Help me choose! I know, this is what many of us live for here at LTG.

[Westerly Wood]

Agreed! I actually think the J-50 for $5,200 is even crazier. Then again, I see such a range on Reverb for similar guitars. I'm sure we have all seen the Reverb ads asking double what the market is at and they sit for years. I was looking at one where the guitar had been listed for 3 years. Perhaps that seller is just hoping for a big payday with some ignorant buyer, but you'd think a guitar shop would need to move stuff out to make room for newer stuff.

"honey, I tried to sell it, I swear..."

 

[Guildedagain]

You need a sonic weapon like this, strung with .54 bottom Martin Retro Monel, an archback, Spruce top, but it's not the same Spruce as the earlier 70's guitars, a flippin canon it was.

'78 D25M

 

[Rayk]

I know I can adjust by EQing it, so maybe I should worry less. Trying first would be ideal. There is a local shop that has a '68 Gibson J-50 that sounds great ($5,200) a '72 martin D-18 that sounds great ($3,200), and a '68 Guild D-25 ($1,795, needs a reset for sure). While the tone is nice, it's remarkably not loud for a dread -- the tech there thought the low saddle and high action was part of the issue. Looking for something older locally is just so hit or miss.

Is the 68 d25 a dories top ? I can’t remember for sure if was a a hog at all ?

So many guitars aren’t made to be loud or should I say a cannon . Is that what you’re looking for is volume ?

 

[E-Type]

Is the 68 d25 a dories top ? I can’t remember for sure if was a a hog at all ?

So many guitars aren’t made to be loud or should I say a cannon . Is that what you’re looking for is volume ?

If I am going to amplify it, then, no it does not need to be loud. It may be hard to describe, but I have definitely played guitars that seem dead or lifeless. That is not necessarily highly correlated with volume, but I don't know how else to describe it.

 

[Br1ck]

We are living in a crazy world for sure. Asking 50s prices for a late 60s Gibson is nuts too. Like the market for 70s Strats, things just don't make sense. A three bolt 70s strat with five times too much paint and icepick pickups is no deal at any price. My dream guitar is a mid 60s D 18. Poor sounding examples are going for $6k. I have only played two or three I'd pay that for, which is why I just bought my Santa Cruz D P/W. So much better than an average D 18. It was hard to give up the dream......for about ten minutes. When I bought my Texan ten years ago now, the poor sounding 60s J 45s were $2800. I paid $3400 for my Texan. The store knew how much better it was.

It wasn't that long ago you could buy a 75 D 25 for $500-600, spend $800 on it and only be $400 underwater on it. A perfectly reasonable thing to do IMHO. But having over $2K in one? I don't know. The last D 35 I saw, it was a 70, was $1600 all fixed up and ready to go. Ten years ago, the shop would not have bothered with it. Right now a 70s Martin post neck reset is going for about the same as a new one. That is a worthy decision, because patina and old wood do tick my boxes. But I made my bed with the Santa Cruz.

 

[adorshki]

I know I can adjust by EQing it, so maybe I should worry less. Trying first would be ideal. There is a local shop that has a '68 Gibson J-50 that sounds great ($5,200) a '72 martin D-18 that sounds great ($3,200), and a '68 Guild D-25 ($1,795, needs a reset for sure). While the tone is nice, it's remarkably not loud for a dread -- the tech there thought the low saddle and high action was part of the issue. Looking for something older locally is just so hit or miss.

A '68 has a 'hog top which aren't as loud or bright as spruce.

I was looking at one where the guitar had been listed for 3 years. Perhaps that seller is just hoping for a big payday with some ignorant buyer, but you'd think a guitar shop would need to move stuff out to make room for newer stuff.

Indeed any business needs to look at that, but the real point is whether the $ tied up in that piece would be making money if it was being used elsewhere. Sales are frequently based on inventory "aging" for too long, which means an opportunity to use the money elsewhere on hopefully more profitable items is being lost.

There's also the "halo effect" wherein an item of unusual rarity or desirability serves as "draw" for customers to browse inventory which creates more sales opportunities. One of our local independents had the #1 50th Anniversary D55 up on their website for over 10 years with a constantly rising and way over-market price. They actually had a showroom full of collectible pieces, some of which weren't even actually for sale although they displayed prices, for insurance reasons I'd guess.

That Guild did finally sell a couple of years ago although final selling price on $8995.00 asked wasn't revealed. I assume the owner decided whatever he got justified the years of use as a "draw display" and the "frozen"inventory $'s.

 

[Neal]

Just a few points here.

Asking price is almost never selling price. The market may appear inflated due to over-ambitious asking prices for guitars that are not worthy of that distinction.

I still am able to find bargains within all the noise. Patience is key. The guitar of interest will rarely be in as good a shape as advertised. It will usually need at least a bit of work.

Always be prepared to walk away. And always be prepared to offer what the guitar is truly worth to you.

Case in point. I have always wanted a Gretsch Country Gentleman 6122-59. Chet Atkins‘ favorite guitar.

I found one within 60 miles of my house. Made the drive. Played it, and the angels sang. Price was $500 too steep. Prepared to walk away, and the seller knocked $500 off of his asking price. He knew how much it was really worth, and so did I. The deal got done.

 

[Rayk]

If I am going to amplify it, then, no it does not need to be loud. It may be hard to describe, but I have definitely played guitars that seem dead or lifeless. That is not necessarily highly correlated with volume, but I don't know how else to describe it.

We tend to stay away from dead and lifeless guitars . Lol are playing out live in a band or just around the house etc ?

 

[Br1ck]

One of my main shops told me the older guitars just aren't walking through the door like they used to. 70s the new 60s, etc. They are firm on price which is pretty much top dollar. They had a 60 LG 0, plastic bridge and all for $1600. 60 LG 2 pushing $6K. People still want them.

 

[twocorgis]

Mahogany body would be good, but I think a maple body could do the trick, too (F-47M, JF-30).

And there you go! <shameless plug> Buy my DCE3.

 

[E-Type]

You need a sonic weapon like this, strung with .54 bottom Martin Retro Monel, an archback, Spruce top, but it's not the same Spruce as the earlier 70's guitars, a flippin canon it was.

'78 D25M

I have a '74 D-25, and it is indeed awesome. A second wouldn't be the worst idea, but I think I'd like to expand the arsenal.

 

[E-Type]

We tend to stay away from dead and lifeless guitars . Lol are playing out live in a band or just around the house etc ?

After practicing weekly, we are about to make the jump to playing out in front of real people. Of the group, i am the only one who hasn't done that before.

 

[E-Type]

And there you go! <shameless plug> Buy my DCE3.

I was hoping the link was to your D40T! I hate to admit to my shallowness, but I can't do a cutaway (since I cannot play an acoustic that far up the neck anyway)!

 

[Brick]

You need a s Spruce top, but it's not the same Spruce as the earlier 70's guitars, a flippin canon it was.

You just described my '79 D-25

 

[Stagefright]

Richard69 has a Guild D35 for sale on reverb that is worth looking into. 1979 spruce and mahogany, Shaller tuners, given a clean bill of health by Tom Jacobs. It would be hard to go wrong. I owned the guitar for 20+ years and it is a great instrument for background work. The tuners make it a "set it and forget it" musical companion.

 

[twocorgis]

I was hoping the link was to your D40T! I hate to admit to my shallowness, but I can't do a cutaway (since I cannot play an acoustic that far up the neck anyway)!

Well, the cutaway will still be there when you can!

 

[adorshki]

Well, the cutaway will still be there when you can!

And it'll look cool the whole time, too.