Who would buy a celebrity-signed guitar?

[Vedt]

So my mother-in-law gave me a no-name Chinese Strat signed by Hank Williams Jr. for my birthday. Comes with authentication papers and all, so it's legit. Problem is, I would LOVE to just sell it and use the money to by another guitar or amp that I could actually use.

So who buys these kinds of guitars? Are there well-known retailers that would at leave give me an idea of what they'd pay?

Now, whether or not I take the chance of offending my in-laws is another decision...

[gtrdaddy]

I would put it on E-Bay with a reserve that would make you happy, and then start posting links to it in fan forums like hankville.com!

http://www.hankville.com/hank/viewforum.php?f=3

[Lucky one]

Someone will buy it but as far as adding any value to the instrument, don't count on it.
To me signatures lessen the value unless they are on the back of the headstock and even there would not add 1 cent. The most the guitar is worth is the actual value of an identical unsigned one.
There may be a few exceptions (like Hank Sr.) that might add a small premium but they are few.

[EADGBE]

Yeah put it on eBay and see.

[HoboMan]

You could also check with a local restaurant or music club.
Maybe they would buy it to hang on their wall.

[Vedt]

You could also check with a local restaurant or music club.
Maybe they would buy it to hang on their wall.

Yeah, this could be a good option. I'm living in a 1-bedroom apartment right now, and don't have anywhere to hang it.

[Vedt]

Someone will buy it but as far as adding any value to the instrument, don't count on it.
To me signatures lessen the value unless they are on the back of the headstock and even there would not add 1 cent. The most the guitar is worth is the actual value of an identical unsigned one.
There may be a few exceptions (like Hank Sr.) that might add a small premium but they are few.

This is what I feared, because I think she paid in excess of $1,000 for the guitar. Charity auction, so she got caught up in the bidding process.

[SG_Seth]

I once saw a squire signed by earth wind and fire go for $1600 at a charity auction. I know it was for a good cause, but sheesh!

[brianetics]

Funny story: Old band member of mine's dad "surprised" him with a Peter Frampton signed Gibson LP Studio, which he then scrubbed the signature off of and sold because it de-valued the guitar. Frampton does not come alive.

[vortexxxx]

Signatures on the back of the headstock would be cool if the guitar belonged to someone famous and he/she signed it. If it had signatures from other musicians it can look tacky.

[RocksOff]

Where is it signed? On the body, neck, or pickguard?

[jape]

Someplace like this place would be perfect:

http://www.celebritycasinos.com/

They have a room with several guitars that are exactly what you describe, all on display in light boxes. I assume this isn't the only place like this, I'm sure there are others.

I'm sure you can find someone who wants it. IMO - the big question is whether you want to risk upsetting the in-laws.

[josuwa]

I would buy signature guitars if they had cool features but I don't want the guitar itself to be signed :s

[stormin1155]

So who buys these kinds of guitars?


So far nobody has addressed this part of your question, so I'll give it a shot. Apparently well-meaning mother-in-laws are one of the target markets for celebrity-signed cheap guitars. They give them to their guitar-playing son-in-laws in hopes that said son-in-law will be so thrilled he will buy his wife and mother-in-law expensive gifts in return.

Another target market is husbands wishing to get points with their star-struck wives. A guy I know got bought a Squier signed by Bret Michaels for his wife who has a slight incontinence problem every time a Poison song comes on the radio, and she keeps it in a glass case in a special room and burns candles in front of it.

[jo2012]

I own a guitar signed by three celebrities. Joe Bonamassa, Seymour Duncan, and Bruce Kulick. It's a Squier Affinity Strat but it's worth a lot with the signatures.

[RICFREAK]

I would buy them if I like their styles and of course if my pocket allows.
Here are some signature guitars, some with signatures at the back of the headstocks.

http://i39.tinypic.com/fbe252.jpg

Mr Les Paul and Gutherie Govan is not in pic.;)

[19181911]

If anyone is interested there is a David Archuletta and an Alabama autographed guitars at a local pawnshop.

