Noticing this on Craigslist. Tons of gear, all the same things have been listed for over a year, and every seller is saying, "I know what I have, no lowball offers!"
Honestly, when there are these new low cost brands making guitars as good or better than the quality of the Squires and Epiphones of the world, those used guitars will sit on FB MP and eBay and Reverb til they rot.
I ordered a firefly strat for 189 bucks it had a bone nut,locking tuners, nice canada roasted flame maple neck. I put lollars in it, a new jack. It's one of the best guitars i own @slackers_unite
@stahliwood8755 I bought the IYV-350 for under $200. That thing plays, sounds, and looks incredible. I'm not touring the world so I can't see paying a couple of grand for a guitar that I play a few times a week.
I do the same thing. I also equate each hour of play to $1. So, if I buy a guitar for $1000, play it for 300 hours, then sell it for $700, I feel like I broke even.
You remind me of my friend Todd that passed away. He was one of my most supportive and helpful friends and had a really laid back /welcoming vibe like you have 🙏
Exactly. I don't know why everyone thought it would go on forever. It's a great time to keep the guitars you own and enjoy them. A year from now it will be a great time to buy the guitar you've been wanting if you can afford it. Compared to other hobbies, guitar playing/music is still really affordable.
@@Guitarrulez Every year is THE year to buy the guitar you’ve been wanting. I guess you missed the most important part of his comment, “…if you can afford it.”
10 місяців тому+2
Guitars deteriorate unless they are stored in a humidified environment. In dry AZ where I live it really does destroy them.
The utter BS that happens year after year with ski/snowboarding passes is a great example of "go f*** yourself." So yes playing guitar and other instruments can be more cost effective. Until you get into the world of synthesizers.
There was a time of yard sales and thrift stores, now everyone is intoxicated with antiques and collectables. I'm looking forward to the guitar apocalypse, it's a restoration of sanity. Perhaps people can enjoy inexpensive things someday again. In the end a rare beany baby is still a stuffed animal.
Sadly the days of bargains are over. Pawn shops, consignment stores, estate purchasers etc. can check whatever it is they have on the internet and assume a price they think they should be getting. And it's not helped by people who will snap anything up if they think they can flip it for a few bucks.
I've found bargains, you just have to look harder and have the knowledge necessary to succeed. Just today I found 2 great deals on high quality semi-hollows, not including one I found on a jazz bass and it took me like half an hour. As long as you're not ultra picky with the exact model you want you'll find deals. There's a big difference between "I want a deal on an american Fender Stratocaster" and "I want a good deal on a Fender American Original '60s Stratocaster", the latter will be way harder to find because it's a rather particular model, and most people who know what they have will reasonably want to sell around market price. You're also almost never gonna find anything worth getting on online storefronts like Reverb, looking locally will help you because there are a lot of people who are selling for low locally simply to avoid the hassle of online sales.
Truth. I don't collect stuff. about the only time I sell a guitar is when I get a guitar stolen flying thru Newark .....Then I get a new guitar. Go figure.
This is my mantra. I have owned up to 200 instruments at a time, now down in the 30 range. I love everything but a couple special purpose things I guess I kept for weird romantic notion.
Good video. I started playing guitar 28 years ago. I still play every day. I always reminded myself of just how much guitars depreciate. Always keep them if you can, even if you're in a financial bind. So when I bought my first brand new decent guitar in 1997, a Gibson Les Paul Studio Lite, I told myself, "You're keeping this... forever. And you're going to like it." And until this very day after 28 years of play, I kept it and I liked it. Same thing goes for my Fender Custom Shop American Standard Strat. I bought it new a decade ago and I kept it and I liked it. So my best advice to younger musicians out there is to buy a high quality new guitar and hold on to it. You'll be happy you did.
@@tylerhawksmoor9601But you’re missing his point. He kept one piece of gear for literally 28 years. And at the end of the day a guitar is a guitar. I have been doing the same thing. KEEPING the stuff I have longer and just playing those rather than shelling out for new guitar and new gear every year. Because whether it’s on my Jackson Pro Series Dinky or my LTD Alexi Ripped I’m still jamming to children of bodom. But as I’ve started to hold onto them longer I can afford down the road a really nice BIG purchase and still keep the things I’ve been jamming on for 2/3 years. (I’ve been playing for 25 years myself) if I could go back I wish I just hung onto the GOOD stuff I had longer and just ripped on that rather than constantly buying and selling buying and selling new guitar or gear while still ripping on the same songs. Less is more and eventually less becomes a killer awesome purchase.
I didn't miss his point at all, I just don't think he ever really made one in the first place. you're preaching to the choir my man- I still play my first guitar as my no.1, a PRS SE I got for $600 12 years ago.@@philosopherofkaos8829
I truly sympathize with you, and I know it is a tough and cruel world..I've been around a long, long time..I understand that when you need something the most, the feedback is so debilitating not to mention disbelief and heartbreak. God bless you my friend..❤️🎸😢🙏✝️ I have experienced devastation myself 🙏🎚👍💯@richconroy5559
I went into guitar center in early 2021 with some gear to sell, expecting to walk out with around $400-$500, and then walked out with $1000. I went back to the same guitar center late last year with some more stuff to sell, again expecting to get around $400. They wouldn't even buy most of it. Knowing that it's more difficult to sell used stuff nowadays, has forced me to stop buying as much new stuff,..so it's probably for the best anyway.
When the economy is tough and you need money is the hardest time to get money for an instrument. Unless it's a really cool vintage item. They always bring money. 97,000 strats on sale- right now on the internet.
@@GroovegandalfGC is pretty trash but thankfully they horribly undervalue gear that was cheap to begin with. I got a half decent stereo delay mini pedal with tap tempo for $20 yesterday after wandering into a GC. It’s not exactly fancy but between Reverb, Aliexpress, Amazon , and eBay it seems to retail for $45-$91 and the only forum post I can find on it say it sucks, so I’m assuming guitar center probably gave someone $10 for it. Most of the settings DO kinda suck and there’s no way I would have bought this piece of gear if it was $50, but I tried it in the store. it has various effects+a delay and 2 different mix knobs so there’s some sweet spots in there. I Can get an experimental vibe going and stack it with other delays and make it sound wonky and In my book that means it does what it needs to do 👊 I think the rise of half decent inexpensive gear in general has probably affected a lot of what we’re seeing with the market.
These are all great points. The biggest one is "Well, this is worth X amount!" People need to get that out of their heads ASAP. The store owner I buy from once told me "The minute you buy a new guitar and walk out the door with it, it's pretty much "used."" Worth is in the eye of the player. It has to be THAT special to get back what you paid for it. And if you gigged with it - guitar or amp - it's been around - so it's used. This is why I'm SO careful with what I buy, and that I'm really sure I really need this item. I spend as much time as I can with the product at the store, and go over it with a fine tooth comb, and if there's anything gives me the jitters, I put it back. I've known the guy I buy from for years, and while he's a great guy, in the end he's a store owner first, and a friend second. As far as Guitar Center is concerned, they're known for selling factory "factory seconds," so I stay out of there if I can avoid it. I just don't trust them enough, and the sales people know next to nothing other than "Push sales." This gentleman here - I'd buy from him for sure.
To be fair I have bought and sold guutars(private) for 40 years and never made money on any of them,lost a lot in some cases and lost a little on some....but never made.....
This was a really interesting discussion on the market. Here in Australia the used market has almost ground to a halt completely because the cost of living is rising dramatically so no one is prepared to pay the prices that people want for their used gear, but people who are selling used gear don’t want to drop their prices coz the cost of living keeps rising and they need maximum dollar from their sales. It’s like a standoff to see who gives in first but I don’t see it shifting anytime soon.
@@mablesfatalfable6021I've had my Les Paul since 1991 and have always loved it. It's rock solid and plays and sounds great. But if I was buying another one now, I'd probably get a Heritage.
I completely agree with you. Your video is right on. I check used prices on gear all the time and the prices that people are asking for their beat up (=used like new in their eyes) is ridiculous! I see it all the time. People are so outta touch with their asking price. I see this all the time, especially with old music technology. Like drum machines, 4 tracks, old Roland gear. They’re asking, most times, what you could buy it for new back in the day. They slap the word ‘vintage’ on it and expect full asking price. Again, so out of touch with reality. But that seems par for the course these daze!
It must change by location cause in my area guitars are stupid stupid cheap, all over marketplace and they sit for 6 months with no buyers at near giveaways. I just bought a super clean mid 90s Ibanez EX350 for $80 and a couple days later picked up 3 8inch practice amps all 3 for $30.
It's not just the sellers. It's the buyers too and not just with instruments but with everything; People don't want to pay a fair price either. Everything has to be given away for virtually nothing. Even with cheapest of items. Try to sell something for 5 euros and no one is interested. Give it away for free and someone is at your door within 30minutes to pick it up.
That's because of eBay and reverb and such. I swear. It's got all the instrument markets jacked. Everyone say well this is what they're selling for. most times they're not smart enough to toggle the filter to already sold items and what they're looking at is asking prices
The potential for a Used Guitar Apocalypse doesn't faze me at all. I bought all of my guitars to keep. I don't plan on selling any of them any time soon. This could be a great time to buy the resonator guitar I've been wanting for a long time. 🎸🎸🎸
I've been playing for decades and been collecting the same time period. I bought 3 Dobro resonators, I'm a Blues Player so I figured it would be cool. I got bored with the guitars and sold them all. It's a great sound but just not usable 100% of the time. Play on
I love the sound of a resonator, and the blues is what I strive to play. I'd get one resonator and would definitely play it, because I love songs that use it. I would play it a lot, especially with a slide. 🎶🎶🎶@@bluesdawg8014
Yes, it's the "buy low and sell high" strategy. The not so easy part is knowing just exactly when to buy and sell. That takes some thought, but we're entering a soft economy right now. The prices could be even better in 2025. 👍👍👍 @@sted123456789
Amen. I've lived on a low budget with high motivation. I bought my Jackson the last time I worked a 50-hour week. I "get what I pay for" every time I get an hour to surf the fret board. The next guitars I buy will be for my kid
The used equipment market is wild in my area at the moment. I bought a used Peavy 400-watt bass amp for less than $200, I also bought a 40-watt Marshall guitar tube amp for less than $350. I like it because this is equipment that I would otherwise not have access to in any other timeline!
@JustJ-gs3rx Yeah a lot of people seem to think they dictate the value of a commodity and not the market. Those people are in for a hard shock in these times. Honestly I don't care what the literati says, we're probably in a recession in the United States and to raise capital people will get rid of things they don't need. It is a buyers market not a seller's market.
Yeah but some of those Marshall amp are garbage. In fact, many amps that they sell nowadays of garbage you have to really look to buy something in quality that will last that are built with little printed circuit boards are not quality and the market was flooded
Thank you for sharing your insights and observations. The guitar market has so many angles that hearing from an experienced shop owner is very interesting. You're serving so many customer types! From my naive perspective I wonder what the big inventory boost of entry-level guitars from 2020-2023 will do. I am part of the population that this commentary speaks to. I bought a new Gretsch Jim Dandy from a local independent shop, for my daughter(mostly me). And then 3 months later bought a used guitar from GuitarCenter. I'm enjoying the used guitar and making music. - reminding myself I will stop at local shop first for immediate needs and talk to them as I hopefully grow in my playing. Thank you again.
