Surely this price is not unreasonable

BintyTwanger77 · September 2023

I’m really struggling to see what the issue is. Is it just the used market as a whole right now?

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/245061/price-drop-can-post-fs-maybe-ft-1994-epiphone-casino-w-vintage-gibson-usa-p90s/p3

As the advert says, the vintage pickups and covers on their own are worth £500, and looking at other Peerless Epis from around the same time with stock pickups, I don’t think this is an unreasonable price. I paid a good chunk more for it from a shop and starting to feel like it was overpriced, but surely £1k is not overpriced for this considering the value of the hardware.

RaymondLin · September 2023

The thing I've learned with any mods, whether it is guitar or cars....it does not add value to the buyer. You can't put Guitar + cost of hardware if bought separately = selling price.

Well, you can, but it is not going to sell.

Best to remove the pick-ups, and sell those separately.

WezV · September 2023

Upgrades rarely add value when it comes to reselling. Better to sell the pickups separately and put something closer to original spec in this

english_bob · September 2023

RaymondLin said:

The thing I've learned with any mods, whether it is guitar or cars....it does not add value to the buyer. You can't put Guitar + cost of hardware if bought separately = selling price.

Well, you can, but it is not going to sell.

Best to remove the pick-ups, and sell those separately.

This. A MIK Epiphone Casino is still a MIK Epiphone Casino, even with nicer pickups. Part them out.

RaymondLin · September 2023

When I got my Fender Roadworn with Custom Shop pickups (worth £235 new), I only paid £700 for the guitar. It even came with a hardcase (cheap tweed), when all other roadworn with stock pickups went for similar money.

stonevibe · September 2023

A grand for a used Epiphone is a lot of money, and I would say exactly what everyone else has said.

Sell the pickups separately.

BintyTwanger77 · September 2023

This doesn’t make sense. I could understand if they were Lollars or something else I could buy new now, but these are 50+ year old pickups that were made for one year only in 1971.

<ADMIN: Edited to remove potentially risky comment at poster's request>

Gilly · September 2023

They weren’t ripping you off because you freely chose to pay it. However it does seem like you overpaid for it, especially the way the market is going now.

GavRichList · September 2023

BintyTwanger77 said:

This doesn’t make sense. I could understand if they were Lollars or something else I could buy new now, but these are 50+ year old pickups that were made for one year only in 1971.

<ADMIN: Edited to remove potentially risky comment at poster's request>

something is only worth what the buyer will pay. All the above is true, and is true of anything (not just guitars). If you try and sell a house for significantly higher than any house on that street has ever sold before, you're going to struggle regardless of whether you put a swimming pool and a helipad in your 2up/2 down.

Part them out, and you'll make better money and sell more easily.

stonevibe · September 2023

BintyTwanger77 said:

This doesn’t make sense. I could understand if they were Lollars or something else I could buy new now, but these are 50+ year old pickups that were made for one year only in 1971.

<ADMIN: Edited to remove potentially risky comment at poster's request>

Short answer, yes.

Long drawn-out answer, the pickups will only have a small market, but if you need them then they add value to an original guitar without them, etc

An Epiphone from the '90s made in Korea will not currently be a super desirable guitar for many buyers. Purely, as there are a hell of a lot of them out there already.

I worked in a guitar store in the '90s and we sold these models consistently for years, so there are a lot of them already in the UK I would guess.

That and everyone wanted an Indie/Oasis/hollow or semi-hollow instrument for around £500 for about -5-6 years in that time period.

Post Grunge/Kurt shooting himself in the face and more Brit Pop was what the kids were buying.

munckee · September 2023

Basically you have an aston martin engine in a ford mondeo, so you are trying to find someone looking for specifically that combination which seriously narrows your market.

BintyTwanger77 · September 2023

Cost of new pickups and getting someone to install them would be in the region of £200, so selling the vintage pickups for £500 and the guitar for £500 would give me £800. A £600 loss.

Fuming that I could be so moronic and didn’t check. Fuck this.

stonevibe · September 2023

BintyTwanger77 said:

Cost of new pickups and getting someone to install them would be in the region of £200, so selling the vintage pickups for £500 and the guitar for £500 would give me £800. A £600 loss.

Fuming that I could be so moronic and didn’t check. Fuck this.

Hold onto it for another 10 years and hope for a 90s Indie revival.

Chalky · September 2023

Rarity sometimes equals value but most times it doesn't.

WezV · September 2023

BintyTwanger77 said:

This doesn’t make sense. I could understand if they were Lollars or something else I could buy new now, but these are 50+ year old pickups that were made for one year only in 1971.

<ADMIN: Edited to remove potentially risky comment at poster's request>

The pickups are quite desirable in themselves and may increase in value. The guitar isn't likely valuable to someone who wants those pickups. If someone really needs some they may pay the price and sell the Epi on... but its suddenly a very niche buyer you are targeting.

The other side of the market is someone looking for a 90's Epi casino. They have a price range in mind and these pickups push it above that

I don't think the shop ripped you off. The value f the 2 things together is realistically £1k+ on the second hand market so more than that in a shop... but finding a buyer to pay that for the combination is not going to be quick

steer · September 2023

I quite liked the thought of a Casino back when you could pick them up used for a couple of hundred quid. For a Grand though I would look elsewhere irrespective of what pups are installed.

mart · September 2023

english_bob said:

RaymondLin said:

The thing I've learned with any mods, whether it is guitar or cars....it does not add value to the buyer. You can't put Guitar + cost of hardware if bought separately = selling price.

Well, you can, but it is not going to sell.

Best to remove the pick-ups, and sell those separately.

This. A MIK Epiphone Casino is still a MIK Epiphone Casino, even with nicer pickups. Part them out.