[artguy47]

[QUOTE=RICFREAK;12812112]I would buy them if I like their styles and of course if my pocket allows.
Here are some signature guitars, some with signatures at the back of the headstocks.

http://i39.tinypic.com/fbe252.jpg

Mr Les Paul and Gutherie Govan is not in pic.;)[/QUOTE

WOW! Went to your site, still amazed. Congratulations on your huge collection.

[straycat113]

It all depends on who signed it! I was at the Philly guitar show two years ago and a dealer had two identical Strats, one signed one not. The unsigned one he wanted 2K for the signed one which was signed by Jeff Beck and SRV from when they toured had a price of 11K.

Beck, Clapton and Vanhalen are three of about ten guys who could sign one of my guitars wherever they wanted.

For the original OP I would just hold onto it as it was a gift and most likely I would believe your inlays would feel offended.

[Lukeling]

I own a guitar signed by three celebrities. Joe Bonamassa, Seymour Duncan, and Bruce Kulick. It's a Squier Affinity Strat but it's worth a lot with the signatures.

Put it in a vault. :p

[Patrick2]

If somebody writes on one of my guitars . . . we're gonna fight!!!

[19181911]

Just keep the autographed pickguard and put it on a good guitar the same color as the gift guitar, problem solved.

By the way, are ALL of those autographed pickgaurds on ebay real or forgeries?

[19181911]

I've only seen one autographed guitar that impressed me (many of you in the Denver area have probably seen it)... There is a guy that has been going to concerts at the Red Rocks Amphitheater for years that has a strat autographed by most of the artist that have played there.

[guitarz1972]

OP, I get your dilemma but there's no way the amount of money you'd get for it would be worth the drama.

Regardless of how many thousands of bucks you could easily get for it (yeah right lol), I also believe you are quite possibly incurring bad feelings FROM FAMILY (the worst kind of "bad feelings") if MIL or perhaps even MIL's daughter (!!) finds out you dumped the gift for some other materialistic stuff you like better. I think it's best just accept your MIL's "gift," keep it cased in the closet, forget all about it except for an occasional "thank you again" at holiday gatherings, and move on with life.

That said, I'm glad it's your "gift" and not mine. Yuck. :)

[sergiodeblanc]

I would buy them if I like their styles and of course if my pocket allows.
Here are some signature guitars, some with signatures at the back of the headstocks.

http://i39.tinypic.com/fbe252.jpg

Mr Les Paul and Gutherie Govan is not in pic.;)

Yoko Ono has a purple sig? :p

[jrmgtrplyr]

I would consider a guitar with a signature depending on who it was and the type of guitar. I really don't like it but yeah, if I can get a signed Jimmy Page Les Paul I am gonna take it, or something like it. Signed guitars really only hold value for me if it is a guitar the person played or at least the right model or an artist model with their signature. I hate the signatures of players on guitars they would have never played. I went to a radio guitar give away and they were giving away First Act guitars with artist signatures - yeah it was cool because they were give aways, but really I lost all interest when none of the signatures where on models even close to what any of the players played.

As far as the gift, maybe just think of it as art and not a guitar and just pretend she gave you a signed poster. Put it up on the wall and keep peace with the inlaws. Explaining the "I sold that piece of crap guitar" to get something I could really play no matter how gentle you put it is still getting rid of a gift and may hurt feelings. I also think time is part of the equation if you decide to get rid of it. If she just gave it to you and I think you probably got a couple years to hold onto it before you can dump it without being the ungrateful son in law.

[sixstringslut]

You know that horror flick where the gigantic fire-breathing-monster with the horns and...that will be your MIL when you sell this guitar.

I have always believed it is immoral to sell a gift regardless of value. IMO she is setting you up, be prepared to give it back (hopefully many years down the road).
At least wait until they both die ( Hank Jr and MIL).

[taez555]

I just don't get the cheapo guitars with a signature. It's one thing if it's the artists model or something, but a cheap squire signed by the band or musician almost devalue's both imo. At least if they signed a cocktail napkin you could frame it. Instead you've got a junk guitar, that you'd normally be ashamed to show people you own if weren't for the signature. What do you do with it? Frame it in one of those big plexi cases? It almost might be worth more to litterly cut the signature out and use that as your keepsake or something.

