CURMUDGE BUYS A...STRAT???

[rick36]

Congrats on your new Anniversary Strat RI, Paul. They are fantastic looking guitars, with a great sound and feel.
I recently bought a '57 Strat USA RI like yours (not anniversary ,though I thought about it). It’s a 2007 model except It has a two-tone sunburst finish with the same white guard, aged pickup covers and knobs, Amber nitro neck, vintage headstock decal, G&G Tweed case and all case candy.
I had a $350.00 credit to use at the dealer, so I got it at a good price. It's Brand New.
Here’s the issue:
I've had many Strats, and am hanging on to an EC Custom Shop '05 model - a beauty and a great player.
So, I decide to sell the new '57 RI and guess what? No takers, not even at $1179.00, the actual price I paid! It's a beautiful guitar and I just don't get it. I've sold over a dozen guitars on Ebay in the last 2 years (some that I should have kept) but I can't understand why nobody wants this Strat.
Any thoughts people?

PS: It's still for sale.

[ozover50]

What fretboard radius do those 57 RIs have, chaps? I got a MIJ 72 RI not long ago and it has a 7.5" radius....... too small for me.

[antipodean]

What fretboard radius do those 57 RIs have, chaps? I got a MIJ 72 RI not long ago and it has a 7.5" radius....... too small for me.

Aitch,

I believe thay have a 7.25" radius.

[ozover50]

Not good......... I prefer 9.5" to 10".

[jingle_jangle]

Left yourself wide open on that one, Aitch...

[jingle_jangle]

Congrats on your new Anniversary Strat RI, Paul. They are fantastic looking guitars, with a great sound and feel.
I recently bought a '57 Strat USA RI like yours (not anniversary ,though I thought about it). It’s a 2007 model except It has a two-tone sunburst finish with the same white guard, aged pickup covers and knobs, Amber nitro neck, vintage headstock decal, G&G Tweed case and all case candy.
I had a $350.00 credit to use at the dealer, so I got it at a good price. It's Brand New.
Here’s the issue:
I've had many Strats, and am hanging on to an EC Custom Shop '05 model - a beauty and a great player.
So, I decide to sell the new '57 RI and guess what? No takers, not even at $1179.00, the actual price I paid! It's a beautiful guitar and I just don't get it. I've sold over a dozen guitars on Ebay in the last 2 years (some that I should have kept) but I can't understand why nobody wants this Strat.
Any thoughts people?

PS: It's still for sale.

Market is waaaay soft right now. Too many Strats out there. It's gotta be really special in some way. And sunbursts are just all over the place, too. Keep it out there long enough and you'll find a buyer, or keep it for trading stock.

[rick36]

Should have got the anniversary, I guess. Maybe I'll have some cute chick pose with it in a Bikini (could be costly, though)...
The Clapton Strat has the 9 1/2 " Radius - plays like Butta'. It's a Keeper!

[brianeharmonjr]

Any thoughts people?

Too high a price for the market, I'd say. Even though that's a good deal on one in pretty much mint condition, it seems they're going right at $1k most of the time, and sunburst ones are not hard to come by. Maybe if you lowered your asking price just a bit, or catch somebody at just the right time. It's really hit or miss on ebay sales, and the market overall seems to be a bit down. Us Ric users get kinda spoiled on resale value. It's not the same in the vast majority of other brands.

[rick36]

I think that the Ric market is more than a little over inflated now (good for us Ric owners).
Re the 57 Sunburst, I listed it on ebay for $ 1049.00. It sold in less than one day.
Then I went & bought a new LP Junior "Billy Armstrong" signature model w/"H" 90 pickup (Nice Guitar) the same day for exactly the same price - go figure! Thanks for all of your input.
Being creative & flexible is the only way to survive the economic mess we're in...

[wj350]

Here’s the issue:
I've had many Strats, and am hanging on to an EC Custom Shop '05 model - a beauty and a great player.
So, I decide to sell the new '57 RI and guess what? No takers, not even at $1179.00, the actual price I paid! It's a beautiful guitar and I just don't get it. I've sold over a dozen guitars on Ebay in the last 2 years (some that I should have kept) but I can't understand why nobody wants this Strat.
Any thoughts people?

PS: It's still for sale.

Just did a look at recent completed auctions on the 'bay for same/similar guitars to yours. I just took 7 examples and averaged them, the average result coming in a little over $1K. The high price was $1250, so I don't think your asking price was outrageous, it's just as others have suggested there's a lot of them available. I advised another forum member trying to sell a couple Fenders along the same lines a couple weeks ago--there's a market, but it's not in the seller's favor at the moment. I just took a similar hit on a Fender amp I sold recently.

Good luck though, sounds like a beautiful Strat.

Bill

[1965]

I just got one too. I'm not a generally into strats, but this one is amazing. Sounds incredible and it's got the most comfortable neck profile I've ever put my hand around.

[ozover50]

Congrats, Wes! If you're coming down to SoCal '08 by any chance, smuggle it in!!

Saw an interesting one on eBay last week. A Clapton Strat..... 7up green! If the seller wasn't such an arrogant pig when he responded to a question from me I might have been interested.

Went for $2K plus...........

[leftyguitars]

I've never known the wind change direction so quickly. I'm going to eat hay with the donkeys now!

[wmthor]

Saw an interesting one on eBay last week. A Clapton Strat..... 7up green! If the seller wasn't such an arrogant pig when he responded to a question from me I might have been interested.

I remember seeing a left-handed 7up green Clapton Strat a while back. I liked the way it played, but just couldn't pull the trigger on it because of the finish. However, had I bought it, I would not have been able to afford this '61 NOS.



BTW Peter, the next time you're over here, you're welcome to test drive it or any of my other guitars.

[tennis_nick]

I can't stand the strat I have now... something about the shape doesn't feel right, as I'm SO accustomed to my SG. Maybe if I bought a lefty and flipped it....