no way that an internet guitar warehouse is going to give you personalized service through your computer screen like an aware shop owner can across his counter, long live local music stores !
Mark, this is exactly why I watch UA-cam. I want to hear reality from real people, sharing their little piece of life with everyone else. This is so much better than anything on TV or coming out of the propaganda mills. Thanks for your honesty. I’ve got my vintage Martins and Gibsons at this point and am out of the market. But I do enjoy keeping up on it closely. I wish you all the success with your channel and your store. Cheers ❤
It's the post COVID effect too, so many people got guitars during COVID and now that they have gone back to regular life routines, those guitars are just sitting around unused and they want to recoup some of the investment by selling them - you can call it an "apocalypse" I call it an opportunity to pick up some good quality barely used gear at a discount. I have even found some great deals at my local shops, but most are loaded with vintage gear that's out of my budget.
Exactly! I see the same thing happening with Mountain Bikes (my other hobby). Everyone wanted something to do during covid, and suppliers couldn't keep enough in stock. Now people are selling them off, and manufactures over stocked thinking the boom would never end. Now new and used prices have been driven down significantly
The value of a store is you can play the guitar and discover if you really like and bond with it. Most online purchases I have later sold, especially acoustics. The ones I keep usually store bought. I spent an hour or more playing those guitars because they felt and sounded great in ways I could not have anticipated. Wish there were more stores.
Thank you for being a level head and explaining the viewpoint of someone who not only sees the dealer's side of things (I used to work at a mom-n-pop shop so I appreciate this a LOT), but also is encouraging people to look at the economy more objectively to see that it's not the "doom-and-gloom" scenario some infotainment outlets want their demographic to believe. A lot of folks don't understand the mechanics of dealer pricing, and they're easily rattled by what we saw happen with the pandemic's effects on sales (and guitar culture in general), so it's good to have people like you explaining it in a way where folks who struggle with elements they're not too familiar with can better comprehend. Well done!
I've been playing and buying guitars for 30 years. USUALLY if you are able to get 60% of what you paid for a guitar new (this is selling by yourself) you are doing alright. Think of guitars like car prices (pre Pandemic) where as soon as it leaves the door the price drops significantly. Outside of the Pandemic that's how it worked. I've owned over 60 guitars and with the exception of the last Squier I bought (all used) I paid $60 or less for player's grade models. A used Squier Affinity is not worth more than a new one. Just so you know,all of the Squiers I bought are from the Standard Line (pre Classic Vibes) and those sold nowhere near Affinity or Bullet prices. So lots of people are going to take a bath on their gear if they try to hold out for what they paid or anywhere near that when they actually sell it.
I love your insight. As a Canadian, much of our economy is driven by the U.S. economy. So that is why I tune into sites such as yours. Thank-you for what you do, never give up the ship. Cheers.
Also, to the people who complain about guitar companies pricing stuff too high, there’s one way to fix that real fast: don’t buy it. Gibson only charges astronomical prices because people pay it. Same with any other company. Now if they don’t sell any at that price, they’re faced with the option to either reduce the price to something more reasonable, or just not sell it - which is _not_ an option for them
@@cornstar1253 I take it one step further. I only buy used. Used MIK Epiphones are just as good as Gibsons (at least mine are) and are 1/10th of the price 💪So I definitely agree
Loved the point you made about buying in a guitar from a store. I hear so many stories of badly set up guitars ordered online. I always buy from my locals store for that piece of mind.
Get to know your local dealer, even if that is Guitar Center. After they get to know you they generally give good advice and are honest when they can't. Also if your local store doesn't have a tech or luthier, they can usually recommend one.
Not everyone is suffering, Taylor Swift came thru town and even though prices averaged 450.00, she sold 55,000 tickets within 3 hours and would have sold twice that if late buyers didn’t miss out. Plenty of blue collar workers brought their kids, spending over 1K for a concert…
There were several, but there's only one music store left in my county, and it's part of a four city chain of stores operating on very thin ice. Nearest fully stocked, latest gear music store is a hundred miles away.
Back iin the 80s i worked at a serious vintage store just as used was morphing into "vintage" It was the time of flouresent color pointy headstock floyd rose guitars U could leave a 73 strat on the front steps at closing and it would be there when u opened next day I had the great idea to start buying all these 300 and 400 dollar usa strats and pauls I was told by several big players dont waste my time they will never appreciate in value Boy did i get screwed....lol...u live and learn
I have this dream all the time! My time was a little later though, so I'm always wishing I would have bought all those dirt cheap Japanese guitars when I was a kid before people realized how good they actually were. Pretty sure most USA Strats and Paul's were a bit out of my price range when I was old enough to have money in my pocket, but I probably could have scored a few of them
@@shanewright9735 Man those early Japanese strats were killer guitars....saw dozens of them either on trade or in for repair I did some repair work on a few of the owners guitars and he let me pick be tween 3 or 4 import stats the one I picked became my main gigging guitar for years and it was dead stock except for a hot rails I put in bridge Awesome totally under radar guitars
@@shanewright9735 Those early import strats were awesome guitars I had one as my main guitar for years put a hot rails in bridge and I was good to go Played every dive and biker bar between Virginia and NY w that guitar😁
As I'm currently laid off, thanks for the empathy and the information. I didn't take any offense from your previous video though. The great thing is, like you said, you can get a great guitar for a couple hundred bucks that you'll be able to play for your lifetime. Unfortunately, if someone is winning big like that, someone else is probably losing big on the other side. God bless us all - everyone.
Honestly, I think this applies to vintage instruments to some degree as well. I don't think there will be an overstock of them necessarily, but expect to see prices flatten out and decrease to an extent. The demographic that collects vintage instruments (has the money to) is aging. It seems like everyday now I see a post online about a vintage guitar that someone just inherited, and they want to know what it's worth. Often times they don't even play, or if they do, could use the money more than a vintage guitar.
Dude got me an 80s US strat for 1200 cash Australian dollars . He was crack dealer who was gonna sell it to a pawn shop to recoup what he was owed which was 1200 . When I picked it up to have a quick jam and he saw me play it . He said its yours man . STOKED
Great content and very sensible response to the criticism from the video. I personally loved the previous vid as a slice of life from a unique set of experiences
Bought my last guitar at Gary’s. Went in looking for something with a Floyd Rose, they happened to have a frankenstrat put together by and equipped with Stonewall pickups. Never heard of a Sofia trem system, now I can’t imagine life without. Same with the pickups. Got exactly what I wanted and beyond. Many thanks Marc!
