Guitar Flipping (No stunt content)

[Boxnix]

I just flipped my first guitar. I pretty much sat at my computer staring at ebay and craigslist for a week, drove 100 miles, did about 2 hours of work on the guitar, shipped it to freakin CROATIA and made $50.

Am I missing something? Are there really people who make money doing this?

Guitar was a PRS CE 22.

[loudboy]

Ah, but you'll make it up in volume!

[enocaster]

Try Pedals!
Easy and cheap to ship, fun to try, and not too hard to make $20-$100 profit for very little work.

[rybass]

I flipped guitars and equipment through college and you really have to look for the great deals. I never messed with any guitar that wouldn't get more more than $100. Fenders are the easiest as you can part them out if they are good models and make a killing.

Pedals are easy. Make $30 or more and it keeps it fun.

Amps are beasts especially vintage ones. I never put the money in to get them fixed if they showed up with issues. I would just tell the honest truth about the amp in the auction but mark it up high. Most of the time I eventually found a buyer.

Don't go upgrading pups or bridges or electronics. The time and money you put in will not make much of a difference in the final auction. If the guitar shows up with minor electrical issues the majority of the time I could get more money for it b/c tweakers want a project. Best advice I can give are lots of pictures with lots of details. It can be fun and a good way to try out loads of gear.

[Boxnix]

Any ideas where to look for deals? Craigslist and ebay are so heavily picked over, even during business hours.

[enocaster]

Timing and persistence!
Craigslist is the best for deals – you have to check several locations (I check the 4 closest regions) and refresh very often. Keep plenty of cash on you and be willing to drop whatever you're doing to go get the deal before anyone else does. A few weeks ago I left work suddenly and drove over an hour to buy a broken Wurlitzer 200 electric piano for $45. $100 to my repair guy and I have a keyboard that will sell for $800-$1000, ONLY because I refreshed CL every 20 minutes (I'm on the computer anyway at work, it's easy to hit ctrl-R on a tiny window). I got my '68 Tele for $900 the same way.

Also check ebay for auctions that are "Just Listed", you can find great BIN's. The Emporiums here will have some deals. In the time I was typing this, an ad could have been posted, item sold for cheap, and the ad been deleted on TGP, CL, etc.

[rybass]

There are a couple websites you can get that will auto alert you to keywords on CL. A buddy of mine uses them for cars and boats but I haven't gotten back into flipping so I can't speak for them myself.

In the past week I missed a Squier protone for $150 and a 59 Duo-Sonic + 59 amp for $150 b/c I waited to jump on them. You really have to be ready to move at the drop of a hat.

When searching ebay don't search too specifically. Search for "Fender guitar" or "antique amp". Some people have no clue how to sell effectively and just do a quick general listing to move stuff out.

Pawn shops are good places to keep an eye out. Especially the old ones where they may not be using ebay to check their items. I wouldn't try and be buddy buddy with the staff b/c they will figure out what you are up to and cut you off.
I walked into an old pawn shop here a couple years ago and they had a late 70's strat hanging on the wall. It had been stripped, decent job of it, other than the logo was damaged on the headstock. The guy wasn't sure it was real but b/c I had done my research and knew fenders well I had no doubt. I walked out of there with it for $400. I parted it out and sold the body and neck for $400 each and kept the pups for my personal stash.

It takes time but that is part of the fun of it. When you're on vacation hit pawn shops and antique malls out of town. Watch for yard sales and thrift stores. You honestly never know but be educated on prices and specs b/c it's easy to get burned when you are excited
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