Used prices!

TeleMaster · September 2023

I bought a Custom Shop Telecaster new in 2017 for I believe about £2200. I swapped the tuners out, put compensated saddles on it and played something like 50 gigs with it, and played it at home every day for about 18 months. As a result of this it had a couple of fret dresses and had lots of wear. For some reason I stopped playing it and bought something else and sold it to someone pay for it and almost instantly regretted it. They said they'd sell it back to me if they were going to move it on but didn't. There was some shoddy DIY done on the guitar and a bodged repair and unfortunately it was sold on.

Now I see it's up for sale on ebay with a well known shop, double plus more of the price I sold it for, in completely used, gigged and worn condition, and about 70% more of the price that it was new. It is a 5-6 year old guitar.

It is a completely used and worn guitar. It has the aftermarket tuners I put on it, it has the after market saddles I put on it, none of the original parts are included and there is no mention of the (minor) repair, saddles yet still the price is much higher than it was when it was new, just a few years ago.

I know about the market, I know people can list for whatever they want, but when new Fender Custom Shop are not that much more, how does it make sense to sell a battered guitar with repairs and aftermarket parts for nearly double the original price?

I guess I see this everywhere but this one seems to be an extreme case to me because I personally know its history. How can a guitar like this be worth the price of a brand new guitar by the same company, same style today?

DefaultM · September 2023

Is it likely to sell for that price though? Have others?

floeighty2 · September 2023

When I’ve seen this happen to me I just think ‘you know what, I sold it for what I wanted, the shop are a bit crazy and I feel a little bit bad for the next person, but it’s their money to spend’.

I do agree that used prices are very, very odd. GuitarGuitar have confused me no end with their second hand deals. A used Gibson ES 335 for £50 less than new? Or how about a second hand Gretsch Power Jet which has a neck break being sold for the same price as one they had the week before without any damage? Odd. Agreed. No use making yourself bothered about it all.

TeleMaster · September 2023

DefaultM said:

Is it likely to sell for that price though? Have others?

Hmm I don't know mate. It's somewhat unique but it's battered so I don't know how it could be worth nearly new CS prices. If I was being reasonable, considering today's prices £2100 would be a good price, but not nearly £3500. It's mad.

TeleMaster · September 2023

floeighty2 said:

When I’ve seen this happen to me I just think ‘you know what, I sold it for what I wanted, the shop are a bit crazy and I feel a little bit bad for the next person, but it’s their money to spend’.

I do agree that used prices are very, very odd. GuitarGuitar have confused me no end with their second hand deals. A used Gibson ES 335 for £50 less than new? Or how about a second hand Gretsch Power Jet which has a neck break being sold for the same price as one they had the week before without any damage? Odd. Agreed. No use making yourself bothered about it all.

Well I guess I sold it and regretted it but that's my problem. I just don't see how it can be worth that. Yea these prices are mad!

ditchboy · September 2023

I had a disagreement with a shop about a year ago about a used acoustic. Selling it for £400 more than the RRP. Nothing particularly collectible about it but a lovely guitar nonetheless. He tried to explain to me that when you buy a house you never sell it for less than what you paid for it for so that’s why it was priced the way it was. Needless to say it still hasn’t sold and I lost £15k on a house sale in the meantime.

TeleMaster · September 2023

ditchboy said:

I had a disagreement with a shop about a year ago about a used acoustic. Selling it for £400 more than the RRP. Nothing particularly collectible about it but a lovely guitar nonetheless. He tried to explain to me that when you buy a house you never sell it for less than what you paid for it for so that’s why it was priced the way it was. Needless to say it still hasn’t sold and I lost £15k on a house sale in the meantime.

Yea the guy probably bought it at current prices and is refusing to lose money on it. You can understand that, but it was probably a bad deal for him in the first place.

Your house? Blame Liz Truss & Co.

MSedg · September 2023

The market’s absolutely mad. There’s an acoustic I bought from new then sold which has been on for a few months at one of the larger retailers (not a bedroom one) for £400 more than new rrp. Who would sensibly buy it for that?

theatreanchor · September 2023

I’m going to very broadly suggest that the market caters for the less experienced, emotionally malleable player who perhaps has more money than sense: one who can easily be sold a series of missives that might influence their decision.

I’ve walked out of many guitar shops in utter disbelief at the prices for sub par instruments. But there are plenty of folk who will pay more than they should - perhaps in the hope that a more expensive guitar with ‘mojo’ makes them a better player.

