It's Raining Mavericks on Ebay!

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 30 Oct 2007 6:41 pm

One is listed for $1,750 BIN! This is getting entertaining. I can understand paying a little more than usual for one of these guitars if you were planning to install the Coop changer. But otherwise, I don't see the allure. The original 3+1 mechanism is pretty archaic compared to used 3+4 MSA's and BMI's in the same price range.

Am I alone in my amazement of the rapidly escalating prices of the Sho~Bud Maverick?

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 30 Oct 2007 6:44 pm

Yes Chris, it's getting entertaining. Probably won't let up either, for a long time.

Hows the Blackjack??

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 30 Oct 2007 7:21 pm

Hey James!

I'm waiting patiently in line for my Blackjack. I think I'm somewhere in the middle of the line.

I'm hoping for Christmas, but not sure. The folks at Jackson are mighty busy with the production of this fine guitar. I figure it's worth the wait....and I can hardly wait!

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 30 Oct 2007 7:47 pm

Amazing, I have a NEW Maverick in stock for $585.00, some folks just love to spend money I guess, I really need to at least double my prices it seems, but seriously I have to agree that there are many better guitars available for a lot less money than the "going price on E-bay".
I feel this is an E-bay thing more than a Maverick thing. Folks that have no idea where to shop when they want something just automaticly go to E-bay when the values are in other places in reality, in the world of steel guitars anyway.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 30 Oct 2007 8:04 pm

Bobbe, you've got that right. Some people don't like selling steels on Ebay, but in reality it's probably the best place to get top dollar. Many millions of dollars have been slapped down on things that people didn't want other people to get.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 31 Oct 2007 7:08 pm

Don't pile on me guys,this is just my opinion ONLY,The Maverick makes a great nonpedal steel,throw the rods away ,tune it to a ten string C6th.A6th,E13th,or whatever your favorite tuning is,that way you can spend all your time playing,instead of tuning,don't you know.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 31 Oct 2007 8:54 pm

I don't get the ebay thing - it's primarily a seller's market. Sellers have all the advantages, from a process point of view. I think they just don't know about Bobbe.

I also don't get the Maverick thing. Any current starter steel blows them away as a pedal steel, to my tastes. And if I want a non-pedal steel, it ain't gonna be a Maverick. Who would buy a Maverick for over a grand when you can get a Fender, Gibson, National or other nice old S-8 or D-8 nonpedal for about the same or less? I don't get it. But, then again, who says I have to?

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 31 Oct 2007 9:19 pm

A few months ago I sold a Mint 1970s Maverick on eBay, never played, with it’s original paperwork, and it only sold for $520. Asking $1750.00 for a Maverick is one thing… Getting $1750.00 is another. Any buyer who does a little research will quickly discover that a Carter Starter is a smarter buy.

The Maverick has only 1 knee lever, and that lever lowers strings 8 and 2 (not string 4). There is no way to alter that, add levers, or change the setup. There is no universal changer. Basically... the guitar doesn’t have a changer!

It only has fingers for the strings that are raised. It was an okay student model for the 1970s, but that was 30 years ago.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 31 Oct 2007 9:29 pm

Dave ,the point I was trying to make was that[IMO only]that's about the only way one can be consistency played in tune,Some may think it's a great little guitar,thats fine.I have seen a few kids that wanted to learn to play guitar,their parents will go buy the cheapest piece of junk they can find,with strings a half inch off the neck[Tony Rice]would'nt be able to get a tune out of it,then they wonder why the kid just gives up,I feel the same way about a neebee trying to learn steel,[yes I know some can't afford big bucks for a pro steel]but it's hard when they are spending 90 percent of their time trying to get in tune,I'm talking about new players,not someone like Bobbe that could put a set of strings on a two by four and make it soung good,don't you know.

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 31 Oct 2007 10:39 pm

I tried to get a cheap deal on a carter starter for awhile on ebay, but people kept bidding above the price you could get a brand new one for. I have given up on ebay. I think people are so obsessed with winning the bid they forget there is a point where they are throwing away their cash.

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 1 Nov 2007 6:00 am

Charles Davidson wrote:Don't pile on me guys,this is just my opinion ONLY,The Maverick makes a great nonpedal steel,throw the rods away ,tune it to a ten string C6th.A6th,E13th,or whatever your favorite tuning is,that way you can spend all your time playing,instead of tuning,don't you know.

Actually, Charles, that's IS a pretty good idea for someone wanting a cheap way to explore the nonpedal world and it's cool tunings. Of course, I wouldn't throw the rods away, for when you resell the guitar someday.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 1 Nov 2007 8:40 am

Many people bidding on Ebay don't do the research and don't know the true value of things. Also, someone might bid a little higher than the retail value of something if it is in their local area, in order to pick the item up locally rather than having to place an order out of town.

The only way to get bargains on Ebay is to be patient. Place an automatic bid that is capped at what the item is worth to you, and don't sweat if somebody out bids you. Above your cap you already decided you don't want it. If you do this every time the desired item comes up on Ebay, eventually you may get one for your price. It seems to depend a lot on who happens to be bidding at any given time.

