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26 Oct 00 - 10:08 PM (#328225) Subject: How much should I ask for my guitar? From: Marion I've pretty much made up my mind to get a steel string guitar, and that means selling my classical. I don't know that much about the relative values of guitars or about this guitar, so I'm at a loss as to what would be a fair price for it. Can anyone comment? The brand is Conrad and it's Japanese made. The label spells serial "selial" which suggests to me that it's not a high-calibre brand, but three guitarheads that I've known have spoken highly of my guitar. I've had it three years, and it's been in three pairs of hands before me that I know of, so I would guess its age to be about ten years. It looks fine, not dinged up. I had a strap button put in the bottom. (If anyone wants to suggest a dollar range, please note whether you mean American or Canadian money.) And to those who will want to tell me to buy the steel string AND keep the classical: no. Thank you, Marion
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26 Oct 00 - 10:41 PM (#328250) Subject: RE: How much should I ask for my guitar? From: ddw Marion, Can't really offer much of an opinion without seeing and playing the guitar, but maybe you could take it to a couple of music stores and see what they would offer you on a trade-in. Needless to say, you 've have to find one you trust, but visiting a few can either give you an idea of what it's worth on the market (maybe even check comparable guitars they have in stock) if the offers are consistant or let you know who would try to rip you off if one or two really low-ball you on price. I had a classical that I had hand-made while I was in Japan and a friend who played classical claimed it was a very good one. After about 10 years I decided to trade it in for something — don't remember what — and discovered, since I hadn't played it for a while, that the neck was pulling loose from the body. I got next to nothing for it, but I can guarantee that whoever got it after the neck was reset had a nice little box. good luck, david |
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26 Oct 00 - 11:02 PM (#328277) Subject: RE: How much should I ask for my guitar? From: Little Hawk Hard to say...maybe US $150 to $250 used...but what if it's a really good one? Then maybe quite a lot more. Try to find a couple of musicians who like classical guitars and see what they think it's worth. Some guitar store personnel will tell you the truth, and others may not, so ask around at a few different places, and go by your gut feeling on whom you can trust. |
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26 Oct 00 - 11:11 PM (#328284) Subject: RE: How much should I ask for my guitar? From: Allan C. You can contact Elderly Instruments. They will tell you how much they would be willing to give for it and how much they would hope to sell it for if you were willing to consign it through them. Or if you would rather make contact by email, try: Stan Werbin swerbin@elderly.com |
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27 Oct 00 - 01:26 AM (#328343) Subject: RE: How much should I ask for my guitar? From: Rick Fielding Marion, I'm afraid the market for used Japanese Classics is VERY low these days. You probably wouldn't be offered more than a hundred dollars, Canadian (if that) simply because good new Korean and Taiwanese ones can be had so cheaply. That's probably the reason that many would tell you to keep it. When guitars were not so available a commodity, they kept their value better. Today even a used Ramirez sells for less than it's original price. Vintage Gibson and Martin steel strings often appreciate in value, but rarely ANY classical. Serious players seem to want new ones (custom built at that) and hobbyists can get brands they've heard of (Aria, Takamine, Yamaha) very cheaply. Rick |
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28 Oct 00 - 10:46 PM (#329484) Subject: RE: How much should I ask for my guitar? From: Marion Thank you gentlemen. Marion |
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29 Oct 00 - 01:23 PM (#329769) Subject: RE: How much should I ask for my guitar? From: GUEST,CraigS Don't trade it in if you can help it - those guys are in business, which means they want to make a profit. The best thing you can do is take it to a classical guitar teacher that can evaluate it properly, and ask him if he'll sell it for you on commission - offer 15%. Make sure it's someone that you can trust ,though! That way you'll get the best return for the instrument, and you'll be able to beat down the man in the shop by offering used notes. |
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29 Oct 00 - 01:34 PM (#329778) Subject: RE: How much should I ask for my guitar? From: Jon Freeman I have to go along with the keep it suggestion. I haven't a clue about the guitar in question but assuming it is one of the cheaper classicals, it likely to be worth more to you than to anyone else. I had a Hondo classical for many years, not a good guitar but it had a nice sweet tone. When my mother decided she wanted to learn a few chords, the guitar found a new home and it was appreciated. I was far happier giving the guitar away than I would have been trying to get a few pounds for the instrument. Jon |
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30 Oct 00 - 01:03 PM (#330434) Subject: RE: How much should I ask for my guitar? From: Lox Another thing to do is ring up shops and pretend you are looking for one, asking (coincidentally) about prices as you go. These types of enquiries tend to throw up a whole different price list, because ... well ... this is a free market! lox |
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30 Oct 00 - 01:30 PM (#330451) Subject: RE: How much should I ask for my guitar? From: M. Ted (inactive) Had a Conrad 12-string once--worst action I ever saw, even for a 12--and there was a family named Conrad in my home town, they were little people, and wrestlers to boot, very nice people, and well liked--Iggy Sr. was the wrestling coach at one high school, and Iggy,Jr. was captain of the wrestling squad at another--good people, and good wrestlers!! Oh! Sorry, this old mind does wander a bit as the years go by-- |
