You've just won a VS Audio Operation Trinity Distortion pedal Amit! Please send me a private message on UA-cam and I will organise it for you! Well done mate, I have never seen anyone so quick to comment before so you're a deserving winner mate! 😀😀😀👍 #congrats . It's an old school horror movie poster called White Zombie - it's from the 1930's! I'll post a video up tomorrow regarding this giveaway. Well done.
I own a Carvin DC-135 and have since about 2001. I had it built for me. You can have it when you pry it from my cold, dead hands... it is simply the best guitar that I own or have ever owned. I have Fenders and Gibsons that I have purchased before and after my Carvin, but my Carvin has ALWAYS been my main axe. There is no replacing what that guitar can do. All that said I do agree that the resale is abysmal, to the point where I would only get a third of what I paid to have it built. The dollar for dollar ratio that you can get by flipping a Fender or a Gibson compared to the Carvin is mind-blowing especially since I believe the Carvin gives you better quality for the money than either the Fender or Gibson offerings that are available. I bought that guitar to keep, it was a HUGE leap of faith, but it paid off better than I could have ever imagined. Thanks for the videos... I love the channel!
Just discovered your channel. Good work. I had a guitar shop for years. Look at the production numbers for the manufacturers and be astounded. There just aren't enough players to soak up the inventory. Add to that the volume requirements that those mfg'rs put on dealers and you'll see that they must move those guitars or lose their dealerships. It's a mess. Then consider MAP (minimum advertised price) that mfg'rs allow.... man it's dog eat dog for dealers. NEVER pay retail for any instrument. Having owned all of the prestige lines and models myself, I will never again overpay for a label. I went through the "buy American" phase. After having some expensive guitars dinged, damaged or scratched while playing out, and losing a lot of resale value instantaneously, I won't do that again. Asia makes GREAT guitars at affordable prices and there is no worry about a scratch. Rock on.
My pride and joy is a 1975 ibanez Les Paul custom with a set neck. When I play it unplugged my young bloke says he can tell it’s the Ibanez because it is much louder than the others. Don’t know what it’s worth and I don’t care. It will never be for sale!
I've got a similar guitar, gold top. I had to repot the pickups but I'd put that baby up against any LP. In fact, some of my band mates prefer it to their LP.
Agreed . Sadly..I'd actually buy a new Heritage before I would a new Gibson. I'm thinking the quality level and attention to detail would be there at the old Kalamazoo plant
I've got 3 Ibanez and there's no way I'll sell them. beautiful players. I think a lot of the resale issue is brand snobbery...is that a word? snobbery...it is now.
I am with you on that, I find my Ibanez guitars play better, sound better and I have had people offer to buy them from me. I disagree with what he is saying about the resale value (with respect) of Ibanez.
I Have An Ibanez SR505 Bass & A Ibanez Semi Acoustic Jazz Model. Recently I Got My Stratocaster Out Of Hock & Was SHOCKED To See That Someone Had Sold Or Defaulted On 3 Ibanez Guitars (One An 8 String!!!). It Was A Mini Collection (You Could Tell That They All Came From One Person) & I Felt Like I Was At Guitar Center!!! 😯
When a guitar looses a lot of it's value when 2nd hand, it really tells me that the new retail price was too much to start with, to coin a phrase, "a fool and his money are easily parted".
I have 2, a DC400CW and a more recent SC6 w/ burled maple cap/honeyburst. They cost $1850 and $2200 respectively, built ~just~ how I wanted in terms of material/hardware. Since people who haven't played one just have no idea, it's no wonder they're hard to try to get one's money back out of. My first pro stage guitar was a black 1970 Carvin SC150; I saw it in 1983 at We Buy Guitars on 48th St. in NYC, hung in the window amidst a bunch of $200-250 Epi LPs and L6Ss.....price: $195, and it was the only one with a brass nut, 24 fret ebony board, coil cuts and series/parallel! I used that one incredibly-versatile guitar on stage for 25 years, and gave it to my brother when I 'retired'. No; I'll never sell either of the ones I've got now (and I'd be afraid to find out what the used market is for such 'factory direct' products that were never sold to dealers).... I'm so used to 'Carvin tone' that 3 of my other guitars have M22SD bridge pickups, and the Warmoth Strat I built has a full S-S-H p/u set from Carvin (2 SC11s and an M22SD).
Austin,I think you have misunderstood. This is about guitars which are difficult to get a good second hand price for and nothing to do with quality. I know from experience Gibson have a very high resale value.
I bought 2 Godin LG HMB guitars on eBay for $US 270 and 325, including shipping. They're both excellent guitars: Seymour Duncan pickups, split coil switching, very playable necks, great headstock angles. They're not as sexy as a Les Paul, but I'd put them up against any LP for under $2K in a blindfold test. I said it before in your "Part 1" video, but I'll reiterate that I would like to see any numbers to support the idea that Fender's have great resale value. I had an '89 AS Strat that I sold for *much* less than I had hoped. I tracked about 10 of so similar models in both eBay and Reverb and the asking prices were in line with what I was hoping for, but *all* of them came down dramatically in price before they sold - by hundreds of dollars.
Hi Shane, I agree on some of those models BUT I think your incorrect with it in regard to Ibanez.. You have too remember your left handed and any second hand left handed guitar will be harder too sell and therefore worth less....
It warms my heart to see at least 2 posters from shows at Antone's, one of my favorite places in town. The new place is great, and Gary Clark, Jr. is involved in the new ownership.