Regardless of a person's personal economy, people will always buy what they want to buy, go where they want to go, etc. But buying power has definitely decreased.
Thank you for making this video and sharing your perspectives on all this. I want to add a broader point that sort of backs up what you are saying. Starting maybe 4 or 5 years ago there seems to be a glut of used gear on the market. It used to be easy for me to move used gear but it’s much slower now and there is a lot of competition for the same item. I suspect that consumer habits may have changed as well. I have a feeling guitarists buy a lot of stuff online (especially pedals) and sell them shortly after and this puts a lot of gear onto FB, CL and RV. Suppliers are producing at a high volume to keep up with this and pumping this stuff out. You mentioned that Reverb listings give the impression that items are worth more than they really are and that might be true. Interestingly Reverb openly says that a large amount of sales on their site are from LOW OFFERS built into their site. As a consumer this fact is mostly obscured unless you know how to look for it.
Hello, Mr. Gary, like the video and just like the other one you made both make a lot of sense, but do you sell all alone? Would love to see some of your have a website. One could go to browse or possibly purchase
April 2024, looking in the UK at the used SGs and Les Pauls, on eBay and Reverb. Even still, it seems to be mainly pro/semi pro flippers snapping up the genuine private sales that come up and still relisting them at high prices - it just continues on and on but very little is moving. I’m looking forward to this situation collapsing so the the used market can go back to mostly private sellers asking a reasonable price.
Brilliant explanation over the two videos. You are a sincere guy who is playing it straight. I would vote for you as a politicians because you seem honest. If I lived in the States I would travel to your store to check out your stock and just to hang with you for a while. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Mark for being spot on with your macro and micro economic outlook. I wish you well in your guitar business adventure. Open a roth ira as well for backup!
Good that you covered the truth about the economy. The metrics about the economy are good. Prices rise and fall for reasons unrelated to the health of the economy. The used guitar market is a perfect example. So is the new guitar market. But some people only believe what they’re told and so politicians, especially in an election year, market fear for their own benefit. But we have power too. If you don’t like paying for gas get something that gets better gas mileage. If you don’t like high new guitar prices buy used. But support local businesses because they struggle, not because of the economy but because of the success of the on line business model.
Inflation hasn’t been seriously in the mix for around 4o years. The market is priced in dollars. The market is a way to hedge against inflation. Eventually however, inflation must be brought under control or our entire economy will collapse under the weight of extreme levels of debt and ever rising interest payments. Last year we had 1 trillion of personal credit card debt, now it’s already 1.7 trillion. We owe 34 trillion as a nation. Just the interest payment on that debt is more than our military budget. People are borrowing just to pay rent and buy groceries. It’s a slow moving train wreck. It’s going to be challenging if not impossible for those with high debt levels.
I am debt-free every debt I accumulate gets paid in 3 0 days it is on the individual to keep his spending and debt down. As Led Zeppelin once said " Nobody's fault but mine"
The flaw in your argument is that the _solution_ to the debt problem _is_ inflation. The high inflation of the 70's and 80's is how the boomers came to be so "wealthy" the houses that they bought with high-valued (relatively) 1960 and early 70's was paid for with dollars that became massively eroded by inflation and repaid years later with cheap dollars. In other words, the "crushing debt" you incurred when you were earning $100/week became inconsequential when your pay had increased to $1,000/week due to inflation.
@@pulaski1 reasonable levels of inflation over time can be managed. Runaway or rapid inflation cannot. It is a destroyer and it’s an extremely difficult genie to reign in once it’s out of the bottle.
@ironmikehallowween Agreed, but luckily we don't currently have wild, or "runaway" inflation. What has happened in the US over the past couple of years is mild compared to what has been happening in Turkey, and _extremely_ mild compared to what various countries in South America have experienced sporadically over the past 50 years.
Every day it seems I see a new brand of guitar hit the market and the Chinese, Korean, and other low priced guitars just keep getting better and better. I'm actually kind of surprised that Fender and Gibson are still in business.
So true you said..." for a few hundred dollars you can find a (high quality built) guitar for life. I visit the pawn shops and judge the guitars by its playability,l intonation ,action, I don't bother plugging it in..about every six months i find an amazing cheap instrument, a few times a decade Ill find a cheap holy grail classical instrument
Thanks for the info! I have been to your store many years ago & even bought a used acoustic there. Unfortunately, due to age related health issues I now own a small collection of acoustic guitars I can no longer play & would like to sell them. Based on your thoughts of impending "guitarmaggedon" it seems I am stuck.....would you advise a person in my shoes to wait it out or.....what exactly?
Like your vids, I'm a novice guitarist from England I have 4 guitars 1 was a gift from a friend and q I brought new the other 2 I bought from a local used guitar shop they are quality I love my 4 guitars lol 👍🎸🎸🎸
The reason people perceive the economy as bad is because of high food and energy prices. Many people are cutting back on non-necessary purchases like buying guitars, art and karate lessons etc. because of the perception of a bad economy.
@@TomBaddleyCorporate greed? Most are operating on margins thinner than David Lee Roth's hairline. They have bills to pay too, they don't get a pass on inflation, they have to pay just like everybody else. Many won't be around in two years because of this, and it has nothing to do with greed.
Inflation remains a problem. Why? Because even though the current inflation numbers are lower than the last couple of years, it's a cumulative thing. The current number is in addition to the sky high number from a year or two years ago. FYI, the number indicative of the level of inflation does not include consumables like food/groceries and fuel. Consumer price index is a better indicator of where the economy is headed. Also look at trends in credit card debt. It's scary.
Great video, thank you. Have to admit, couldn't take my eyes off that 175 over your left shoulder. Looks like late 50s or early 60s. I've got mine, a Steve Howe signature, but what the Heck, the more the merrier!
From a player's perspective - ROI on musical instruments is the enjoyment of playing them. Expecting anything more than that is a recipe for disappointment.
Thanks for the videos. I have a couple guitars for sale on Reverb, vintage and non-vintage. My experience over the last couple years is that almost everyone is low balling and guitars aren't moving - the ones I'm trying to sell and the ones on my watchlist.
If guitars aren't moving then the prices being offered aren't low. It's not like there's some secret cache of buyers that are willing to pay more, but simply aren't bothering to. Sellers are just refusing to accept the reality that their guitars are worth exactly what buyers are willing to pay for them, not what they want to sell them for.
There is an old saying that if America sneezes the rest of the world catches a cold, and this is very true at the moment. The whole used guitar market is now flooded as the buyers who bought them during the pandemic are now trying to sell them, but the demand is not there, hence values will only keep going down for mass market guitars. The higher end samples from the established brands will always find a buyer, but not anywhere near the price you paid for them.
