Hello Fret Kings and Queens!
Mooching around on my fave online classified ad sites and I am amazed by the number of guitars of a vintage hue on there where people are asking for 'offers'. This seems to be a trend possibly exacerbated by the closure of Music Ground's two Northern stores. The guitar sellers cry of "But its £2500 in Music Ground!" has been replaced by "Make me an Offer!". It is as if no-one can fix a price point anymore!
There is a counter to the old Caveat Emptor saying of - let the buyer beware and that's Caveat Venditor - let the seller beware! Quite clearly no-one has a clue where vintage and quality guitar prices are going to land at the moment. There are too many variables around at present although my recent experience at the Northern Guitar Show suggests that buyers and sellers ARE doing deals again!
The make me an offer thing is a conundrum though. Do the sellers who bring guitars along to shows or advertise them think a dealer is going to have a sudden fit of generosity and make a hugely 'over the top' offer. They also seem genuinely insulted when a dealer makes a realistic market based offer...or even a cheeky one! I usually work around the 'what price did you have in mind' at which point they blurt out their price expectation! Why not just start from that and work around it instead of this ridiculous 'fandance'. I used to have a friend in the used car trade who as he put it - knocked the price offered down by 5% for every half hour of his time the seller wasted. I am not sure you can be that harsh in the vintage guitar market but if you are coming to do business with me have a price sorted out in your head! Please!
Until next time fretheads!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Firebird Sweet!
Hello again Fret Kings and Twang Queens
What balls! I am talking about Gibson's management in 1963 the year old Mr Modern was born incidently. To launch the Gibson Firebird after the failure of the Modern series V and Explorer took 'mucho cohones'.
I really don't know why I like the Firebird so much after all I have owned two both of them 1976 Bicentennial and both were horrible. Incidently I sold the first one to the sadly missed Steve Clark formerly of Def Leppard.
The first Firebird's however were especially handsome guitars, whilst the second generation models, how can I say this had a style only a mother could love.
Gibson produced 2800 of the superb neck through body instruments and was available in ten custom colours, my own favourite being Kerry Green or Pelham Blue or Cardinal Red! Its all good!
Until next time Fretheads!
What balls! I am talking about Gibson's management in 1963 the year old Mr Modern was born incidently. To launch the Gibson Firebird after the failure of the Modern series V and Explorer took 'mucho cohones'.
I really don't know why I like the Firebird so much after all I have owned two both of them 1976 Bicentennial and both were horrible. Incidently I sold the first one to the sadly missed Steve Clark formerly of Def Leppard.
The first Firebird's however were especially handsome guitars, whilst the second generation models, how can I say this had a style only a mother could love.
Gibson produced 2800 of the superb neck through body instruments and was available in ten custom colours, my own favourite being Kerry Green or Pelham Blue or Cardinal Red! Its all good!
Until next time Fretheads!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Open Back v Closed Back
Well fret heads this week I am not talking Mrs Modern's choice of dresses but tuners. It is a generally accepted that closed back tuners are better in some way. There are some great and iconic tuners such as the Grover Imperials. I will let you into a little secret check out many of Steve Howe's guitars when next you see him performing with Yes or the Steve Howe Trio. He retro-fits Imperials to many of his Gibson's and they look and I assume perform like the very thing.
But the open back v closed back issue is an interesting one. The need for a cover to protect from dust and damage is a bit of a moot point. After all its better to have access and open backs can be easily cleaned with graphite or a non sticky lubricant. The price issue is an interesting one too. Student instruments usually have cheaper open back tuners whilst Strat's, Tele's usually have closed back Klusons or retro fitted Grovers.
One tip though twang kings and queens... if you do swap your tuners for something more aesthetically pleasing or functional don't go selling the originals on Ebay will you.
Until next time my little riffsters and "strum"pets!
But the open back v closed back issue is an interesting one. The need for a cover to protect from dust and damage is a bit of a moot point. After all its better to have access and open backs can be easily cleaned with graphite or a non sticky lubricant. The price issue is an interesting one too. Student instruments usually have cheaper open back tuners whilst Strat's, Tele's usually have closed back Klusons or retro fitted Grovers.
One tip though twang kings and queens... if you do swap your tuners for something more aesthetically pleasing or functional don't go selling the originals on Ebay will you.
Until next time my little riffsters and "strum"pets!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
60's Telecaster v Les Paul v Kramer DMZ
OK So I agree its not a fair contest but...it says something about tonal characteristics and the way that tone and our perception of tone is affected by perceptions of value.
If you regard a nice well played in pre-CBS Telecaster as being a super cool super playable guitar as being the peak of guitar construction and tonal excellence (and there are lots that do!) then think for a moment about its construction. Slab alder or ash body, maple neck, "monkey metal" chromed plate bridge and those rinky dink single coil pickups. Put up against any older Les Paul ( and I am not talking $250,000 59 Standards) and the the tonal characteristics should be obvious. But which is more unique ? Which guitar will more allow the characteristics of the player the shine through? No in any book weight = sustain and density and mass = ultra sustain. But why then do the 1970's guitars with heavy bodies, over glazed necks and lumpy brass parts weighing 14lbs not sustain way beyond what the other two guitars do. Especially reference this telecaster again at this point...it really is the best of both worlds; or you could buy in one with a retro or factory fitted Bigsby and go for an optimum mix of the two sets of sometimes conflicting ideas!