Hey Shane on the first list, you had Reverand guitars. I don't know much about them. I checked here in Germany. eBay they are running between 850-1100 euros for used tele-ish style guitars and something called a Bayonet. kind of a hybrid if a tele and a Jazzmaster got together and had a kid. lol. I did notice they make quite a few lefty's though. There were 4 of them in one page. To me, they looked a bit quirky. But in reality, how difficult must it be to come up with some original design of electric guitar... Bob in Germany
It’s true. That’s why if you look at market place they will often leave the pic of the head stick out. I’m 49 been planning since 12 and I’m guilty as well. But I grew up on guitar player magazine 🤷♂️
Super vid! I love Godin.. but I have a hard time with their modern satin finishes. Their Trans-finishes are stellar. Check out the Godin Radiator .. Unique chambered w/custom pickups.
I bought a Godin over a Strat because the pickups sound much better than the Fenders under $1500 I played. Went in to buy a Fender too. The neck also feels great. The look I admit is not as nice but sound and play-ability are incredible.
I would've vouched for the Lag guitars, particularly their master built French series, but there doesn't seem to be much of a market for those, because I've barely seen them crop up. I've been on the lookout for their Lâg The Blues series, as well as a dark red Lâg Jet JV2000 in Dark Cherry, to no avail
I wonder how well people do with reselling iconic brands but less iconic models... like the Gibson Les Paul Studio, SG special, ES 339, Fender Telecaster Thin line instead of the standard etc. I need to a trip to Australia to scoop a deal or two!
Godin used to ghost build for Kramer Guitars. (If you look at an old Kramer the back plate says "Kramer, USA" or sometimes even "Kramer, NJ USA"...but that was the location of the company, NOT the guitar factory.
Based on your list you can add Schecter and Michael Kelly Guitars. Also some of the higher end Epiphone models that are great guitars but have little value on the used market. Basically, anything that isn't a Gibson or a Fender.
Shane, great content - your channel is an original! Do you have a video of guitars with BEST resale value? I want to replace my Gibson Les Paul Standard with something new but I want to make sure I can resell it down the road. Thnx mate.
I bought an Ibanez RG 470, made in Japan, in 1990, for around $450 USD with case.. Around 2010 I started putting it up for sale and people wouldn't even offer $200. I think one reason is because there are just so many RGs and so many bodies and necks that people use to build their customized version. I kept it and fortunately I've seen in eBay that prices seem to have risen for the MIJ models.
These are the honourable mentions of guitars that could of made the original video list. This list is compiled from the overwhelming amount of people mentioning these brands in the comments of the first video. Thanks to all those who commented and contributed to the original video! Here are the 5 guitar brands I saw most in the comments. 🙂
How about ... EVERY new guitar in the $1,000 price range ... buy a guitar to play it .. and keep it ... that’s called doing your homework ...then when when you’re old ... pass it on to a kid .. or grandkid !!, That’s called ... in my opinion....not worrying about resale ... meanwhile ... rock on 😃🎸
There may be an exception for the non-70's Ibanez guitars. The mid-80's AR Artist series (double cutaway Les Paul style) have not only held their value, they've increased dramatically in value. Some guitars on Ebay are almost $2k US. In 1983, they were $385 new (I was shopping for one at the time). It is crazy when I realize that my 1987 PRS Custom 24 (with the sweet switch) has increased in value by only 80% but the Ibanez Artist has increased in value almost 500%. Maybe PRS should make the next list of guitars that don't increase in value.
The only time I ever played a Carvin was when it was lying around in a studio where I was doing a recording gig. Whatever. I barely remember what it was like -- hardly stuck with me as a must-have. If they want to sell out of catalog rather than in a store, then no one is going to buy them.
..oh and EDWARDs like someone mentioned is also a brand to look out for. Their top models are easily on par with the ESP standard series but fetch low prices 2.hand. Awesome instruments.. I think: In the history of the electric guitar, there have never been so many well built instruments available for an affordable price.. it really is a good time to be a guitarist :)
Great stuff Shane, very informative, the Guitars on your list are heirloom type instruments and should not be resold but kept in the family, they are pieces of art.
I am a lefty too, and regret not picking up a lefty Music Man in a pawn shop a year ago. At the time I didn't know them, and kind of rolled my eyes. And, this was as I was picking it up and and realizing how nicely the neck played. I wont make that mistake again. (It was $300 CAN)
I hate buying market leading stuff due to the price premium, but ONE DAY, when I'm old & maybe arthritic, I WILL sell my gear and DON'T want to take a bath on it, so I ONLY buy good, top shelf "popular model" representations of Fender, Gibson, Martin (all of these bought on steep _"once in a blue moon"_ sales that come up a handful of times per decade). YES, there's beautiful stuff out there. But I just hate knowing I will lose my shirt selling it since nobody knows about these other great brands. :/
Here's a 3 years later economic update on the Godin guitars Shane. Through the Covid Pandemic Godin's are a real hot item here in Canada...new and used. They have always been great value for the $$$, but now they are flying off the shelves...new order times up to a year depending on the model. Very little loss on the used market too. Thanks for the great video!!
Agreed with Carvin/Kiesel. You can get a used $2000+ axe for under a grand. They're my favorite brand (they treat us lefties amazingly!) and own 3...and I'm keeping them :P
So goooooooooooood! Charity shops are always worth a browse for underestimated value! Just letting you know cos I got great ibanez's from them at under 100 £
Shane, you’re absolutely right on the Carvin brand. I custom ordered mine and although it is probably one of the best playing instruments I own I’d be lucky to get half of what it’s worth! Now that they go by the Keisel brand name their custom ordered guitars range more than a Gibson Les Paul Standard and a Fender Elite! Chris
Godin is correct. They are high quality but resale at 40-60% new price. I purchased LGX no synth for $420 used w HSC Immaculate AAA CHERRY FLAME! New price $950. Love it! They have dried up on eBay.
Hey Shane, On your Ibanez bass, is it made in Indonesia? That's where the high end über gorgeous pointy Ibanez guitars are made. Does the serial number start with IC or just C?
