1958 or 59 J-50 price?

[Juice-Squeezer]

what would a better than fair market price be on a 58 or 59 J50 in good condition. hairline crack in headstock, signatures carved in the body with a pocket knife, non-original case etc..

[Ocelot]

Is it an adjustable bridge or fixed? $2000? Carved signatures ain't good.

[Juice-Squeezer]

says it's bill monroe's signature??

[Tuberoast]

Pictures would help. I owned a 58 J-50, sold it for 2800 in 2010, but in your case pictures would help evaluate the extent of the disfiguring. The hairline crack is scary as well.

[Ocelot]

Originally Posted by Juice-Squeezer

says it's bill monroe's??

Well, that changes things, doesn't it? Of course, if it's, say, Don Dokken, then I stick with my estimate. The bridge, adjustable or not, influences value pretty significantly with J-45/J-50s of this era. Is it otherwise original: bridge plate, tuners, pickguard, finish (no overspray), any cracks? Repaired? Professionally or otherwise? How 'hairline' is the crack on the headstock? A LOT of things go into assigning a 'value' to a vintage acoustic.

[Juice-Squeezer]

no monroe's signature.

[Aaron Smith]

It is not going to be valuable to collectors, so don't pay collector money. Its value should correspond with its value as a player guitar- probably in the range of a new J-45, unless is has incredible tone that's way beyond the new ones (which is actually possible).