Thanks for keeping it real, I'm glad you made it clear we are just beginning the slide if you really need the money take what you can get now otherwise you'll be waiting for the next cycle which may be a few years, it's already started across several markets, I just walked into a Mini-Mart today and seen 3 and 4 dollar prices on the smallest sized snacks and candy bars for everything in the store, it just gave me an overwhelming feeling we are ready for a big price adjustment, the Only people telling you otherwise have something to sell, good luck ............
Back in the 80s when I first started playing guitar a lot of sales people told me and my parents that buying a guitar was an investment and instrument would only appreciate in price. I’m sure that was true with certain older instruments, but what a sales technique!
That's interesting because I feel like the 80s is seen as the least desirable decade for guitars these days. I might be wrong though. There's obviously tons of 60s and 70s high selling ones, but there's some Japanese 2000s ones out there too. I don't see much for the 80s, but maybe in certain genres its popular and sought after
I've picked up a few boutique guitars for major discounts on Reverb in recent months. If you know what you want and track the market, the deals are out there as people get desperate or fed up and just want to sell -- even really, really nice guitars that would be $1,500 more otherwise. I did have trouble selling one of my guitars on Reverb and ended up off-loading it to Guitar Center to avoid all the Reverb fees. So, yes, buyer's market, not a seller's.
Totally. I'm not even in the market for a guitar. I barely play my 3 electrics. But when I go on Facebook Marketplace it's like "wow, cheap". Part of it is that I'm older, have cash to spare. I'll admit that. The prices really have dropped, though. This guy dropped the price on this custom Jazzmaster (early 80's body) that has been on Marketplace for what seems like well over a year. If he lowers it again I might buy it. It's the same for bikes. I'm shocked people aren't buying some of the bikes I see. Perect bombproof commuters/touring rigs. The only reason I haven't bought them is they aren't local.
What great coaching for anyone wanting to understand what's really involved in MI retail - big picture and store-specific. Brick and mortar guitar shops are a music-culture treasure. Keep up the great work, Mark.
We're in an inflationary depression, everything that you need will become more exspensive and everthing that you own becomes worth less. Everyone and thier brother will be flooding the market with the same items trying to overcome the same inflation all at the same time.
I disagree... the guitar market just got way out of hand when everybody was shut in and I can't believe corporate honchos thought that was the new normal... but they did!
@@leebarbier5257 Dude from the pawn shop sez different and that there are so many people with expensive items they are willing to sell for really cheap that the pawn shops collectively can't buy it all.
@@ShannonRamos They're ( US government) pumping in one trillion dollars every one hundred days to keep this thing together. Its not going to be long and it will be a trillion a day. The reset is here, people are going to feel it in more places than at the grocery store and the gas pump. We'll need to keep at least one guitar to play the blues at that point.
Just sold all my extra stuff to guitar center, got more than I expected, they have like 15 used red double cut semi hollows of varying size, brand, and price point all on the wall. Next to that. Same thing for Strat shaped guitars. Then another line of Les Paul shaped things. Then another of pointy strats. All used. At every price point from beginner Amazon brands to gibsons fenders and Gretschs. They got used practice amps from Amazon bundles for 20 bucks all the way to boutique vintage replica stuff just on the floor. Fender rumbles in all wattages just stacked on top of each other. Oranges too. And Marshalls and fenders too.
I think it was easy enough to intuit that the banner guitar sales during the lock downs would ultimately result in a future glut in the used guitar market. Impulse purchases tend to lose their shine before too long. Especially when there's work and learning involved.
It's like how all the neon colors, spandex, and cocaine must have hypnotized 80's shredders into thinking the vintage Fender and Gibson gear was old hat. I watched a G.E. Smith video where he talked about how abundant and cheap the vintage stuff was in the 80s, really wish I wasnt a toddler then.
You see I have a wife, and a lot of pedals… so I have to have a rotating door of pedals. As for guitars I only sell if I’m upgrading, tube amps don’t get sold.
I've got 14 guitars at the moment, I've owned at least twice that total since I was a teenager. They are all investments and I'd sell any single one for the right price. I like switching it up, I've got 4 or 5 guitars I don't hardly play that I'll list up to sell or trade for something different.
I used to sell a guitar and buy a new one everytime I got a new position/job. It was kinda like a signing bonus I gave myself. Now I like my Breedlove so much I haven’t gotten a new instrument in the last 6 years and three job titles.
Excellent topic, Gary. valuable information you won’t learn out of a book or in class. Asking price and selling price are important to understand and comprehend. Know when to hold em and know when to fold em.
Really depends on the guitar though… it does seem like everyone is selling things and less interested in buying. But if you put a vintage guitar up for sale you’ll sell it quick.
I agree to some degree, however some sellers don't "need" to sell so they list at top prices. At the end of the day it only takes one buyer to make a sale. Just b/c one seller has an item listed at top price doesn't mean other potential sellers have to advertise at the same price. It all depends on how badly some need to sell, I've seen some bargains on there too. The past decade has seen prices go a bit silly though.
This guy is spot on. People bought foolishly and if they bought foolishly, they’re probably going to be foolish about the price they can sell. There’s something dumb as shit about posting a guitar near or about what someone can buy new. What are you going to do? Expect to lose 35% right off the top as soon as you purchase a guitar. I’ve done really well on Reverb. Not lately though. I won’t buy new gear anymore. The depreciation is worse than a car.
as a seller on reverb i have the right to list an item for what i want. as a buyer on reverb you have the right to buy or not buy as you choose. the problem you see with reverrb is that the guitars you want haven't reduced to your pricepoint. so now reverb could just as easily say stephen is the problem, he is looking for insane deals.
@@23kyd49 if someone is only into gear for a few grand there is really no pressure to sell. the bargain hunter is looking for the occasional listing that is priced to sell fast, that takes a lot of work.
Reverb is not the problem. They don’t determine prices. The sellers set the price and the buyers decide if they want to pay it. You can ask whatever you want. Whether or not it sells is the market’s decision.
❤ Thank you! This is a really good point. I am in the music software biz and all of us doing recording stuff had huge sales that we are coming down from. I totally forgot that was also Fender’s best sales period too. So yup, this could be nuts. Fortunately won’t affect vintage I think. But yes thanks for calling this out. Oh the rain of Squiers! 😮😢
This is a must see video. I’ve been buying and selling gear for decades. Either because something else was more to my liking or I just plain needed the money to pay the rent. Sometimes I’ve been lucky with my timing and sometimes not. But I look at the boon times as icing on the cake. I have no problem taking a “loss”. I see it as a users’ fee.
This isn’t just guitars, the bicycle industry is imploding too, and the same can be seen in outdoor/camping gear. I imagine many recreational industries are having this issue as folks took up more hobbies in the pandemic, so supply went up at a time that they weren’t able to scale up manufacturing. Now not only is there too much supply from over ordering, but a lot of those folks that thought they were going to pick up a new hobby are putting it down.
I know of two independent bike shops in two different towns that were in business for many years that closed last year. I have a couple of quality guitars for sale at reasonable prices and am not getting anyone to even make offers.
Thank you for posting this video. It was a nice dose of reality for me and a nice benchmark for what today´s reality is. I watched this video at 10:30am and by 1:20pm I had 4 guitars sell on reverb. This is very important information for "Reverbers". I guess you have to determine where you are seeking value, through holding gear under a prospect of a better future or liquidating lower and reinvesting in a rising commodity.
I love your frank, plain way of saying what’s what, not claiming to be anything more or less than the simple truth as you see it in your store. I thank you, man! Keep on doing exactly what you are doing.
It all depends on how much a person paid for something. If you buy at the right price there will always be profit in an item no matter what it is. I've traded maybe 100+ guitars in the past 2 decades. I've lost on maybe 3 or 4 in total. Some I have made 300% on and I'm not talking cheap items. I tend to buy stuff that is limited run though. If I thought I was going to return 60% of a used item I bought I'd never buy another guitar again. I have to point out that I don't buy to sell, I buy as a collector but my tastes change. I may get into Strat's and buy a few, next I'm back into LP's etc etc. I move pieces to fund new purchases. Back to your point, so if a person expects to return 60% of their outlay, what about the resale price when that buyer sells? Does it drop again? Not always. When an item becomes cheap enough a trader will always buy to sell at a profit anyway.
I enjoyed listening to what you had to say, Gary. I'm from the UK. I ain't ever selling my guitars. I have an Ibanez EX370FM from the early eighties. Never lets me down. Although I don’t play them much at the moment, I love them all, and It is knowing they are there and I can pick up a different guitar depending on my mood. I even play The Gypsy Kings on an old nylon strung classical guitar. I'd never part with it because of that style of music. Then there is my Marshall TSL100 half stack. Only when I am dead will that ever leave me. What a monster, but its amazing flexibility means I can switch to any style that needs an amp. Long live rock 'n roll.
I bought a Squire Strat last weekend for $40, put 62-13 strings on it and set it up to B standard. Having a blast riffing on it. It's a great time to buy a cheap guitar to try setups you always wanted to but were too cheap/broke to actually do it.
Played a Squire Tele at a guitar center about a year ago. It was $160 new (maybe even $140) and much better than I expected. I considered buying it, but I don't have room in my apartment to keep it. If I see one for $40, I'll have to find somewhere to stash it.
I’ve had a squire strat for years, upgraded to a fender, after a week I returned the fender, bought a gold reissue squire and after a few tweaks I’m well happy with it, people can be guitar snobs, I was one.
I bought a heavily discounted Gibson R7 for 3.4k (3.6 after tax) thinking I could flip it easy for 3.9-4k. A year later I’m still sitting on it listed at 3.7k
Nope. Prices will likely go down or level off… I think if you look at the trends, less people are playing guitar every year. I work at a music retail store, and I can tell you our biggest customers are not young family’s looking for instruments for their kids, it’s old guys who are retired. It’s a good thing for guitarists because gear will inevitably getter cheaper with less demand for it.
Don't agree..I also worked in a music store during 9-11 and it took years to get back..And truthfully, it was never the same..Tjere is an over abundance of guitars right now, to many I think..I hope you are right but I don't think so,,@@alexraia1377
@@jerrypalmer3534 Interesting info about the post 9/11 economy. When billionaires are selling billions in equities and building luxury bunkers what do you think they know that we do not?
First time viewer and new subscriber...liked your demeanor and the top row of instruments . It's a weird market with a lot of fake branded instruments as well. 😅I let out a bit of a shamed chuckle when you said maybe you don't need 4 guitars. Me sitting here with four score and seven guitars...I should have bought a Top Hat 🎩. ✌️Best Regards 🍀
Last week I spent $250 on a small acoustic for my kids. Same day, found the exact guitar + stand listed for $110 on marketplace. It had some noticable wear, but $140 is $140 so I returned the new one and bought the used guitar. With new strings it sounds great.