I never buy guitars new because nearly all of them have terrible resale value. When I buy used, I not only minimize my loss if I decide to resell but I get great guitars at a price I believe is more in line with what they are truly worth and not all of the retail markup.
In Kiesel's defense, when I priced out a guitar to my preferred specs, the cost of the Kiesel wasn't much more than if I did a partscaster with quality components. Also, most boutique instruments don't have great resale; I believe that's what killed companies like Modulus in the bass world.
I totally agree with you on Heritage guitars. For years I wanted a Gibson ES 330 ( dual -90's ) but didn't want to pay what I felt was for an overpriced guitar. Even used they're expensive. Then I came across the Heritage H530.......it's the same guitar significantly cheaper! Beautiful faded cherry quilted top, Lollar p-90's, made in the old Gibson factory. I'll never ever sell it so I don't have to worry about resale. People who like Gibsons are missing out if they don't investigate Heritage.
I agree with this 100%. Yet everyone on my local Craigslist (Philadelphia, PA) thinks their used gear (the brands mentioned in this video) is worth 90% of the new price. Frustrating...
This may have been mentioned before, but I think that another major contributing factor to Intheblues' experiences is that he's a lefty player. Most lefty instruments cost more because they're in lower demand and some of the manufacturing equipment has to be re-configured for a run of left-handed instruments, add to that the limited resale market on left-handed guitars and you've got a guaranteed price drop. Just trying to add my 2c to a great vid.
Some owners are so shell-shocked at their instrument's depreciation and nearly non-existent offers that they just say, _"fuck it!"_ and put the guitar under their bed to gather dust until the owner passes away or gets gifted. At least you get "something" for a $1000 instrument. Good luck getting _ANYTHING _for a $1000
agreed on the Carvins, got my lefty DC127s for $300 on the 'bay. however, having cleaned and set them up, i'll easily get the same or more for them if i want to sell.
I ordered and own a custom Carvin DC400 and would never even think of selling it and have never even tried to price it on the resale market. The comfort for me is off the chat and others who played it find it way better than the most of the well know products on the market. I do understand that this guitar has some unique tone variation features that probably won't suit most guitarists but it fits my style of playing to a tee. My advice: Before ordering a custom built guitar, make sure it is something specific to your needs and style of play.
intheblues: I own an early-issue Chapman ML2 guitar. While I don't plan to sell it, I would appreciate your opinion about this guitar's approximate resale value. Many thanks.
Good question. While they are the rage their resale is probably okay. Give it a few years once the novelty wears off and odds are they'll be at least a 50-60% drop in resale value. Just my thoughts but I could be wrong as I often am! haha. :-)
What's wrong with the look of the Godin session? Matter of taste I guess :-) At least they show the lefty some love. The finish and the wood grain on the body look amazing. That guitar stays in tunes for weeks no matter how much you bend these strings. It is affordable US$500 to US$600 and with its quality is equivalent to other brands 2 to 3 times its price.
You should look at Epiphone, Yamaha or even lower end Fender (made in mexico) acoustic guitars. Ibanez as well as Cort make some awesome acoustic guitars that now sell for shit prices on Ebay. If you want to buy guitars, do it on Ebay, just make sure the seller posts extremely descriptive photos and read their discriptions. If their description lacks information or doesn't appear to be written by a person who clearly exhibits having guitar knowledge, don't touch it. You could buy it and end up having to spend 50 or more dollars getting it set up properly or worse get it to find out that the wood is warped and the action isn't able to be fixed without paying more than the guitar costs to get it fixed. There's horror stories all over guitar forums. Good luck with the hunt.
Carvin/Kiesel guitars are great. My absolute favorite guitar I own is a used Carvin Bolt I got a few years ago. I think since then their resale value has increased slightly because I paid under $400 for that one and I never see a used Carvin/Kiesel go for that little anymore, although they do lose a significant amount of their value. The downside to them is you may end up paying a lot of money for a custom guitar you'll end up not liking for various reasons. It's a big risk buying an expensive guitar without being able to play it first. Carvin/Kiesel generally isn't nearly as expensive as a high-end Gibson, Fender, PRS or Suhr but they're still not that cheap.
I think it depends on the model, but it seems like many of Rickenbacker's standard run instruments resell for a considerable amount less. I've seen a decent number of newer 4003s go around $1000 and picked up a 330 for a grand. I guess quality depends on who you ask, but I can't complain about mine.
Had a Carvin CT3. Great guitar in every way. I sold it because I was still on my tone quest and had yet to find the type of guitar I really like. My resale was right at 50% of what I paid for it new.
Hi Shane, Ade here - just an FYI that FENDER "Player" series made in China, and "Squier" have almost zero resale and on the Gibson side - most EPIPHONES can be bought for about 60% of what they cost new. as a matter of fact the Epiphone, reIssue of the GENESIS (I have the '79 original) is a pretty nice guitar. Nice sounding and a quality build and those Epi's definitely did Not hold their value at all. At $300 used you have yourself a respectable guitar.
Great list. Heritage, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, do they have anything to do with Gibson? My choice for a hollow body was the Vox Virage. It looks like an ES335, but way cooler and more versatile. It's MIJ, has superb specs and sound, and I bought it for less than 1/3 of its MSRP. Keep shopping around, mates, and you too can find a gem. Don't buy new unless you have too. Kind regards to all.
Wade McReynolds -- Are you sure? According to the serial number on my "Gibson" SG, it was made in Kalamazoo in 2001. But everything is pretty vague these days.
This happens to private luthier made guitars like the Navaro guitars from Puerto Rico , nice guitars but very hard to resell , Alfred Puerto Rico , nice video keep up the good work .
I’m finding that the used market as a whole has tanked. I used to think that 50% of the original price was a great price. But, nowadays, folks will only pay 1/4 or 1/3 of the original price even if it’s mint.
