Help with valuation of guitars

Subject: RE: Help with valuation of guitars
From: doc.tom
Date: 08 Jan 14 - 11:21 AM

Having been following the market for some years, I suggest the following auctioneers seem to get realistic prices accross the range at their specialist instruments auctions. Well worth trying them out. I have no association with them - merely note they seem to get good prices. http://www.gardinerhoulgate.co.uk/
Good Luck
TomB

Subject: RE: Help with valuation of guitars
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 07 Jan 14 - 07:02 PM

I'd be wary of asking at any local musical equipment shop for a fair realistic valuation.

I've heard enough bragging from lads who worked in guitar shops
who unscrupulously offered naive uninformed old ladies peanuts
for valuable collectable guitars once belonging to deceased relatives.

One nasty little shit at a pokey guitar shop in Ilford
boasted he got an early 60s Fender Strat for 50 quid
off an elderly lady
who was delighted because she didn't think it would be worth
even that much cash in hand !!!

[yeah, ok, he may have been a knobhead Walter Mitty telling porkies
to big himself up..
but on the other hand....]

Subject: RE: Help with valuation of guitars
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 07 Jan 14 - 11:20 AM

If you're UK based, a call to The Musician's Union might set you on the right path. For a professional valuation, you will almost certainly be charged a fee as a % of the valuation. As has been said above, valuations for insurance & valuations for sale will produce different results. You have quite a task on your hands. I wish you the very best of luck!
                                                   Nigel Paterson (retired pro.)

Subject: RE: Help with valuation of guitars
From: cooperman
Date: 07 Jan 14 - 07:29 AM

Eko Ranger 12 without scratch plate approx £120 If any case - extra on that.

Subject: RE: Help with valuation of guitars
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 06 Jan 14 - 10:17 AM

The two Martin acoustics can be dated from their serial numbers (see here). (Click on "here" for a link to the site).

The 000-18 is correctly listed as 2008, while the HD-28 is from 2005.

Coda Music, in Stevenage, Herts (UK), has competetive prices for new Martins: an "ordinary" 000-18 at £1,749 and an HD-28 at £2,149. I would expect less (£250 or so?) for second-hand in good condition.

It's worth contacting a reputable guitar shop to get an opinion on some of these guitars. If you're in the UK, try Ivor Mairants in London.

Subject: RE: Help with valuation of guitars
From: Nick
Date: 06 Jan 14 - 06:58 AM

>>Valuations for insurance shouldn't be relied on. They are invariably higher than market prices as they reflect the additional costs that may be incurred in finding a similar replacement.

True, but the concern was that the person would get ripped off badly. If the prices were on the high side it would still give some indication.

I'm not sure what country you are in but if you were in England you might try the following company - Bonners Music. I have no personal link to them but they were the people who dealt with my son's insurance claim.

Aside from being a retail company they are also the company who deal with insurance claims for a large insurance company and as such would need to demonstrate a degree of competence so that the insurance company don't get ripped off (in my experience they are averse to that!) if people were unrealistic in their demands when making a claim.

As in most things - you could offer to pay for the service from a suitable expert which would make YOU the client and mean that they should be acting in YOUR interests rather than potentially against them. I'm sure other countries must have similar expertise.

Subject: RE: Help with valuation of guitars
From: Howard Jones
Date: 06 Jan 14 - 04:07 AM

An auction house or dealer will of course charge commission. However if they are specialists in musical instruments they will be able to advise on realistic values and realistic reserve prices, and should advertise the instruments more effectively. If they do their job properly then there is a good prospect of getting a better price than you might privately. They will also take responsibility for dealing with buyers who don't go ahead, rather than you having to deal with ebay/paypal's disputes process.

Having said that, auctions are unpredictable and results can be surprising or disappointing, depending on who is in the room on that day. However a sensible reserve price should avoid selling at too low a price.

Also, disposing of a collection of this size privately will involve a lot of time and hassle (at a time when no doubt there are lot of other things to deal with) which selling through a dealer would avoid.

