Help evaluating a guitar's value?

[B3Guy]

Hey, guys! I have a friend with a strat that he is offering to sell me. It is a V00 serial number, which places it in 1982, built in the original Fender Fullerton factory on the original machinery. From what I read, these guitars are of high build quality and are as similar to vintage '50s and '60s strats as one can get without the real deal (this one is a '60s RI). There are mint condition '82 Fullerton Fenders valued at upwards of $4K, but this one (while it plays really nice) is far from mint. While it has all the original parts and the case, he has had a Floyd in it at one point (hence a reroute), plus the accompanying modification to the neck for a locking nut (the original bridge is now back in, but the route is visible. The nut is replaced with I think bone, but the shelf cut is still there.) Also, the bridge position has been rerouted for a Humbucker, and there are various small imperfections such as mismatched screws, a corner broken off the trem cover, and the expected belt-buckle wear-thru and various edge dings. I'm just looking for some outside opinions as to potential value. He's a good friend, and we both want to be fair with it, and neither of us is exactly sure what it's worth. I don't want to pay him $800-$900 for something I can turn around and sell for $1500, and he doesn't want to charge me $1400 for a guitar that in reality is not mint enough to meet those standards anyway.

Its not a big deal, I just thought there might be someone on the board with a better insight into this than he or I were able to gain by surfing the web. (He bought it new back in '80somethin, and he hadn't even looked into selling it until this week, when he found out upon looking that the Fullerton Custom Shop Strats in mint condition are fairly valuable.) Any insight is much appreciated!

 

[Alfang]

I don't think its worth much because of the mods made to it, and 80's guitars are plentifull, if it was factory condition with normal wear, it's probably worth what was paid for it new, or even less.  With the reroutes it's worth even less,
My guess, because i wouldn't pay more that this is less than $350, sorry.

 

[B3Guy]

yes, $350 was the number he threw out before I let him know that these custom shop ones are desirable. Once again, from my understanding, these were made in the early '80s in the original Fender factory on the original equipment to essentially original (pre CBS) specifications. He and I have no trouble calling the deal off if it is too expensive for me, we're good friends. I guess I just need to weigh the value of the guitar to me against what he could get for it from someone else (I don't want to short him). There's also the fact that Ebay and specialty dealers often have prices high and guitars are constantly relisted. They're rarely priced to move.

Thanks for your 2c.

I've been borrowing the guitar for a half year, and it is a very nice Strat as Strats go. I feel like its true value is certainly over $350. Truth be told, IDK why he prefers his '08 strat

 

[Cagey]

$350 is probably generous. As has been mentioned, if it was all original and in good condition, it would be worth something less than it's new cost, which was probably $600 or so. But, it's been modified to death and then put back poorly, then not well taken care of. Hell, for $200 you can get this new Mahogany neck-thru w/ a Floyd.

Listing

It doesn't say "Fender" on the headstock, but so what?

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

$350 is probably generous. As has been mentioned, if it was all original and in good condition, it would be worth something less than it's new cost, which was probably $600 or so. But, it's been modified to death and then put back poorly, then not well taken care of. Hell, for $200 you can get this new Mahogany neck-thru w/ a Floyd.

Listing

It doesn't say "Fender" on the headstock, but so what?

Looks nice, but who's "Douglas?"  Never heard of Douglas Guitars...

 

[Cagey]

Who knows? Some Pacific Rim manufacturer, most likely in S. Korea. Lotta nice guitars coming out of there these days.

 

[drewfx]

My impression was that Rondo music created those brands and has them manufactured in China (or Korea) to their specifications.

 

[B3Guy]

sorry if I have not been clear: it was not put back poorly. he took it to one the of the best techs in the state and had them put it back together and set it up. They didn't do any "restoration" work (they offered to do wood matching for the places where he'd modified), but they reinstated it as a great playing guitar.

Not sure what that other guitar is . . . again sorry if I was unclear. He had a floyd and crazy EMG stuff on it at one time, but now everything on it (except a new bone nut) is original. THat guitar you listed looks fine but not my cup of tea.

Also, for your consideration, some mint condition Fullertons, just as a reference point to what threw us off the $350:

http://www.fenderreissue.com/

 

[SkuttleFunk]

but this is not mint, and it's been heavily modified ...

$350 is generous

due to all the mods,  it's not collectable from a vintage viewpoint. and since it's not collectable, there's no collector's market inflation irrationally driving it's price up


pay him more if it helps you sleep better  :dontknow: but do so knowing that when it comes time to sell, you're going to take a bath on the price unless you can con some poor ignorant player (and then you'll be back to losing sleep)

all the best,

R

 

[reluctant-builder]

Blech, no offense to Doug or any of the other Floyd-lovers on this forum, but if a guitar's been routed for a Floyd and had the nut shelf made and then someone tries to change it back ... that's like throwing acid on Halle Berry's face and trying to claim she's still beautiful after some ham-fisted cosmetic surgery.

I'd pass on this one. In the words of Hal David and Burt Bacharach: "Walk on by."