Great follow up video Shane!!! Speaking personally, I would rather spend money on a name brand guitar that I can afford on the used market before looking at other brands even if the price point is lower. Fender Gibson and to a lesser extent PRS have more value to me as brand name as far as build quality and a desire to own a main brand.
Todd Flowers Quite true!!! Since Paul Reed Smith is indifferent to lefties I can probably leave them off the list. The only PRS left handed I see new are between $3k to $7k!!!
This was a fun video or a good catalog for a nice guitar for low cash. I think that some guitars are too "vanilla" or over-the-top with gimmicks. Sometimes, manufacturers had low tone cheap pickups that were thrown away quickly and kept that opinion. Anyone that people feel about their guitar is solid and nothing changes that opinion. The reason: snobbery. A luthier that traveled around the world for the best tonewoods and made it by hand (with a couple of trained luthier) will sell it for an expensive, and justly, the price of the guitar. But, doesn't one makes it with a CNC machine, Joe Blow working at the factory, and in every magazine for an advertisement for the same price? And, it doesn't matter about what you think are "tone" or "superior quality" or "Chinese junk," it is the guitar that you played, loved, and that it happy with that instrument. PS: I have sold a few guitars that I snobbed a guitar and sold it, and feel like with sellers remorse, just trust your love on your instrument.
Very interesting information, some well known brands should hold their value better. Guitars are a very personal item to buy and sell, if you buy one as an investment you are taking a big risk. I bought a mint custom made "Dave Gilmore" stratocaster that must have cost a fortune to build for only £1000, the seller must have lost a lot of money.
I think that maybe 80's Carvins are good value and hold up well. Extremely well made neck though instruments with many bells and whistles. And their pick ups are nice especially the M22 humbuckers.
I live in Israel and honestly, the situation with Ibanez is reversed. In my country Ibanez (at least newer Ibanez guitars) is one of the brands (if not THE brand) who hold their value the most out of everything else on the market. Even some mainstream Ibanez models hold their value amazingly well, last year I sold a cheap Ibanez guitar I had to the store I bought it from and they sold it a couple of months ago for exactly the same price I bought it from, and just a couple of weeks ago I saw an RG Premium 7 string in the used department of the biggest guitar store in the country and it sold for 4200NIS (1200USD) when it's price when it was new was 3500NIS (almost 1000USD), unbelievable, but completely true!
Good segment ..... Lemme add another shocker , getting 1/2 your money back on a Custom Shop Fender ..... My theory is there are too many guitars out there , year after year , and the price of some new ones is north of 3 grand now , some are twice that much ... I paid near 2500 for a Lifeson Les paul which ( are 6500 new now) cuz someone had changed the bridge... . If you're investing or buying cool guitars that will hold their value ...Stick to F or G ........... another factoid is that ... if you can't play , it won't matter....
What is that poster behind you? The one that replaced the red one?
You've just won a VS Audio Operation Trinity Distortion pedal Amit! Please send me a private message on UA-cam and I will organise it for you! Well done mate, I have never seen anyone so quick to comment before so you're a deserving winner mate! 😀😀😀👍 #congrats . It's an old school horror movie poster called White Zombie - it's from the 1930's! I'll post a video up tomorrow regarding this giveaway. Well done.
The one with the zombie
Shoot me a UA-cam message and I will organise the pedal to be sent out to you.
Congrats buddy, a Vs Audio Operation Trinity distortion is yours!!
Thank you Shane!!!
I am having a hard time sending you a private message on UA-cam, can I send you my address on Facebook or email it to you?
So looking at it from a different point of view, these guitars are great to buy used. 😎👍
A more positive name for this post would be: "Quality Guitars you can buy used for a fraction of the original price." ;-)
That's a great spin. So true. Buy used fantastically made guitars with the fat already taken off it.
I agree! Better yet, stop posting videos that drive up the cost. Doh!
I own a Carvin DC-135 and have since about 2001. I had it built for me. You can have it when you pry it from my cold, dead hands... it is simply the best guitar that I own or have ever owned. I have Fenders and Gibsons that I have purchased before and after my Carvin, but my Carvin has ALWAYS been my main axe. There is no replacing what that guitar can do. All that said I do agree that the resale is abysmal, to the point where I would only get a third of what I paid to have it built. The dollar for dollar ratio that you can get by flipping a Fender or a Gibson compared to the Carvin is mind-blowing especially since I believe the Carvin gives you better quality for the money than either the Fender or Gibson offerings that are available. I bought that guitar to keep, it was a HUGE leap of faith, but it paid off better than I could have ever imagined. Thanks for the videos... I love the channel!
Just discovered your channel. Good work. I had a guitar shop for years. Look at the production numbers for the manufacturers and be astounded. There just aren't enough players to soak up the inventory. Add to that the volume requirements that those mfg'rs put on dealers and you'll see that they must move those guitars or lose their dealerships. It's a mess. Then consider MAP (minimum advertised price) that mfg'rs allow.... man it's dog eat dog for dealers. NEVER pay retail for any instrument. Having owned all of the prestige lines and models myself, I will never again overpay for a label. I went through the "buy American" phase. After having some expensive guitars dinged, damaged or scratched while playing out, and losing a lot of resale value instantaneously, I won't do that again. Asia makes GREAT guitars at affordable prices and there is no worry about a scratch. Rock on.
Another great video - really enjoyed part 1 also. Talking from experience I would also inc Dean
My pride and joy is a 1975 ibanez Les Paul custom with a set neck. When I play it unplugged my young bloke says he can tell it’s the Ibanez because it is much louder than the others. Don’t know what it’s worth and I don’t care. It will never be for sale!
I've got a similar guitar, gold top. I had to repot the pickups but I'd put that baby up against any LP. In fact, some of my band mates prefer it to their LP.