@MichaelThomasOflaherty buy at the end of the month, that's when they have to pay rent. I got a great deal on a taylor that way. I'm talking small shops
Glad I ran into this. Keep lowering my Reverb listing and scratching my head, now I know why. I wonder if there were a few out there buying guitars around 2022 out of fear of yet another yearly inflation-fueled retail price increase. I know someone who was doing that with stereo equipment as well as guitars.
Excellent video. The car price metaphor is perfect. I have seen Squier basic strats asking on sites for 20-30% more than Amazon prices! Good luck with that. I think the Boomers down sizing, joint pain etc. is going to dump thousands of used guitars on the market now and over the next few years. Leading to saturation and over stocking of the guitar market. Sellers have got to face marketplace realities.
I'm seeing arthritic boomers offering their early-70s Martins for $1-2K over current values. They need to come to terms with reality. No one seems to want 12-strings.
Never sell to a shop unless you are ok with losing your money. They have to make money, and they have to sit on it. I've never not regretted selling a guitar or any piece of gear to a shop. I think most people need to consider the business owner. Good video! Thanks for the perspective.
There was a Gibson 76 reissue explorer sitting at my local pawnshop for the last 5 years. One day I finally decided to play it and it was a player! I had to have it. They were asking $1500 which I felt like was a pretty good deal, but I didn’t have the cash… so I traded an Epiphone sg custom+ $600 cash for it! Came with the original hsc too
40% of my market is over 55. Less that 10% 25-34. The demographics are driving used instruments into the market as well as everything in the video while the market is shrinking. The boomers are on their way out. Asian reserve capacity is huge. Unless your instrument is vintage & collectable, it's likely to be a write-off.
It boggles my mind why guitar stores only sell guitars considering how many different types of stringed instruments exist in the world,, the death of rock music, the new multi ethnic demographics, immigration and younger generations being exposed to all genre of music. If Guitar Center sold Ouds and Sitars and Chinese zithers, violins,banjos, mandolins, harps, classical strings, Persian instruments , etc etc Id buy those, But I ain't buying another damn guitar
@@P.B.andJam I liked the old shops, they sold guitars and other instruments, albums, music books, pot paraphernalia, posters, etc, you have to be diverse to make money, small ticket items can pay the rent, and big ticket albums can be gravy. you can't just sale one thing anymore
Hi from Spain, I enjoyed your presentation and honesty. I don't know the market In the US but in Europe there are so many great new guitars from numerous manufacturers available for very low prices....but there are a lot less buyers. As a result even decent quality second hand guitars are worth less than 50% of what people paid, you are correct with your observation relative to a second hand car. People should only buy any musical instrument to play and enjoy it, if you want to buy to invest, make sure you know your subject very well, it's just like buying an antique, high risk!!! Kind regards,John.
If I buy a $500 guitar, I usually sell for $375 -$350 , quick sale , if possible I’ll offer the local music shop for the trade in and take a loss , I’m good with it , I call the loss a rental fee over a couple of years , gets it off the market and they can make a few bucks on the resale . no biggie at all . Dinner out for two is $150 .
step 1= Stop buying cheap guitars it's a flase economy. step 2= Learn how to make delicious pan-seared steaks and buy some candels to set the mood. step 3= Profit
Thanks so much for this video. I am a music therapist and play my guitars a lot. I’m not in the market to collect guitars but guitars that inspire me to play them. I’m in the market to add a Tele and want one that I really love. I was considering buying a new one in the color I really want but this video and other feedback tells me that instead of buying an American Pro 2 I should look used as there are a ton in the 800-1100 range that are perfect for my needs. A potential glut in the used market tells me I can get both a good deal and a great guitar without having to buy new and go for the latest thing Fender is putting out.
I think I'm at a point where I don't want any amps. And if I get another guitar, it's either going to be 75% off or something truly modern and ultra playable for sitting. No more giant chunks of wood.
I have close to 50 guitars, all the basics: Strat, Tele, LP, SG, etc. covered. The guitar I pick up 90% of the time now? A cheap carbon fiber Enya guitar from Amazon. Weighs nothing and it's always in tune. Not the best sounding but perfect for my usual sitting around and noodling. It's also the only guitar I'll take out on my 10-15 day vacations I spend hanging out on my boat. I bring along my cheap little Positive Grid amp that I can run off a Li-Ion battery pack and play for hours. It's rare I turn on my Hot Rod DeVille anymore, just overkill for bending strings in my house. I learned long ago most of the magic is in the musician, not the gear. A good musician will make crap sound like magic and guys like me make magic sound like crap LOL....
Thanks Gary! This is an informative video in relationship to owner/sellers and unrealistic expectation and the compiling and prevailing market forces. Some additional wrinkles in the guitar market include: the massive number of the Chinese guitars being manufactured which are very inexpensive and have some surprisingly good features and quality for the money and are sold online. Another matter that will continue to impact the market and pricing are the woes and circumstances impacting the big chains, Sam Ash and Guitar Center. Just saying!
It cracks me up to see these Craigslist ads with a guitar that costs $500 new going for $480 and they're like "You don't have to pay tax." Unless something is rare or collectible the most you can ask for used gear is about 80% of current retail price, even if that has dropped from when you bought it.
@@pmscalisi 40% is the devaluation of my current guitar, but I like it , so i don't care. If you are a serious guitarist , just keep trading up till you get what matches your talent level.
The other thing not being mentioned is that guitars are getting really good. There is not as much of a gulf between midrange and high end anymore. A guitar is a guitar is a guitar.
also, only a small fraction of guitar buyers actually play gigs or play them in public... there is a different mindset between someone buying a work tool and someone buying something for personal enjoyment. The working musicians I know mostly look for and buy really good midrange guitars, for many reasons... but chiefly they can replace it if it gets stolen/broken/whatever, and life can go on.
there's still a significant difference between the midrange and top end when they get plugged in and turned up loud. That's always where the difference is. "My mini van is just like a sports car, 4 wheels, breaks, steering wheel"..
@@colinburroughs9871...but at the end of the day it's still 95% down to the driver. At the end of the day, nobody is going to notice the difference between a well set up $1000-1500 solid body guitar and a $4000 guitar. Nobody is going to walk out of the club and say: "thank God he spent an extra few grand on that custom shop guitar, the songs would have been ruined without it."
@@Charlesbabbage2209 your first point contradicts your second point and neither have anything to do with the my point, there's differences between top end and mid tier guitars and they do matter, to the player if not the crowd, though depending on the context they very well might notice too.
I'm seeing the 2 sides of the Epiphone LP pricing you described. The top side is guitars and soft cases listing for 750 to 800$. On the other side I'm seeing very nice ones with hard cases around 400 and 450$. I'd like to thin the herd but also want to pick up a couple others. BEST AND PEACE
I do some personal buy/sell and what I do sometimes to get my money out of something that’s hard to sell is trade it (trade in value is always better than cash) for something that’s much easier to sell (even if ya have to put a little cash on it)…then try not to make those purchases too often. 😆👍
I buy it to play it mostly. Once in a while will buy as an investment if it is stupid cheap and easily resalable in any market (think Gibson or other desirable USA made).. But I still want to be able to play it as well. Have made many trades, mostly with the idea of "Improving the Herd" and have worked up to much nicer stuff (Did a no-cash trade for a new Martin D35 a few years ago, traded a Fender and a Gibson, 2 for 1. Will NEVER sell the D35 as long as I can play it, she keeps getting better). Trades + cash will always get the best deals. No sales tax usually on the trade in value either, if part cash. I love local shops like this.
So how are Fender player's series guitars 850? I was in a store yesterday and there are Asian made Squires that beat the quality of the MIM Player series by far for under 500. Best new deal right now for new if you play Fender.
Cool video. Very interesting to hear it from a guitar shop owners perspective. I sell a moderate amount of stuff on Reverb, and unless it’s something very rare and collectible, it doesn’t go fast and for asking at all. Exactly like you said, if I pick up anything with an intent to sell it, I’m factoring in a slight downward slope and if the margin doesn’t make sense, I’m passing on the purchase
Agree, but as usual, it really depends on the guitar. A brand new Epiphone Dave Grohl model is selling for $4-500 more than MSRP right now because they’re on back order and everybody wants them. An Epiphone Alex Lifeson from just 2 years ago sold for $899 brand new, but you are hard-pressed to find one for less than $1000 now. So recent off the shelf guitar models are dropping in price rapidly right now, but limited edition models still hold their value or go up depending on how limited the availability is.
Recently bought a lovely Japanese made Sadowsky bass for 1500. About 15 years old, plays like a dream. Perhaps not a true boutique instrument, but its as close as I will get to one. I think it will hold its value just fine, but for me its a keeper.
Yes, those Artist models seem to either keep their price or getting more expensive no matter what brand. Just go one layer lower and wait for the prices to drop..
I've had the same 3 guitars for a few years now, but I've bought lots of recording equipment. Music stores probably would do well if they looked into recording stuff. Commonly used cables, external sound cards, mixing boards etc. Lots of people doing bedroom recording. Much more popular than guitars and amps I would wager.
It all depends. I had over 100 guitars, always buying and selling, upgrading. I started selling off my $500 to $2000 guitars and buying Vintage Charvel Pre Production guitars. So late 70s early 80s. I almost got finished and there were a few that I took less money for but nowhere near as low as I paid. I wanted to maybe by two or three more vintage guitars but right now I'm in limbo as I am not going lower. So I either wait it out or eventually I'll crack. The vintage guitars though I have no doubt they will keep value.
@losthwy And you are the arbiter of who sees what? You have zero idea of my experience. I've worked at five Sam Ash stores during the peak era of guitar sales. Worked under Jerry in Hempstead, with Sammy at multiple stores ending in 48th st in the mid 90s. Worked with one of the top 3 Vintage guitar dealers in the world. And you? Are what, a guitar teacher pushing Line 6 amps and LTD crap in a shop that mostly rents band instruments to schools?
@losthwy Three lines is too much for you? No mystery why your business is failing. Maybe the lack of writing and reading skills along with your sanctimonious bullshit has something to do with it.
just through some of your videos on owing a guitar store. Really nice and interesting. you seem like a nice a competent guy if I should ever be in your area I will pass by. Greetings from Berlin!
same with bicycles, but at least here in germany i cannot see any noticeable price reduction at the moment.ebay is overflowing with stuff, but the prices people are asking for are insane.
Because any good deals sell instantly. So the high price stuff just languishes and make people think prices are insane. “It’s selling for $x” no, it’s for sale for $x if it was selling for that it wouldn’t be there.
This makes sense. I have too many guitars and tried to offers a couple for what I thought were realistic prices-but I get no offers. Does £450 sound dear for a decent 1996 MIJ Strat?
the exact same thing happened with the cycling industry. i make my purchases for life so i'm not fussed, but lots of shops closing and brands going bust.
I don’t agree. If we used that logic for everything then there would be no stable average price on many things. We have those averages to give us a real time look on how things are selling, good or bad. On some things yes i would agree it’s worth whatever the buyer is willing to pay but those are generally for collectibles on the bidding block.
@@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020 he said guitars, and I get your point as well. The key thing about buying used is patience. What you want is eventually gonna show up at the price you are willing to pay. All you have to do is to have the money ready to buy.