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03 Nov 00 - 07:35 PM (#334078) Subject: RE: How much should I ask for my guitar? From: Marion Interesting. I took the guitar in to a music store and a luthier/repairman's this week to ask for an estimated value, and if any work would have to be done by the person buying it. I learned that the guitar is at least 22 years old (Conrads were only made from 72 to 78), and that the only necessary work would be a setup adjustment; the luthier suggested that $400 would be a fair price. Pleasant surprise! $400 would buy me an acoustic and a little change, too. But then market value may not be the same as the inherent value of the instrument... I'll see how it goes. Marion PS The reasons I'm very reluctant to hang on to it are: needing the money to pay for a new acoustic (I have a volunteer job that just pays a little pocket money, so money is a big issue), and the fact that I haven't lived in the same place two years in a row in my adult life - I don't want two guitars to have to cart around. |
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03 Nov 00 - 08:25 PM (#334115) Subject: RE: How much should I ask for my guitar? From: Cap't Bob I have a classical guitar that did manage to double in value within a very short period of time. Jon mentioned the Hondo ~ so he is the only other person that I know that has had one. I bought this one years ago for $50.00 as a Christmas present for my daughter. After a rather feeble attempt to learn to play guitar she decided that she didn't want a guitar after all. Well, as you might guess, I bought it from her and not wanting to admit that I only paid fifty bucks for it I gave her $100.00. I still own the guitar that .... let's see.. I have $150.00 invested along with a $25.00 case. I have several other guitars, however, for years it was my favorite easy playing that never went into the case. Think I've played that Hondo classical more than any of my other guitars. My advice would be ~ if all else fails ~ "KEEP IT". CAP'T BOB |
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04 Nov 00 - 05:15 AM (#334327) Subject: RE: How much should I ask for my guitar? From: Jon Freeman That sounds like good news Marion and I was guessing its value was going to be a lot less than that. If you can get that sort of money for it, the sell option does look favourable. Cap't Bob, I love the story. Mine was my 18th birthday present from my parents (1978) and I haven't a clue what they paid for it but at least they only invested once! The guitar is still going strong although my mother rarely plays it (she tends to stick with the piano as she is quite a competent classical pianist and gets frustrated when she struggles with the guitar). I will have to give it an airing when I visit them at Christmas. Jon |
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04 Nov 00 - 04:58 PM (#334648) Subject: RE: How much should I ask for my guitar? From: Fortunato Marion, if you are in the US and you itemize deductions, on your federal return, you might consider donating the guitar to Goodwill or the Salvation army, etc. That way you can set the value where you believe it fair and get a percentage of that from you tax deduction. Believing it to be worth $400 dollars is not the same as getting some one to pay that. I believe Rick's guess of $100 would be much more likely, if you could find a Classical Teacher who would sell it to a student and if that teacher though it to be superior to the new guitars. You've got until tax time to try and sell it for your price. good luck, Fortunato |
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05 Nov 00 - 01:35 PM (#335170) Subject: RE: How much should I ask for my guitar? From: JamesJim Marion, you say you are going to get a steel string guitar. I'd forget about selling or trading the classical guitar and concentrate more on selection of the new one. You'll not get much, if anything, for the old one, so it's a waste to fool with it. Looking at "flattops?" I'd suggest Guild or Martin. JJ |
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06 Nov 00 - 12:49 PM (#335289) Subject: RE: How much should I ask for my guitar? From: Willie-O Oh, these Yanks just crack me up sometimes. As Marion has mentioned a number of times she is in Cape Breton which last time I looked was not part of the U.S. Similarly, the words "budget" and "Martin" do not run harmoniously together. Guilds are more affordable, but not very much so in Canada where they are not all that common. (Well, I like 'em and was seriously considering one before my fortuitous encounter with Mr Fieldings old Lowden this summer). The $400 is nice to know, but that's probably why you shouldn't plan on selling it to finance your new one. Someday you will find someone who likes it enough to pay something close to that, but if you are in a hurry you are likely to settle for far less. However, NOW is the best time to sell an instrument, i.e. Christmas shopping season. Try putting an ad in the local scandalizer, ask $300 (plus the cost of the setup; do the setup), mention the appraised value. (You can double your money easily from almost any yard-sale guitar with a straight neck by putting new strings on, tweaking the action, replacing broken tuners, and cleaning it up--you now have a good playable "student guitar" with very little investment.) The Seagulls, Simon & Patricks, Art & Lutherie models coming out of La Patrie Quebec (guitar town in the Eastern Townships--see lasido.com are pretty unbeatable value if as I infer you're looking in the 'under $500' range. But since you're hanging around with musicians all the time (or should be), that's one of your best chances. One of them has one too many guitars, due to an impulsive nature...trust me, I know what that's about. And if it was owned by a working musician, it's a players' guitar with dings and scratches, not a cheap imitation or an expensive collectible.
Willie-O
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10 Nov 00 - 01:07 AM (#337657) Subject: RE: How much should I ask for my guitar? From: Marion Willie-O, have I been bragging about Cape Breton that often? I guess I did happen to mention it in another thread I started today. In fact the guitar I have my eye on is an Art and Lutherie. But I think I'll most likely wait until I go to the Ottawa Valley in December, so I can look at more stores and bring someone along for consultation. Unless, of course, I find a buyer immediately, 'cause then I'll have to buy the new guitar immediately, 'cause I don't want to go for any real amount of time without one. I've just had some good news financially speaking, so I can afford to buy a cheap steel string without selling the classical first. I guess the question at hand is deciding who I should long-term-lend the classical to. Thanks for the advice everybody, Marion |