‘It’s a competitive world,’ I recall someone saying.

thermionic · September 2023

ditchboy said:

I had a disagreement with a shop about a year ago about a used acoustic. Selling it for £400 more than the RRP. Nothing particularly collectible about it but a lovely guitar nonetheless. He tried to explain to me that when you buy a house you never sell it for less than what you paid for it for so that’s why it was priced the way it was. Needless to say it still hasn’t sold and I lost £15k on a house sale in the meantime.

Used guitars should be like used cars, not houses.

chrisj1602 · September 2023

In general, used asking prices are ridiculous. I’m seeing 90-95% of new prices on loads of used pedals and guitars I’ve been looking at.

Fishboy7 · September 2023

I don't think anyone's paying 3.5k for a used custom shop. You can get a really nice new one for that...

https://www.peachguitars.com/fender-custom-shop-55-tele-journeyman-relic-super-faded-aged-copper.htm

https://www.peachguitars.com/fender-custom-shop-ltd-tomatillo-tele-journeyman-relic-natural-blonde.htm?opt=37983

Norlin4life · September 2023

TeleMaster said:

ditchboy said:

I had a disagreement with a shop about a year ago about a used acoustic. Selling it for £400 more than the RRP. Nothing particularly collectible about it but a lovely guitar nonetheless. He tried to explain to me that when you buy a house you never sell it for less than what you paid for it for so that’s why it was priced the way it was. Needless to say it still hasn’t sold and I lost £15k on a house sale in the meantime.

Yea the guy probably bought it at current prices and is refusing to lose money on it. You can understand that, but it was probably a bad deal for him in the first place.

Your house? Blame Liz Truss & Co.

Used prices have dropped I presume, as all the shops seem to have perpetual sales atm, so I don't think that sort of price is remotely realistic. £2300-2500 (private sale) seems about right for a normal CS tele, and as you say, less for one in the condition you specify.

TeleMaster · September 2023

Norlin4life said:

TeleMaster said:

ditchboy said:

I had a disagreement with a shop about a year ago about a used acoustic. Selling it for £400 more than the RRP. Nothing particularly collectible about it but a lovely guitar nonetheless. He tried to explain to me that when you buy a house you never sell it for less than what you paid for it for so that’s why it was priced the way it was. Needless to say it still hasn’t sold and I lost £15k on a house sale in the meantime.

Yea the guy probably bought it at current prices and is refusing to lose money on it. You can understand that, but it was probably a bad deal for him in the first place.

Your house? Blame Liz Truss & Co.

Used prices have dropped I presume, as all the shops seem to have perpetual sales atm, so I don't think that sort of price is remotely realistic. £2300-2500 (private sale) seems about right for a normal CS tele, and as you say, less for one in the condition you specify.

I think a bit more than that is fine but it depends on the condition, the guitar etc. But nearly £3500 for a battered, repaired guitar with after market parts that cost £2200 a few years ago is mind blowing.

Sassafras · September 2023

The house price analogy is ridiculous.
Houses, art and items of rarity are the only things that increase in value - and then not always.

Gilly · September 2023

It’s pointless dwelling on it. There’s quite a few bits of gear I sold a few years ago that are now going for about twice what I sold them for. My mistake for selling. C’est la vie.

Litterick · September 2023

The market is transparent so, in theory, nobody would want to pay that price. In practice, some people are fools.

TeleMaster · September 2023

Gilly said:

It’s pointless dwelling on it. There’s quite a few bits of gear I sold a few years ago that are now going for about twice what I sold them for. My mistake for selling. C’est la vie.

It's nothing to do with that. It's the huge uptick in prices for gear, disregarding the actual condition of the guitar.

Gilly · September 2023

I’m not sure I’m following you. If prices of all gear have gone up massively then even used gear in poor condition will seem expensive compared to a few years ago. Although even accounting for that this guitar does seems way overpriced.

PAL · September 2023

It's inflation . I'm sure most people would like to get more for their guitar than what they paid for it. We are responsible
for this situation claiming guitars of certain years are better than others or the neck isn't just as we want it when in truth
older guitars were inconsistent and the better ones were few and far between ! So now you get many companies using
this as a way to charge more for their guitars and amps !
I was playing guitar in the 1960s and like everyone else you played what you can get your hands on guitar and amp wise
because choice was limited but that didn't stop many musicians making good music.
We are to ready to go down the rabbit hole searching for something that will make us sound better or make things easier
but in reality you can only do what you can do regardless of what guitar or amp you have.
We as guitarists could change this but we don't we just fuel the situation so are the ones to blame.
Another example is mobile phones every time you see an advert they are telling you the camera is better but as we know
not everyone can take good photos. Car ads do the same thing they talk about connectivity and stuff far removed from
what the car is. The thing is all these items do the same thing they all offer the " Limited Edition " and people fall for it.
So back to high priced guitars. If you feel something is over price just pass on it as there is always something else out there
that will be more acceptable pricewise. Have a listen to Danny Kirwin of Fleetwood Mac when he joined the band he just
Played a Watkins Rapier guitar but he sounded great because the sound and feel was in his head and his hands and there
were many other guitarist who did the same. If we didn't buy what we think we must have then we wouldn't have to pay
prices which we cause to become inflated.