@@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020 there is no "stable average price" on instruments, not even vintage ones... there's simply what people are willing to pay that seller when they really need to sell it. I know people who've learned that people will not pay top dollar for a pricey vintage guitar when they try to sell it themselves (they just get tough lowball "take it or leave it, you need money or not!?!" offers), so they have to pay a premium to a well-known dealer to sell it for them.
Completely agree about reverb. I’m really only looking at acoustics right now but the used prices aren’t dropping on any of the big names (Martin, Taylor) or the well regarded boutique builders. The boutique builders will eventually sell but so many of these guitars just sit there forever. I’d love to buy a Guild D55 but everyone wants 3000-3500 for a used one and there’s a bunch of them just sitting there.
Meanwhile Fender just raised their prices on USA made Stratocasters $100 this week. Epiphone models are $1,200 plus an artist series made in China. I think USA guitar manufacturer’s make more profits off of Asian made instruments than their USA line of guitars. That’s what cheap labor brings. It’s kind of like what car companies are doing. They can make more profit selling you a $75,000 SUV than a compact car. So why make them anymore?
Up until about 10 years ago I had never considered the resale value of a guitar. I figured I would buy one because I liked it and then just play it until I found something better at which point the first guitar has served its purpose and is just excess that needs to be stored and maintained. If I had a good offer I might sell it but otherwise it would just sit there until I needed it in an emergency or gave it away to some neighbour or family member. I always considered myself a guitar player not a wannabe guitar dealer/investor. Just because some guitars, like 1950s Gibsons for example, go up in price doesn't mean guitars in general will. Why would your basic Strat hold its value when next year they will make another 1,000 of them?
Collectibility is all about supply and demand, as live venues and guitarist move toward quieter stage volumes (5wattworld) the loud and gigantic amps of the past are seeing a buyer side slump. Now seems like a good time to find a deal on a vintage refrigerator sized amp if that is your thing. Some things are more collectible than others, 4 years ago I passed on a $2000 Sampson era Matchless Cheiftain because I had just bought a used Fender Tonemaster deluxe for $500, guess which one will age better.
Respect for honesty. All parties still have to be careful, as there's always some shady jerk that wants to rip you off. This goes for buyers and sellers. Do your homework. Understand current market value for that item. Knowledge is power. Be safe in all transactions. Check for counterfeit gear and cash. Keep your wits about you. Here's hoping we all find what we are looking for at a better price than expected!
when I was starting out (80's) the rule of thumb was to ask half the price of new for a used instrument. And I bought used for half of retail. Later I was amazed that on Ebay I often got 2/3 the price of new, or sometimes more than new if it was something unique. Recently I was moving and listed a MIM telecaster for half what I paid and the buyer was thrilled.
i can find a pretty good guitar for 500 now, the new cheap stuff is better than the old cheap stuff. and i'd say about 50% cheaper. I bought a Cordoba fusion from china, and I love it. this guitar would have gone for 750 to 1000 10 yrs ago. i paid 450 new, and it's list price was 675
I sold about half of my guitar collection 2-3 years ago keeping mostly the vintage stuff and Gibson Les Pauls. I have the same problem I would normally buy more when the price dips but the stuff I see for sale is all overpriced, I see the same not selling gear on my local Facebook and Craigslist every day. No need to sell my stuff at a discount and I have two Marshall stacks and yes nobody wants them so I will just keep using them. I tell you one thing for sure I am not buying any gear new or used right now. Great video I agree with everything you say here.
As a small builder, making only 3-4 guitars per year, this glut has hurt me to the point where I don't even list anything for sale any more. My Reverb store is, and has been, empty for a couple of years now. And it's because of inflation, and high fees. I can't pay 675 bucks to turn out a guitar that I'm trying to sell for 450. And I'm NOT going to "pass on costs to the consumer", because my target customer is working bar band players that need an American guitar for an Asian price point. I guess it doesn't matter, because the bar gigs are gone anyway, and what few are left are paying sub-80's rates.
Boy howdy. The live music scene is dwindling and drying up, and the Asian guitars are catching up in quality thanks to CNC machines. Still, you could probably sell four guitars a year if you just raised your price to boutique prices. People want to pay a lot for things - it makes them feel special and exclusive. That was how PRS broke in to the market and grew to be one of the big brands. It's also how Tesla succeeded in electric cars where the big car companies had previously failed. Unfortunately, your customers will be lawyers and financiers instead of working musicians, but at least you can keep doing what you love.
I think 6 for a well built custom is a steal . Also we need craftsmen like you to encourage kids to get into building . Try selling a couple for a price with a little margin for you and see what happens. I was looking at a Peavy Cirrus 4 . It was once a $500 bass and are now selling used for $2500 and I would buy a quality custom before I would pay that . Even if it is a sweet bass.
You seem like an awesome old world mentality craftsman. This world needs more people like you in it my friend. I hope to find someone like you when I want to make my next purchase, which won't be very much longer. What part of the country do you live in?
@@brushstroke3733Not sure where you live or what genres you listen to but the live music scene is certainly not drying up lol. More smaller and mid-sized bands going on tour than ever.
Love the older archtops. Appreciate the common sense description of the market. This coincides with my experience buying and selling. If you think it's bad with guitars, you should check out the mountain dulcimer market. They tend to sell new at high prices because they are handmade and certain builders' instruments are sought after. However, many people buy them and never learn to play them, so they sit in a closet for (in one case) 18 years in pristine condition. As with used guitars, as a buyer I tend to steer away from unrealistic asking prices because I'd either pay to much or the seller would think I was trying to cheat them on the price. As with used cars and any other item, it's only worth what someone is actually prepared to pay for it. I seldom if ever pay more than I am certain I can get for an instrument later on.
I don’t get it. I’ve been going to pawn shops and guitar centers for over a year and they are stocked to the brim with gear they can’t sell, at prices that are obscenely high. Why won’t they budge on price? Even Facebook marketplace and Craigslist people are out of their minds trying to sell things way too high. I keep waiting for them to drop their prices but they don’t. 🤷
Moog users (I am one) are particularly greedy (I'm not selling) and they think that the 700 dollar Moogerfooger Filter should still sell for 700. Everyone wants their personal holding to increase and they don't consider they are artificially inflating the market. Patience. @@Charlesbabbage2209
Talking about the guitars from say the last 20 years... I'm guessing these are the ones that get passed around the most because they're not vintage prices, only inflated. If everyone takes a hair cut then it kinda evens out if your goal is to sell and buy something else to try. But I think it's true that the amount of guitars available is absolutely insane and that will end up driving prices down as sellers fight to sell. I see this as a golden opportunity like any market that you want to get involved when the prices are lower. I'd love to see some of these custom shop guitars slashed on the 2nd hand market.
Guitarmageddon has a better ring to it.
Noticing this on Craigslist. Tons of gear, all the same things have been listed for over a year, and every seller is saying, "I know what I have, no lowball offers!"
"Sorry, bucko. Your dinged up 6506+ ain't worth $1,500 anymore."
It clogs up the market for sure.
Honestly, when there are these new low cost brands making guitars as good or better than the quality of the Squires and Epiphones of the world, those used guitars will sit on FB MP and eBay and Reverb til they rot.
I ordered a firefly strat for 189 bucks it had a bone nut,locking tuners, nice canada roasted flame maple neck. I put lollars in it, a new jack. It's one of the best guitars i own @slackers_unite
@stahliwood8755 I bought the IYV-350 for under $200. That thing plays, sounds, and looks incredible. I'm not touring the world so I can't see paying a couple of grand for a guitar that I play a few times a week.
I like your shop. Looks old school.
It looks like the guitar shop I frequent. Good used selection and off beat brands hanging on the wall.
Been there a few times. It’s truly a great shop!
@@TheMoneyMakingMentor we're too old school but that's the way we like it.
I call the diff the “rental charge” and divide by the time I owned it. Some gear I rented for $200 a year…pretty good.
I rented a Les Paul custom for 3 years for a total of $17. Not bad at all.
I do the same thing. I also equate each hour of play to $1. So, if I buy a guitar for $1000, play it for 300 hours, then sell it for $700, I feel like I broke even.
Was thinking the same thing.
@@musicman6610 I call it the price of tuition.
God bless u for telling the truth brother .
You remind me of my friend Todd that passed away. He was one of my most supportive and helpful friends and had a really laid back /welcoming vibe like you have 🙏
The kind of UA-cam commentary that's informative and down to earth, much appreciated.
Also extremely self serving.
Very genuine and sincere commentary. Got to appreciate that. - Manny of The Ticking Clocks
Exactly. I don't know why everyone thought it would go on forever. It's a great time to keep the guitars you own and enjoy them. A year from now it will be a great time to buy the guitar you've been wanting if you can afford it. Compared to other hobbies, guitar playing/music is still really affordable.
A year ? 😂😂😂😂 lol Dude youre in for a hard wake up all.
@@Guitarrulez
Every year is THE year to buy the guitar you’ve been wanting. I guess you missed the most important part of his comment, “…if you can afford it.”
Guitars deteriorate unless they are stored in a humidified environment. In dry AZ where I live it really does destroy them.
The utter BS that happens year after year with ski/snowboarding passes is a great example of "go f*** yourself." So yes playing guitar and other instruments can be more cost effective. Until you get into the world of synthesizers.
There was a time of yard sales and thrift stores, now everyone is intoxicated with antiques and collectables. I'm looking forward to the guitar apocalypse, it's a restoration of sanity. Perhaps people can enjoy inexpensive things someday again. In the end a rare beany baby is still a stuffed animal.
Yep, and no-value-add resellers/scalpers ruin everything, keeping artificial scarcity.
Reminds me of sneakers
Sadly the days of bargains are over. Pawn shops, consignment stores, estate purchasers etc. can check whatever it is they have on the internet and assume a price they think they should be getting. And it's not helped by people who will snap anything up if they think they can flip it for a few bucks.
@@adrianmcgrath1984the reseller market is way out of hand
I've found bargains, you just have to look harder and have the knowledge necessary to succeed. Just today I found 2 great deals on high quality semi-hollows, not including one I found on a jazz bass and it took me like half an hour. As long as you're not ultra picky with the exact model you want you'll find deals. There's a big difference between "I want a deal on an american Fender Stratocaster" and "I want a good deal on a Fender American Original '60s Stratocaster", the latter will be way harder to find because it's a rather particular model, and most people who know what they have will reasonably want to sell around market price. You're also almost never gonna find anything worth getting on online storefronts like Reverb, looking locally will help you because there are a lot of people who are selling for low locally simply to avoid the hassle of online sales.
Market corrections are necessary. Don't want rhe hair cut? Stick to the original plan, love it and play it!
My observation is there is an endless supply of 59 Les Pauls .Hmmmmm .
Truth. I don't collect stuff. about the only time I sell a guitar is when I get a guitar stolen flying thru Newark .....Then I get a new guitar. Go figure.
That's right ! .....and the Sun will shine again. Hang in there be patient.
Play what you love
This is my mantra. I have owned up to 200 instruments at a time, now down in the 30 range. I love everything but a couple special purpose things I guess I kept for weird romantic notion.
