG Whitley** » 27 Jan 2015 1:04 pm

Paul, I would guess the guitar would go for whatever the market will bear.

If it doesn't sell for the beginning price, then it tends to drop until someone will buy it (for the most part, some refuse to drop beyond a certain point).

My position is I will never pay new guitar prices for used guitars. My view is that they are used and have "wear and tear" that will need attention once in my possession. I don't care what brand it is or who played it, it's used and not worth the price it was new. I look at them just like I look a used cars, same thing in my book.

Rarity of the guitar does not impress me in the slightest, it means parts will be harder and more expensive to come by, as will repairs by an experienced technician.

I know that stance probably peeves some sellers on here but so be it. They have their opinion and I have mine.

My two cents, YMMV.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 27 Jan 2015 1:12 pm

"Played by..." generally is meaningless in the resale or collector markets.

"Owned and played by..." is another thing altogether, and there are collectors who buy such instruments at a premium.

As far as used steels selling for nearly as much as new ones, it depends on the maker and specific model. Some have higher resale value than others, especially high-end, one-off instruments or vintage rarities.

The same type of situation exists in the 6-string market to a lesser extent - except for celebrity-owned instruments, especially those sold at auction.

In either case, the bigger the name, the higher the price.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 27 Jan 2015 2:10 pm

How about "signed by"?

Allen Hutchison · Post by **Allen Hutchison** » 27 Jan 2015 2:55 pm

My 2 cents

A thing is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it!

I'll never forget Joe Wrights philosophy on this subject during his workshop on a tour here some years back. He's told his family to sell his guitar/s for whatever they are worth when he's gone. i.e. They are not worth any more or less just because he played them.
(I'm sure we all pray that won't happen for a long long time yet!)
IMHO - without Joe's fingers on the strings, it's just another guitar!
As a collector, there would have to be some special historical or model significance to increase value for me. Granted, a signature may make a slight difference in some cases?

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 27 Jan 2015 3:24 pm

"A thing is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it! "

Interesting. I also play bender guitars, and am astounded at the prices they go for. A simple Tele with a P/W B Bender may go for a grand. But just look at all it takes to make a pedal steel! Comparing the two, a pedal steel with 3 and 5 should go for about 8/10 grand. I think the B Bender guys are paying way too much for what they're getting!

Allen Hutchison · Post by **Allen Hutchison** » 27 Jan 2015 3:41 pm

Correction - I should have said, "a things value is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it" doh!

I agree with you John, it appears that time & effort of manufacture doesn't play a large role in the price structure.

Steve Spitz · Post by **Steve Spitz** » 27 Jan 2015 4:34 pm

To the OPs question,
Some collectors of any commodity may place an above market value IF there is a market for such items, and if provenance is verifiable.

Is the item worth more ? Only if someone will pay for it.

As far as never paying more for a used steel than a new one, that's not a bad rule, but...

What happens if what you want is no longer made ? For now, let's not talk Bigsbys and such, as they aren't in the price range of an average players budget. At least not this very average player.

if it's an item that's desireable, and no longer made, it's not impossible it could appreciate in value , like any other commodity. That's likely the only time I might be willing to pay what the makert would bear, if I wanted the item bad enough.

Henry Matthews · Post by **Henry Matthews** » 27 Jan 2015 4:58 pm

Owned or played by means nothing to me and also I probably will never buy and instrument with writing or etching all over it unless a can replace the part. Underneath guitar doesn't bother me. I think it would be great to own a guitar that someone famous owned but I'd rather have the paper work that states such and no writing on the guitar.

Some guitars for sale on the forum here are way over priced and some are under priced and they go quick. If I want a guitar bad enough, I don't mine paying a premium price for it which I have done a couple times. As long it's not too premium.

Rarity doesn't impress me either but I'm a player not a collector.

Roual Ranes · Post by **Roual Ranes** » 28 Jan 2015 3:53 am

I had a drummer tell me my steel would sound better if I took to someone and had it played. !!

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 28 Jan 2015 5:56 am

Hero worship??????

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 28 Jan 2015 6:22 am

Jim Cohen wrote:How about "signed by"?

Maybe, if signed 'Jim Cohen: The Seal of Acceptable Tone.'
[flippers clapping in background]

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 28 Jan 2015 6:26 am

Charlie McDonald wrote:
Jim Cohen wrote:How about "signed by"?
Maybe, if signed 'Jim Cohen: The Seal of Acceptable Tone.'

Yeah, that and $3 will get you a coffee at Starbucks...

John Swain · Post by **John Swain** » 28 Jan 2015 7:28 am

I tried Jim, but they charged me $4.50!!!!!!

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 28 Jan 2015 7:34 am

Forgot to mention, I have a bad reputation in your neighborhood, John. ..

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 28 Jan 2015 8:00 am

I bought a psg from a Forum member that was once owned by a very famous psg musician for about 4 or 5 years, and I believe that the dealer picked it out of his stock for this musician. I have read that there are different things about a psg that affect the sound and I believe that this is true. I will never sell this psg because some day I'm going to give it to one of our grand daughters who is an accomplished musician on a couple of instruments already and will really appreciate it. My wife and I drove a few miles and met the seller and his wife to have lunch and pick it up. IMO, they are just wonderful folks and a joy to know and what a joyful day that was; but then it's what I expected and I hope someday to see them again.

Paul Norman (RIP) · Post by **Paul Norman (RIP)** » 3 Feb 2015 2:26 pm

I want to thank Donny Hinson for putting that youtube clip on here.
The touch of the master's hand.
I think that is most beautiful and touching thing I have seen. Very real.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 3 Feb 2015 3:55 pm

I have a Zion Tele-style that was built for my friend Neil Zaza, It's quite above their usual guitars, as he was an endorsee at that time. It's definitely worth more than their standard fare!

Paul Norman (RIP) · Post by **Paul Norman (RIP)** » 3 Feb 2015 4:17 pm

I understand about special made guitars.
I was talking about run of the mill stock.
I also understand if you have to wait for a year or more to get a new guitar for $3600 that asking $5 or 6 thousand dollars for a used one several years old is a little steep.

Steve Spitz · Post by **Steve Spitz** » 3 Feb 2015 4:50 pm

Here's another thing to consider.

That steel that WAS owned by a famous steel player....maybe he sold it for a good reason. Maybe it was a very average sounding guitar. I owned a steel that previously belonged to two of the greatest players ever known. Both of them obviously chose not to keep it. I actually didn't even know the complete history of this axe when I bought it. The tone was very average, nothing magical . My other steels sounded better, even when I played them.

Just something to think about when someone sells something that Once belonged to someone famous. The famous player chose to sell it.

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 3 Feb 2015 4:56 pm

In my case, Neil played my Albert Lee, and fell in love with the neck. He's been an endorsee of three companies since then, Peavey, Cort, and now Carvin. The necks are all specked out to my Albert's neck. I'd like to get that guitar back from him!

Eric Philippsen · Post by **Eric Philippsen** » 4 Feb 2015 4:56 am

Vintage guitar dealers were polled if signed/autographed pieces brought more money. They answered that, with the exception of a very few names, any price increase came out to about 10% at best.

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