I’ve had some good success moving gear recently. All used non vintage..I guess it really depends on your pricing and the desirability of the item for sale. I have priced items accordingly based on recent sales. IMHO..I think that the Fender Custom Shop instruments will take a beating in the used market place since they were over priced to begin with. With regard to the economy..7-8% interest rates for home buyers is not a good thing.
Home loans will be 12% by the end of the year. You think there is a used guitar apocalypse? Wait until you see what is about to happen in real estate {both commercial and residential}. Slaughterhouse.
We've seen the same thing in the 2nd hand marketplace here too, I'm a bass player mainly, but I also own a drum kit... and post Pandemic I've managed to put together my drum kit with basically THE group of high quality cymbals (which I have NEVER owned before) I've wanted for it, for a fraction of the price... every cymbal was about half-price or a bit lower... best buy was a 21" Zildjian Organic Ride, which would retail go for about $750-800 AU, and 2nd hand similar things usually go for about $400-600 AU depending on condition: I got it for $250. It's a specialty cymbal, and not what common rock players want... so they just sit there online for ages (I think I bookmarked it and it was there for like 6weeks, then I just offered low, he sold it to me). I have seen similar things in all used market musical instruments here in Melbourne Australia! (hello from Australia!)... most people are getting rid of there extra stuff, and there is glut of instruments of all types on the 2nd hand market, and considering the lack of uptake of playing musical instruments, and the what a precarious career choice it is (as proven by the Pandemic, Melbourne had 2 years of lockdowns on and off), the 2nd hand instrument market is only going to get worse and lower priced I'd say.. (in the non-vintage stuff, as you say). So much so as you say, I AM also looking to buy a guitar and make an amp for it, as prices are so low, and opportunities come up atm...
Mark,your comment about the other stores in your town closing really made me think. When I was just starting my journey in music the local music store was like a club where we went to see all the latest gear and new instruments. We were meant to feel like we were part of a big community. We aspired to get better and to work our way up to the next best guitar. We were encouraged by each other and by the store owners. Lifelong friendships were made, bands were formed, and our love of music was nurtured, all in that music store. Well, the internet killed that, didn’t it? You could draw a direct parallel from a music store to a record store as well.
You can draw a direct parallel with everything in life because of the internet. A lot of people don’t go to the grocery store anymore. They use delivery services instead of going to restaurants. They work from home. Isolation is becoming a major problem for us as naturally social beings. The result is on the way. There’s going to be major emotional challenges in our society within 15 years or less if another means of social interaction doesn’t unfold. Young people walk out of their last college class and never end up having daily friendships again.
Well said, I am personally a victim of this via a Novo Solus, I bought into the pandemic hype and had to have one. I know I won't get all my money back, unless I wait on it. I am completely satisfied with the guitar and intend to keep it for as long as I can. I have only sold one guitar and that was after the 2008 boom and bust. It was a '68 Gibson LG-1 lost $50 on that one because I couldn't deal with the 9/916th neck. Now I wish I still had it as it is worth three times what I first paid for it. Live and learn. I would love to hear your take on the Pedal market.
Godd videos, Mark; however, I'm in Canada and looking for non-vintage guitars on Ebay is ridiculous, as there are very few available, in any price range; one problem is shipping cost which has gone way up in Canada (and even higher in US); Reverb also charge a lot for shipping, then they up the price to cover commissions, and here in Quebec it's 15% more for sales tax on top of that; as far as Fender new guitars from any retail store up here, (and Squier), their standard items are out there, but what people really want are always on back-order somehow, and you can never get a definite delivery date. Since I can't afford vintage guitars, and I don't want to pre-order without a set delivery date, I tend to give up on everything; I was looking for a Squier Starcaster Classic Vibe guitar, which were reissued 4 years ago and were so popular, that you can't get them anymore, and they are discontinued again!
I just sold 3 used guitars on facebook in my area and a fender amp within a month for more than I paid. Hoping to sell 3 more to make room on my guitar rack. But I do agree it's comming because I found and bought a open box american fender pro 2 for $1,050.00 originally $1800 I love awsome deals if I could only find a steal on a gibson les paul classic.
Look at you and your facts! This is social media no one wants or believes facts! 😁 I guess this means it is a buyer's market! Since I am the king of cheap guitars I'm gonna have to keep my eyes peeled for something goofy and cool to add to my collection! 🎸😊
Hi this is Bill. I was in your store the other night, after hours. I was snooping around and was about to steal a bunch of guitars and then I read the price label; so cheap! I thought to my self, "self why steal these when I can come and buy them at this reduced price?". Anyways, I'll be in tomorrow and I'll pay for the broken glass too.
Not many Rickenbackers come through. Currently we don't have any bases. The downside of selling things for reasonable prices is they don't stick around and pile up.
Truly believe how the economy is doing is based on where you live. In NW Illinois the economy is in the middle, that is due to 1 factor only. Agriculture is the biggest teet in DC, fortunately that is single handedly saving the locals. You can't sell anything, non ag, here but you can give it away. Just my 2 cents. BEST AND PEACE
Sadly, there is no guitar or music store within 45 miles of me (or more). There’s only one luthier that’s 30 miles away and he’s so busy that it takes him 6-8 weeks to do a setup. I would love to have a local guitar store I can walk into with all my questions from tips on doing my own setup work to just trying out guitars and oogling them and all the accessories. I’m not selling a one of them and now that the market is down, thinking about buying another one. It’s a sickness.😂
You should care DEEPLY about the stock market. Many of your customers invest, and use the windfall to buy toys. Putting all of one’s eggs in a single basket is a dangerous game to play. Had you put money into a simple Dow index fund four years ago, you would have nearly doubled your dollars by now. Back in ‘08 when the market took a dive, I doubled down and bought more. Buy cheap, go long!
I've bought my expensive Music Man Cutlass online and I am totally satisfied. But knowing what I know now I would never buy such pricey instrument online again. Things get very different when playing and hearing them, and there are so many great valuable surprises in the physical guitar stores. Sure, we can return it but.... Sometimes affordable stuff is great and vice versa. Plus, it is very reasuring to know that I have done my research and comparissons and have the best instrument for my money.
i saw a fender twin being sold for $800 on craigslist. that seems like a cheap price. i guess amps will be coming down in price too. thanks for the videos!