If you regard a nice well played in pre-CBS Telecaster as being a super cool super playable guitar as being the peak of guitar construction and tonal excellence (and there are lots that do!) then think for a moment about its construction. Slab alder or ash body, maple neck, "monkey metal" chromed plate bridge and those rinky dink single coil pickups. Put up against any older Les Paul ( and I am not talking $250,000 59 Standards) and the the tonal characteristics should be obvious. But which is more unique ? Which guitar will more allow the characteristics of the player the shine through? No in any book weight = sustain and density and mass = ultra sustain. But why then do the 1970's guitars with heavy bodies, over glazed necks and lumpy brass parts weighing 14lbs not sustain way beyond what the other two guitars do. Especially reference this telecaster again at this point...it really is the best of both worlds; or you could buy in one with a retro or factory fitted Bigsby and go for an optimum mix of the two sets of sometimes conflicting ideas!
Friday, February 6, 2009
I'm confused
Welcome back fret heads and twang queens....people read a blog expecting definitive opinions and amazing insight but this time you ain't gonna get it...oh no dear readers. Because I am perplexed and confused! Firstly we hear all this talk and commentary for better informed and higher paid men than me concerning the state of consumer spending and the "high street", but sales of guitars were up 3.4% in December according to GK market research (whatever that means right).
More tellingly those of whose involved in this guitar dealing game are seeing a very odd phenomena. Most guitar shops and dealers with premises work on a 100% markup/markdown system. You buy a guitar worth a grand from one dealer take it round the corner to another dealer and you will be offered £500 for it regardless of age condition You might be able to haggle them up to £600 if you are lucky...but there you go! So quite clearly your cash strapped guitar owner isn't going to retail stores. Now with the plethora of freeads sites across the U.K. I counted 9 in total and I am sure there are more, you would think that there would be some great deals available on there with people selling guitars at knock down in order to pay off credit card bills and the gas bill etc....once again it isnt so! So what dear readers is going on out there in second hand guitar land? A couple of guitar dealer mates I know are complaining about the problems of replenishing high end stock when you have to spend £40,000 - £50,000 a quarter to keep well in with the main distributors of the type of high end guitars we all know and love. So in turning to the second hand market they have found a dearth of good quality guitars that have been well looked after and require little setting up or any sort of repair. I had expected there shops to be awash with nearly used and never abused eye candy given the current state of the economy but sadly the reverse seems to be the case! So dear readers where are all the great guitars hiding....answers on a postcard to.....
More tellingly those of whose involved in this guitar dealing game are seeing a very odd phenomena. Most guitar shops and dealers with premises work on a 100% markup/markdown system. You buy a guitar worth a grand from one dealer take it round the corner to another dealer and you will be offered £500 for it regardless of age condition You might be able to haggle them up to £600 if you are lucky...but there you go! So quite clearly your cash strapped guitar owner isn't going to retail stores. Now with the plethora of freeads sites across the U.K. I counted 9 in total and I am sure there are more, you would think that there would be some great deals available on there with people selling guitars at knock down in order to pay off credit card bills and the gas bill etc....once again it isnt so! So what dear readers is going on out there in second hand guitar land? A couple of guitar dealer mates I know are complaining about the problems of replenishing high end stock when you have to spend £40,000 - £50,000 a quarter to keep well in with the main distributors of the type of high end guitars we all know and love. So in turning to the second hand market they have found a dearth of good quality guitars that have been well looked after and require little setting up or any sort of repair. I had expected there shops to be awash with nearly used and never abused eye candy given the current state of the economy but sadly the reverse seems to be the case! So dear readers where are all the great guitars hiding....answers on a postcard to.....
Friday, January 30, 2009
Its time to start recycling....great guitars!
You may think dear readers that a huge 9.6% slump in Japanese factory output announced today would have little or no effect on the world of guitar. But think again that factory output includes the factories that make many of the guitars imported from the Far East, South Korea and China are showing similar if not quite so bad figures. This means only one thing, global trade is starting to dry up as the recession/depression bites. I am not saying it will be as bad as the 1950's with trade barriers and high import duties, but neither will there be a free flow of goods between nations. At the moment this is due to supply chain corrections where dealers don't order from distributors and so on back to the factory gate. So get used to looking at pretty much the same stock on dealers walls until this recession sorts itself. Until then I foresee much of the trade as being in second hand guitars, swaps and trade ins....second hand goods always sell well in times of recession as people "cut their cloth". I foresee guitars coming out of private collections and from under people's beds. What will be interesting is what prices they realise when they do actually appear.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The Top Five Guitars We Like This Week
1. PRS Prism Al Di Meola
2. Hutchins Brian Jones "Vox" Teardrop
3. Gibson Les Paul 295 Goldtop 'Its a Gibson, its like an ES 295, its a Les Paul, what's not to like?'
4. Fender Road Worn Mexican Relics "How Cool....?"
5. Michael Messer Blues Resonator "How Cheap....?"
Until next time fret heads!