Good video. I started playing guitar 28 years ago. I still play every day. I always reminded myself of just how much guitars depreciate. Always keep them if you can, even if you're in a financial bind. So when I bought my first brand new decent guitar in 1997, a Gibson Les Paul Studio Lite, I told myself, "You're keeping this... forever. And you're going to like it." And until this very day after 28 years of play, I kept it and I liked it. Same thing goes for my Fender Custom Shop American Standard Strat. I bought it new a decade ago and I kept it and I liked it. So my best advice to younger musicians out there is to buy a high quality new guitar and hold on to it. You'll be happy you did.
Problem is: Even the cheap guitars are high quality nowadays compared to a few decades ago...
@@tylerhawksmoor9601But you’re missing his point. He kept one piece of gear for literally 28 years. And at the end of the day a guitar is a guitar. I have been doing the same thing. KEEPING the stuff I have longer and just playing those rather than shelling out for new guitar and new gear every year. Because whether it’s on my Jackson Pro Series Dinky or my LTD Alexi Ripped I’m still jamming to children of bodom. But as I’ve started to hold onto them longer I can afford down the road a really nice BIG purchase and still keep the things I’ve been jamming on for 2/3 years. (I’ve been playing for 25 years myself) if I could go back I wish I just hung onto the GOOD stuff I had longer and just ripped on that rather than constantly buying and selling buying and selling new guitar or gear while still ripping on the same songs. Less is more and eventually less becomes a killer awesome purchase.
I didn't miss his point at all, I just don't think he ever really made one in the first place. you're preaching to the choir my man- I still play my first guitar as my no.1, a PRS SE I got for $600 12 years ago.@@philosopherofkaos8829
I literally had to sell every bit of my gear in 2010 or I would have gone homeless. I've never truly recovered and I've never played again
I truly sympathize with you, and I know it is a tough and cruel world..I've been around a long, long time..I understand that when you need something the most, the feedback is so debilitating not to mention disbelief and heartbreak. God bless you my friend..❤️🎸😢🙏✝️ I have experienced devastation myself 🙏🎚👍💯@richconroy5559
I went into guitar center in early 2021 with some gear to sell, expecting to walk out with around $400-$500, and then walked out with $1000.
I went back to the same guitar center late last year with some more stuff to sell, again expecting to get around $400. They wouldn't even buy most of it.
Knowing that it's more difficult to sell used stuff nowadays, has forced me to stop buying as much new stuff,..so it's probably for the best anyway.
When the economy is tough and you need money is the hardest time to get money for an instrument.
Unless it's a really cool vintage item.
They always bring money. 97,000 strats on sale- right now on the internet.
🤪🤪🤪
Guitar center is doing financing on used gear. That tells me all I need to know. It's gonna get ugly out there.
@@GroovegandalfGC is pretty trash but thankfully they horribly undervalue gear that was cheap to begin with. I got a half decent stereo delay mini pedal with tap tempo for $20 yesterday after wandering into a GC. It’s not exactly fancy but between Reverb, Aliexpress, Amazon , and eBay it seems to retail for $45-$91 and the only forum post I can find on it say it sucks, so I’m assuming guitar center probably gave someone $10 for it. Most of the settings DO kinda suck and there’s no way I would have bought this piece of gear if it was $50, but I tried it in the store. it has various effects+a delay and 2 different mix knobs so there’s some sweet spots in there. I Can get an experimental vibe going and stack it with other delays and make it sound wonky and In my book that means it does what it needs to do 👊 I think the rise of half decent inexpensive gear in general has probably affected a lot of what we’re seeing with the market.
I bought a Gibson SG new with case in 1984 for $299.00 at Guitar Center....how much do you think it is worth now.
These are all great points. The biggest one is "Well, this is worth X amount!" People need to get that out of their heads ASAP. The store owner I buy from once told me "The minute you buy a new guitar and walk out the door with it, it's pretty much "used."" Worth is in the eye of the player. It has to be THAT special to get back what you paid for it. And if you gigged with it - guitar or amp - it's been around - so it's used.
This is why I'm SO careful with what I buy, and that I'm really sure I really need this item. I spend as much time as I can with the product at the store, and go over it with a fine tooth comb, and if there's anything gives me the jitters, I put it back. I've known the guy I buy from for years, and while he's a great guy, in the end he's a store owner first, and a friend second.
As far as Guitar Center is concerned, they're known for selling factory "factory seconds," so I stay out of there if I can avoid it. I just don't trust them enough, and the sales people know next to nothing other than "Push sales."
This gentleman here - I'd buy from him for sure.
What do you mean about factory seconds?
To be fair I have bought and sold guutars(private) for 40 years and never made money on any of them,lost a lot in some cases and lost a little on some....but never made.....
@@neilburton6121 yep same here
This was a really interesting discussion on the market. Here in Australia the used market has almost ground to a halt completely because the cost of living is rising dramatically so no one is prepared to pay the prices that people want for their used gear, but people who are selling used gear don’t want to drop their prices coz the cost of living keeps rising and they need maximum dollar from their sales. It’s like a standoff to see who gives in first but I don’t see it shifting anytime soon.
I agree. The same price shifts are happening in many consumer long-term products. Music gear is always difficult because people are foolish buyers.
Love One - people are *emotional buyers.
✌🏼🤟🏼
@@mablesfatalfable6021I've had my Les Paul since 1991 and have always loved it. It's rock solid and plays and sounds great. But if I was buying another one now, I'd probably get a Heritage.
No matter foolish people are the current economy and number of job layoffs are no joke. My home-owners insurance went up 200% last year.
@@ShannonRamosWho did you vote for ?
@@deaterksame thing
I appreciate your perspective on this and I totally agree.
Thanks for the video. It's the same over here in Switzerland - we have been in business for decades, but the market situation changes...
I completely agree with you. Your video is right on. I check used prices on gear all the time and the prices that people are asking for their beat up (=used like new in their eyes) is ridiculous! I see it all the time. People are so outta touch with their asking price. I see this all the time, especially with old music technology. Like drum machines, 4 tracks, old Roland gear. They’re asking, most times, what you could buy it for new back in the day. They slap the word ‘vintage’ on it and expect full asking price. Again, so out of touch with reality. But that seems par for the course these daze!
It must change by location cause in my area guitars are stupid stupid cheap, all over marketplace and they sit for 6 months with no buyers at near giveaways. I just bought a super clean mid 90s Ibanez EX350 for $80 and a couple days later picked up 3 8inch practice amps all 3 for $30.
It's not just the sellers. It's the buyers too and not just with instruments but with everything; People don't want to pay a fair price either. Everything has to be given away for virtually nothing. Even with cheapest of items. Try to sell something for 5 euros and no one is interested. Give it away for free and someone is at your door within 30minutes to pick it up.
That's because of eBay and reverb and such. I swear. It's got all the instrument markets jacked. Everyone say well this is what they're selling for. most times they're not smart enough to toggle the filter to already sold items and what they're looking at is asking prices
The potential for a Used Guitar Apocalypse doesn't faze me at all. I bought all of my guitars to keep. I don't plan on selling any of them any time soon. This could be a great time to buy the resonator guitar I've been wanting for a long time. 🎸🎸🎸
I've been playing for decades and been collecting the same time period. I bought 3 Dobro resonators, I'm a Blues
Player so I figured it would be cool. I got bored with the guitars and sold them all. It's a great sound but just not
usable 100% of the time. Play on
Exactly. A good time to buy. It's all like trading stocks and shares, buy when the trend is to sell and vice versa.
I love the sound of a resonator, and the blues is what I strive to play. I'd get one resonator and would definitely play it, because I love songs that use it. I would play it a lot, especially with a slide. 🎶🎶🎶@@bluesdawg8014
Yes, it's the "buy low and sell high" strategy. The not so easy part is knowing just exactly when to buy and sell. That takes some thought, but we're entering a soft economy right now. The prices could be even better in 2025. 👍👍👍 @@sted123456789
Amen. I've lived on a low budget with high motivation. I bought my Jackson the last time I worked a 50-hour week. I "get what I pay for" every time I get an hour to surf the fret board. The next guitars I buy will be for my kid
Really good summary I thought. Best of luck and hope your shop thrives.
The used equipment market is wild in my area at the moment. I bought a used Peavy 400-watt bass amp for less than $200, I also bought a 40-watt Marshall guitar tube amp for less than $350. I like it because this is equipment that I would otherwise not have access to in any other timeline!
Sounds like I need to start shopping!
@@brushstroke3733 that's what I'm thinking
Where I live it's a f ED ng frenzy guitar stuff is insanely cheap and all over for sale.
@JustJ-gs3rx Yeah a lot of people seem to think they dictate the value of a commodity and not the market. Those people are in for a hard shock in these times. Honestly I don't care what the literati says, we're probably in a recession in the United States and to raise capital people will get rid of things they don't need. It is a buyers market not a seller's market.
Yeah but some of those Marshall amp are garbage. In fact, many amps that they sell nowadays of garbage you have to really look to buy something in quality that will last that are built with little printed circuit boards are not quality and the market was flooded
Thank you for sharing your insights and observations. The guitar market has so many angles that hearing from an experienced shop owner is very interesting. You're serving so many customer types! From my naive perspective I wonder what the big inventory boost of entry-level guitars from 2020-2023 will do. I am part of the population that this commentary speaks to. I bought a new Gretsch Jim Dandy from a local independent shop, for my daughter(mostly me). And then 3 months later bought a used guitar from GuitarCenter. I'm enjoying the used guitar and making music. - reminding myself I will stop at local shop first for immediate needs and talk to them as I hopefully grow in my playing. Thank you again.
Thanks for keeping it real, I'm glad you made it clear we are just beginning the slide if you really need the money take what you can get now otherwise you'll be waiting for the next cycle which may be a few years, it's already started across several markets, I just walked into a Mini-Mart today and seen 3 and 4 dollar prices on the smallest sized snacks and candy bars for everything in the store, it just gave me an overwhelming feeling we are ready for a big price adjustment, the Only people telling you otherwise have something to sell, good luck ............
Excellent video. He has just described the market realities of virtually every collectible.
Collecting, Unless your are really rich. is a suckers game, I mean look at beanie babies
Recession going on, need to wait for better times
Back in the 80s when I first started playing guitar a lot of sales people told me and my parents that buying a guitar was an investment and instrument would only appreciate in price. I’m sure that was true with certain older instruments, but what a sales technique!
That's interesting because I feel like the 80s is seen as the least desirable decade for guitars these days. I might be wrong though. There's obviously tons of 60s and 70s high selling ones, but there's some Japanese 2000s ones out there too. I don't see much for the 80s, but maybe in certain genres its popular and sought after
Those guys should be sued 😂
I've picked up a few boutique guitars for major discounts on Reverb in recent months. If you know what you want and track the market, the deals are out there as people get desperate or fed up and just want to sell -- even really, really nice guitars that would be $1,500 more otherwise. I did have trouble selling one of my guitars on Reverb and ended up off-loading it to Guitar Center to avoid all the Reverb fees. So, yes, buyer's market, not a seller's.