I would be very wary about selling a valuable instrument through ebay/paypal after reading this:

Paypal destroys mislabelled violin

although mislabelling and incorrect attribution of guitars is probably less of an issue than with violins.

Valuations for insurance shouldn't be relied on. They are invariably higher than market prices as they reflect the additional costs that may be incurred in finding a similar replacement.

Subject: RE: Help with valuation of guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jan 14 - 02:36 AM

Research on ebay could pay off initially. Then look for new prices. At the end of the day depends on the market and how quickly a sale is wanted. Ebay is a pain because of packaging and insurance as always.

Subject: RE: Help with valuation of guitars
From: GUEST,fogie
Date: 06 Jan 14 - 01:56 AM

Thank you for your help.

Subject: RE: Help with valuation of guitars
From: Nick
Date: 05 Jan 14 - 07:19 PM

Are they not insured? That might give some clue.

When my son had a guitar stolen earlier this year the insurance company dealt with the claim through their specialist music section who were able to come up with a viable replacement for the guitar that he had had stolen.

Perhaps something similar exists where you are?

Subject: RE: Help with valuation of guitars
From: Fossil
Date: 05 Jan 14 - 07:02 PM

You don't mention the purpose of getting a valuation. I would have thought that, unless it is for insurance or probate purposes, the widow's best interests would be served by disposing of the guitars on eBay, possibly over a period of time, then the market will set the value.

As has been said above, there really isn't enough information on age or condition of the guitars to enable anyone on Mudcat to give an accurate valuation, but having said that, there are some magic names there and the whole collection would undoubtedly be very valuable.

If a valuation figure for each guitar really is necessary, I see no alternative to bringing in an expert and paying for their services. A few calls around the larger music stores in your vicinity might provide some suitable names of people who could do this. Or maybe, *that* is the question you should be asking the Mudcat to provide...

Subject: RE: Help with valuation of guitars
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 05 Jan 14 - 06:41 AM

If the Burns ones are from the 60s, not the current range of re-issues, I'd expect at least £400 each, maybe £700.

If the Vox Phantom is 60s it is VERY valuable.

The HD28 of course is megabucks.

Subject: RE: Help with valuation of guitars
From: Leadfingers
Date: 05 Jan 14 - 05:30 AM

That's a scary selection of guitars Lot of 'relatively' inexpensive but a few gems ! Wish I could be of more help

Subject: Obit: help with valuation of guitars
From: GUEST,fogie
Date: 04 Jan 14 - 08:46 AM

A very dear friend of mine died last year, and his wife has asked my help in valuing his guitars -it came as a shock to me to realise he had so many, and those were not the only instruments he has accumulated. Your general advice would be appreciated -I enclose what she has written -I would suspect that the guitars are in A1 condition, but some are difficult to find and some are ambiguously described -however a ball-park second hand figure is what she is after. I have already said that should she auction them the auction house would probably take 20% of the selling price, and a dealer might do similarly -this is therefore to try to ensure she is not ripped off. I appreciate your help










1          Admira Spanish guitar, Made in Spain

            Model #: CONCERT



2.         Airline electric (Eastwood guitars)

            Bigsby licensed (black/sun burst)

            Model #: 0600447



3.         Airline 3 electric (Eastwood guitars) with 3 pick-ups

            Bigsby licensed (white)

            Model/serial #: 0601167

            Stagg Gcx-Re Black rectangle guitar case Fender style

            Junior Combo 117839



4.         Arbiter acoustic guitar (main distributor for Fender guitars)

            Model #:   J115



5.         Burns London Deluxe Bison guitar (tri Sonic)

            Bison series electric guitar (black)

            Serial #: 0501360



6.         Burns London (handcrafted light blue marquee electric guitar)

            Model #: COBRA (club series)

            Serial #: 0906403



7.         Burns London Marquee Double Six

            Club series #: 5100015 (1190724993-29)



8.         Burns London Marquee electric (green)

            Rez-O-Matik club series

            Serial #: 2002312



9.         Burns Jet Sonic MBK

            (looks like Flinstone guitar) designed by Pagelli (black & yellow)