2. Hutchins Brian Jones "Vox" Teardrop
3. Gibson Les Paul 295 Goldtop 'Its a Gibson, its like an ES 295, its a Les Paul, what's not to like?'
4. Fender Road Worn Mexican Relics "How Cool....?"
5. Michael Messer Blues Resonator "How Cheap....?"
Until next time fret heads!
Friday, November 14, 2008
Credit "Crunch" or Just "Distortion"
Well its hard to turn on the T.V. or Radio without some "expert" or "politician" banging on about the "credit crunch" and ensuing recession. Its worth having a look at what's happening in the guitar market. At the vintage and top end stuff still seems to be moving around between dealers but the retail sector has gone flat...it's that old consumer confidence thing again.
On the whole things look upbeat as long you aren't carrying lots of stock, stuck with lots of middle market Japanese and Korean stuff or have a huge overdraft with Mr. "Banker".
The top end of the market seems to be remaining buoyant but is definitely changing. I had a customer last month reject a guitar because it wasn't in good enough condition. This has important implications for both vintage and "relic" reissue guitars. The guitars that seem to be moving now have to be very high quality and near mint condition. This may be a consequence of the recession when things "smarten" up a bit anyway. There is also a "flight to quality": effect in uncertain times.
Those who have money will always have money and there is also the "Banking Disaster Buy a Stratocaster" effect. I know myself that I should have sold more shares and bought guitars I liked for me instead of playing safe. The ones I did sell shares to buy have gone up in value; the shares I kept back for a "Rainy Day" sadly are trading at around 20% of their boomtime value...go figure sports fans!
The tightening of consumer purse strings in the middle market is having an effect and the Sound Control meltdown is I fear the first of many middle market players who will get badly burnt over the next three years. I had expected the cull at EMI now that they have gone private equity to have an effect on high end and vintage sales. This does not seem to be the case as with bands making less on recorded music the live circuit suddenly looks more attractive and bands need gear to tour!
The key to survival for guitar dealers will be specialism rather than trying to be "generalists". Either stock the very best or stock interesting specialist guitars... avoid anything that requires finance and if you have cash in pocket spend it well and spend it wisely... go for the one off piece rather than the mass produced middle market guitar.
I recently advised a friends son to buy a late 1980's Les Paul Standard with an uncertain "mongrel" pedigree. £50 of bits off Ebay and he has a guitar that is unlike anything else anyone plays at college and it looks awesome if well gigged. It cost £700 out of the local paper and leaves anything new at that price point to shame.
The gap between near mint and secondary level guitars is widening, and there are some bargains to be had in the "messed about with" category, they will be the guitars to stick hold of until all this credit nonsense is over. I can see this gap widening until there are only project guitars that need TLC and the rest of the vintage market will be defined by mint condition stuff. Prices will also shift around but wont hit the peaks of 2006 for some time.
On the whole things look upbeat as long you aren't carrying lots of stock, stuck with lots of middle market Japanese and Korean stuff or have a huge overdraft with Mr. "Banker".
The top end of the market seems to be remaining buoyant but is definitely changing. I had a customer last month reject a guitar because it wasn't in good enough condition. This has important implications for both vintage and "relic" reissue guitars. The guitars that seem to be moving now have to be very high quality and near mint condition. This may be a consequence of the recession when things "smarten" up a bit anyway. There is also a "flight to quality": effect in uncertain times.
Those who have money will always have money and there is also the "Banking Disaster Buy a Stratocaster" effect. I know myself that I should have sold more shares and bought guitars I liked for me instead of playing safe. The ones I did sell shares to buy have gone up in value; the shares I kept back for a "Rainy Day" sadly are trading at around 20% of their boomtime value...go figure sports fans!
The tightening of consumer purse strings in the middle market is having an effect and the Sound Control meltdown is I fear the first of many middle market players who will get badly burnt over the next three years. I had expected the cull at EMI now that they have gone private equity to have an effect on high end and vintage sales. This does not seem to be the case as with bands making less on recorded music the live circuit suddenly looks more attractive and bands need gear to tour!
The key to survival for guitar dealers will be specialism rather than trying to be "generalists". Either stock the very best or stock interesting specialist guitars... avoid anything that requires finance and if you have cash in pocket spend it well and spend it wisely... go for the one off piece rather than the mass produced middle market guitar.
I recently advised a friends son to buy a late 1980's Les Paul Standard with an uncertain "mongrel" pedigree. £50 of bits off Ebay and he has a guitar that is unlike anything else anyone plays at college and it looks awesome if well gigged. It cost £700 out of the local paper and leaves anything new at that price point to shame.
The gap between near mint and secondary level guitars is widening, and there are some bargains to be had in the "messed about with" category, they will be the guitars to stick hold of until all this credit nonsense is over. I can see this gap widening until there are only project guitars that need TLC and the rest of the vintage market will be defined by mint condition stuff. Prices will also shift around but wont hit the peaks of 2006 for some time.
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