The entire market was squeezed by the inability for companies to produce. People went from first to second choice on guitars, to third and eventually to just "give me any ****ing guitar I can actually buy and have delivered this month". I dont think the market will do another 2008, but it appears in all collecting hobbies there is going to be a noticeable correction. In fact, things will likely overshoot equilibrium the other way for a bit before stabilizing again, assuming we don't have any other major events. It remains to be seen if the looming boomer retirements/deaths, which are simply an inevitable consequence of the passage of time, also start putting downward pressure on prices. We're about to experience a massive shift of wealth and a lot of guitars are gonna get sold by kids of players which is normal and fine by itself, but there's a LOT more boomers than any other generation so... not sure the money or interest is there to soak up the stuff coming onto the market.
Here are the things I am seeing, a mid end type guitar (Schecter, Ibanez, and my current interest Hagstrom) seems to be able to be had above $450 at some times, and usually never above $1000 even for their most expensive models. However, the difference between their new and used/b stock prices is usually around $200-300. Gibson and Fender actually are more likely to have differences in new vs. used price because of initial price tag vs. market demand. In my head I should be able to buy a used Gibson Les Paul Studio for somewhere between $900-$1500… based on prices of the last few years and which model it actually is (this can’t be understated, not all guitars are created equally). However, that could easily sneak back down to $650-$1200 if the demand needs of players changes. But, sometimes you pay based on availability, versus the actual value. I encourage anyone wanting one of the new “overpriced” Epiphones to give those a shot, they are pretty cool, if you don’t want to wait for used to go down.
The guitar manufacturers in Asia have absolutely flooded the guitar market. The quality is unreal - but the whole market is presently build on constant, never ending growth. I know people who own over 20 guitars and have only been playing for 3 years. They are picking up Vibes and Epiphones for $250. The used guitar market is NOT the economy.
Saturation. Unbelievable amount of used guitars out there today. The talent pool is also saturated with unbelievable players/musicians who cannot make a living from what they do
I was looking at PRS guitars from a local dealer like 6 months ago, darn expensive guitars. They've since had another price hike it seems. None of them are moving.
New Sub here. Mark, did you run Mark's Guitar Loft at the Lee Traffic Circle, once upon a time? Had a sweet tummy-rub addicted Golden Retriever named Maggie? If so, we've done biz before. Either way, I'll be stopping in to see you ~ hopefully, soon! 🎸
I buy cheap kits and then upgrade the parts and spend a lot of time on the neck...sanding and shaping it to my like and rolling the fretboard edges and rounding the fret edges along with a crown and polish job. The end result is a guitar that cost less than $180 in parts ...but plays and sounds as good or better than anything less than a $1,000 has any right too ! I need a catchy name for them...any ideas ?
The used guitar market with very rare exception is softer than I've ever seen it. I have 65 guitars and I'm trying to offload some as I get older. I don't play as much as I used to and it's time to part with at least half my stable. The issue is, the market is literally flooded and the price a buyer is willing to pay is ridiculously low. I've decided to just keep mine and pass them on to the kids when my ticket gets punched. LOL I'd rather hold on to them than sell even one for such a ridiculously low price. The market is also flooded with very inexpensive imports. The fact is, some of them are insanely great instruments. The entire dynamic in the guitar business has shifted.
Really appreciate your views on this topic. I had a couple of used (non vintage) strats and needed perspective on how best to price and sell, given market conditions. You really helped me, and I was able to sell pretty quick at fair/reasonable price points on both of them. PS Your view on economy if way off. Too much money in supply chasing core goods/housing/energy/transpo is killing families with inflation, prices up 20% in these categories since Biden took office.
People do not sell their "extra" guitars unless they need the money! Pure and simple. They don't sell them because of a fiction of their imagination. Its not a perception that the dollar is not worth the same amount as it was 4 years ago. Its worth about 20 % less, that is a fact. So when the cost of food, energy, taxes and the like go up, people sell their extra stuff so they can buy what they need. I agree the market is flooded but it is not because people are tricked into thinking the economy is bad, its because they need the money or many people bought guitars during the pandemic and never really learned to play and they want to get rid of their gear. This is much more likely.
Love to hear this perspective. We hear way too much from the usual guitar influencer who's just trying to make money on affiliate links. It's good to hear from the POV of a shop owner.
no way that an internet guitar warehouse is going to give you personalized service through your computer screen like an aware shop owner can across his counter, long live local music stores !
Mark, this is exactly why I watch UA-cam. I want to hear reality from real people, sharing their little piece of life with everyone else. This is so much better than anything on TV or coming out of the propaganda mills. Thanks for your honesty. I’ve got my vintage Martins and Gibsons at this point and am out of the market. But I do enjoy keeping up on it closely. I wish you all the success with your channel and your store. Cheers ❤
HOW DARE YOU BE SO REASONABLE!!!!😂
It's the post COVID effect too, so many people got guitars during COVID and now that they have gone back to regular life routines, those guitars are just sitting around unused and they want to recoup some of the investment by selling them - you can call it an "apocalypse" I call it an opportunity to pick up some good quality barely used gear at a discount. I have even found some great deals at my local shops, but most are loaded with vintage gear that's out of my budget.
Exactly! I see the same thing happening with Mountain Bikes (my other hobby). Everyone wanted something to do during covid, and suppliers couldn't keep enough in stock. Now people are selling them off, and manufactures over stocked thinking the boom would never end. Now new and used prices have been driven down significantly
Better an unwanted guitar than an unwanted dog.
@@shanewright9735I think Bike shops are getting monkey hammered right now after having their greatest year ever in 2020
Yes, way too many guitars out there.
@@MrThebigcheese75; Well said sir.
The value of a store is you can play the guitar and discover if you really like and bond with it. Most online purchases I have later sold, especially acoustics. The ones I keep usually store bought. I spent an hour or more playing those guitars because they felt and sounded great in ways I could not have anticipated. Wish there were more stores.
Thank you for being a level head and explaining the viewpoint of someone who not only sees the dealer's side of things (I used to work at a mom-n-pop shop so I appreciate this a LOT), but also is encouraging people to look at the economy more objectively to see that it's not the "doom-and-gloom" scenario some infotainment outlets want their demographic to believe. A lot of folks don't understand the mechanics of dealer pricing, and they're easily rattled by what we saw happen with the pandemic's effects on sales (and guitar culture in general), so it's good to have people like you explaining it in a way where folks who struggle with elements they're not too familiar with can better comprehend. Well done!
Your videos are thoughtful and awesome. Thank you.
Also, I love all your hollow-body axes in the background. Really temping me :)
Thank you
You need to make more content. I love your videos.