Agreed . Sadly..I'd actually buy a new Heritage before I would a new Gibson. I'm thinking the quality level and attention to detail would be there at the old Kalamazoo plant
I've got 3 Ibanez and there's no way I'll sell them. beautiful players. I think a lot of the resale issue is brand snobbery...is that a word? snobbery...it is now.
I am with you on that, I find my Ibanez guitars play better, sound better and I have had people offer to buy them from me. I disagree with what he is saying about the resale value (with respect) of Ibanez.
@Jayden Starr wow, I need to come to Australia with a ton of money. LOL
That and people want something for nothing
I Have An Ibanez SR505 Bass & A Ibanez Semi Acoustic Jazz Model. Recently I Got My Stratocaster Out Of Hock & Was SHOCKED To See That Someone Had Sold Or Defaulted On 3 Ibanez Guitars (One An 8 String!!!). It Was A Mini Collection (You Could Tell That They All Came From One Person) & I Felt Like I Was At Guitar Center!!! 😯
When a guitar looses a lot of it's value when 2nd hand, it really tells me that the new retail price was too much to start with, to coin a phrase, "a fool and his money are easily parted".
my financial planer said guitar ain't for investment 😂 buy a mutual funds 😝
They should direct you to high grade Silver and Golden age comics for investment.
I have a left-handed Godin Exit-22 s since I was 10. I am 15 now and I love this guitar, it’s an amazing instrument.
That Street Cube in the background is seeking my attention. Absolutely amazing piece.
I wondered if you were gonna mention Carvin/Kiesel guitars. They are phenomenal quality & playability.
I have 2, a DC400CW and a more recent SC6 w/ burled maple cap/honeyburst. They cost $1850 and $2200 respectively, built ~just~ how I wanted in terms of material/hardware. Since people who haven't played one just have no idea, it's no wonder they're hard to try to get one's money back out of. My first pro stage guitar was a black 1970 Carvin SC150; I saw it in 1983 at We Buy Guitars on 48th St. in NYC, hung in the window amidst a bunch of $200-250 Epi LPs and L6Ss.....price: $195, and it was the only one with a brass nut, 24 fret ebony board, coil cuts and series/parallel! I used that one incredibly-versatile guitar on stage for 25 years, and gave it to my brother when I 'retired'.
No; I'll never sell either of the ones I've got now (and I'd be afraid to find out what the used market is for such 'factory direct' products that were never sold to dealers)....
I'm so used to 'Carvin tone' that 3 of my other guitars have M22SD bridge pickups, and the Warmoth Strat I built has a full S-S-H p/u set from Carvin (2 SC11s and an M22SD).
Great list. I always think resale. Even on every "this guitar is a keeper" I've said that before :)
Well gibson can't make this list because there hasn't been quality in years!
😂
Austin,I think you have misunderstood. This is about guitars which are difficult to get a good second hand price for and nothing to do with quality. I know from experience Gibson have a very high resale value.
+kingstumble Reread the title of the video.
Hint: third word in.
You're an idiot
Seriously though somebody else needs to buy Gibson and turn it around.
I bought 2 Godin LG HMB guitars on eBay for $US 270 and 325, including shipping. They're both excellent guitars: Seymour Duncan pickups, split coil switching, very playable necks, great headstock angles. They're not as sexy as a Les Paul, but I'd put them up against any LP for under $2K in a blindfold test.
I said it before in your "Part 1" video, but I'll reiterate that I would like to see any numbers to support the idea that Fender's have great resale value. I had an '89 AS Strat that I sold for *much* less than I had hoped. I tracked about 10 of so similar models in both eBay and Reverb and the asking prices were in line with what I was hoping for, but *all* of them came down dramatically in price before they sold - by hundreds of dollars.
Hi Shane, I agree on some of those models BUT I think your incorrect with it in regard to Ibanez.. You have too remember your left handed and any second hand left handed guitar will be harder too sell and therefore worth less....
It warms my heart to see at least 2 posters from shows at Antone's, one of my favorite places in town. The new place is great, and Gary Clark, Jr. is involved in the new ownership.
Excellent video, could you do a top like this about stomp boxes and amps PLEASE!!
Hey Shane on the first list, you had Reverand guitars. I don't know much about them. I checked here in Germany. eBay they are running between 850-1100 euros for used tele-ish style guitars and something called a Bayonet. kind of a hybrid if a tele and a Jazzmaster got together and had a kid. lol. I did notice they make quite a few lefty's though. There were 4 of them in one page. To me, they looked a bit quirky. But in reality, how difficult must it be to come up with some original design of electric guitar... Bob in Germany
Love your fender amp comparison vids. If you ever get the change please compare the 65 and the new handwired 64 reissue fender deluxe blackface amps
Thanks Shane!!! I just went over to Reverb and scored a nice used Godin Icon Type 3 (Lollar P90's) for a very reasonable price.
Once again you have put together a great true top 5, thanks!
It’s true. That’s why if you look at market place they will often leave the pic of the head stick out. I’m 49 been planning since 12 and I’m guilty as well. But I grew up on guitar player magazine 🤷♂️
Live in Canada, literally have never heard anyone pronounce it Godan.....I refuse to change.
SRNF you have to pronounce it like a Quebecois. Doesn't translate well in Aussie! 😂
Super vid!
I love Godin.. but I have a hard time with their modern satin finishes. Their Trans-finishes are stellar. Check out the Godin Radiator .. Unique chambered w/custom pickups.
I own both a G&L and Godin electric guitars. Gotta say, they might have horrible resell value, but they happened to be two of my favorite guitars
I bought a Godin over a Strat because the pickups sound much better than the Fenders under $1500 I played. Went in to buy a Fender too. The neck also feels great. The look I admit is not as nice but sound and play-ability are incredible.
