Guitars you've owned that are worth more than their price? Less?

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Steven Mal

New member
When it comes to musical instruments would you say "you get what you pay for," or have you ever owned a piece of equipment, modded or stock, that you thought you got more than what you paid for it? What about a guitar you paid for and thought "this isn't worth what I paid for it." For example, I've noticed some guys say Epiphone or PRS SE guitars are similar or better than Gibson guitars, and other similar comments.
 
Re: Guitars you've owned that are worth more than their price? Less?

I thought that in the early 2000s when Schecter and LTD got big. Same with MIM Fenders when they cost $350.

Specific guitars it's hard for me to say as everything I kept was something I got a silly deal on.
 
Re: Guitars you've owned that are worth more than their price? Less?

New Jackson JS22 - 200€ - that thing is wort almost twice as much, what a brilliant guitar it was....
New Epiphone LPC Pro Ebony - 500€ - wasnt worth it at all, didnt play or sound inspiring at all
Used Gibson Melody Maker - 300€ - amazing guitar, way better than the 500€ epiphone
Used Ibanez EDR470EX - 150€ - worth at least twice as much
Used Ibanez GIO RG - 200€ - wasnt worth it at all, crappy electronics and terrible fretwork

generally saying buying used gets you insane value if you know what to look for. there's some turds out there too, but if you can play them first you can grab some really good guitars for little money. bonus if you can do some basic setup work yourself - in that case I always would go for used since most of the price depreciation has already happened.

you can get some ibanez/jacksons MiJ here on local classifieds for less than 300 because I guess there isn't much of a market ? not sure... but used Fenders/Gibsons can be overpriced, those brands that aren't that common or sought after is where the bargains are at.
 
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Re: Guitars you've owned that are worth more than their price? Less?

In general, Gibson standards, Gretsches, Guild and Rickenbackers I own are worth more. My Gibson studios, Melody Makers, Gibsons I've modded and Fenders are worth less. If I hold onto the Melody Makers for 20 years and don't mod them, they might be worth something more. But no guarantees.
 
Re: Guitars you've owned that are worth more than their price? Less?

I just returned home from a deal involving a barely used FGN in ocean blue. http://www.fgnguitars.com/jos_fm_m.html

The previous owner bought it in January 29 (I have the receipt) and sold it to me for 60 percent of the original price, throwing in some Wilkinson goodies with it.

Well FGN is definitely a bang for the buck, MIM price for Fender/ Ibanez Japan quality.
 
Re: Guitars you've owned that are worth more than their price? Less?

Charvel 475s (MIJ), which are freakin' brilliant. Depending on condition, can vary from about $450-$650. Although I don't need money, if someone was trying to pry my virtually new '91 475 cherryburst (upgraded with PATB pickups) from me, it would take at least $1000. If they said they could find one cheaper on ebay, I'd say "then you should do that". :sleepy:

f3db9728-2b03-4043-b638-80a66f24829a.jpg
 
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Re: Guitars you've owned that are worth more than their price? Less?

Only ~12 years ago, I remember when MIM Strats and Teles sold for $350. They were a SMOKIN' deal at that price, but far less so today when their new prices are creeping up into the used USA range...
 
Re: Guitars you've owned that are worth more than their price? Less?

MkIII Renegade said:
Only ~12 years ago, I remember when MIM Strats and Teles sold for $350. They were a SMOKIN' deal at that price, but far less so today when their new prices are creeping up into the used USA range...
Click to expand...

Lol my price is $299 for solid MIM and $319 for sunburst. Every year I think "no way!"

But to be honest, the Classic Vibe and Vintage Modified Squier lines are at the quality that MIM was in the 90's.

I agree, the Schecters were a great value too. Anything MIK after the quality improved and before the price rose to match.
 
Re: Guitars you've owned that are worth more than their price? Less?

I have seen a large increase in the cost of vintage destroyers.
 
Re: Guitars you've owned that are worth more than their price? Less?

Before the market caught on, MIJ model series Charvels ('86-'88) were an absolute bargain. My '86 Model 4 was $299 back in 2004, and I scored an '88 Model 2 with minor finish issues for $79 in 2005. I got pretty lucky with my '87 Model 1A at $150 without electronics in 2013. I'm not really in that market anymore, but I've seen Model 4s selling for $600 recently and Model 1As were going for nearly $400 when I bought mine.
 
Re: Guitars you've owned that are worth more than their price? Less?

I paid <$200 for my Schecter Blackjack and the same for my Jackson DXMG. The Schecter is a set neck (maybe even neck through, I'm not sure) and came stock with a 59n and JB.
Both guitars sound and play way better than their price range would indicate.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
 
Re: Guitars you've owned that are worth more than their price? Less?

