FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

Tagged As: Guide Guitar Vintage

Question:
I've got a couple of sorta-collectable guitars I want to sell/trade and a local vintage dealer (who has a good rep as far as I know) wants me to bring 'em in. He mainly deals in vintage and collectables and some recent stuff (mainly '70's-'80's USA Fenders) he's taken in trade. I've got a rough idea of market value but they are both special interest guitars (aussie made Matons) not of interest to the average Fender/Gibson collector. I realise he has to make a profit and he is relieving me of the hassle of advertising, shipping, etc. if I sold them privately. Has anyone got any advice/experience on traps for the unwary, etc

Answer:
Don't mess with the Blue Books...they're always going to be dated. I'm sure this vintage dealer has the Vintage Guitar Pricing guide. That's probably the best, published guide out there. If the guitars are in there, then you can get an idea of their value. If not there, then you'll just have to scour the internet for pricing info. If you are putting the guitars in his shop on consinment, then expect him to take a percentage of the selling price. Usually 15-25%. This might be negotiable. But, as you say, you have special interest guitars. Which in real terms means sort of collectable guitars that not too many people are interested in collecting. This means that they will probably sit in this guys shop forever before he is able to sell them for the price you want. But, you might be willing to take less than market value for them to move them quickly. The faster he can move them, the more bargaining you might have as far as consinment percentages go. Who knows...he might not bargain at all on this. It doesn't sound like he's a heavy, serious vintage dealer if he primarily deals in 70s Fenders. Bottom line, the ball's in your court to research the value of the guitar if you don't want to feel you're getting ripped off. I've found that on anything like this, ebay is the best vehicle for selling as you'll be reaching the widest audience. If this guitar is really such a special interest guitar, what makes you think that the person is going to walk into this guys shop looking for one? Don't you think there's more of a chance one of the millions that view ebay each day will possibly be interested?