What brands are left? Seems like more LOSE value than hold or gain $$$
I would've vouched for the Lag guitars, particularly their master built French series, but there doesn't seem to be much of a market for those, because I've barely seen them crop up.
I've been on the lookout for their Lâg The Blues series, as well as a dark red Lâg Jet JV2000 in Dark Cherry, to no avail
I wonder how well people do with reselling iconic brands but less iconic models... like the Gibson Les Paul Studio, SG special, ES 339, Fender Telecaster Thin line instead of the standard etc.
I need to a trip to Australia to scoop a deal or two!
Godin used to ghost build for Kramer Guitars. (If you look at an old Kramer the back plate says "Kramer, USA" or sometimes even "Kramer, NJ USA"...but that was the location of the company, NOT the guitar factory.
Gday mate,what do you think of the resale value of ESP/Edwards guitars? Ive got a 335 Edwards made in Japan guitar and love it
Based on your list you can add Schecter and Michael Kelly Guitars. Also some of the higher end Epiphone models that are great guitars but have little value on the used market. Basically, anything that isn't a Gibson or a Fender.
Shane, great content - your channel is an original! Do you have a video of guitars with BEST resale value? I want to replace my Gibson Les Paul Standard with something new but I want to make sure I can resell it down the road. Thnx mate.
I bought an Ibanez RG 470, made in Japan, in 1990, for around $450 USD with case.. Around 2010 I started putting it up for sale and people wouldn't even offer $200. I think one reason is because there are just so many RGs and so many bodies and necks that people use to build their customized version. I kept it and fortunately I've seen in eBay that prices seem to have risen for the MIJ models.
5. Godin (Canada)
4. Framus (Germany
3. Ibanez (Modern)
2. Heritage(USA)
1. Carvin/Kiesel(USA)
These are the honourable mentions of guitars that could of made the original video list. This list is compiled from the overwhelming amount of people mentioning these brands in the comments of the first video. Thanks to all those who commented and contributed to the original video! Here are the 5 guitar brands I saw most in the comments. 🙂
Am I The Only One Who Thinks Fender Should Be One Of Them...........Yes Okay
How about ... EVERY new guitar in the $1,000 price range ... buy a guitar to play it .. and keep it ...
that’s called doing your homework ...then when when you’re old ... pass it on to a kid .. or grandkid !!,
That’s called ... in my opinion....not worrying about resale ... meanwhile ... rock on 😃🎸
There may be an exception for the non-70's Ibanez guitars. The mid-80's AR Artist series (double cutaway Les Paul style) have not only held their value, they've increased dramatically in value. Some guitars on Ebay are almost $2k US. In 1983, they were $385 new (I was shopping for one at the time). It is crazy when I realize that my 1987 PRS Custom 24 (with the sweet switch) has increased in value by only 80% but the Ibanez Artist has increased in value almost 500%. Maybe PRS should make the next list of guitars that don't increase in value.
The only time I ever played a Carvin was when it was lying around in a studio where I was doing a recording gig. Whatever. I barely remember what it was like -- hardly stuck with me as a must-have. If they want to sell out of catalog rather than in a store, then no one is going to buy them.
Which shops do you recommend to buy used guitars form? Mainly sydney or melbourne.
..oh and EDWARDs like someone mentioned is also a brand to look out for. Their top models are easily on par with the ESP standard series but fetch low prices 2.hand. Awesome instruments.. I think: In the history of the electric guitar, there have never been so many well built instruments available for an affordable price.. it really is a good time to be a guitarist :)
Great stuff Shane, very informative, the Guitars on your list are heirloom type instruments and should not be resold but kept in the family, they are pieces of art.
I am a lefty too, and regret not picking up a lefty Music Man in a pawn shop a year ago. At the time I didn't know them, and kind of rolled my eyes. And, this was as I was picking it up and and realizing how nicely the neck played. I wont make that mistake again. (It was $300 CAN)
I hate buying market leading stuff due to the price premium, but ONE DAY, when I'm old & maybe arthritic, I WILL sell my gear and DON'T want to take a bath on it, so I ONLY buy good, top shelf "popular model" representations of Fender, Gibson, Martin (all of these bought on steep _"once in a blue moon"_ sales that come up a handful of times per decade). YES, there's beautiful stuff out there. But I just hate knowing I will lose my shirt selling it since nobody knows about these other great brands. :/
Here's a 3 years later economic update on the Godin guitars Shane. Through the Covid Pandemic Godin's are a real hot item here in Canada...new and used. They have always been great value for the $$$, but now they are flying off the shelves...new order times up to a year depending on the model. Very little loss on the used market too. Thanks for the great video!!
Agreed with Carvin/Kiesel. You can get a used $2000+ axe for under a grand. They're my favorite brand (they treat us lefties amazingly!) and own 3...and I'm keeping them :P
So goooooooooooood! Charity shops are always worth a browse for underestimated value! Just letting you know cos I got great ibanez's from them at under 100 £
Shane, you’re absolutely right on the Carvin brand. I custom ordered mine and although it is probably one of the best playing instruments I own I’d be lucky to get half of what it’s worth!
Now that they go by the Keisel brand name their custom ordered guitars range more than a Gibson Les Paul Standard and a Fender Elite!
Chris
Thanks Chris. :-)
So if it doesn't say Fender or Gibson on the headstock you are gonna get kicked in the balls when it comes to selling your guitar?
Godin is correct. They are high quality but resale at 40-60% new price. I purchased LGX no synth for $420 used w HSC Immaculate AAA CHERRY FLAME! New price $950. Love it! They have dried up on eBay.
Hey Shane, On your Ibanez bass, is it made in Indonesia? That's where the high end über gorgeous pointy Ibanez guitars are made. Does the serial number start with IC or just C?
Those ARE good 1s, esp the Godins & Heritage. Made IN the old Gibbo factory in Kalamazoo, BY ex Gibbo luthiers!
