I was wandering around the internet this morning and found myself on Gruhns guitar website. I noticed a lot of reduced prices on vintage guitars but some are still SO high, I had to laugh. Even the reductions are totally out of reach, at least for me. We're talking house prices here!
There were 3 '59 Les Pauls'
1 marked down from $275,000 to $235,000
1 marked down from $265,000 to $245,000
1 marked down from $350,000 to $325,000 - it had more flame
With the economy expected to get worse before it gets better, how low do you think they'll go?
I'm never going to own one of these but it's interesting to watch.
How low will they go
Re: How low will they go
That's pretty funny when they have a "sale" on '59 Les Pauls, the price drops over $30,000 
Still, even in a bad economy twice as bad as today----I don't think we'll ever see Bursts going for less than $200,000. People don't even consider the fact that they are guitars anymore. They've achieved a nearly mythical status, and are considered a modern work of art, yadda yadda...
Investors will swoop in on them if they go any lower, I'm sure. Remember--at the peak of their collectibility (well, more like when more people could afford them), mint flamey examples were at a half million (the highest paid, I believe, was indeed just over a half million).
Still, even in a bad economy twice as bad as today----I don't think we'll ever see Bursts going for less than $200,000. People don't even consider the fact that they are guitars anymore. They've achieved a nearly mythical status, and are considered a modern work of art, yadda yadda...
Investors will swoop in on them if they go any lower, I'm sure. Remember--at the peak of their collectibility (well, more like when more people could afford them), mint flamey examples were at a half million (the highest paid, I believe, was indeed just over a half million).
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8mileshigher
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Re: How low will they go
I think an interesting offshoot of your inquiry in general is: do any RRFers actually know people who drop six digits for buying vintage guitars 
Maybe if some buyer is a billionare, the seller dropping from 250k to 225k will spark their buying ??? I dunno. Most of us are worried about our homes and the declining values because of foreclosures in the neighborhood in these tough economic times 
I have seen several dealers displaying vintage/rare Strats and LPs (at some of these travelling guitar shows), with six-digit price tags... but I never saw them actually selling one. But there must be a market for them...
Rich F.
Maybe if some buyer is a billionare, the seller dropping from 250k to 225k will spark their buying ??? I dunno. Most of us are worried about our homes and the declining values because of foreclosures in the neighborhood in these tough economic times I have seen several dealers displaying vintage/rare Strats and LPs (at some of these travelling guitar shows), with six-digit price tags... but I never saw them actually selling one. But there must be a market for them...
Rich F.
Re: How low will they go
I don't know anybody dropping 6 figures on a guitar.
That's because the people I know are musicians, players, and enthusiasts not investors.
They were the market for those expensive guitars. Sure, some big collectors also got into the game, but just like real estate and stocks and anything else of fluctuating value, more people were buying when they were "on the up" with apparently no ceiling.
Post "crash" there are always opportunists who will jump and and buy knowing that prices will climb again. I can't see why these would be any different, except the interesting part will be to wait and see how low they will go before people want to buy them again.
That's because the people I know are musicians, players, and enthusiasts not investors.
They were the market for those expensive guitars. Sure, some big collectors also got into the game, but just like real estate and stocks and anything else of fluctuating value, more people were buying when they were "on the up" with apparently no ceiling.
Post "crash" there are always opportunists who will jump and and buy knowing that prices will climb again. I can't see why these would be any different, except the interesting part will be to wait and see how low they will go before people want to buy them again.
Re: How low will they go
I don't know anyone paying this kind of cash for a guitar either.
Dave's guitar is also marking down some of their vintage stuff on their website.
It will be interesting to watch.
Dave's guitar is also marking down some of their vintage stuff on their website.
It will be interesting to watch.