VINTAGE VALUES

[BluesHawk]

In the recent December issue of Vintage Guitar Magazine, eight vintage guitar experts were asked what condition issues damage a vintage guitar's value the most. Here's a summary of their educated opinions:

1. Good refinishing decreases vintage value by 50%; poor refinishing decreases by more;

2. Cracks, breaks, router work, or an obscured serial number can cut value up to 90%;

3. Changed pickups can decrease value by up to 50%, sometimes more;

4. Changed parts like a bridge, tuners, pots, caps devalue by at least
the replacement cost, if correct parts are known to be available;

5. A non-working truss rod can kill a deal, devalue by 50% or more, or devalue by at least the repair cost if a buyer's willing to take a chance.

6. A headstock or heel repair done well takes away 50% of the value.

7. On super rare, high-value guitars, a small detail like a new screw in the pickguard could knock 25% off the selling price.

New strap locks, re-fretting, swapping a plastic bridge on an acoustic guitar for a wood bridge, neck re-sets, bridge re-glue, these may not devalue a vintage guitar or may devalue it only slightly.

Hope this is helpful.