EXACTLY my point Mick!
My best gear score was Ibanez an RG927QMF. It retailed for $999 but I picked it up for like $350. It was just an insane deal.
I never buy guitars new because nearly all of them have terrible resale value. When I buy used, I not only minimize my loss if I decide to resell but I get great guitars at a price I believe is more in line with what they are truly worth and not all of the retail markup.
The only Ibanez guitar that I ever liked is the Iceman and those aren't cheap, but you are quite right about the others.
In Kiesel's defense, when I priced out a guitar to my preferred specs, the cost of the Kiesel wasn't much more than if I did a partscaster with quality components. Also, most boutique instruments don't have great resale; I believe that's what killed companies like Modulus in the bass world.
I totally agree with you on Heritage guitars. For years I wanted a Gibson ES 330 ( dual -90's ) but didn't want to pay what I felt was for an overpriced guitar. Even used they're expensive. Then I came across the Heritage H530.......it's the same guitar significantly cheaper! Beautiful faded cherry quilted top, Lollar p-90's, made in the old Gibson factory. I'll never ever sell it so I don't have to worry about resale. People who like Gibsons are missing out if they don't investigate Heritage.
I agree with this 100%. Yet everyone on my local Craigslist (Philadelphia, PA) thinks their used gear (the brands mentioned in this video) is worth 90% of the new price. Frustrating...
This may have been mentioned before, but I think that another major contributing factor to Intheblues' experiences is that he's a lefty player. Most lefty instruments cost more because they're in lower demand and some of the manufacturing equipment has to be re-configured for a run of left-handed instruments, add to that the limited resale market on left-handed guitars and you've got a guaranteed price drop. Just trying to add my 2c to a great vid.
The pics you showed for #5 and #4 looked like what would happen if a Strat and a Tele had a baby together! Inbred Fender guitars??? 😳
haha :-) Classic.
Craig Fussell they made a strat tele hybrid for 2018.
Some owners are so shell-shocked at their instrument's depreciation and nearly non-existent offers that they just say, _"fuck it!"_ and put the guitar under their bed to gather dust until the owner passes away or gets gifted. At least you get "something" for a $1000 instrument. Good luck getting _ANYTHING _for a $1000
I agree with everything you're saying in this and the companion video...my biggest takeaway is that I'm going to start saying "Done your dough".
agreed on the Carvins, got my lefty DC127s for $300 on the 'bay. however, having cleaned and set them up, i'll easily get the same or more for them if i want to sell.
I've never played a Carvin, they may well play great but, the overriding image in my head is pure 80's hair metal. Are they good for anything else?
I agree with this list much more than the first one, but then both are great. Thanks Shane
I ordered and own a custom Carvin DC400 and would never even think of selling it and have never even tried to price it on the resale market. The comfort for me is off the chat and others who played it find it way better than the most of the well know products on the market. I do understand that this guitar has some unique tone variation features that probably won't suit most guitarists but it fits my style of playing to a tee. My advice: Before ordering a custom built guitar, make sure it is something specific to your needs and style of play.
Agreed, I bought an Ibanez Darkstone dn500 with a bare knuckle in the bridge to £75
Hey what about the five top guitars that have good resale value?
intheblues: I own an early-issue Chapman ML2 guitar. While I don't plan to sell it, I would appreciate your opinion about this guitar's approximate resale value. Many thanks.
Good question. While they are the rage their resale is probably okay. Give it a few years once the novelty wears off and odds are they'll be at least a 50-60% drop in resale value. Just my thoughts but I could be wrong as I often am! haha. :-)
Rehdman6444 I'd buy a Chapman for any price, so don't worry if you want to sell it
There's an Ibanez premium sa in my local guitar store for roughly $1800, I saw one on eBay going for $450!
What's wrong with the look of the Godin session? Matter of taste I guess :-) At least they show the lefty some love. The finish and the wood grain on the body look amazing. That guitar stays in tunes for weeks no matter how much you bend these strings. It is affordable US$500 to US$600 and with its quality is equivalent to other brands 2 to 3 times its price.
Great video. Can you do a vid on acoustics? I'm looking for a quality/affordable brand. I buy to play, not sell.
You should look at Epiphone, Yamaha or even lower end Fender (made in mexico) acoustic guitars. Ibanez as well as Cort make some awesome acoustic guitars that now sell for shit prices on Ebay. If you want to buy guitars, do it on Ebay, just make sure the seller posts extremely descriptive photos and read their discriptions. If their description lacks information or doesn't appear to be written by a person who clearly exhibits having guitar knowledge, don't touch it.
You could buy it and end up having to spend 50 or more dollars getting it set up properly or worse get it to find out that the wood is warped and the action isn't able to be fixed without paying more than the guitar costs to get it fixed. There's horror stories all over guitar forums.
Good luck with the hunt.
Carvin/Kiesel guitars are great. My absolute favorite guitar I own is a used Carvin Bolt I got a few years ago. I think since then their resale value has increased slightly because I paid under $400 for that one and I never see a used Carvin/Kiesel go for that little anymore, although they do lose a significant amount of their value. The downside to them is you may end up paying a lot of money for a custom guitar you'll end up not liking for various reasons. It's a big risk buying an expensive guitar without being able to play it first. Carvin/Kiesel generally isn't nearly as expensive as a high-end Gibson, Fender, PRS or Suhr but they're still not that cheap.
I think it depends on the model, but it seems like many of Rickenbacker's standard run instruments resell for a considerable amount less. I've seen a decent number of newer 4003s go around $1000 and picked up a 330 for a grand. I guess quality depends on who you ask, but I can't complain about mine.
Had a Carvin CT3. Great guitar in every way. I sold it because I was still on my tone quest and had yet to find the type of guitar I really like. My resale was right at 50% of what I paid for it new.