Is it only Harley-Bentons that magically transform into Gibson Custom Shop instruments through a pickup change?

nero1701 · September 2023

People will struggle to pay the price for a Korean Epi when you can pick up gibson les paul juniors for £5-700 or Les Paul Classics for just over a grand.

lustycourtier · September 2023

BintyTwanger77 said:

This doesn’t make sense. I could understand if they were Lollars or something else I could buy new now, but these are 50+ year old pickups that were made for one year only in 1971.

<ADMIN: Edited to remove potentially risky comment at poster's request>

Yes, and no. It was overpriced, but you liked it. Sadly, you can buy a John Lennon Casino for £850-£950, which is a complete package and desirable as such. Best bet is to find a cheap set of pick ups and try to get out for £500 for the guitar and £300 for the pups or whatever.

Weve all been there.

Chalky · September 2023

I haven't sold a guitar since before the pandemic so I'm astounded at the high prices I've see here and on eBay! I must sell some...

WezV · September 2023

Unfortunately I think there is another issue that may not be helping this particular sale.

I was trying to figure out a fair price for it and went off to google. A quick search shows a past sale at a much cheaper price - I would say that is silly low price, but it was the first I found after your listings. What we don't know is when they had it for sale

https://ampguitars.com/product/epiphone-94-casino-gibson-71-p90s/

It's the same guitar even though your fretboard looks darker and body looks paler, the grain on the body is an exact match

The question now is when did you buy it, and when did AMP sell it?

Supportact · September 2023

BintyTwanger77 said:

Cost of new pickups and getting someone to install them would be in the region of £200, so selling the vintage pickups for £500 and the guitar for £500 would give me £800. A £600 loss.

Fuming that I could be so moronic and didn’t check. Fuck this.

Don't be too hard on yourself @BintyTwanger77. You bought a guitar based on how it played and sounded rather than researching its resale value. I'd probably have done the same if I loved the guitar and really wanted it.

Fishboy7 · September 2023

Sounds like it might be one to keep hold of if you're not desperate for the cash

guitars4you · September 2023

I can see where the seller is coming from when they say they've spent X hundred's of £'s on various upgrades - What they forgot is they have taken Y amount off as well, which will also have a value, albeit often lower - So there should be a net value upgrade and not a gross value upgrade

Upgrades will often make a guitar more desirable to many potential buyers, as it should improve the guitars tone/playability etc - But you won't get the back gross value of such parts - I don't think there is a guide line % of what value will/can be added, so common sense should come into play

theatreanchor · September 2023

We’ve all lost money on guitars and amps. I never expect to get back what I’ve spent. Pedals, maybe. Amps and guitars - nope.

BintyTwanger77 · September 2023

guitars4you said:

I can see where the seller is coming from when they say they've spent X hundred's of £'s on various upgrades - What they forgot is they have taken Y amount off as well, which will also have a value, albeit often lower - So there should be a net value upgrade and not a gross value upgrade

Upgrades will often make a guitar more desirable to many potential buyers, as it should improve the guitars tone/playability etc - But you won't get the back gross value of such parts - I don't think there is a guide line % of what value will/can be added, so common sense should come into play

I didn’t spend any money on the upgrades, the guitar came with the 50 year old pickups.

BintyTwanger77 · September 2023

WezV said:

Unfortunately I think there is another issue that may not be helping this particular sale.

I was trying to figure out a fair price for it and went off to google. A quick search shows a past sale at a much cheaper price - I would say that is silly low price, but it was the first I found after your listings. What we don't know is when they had it for sale

https://ampguitars.com/product/epiphone-94-casino-gibson-71-p90s/

It's the same guitar even though your fretboard looks darker and body looks paler, the grain on the body is an exact match

The question now is when did you buy it, and when did AMP sell it?

He sold in about 2016 and I bought it this year.

WezV · September 2023

BintyTwanger77 said:

WezV said:

Unfortunately I think there is another issue that may not be helping this particular sale.

I was trying to figure out a fair price for it and went off to google. A quick search shows a past sale at a much cheaper price - I would say that is silly low price, but it was the first I found after your listings. What we don't know is when they had it for sale

https://ampguitars.com/product/epiphone-94-casino-gibson-71-p90s/

It's the same guitar even though your fretboard looks darker and body looks paler, the grain on the body is an exact match

The question now is when did you buy it, and when did AMP sell it?

He sold in about 2016 and I bought it this year.

Not an unreasonable price increase in that time.

Unfortunately it is not helpful they still have it showing without a date, as that would give important context to the displayed low price

BintyTwanger77 · September 2023

Fishboy7 said:

Sounds like it might be one to keep hold of if you're not desperate for the cash

I’ve recently spent over £2k on an engagement ring….

GoldenEraGuitars · September 2023

I haven’t read the thread, only your opening post. But I’d return it to stock and re-list for £400-450.

BintyTwanger77 said:

Fishboy7 said:

Sounds like it might be one to keep hold of if you're not desperate for the cash

I’ve recently spent over £2k on an engagement ring….

Jesus!

RaymondLin · September 2023

BintyTwanger77 said:

guitars4you said:

I can see where the seller is coming from when they say they've spent X hundred's of £'s on various upgrades - What they forgot is they have taken Y amount off as well, which will also have a value, albeit often lower - So there should be a net value upgrade and not a gross value upgrade

Upgrades will often make a guitar more desirable to many potential buyers, as it should improve the guitars tone/playability etc - But you won't get the back gross value of such parts - I don't think there is a guide line % of what value will/can be added, so common sense should come into play

I didn’t spend any money on the upgrades, the guitar came with the 50 year old pickups.

Then you need to wait for another person went into this with your mindset, you might be waiting for quite a while.

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Surely this price is not unreasonable

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