I don't treat guitars as investments; I also don't buy them for less than I could sell them for (usually a lot less.) So I've "scored" in the last year...

-Silverface Champ, $230
-Squier Jazzmaster ~$100 including trade value of an Orange AD5 I picked up for I think $280
-Jackson SLX, <$250
-Mexican Telecaster, $190
-American Select (Deluxe) Strat, $500
 
Re: Guitars you've owned that are worth more than their price? Less?

Steven Mal said:
When it comes to musical instruments would you say "you get what you pay for," or have you ever owned a piece of equipment, modded or stock, that you thought you got more than what you paid for it? What about a guitar you paid for and thought "this isn't worth what I paid for it." For example, I've noticed some guys say Epiphone or PRS SE guitars are similar or better than Gibson guitars, and other similar comments.
Click to expand...

Best deal I've ever gotten was a partscaster, blackout Strat built on a Highway One body with Gold Lace Sensors and a custom maple neck. $200. The Lace Sensors alone are worth that much, and what a player.
 
Re: Guitars you've owned that are worth more than their price? Less?

Over the years, I have gotten so many fabulous deals...my post would be eight pages long. My 1960 Strat for $150, a late '60s Gibson ES-330 for $175, a Super Champ with EV speaker for $65, a 1964 Tremolux blonde BF head and cab for $100, a 2010 Martin D-41 for $2200, etc., etc., etc. I have just been blessed over the years with some great deals on some fabulous gear. I was making my living playing music, so I always tried to buy good gear, but I had to shop and bargain hard.

My G&Ls are great instruments, a far better value than what I paid for them. Ditto the Martin dreads. Yes expensive, worth every penny...every single one of them. Again...the Gibsons, also spendy, but bargains at the prices I've paid. Love my Historic LPs, the 335s, the flametop Classics...all of them great guitars. My Ibanez instruments, my Tak and DanElectro 12-strings, my Music Man Sabres...they've all been full of value and made me money.

But I have a couple that were less than the sum of their parts. The big one for me was a '69 Gibson ES-150DCN. Beautiful guitar, but so many problems with intonation, feedback, a narrow neck and incompatibility with my SUNN amp made for a big mess. Finally got tired of fighting with it so I traded it for my first '79 Music Man Sabre II, taking a big loss. But the Sabre fit me perfectly, and put a big smile on my face for many years and it still does. Leo Fender was a genius.

And sadly, I have to admit to being a bit disappointed with my 2002 Taylor 710CE with a Fishman preamp. I bought it new, played out with it many times, but it doesn't have the deep warm sound of my Martins. Very little sustain. While it plays great and the workmanship is terrific, resale value has not held up. Add in that I paid too much for it, and it becomes a disappointment.

Another guitar that I bought in the early '90s was a Peavey Horizon II. Build quality was excellent, a great finish, great vibrato. Didn't care for the pickups, the Gibson scale neck, control ergonomics and the coil-cutting tone controls. Great guitar, just not for me. Saving grace--I sold it for $25 more than what I paid for it.

I've been very blessed indeed.

Bill
 
Re: Guitars you've owned that are worth more than their price? Less?

The best deal I've ever had was a Squier Vintage Modified HSS Telecaster at a pawn shop for $95. It was my main gigging guitar for 3 years and gave me no problems. The Duncan Designed pickups sound great, the neck plays really well, it stays in tune. I've picked up a few other tele's that have replaced it since then, but it's my open G slide guitar now. Best $95 I ever spent. I don't know that I'll ever get rid of it.
 
Re: Guitars you've owned that are worth more than their price? Less?

Prestige Musician Pro. Any Prestige electric, really. Duncan pups, and all high-end components. A solid wood semi-hollow body, with superb fit and finish, for under a grand.
 
Re: Guitars you've owned that are worth more than their price? Less?

I have a Made in Mexico Squier Telecaster that I bought new for $149 (regular price) in 1999 that absolutely slays!! I bought it at Mars Music. I played every single Fender in there that day, and I kept going back to it. It played and sounded better than all of them. I wouldn't take $500 for it somebody offered it to me.
 
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Re: Guitars you've owned that are worth more than their price? Less?

I've got an '89 Orville Les Paul Standard that I think I prefer over any Gibson I've ever owned, and I've had a few + currently have 6 other Gibson LPs. I only paid 300 bucks for it in about 2009. Orvilles seem to keep increasing in value. They were a steal a few years ago. Had a couple of Burnys...meh...Not real impressed. I hear Grecos are really sweet too, but prices are skyrocketing on those too.

My other baby is Gibson LP Standard Oversized Bass. New they were around $3K or so. Got mine new on a closeout/scratch and dent for about $850... people either love or hate these. They average about$1300 used now. I'd never sell mine.

Sent from my SM-J320P using Tapatalk
 
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