Did I Waste My Money?

[Don]

Something I've noticed since joining this jolly group of rogues is that whenever someone asks what a guitar might be worth, the answer almost never includes reference to the Blue Book of Acoustic/Electric Guitars. I'm a gun collector and the Blue Book of Gun values is indispensable to that hobby. Not so here? Or is it something all of us have but none of us admit to each other?

So, what is my Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars worth?

Cheers!

Don

 

[Brad Little]

I have often used both the Blue Book and the Vintage Guitar Price Guide in responding to questions about pricing. For example, check out my second response in this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=23303
I frequently refer to it myself when thinking about bidding or purchasing another guitar.
Brad

 

[fronobulax]

So, what is my Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars worth?

About $10.

When asked for price advice, most LTGers who have an opinion based upon evidence, are using eBay and CL, dealer listings and local shops as the source. There is a perception that Blue Book prices are not realistic because they are dated and often represent a retail sale from dealer to consumer. However there are folks who quote from it.

I note that some discussions get personal. What did I sell one for? What would I ask for if I sold mine? What would I pay for your? and so on.

eBay does not allow firearms to be sold. That suggests a Blue Book of Guns will be much more useful than one for guitars or any other item eBay does sell.

I would certainly be interested in what the Blue Book says but it probably would not effect anything unless I used it as ammunition to get a seller to lower a price.

When I started seriously collecting books there was no price guide. Every bookstore was an adventure and the same title would be available at widely differing prices at stores blocks away. Then a price guide was published and gradually everybody priced their stock at the price guide or higher.

 

[FNG]

The Blue Book is way too low on guitars I own, and way too high on guitars I want to buy. :wink: :lol:

 

[frankieb]

The Blue Book is way too low on guitars I own, and way too high on guitars I want to buy. :wink: :lol:

By far this is the best line I have read all day :lol:

 

[Bill Ashton]

My personal opinion is that the "Blue Book" used to be OK, but since the younger nephew or grandson took it over it is really lacking in a lot of areas...which makes me wonder about its Guild accuracy. As luck would have it, the young man is now recognized as some sort of "expert" by one magazine...

 

[Don]

I believe the elder Fjestad still handles the Blue Book of Guns. Pity about the guitar books. Oh well, no shortage of opinions around here. I guess I'll keep you.

 

[tjmangum]

Regarding prices, whether it be guns or guitars, I just came across a quote that made me laugh out loud. It goes like this:

"I pray that when I'm gone my wife doesn't sell my ___________ for what I told her I paid for them."
Terry

 

[Don]

I favor this one...

"Whoever dies with the most toys wins!"

 

[Bill Ashton]

Don, you didn't get it quite right:

"Whoever dies with the best toys wins..."

:lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[killdeer43]

I referred someone to the Blue Book, 11th Edition, right here in the past couple of days.
The Blue Book should never be considered the word, but it's certainly packed with enough info to make it a handy reference guide, and worth the cover price.

Joe

 

[fronobulax]

And it should be noted that, in the absence of Volume II from Hans, the Blue Book is often a source for models, specs and production dates. The information might not be quite right but it is all in one place and a place to start.

 

[evenkeel]

When talking abour price I've referenced the Vintage Price Guide. But, I've also noted that the price estimates on VPG, tend to be "better" when dealing with guitars that have lot of selling activity. Since the used market for Guilds is relatively small, the data is not going to be as useful.

 

[capnjuan]

So, what is my Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars worth?

About $10.

Hi Don; for the most part, Frono is correct ... :wink:

It's a useful reference book on the thousands of acoustic guitars made by hundreds of manufacturers. There are some errors in it but considering how many makers, models, and years of production it tries to cover, getting each and every itty bitty detail right is too high a standard.

It's also likely that they arrive at their suggested values by surveying dealers ... not by tracking raw market data; eBay transactions and asking prices on CL, in web-stores, and in bricks-and-sticks dealers.

It does provide dealers with a seller-tilted generic pricing baseline and, if the idea of artificially pushing up prices seems offensive, in fairness to them it also provides some way to make sure they're not asking too little for a guitar they aren't familiar with.

1. If you're working with a Blue Book-oriented dealer, his guitar that you want to buy will be 'excellent' but the one you want to trade-in will be 'average'.
2. After they take your guitar in on trade, your guitar will automatically be 'excellent' the next day. :wink:

 

[Dadaist]

What we have to remember is that both the Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars and the Vintage Guitar Price Guide, are, as it says on the cover of the VG book....just guides

The prices aren't cast in concrete, as you've got a lot of variables to consider when it comes to purchasing vintage guitars. A good example is the most recent VG Guide, which lumps all of the Guild GV limited editions, GV-52s, GV-70s, GV-72s, together...gives a very brief description (they spend more ink describing the D-15)....and say almost in passing that they're worth between a low of $925 to a high of $1150. Anyone out there got a GV-72, mint, they want to let go for $1150? Anyone? I'm buying....

It seems that a percentage of the first time questions on LTG deal with what is my guitar worth, though lately some of the more interesting ones are worded as if it's a genuine inquiry and not a free appraisal service.... until you get to the end of the post and the Guy says,"....I'm thinking about selling my........" . Then you realize that it sounds more like a pre-sales pitch to a captive audience...but if it's something rare.....or unusual, ...all of a sudden it's okay.

If you think you spent too much for a guitar....yeah, you probably did. But unlike a lot of decisions you make....this one isn't irreversible.....you can always sell it and buy something else. One that's prettier, nicer or cheaper and if you can accomplish all three in the same transaction.....that's a good buy.

David

 

[Bikerdoc]

Blue Books make me blue.

Peace

 

[killdeer43]

Blue Books make me blue.

Peace

And like Willie said (sang), "Sad songs and waltzes aren't selling this year."

Take care of yourself, Doc. :wink:

Joe

 

[adorshki]

"What's it worth?" comes up all the time in the collector car auction market. The only 100% accurate answer is: "Whatever it leaves the block for that day". Same with guitars. 8)

 

[West R Lee]

"What's it worth?" comes up all the time in the collector car auction market. The only 100% accurate answer is: "Whatever it leaves the block for that day". Same with guitars. 8)

Hear here!

West

 

[wontox]

Yeah, values of collectibles/instruments are erratic. In 1989, a small Philbrook/Payne trout reel sold at auction for over $14,000. Nobody knew if there were more than a few. Since then, many more have come out of attics and they can be had now for about $4,000 (Yours truly once sold a fishing reel for $7,500, but let go a ‘61 mint Gibson 335 sunburst for $475 in ‘75, which was $100 more than I paid for it. ). Mint ‘59 Gibson Les Pauls in highly figured sunburst have dropped precipitously from about half a mil five years ago to around $350,000. Guitars are one collectible where information as to quantities help keep prices somewhat stable.

I don’t know what the holy grails of Guild are...what’ s the most sought-after and hardest to find?

Wontox