I've been playing and buying guitars for 30 years. USUALLY if you are able to get 60% of what you paid for a guitar new (this is selling by yourself) you are doing alright. Think of guitars like car prices (pre Pandemic) where as soon as it leaves the door the price drops significantly. Outside of the Pandemic that's how it worked.
I've owned over 60 guitars and with the exception of the last Squier I bought (all used) I paid $60 or less for player's grade models. A used Squier Affinity is not worth more than a new one. Just so you know,all of the Squiers I bought are from the Standard Line (pre Classic Vibes) and those sold nowhere near Affinity or Bullet prices.
So lots of people are going to take a bath on their gear if they try to hold out for what they paid or anywhere near that when they actually sell it.
Yeah, I totally agree with this. COVID was an anomaly. The economy is stabilizing finally
Great video (again)! “Word salad” is now my new favorite phrase.
Thank you this is a most useful and important video series.
I love your insight. As a Canadian, much of our economy is driven by the U.S. economy. So that is why I tune into sites such as yours. Thank-you for what you do, never give up the ship. Cheers.
Also, to the people who complain about guitar companies pricing stuff too high, there’s one way to fix that real fast: don’t buy it. Gibson only charges astronomical prices because people pay it. Same with any other company. Now if they don’t sell any at that price, they’re faced with the option to either reduce the price to something more reasonable, or just not sell it - which is _not_ an option for them
You're right. Unfortunately too many goofballs with money are over buying
Then buy epiphone
@@beefnacos6258 💯💯💯
@@cornstar1253 I take it one step further. I only buy used. Used MIK Epiphones are just as good as Gibsons (at least mine are) and are 1/10th of the price 💪So I definitely agree
Loved the point you made about buying in a guitar from a store. I hear so many stories of badly set up guitars ordered online. I always buy from my locals store for that piece of mind.
Get to know your local dealer, even if that is Guitar Center.
After they get to know you they generally give good advice and are honest when they can't.
Also if your local store doesn't have a tech or luthier, they can usually recommend one.
Not everyone is suffering, Taylor Swift came thru town and even though prices averaged 450.00, she sold 55,000 tickets within 3 hours and would have sold twice that if late buyers didn’t miss out.
Plenty of blue collar workers brought their kids, spending over 1K for a concert…
well that was done on credit. lol
Yes indeed. 👍 The herd instinct. The big also get bigger (the Matthew principle).
People are literally nuts.😂
If you have the money buy what makes you happy. A room full of guitars won’t kill you.
Loving the channel. Sending great vibes from Scotland.
Love all your videos, keep it up.
Thanks for making these videos.
Thankyou Mark,nicely put
Mark, i saw part one yesterday. Fine job, my friend. Keep on keeping on. Ps, greetings form Portsmouth, VA.
P-town in da house 🙌
There were several, but there's only one music store left in my county, and it's part of a four city chain of stores operating on very thin ice. Nearest fully stocked, latest gear music store is a hundred miles away.
Back iin the 80s i worked at a serious vintage store just as used was morphing into "vintage"
It was the time of flouresent color pointy headstock floyd rose guitars
U could leave a 73 strat on the front steps at closing and it would be there when u opened next day
I had the great idea to start buying all these 300 and 400 dollar usa strats and pauls
I was told by several big players dont waste my time they will never appreciate in value
Boy did i get screwed....lol...u live and learn
Sounds like the stuff dreams are made of!😁
I have this dream all the time! My time was a little later though, so I'm always wishing I would have bought all those dirt cheap Japanese guitars when I was a kid before people realized how good they actually were. Pretty sure most USA Strats and Paul's were a bit out of my price range when I was old enough to have money in my pocket, but I probably could have scored a few of them
Same happened to those pointy guitars
@@shanewright9735
Man those early Japanese strats were killer guitars....saw dozens of them either on trade or in for repair
I did some repair work on a few of the owners guitars and he let me pick be
tween 3 or 4 import stats the one I picked became my main gigging guitar for years and it was dead stock except for a hot rails I put in bridge
Awesome totally under radar guitars
@@shanewright9735
Those early import strats were awesome guitars
I had one as my main guitar for years put a hot rails in bridge and I was good to go
Played every dive and biker bar between Virginia and NY w that guitar😁
Thank you Mark for putting out good information for us to chew on!!! 🇺🇸🎸‼️
Great video, Mark. Good solid info.
As I'm currently laid off, thanks for the empathy and the information. I didn't take any offense from your previous video though.
The great thing is, like you said, you can get a great guitar for a couple hundred bucks that you'll be able to play for your lifetime.
Unfortunately, if someone is winning big like that, someone else is probably losing big on the other side.
God bless us all - everyone.
Honestly, I think this applies to vintage instruments to some degree as well. I don't think there will be an overstock of them necessarily, but expect to see prices flatten out and decrease to an extent. The demographic that collects vintage instruments (has the money to) is aging. It seems like everyday now I see a post online about a vintage guitar that someone just inherited, and they want to know what it's worth. Often times they don't even play, or if they do, could use the money more than a vintage guitar.
Dude got me an 80s US strat for 1200 cash Australian dollars . He was crack dealer who was gonna sell it to a pawn shop to recoup what he was owed which was 1200 . When I picked it up to have a quick jam and he saw me play it . He said its yours man . STOKED
Great content and very sensible response to the criticism from the video. I personally loved the previous vid as a slice of life from a unique set of experiences
I'm keeping all mine. They're not hurting anything in their cases.
Say that when you've got no food.
If it came to that, he could trade his guitars for food…
@@sgt.gruhnn , and then when you're nice and fed, you'll have no guitar's to play? What then?
Don’t get to the no food part 😂
Bought my last guitar at Gary’s. Went in looking for something with a Floyd Rose, they happened to have a frankenstrat put together by and equipped with Stonewall pickups. Never heard of a Sofia trem system, now I can’t imagine life without. Same with the pickups. Got exactly what I wanted and beyond. Many thanks Marc!
Glad to hear it's working out for you. Thanks again for buying.
Regardless of a person's personal economy, people will always buy what they want to buy, go where they want to go, etc. But buying power has definitely decreased.
Thank you for making this video and sharing your perspectives on all this. I want to add a broader point that sort of backs up what you are saying. Starting maybe 4 or 5 years ago there seems to be a glut of used gear on the market. It used to be easy for me to move used gear but it’s much slower now and there is a lot of competition for the same item. I suspect that consumer habits may have changed as well. I have a feeling guitarists buy a lot of stuff online (especially pedals) and sell them shortly after and this puts a lot of gear onto FB, CL and RV. Suppliers are producing at a high volume to keep up with this and pumping this stuff out. You mentioned that Reverb listings give the impression that items are worth more than they really are and that might be true. Interestingly Reverb openly says that a large amount of sales on their site are from LOW OFFERS built into their site. As a consumer this fact is mostly obscured unless you know how to look for it.
