Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I was wondering if anyone here has had any experience with the International Vintage Guitar Collectors Association or IVGCA? There website is www.ivgca.com and they appear to be based in Illinois.

They are set up this week at a local hotel buying instruments. I did a Google search and it appears they have several teams doing this around the country. They claim to have a network of thousands of collectors ready to buy vintage and modern gear, including Rickenbackers, on the spot. I had never heard of them before and am curious if anyone here has dealt with them.

I saw this on the news earlier this week. I wanted to go but didn't have the time due to a car repair.

Ken, you didn't miss much.

I went to the hotel to check things out and saw several people waiting to get offers on their instruments and other gear. There were tables set up in a conference room with several representatives going back and forth between laptop computers, phones, and the instrument's owners. There was also a "manager" helping to facilitate things. I saw a few people walk out with checks but it appeared that most left with the stuff they brought in.

Based upon the link, this seems to be the same sort of thing that is seen involving silver jewelry and gold. Also has the feel of a more systemized method of running the old ads that say, "old guitars wanted--cash paid!", in hopes of scoring that Loar Gibson or prewar Martin for a song. This is common practice among antique "dealers", mostly in small towns and rural areas. They offer "appraisals" and hope to make a score.

Back in the early '70s, a guy went door-to-door in my parents' old neighborhood, offering cash on the spot for Lionel trains. My Mom sold all of my Lionel stuff (a LOT--I'd been collecting it for 15 years at the time, but had stored it at her place) for a ridiculously low sum.

The name of this "organization" is a dupe intended to convey a false impression of size and credibility. That alone would keep me at home.

Kevin & Paul thanks for the info. Now I feel better that I didn't go.

[quote="jingle_jangle"]Back in the early '70s, a guy went door-to-door in my parents' old neighborhood, offering cash on the spot for Lionel trains. My Mom sold all of my Lionel stuff (a LOT--I'd been collecting it for 15 years at the time, but had stored it at her place) for a ridiculously low sum. [quote]

Ouch, as a train collector and modeler that story hurts but I have heard it a lot over the years. We all have stories of when our parents got rid of our things after we moved out. There are two solutions here: take it all with you or never move out!