Koubayashi
Well-known member
wknight2 said:I saw that LS200. If I wanted another great guitar to play, I would have bought it in a heartbeat.
Here are my thoughts:
I passed, because it had a lot more wear than the one I picked up previously, and the top to me appeared to be nothing special. The top on the one I picked up is special, I've not seen another like it in terms of color and flame.
Gibsons possibly are a safer bet for an investor (assuming 50s and some 60s instruments, but those are priced way over a LS200, and the price of a 59 has dropped by six figures compared to a few years ago), but there were also over 100 bids on the guitar I bought, significantly more than the one that just sold.
If I wanted to sell it tomorrow, I could get back what I paid or even more, because Gibsons are for sale every day, but LS200s, in A+ shape, with a special top, come up for sale maybe once a year. I am aware of LS200s that sold for much more than the one I picked up.
Gibson's list price on a Bloomfield Les Paul is around $14,000. I have a friend who bought one, and he loves it. For me, I'd rather have the 30 year old wood.
A new Les Paul Custom can be purchased somewhere around $3800. Next year, that guitar is worth around $2200 because it's used. A LS200 will be worth the same or more than it is today. So in my mind, that makes it a better investment than the Gibson.
In addition, loads of guitar players have Gibsons, not many have Tokais or other MIJ. It's sad; a lot of people are ignorant, or prejudiced, against MIJ guitars. This forum is a wonderful place, because people can learn about these great instruments, compare features and price, and make a more informed decision about what type of guitar is right for them.
A lot of us read other forums, and we see tons of people complaining about the quality of the big-name guitars. In my experience, I've rarely if ever seen anyone complain about the quality of a mid to high level MIJ. That alone is reason enough for me to prefer the MIJs.
Again, if I wanted a great guitar to play, I would have bought the LS200 that sold recently. As it is, I have too many guitars, and I've been trying, if possible, to just pick up instruments that are in terrific shape. They will always hold their value better.
At a typical guitar show, there are hundreds of guitars selling for $7000 to $30,000 and up, and there is always lots of buying and selling taking place. There is no shortage of people who will pay big $$ for a guitar, but most of them are picking them up as investments, hoping for a bigger rate of return on their money than a Bank CD at 3% will give them (historically, well chosen guitars have been on average over 10%). Plus, you can rock out on your guitar, you can't do that with a Bank CD!
A really cool high end MIJ is more than an investment: it's a chance to own some of the best guitars built, with 30 year old wood, that not everyone and their cousin plays on stage, and are generally available for less money than a new, name-brand guitar is.
Just my 2 cents...
Ed
Well, it is impossible to predict the market.
American vintage peaked around 2007 and early 2008 with crazy prices.
The recession has made it hard for people to spend 30k or more on an old Strat.
After all, people prefer roof over the head
The main difference between American and Japanese vintage is the size of the market. Both in demand and supply.
There are thousands of pre-CBS Strats but there are tens of thousands of potential buyers. "The real deal" will always be more attractive to the majority of both collectors and players.
With a LS200 I see a possible market of less than 10 people in the entire world but for a 59 FT there will be atleast a handfull potential buyers for each that comes out on the market.
My friend just sold a 59 PT for 250,000$ (sold the day after he announced it was for sale). I was recently offered over 100k$ for a 58 GT.
Of course, prices in Europe are a bit higher than in the US due to VAT.
Talking about player quality is a different story..Then it doesn't matter what it says on the headstock. But for a collector it is all about the value.
However, I also know people who has FTs, Broadcasters, etc just for the sake of having them.