How to sell a vintage instrument?

[dbeeman]

I have a '61 ES-345 that was rewired to 335 specs in 1980.
With the price of vintage instruments, I am thinking to have it put back to original (I still have the parts) and sell it.

What is the best way to do this? Anyone have actual experience along these lines?

[CDaughtry]

Actually,
I don't think the re-wiring hurts the value of it one bit. I would actually consider it an advantage. They sound much better that way.
Go over to the Les Paul Forum. Those guys are nuts for vintage Gibsons over there.
Good luck!:AOK

[shuie]

+1. Just be aware that there are a couple of apologists for this horrid device over there that are not going to understand why you didn't just buy a 335 in the '80s

[snarkle]

Originally Posted by dbeeman

I have a '61 ES-345 that was rewired to 335 specs in 1980.
With the price of vintage instruments, I am thinking to have it put back to original (I still have the parts) and sell it.

What is the best way to do this?

Leave it as it is, do some research online, settle on a price...and send me an e-mail with some pics! I'm in the market...

[megatonic]

Talk to my friend Chuck at www.maharsvintageguitars.com . Tell him Aaron from Soundsource referred you. He can probably advise you.

[Jerrod]

Other thoughts... be relentless with the details in the description and in photodocumenting the instrument. Don't detail anything you don't know, and don't speculate... just list everything you're certain of. Try to research any holes in your knowledge, if you can. Let the photos speak to verify what you've said and to fill in any blanks for an educated buyer. Be prepared to get less than what you hope for... buying a vintage guitar is easy, but selling one is a pain in the ass. Good luck.

[doc]

You could also consign it through a reputable dealer known for dealing vintage gear - with something pricey I'd probably take it down to Gruhns, but then I live close to Nashville. I don't know who might be in your area. You might not make as much that way, but the risk of being ripped off (bad check, cased by a robber, etc.) is less. You could Ebay it, but I'd be nervous with a pricey vintage piece.

[Smakutus]

Originally Posted by doc

You could also consign it through a reputable dealer known for dealing vintage gear - with something pricey I'd probably take it down to Gruhns, but then I live close to Nashville. I don't know who might be in your area. You might not make as much that way, but the risk of being ripped off (bad check, cased by a robber, etc.) is less. You could Ebay it, but I'd be nervous with a pricey vintage piece.

Research what other guitars like this (Year, colour, condition..) are going for both on Ebay and the asking prices at online music stores. Put it on Ebay with a low starting price, no reserve, and a lot of good photos. If people really want it you will get a wayy better price than consigning it with any store. And if your price isn't high enough with just over 12 hours to go close the auction and relist it with a reserve you have to get for it and go from there. You get one shot to make as much money on it as you can why share it with George Gruhn?

If you can get the guitar wired back to original I'd do that too..

Jeff

[kludge]

Originally Posted by doc

You could also consign it through a reputable dealer known for dealing vintage gear - with something pricey I'd probably take it down to Gruhns, but then I live close to Nashville. I don't know who might be in your area. You might not make as much that way, but the risk of being ripped off (bad check, cased by a robber, etc.) is less. You could Ebay it, but I'd be nervous with a pricey vintage piece.

+1. Unless you are already well-tied to the market, your best bets for getting top dollar are well-known vintage shops, and Ebay... and with Ebay, well, you takes your chances. Dealers like Gruhn and Elderly (or in my case, Willie's American Guitars in St Paul) have established relationships with deep-pockets collectors who, might, you know, be looking for another '61 ES-345 in that particular color to complete their collection...

Advice from earlier applies as well, too. Photodocument everything about the guitar; write down its known history (when you bought it, who was the previous owner, any repairs, etc) in the most gory detail you can imagine. Collectors can be extremely specific about requirements and very touchy about particulars you would care nothing about. If any previous owners were ever ANYONE, make note of that... maybe some guy out there is trying to gather up all the guitars ever owned by obscure bluesman Blind Harry Palms or something.

Yes, a high-end vintage shop will be taking a good-sized commission on the sale. But remember, they have market access. A lot of the best, richest collectors don't trust Ebay at all (and for good reason - vintage buyers get burned much more than vintage sellers). And if they can get 1/3 more out of it than you could, that 20% commission doesn't look so bad, right?

[Smakutus]

Originally Posted by kludge

A lot of the best, richest collectors don't trust Ebay at all (and for good reason - vintage buyers get burned much more than vintage sellers).

Sounds like music store BS to me.. But then what else can they say? Don't for a second think that Gruhn's big buyers aren't watching Ebay everyday. For every one that wouldn't buy on Ebay but are just checking prices, there may be ten or twenty who will.

If the guitar has enough photos and everything looks right, you'll get your money for it and maybe more than you'd think..

Jeff

[tkozal]

not BS at all, very true in my experience.......ebay for past prices only

[shuie]

A lot of collectors are not going to pay top dollar for anything thats been modified at all. They may not be interested in a modified guitar at any price.

If you want the most money for it, take a lot of good pictures, do an over the top writeup using all of the tonal buzzwords and adjectives you can find on forums like this or in other ebay ads and list it on ebay.

Or, just list it here. This post is probably enough to interest a few people that would pay a fair price for it.