Got $15K?

wj350 · Post by **wj350** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 6:17 am

Paul--LOL! I was worried someone would report this guy for stealing the Chinese auction

On the other hand, the Chinese one was brand new, this is old and used

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 10:15 am

>>John M's book puts it at $8,400-$10,100.<<

What's a refinished one worth?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 2:49 pm

A loaded question. I would say it depends upon who you're selling it to. As I've mentioned before, Ricks are not Fenders, Gibsons or Gretsches. A dealer will lowball you and tell you that the refin will cut the value by 50% or more. He's reading from the "Other Brands" Bible, Mojo Edition.

That's nonsense where Ricks are concerned, and we know it.

He will then keep it or put it up for sale. If he's not too wise in Ricks, they will discount it because it's a refinish, but point out how gorgeous it is, so his sale price will be substantially higher than what he paid you for it.

Or he could not mention that it's a refin, let the guitar speak for itself, and get John M's price range for it. If the dealer has a brick-and-mortar store, he'll put it on display and attract a high-dollar buyer quickly, depending upon his asking price, of course.

You could sell it to a savvy (Forumite, of course) buyer and get JM's price range for it too.

Which is easier and makes more sense?

My whole point here is that a single sale of such a rare and specialized guitar should probably not be trusted to a dealer (unless he's an honest and honest-to-gosh Rick specialist like Chris or Mike). Price and value are generally market-determined, but the deal is in the end between two people and we would hope that both are Rick-savvy individuals.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 2:51 pm

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:26 pm

Paul is right in that there are many possible outcomes to what one of these would bring---and to add that it would depend even further on how the guitar is spec'd out, i.e. what features does it possess.

Better still, (as I pull the lid even further back on the worm can) think of how (if at all) the value of refinishing has affected some of the known surviving 1958 325s....You could treat each example differently than the next....after all, they are what they are.

However, I do remain in the camp that unaltered originals in exceptional condition command the highest values, no matter what the model. In the end, it all comes down to how much you like the instrument...despite what condition it's in. How original or how altered it is may not matter....

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:51 pm

Gracias.

So if I had a cherry 59 Les Paul it might bring a quarter of a mil but if it was a refin a paltry hundred thou?

Dough aside, I'd rather have Ricks.

When was the last time a 58 325 changed hands anyway?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 5:45 pm

DANGER!!! Do not compare Les Pauls or Strats to Ricks when it comes to values. (robot voice)

Everyone knows that the LP and Strat prices exist in a hype-inflated and -fueled bubble, far beyond any intrinsic value, even accounting for their ages.

Back to Mr. Simmons' post...no question that 100% original guitars will get the best offers. Glenn and I each own an aberration; we had guitars that had been amateurly-messed-with in past lives, so there were no qualms of conscience in refinning them.

In the case of my 365 Capri, post-restoration I was offered (by three separate individuals) in excess of what an original 365 Capri would bring in normal sale (not inflated dealer's "it's a Rick" prices). I was looking for more money for it, though, and gladly it did not sell, as it would be very difficult to say good-bye to.

In the case of the '66 325 that I just completed for my customer David, it was pretty heavily play-worn and now it is indistinguishable from new. David would never sell it, but (again, this is an individual case--the only way to consider Ricks anyway IMO) I can't imagine it going for any less than it would have six months ago, unrestored.

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 1:12 pm

10-4.

Other than the missing top guard, broken TRC, changed tuners, bad refin and missing screws, mine was mint.

(Actually, Dale could probably tell you a lot more was wrong with it.)

ira_marlowe · Post by **ira_marlowe** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 2:47 am

15K No Way!! The price is very high, way to inflated. Remember what P.T. Barnum said "There's a sucker born every minute" The other seller only has 4 feedbacks and he is in the UK, I am still looking but, I don't want to over pay nor get burnt

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:59 am

I feel the same way. I see all these strats priced at 20K and up but the vintage places always seem to have 20 or 30 on hand.

j_gary · Post by **j_gary** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 9:28 am

It's a pile of dough for a simple instrument.

That being said, if I had an extra $15k I would have grabbed it, as it was such a nice example. Not many opportunities to get such a fine old Rickenbacker.

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 11:51 am

Then you would have paid a third more than anyone else did as it just sold.

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:22 pm

I might add that the '64 1996 with the 2pm f-hole sold right within the range in John Minutaglio's price book.......$9900 and change, right?

studiotwosession · Post by **studiotwosession** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 3:55 am

Something like that, John.

Actually, they made significantly fewer with the later style sound hole. So those are actually more rare.