Totally. I'm not even in the market for a guitar. I barely play my 3 electrics. But when I go on Facebook Marketplace it's like "wow, cheap". Part of it is that I'm older, have cash to spare. I'll admit that. The prices really have dropped, though. This guy dropped the price on this custom Jazzmaster (early 80's body) that has been on Marketplace for what seems like well over a year. If he lowers it again I might buy it.
It's the same for bikes. I'm shocked people aren't buying some of the bikes I see. Perect bombproof commuters/touring rigs. The only reason I haven't bought them is they aren't local.
What great coaching for anyone wanting to understand what's really involved in MI retail - big picture and store-specific. Brick and mortar guitar shops are a music-culture treasure. Keep up the great work, Mark.
We're in an inflationary depression, everything that you need will become more exspensive and everthing that you own becomes worth less. Everyone and thier brother will be flooding the market with the same items trying to overcome the same inflation all at the same time.
I disagree... the guitar market just got way out of hand when everybody was shut in and I can't believe corporate honchos thought that was the new normal... but they did!
@@leebarbier5257 Dude from the pawn shop sez different and that there are so many people with expensive items they are willing to sell for really cheap that the pawn shops collectively can't buy it all.
Word. It's already started.
@@ShannonRamos They're ( US government) pumping in one trillion dollars every one hundred days to keep this thing together. Its not going to be long and it will be a trillion a day. The reset is here, people are going to feel it in more places than at the grocery store and the gas pump. We'll need to keep at least one guitar to play the blues at that point.
@@leebarbier5257they typically only look at the next quarter or so trying to ride a trend or get ahead of it.
Just sold all my extra stuff to guitar center, got more than I expected, they have like 15 used red double cut semi hollows of varying size, brand, and price point all on the wall. Next to that. Same thing for Strat shaped guitars. Then another line of Les Paul shaped things. Then another of pointy strats. All used. At every price point from beginner Amazon brands to gibsons fenders and Gretschs. They got used practice amps from Amazon bundles for 20 bucks all the way to boutique vintage replica stuff just on the floor. Fender rumbles in all wattages just stacked on top of each other. Oranges too. And Marshalls and fenders too.
Sounds like I wouldn’t be able to choose at that shop !
Same. thank goodness I was not going in to buy! I would have been overwhelmed trying to choose something @@brightworldmusic2114
Thanks great to hear the perspective of some who is seeing the volume you see.
great video and topics. nice to hear a real shop owner talk about reality.
I think it was easy enough to intuit that the banner guitar sales during the lock downs would ultimately result in a future glut in the used guitar market. Impulse purchases tend to lose their shine before too long. Especially when there's work and learning involved.
It's like how all the neon colors, spandex, and cocaine must have hypnotized 80's shredders into thinking the vintage Fender and Gibson gear was old hat. I watched a G.E. Smith video where he talked about how abundant and cheap the vintage stuff was in the 80s, really wish I wasnt a toddler then.
NAILED IT! I appreciate your candor good sir!
People are so silly if you buy an instrument just keep it. I have never viewed my instruments as an investment or something
You see I have a wife, and a lot of pedals… so I have to have a rotating door of pedals. As for guitars I only sell if I’m upgrading, tube amps don’t get sold.
That's great for you, but remember, it takes all kinds to make the world go round...
That’s a ridiculous thing to say.
I've got 14 guitars at the moment, I've owned at least twice that total since I was a teenager. They are all investments and I'd sell any single one for the right price. I like switching it up, I've got 4 or 5 guitars I don't hardly play that I'll list up to sell or trade for something different.
I used to sell a guitar and buy a new one everytime I got a new position/job. It was kinda like a signing bonus I gave myself. Now I like my Breedlove so much I haven’t gotten a new instrument in the last 6 years and three job titles.
Excellent topic, Gary.
valuable information you won’t learn out of a book or in class. Asking price and selling price are important to understand and comprehend. Know when to hold em and know when to fold em.
Pre COVID I never had any issues selling used guitar's post COVID it's almost impossible unless you put them at a crazy cheap price
Really depends on the guitar though… it does seem like everyone is selling things and less interested in buying. But if you put a vintage guitar up for sale you’ll sell it quick.
Nice to see guitar related videos made by someone who really knows what he is talking about delivered with candor and honesty.
Reverb is the problem - insane prices
I agree to some degree, however some sellers don't "need" to sell so they list at top prices. At the end of the day it only takes one buyer to make a sale. Just b/c one seller has an item listed at top price doesn't mean other potential sellers have to advertise at the same price. It all depends on how badly some need to sell, I've seen some bargains on there too. The past decade has seen prices go a bit silly though.
This guy is spot on. People bought foolishly and if they bought foolishly, they’re probably going to be foolish about the price they can sell. There’s something dumb as shit about posting a guitar near or about what someone can buy new. What are you going to do? Expect to lose 35% right off the top as soon as you purchase a guitar. I’ve done really well on Reverb. Not lately though. I won’t buy new gear anymore. The depreciation is worse than a car.
as a seller on reverb i have the right to list an item for what i want. as a buyer on reverb you have the right to buy or not buy as you choose. the problem you see with reverrb is that the guitars you want haven't reduced to your pricepoint. so now reverb could just as easily say stephen is the problem, he is looking for insane deals.
@@23kyd49 if someone is only into gear for a few grand there is really no pressure to sell. the bargain hunter is looking for the occasional listing that is priced to sell fast, that takes a lot of work.
Reverb is not the problem. They don’t determine prices. The sellers set the price and the buyers decide if they want to pay it.
You can ask whatever you want. Whether or not it sells is the market’s decision.
❤ Thank you! This is a really good point. I am in the music software biz and all of us doing recording stuff had huge sales that we are coming down from. I totally forgot that was also Fender’s best sales period too. So yup, this could be nuts. Fortunately won’t affect vintage I think. But yes thanks for calling this out. Oh the rain of Squiers! 😮😢
It's funny, I looked at this video and said "Hey, this place looks familiar". Yup, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
This is a must see video.
I’ve been buying and selling gear for decades. Either because something else was more to my liking or I just plain needed the money to pay the rent.
Sometimes I’ve been lucky with my timing and sometimes not. But I look at the boon times as icing on the cake. I have no problem taking a “loss”. I see it as a users’ fee.
This isn’t just guitars, the bicycle industry is imploding too, and the same can be seen in outdoor/camping gear. I imagine many recreational industries are having this issue as folks took up more hobbies in the pandemic, so supply went up at a time that they weren’t able to scale up manufacturing. Now not only is there too much supply from over ordering, but a lot of those folks that thought they were going to pick up a new hobby are putting it down.
Yep, I’m also a mountain biker, since the 90s. My bike got stolen right before the pandemic and it took me a year to find another.
Watches boomed in the pandemic too, markets down around 50% since
boats and pickup trucks too
I know of two independent bike shops in two different towns that were in business for many years that closed last year. I have a couple of quality guitars for sale at reasonable prices and am not getting anyone to even make offers.
Thank you for posting this video. It was a nice dose of reality for me and a nice benchmark for what today´s reality is. I watched this video at 10:30am and by 1:20pm I had 4 guitars sell on reverb. This is very important information for "Reverbers". I guess you have to determine where you are seeking value, through holding gear under a prospect of a better future or liquidating lower and reinvesting in a rising commodity.
Great info. Thanks for sharing this perspective from a business owner.
I love your frank, plain way of saying what’s what, not claiming to be anything more or less than the simple truth as you see it in your store. I thank you, man! Keep on doing exactly what you are doing.
Used gear never used to go for more than 60% of what you paid for it. What are these people smoking, thinking they can get 90%?
It all depends on how much a person paid for something. If you buy at the right price there will always be profit in an item no matter what it is. I've traded maybe 100+ guitars in the past 2 decades. I've lost on maybe 3 or 4 in total. Some I have made 300% on and I'm not talking cheap items. I tend to buy stuff that is limited run though. If I thought I was going to return 60% of a used item I bought I'd never buy another guitar again.
I have to point out that I don't buy to sell, I buy as a collector but my tastes change. I may get into Strat's and buy a few, next I'm back into LP's etc etc. I move pieces to fund new purchases.
Back to your point, so if a person expects to return 60% of their outlay, what about the resale price when that buyer sells? Does it drop again? Not always. When an item becomes cheap enough a trader will always buy to sell at a profit anyway.
Part of it is... have you talked to people who say "Anything that's 20 years old is vintage, dude!!!"
Sold my Strat for 100% of the new price second hand. About 10 years old.
Inflation and demand both effect resale price. Seen any inflation lately? Yes, BUT oversupply trumps it.
When people buy a five years old guitar from me that I bought new they get a much better instrument than it was at day one.
I enjoyed listening to what you had to say, Gary. I'm from the UK. I ain't ever selling my guitars. I have an Ibanez EX370FM from the early eighties. Never lets me down. Although I don’t play them much at the moment, I love them all, and It is knowing they are there and I can pick up a different guitar depending on my mood. I even play The Gypsy Kings on an old nylon strung classical guitar. I'd never part with it because of that style of music.
Then there is my Marshall TSL100 half stack. Only when I am dead will that ever leave me. What a monster, but its amazing flexibility means I can switch to any style that needs an amp.
Long live rock 'n roll.
I bought a Squire Strat last weekend for $40, put 62-13 strings on it and set it up to B standard. Having a blast riffing on it. It's a great time to buy a cheap guitar to try setups you always wanted to but were too cheap/broke to actually do it.
Played a Squire Tele at a guitar center about a year ago. It was $160 new (maybe even $140) and much better than I expected. I considered buying it, but I don't have room in my apartment to keep it. If I see one for $40, I'll have to find somewhere to stash it.
I’ve had a squire strat for years, upgraded to a fender, after a week I returned the fender, bought a gold reissue squire and after a few tweaks I’m well happy with it, people can be guitar snobs, I was one.
I just got a mid 90s Ibanez Ex350 last week for $80. Barely a scratch on it
I’ve had fun lately finding and trying cheap diamonds in the rough. So many odd string combos you can try.
I bought a heavily discounted Gibson R7 for 3.4k (3.6 after tax) thinking I could flip it easy for 3.9-4k. A year later I’m still sitting on it listed at 3.7k
Unfortunately , as times get inevitably harder, guitars will be really really inexpensive...Buy it because you love it, Buy it to play it !!
Nope. Prices will likely go down or level off… I think if you look at the trends, less people are playing guitar every year. I work at a music retail store, and I can tell you our biggest customers are not young family’s looking for instruments for their kids, it’s old guys who are retired. It’s a good thing for guitarists because gear will inevitably getter cheaper with less demand for it.
Don't agree..I also worked in a music store during 9-11 and it took years to get back..And truthfully, it was never the same..Tjere is an over abundance of guitars right now, to many I think..I hope you are right but I don't think so,,@@alexraia1377
an over abundance of guitars if anything would decrease prices! That's at least how most things go, big supply = lower prices@@jerrypalmer3534
@@jerrypalmer3534 Interesting info about the post 9/11 economy. When billionaires are selling billions in equities and building luxury bunkers what do you think they know that we do not?