Great video Mark. Appreciate your views and telling it like you see it. Best wishes!
You've got a great channel. Wish I lived closer to your store.😊😊😊
I really like this channel!
looking forward to hearing more about what you have to say. I find this stuff interesting.
Hello, Mr. Gary, like the video and just like the other one you made both make a lot of sense, but do you sell all alone? Would love to see some of your have a website. One could go to browse or possibly purchase
April 2024, looking in the UK at the used SGs and Les Pauls, on eBay and Reverb. Even still, it seems to be mainly pro/semi pro flippers snapping up the genuine private sales that come up and still relisting them at high prices - it just continues on and on but very little is moving. I’m looking forward to this situation collapsing so the the used market can go back to mostly private sellers asking a reasonable price.
I am restoring vintage refrigerators over in Durham they are actually super high efficient and last forever.
😅
Brilliant explanation over the two videos. You are a sincere guy who is playing it straight. I would vote for you as a politicians because you seem honest. If I lived in the States I would travel to your store to check out your stock and just to hang with you for a while. Keep up the good work.
great video!
I cant be the only viewer to have my eyes on that orange LP and the gold PRS.
Funny how we scrutinize every square inch of his shop in the background, looking for something we GAS for.
I have my eyes on the Jaguar next to them. Woof!
The orange is a Hagstrom Swede.
I’m looking at 2 and they aren’t the ones you are.
There's no Les Paul there
Thanks Mark for being spot on with your macro and micro economic outlook. I wish you well in your guitar business adventure. Open a roth ira as well for backup!
Good that you covered the truth about the economy. The metrics about the economy are good. Prices rise and fall for reasons unrelated to the health of the economy. The used guitar market is a perfect example. So is the new guitar market. But some people only believe what they’re told and so politicians, especially in an election year, market fear for their own benefit. But we have power too. If you don’t like paying for gas get something that gets better gas mileage. If you don’t like high new guitar prices buy used. But support local businesses because they struggle, not because of the economy but because of the success of the on line business model.
Where I live, Portland Oregon, people want what they paid for their used gear. It’s nuts.
Inflation hasn’t been seriously in the mix for around 4o years. The market is priced in dollars. The market is a way to hedge against inflation. Eventually however, inflation must be brought under control or our entire economy will collapse under the weight of extreme levels of debt and ever rising interest payments. Last year we had 1 trillion of personal credit card debt, now it’s already 1.7 trillion. We owe 34 trillion as a nation. Just the interest payment on that debt is more than our military budget. People are borrowing just to pay rent and buy groceries. It’s a slow moving train wreck. It’s going to be challenging if not impossible for those with high debt levels.
I am debt-free every debt I accumulate gets paid in 3 0 days it is on the individual to keep his spending and debt down. As Led Zeppelin once said " Nobody's fault but mine"
@@fj5144bless your heart 😂😂😂😂
The flaw in your argument is that the _solution_ to the debt problem _is_ inflation. The high inflation of the 70's and 80's is how the boomers came to be so "wealthy" the houses that they bought with high-valued (relatively) 1960 and early 70's was paid for with dollars that became massively eroded by inflation and repaid years later with cheap dollars. In other words, the "crushing debt" you incurred when you were earning $100/week became inconsequential when your pay had increased to $1,000/week due to inflation.
@@pulaski1 reasonable levels of inflation over time can be managed. Runaway or rapid inflation cannot. It is a destroyer and it’s an extremely difficult genie to reign in once it’s out of the bottle.
@ironmikehallowween Agreed, but luckily we don't currently have wild, or "runaway" inflation. What has happened in the US over the past couple of years is mild compared to what has been happening in Turkey, and _extremely_ mild compared to what various countries in South America have experienced sporadically over the past 50 years.
Great video dude
Every day it seems I see a new brand of guitar hit the market and the Chinese, Korean, and other low priced guitars just keep getting better and better. I'm actually kind of surprised that Fender and Gibson are still in business.
People are quick to forget the 08 recession, when the economy was actually very bad
My wife panicked, and told me to take our money out of the stock market. We doubled down, bought cheap, and went long, and made money.
So true you said..." for a few hundred dollars you can find a (high quality built) guitar for life.
I visit the pawn shops and judge the guitars by its playability,l intonation ,action, I don't bother plugging it in..about every six months i find an amazing cheap instrument, a few times a decade Ill find a cheap holy grail classical instrument
Thanks for the info! I have been to your store many years ago & even bought a used acoustic there. Unfortunately, due to age related health issues I now own a small collection of acoustic guitars I can no longer play & would like to sell them. Based on your thoughts of impending "guitarmaggedon" it seems I am stuck.....would you advise a person in my shoes to wait it out or.....what exactly?
Old age doesn't mean you can't play. It just means your style must change. Go slide! Sell what you have or give it away, no shame in that.
Like your vids, I'm a novice guitarist from England I have 4 guitars 1 was a gift from a friend and q I brought new the other 2 I bought from a local used guitar shop they are quality I love my 4 guitars lol 👍🎸🎸🎸
well said,you know your stuff!
The reason people perceive the economy as bad is because of high food and energy prices. Many people are cutting back on non-necessary purchases like buying guitars, art and karate lessons etc. because of the perception of a bad economy.
And sadly both of those reasons are caused at least partially by corporate greed, during a time of record profits.
@@TomBaddleyCorporate greed? Most are operating on margins thinner than David Lee Roth's hairline. They have bills to pay too, they don't get a pass on inflation, they have to pay just like everybody else. Many won't be around in two years because of this, and it has nothing to do with greed.
Inflation remains a problem. Why? Because even though the current inflation numbers are lower than the last couple of years, it's a cumulative thing. The current number is in addition to the sky high number from a year or two years ago.
FYI, the number indicative of the level of inflation does not include consumables like food/groceries and fuel.
Consumer price index is a better indicator of where the economy is headed. Also look at trends in credit card debt. It's scary.
Great video, thank you. Have to admit, couldn't take my eyes off that 175 over your left shoulder. Looks like late 50s or early 60s. I've got mine, a Steve Howe signature, but what the Heck, the more the merrier!
