MIM Squire Strat's $$$?

I ran across a 1995 (serial #MN5xxxx) "Squire Series" MIM strat and was wondering about the value.
It is black, white guard, maple neck /fretboard. It should clean up nicely, no major damage, the electronics sound good and the neck/frets are in great shape. It is just dirty and needs a little elbow grease and replace the rusty strings.
It is at a GC I have a good relationship with for $139 .... would an offer of $100 with a gig bag and a set of strings be out of line?

Your input is appreciated

You can ask though I think $139 is fair. They had one at my GC for $149 that I'm kicking myself for not picking up while it was there.

Does it come with a gigbag for $139? If not, I wouldn't take $40 less and throw in a gigbag if it were me but there's no harm in asking.

I'm very happy with mine. I got it without pickups and threw some vintage pups from my dad's '01 Hwy 1 in there and it's got some good tone.

Thanks for the input JJ.
I just found a 1993 on Ebay with a starting bid of $250 (no bids yet).
I think I'll just see if they will send me out the door for $140 with a cheap bag and a set of 9's. :grin:

This will just be to play around with ... my Tele will ALWAYS be my #1!

I think I'll just see if they will send me out the door for $140 with a cheap bag and a set of 9's. :grin:

Did they go for it? If yes, please post pics.

Oh, I'd be all over it. The blue one below is a MIM '96. I broght it home for a mere $75.00 my idea was to put the fender neck on it from that white strat, but upon comparison the Squier neck is much better, finished better, nicer piece of rosewood...pretty much perfect imho. It has become one of my keepers.


http://www.godsrods.com/cd4.jpg

Man, Fender really messed up a lot of great guitars by putting Squire on MIM guitars. I had a MIM Squire Jazz bass. It is rediculous how nobody likes the Squire name so much that they are willing to sell for dirt cheap, even though they are top grade MIM guitars. Oops, I'm talking about me. I wound up selling that bass cheap because I got a steal of a deal on a new MIA Jazz bass in ash ($400 out the door!).

$75? $100? That is a steal!

I have the current Blue Book Of Electric Guitars - 10th. Anniversary Edition. In it it doesn't reflect the 1995 MIM Esquires. If I were to venture an "educated guess" from my own buying experiences and research I would put a market value inthe neighborhood of $100.00, gig bag and a set of strings. This would be a fair negotiation because in all likely hood Guitar Center gave the trade in amount as approximately $30.00 - $50.00 depending on the managers "generousity mood" and if the customer would trade in immediately for another guitar.

The Blue Book shows most MIM Teles and Strats around 1997 or so "could command" $300.00 in "good" condition but the actual market value lies within popularity of a particular model or limited quantity when applicable. The Blue Book also emphasizes these facts. Also keep in mind large chain stores like Guitar Center and Sam Ash are motivated by cash - yours, mine and whoever's in the market for a trade/sale. They'll give an Okey-Doke by telling you, "Look we can cut you a deal on this trade in for $50-$75 and take off another 15% of the axe you want," and/or they made throw in a set of strings to entice you to close the deal. Trust me these guys don't lose any profits!

I've made some real good deals in my time because I was financially able to buy several guitars within a year or so making the Sam Ash salesman a tidy profit even with my "discounts." But check this out I bought a Nashville Deluxe Power Tele brand spanking new from Sam Ash for about $575.00 out the door, a month later after playing it twice I wanted to trade it in for a Fender American Deluxe Precision Bass. I thought for sure the trade would be close to even money plus a discount for the bass - right? Eeehh - Wrong! All of a sudden this brand spanking new Tele returned completely unblemished with all tags, etc., and tissue wraping paper would only be worth $250.00 and that was the absolute most they were willing to go! This was a "favor" because I did frequent business with them! The moral? Regardless of "book value" don't be afraid to deal! I'll bet that Esquire will be sitting there getting banged up with the same $139.00 price tag a month from now! Try it - you've got more to gain than lose!

Good Luck let me know how you make out!

P.S. I've passed up many guitars I really wanted until I found a price suitable or close enough to what I wanted I to pay. I even found a couple of good deals on Ebay - there's no way to be 100% sure but I've always researched the sellers to see what the ratings are and had no problem.

Thanks all for your input.
It wasn't meant to be ... it was gone when I went back in.
Oh well .... but they just got aonther trade-in that needs some TLC, a TSB MIM Fender .... HMmmmmmmm.
I going to go in today and endure the Saturday-Shred-A-Thon and check it out. The "asking" price is $249 ... maybe this is the one !?!?!?

Got my '93 MIM as a box full of parts... Total cash payout, including having it shipped from Puerto Rico was $70... I added paint, pickups, pots and wire, everything else was there already... it's a fantastic guitar...