@@ShannonRamos I think if anyone is paying attention, they know what is going on if they will take their heads out of the sand......
Appreciate the transparency and straight-ahead analysis. Very helpful.
I'm digging it. My LMS sells most used pedals for $99. They are nearly always mint.
First time viewer and new subscriber...liked your demeanor and the top row of instruments . It's a weird market with a lot of fake branded instruments as well.
😅I let out a bit of a shamed chuckle when you said maybe you don't need 4 guitars. Me sitting here with four score and seven guitars...I should have bought a Top Hat 🎩.
✌️Best Regards 🍀
Last week I spent $250 on a small acoustic for my kids. Same day, found the exact guitar + stand listed for $110 on marketplace.
It had some noticable wear, but $140 is $140 so I returned the new one and bought the used guitar. With new strings it sounds great.
@MichaelThomasOflaherty The cheaper guitar was used. No one was scamming anyone.
No,... most guitar stores DON"T take advantage. What are you talking about...? Maybe MF doesn't.. that's it. Mom and pop stores don't do that crap.
@MichaelThomasOflaherty buy at the end of the month, that's when they have to pay rent. I got a great deal on a taylor that way. I'm talking small shops
Glad I ran into this. Keep lowering my Reverb listing and scratching my head, now I know why. I wonder if there were a few out there buying guitars around 2022 out of fear of yet another yearly inflation-fueled retail price increase. I know someone who was doing that with stereo equipment as well as guitars.
@@scottmhorn if you really want to sell it go see in sales history with the last one sold for and try that price.
Excellent video. The car price metaphor is perfect. I have seen Squier basic strats asking on sites for 20-30% more than Amazon prices! Good luck with that. I think the Boomers down sizing, joint pain etc. is going to dump thousands of used guitars on the market now and over the next few years. Leading to saturation and over stocking of the guitar market. Sellers have got to face marketplace realities.
I'm seeing arthritic boomers offering their early-70s Martins for $1-2K over current values. They need to come to terms with reality. No one seems to want 12-strings.
Same with their houses.
@@ivermektin6874 real estate is controlled by real estate agents owners just go for the ride
Yes on used guitars, however vintage is strong as ever, collectors worldwide
yup..No doubt, the guitar/amp market will change drastically with the boomers heading out..Especially big amps, that they love but can't lift anymore!
Never sell to a shop unless you are ok with losing your money. They have to make money, and they have to sit on it. I've never not regretted selling a guitar or any piece of gear to a shop. I think most people need to consider the business owner. Good video! Thanks for the perspective.
There was a Gibson 76 reissue explorer sitting at my local pawnshop for the last 5 years. One day I finally decided to play it and it was a player! I had to have it. They were asking $1500 which I felt like was a pretty good deal, but I didn’t have the cash… so I traded an Epiphone sg custom+ $600 cash for it! Came with the original hsc too
Awesome,hope it was toneful.
Good move!
An actual 76 reissue from 76 or 90s/2000s 76 reissue?
If it was a 76 explorer and not a later reissue of that guitar you stole it
@@adamwatson6916 I always thought reissue was recreating an older guitar
Good advice and a timely video. Thanks Mark.
40% of my market is over 55. Less that 10% 25-34. The demographics are driving used instruments into the market as well as everything in the video while the market is shrinking. The boomers are on their way out. Asian reserve capacity is huge. Unless your instrument is vintage & collectable, it's likely to be a write-off.
It boggles my mind why guitar stores only sell guitars considering how many different types of stringed instruments exist in the world,, the death of rock music, the new multi ethnic demographics, immigration and younger generations being exposed to all genre of music.
If Guitar Center sold Ouds and Sitars and Chinese zithers, violins,banjos, mandolins, harps, classical strings, Persian instruments , etc etc Id buy those, But I ain't buying another damn guitar
@@P.B.andJam I liked the old shops, they sold guitars and other instruments, albums, music books, pot paraphernalia, posters, etc, you have to be diverse to make money, small ticket items can pay the rent, and big ticket albums can be gravy. you can't just sale one thing anymore
Nice - thanks for the video. I’m converting my 5 ton to a dumper also - I went for the hoist already mounted to a frame.
I was looking at used Jackson soloist USA sl1’s a year ago. Went from 4ks down to 2ks. Price was super inflated with the free Covid money.
Hi from Spain, I enjoyed your presentation and honesty. I don't know the market In the US but in Europe there are so many great new guitars from numerous manufacturers available for very low prices....but there are a lot less buyers. As a result even decent quality second hand guitars are worth less than 50% of what people paid, you are correct with your observation relative to a second hand car. People should only buy any musical instrument to play and enjoy it, if you want to buy to invest, make sure you know your subject very well, it's just like buying an antique, high risk!!! Kind regards,John.
If I buy a $500 guitar, I usually sell for $375 -$350 , quick sale , if possible I’ll offer the local music shop for the trade in and take a loss , I’m good with it , I call the loss a rental fee over a couple of years , gets it off the market and they can make a few bucks on the resale . no biggie at all . Dinner out for two is $150 .
step 1= Stop buying cheap guitars it's a flase economy.
step 2= Learn how to make delicious pan-seared steaks and buy some candels to set the mood.
step 3= Profit
@@ShannonRamosjust got to be that guy don't you?
@@stuartmoore6310😂😂😂😂 somebody has to do it 😂😂Lol
Thanks so much for this video. I am a music therapist and play my guitars a lot. I’m not in the market to collect guitars but guitars that inspire me to play them. I’m in the market to add a Tele and want one that I really love. I was considering buying a new one in the color I really want but this video and other feedback tells me that instead of buying an American Pro 2 I should look used as there are a ton in the 800-1100 range that are perfect for my needs. A potential glut in the used market tells me I can get both a good deal and a great guitar without having to buy new and go for the latest thing Fender is putting out.
I think I'm at a point where I don't want any amps. And if I get another guitar, it's either going to be 75% off or something truly modern and ultra playable for sitting. No more giant chunks of wood.
Im done with amps, been hauling big bastards around for 30 years, thankfully the last 10 have been using modelers.
I have close to 50 guitars, all the basics: Strat, Tele, LP, SG, etc. covered. The guitar I pick up 90% of the time now? A cheap carbon fiber Enya guitar from Amazon. Weighs nothing and it's always in tune. Not the best sounding but perfect for my usual sitting around and noodling. It's also the only guitar I'll take out on my 10-15 day vacations I spend hanging out on my boat. I bring along my cheap little Positive Grid amp that I can run off a Li-Ion battery pack and play for hours. It's rare I turn on my Hot Rod DeVille anymore, just overkill for bending strings in my house. I learned long ago most of the magic is in the musician, not the gear. A good musician will make crap sound like magic and guys like me make magic sound like crap LOL....
@@marcseclecticstuff9497I feel your pain..😅
Thanks Gary! This is an informative video in relationship to owner/sellers and unrealistic expectation and the compiling and prevailing market forces. Some additional wrinkles in the guitar market include: the massive number of the Chinese guitars being manufactured which are very inexpensive and have some surprisingly good features and quality for the money and are sold online. Another matter that will continue to impact the market and pricing are the woes and circumstances impacting the big chains, Sam Ash and Guitar Center. Just saying!
It cracks me up to see these Craigslist ads with a guitar that costs $500 new going for $480 and they're like "You don't have to pay tax." Unless something is rare or collectible the most you can ask for used gear is about 80% of current retail price, even if that has dropped from when you bought it.
How about 50% instead?
@@pmscalisi 40% is the devaluation of my current guitar, but I like it , so i don't care. If you are a serious guitarist , just keep trading up till you get what matches your talent level.
All of this is so true. Every word. Thank you so much for posting this video, I hope it restores some sanity to a lot of people.
The other thing not being mentioned is that guitars are getting really good. There is not as much of a gulf between midrange and high end anymore.
A guitar is a guitar is a guitar.
But id rather have a good guitar from usa than china
also, only a small fraction of guitar buyers actually play gigs or play them in public... there is a different mindset between someone buying a work tool and someone buying something for personal enjoyment. The working musicians I know mostly look for and buy really good midrange guitars, for many reasons... but chiefly they can replace it if it gets stolen/broken/whatever, and life can go on.
there's still a significant difference between the midrange and top end when they get plugged in and turned up loud. That's always where the difference is. "My mini van is just like a sports car, 4 wheels, breaks, steering wheel"..
@@colinburroughs9871...but at the end of the day it's still 95% down to the driver. At the end of the day, nobody is going to notice the difference between a well set up $1000-1500 solid body guitar and a $4000 guitar. Nobody is going to walk out of the club and say: "thank God he spent an extra few grand on that custom shop guitar, the songs would have been ruined without it."
@@Charlesbabbage2209 your first point contradicts your second point and neither have anything to do with the my point, there's differences between top end and mid tier guitars and they do matter, to the player if not the crowd, though depending on the context they very well might notice too.
I'm seeing the 2 sides of the Epiphone LP pricing you described. The top side is guitars and soft cases listing for 750 to 800$. On the other side I'm seeing very nice ones with hard cases around 400 and 450$. I'd like to thin the herd but also want to pick up a couple others. BEST AND PEACE
Epi Lps are going for $350-400 like all the time in my area
I do some personal buy/sell and what I do sometimes to get my money out of something that’s hard to sell is trade it (trade in value is always better than cash) for something that’s much easier to sell (even if ya have to put a little cash on it)…then try not to make those purchases too often. 😆👍
I buy it to play it mostly. Once in a while will buy as an investment if it is stupid cheap and easily resalable in any market (think Gibson or other desirable USA made).. But I still want to be able to play it as well.
Have made many trades, mostly with the idea of "Improving the Herd" and have worked up to much nicer stuff (Did a no-cash trade for a new Martin D35 a few years ago, traded a Fender and a Gibson, 2 for 1. Will NEVER sell the D35 as long as I can play it, she keeps getting better). Trades + cash will always get the best deals. No sales tax usually on the trade in value either, if part cash.
I love local shops like this.
So how are Fender player's series guitars 850? I was in a store yesterday and there are Asian made Squires that beat the quality of the MIM Player series by far for under 500. Best new deal right now for new if you play Fender.
There are two solution to this problem. We need more guitar bands and more venues.
People expecting to get their money back should be expecting to get their songs written after playing the thing.
maybe more people who want off the internet?
Cool video. Very interesting to hear it from a guitar shop owners perspective. I sell a moderate amount of stuff on Reverb, and unless it’s something very rare and collectible, it doesn’t go fast and for asking at all. Exactly like you said, if I pick up anything with an intent to sell it, I’m factoring in a slight downward slope and if the margin doesn’t make sense, I’m passing on the purchase
Agree, but as usual, it really depends on the guitar. A brand new Epiphone Dave Grohl model is selling for $4-500 more than MSRP right now because they’re on back order and everybody wants them. An Epiphone Alex Lifeson from just 2 years ago sold for $899 brand new, but you are hard-pressed to find one for less than $1000 now. So recent off the shelf guitar models are dropping in price rapidly right now, but limited edition models still hold their value or go up depending on how limited the availability is.
If its not usa made it wont be a good long term investment
@@johnsmith-bk4ps false, oldhead belief. South Korean Schecters play better than 99% of US guitars lol.
