View Full Version : I noticed Vintage Guitar Prices down on Gruhn
shawntp
12-04-2008, 02:25 PM
I was looking at quite a few vintage strats (with some issues) on the gruhn website (and others) back in the spring.
I just jumped on today and noticed many of the prices on the very same guitars are a lot lower now 9 months later. Some stuff that was 15-18G is 12.5G and one that was 25G is 20G.
....Just found it interesting
slipbeer
12-04-2008, 03:58 PM
My wife has actually given me the thumbs up on buying somethng old if prices drop to semi-reasonable levels.
I just don't think things have dropped that far yet. When the % drop catches up to the % drop I've seen on my 401k's, then I think I'll get serious.
loudboy
12-04-2008, 04:04 PM
It's the ones like that (with issues) that will take the biggest hit. They were over-inflated, IMHO.
The bona fide, all-original 50s-60s Gibson and Fender pieces will probably hold, or at least be the last to drop.
Glide
12-04-2008, 04:27 PM
....Just found it interesting
You'll also probably find it still not selling too.
:D
hackenfort
12-04-2008, 04:27 PM
I hope they come down again, back in the early 80's mid 50's strat were just hitting the 1K mark, mid 90's they were 3K - I sold my 56 in 98 for ~3600 and thought I made a killing.
I find it rather crazy when I see someone asking 10X that today.
What an investment!
SEEGERMANY
12-04-2008, 04:27 PM
It's the ones like that (with issues) that will take the biggest hit. They were over-inflated,
Exactly. A turd is a turd no matter what year it was pooped!
Kingbeegtrs
12-04-2008, 04:28 PM
At the Arlington show a few months ago there were pre-CBS strats in very good condition for less than 15K....and they weren't selling. There was a whole lot of trading going on, but the cash was like a ghost.
sundaypunch
12-04-2008, 04:37 PM
The other thing I notice is that Gruhn has FIVE bursts for sale. That would have been unheard of a short time ago. I'm guessing that most are consigned by people hoping to cash out for top dollar as they witness falling prices.
Many Burst fanatics argue that they are so rare that they aren't being impacted by the current economy. I don't believe it for a second, especially when there are five to choose from at a single dealer.
jtm622
12-04-2008, 05:39 PM
The other thing I notice is that Gruhn has FIVE bursts for sale. That would have been unheard of a short time ago. I'm guessing that most are consigned by people hoping to cash out for top dollar as they witness falling prices.
Many Burst fanatics argue that they are so rare that they aren't being impacted by the current economy. I don't believe it for a second, especially when there are five to choose from at a single dealer.
Bursts are now clearance priced at $185K to $350K??? Heh-heh-heh-heh...
Ain't gonna happen... Remember: those were bought as "investments"; and we all know what has happened to everyone's "investments" recently.
It's kind of like the exotic car market was 15 years ago - exotic cars bought as "investments" in '92 for $100K were bringing < $50K in '93...
If you had money invested in something like a Ferrari 512BB, it was "Good Bye, Pork-Pie Hat" to that cash...
NuSkoolTone
12-04-2008, 05:45 PM
Could also be every year more of the people who actually care about those guitars die off. :Devil
I remember being at the Arlington show in '03, where they had a few bursts.
One was $110k, and a really flamey one was $180k, I believe - much flamier than any of the ones at Gruhns now.
Say you had three guys with the capital to buy a burst then.
One says "I can't gamble like that, I'm buying a house".
Another says "Screw it, I'm putting it in the stock market".
The third guy buys the burst.
Say they all cash out today.
:cool:
At least one of them has a place to live; even if they all have potentially illiquid assets of variable value / worth!
:)
jtm622
12-04-2008, 06:29 PM
I remember being at the Arlington show in '03, where they had a few bursts.
One was $110k, and a really flamey one was $180k, I believe - much flamier than any of the ones at Gruhns now.
Say you had three guys with the capital to buy a burst then.
One says "I can't gamble like that, I'm buying a house".
Another says "Screw it, I'm putting it in the stock market".
The third guy buys the burst.
Say they all cash out today.
:cool:
Well, I dunno, the last I heard - the "third guy" was still looking for a buyer...
Not if the asking price is right.
If Gruhn announced that the $350k burst would be available for $200k for this weekend only, it would be gone by Monday.
If that were the burst that guy number three paid, say, $140k for in '03, he'd still be showing a nice profit.
GA19RVT
12-04-2008, 06:47 PM
It's the ones like that (with issues) that will take the biggest hit. They were over-inflated, IMHO.
The bona fide, all-original 50s-60s Gibson and Fender pieces will probably hold, or at least be the last to drop.
Gibson, yes. Fender, no. Pre-CBS fender is nosediving. Golden Era Gibson is staying put.
Bones
12-04-2008, 07:01 PM
I can not wait until the number of known authenticated bursts exceeeds the number that was actually made. I will laugh my ass off and i hope I live long enough to see the day.
nitehawk55
12-04-2008, 08:02 PM
It's a fact of life that values of collectables will drop and also become more avaialable when the economy makes a turn south . Hopefully things will not go bad and I'm not wishing it on anyone but if the economy tanks and you are in good shape $$ wise there will be some great buys come available in everything considered collectable from guitars to cars and everything in between .
Glide
12-04-2008, 08:22 PM
...if the economy tanks...
You are kidding aren't you, Rip Van Winkle?
nitehawk55
12-04-2008, 09:12 PM
You are kidding aren't you, Rip Van Winkle?
Believe me it can and might get a lot worse , I hope not .
UndergroundVint
12-04-2008, 11:08 PM
Golden era Gibsons have collapsed plenty already. 50's goldtops, Juniors, Specials, Customs especially. Good news is they won't go down any further, they'll just hold for a while. Their prices were overly inflated anyway so they're where they should be.
And for what its worth, Gruhn's online prices dont mean a thing. He hasn't influenced the market in 20 years.
muzikman7
12-05-2008, 12:46 AM
In the current issue of the Vintage Guitar Magazine, George writes that sales of all vintage guitars/basses are slow but the acoustic guitars are still selling. Its only going to get worse, few guys I know are buying vintage any more.
personally i think the vintage acoustics are criminally undervalued, even taking in consideration the current market conditions. i shake my head when i look at the 09 VG guide and see that D28s and J45s lost value in the guide from last year, when i think they should be double from even last year's prices in actual worth. think about it - a banner J45? a brazilian D28? and you're telling me a pre-fab electric slab has more cultural importance and quality of construction? if anything i think the depression-era feel of the times should remind folks of how acoustics can help ya strum past the blues...
crosse79
12-05-2008, 01:13 AM
Like any other things - guitars will be hit. Nothing has been able to find holding power nowadays.
hackenfort
12-05-2008, 06:17 AM
I can not wait until the number of known authenticated bursts exceeeds the number that was actually made. I will laugh my ass off and i hope I live long enough to see the day.
I wouldn't be shocked if this was happening with Vintage Strat & Tele's already. Last show I was at, most "orig clean" ones were not "right"
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