Edit: To expound, if you're willing to pay more than $350 ($400, maybe?) that's almost half the cost of the Pau Ferro and Ebony necked walnut and swamp ash Strat I'm thinking of building. Wouldn't you rather just save some additional scratch and make a new Warmoth?

 

[Corey P.]

That's like throwing acid on Halle Berry's face and trying to claim she's still beautiful after some ham-fisted cosmetic surgery.

It really depends what % of her face got all post-acid-y looking - 85% on Halle Berry's is still a pretty desirable face with some "added character..."  Now relicking her - that's out of the question.

I joined this conversation thinking I was going to have a point.  Um, yeah - I do think getting a genuine somewhat old-school Strat is still meaningful, but as others have said, don't raise the value to try to justify making it equal to what it's worth to you, either get it because you love the way it plays, or if you do find out you can profit from flipping it, give your friend a cut then.

 

[mayfly]

Dear Mr B3.

I've lived through that time period, and I don't consider anything made in the 80's 'vintage', so my answer may be colored.  Having said that a hacked up old strat is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.  I personally would not pay over $100 for the thing, with the idea of selling it for $200.  To me it's not worth a penny more.  If there is someone else out there who would attribute a greater value than that, then suggest to your friend that he sell it to them.  Please do not buy this guitar for yourself.

Yours,
Mayfly.

 

[pabloman]

Are considering it as a player or a collector? Some guitars just feel right. If this is one then go for it. You have already said you feel it is worth at least $350. Is that because of the tone and the way it plays and the way you play on it? If those are all yes answers then buy it. If you think it is a $350 guitar because of the brand maybe you should reconsider.  I think you might be asking this question on the wrong forum. What do a bunch of warmoth guys know about resale value anyway? They all build their own because the don't like the mass produced stuff and spend twice as much doing so as they could ever get back. :icon_jokercolor:

 

[B3Guy]

Blech, no offense to Doug or any of the other Floyd-lovers on this forum, but if a guitar's been routed for a Floyd and had the nut shelf made and then someone tries to change it back ... that's like throwing acid on Halle Berry's face and trying to claim she's still beautiful after some ham-fisted cosmetic surgery.

I'd pass on this one. In the words of Hal David and Burt Bacharach: "Walk on by."

Edit: To expound, if you're willing to pay more than $350 ($400, maybe?) that's almost half the cost of the Pau Ferro and Ebony necked walnut and swamp ash Strat I'm thinking of building. Wouldn't you rather just save some additional scratch and make a new Warmoth?

My plan is to do the notorious "reproductive guitar" vaudeville act . . . you know, the one where you "buy a new neck" for your strat, then need a new body for the old neck, etc. etc. all with the dude playing ragtime in the background with the framerate too fast like an old Charlie Chapman film? It lets one do all this stuff in smaller wads of dough, while having a guitar to play. I love playing, and I jam every day, but I'm in no position to rationalize a $2k Warmoth (which is what I'd do if I went all W, all at once. Do it right the first time, I say).

 

[B3Guy]

Thanks again to all for your input . . . very helpful. What I was after was real answers from real people as to how much they'd ACTUALLY be willing to fork out for this one. Like I said, I don't trust Ebay prices, or prices at these strange online shops. Sure, they want $4K, but they've probably been asking $4K for the thing for 3 years, resisting it over and over because nobody's ACTUALLY willing to pay that for it.

I posted links to that site just so you understood what he was seeing from his end. He's a very close friend, and he specifically asked me to check more into a fair pricing, so that is what I've done here.

$350-400 is likely what I will offer him for it, as it is completely worth every penny of that to me. It's a great player, and (IMO) a great looker too. the Floyd bridge route is almost all covered by the reinstated Strat trem, and the locking nut shelf . . . well . . . If I get it, there's a pau-ferro toothpick in its near future anyhow, so . . . FYI, the extra bit of dough I'm willing to pay is because this guy taught me everything I know about music. Sure I took piano, but he's the guy that got me jamming.

Anyhow, thanks again for the input! I wasn't trying to argue with anyone earlier, and I was trying not to troll for a specific price. I just wanted some feedback, so thank you. Just for kicks and giggles, I'll post some shots of the axe in question.

 

[B3Guy]

Here it is:

 

[B3Guy]

and more:

 

[DangerousR6]

$350 is probably generous. As has been mentioned, if it was all original and in good condition, it would be worth something less than it's new cost, which was probably $600 or so. But, it's been modified to death and then put back poorly, then not well taken care of. Hell, for $200 you can get this new Mahogany neck-thru w/ a Floyd.

Listing

It doesn't say "Fender" on the headstock, but so what?

Looks nice, but who's "Douglas?"  Never heard of Douglas Guitars...

I'm Douglas...Y'all didn't know I made guitars too did ya....And the only bridge I use are FLOYDS......... :headbang1:

 

[reluctant-builder]

I'm actually impressed. That cosmetic surgeon did a fine job on Halle Berry, not ham-fisted at all.

 

[mayfly]

Having seen the pics, I'd pay more like $200 for it. I'd still feel bad for the guy i'd flip it too.