Lookie what I just scored! - update - Keeping It!

[taabru45]

Re: Lookie what I just scored!

I was going to invite Treem to my birthday party this summer, but changed my mind...I'm sure he would spend the time bursting my balloons.... :lol: Steffan

 

[bluesypicky]

Re: Lookie what I just scored!

Congrats!
Can't wait to see the HB1-mod-version pics! :wink:

 

[GAD]

Re: Lookie what I just scored! - update - Stamped USED

Ugh - so I take it out and examine it, tune it up. Seems OK. Do an inspection and it's stamped "used" on the headstock.

I seem to remember this being a "fender dumped some factory seconds with no warranty" type thing. That right?

I'm pissed because this wasn't revealed before the sale. Assuming the guitar seems fine, how would you think this would affect the value, if at all?

Thanks,

GAD

 

[Thunderface]

Re: Lookie what I just scored! - update - Stamped USED

I'm pissed because this wasn't revealed before the sale. Assuming the guitar seems fine, how would you think this would affect the value, if at all?

I think you have every right to be pissed that they weren't more forthright in mentioning that it was stamped "USED." As for the value, I guess that would depend on how it sounds and plays. If it sounds and plays fine, then I don't think it should affect the value significantly. It's still a beautiful Bluesbird. Can you locate any obvious flaw that would have merited its being stamped "USED."

 

[adorshki]

Re: Lookie what I just scored! - update - Stamped USED

Assuming the guitar seems fine, how would you think this would affect the value, if at all?
GAD

It's worthless. Send me $25.00 and I'll arrange to get it hauled out to the compacter for you. Save you a big hassle.
Seriously though you're right, that's a BIG omission on the part of the seller. That stamp on the guitar will ALWAYS raise doubts in the minds of a prospective buyer, even though there's no warranty on a used instrument anyway.
I think this is another case where a forum-wide e-mail bombardment of the seller is justified. Along the lines of: "Is that guitar still available?" accompanied by insanely high offers... :lol:

 

[GAD]

Re: Lookie what I just scored! - update - Stamped USED

It's just gotten far, FAR worse. I'll update after the situation is resolved.

 

[adorshki]

Re: Lookie what I just scored! - update - Stamped USED

It's just gotten far, FAR worse. I'll update after the situation is resolved.

Uh-oh. PLEASE do. :x

 

[twocorgis]

Re: Lookie what I just scored! - update - Stamped USED

It's just gotten far, FAR worse. I'll update after the situation is resolved.

:shock: :shock: :shock:

Best of luck, GAD.

 

[Thunderface]

Re: Lookie what I just scored! - update - Stamped USED

It's just gotten far, FAR worse. I'll update after the situation is resolved.

That doesn't sound good.

 

[fab467]

Re: Lookie what I just scored! - update - Stamped USED

Ugh - so I take it out and examine it, tune it up. Seems OK. Do an inspection and it's stamped "used" on the headstock.
I seem to remember this being a "fender dumped some factory seconds with no warranty" type thing. That right?
I'm pissed because this wasn't revealed before the sale. Assuming the guitar seems fine, how would you think this would affect the value, if at all?
Thanks,
GAD

Sorry you got burned by another bottom feeder on/in the 'Bay...IMHO, the collectible value of this beautiful guitar will take a hit because of the "used" or "factory second" designation. Just how much is anybody's guess.

 

[dapmdave]

Re: Lookie what I just scored! - update - Stamped USED

It's just gotten far, FAR worse. I'll update after the situation is resolved.

:shock: :shock: :shock:

Best of luck, GAD.

Uh Oh. Don't like the sound of this.

Dave

 

[stclrob]

Re: Lookie what I just scored! - update - Stamped USED

It's just gotten far, FAR worse. I'll update after the situation is resolved.

 

[GAD]

Re: Lookie what I just scored! - update - Stamped USED

So the good news is that the guitar might NOT be stolen. Yes, you read that right.

When I first looked at the guitar in dim light, the "USED" stamp jumped out at me. When I went to take a picture, well, see for yourself:

I very calmly spoke with the seller, explained the situation, and asked for a full refund. He then told me that the well-respected store he bought it from bought it from a local studio owner's wife. She apparently sold the guitar when her husband died. The guitar has supposedly been stolen, then recovered by the studio. This didn't jive with me because studio and/or stolen guitars are not generally well cared for, and this guitar could almost be new.

When I researched the USED stamp I stumbled on a link to MIRC on Ebay (included below). I emailed MIRC and they confirm that it looks like one of their guitars, but that the MIRC s/n sticker was missing, so they couldn't accurately trace it. They confirm that they would have obliterated the s/n in exactly this fashion.

Now the seller is pissed because he was duped by the store, unless the store was duped by the original seller (oy!), and like any good GAS-Addict, he's already spent the money. He's offered me a partial refund. I've countered with a more substantial partial refund. Though the guitar is in great condition, plays well and sounds great, I can't see spending what I did on a MIRC guitar. Lord knows I'd never get my money back if I sold it.

The better news is that I insisted on paying the paypal fees, so I've got protection there and can force a full refund if need be.