Nice guitars man you seem like a nice guy god bless
From a player's perspective - ROI on musical instruments is the enjoyment of playing them. Expecting anything more than that is a recipe for disappointment.
Whats make of guitar over your shoulder? between the telecaster and prs . Looks class
Thanks for the videos. I have a couple guitars for sale on Reverb, vintage and non-vintage. My experience over the last couple years is that almost everyone is low balling and guitars aren't moving - the ones I'm trying to sell and the ones on my watchlist.
If guitars aren't moving then the prices being offered aren't low. It's not like there's some secret cache of buyers that are willing to pay more, but simply aren't bothering to. Sellers are just refusing to accept the reality that their guitars are worth exactly what buyers are willing to pay for them, not what they want to sell them for.
There is an old saying that if America sneezes the rest of the world catches a cold, and this is very
true at the moment.
The whole used guitar market is now flooded as the buyers who bought them during the pandemic
are now trying to sell them, but the demand is not there, hence values will only keep going down
for mass market guitars.
The higher end samples from the established brands will always find a buyer, but not anywhere near
the price you paid for them.
Good video
Everything goes in a cycle.🎸🎸🎸
I’ve had some good success moving gear recently. All used non vintage..I guess it really depends on your pricing and the desirability of the item for sale. I have priced items accordingly based on recent sales. IMHO..I think that the Fender Custom Shop instruments will take a beating in the used market place since they were over priced to begin with.
With regard to the economy..7-8% interest rates for home buyers is not a good thing.
Home loans will be 12% by the end of the year. You think there is a used guitar apocalypse? Wait until you see what is about to happen in real estate {both commercial and residential}. Slaughterhouse.
@@papawx3 tell that to a liberal and they will spin it into a good thing the the present administration has done.
We've seen the same thing in the 2nd hand marketplace here too, I'm a bass player mainly, but I also own a drum kit... and post Pandemic I've managed to put together my drum kit with basically THE group of high quality cymbals (which I have NEVER owned before) I've wanted for it, for a fraction of the price... every cymbal was about half-price or a bit lower... best buy was a 21" Zildjian Organic Ride, which would retail go for about $750-800 AU, and 2nd hand similar things usually go for about $400-600 AU depending on condition: I got it for $250. It's a specialty cymbal, and not what common rock players want... so they just sit there online for ages (I think I bookmarked it and it was there for like 6weeks, then I just offered low, he sold it to me).
I have seen similar things in all used market musical instruments here in Melbourne Australia! (hello from Australia!)... most people are getting rid of there extra stuff, and there is glut of instruments of all types on the 2nd hand market, and considering the lack of uptake of playing musical instruments, and the what a precarious career choice it is (as proven by the Pandemic, Melbourne had 2 years of lockdowns on and off), the 2nd hand instrument market is only going to get worse and lower priced I'd say.. (in the non-vintage stuff, as you say). So much so as you say, I AM also looking to buy a guitar and make an amp for it, as prices are so low, and opportunities come up atm...
Mark,your comment about the other stores in your town closing really made me think. When I was just starting my journey in music the local music store was like a club where we went to see all the latest gear and new instruments. We were meant to feel like we were part of a big community. We aspired to get better and to work our way up to the next best guitar. We were encouraged by each other and by the store owners. Lifelong friendships were made, bands were formed, and our love of music was nurtured, all in that music store. Well, the internet killed that, didn’t it?
You could draw a direct parallel from a music store to a record store as well.
You can draw a direct parallel with everything in life because of the internet. A lot of people don’t go to the grocery store anymore. They use delivery services instead of going to restaurants. They work from home. Isolation is becoming a major problem for us as naturally social beings. The result is on the way. There’s going to be major emotional challenges in our society within 15 years or less if another means of social interaction doesn’t unfold. Young people walk out of their last college class and never end up having daily friendships again.
Well said, I am personally a victim of this via a Novo Solus, I bought into the pandemic hype and had to have one. I know I won't get all my money back, unless I wait on it. I am completely satisfied with the guitar and intend to keep it for as long as I can. I have only sold one guitar and that was after the 2008 boom and bust. It was a '68 Gibson LG-1 lost $50 on that one because I couldn't deal with the 9/916th neck. Now I wish I still had it as it is worth three times what I first paid for it. Live and learn. I would love to hear your take on the Pedal market.
My job is a good indicator for the economy… yes, things are bad out there for a lot of people.
Great video! "Guitar Apocalypse" could be a great song title.
Godd videos, Mark; however, I'm in Canada and looking for non-vintage guitars on Ebay is ridiculous, as there are very few available, in any price range; one problem is shipping cost which has gone way up in Canada (and even higher in US); Reverb also charge a lot for shipping, then they up the price to cover commissions, and here in Quebec it's 15% more for sales tax on top of that; as far as Fender new guitars from any retail store up here, (and Squier), their standard items are out there, but what people really want are always on back-order somehow, and you can never get a definite delivery date. Since I can't afford vintage guitars, and I don't want to pre-order without a set delivery date, I tend to give up on everything; I was looking for a Squier Starcaster Classic Vibe guitar, which were reissued 4 years ago and were so popular, that you can't get them anymore, and they are discontinued again!
Good. I've cleared out some space in my office for some deals when they come up.
I just sold 3 used guitars on facebook in my area and a fender amp within a month for more than I paid. Hoping to sell 3 more to make room on my guitar rack. But I do agree it's comming because I found and bought a open box american fender pro 2 for $1,050.00 originally $1800
I love awsome deals if I could only find a steal on a gibson les paul classic.
Look at you and your facts! This is social media no one wants or believes facts! 😁 I guess this means it is a buyer's market! Since I am the king of cheap guitars I'm gonna have to keep my eyes peeled for something goofy and cool to add to my collection! 🎸😊
Hi this is Bill. I was in your store the other night, after hours. I was snooping around and was about to steal a bunch of guitars and then I read the price label; so cheap! I thought to my self, "self why steal these when I can come and buy them at this reduced price?". Anyways, I'll be in tomorrow and I'll pay for the broken glass too.
Imagine believing the government is being honest with its economic metrics 😂
Not the only source of information or metrics. Most evaluations are made by private parties.
i like this channel.
What is the story with that Jaguar on the wall?
Gary, how’s your in-store stock of Rickenbacker 4003 or 4003s bass guitars. Not looking for vintage, newest models o.k.
Not many Rickenbackers come through. Currently we don't have any bases. The downside of selling things for reasonable prices is they don't stick around and pile up.
Guitar music is niche now. Kinda surprised that people seem to not understand this since EVERYTHING else has changed in the last 10-15yrs.
