What would an Ibanez GB 15 signed by G Benson be worth?

[Yossi]

A friend of my daughter has a NOS Ibanez GB 15 that she received from Ibanez @ 2 years ago, for designing the logo that is used. The guitar is maroon and is signed by George Benson. She asked me what it would be worth. Does anyone have a good idea of its value and sale price.

[Yossi]

Does George Benson's signature make a guitar more valuable?

[AaeCee]

I doubt it. To some (me for example), it would make the guitar less appealing. Now a signature like Hendrix (on a white strat of course)......different story!

[walterw]

well, that is a $3000 guitar, and the signature model of the signing artist in question. i doubt it would de-value it.

it's not like don henley (to name a random famous non-guitar player) signing a squier strat to hang on the wall at the hard rock cafe or something.

[jtm622]

A Signature model having a personal autograph from the guy who's signature model it is has gotta be worth more to a collector...
I mean, think about it - an autographed "Slash" signature model LP costs a frigging fortune... :)

[Yossi]

It looks like a very nice guitar. Would Gruhns Guitars be the best place to have it evaluated for resale value? I checked on eBay and there haven't been any sales of this model that I could refer to.

[karma1]

I've been seeing a Benson-signed GB15 on the local Craig's List for the last few weeks. Maybe it's the same one. Those guitars (non-signed) usually go for around $1500 - $2000 used. I can't really say how much the signature would add to the price of this guitar.

I can say that a good friend of mine has one and it is one of the nicest guitars I've ever played. After playing my usual Strats and Tele's and picking that thing up, was like going from driving a Camaro to getting behind the wheel of a Ferrarri. Very sweet guitar - wish I could afford one.

[musicman1]

I think it would be hard to quantify any additional value to the gtr except that this gtr was signed by the actual artist it was made/designed for. I also think the where and how large the signature is might be of issue. Most players dont want the sig to be in the way of the right arm or on the pickguard. Behind the peghead is a good out of the way place for a small artist sig. On solidbodies, control or trem covers make a good place for a sig. I think that this gtr, in good condition would still sell for the going used rate or just slightly above. A collector might be interested in paying more than a player but a collector usually likes to see a large sig on the pickguard or body. Either way I dont see the gtr being worth any less than usual because GB signed it.

[Yossi]

Thanks, that is an impressive review. After that maybe I should make this person an offer.

[MartinPiana]

Gruhn seems to be the standard for getting estimates and I've gotten one from them myself. Their estimates sometimes seem to be on the higher end of likely sales prices. You might also ask them if they'd buy it outright and for how much. A more likely sales price might be between those two...

[daddyo]

Same as a non-autographed GB15-$1500-$2000.
Every concert there are fans lined up holding pickguards and guitars and CDs, etc all getting them signed. So what.