Re: A '97 LP body for 600$. Is this guy legit?
I can't recall if it was this seller that I was speaking to before or not (there are several of them on eBay doing just this), but he said that he has NEVER lost money on a guitar that he's parted out.
The seller I spoke to was buying either complete guitars on eBay or used shops, but had just gotten enough of a war chest built up that he was buying more "in demand" models, like EJ Strats, JM Strats, etc., new from online retailers or GC and then just sitting down with a couple of screwdrivers, a backdrop and a digital camera. He said that he sells EVERYTHING, including the cases, the case candy, screws, knobs, and then he decides to either part out the pickups from the harnesses or pickguards, sell the neckplates with or without the necks...literally thousands of combinations.
He said that he probably gets over $2k for a $1,500 guitar on a bad day.
Sad in many ways, but true. There will always be people looking for projects, fixer-uppers or even that missing part who will pay good money for them.