            (21) Serial #: 00035



10.      Cort Larry Coryell semi-acoustic jazz guitar

          Model #: LC5-2

          Serial #: 020293



11.    D'Angelico semi-acoustic guitar (Blonde 2000)

          Model #: New Yorker NYL-2

          Serial #: 001022604



12.    EKO Ranger XII, Made in Italy

          12 string guitar with missing scratch plate



13.    Epiphone

          Model #: Broadway NA R97I 0035



14.    Epiphone

          Model #: Emperor Regent NA U07070200



15.   Epiphone Les Paul Custom

         Serial #: EE080706563



16.    Epiphone Les Paul Custom electric guitar

          Model #:   U04103528



17.    Epiphone Les Paul Custom electric

          Serial#: 08081510482



18.    Fender Jaguar electric, crafted in Japan

          Serial #: Q092751



19.    Fender jazz bass, Made in USA

          Bass case: £165

          Model #: DZ5005944



20.    Fender jazz bass, Made in USA

          Bass case: £165

          Serial #: 05039218



21.    Fender jazz bass, Made in USA

          Fender Telecaster, crafted in Japan

          Serial #: Q081152



22.    Fender jazz master electric guitar, Made in USA

          Cherry red, crafted in Japan

          Serial #: Q016504



23.    Fender Jazz Master 62 Re-Issue

          Vintage white, crafted in Japan

          Serial #: R044258



24.    Fender Strastocaster Bronze electric guitar, Made in Mexico (original contour body)

          Model #: MN8120441

   

25.    Fender Telecaster Deluxe, Made in USA

          Fender micro-neck-adjust

          Model #: 720909

          Serial #: S807002




26.    Freshman 12 string

          Model #: FA1DC12

          Serial #: AAAF01733



27.    Gibson electric guitar jazz with 2 pick ups & 4 controls

          Model #: ES175

          Serial #: 02686701



28.    Gibson Heil Ellis with 1 pick up & 2 controls

          Model #: ES165

          Serial #: 03150433



29.    Gitane

          Model #: 7585

          Serial #: DG255



30.    Gretsch Black Falcon (with strap) Model #: G6136TBK

          Serial #: JT07041765



31.    Ibanez Artcore Series semi-acoustic

          Model #: AF75-BS-12-01

          Serial #: S06093142



32.    Ibanez Artcore Series white jazz guitar N427

          Model #: AF75-TDG-IV-12-01

          Serial #: S08032184



33.    Ibanez Artcore Series white jazz guitar N427

          Model #: AF105-NT-12-01

          Serial #: S07091197



34.    Ibanez Artcore Series slimline

          Model #: AS73-TRD-12-01

          Serial#: S07062487



35.    Ibanez Artcore Series electric

          Model #: AS83-VLS-12-01

          Serial #: S0502856



36.   Ibanez Artcore Series slimline

          Model #: AS93-VLS-12-01

          Serial#: S06111451



37.    Martin & Co acoustic guitar (2008) [Golden Era 1937]

          Model #: 000-18

          Serial #: 12796465



38.    Martin & Co acoustic guitar

          Model #: HD28

          Serial #: 1063588



39.    Maverick Burns Bison electric guitar (black)

          Species 100457



40.    Maverick Species 16 electric guitar (black)

          Model #: X100655



41.    Modena Italia (blue) electric guitar

          Model #: 010309



42.    Ozark semi-acoustic jazz guitar (Jazz GTR3175; flame maple top; black inlay on F/BD;   

          gold hardware with plush case; Fender Strap in case)

          Model #: 3175



43.    Tanglewood semi-acoustic deep-bodied jazz guitar

          Model #: JZ-503-SB



44.    Vox Phantom 12 string white electric guitar

          Model: Phantom XII (315535)

          (Note: broken corners of scratch plate due to heat possibility)



45.    Wilson Baldwin electric, Made in England

          Model #: 15606



46.    Yamaha LL-11 acoustic guitar

          Serial #: QIN1180D4