Truly believe how the economy is doing is based on where you live. In NW Illinois the economy is in the middle, that is due to 1 factor only. Agriculture is the biggest teet in DC, fortunately that is single handedly saving the locals. You can't sell anything, non ag, here but you can give it away. Just my 2 cents. BEST AND PEACE
Sadly, there is no guitar or music store within 45 miles of me (or more). There’s only one luthier that’s 30 miles away and he’s so busy that it takes him 6-8 weeks to do a setup. I would love to have a local guitar store I can walk into with all my questions from tips on doing my own setup work to just trying out guitars and oogling them and all the accessories. I’m not selling a one of them and now that the market is down, thinking about buying another one. It’s a sickness.😂
Greedverb sellers will list a guitar for 9 months and still won't lower the price.
You should care DEEPLY about the stock market. Many of your customers invest, and use the windfall to buy toys. Putting all of one’s eggs in a single basket is a dangerous game to play. Had you put money into a simple Dow index fund four years ago, you would have nearly doubled your dollars by now. Back in ‘08 when the market took a dive, I doubled down and bought more. Buy cheap, go long!
I've bought my expensive Music Man Cutlass online and I am totally satisfied. But knowing what I know now I would never buy such pricey instrument online again. Things get very different when playing and hearing them, and there are so many great valuable surprises in the physical guitar stores. Sure, we can return it but.... Sometimes affordable stuff is great and vice versa. Plus, it is very reasuring to know that I have done my research and comparissons and have the best instrument for my money.
i saw a fender twin being sold for $800 on craigslist. that seems like a cheap price. i guess amps will be coming down in price too. thanks for the videos!
I'm enjoying your videos very much. You're very knowledgeable and you speak clearly and pragmatically. Much appreciated. Have a great day.
The entire market was squeezed by the inability for companies to produce. People went from first to second choice on guitars, to third and eventually to just "give me any ****ing guitar I can actually buy and have delivered this month". I dont think the market will do another 2008, but it appears in all collecting hobbies there is going to be a noticeable correction. In fact, things will likely overshoot equilibrium the other way for a bit before stabilizing again, assuming we don't have any other major events. It remains to be seen if the looming boomer retirements/deaths, which are simply an inevitable consequence of the passage of time, also start putting downward pressure on prices. We're about to experience a massive shift of wealth and a lot of guitars are gonna get sold by kids of players which is normal and fine by itself, but there's a LOT more boomers than any other generation so... not sure the money or interest is there to soak up the stuff coming onto the market.
DOL is doing unthinkable gymnastics to get their unemployment numbers. you're considered employed if you work 1 hour per week.
Is that a blonde refin fender jag behind you?
Here are the things I am seeing, a mid end type guitar (Schecter, Ibanez, and my current interest Hagstrom) seems to be able to be had above $450 at some times, and usually never above $1000 even for their most expensive models. However, the difference between their new and used/b stock prices is usually around $200-300. Gibson and Fender actually are more likely to have differences in new vs. used price because of initial price tag vs. market demand. In my head I should be able to buy a used Gibson Les Paul Studio for somewhere between $900-$1500… based on prices of the last few years and which model it actually is (this can’t be understated, not all guitars are created equally). However, that could easily sneak back down to $650-$1200 if the demand needs of players changes. But, sometimes you pay based on availability, versus the actual value. I encourage anyone wanting one of the new “overpriced” Epiphones to give those a shot, they are pretty cool, if you don’t want to wait for used to go down.
The guitar manufacturers in Asia have absolutely flooded the guitar market. The quality is unreal - but the whole market is presently build on constant, never ending growth. I know people who own over 20 guitars and have only been playing for 3 years. They are picking up Vibes and Epiphones for $250. The used guitar market is NOT the economy.
Saturation. Unbelievable amount of used guitars out there today. The talent pool is also saturated with unbelievable players/musicians who cannot make a living from what they do
I was looking at PRS guitars from a local dealer like 6 months ago, darn expensive guitars. They've since had another price hike it seems. None of them are moving.
New Sub here. Mark, did you run Mark's Guitar Loft at the Lee Traffic Circle, once upon a time? Had a sweet tummy-rub addicted Golden Retriever named Maggie? If so, we've done biz before. Either way, I'll be stopping in to see you ~ hopefully, soon! 🎸
I buy cheap kits and then upgrade the parts and spend a lot of time on the neck...sanding and shaping it to my like and rolling the fretboard edges and rounding the fret edges along with a crown and polish job. The end result is a guitar that cost less than $180 in parts ...but plays and sounds as good or better than anything less than a $1,000 has any right too ! I need a catchy name for them...any ideas ?
Frankenstrat?
Dagwoods 🎸🥪
(like the sandwich w/everything)
@@charlie-obrien I kinda like that ! Your in the lead ! Who knows ...if I sell a few ....I may have to send you one free !
@@wisdomoverfear2685
Make mine with extra mayo,,,,er mojo!
The used guitar market with very rare exception is softer than I've ever seen it. I have 65 guitars and I'm trying to offload some as I get older. I don't play as much as I used to and it's time to part with at least half my stable. The issue is, the market is literally flooded and the price a buyer is willing to pay is ridiculously low. I've decided to just keep mine and pass them on to the kids when my ticket gets punched. LOL I'd rather hold on to them than sell even one for such a ridiculously low price. The market is also flooded with very inexpensive imports. The fact is, some of them are insanely great instruments. The entire dynamic in the guitar business has shifted.
Really appreciate your views on this topic. I had a couple of used (non vintage) strats and needed perspective on how best to price and sell, given market conditions. You really helped me, and I was able to sell pretty quick at fair/reasonable price points on both of them. PS Your view on economy if way off. Too much money in supply chasing core goods/housing/energy/transpo is killing families with inflation, prices up 20% in these categories since Biden took office.
People do not sell their "extra" guitars unless they need the money! Pure and simple. They don't sell them because of a fiction of their imagination. Its not a perception that the dollar is not worth the same amount as it was 4 years ago. Its worth about 20 % less, that is a fact. So when the cost of food, energy, taxes and the like go up, people sell their extra stuff so they can buy what they need. I agree the market is flooded but it is not because people are tricked into thinking the economy is bad, its because they need the money or many people bought guitars during the pandemic and never really learned to play and they want to get rid of their gear. This is much more likely.
Love to hear this perspective. We hear way too much from the usual guitar influencer who's just trying to make money on affiliate links. It's good to hear from the POV of a shop owner.
If you're not on unemployment , you are not counted in the employee numbers or the unemployment numbers