Hi Shane, Ade here - just an FYI that FENDER "Player" series made in China, and "Squier" have almost zero resale and on the Gibson side - most EPIPHONES can be bought for about 60% of what they cost new. as a matter of fact the Epiphone, reIssue of the GENESIS (I have the '79 original) is a pretty nice guitar. Nice sounding and a quality build and those Epi's definitely did Not hold their value at all. At $300 used you have yourself a respectable guitar.
How about a top 5 ALL SOLID WOOD off brand acoustic 6 string guitars that don't hold their value. Blueridge, Rainsong, Maton are some suggestions.
Great list. Heritage, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, do they have anything to do with Gibson? My choice for a hollow body was the Vox Virage. It looks like an ES335, but way cooler and more versatile. It's MIJ, has superb specs and sound, and I bought it for less than 1/3 of its MSRP. Keep shopping around, mates, and you too can find a gem. Don't buy new unless you have too. Kind regards to all.
Heritage was formed by employees at Gibson's Kalamazoo factory after Gibson left in the eighties.
Wade McReynolds -- Are you sure? According to the serial number on my "Gibson" SG, it was made in Kalamazoo in 2001. But everything is pretty vague these days.
They are holding their price here in US
This happens to private luthier made guitars like the Navaro guitars from Puerto Rico , nice guitars but very hard to resell , Alfred Puerto Rico , nice video keep up the good work .
Ibanez same as Jackson, IMO. Pointy shredder guitars just don't sell. At least not in Canada...
Godin also make Acoustic entry-level guitars called Seagull that are very well made and sound great. I've got one & I'll never sell it.
I've had my eye on Seagull for quite a while. The wider nut width is something I'd love to try.
No ESP guitars?
I am with you on the Ibanez MIJ, late 79’s early 80’s.
Trust me, anything left handed you take a bath on. I'm a lefty and have bought 3 and all well below their value if they were right handed
it is pretty good to know this stuff, but for me, guitars are one of those things that I really just don't sell... lol
I’m finding that the used market as a whole has tanked. I used to think that 50% of the original price was a great price. But, nowadays, folks will only pay 1/4 or 1/3 of the original price even if it’s mint.
The carvin Keisal was a big surprise !
Great follow up video Shane!!! Speaking personally, I would rather spend money on a name brand guitar that I can afford on the used market before looking at other brands even if the price point is lower. Fender Gibson and to a lesser extent PRS have more value to me as brand name as far as build quality and a desire to own a main brand.
Jamal I agree with you but PRS have a terrible resale value so if you buy one be sure it's a keeper !:-)(Or get it used cheap!) Take care man !
godin and carvin guitars are actually of a higher quality than the 'big two', so there's that to think of.
Todd Flowers Quite true!!! Since Paul Reed Smith is indifferent to lefties I can probably leave them off the list. The only PRS left handed I see new are between $3k to $7k!!!
I know! You would think he would try and cater to lefties to grab some more sales .
kindisc They just might be but I love Strats And Les Pauls.
Possible alternative title - guitars Bella Chi buys. Glad I really love my PRS & Godin Guitars, and bought them used on reverb.
I bought a used Framus Earl Slick Signature Model for about €1000 a couple of years ago, even at that price I lost money when I sold it.
This was a fun video or a good catalog for a nice guitar for low cash. I think that some guitars are too "vanilla" or over-the-top with gimmicks. Sometimes, manufacturers had low tone cheap pickups that were thrown away quickly and kept that opinion. Anyone that people feel about their guitar is solid and nothing changes that opinion. The reason: snobbery. A luthier that traveled around the world for the best tonewoods and made it by hand (with a couple of trained luthier) will sell it for an expensive, and justly, the price of the guitar. But, doesn't one makes it with a CNC machine, Joe Blow working at the factory, and in every magazine for an advertisement for the same price? And, it doesn't matter about what you think are "tone" or "superior quality" or "Chinese junk," it is the guitar that you played, loved, and that it happy with that instrument. PS: I have sold a few guitars that I snobbed a guitar and sold it, and feel like with sellers remorse, just trust your love on your instrument.
Very interesting information, some well known brands should hold their value better.
Guitars are a very personal item to buy and sell, if you buy one as an investment you are taking a big risk.
I bought a mint custom made "Dave Gilmore" stratocaster that must have cost a fortune to build for only £1000,
the seller must have lost a lot of money.
The main reason that Carvin doesn't resell well, is that they don't sell retail. And not all their axes are custom. You can order them stock.
ROOKTABULA, and they no longer exists.
I think that maybe 80's Carvins are good value and hold up well. Extremely well made neck though instruments with many bells and whistles. And their pick ups are nice especially the M22 humbuckers.
Yes, I agree with the two videos, I have been selling guitars for over 40 years.
I live in Israel and honestly, the situation with Ibanez is reversed. In my country Ibanez (at least newer Ibanez guitars) is one of the brands (if not THE brand) who hold their value the most out of everything else on the market.
Even some mainstream Ibanez models hold their value amazingly well, last year I sold a cheap Ibanez guitar I had to the store I bought it from and they sold it a couple of months ago for exactly the same price I bought it from, and just a couple of weeks ago I saw an RG Premium 7 string in the used department of the biggest guitar store in the country and it sold for 4200NIS (1200USD) when it's price when it was new was 3500NIS (almost 1000USD), unbelievable, but completely true!
Good segment ..... Lemme add another shocker , getting 1/2 your money back on a Custom Shop Fender ..... My theory is there are too many guitars out there , year after year , and the price of some new ones is north of 3 grand now , some are twice that much ... I paid near 2500 for a Lifeson Les paul which ( are 6500 new now) cuz someone had changed the bridge... . If you're investing or buying cool guitars that will hold their value ...Stick to F or G ........... another factoid is that ... if you can't play , it won't matter....