Of course...

That being said, I do own one guitar with a signature myself... :-)

http://www.erikzmusic.com/washburn-n4.jpg
http://www.erikzmusic.com/washburn-n4-headstocks.jpg

http://www.erikzmusic.com/washburnn4.html

But in this case it was a N4 built specifically for and owned by Nuno, so... I'd like to think that's one of the few exceptions to the rule. Not that I'm selling it any time in the near or distant future, but I would think the signature would add to the overall mojo and value of a rarer instrument in this case.

[treeofpain]

First of all, any time somebody gives you a guitar, that's a nice thing. :-)

Second, it's better to think of the Hank Junior guitar as a $1000 gift to the charity, which offered a thank-you gift in return. That gift was passed on to you. Better than a subscription to Woman's Day magazine, right?

As far as selling it, I agree with the others that it is not worth much, and it's certainly not worth creating bad vibes with the family. If the MIL had bought an original 1959 Les Paul at a yard sale and given it to you, it would be easier to justify selling (and sharing the profits, of course). But this - no way.

[stevieboy]

If it was Hank Sr...

I wouldn't buy a guitar for a signature myself, but some people are really into autographs and such, whatever turns you on. If I happened to meet BB King or Otis Rush and I had a guitar with me, a very unlikely combination of circumstance, I might get an autograph on it, an autograph that I got myself would be way more interesting than one I bought. Maybe not though, I've never had any interest in autographs, I'd rather just get a picture of me with them that makes it look like they're my best friend. I'd post in on TGP.

[laughingsam]

ASG Anti-Custom Bleeding Through Signature Guitar - SIGNATURES of band members. NEVER been played.

I'm asking $600 for it but willing to accept offers, I know there are very few of these and maybe none that have never been played. So, when I say offers, I do not mean lower. I am going give this a few days to see what the interest is.


'a few days' has been a few months... and dude's not budging on the price one iota! lol

i guess if you're really into this band, maybe (signature series, with band sigs), but to think anyone is going to pay $150 more than the same guitar is easily found online for just because it's got sigs, well, not sure i buy that....

(and apparently, no one else around here does, either...)

[mannish]

I found a strat I liked many years ago but it had Cheap Trick Rick Nielsen autographs on it and apparently it would not come off. I don't see the purpose of autographs and would prefer to not have one on the guitar......In the neck pocket would be ok

[jerrycampbell]

My Gatton Telecaster has Danny's signature in the neck pocket.
Any thoughts on whether or not this would affect value?

[cardamonfrost]

You never know, if you find the right person... I have a Languedoc clone (Equator), but I would never consider letting Trey sign it, even if he asked to...

C

[Turbozag]

I have a Tele with a signed pickguard.
The entire band of Cheap Trick has signed it.
I got it when I worked at RS and we were doing a guitar for Tom Petersen.
I figure they will be voted intom the R&R HOF someday...
Might be of some value.... I don't play the Tele. Just hang it on the wall.
Not because it's signed. Because I don't like the guitar much...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7186/6893878308_4a760bb61e_b.jpg

[Mike Duncan]

My Dick Dale Strat has been signed five or so times since '96 by Dick.

My SRV Strat has Jimmie Vaughan's signature on the back of the head.

My DGT has both David Grissom (headstock) and Paul Smith's (control cavity) signatures.

I don't really care what anyone else thinks, I'm fookin' happy as a clam with my stuff.

[jo2012]

Put it in a vault. :p

Is it really worth that much? I know Seymour D. never signs anything, but really?

[stevieboy]

You never know, if you find the right person... I have a Languedoc clone (Equator), but I would never consider letting Trey sign it, even if he asked to...

C

How about if someone who looked like Trey asked to sign it?

[raymeedc]

You may be sitting on a goldmine there. I seem to recall an interview with Hank Williams Senior going on about how much he liked his new (at the time, of course) no name Chinese Strat so much that he was intending to sign it & eventually pass it on to his son. If I find the article, I'll send it to you for authentification purposes.