Doug, you can change the setup on a Maverick by moving the coat-hanger rods to different fingers or pedals/levers. Also, you can add new changes if you can get parts. I added an F lever raising the Es to one. You can have multiple raises on a string by arranging the coat-hanger rods to do so. The one thing you can't do with the original mechanism is have a raise and lower on the same string. Some people claim to have accomplished that by adding a spring that suspends the finger in the middle for the open note, but I have trouble believing that is very stable for playing in tune. Also, the lowers depend on string tension, which is not always enough to guarantee a proper lower and return.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 1 Nov 2007 9:39 am

David,I know some have hot rodded Mavricks,with a real changer etc,I guess thats alright if they just enjoy tinkering with it,I have never played one,but have heard nothing but goog reviews about the Zum stage one,so why would anyone go to the trouble and expense of upgrading a Mavrick when they could get a real guitar for around a grand,don't you know.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 1 Nov 2007 9:56 am

I guess anything can be modified with enough work. I just wouldn't put much time and money into a PSG that doesn't even have a (10 finger) changer in it.

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 1 Nov 2007 10:14 am

Exactly the point I was trying to make.don't you know.

Dave Stagner · Post by **Dave Stagner** » 1 Nov 2007 10:32 am

Charles Davidson wrote:David,I know some have hot rodded Mavricks,with a real changer etc,I guess thats alright if they just enjoy tinkering with it,I have never played one,but have heard nothing but goog reviews about the Zum stage one,so why would anyone go to the trouble and expense of upgrading a Mavrick when they could get a real guitar for around a grand,don't you know.

Simple... they don't research before they buy.

I was actually looking pretty hard at the Stage One when I stumbled across my old Sho-Bud. Has anyone tried one and compared it to a Carter Starter? The Stage One looked more to my tastes, but it's hard to say, considering I haven't played either and I'm still barely a beginner!

I can understand buying a Maverick for $400-500, just to try pedal steel. But I can't understand paying over $1000 when much BETTER vintage steels can be found in the same price range.

Bill A. Moore · Post by **Bill A. Moore** » 1 Nov 2007 10:35 am

I agree the e-bay prices are out of line. I like to tinker, and thought I'd pick up a cheap Fender twin chassis, and build myself a nice head. The non working chassis are going for more than $350! I did look on Bobbe's website, and he had a working amp for $550. Guess there are no bargains anymore.

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 1 Nov 2007 11:13 am

I had a carter starter. I sold it, now I wish I still had it for a backup, for flying with (very light), for playing bad cut and shoot bars etc. It has 3peds and 4levers. You can get one for $600 if you are patient. For the money there good. The sound pretty good and stay in tune well. Cheap tuners and a real boy-scout project looking pedal rack are the bad features. virtually no resale value. off course that works in your favor to find a used one. Like I said, I still wish I had mine. Im not looking forward to traveling to chicago with my gfi d10 via air.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 1 Nov 2007 11:34 am

Ive mostly given up on the bay, but I must admit I have scored some good deals there. 70's gibson grabber for $275...mispelled listed as a "graber".

Steve Norman · Post by **Steve Norman** » 1 Nov 2007 1:39 pm

Ben where gonna be at the tractor on the 6th. You should swing by and throw tomatoes

Bill Duve · Post by **Bill Duve** » 1 Nov 2007 2:30 pm

Sometimes broken things are considered worth more by collectors which makes the Bay a great place for Collectors but just remember that EVERYTHING on Ebay is broken

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 1 Nov 2007 8:36 pm

Bill, I'm not sure what you mean that collectors sometimes value broken things. I have found the opposite. I'm not a collector. I only go to Ebay for something I want to play. So I am happy to find amps and instruments that have cosmetic problems or harmless mods that scare away the collectors. With them not bidding, I get a bargain price and something that plays great for me.

Bill Duve · Post by **Bill Duve** » 2 Nov 2007 3:17 am

Personal thing David ,My experience is whats on the bay should be in the bay ....

Mark Vinbury · Post by **Mark Vinbury** » 2 Nov 2007 7:01 am

I feel there are still a lot of good deals to be had on eBay.
You may not see them because they start out with a low "Buy it Now" price and a dilligent searcher grabs them within the first couple of hours.Check the "completed items" listings to see what you've missed.
I rarely bid on anything. Just search the new listings for a reasonable BIN price.
Many times people who need the money have tried to sell their gear locally and been low balled. They've wasted a bunch of time,are tired of fooling around and just want to move the item at a fair price.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 2 Nov 2007 7:21 am

I feel there are still a lot of good deals to be had on eBay

I agree, Mark. The Emmons S-10 push/pull that appears in my Avatar... I bought on eBay two years ago for $850 (buy-it-now). It needed a little work, but it was still a great buy. It is my only pedal steel now, and the best sounding one I've ever owned. There are some bargains on eBay, but you have to look early and often, and be patient.