@@johnsmith-bk4psJapan has entered the chat.
Recently bought a lovely Japanese made Sadowsky bass for 1500. About 15 years old, plays like a dream. Perhaps not a true boutique instrument, but its as close as I will get to one. I think it will hold its value just fine, but for me its a keeper.
Yes, those Artist models seem to either keep their price or getting more expensive no matter what brand. Just go one layer lower and wait for the prices to drop..
I've had the same 3 guitars for a few years now, but I've bought lots of recording equipment. Music stores probably would do well if they looked into recording stuff. Commonly used cables, external sound cards, mixing boards etc. Lots of people doing bedroom recording. Much more popular than guitars and amps I would wager.
It all depends. I had over 100 guitars, always buying and selling, upgrading. I started selling off my $500 to $2000 guitars and buying Vintage Charvel Pre Production guitars. So late 70s early 80s. I almost got finished and there were a few that I took less money for but nowhere near as low as I paid. I wanted to maybe by two or three more vintage guitars but right now I'm in limbo as I am not going lower. So I either wait it out or eventually I'll crack. The vintage guitars though I have no doubt they will keep value.
@losthwy And you are the arbiter of who sees what? You have zero idea of my experience. I've worked at five Sam Ash stores during the peak era of guitar sales. Worked under Jerry in Hempstead, with Sammy at multiple stores ending in 48th st in the mid 90s. Worked with one of the top 3 Vintage guitar dealers in the world. And you? Are what, a guitar teacher pushing Line 6 amps and LTD crap in a shop that mostly rents band instruments to schools?
@losthwy Three lines is too much for you? No mystery why your business is failing. Maybe the lack of writing and reading skills along with your sanctimonious bullshit has something to do with it.
just through some of your videos on owing a guitar store. Really nice and interesting. you seem like a nice a competent guy if I should ever be in your area I will pass by.
Greetings from Berlin!
Thank you!
same with bicycles, but at least here in germany i cannot see any noticeable price reduction at the moment.ebay is overflowing with stuff, but the prices people are asking for are insane.
Because any good deals sell instantly. So the high price stuff just languishes and make people think prices are insane. “It’s selling for $x” no, it’s for sale for $x if it was selling for that it wouldn’t be there.
This makes sense. I have too many guitars and tried to offers a couple for what I thought were realistic prices-but I get no offers. Does £450 sound dear for a decent 1996 MIJ Strat?
I think so, but prices are falling. Sell it now or hold on to it for a year or two.
the exact same thing happened with the cycling industry. i make my purchases for life so i'm not fussed, but lots of shops closing and brands going bust.
Good advice, I'm looking at acquiring maybe another guitar or two a d maybe a couple of amps as well. Thanks.
A guitar is only worth what someone is willing to pay and that has the money in hand.
And that's that!!
I don’t agree. If we used that logic for everything then there would be no stable average price on many things. We have those averages to give us a real time look on how things are selling, good or bad. On some things yes i would agree it’s worth whatever the buyer is willing to pay but those are generally for collectibles on the bidding block.
@@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020 he said guitars, and I get your point as well. The key thing about buying used is patience. What you want is eventually gonna show up at the price you are willing to pay. All you have to do is to have the money ready to buy.
@@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020 there is no "stable average price" on instruments, not even vintage ones... there's simply what people are willing to pay that seller when they really need to sell it. I know people who've learned that people will not pay top dollar for a pricey vintage guitar when they try to sell it themselves (they just get tough lowball "take it or leave it, you need money or not!?!" offers), so they have to pay a premium to a well-known dealer to sell it for them.
You have a USA cherry sunburst Les Paul Custom. I have $40. Your guitar is worth only that. You are required to sell it to me.
Completely agree about reverb. I’m really only looking at acoustics right now but the used prices aren’t dropping on any of the big names (Martin, Taylor) or the well regarded boutique builders. The boutique builders will eventually sell but so many of these guitars just sit there forever. I’d love to buy a Guild D55 but everyone wants 3000-3500 for a used one and there’s a bunch of them just sitting there.
Meanwhile Fender just raised their prices on USA made Stratocasters $100 this week. Epiphone models are $1,200 plus an artist series made in China. I think USA guitar manufacturer’s make more profits off of Asian made instruments than their USA line of guitars. That’s what cheap labor brings. It’s kind of like what car companies are doing. They can make more profit selling you a $75,000 SUV than a compact car. So why make them anymore?
Fender/ Squire and Gibson/Epiphone price hikes will help boost sales of Harley Benton, Sterling, G&L, Schecter, Sire, even Firefly and Glary.
G&L is the best kept secret in the guitar world IMO. I have a bunch and their normal product is custom shop quality...@@damham5689
I would never buy asian, buy an older model american
Very interest information and very well explained, thanks so much for the insights.
Up until about 10 years ago I had never considered the resale value of a guitar. I figured I would buy one because I liked it and then just play it until I found something better at which point the first guitar has served its purpose and is just excess that needs to be stored and maintained. If I had a good offer I might sell it but otherwise it would just sit there until I needed it in an emergency or gave it away to some neighbour or family member.
I always considered myself a guitar player not a wannabe guitar dealer/investor. Just because some guitars, like 1950s Gibsons for example, go up in price doesn't mean guitars in general will. Why would your basic Strat hold its value when next year they will make another 1,000 of them?
Collectibility is all about supply and demand, as live venues and guitarist move toward quieter stage volumes (5wattworld) the loud and gigantic amps of the past are seeing a buyer side slump. Now seems like a good time to find a deal on a vintage refrigerator sized amp if that is your thing.
Some things are more collectible than others, 4 years ago I passed on a $2000 Sampson era Matchless Cheiftain because I had just bought a used Fender Tonemaster deluxe for $500, guess which one will age better.
@@ShannonRamosand what someone is willing to pay for it.
@@pmscalisi About 20 years ago my Dad sold one vintage guitar that paid for half the price of his current home.
Respect for honesty. All parties still have to be careful, as there's always some shady jerk that wants to rip you off. This goes for buyers and sellers. Do your homework. Understand current market value for that item. Knowledge is power. Be safe in all transactions. Check for counterfeit gear and cash. Keep your wits about you. Here's hoping we all find what we are looking for at a better price than expected!
I liked Reverb a whole lot better when it was just a knob on your amp.
when I was starting out (80's) the rule of thumb was to ask half the price of new for a used instrument. And I bought used for half of retail. Later I was amazed that on Ebay I often got 2/3 the price of new, or sometimes more than new if it was something unique. Recently I was moving and listed a MIM telecaster for half what I paid and the buyer was thrilled.
the cheaper stuff has become much better quality, market been flooded with it, factories pumping out instruments... same with horns...
i can find a pretty good guitar for 500 now, the new cheap stuff is better than the old cheap stuff. and i'd say about 50% cheaper. I bought a Cordoba fusion from china, and I love it. this guitar would have gone for 750 to 1000 10 yrs ago. i paid 450 new, and it's list price was 675
Gary, what are the details of that '70s 175 in the background?
It's a 1968. $4999. You can check it out on our website.
Please bring the live show back with Gary in the original format.
I sold about half of my guitar collection 2-3 years ago keeping mostly the vintage stuff and Gibson Les Pauls. I have the same problem I would normally buy more when the price dips but the stuff I see for sale is all overpriced, I see the same not selling gear on my local Facebook and Craigslist every day. No need to sell my stuff at a discount and I have two Marshall stacks and yes nobody wants them so I will just keep using them. I tell you one thing for sure I am not buying any gear new or used right now. Great video I agree with everything you say here.
As a small builder, making only 3-4 guitars per year, this glut has hurt me to the point where I don't even list anything for sale any more.
My Reverb store is, and has been, empty for a couple of years now.
And it's because of inflation, and high fees.
I can't pay 675 bucks to turn out a guitar that I'm trying to sell for 450.
And I'm NOT going to "pass on costs to the consumer", because my target customer is working bar band players that need an American guitar for an Asian price point.
I guess it doesn't matter, because the bar gigs are gone anyway, and what few are left are paying sub-80's rates.
Boy howdy. The live music scene is dwindling and drying up, and the Asian guitars are catching up in quality thanks to CNC machines.
Still, you could probably sell four guitars a year if you just raised your price to boutique prices. People want to pay a lot for things - it makes them feel special and exclusive. That was how PRS broke in to the market and grew to be one of the big brands. It's also how Tesla succeeded in electric cars where the big car companies had previously failed.
Unfortunately, your customers will be lawyers and financiers instead of working musicians, but at least you can keep doing what you love.
I think 6 for a well built custom is a steal . Also we need craftsmen like you to encourage kids to get into building . Try selling a couple for a price with a little margin for you and see what happens. I was looking at a Peavy Cirrus 4 . It was once a $500 bass and are now selling used for $2500 and I would buy a quality custom before I would pay that . Even if it is a sweet bass.
Who tries to enter a budget market with a high dollar, boutique style small supply? Makes no sense unless you just want to build for local musicians.
You seem like an awesome old world mentality craftsman. This world needs more people like you in it my friend. I hope to find someone like you when I want to make my next purchase, which won't be very much longer. What part of the country do you live in?
@@brushstroke3733Not sure where you live or what genres you listen to but the live music scene is certainly not drying up lol. More smaller and mid-sized bands going on tour than ever.
Love the older archtops. Appreciate the common sense description of the market. This coincides with my experience buying and selling. If you think it's bad with guitars, you should check out the mountain dulcimer market. They tend to sell new at high prices because they are handmade and certain builders' instruments are sought after. However, many people buy them and never learn to play them, so they sit in a closet for (in one case) 18 years in pristine condition. As with used guitars, as a buyer I tend to steer away from unrealistic asking prices because I'd either pay to much or the seller would think I was trying to cheat them on the price. As with used cars and any other item, it's only worth what someone is actually prepared to pay for it. I seldom if ever pay more than I am certain I can get for an instrument later on.
I don’t get it. I’ve been going to pawn shops and guitar centers for over a year and they are stocked to the brim with gear they can’t sell, at prices that are obscenely high.
Why won’t they budge on price? Even Facebook marketplace and Craigslist people are out of their minds trying to sell things way too high.
I keep waiting for them to drop their prices but they don’t. 🤷
I am seeing the same thing with synths. Prices are through the roof and the same stuff gets reposted over and over.
People aren't buying.
Theres always a deal. Just be ready to jump in the car and go
Moog users (I am one) are particularly greedy (I'm not selling) and they think that the 700 dollar Moogerfooger Filter should still sell for 700. Everyone wants their personal holding to increase and they don't consider they are artificially inflating the market. Patience. @@Charlesbabbage2209
Talking about the guitars from say the last 20 years... I'm guessing these are the ones that get passed around the most because they're not vintage prices, only inflated. If everyone takes a hair cut then it kinda evens out if your goal is to sell and buy something else to try. But I think it's true that the amount of guitars available is absolutely insane and that will end up driving prices down as sellers fight to sell. I see this as a golden opportunity like any market that you want to get involved when the prices are lower. I'd love to see some of these custom shop guitars slashed on the 2nd hand market.