Info on MIRC: http://reviews.ebay.com/Guitar-Won-is-S ... 0010711745

MIRC's Webpage: http://mircweb.com/index.php

So here's my question for you all. If you were to buy a beautiful Fender/Guild Bluesbird, knowing it was a MIRC guitar, what would you pay? I've deliberately not included any of the info about what I'm considering. I'm interested to see if you agree with what I've got in my head.

Here's a pic of it next to my R9:

 

[fronobulax]

Re: Lookie what I just scored! - update - Stamped USED

Not going to guess a value, but I am amused to note that many Guild acoustics were processed through MIRC and so the USED stamp and the serial number punching have been discussed often. Yours is the first electric anyone has noted, I believe.

If my memory is correct, I think the vast majority of folks who found a MIRC acoustic had great difficulty in figuring out why it was "used" or a "second". There is a fair amount of evidence to suggest there is nothing wrong with most MIRC guitars. Fender just elected to dump otherwise good stock rather than warehouse it or support it with advertising and warranties.

 

[GAD]

Re: Lookie what I just scored! - update - Stamped USED

Not going to guess a value, but I am amused to note that many Guild acoustics were processed through MIRC and so the USED stamp and the serial number punching have been discussed often. Yours is the first electric anyone has noted, I believe.

If my memory is correct, I think the vast majority of folks who found a MIRC acoustic had great difficulty in figuring out why it was "used" or a "second". There is a fair amount of evidence to suggest there is nothing wrong with most MIRC guitars. Fender just elected to dump otherwise good stock rather than warehouse it or support it with advertising and warranties.

Thanks. I've poured through many of the USED threads I could find here on LTG and came to a similar conclusion. This guitar is otherwise pretty darn nice. It needs a minor truss-rod tweak, and there's something rattling inside, but I easily attribute both to a recently shipped guitar. Since I can fix both myself, they're inconsequential to me.

Since it's very likely that this guitar was not stolen as I'd feared, I'm OK with keeping it, but I'm not OK with how much I paid for it.

 

[hideglue]

Re: Lookie what I just scored! - update - Stamped USED

Fender just elected to dump otherwise good stock...

They're really good at that sort of thing.

 

[adorshki]

Re: Lookie what I just scored! - update - Stamped USED

Thanks. I've poured through many of the USED threads I could find here on LTG and came to a similar conclusion. This guitar is otherwise pretty darn nice. It needs a minor truss-rod tweak, and there's something rattling inside, but I easily attribute both to a recently shipped guitar. Since I can fix both myself, they're inconsequential to me.
Since it's very likely that this guitar was not stolen as I'd feared, I'm OK with keeping it, but I'm not OK with how much I paid for it.

Just for the sake of tossing out a suggestion, try 2 or 3 pawn shops, especially ones that have several instruments. General rule of thumb is they want to offer 50% or less of whatever they think they can sell it for. In the case of an instrument with the obvious IMPLIED factory defect, I'm thinking 15-25%. OR maybe 25-30% of what the Guitar Bluebook would show. For purchase (like you did) I'm thinking minimum 20% off whatever low Bluebook is.
Think of it like a totalled vehicle: It was written off by an insurance company at some point in time. Even though it may have been purely cosmetic, like damaged paint, repainted, Dealers won't even touch 'em.
Any investment value is probably nil.
How much is that worth to you?
You probably can't insure it because there's no s/n to id the guitar with.
How much is that worth to you?
Good luck my friend.

 

[AfterGlo]

Re: Lookie what I just scored! - update - Stamped USED

Just one man's opinion, but I'd say that if you love playing it and plan to keep it for the long haul - get whatever refund of original sale price you can and enjoy it! If you're not the instrumentally monogamous type and you know you'll want to flip it some day, then get a full refund now and find a less complicated girlfriend, errr, bluesbird.

Steve

 

[GAD]

Re: Lookie what I just scored! - update - Stamped USED

Just for the sake of tossing out a suggestion, try 2 or 3 pawn shops, especially ones that have several instruments. General rule of thumb is they want to offer 50% or less of whatever they think they can sell it for. In the case of an instrument with the obvious IMPLIED factory defect, I'm thinking 15-25%. OR maybe 25-30% of what the Guitar Bluebook would show. For purchase (like you did) I'm thinking minimum 20% off whatever low Bluebook is.
Think of it like a totalled vehicle: It was written off by an insurance company at some point in time. Even though it may have been purely cosmetic, like damaged paint, repainted, Dealers won't even touch 'em.
Any investment value is probably nil.
How much is that worth to you?
You probably can't insure it because there's no s/n to id the guitar with.
How much is that worth to you?
Good luck my friend.

Great points — thanks for posting.

 

[bluesypicky]

Re: Lookie what I just scored! - update - Stamped USED

If I were in your shoes, (not knowing the details on the numbers discussed with the seller), and in possession of a perfectly good looking / playing guitar such as this one, that I would not have purchased with the investment factor in mind, I would probably accept whatever partial refund agreed upon by seller, and enjoy my beautiful serial numberless Bluesbird.... As long as you have a legal bill of sale to justify ownership in the event where (who knows?) you decide to sell it one day to another person willing to overlook the serial number / used stamp thingie.