Help: Martin Guitar prices in your Town

Subject: Martin Guitar prices in your Town
From: Anahootz
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 01:54 AM

Hi folks, got a question.

I have the opportunity to purchase a 1996 Martin d-28, excellent to excellent-minus condition, for $1300. I am in Alaska, miles away from any used guitar shops, so I don't really know prices...

Question: is $1300 a good deal for a mid '90's d-28? Or can someone point me to a better price?

'hootz

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Guitar prices in your Town
From: SharonA
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 09:29 AM

Anahootz: According to this page on the www.cfmartin.com website – http://www.cfmartin.com/MartinGuitar/index.asp – a brand-new standard D-28 lists for $2399 (dealers might bring that price down a bit). So an almost-new D-28 for a little over half that price sounds good to me! The price is comparable to a couple of similar guitars on ebay (note that ebay's current D-28 guitar prices include the case).

The ideal thing, of course, would be to get yourself a job at the Martin factory where, as I understand it, the occasional guitar is part of the benefits package. But Nazareth PA is a bit far from you for commuting purposes. *G*

My only used-Martin purchase (6-string) was a D-35 from the '70s, bought in 1998 from a shop in PA for $1200. A friend of mine bought the same model, same vintage, for the same price at around the same time from the internet. So, again, an almost-new D-28 for $100 more than that sounds pretty darned good. More than fair, IMO.

Sharon

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Guitar prices in your Town
From: SharonA
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 10:05 AM

Oops! Forgot to mention that that $1200 I paid for the D-35 also included the case (so did my friend's purchase). As far as I can tell, the price quoted on the C.F. Martin website for a new D-28 does not include a case.

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Guitar prices in your Town
From: Justa Picker
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 10:17 AM

YES!
Typically used D-28s in the minty or near mint condition made in the last 5-10 years, go for between 1500 and 1650.00 If this guitar is to your liking, 1300 is an excellent price.

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Guitar prices in your Town
From: M.Ted
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 11:20 AM

His asking price, even if it seems reasonable, may be a "starting" price--when you arrange to look at the instrument, ask if he is negotiable--also, remember that prices are always based on what the supply and demand is where you are, factored in with the seller's need to sell--The prices in the Eastern US and Canada may vary drastically from Alaska and the Western US --the more you know about asking and selling prices in your area and in Denver and West Coast cities(where, I know, many Alaskans shop), the better it will work out for you--

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Guitar prices in your Town
From: Wesley S
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 11:25 AM

Martin prices on the website almost always include the case. I can't think of any exceptions but there might be one. A few retailers try to charge extra for the case but they shouldn't. Anahootz - sounds like a great price for a great guitar if it's in the condition your seller says it's in. Good Luck - let us know what happens.

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Guitar prices in your Town
From: Anahootz
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 11:37 AM

Thanks for the info, people.

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Guitar prices in your Town
From: Midchuck
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 11:45 AM

Any of the higher-end Martins ("Standard" and above) can, in general, be had new, with hard case and full warranty, for 40% discount, i. e. you pay 6/10 of the published "list" price, from various mail order sources, of which Elderly is probably the most honest and reliable that I've dealt with.

I don't recommend this. If you buy from a good local dealer, you can get 20% to 30% discount, unless the dealer's an idiot; and you get to try the instrument before buying; you have some recourse nearby, if the dealer's honest and/or cares about your repeat business - he'll fix minor problems in-house, and help you with your warranty claim on major ones; and you help keep local small business alive. But you can do it.

Therefore, it makes no sense to pay more than about 50% of the "list" price for a recent used Martin. Even if it's in mint condition, you don't get the warranty.

Of course, the value of used Martins goes down with increasing age, back to about 1970, then it goes up with greater age from then back, reaching the point of absurdity as go get into the '50s and '40s.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Guitar prices in your Town
From: SharonA
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 12:22 PM

Anahootz: How close are the nearest guitar shops? Even if they're too far away to visit conveniently, could you confer with them by phone or e-mail to get a "fix" on what they would charge for new and used D-28s? Midchuck makes a good point about the Martin warranty; it couldn't hurt to ask how much a new one with the warranty would be, up your way. It might end up to be worth a day trip.

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Guitar prices in your Town
From: bigchuck
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 01:49 PM

We (I work for a Martin dealer) just quoted a price of $1500 for a new D-28 as a special order for a customer. We routinely sell new Martins for 35 to 40% off list. I would consider $1300 a bit (but not a lot) high for a used D-28 unless it sounds exceptionally good.
Sandy

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Guitar prices in your Town
From: Fortunato
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 02:19 PM

Anahootz I can't tell from your post whether you can or have played this guitar.

My opinion is, if you have played it and you like it a lot, 'it suits you', then it's probably an ok price.

If you're ordering on line, sight unseen, why not get a new D28 from Elderly? Below is their quote:

MARTIN D-28 GTR & HSC D-size solid rosewood & spruce body, white body binding, natural top, black pickguard, ebony bridge with small maple bridge plate, ebony fingerboard (standard 1 11/16" nut width and 25.4" scale length), dot inlays, low profile neck shape, chrome enclosed gears, gloss finish. Thermoplastic hardshell case. stock # D28

Our Price: $1440.00

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Guitar prices in your Town
From: SharonA
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 02:44 PM

Fortunato, where did you find that? I tried to bring up what I thought was the Elderly website but didn't get anything.

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Guitar prices in your Town
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 02:55 PM

worth a glance

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Guitar prices in your Town
From: SharonA
Date: 01 Mar 02 - 02:56 PM

Never mind, I figured it out! I was typing in the name "www.elderlyinstruments.com" which is WRONG. The CORRECT site-name is www.elderly.com

Subject: RE: Help: Martin Guitar prices in your Town
From: rangeroger
Date: 02 Mar 02 - 12:16 AM

If there was a Martin guitar for sale in my town it would have been stolen.

rr Smelterville,Idaho