TeleMaster · September 2023

Gilly said:

I’m not sure I’m following you. If prices of all gear have gone up massively then even used gear in poor condition will seem expensive compared to a few years ago. Although even accounting for that this guitar does seems way overpriced.

Yea all of that I'm in agreement with, it's the audacity to try and hop onto this with damaged and worn gear, at 70% new prices that I'm trying to comes to terms with.

Fiftyshadesofjay · September 2023

Any idiot can buy a guitar and re-list at a ridiculous price. It doesn’t mean for a second that’s what it will sell for.

bgmartinsbridge · September 2023

It's tough isn't it.

I sold a 1967 smuggler tele to a guy on here with the ask that if it was sold I would get first refusal.

He traded it a month or so later, with another guitar, for a 1963 stratocaster.

I tried for two years to get it back but the new guy with the smuggler tele wanted almost two thousand more than I'd got for it.

The 1963 strat is probably worth double now what it was worth back then.

And the smuggler tele is probably worth double too.

Sadly prices have gone through the absolute roof in the last four years - dealers are asking stupid money but prices do look like they're coming down.

As someone said, dealers can ask what they want but it doesn't mean they'll get it.

hollywoodrox · September 2023

theatreanchor said:

I’m going to very broadly suggest that the market caters for the less experienced, emotionally malleable player who perhaps has more money than sense: one who can easily be sold a series of missives that might influence their decision.

I’ve walked out of many guitar shops in utter disbelief at the prices for sub par instruments. But there are plenty of folk who will pay more than they should - perhaps in the hope that a more expensive guitar with ‘mojo’ makes them a better player.

‘It’s a competitive world,’ I recall someone saying.

The turning point of a career in Korea being insincere

jeztone2 · September 2023

I bought a CS Strat in February for £3600. Gear4Music now lists the exact same spec guitar for £1000 more. Now I suspect it’ll be discounted at some point. But they are cranking new prices. Same for luxury watches & handbags.

https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Fender-Custom-Shop-1960-Relic-Stratocaster-Tahitian-Coral/474N?origin=product-ads&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0vWnBhC6ARIsAJpJM6f-cYye-0a_zhLQULyUzvXanZ7PyhCVJH5FDY9BEMraSBBFk5GOJ_QaAiIlEALw_wcB

thermionic · September 2023

Litterick said:

The market is transparent so, in theory, nobody would want to pay that price. In practice, some people are fools.

That’s the bedroom dealer business model - stick it on ebay and a fool will turn up some time between 6-18 months.

Svartmetall · September 2023

Like the guy who had a Mexican Hendrix Strat on Ebay with a BiN price of £1,800 and a START price of £1,200...

bloomer · September 2023

I wonder if there'll ever be a thread on here about how unbelievably low guitar prices are

stickyfiddle · September 2023

Masterbuilts are now 10k+ and Team Builds are 4.5k+. So whether those prices make any sense to the average player, it's not surprising that people want 3k plus for used ones.

FWIW I'd much rather buy a used guitar that has had the shit played out of it night after night and some sensible mods. Those are usually the best instruments.

That said, bedroom dealers with tonnes of overpriced stock are going be left holding the bag when the market drops, which I'm pretty sure it already is since the overall cost of living (and cost of credit..) is so much higher than it was 3 years ago.

TeleMaster · September 2023

I sent them a message, saying oh just so you know these are the mods and the history and they sent me an offer for £3k

tony99 · September 2023

stickyfiddle said:

Masterbuilts are now 10k+ and Team Builds are 4.5k+. So whether those prices make any sense to the average player, it's not surprising that people want 3k plus for used ones.

FWIW I'd much rather buy a used guitar that has had the shit played out of it night after night and some sensible mods. Those are usually the best instruments.

That said, bedroom dealers with tonnes of overpriced stock are going be left holding the bag when the market drops, which I'm pretty sure it already is since the overall cost of living (and cost of credit..) is so much higher than it was 3 years ago.

Last paragraph: I do agree but I thought it would have happened much more suddenly than it is; this cost of living has been squeezing for some time now. I reckon a lot of bedroom dealers could be perfectly happy "holding the bag" if they have somewhere to keep their stock.

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