Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hoping someone here might know the value of this JOHN 5 AUTOGRAPHED STRAT.

I've never even heard of John 5!

A friend of mine asked me to sell it for him on Ebay but I thought I'd ask here if anyone knows an approximate value?

It is in BRAND NEW CONDITION. The guitar doesn't have a mark on it, the case has a few minor blemishes. He won this guitar in some kind of FENDER CONTEST and he has all the documentation from Fender.

He tells me it is a PRE-PRODUCTION MODEL, not the mass produced version. It's from the USA CUSTOM SHOP and it was made side by side with the custom ordered version by John 5.

He had to pay taxes on an estimated value of $5500.00 dollars when he originally won the guitar in 2003. That's what FENDER states its worth, but that was retail and possibly inflated? Any thoughts?

I can send additional pictures if anyone would like. I just don't have a clue what this would go for.

Thank you all in advance, I'd really appreciate any help you could offer.

John 5 is a "nu-metal" dude. He has played with Marilyn Manson, David Lee Roth, Rob Zombie, Garbage, & KD Lang (?!) among others.

His current project is a band called Loser.
He's not my cup o' tea, but apparently the kids like him.



...the only reason I know this is that the label I work for was involved in the Loser project.

That's a Tele, not a Strat.....

Chris:

Thanks!

I must be getting OLD.........

David:

Thanks for the correction, I obvously don't know ANYTHING about guitars...

Strange looking dude!

If you were to put that Tele up on Ebay with a full explanation and an opening bid of about $1200.00, you might see some action. BUT without a letter from Fender Custom Shop attesting to its pre-production status, it won't really go anywhere.

Chances of getting that letter?

Zilch.

BUT--If you've already got that letter, you're in like Flynn!!!

I agree about documentation; does your friend have any of the documentation about the contest itself? Was the contest advertised in one of the guitar-based magazines?

John 5 is an incredible musician. I didn't pay much attention to him or his fanfare in all the guitar mags until I heard his recent solo albums. Holy ****. His solo work isn't all about shred, there's quite a bit of country picking and jazz work in there.

He is from the Detroit area and got in with DLR by sending him a few songs in the mail. Next thing you know, Dave is flying him out and they are making a record together. Good for him!

He's a really soft spoken & incredibly nice guy. Not what you'd expect from the image in that Fender ad!

Thanks everyone for all the responses.

UPDATE:

Some of the promotional materials are included with the bass. He has a 1040/1099? from FENDER with the value of $5333.00 +/- "somewhere in the house". It is documented on his tax return for 2003.

He also has the name of the Fender employee who he was in contact with during the "winning" process. He had some paperwork that he had to fill out and send BACK TO FENDER. He is going to try to contact this fellow and see if he can get copies of the forms he had sent back.

Would the serial number indicate it is a PRE PRODUCTION MODEL?

I know Ebay can be a fickle place, if I do list it, I don't want to give it away and I know RESERVE auctions usually chase people away. Anyone have any experience with EBAY LIVE? Would that be a better venue to list it on than just the standard Ebay auction? How about INTERNATIONAL bidders? Pro's/con's?

Thanks Again!
Tony

personally, i'd stick a reserve on it that i think it would be worth then start it at one dollar.