80s era St. Blues / Saint Blues / Strings & Things?

[beach bob]

Hey all,

I have an 80s era St. Blues guitar, made in Memphis by the Strings & Things folks. I'm posting this here, as the most common model they made back then was the Bluescaster, a sort of Tele / Les Paul hybrid. Hope I'm not messing w/ the rules here; this folder seems to get the most traffic. Everyone at the Tele forum is in the Tele folder; duh

Anyways, the one I have is a pretty straightup strat, it has a bookmatched 2 piece ash body, honey burst finish, maple neck and <edit> cap rosewood fretboard. 3 single coils, vintage style tremolo and kluson style tuners. Five way switch and a strat-ish headstock (the bottom of the round tip is shaped / cutoff parallel to the 'fin' below it). It is labeled St. Blues in Fender-ish script on the headstock, with "Strings & Things, Memphis TN" below that. No string tree. Has a cream top binding per their usual design, and the typical back belly contour, which is a good thing, as I have a belly ... the guard is cream, one ply, and does not have a bevel to the edge. Three knobs that work as a typical strat: Vol / Tone / Tone.

History on the make is that Strings & Things started making custom repros in the late 70s... eventually starting a product line in the early 80s using ESP parts imported from Japan. By 1985 they were in full production and had changed the name to St. Blues... but being more guitar crafters than businessmen, the line folded in 1989.

The name has been ressurected recently, and a line of Bluesmaster style guitars is now being made in Korea, with final setup evidently happening in Memphis. There is some controversy over the quality of these Korean models, but I'll stay away from that for now.

My question -- can anyone tell me what this thing is worth? I've done a fair amount of web research, and have sussed out the history, but closed Ebay auctions / Craiglist searches haven't really gleaned any info on current value for the 80s era St. Blues / S&T. Mine is mint, save for two small dings, one at the top edge along the binding and one on the back of the headstock. The finish is still shiny ... I did have it pro refretted w/ slightly larger frets; I would call them medium. Nothing akin to a metal style fat fret strat neck. Sounds great, gets that Knopfler sound, though I haven't a clue as to p'up brand; they are stock. Nothing with real heat, but it's good wood, so they do sound nice. I bought this as a backup to my old strat, but the band folded shortly after I got this... it's seen hardly any playing time ...

Any help is appreciated. And yes, now that I've teased y'all, I'm gonna make some digital pics and post them here in the next few days so you can ooooh and ahhh

[Deaf Eddie]

I hate to use an old saw, but it's worth what someone will pay you for it...

If it doesn't appear listed in any of the used guitar "bluebooks," the second best method is to do a search of the closed transactions on eBay and see if any one has sold one of these in the search-able past.

Since you seem to be striking out with both of these ideas, my next fallback to try to place a value on it would be, what would it cost to replace it with a similar axe? Take that cost, and halve it... it's a BIG ballpark, I know, but I don't think you're gonna get much closer than that until there are a few
"precedent setting" sales recorded.

Perhaps someone with better "oddball guitar market" chops will chime in.

[Sarge]

I have the newer version a tele/strat hybrid, if I recall correctly I belive the Strings and Things/Memphis St. Blues guitars from the 70's and 80's are in the $1,000+ range. The problem would be finding a buyer. That's one you would be wanting to hang on to as they didn't make a lot of them. When I was researching mine I found that the parts were made overseas but assembled in TN, the 70's models were made in USA and the 80's were "assembled" in the USA. Some early 80's guitars however could very well have been made in TN. Mine is a very well built and has great tone, Mary Kay finish with a tortise guard, tele headstock and control setup, strat body and strat type trem bridge. I've never seen one quite like it..maybe a Prototype. I got it from Iowa and it is a visually and tonealy smokin' guitar.

[beach bob]

Originally Posted by Deaf Eddie

I hate to use an old saw, but it's worth what someone will pay you for it...

Ha -- yep I'm familliar with that one

I've been playing acoustic almost exclusively for 20 odd years, switching back to playing some electric too but I'm trying to thin out the herd, just have my lil' 18watter and a few good electrics. Mostly the issue is amps, big'uns that are great but I have no use for em anymore. All sitting in the closet, and what for?

Having a heck of a time seeing my way to parting w/ guitars though... if it's a bunch of money for one I like, well that would be tempting and puts me on my way to another Collings ... OTOH, if it's not big bucks, might as well keep it and enjoy it.

[beach bob]

Originally Posted by Sarge

I have the newer version a tele/strat hybrid, if I recall correctly I belive the Strings and Things/Memphis St. Blues guitars from the 70's and 80's are in the $1,000+ range. The problem would be finding a buyer. That's one you would be wanting to hang on to as they didn't make a lot of them. When I was researching mine I found that the parts were made overseas but assembled in TN, the 70's models were made in USA and the 80's were "assembled" in the USA. Some early 80's guitars however could very well have been made in TN. Mine is a very well built and has great tone, Mary Kay finish with a tortise guard, tele headstock and control setup, strat body and strat type trem bridge. I've never seen one quite like it..maybe a Prototype. I got it from Iowa and it is a visually and tonealy smokin' guitar.

Cool, thanks for the info. Short any further solid info, your $$ estimate was about where I was winding up.

Re: your St. Blues, it sounds like a way cool axe.

My straightup strat seems to be fairly rare; it seemed back in the 80s you'd only see one or two in a dealer's stock vs. a dozen Bluescaster variants... the few strat styled ones I've seen on the web from this era seem to have other biz like coil splitting, humbuckers, etc. so I tend to think that like yours, it's pretty rare. Not '69 rosewood tele rare , but definitely pretty unique.

I found other interesting history on S&T; it seems in the late 70s their first run was of 40-odd '59 LP burst copies, that might've otherwise spurred a lawsuit, were it not for the low number of guitars produced. Yet that run sort of pushed Gibson into building reissues of their most desired models, I guess they finally woke up and figured out there was a market for them. And then later S&T changed their builds to a much more Fender-ish one, with a Gibson touch here & there. Interesting history, and they sure had some good endorsements & players for a time: Albert King, Clapton, Billy Squier, Billy Gibbons, Joe Walsh, 38 Special ... I grabbed this one cuz in some guitar magazine, Rev. Willie told me they were good

He was right

[beach bob]

testing... I am new at posting pics... I think it'll work ... ignore the grungy strings and frets, I haven't done the oil change on this one in awhile, just pulled her out for a few snaps. And OK I am not a pro photographer, obviously ...

[Ringo]

I saw one like that in a pawn shop in New Orleans years ago, really nice looking, and they sound and play great too!
Ebay seems to be the point of reference for value, the older S&T and St Blues guitars are going up in value , but as someone mentioned, it's only "worth" whatever a buyer will pay.
I sold a beautiful St Blues bass from the same era as your guitar on eBay a couple of years ago but it only went for around $500, the guitars seem to go for more.
I'd guess off hand $800-1000 , based on what I've seen them selling for, but you never know til ya try with eBay.

[mojo2001]

That bound strat was called a "Blues King III"...it indeed appears to be an 80s version....I say "appears" because the first run of new St. Blues, made in Korea and China some had a decal that looked a lot like the mid 80s one.

I bought one of the early reissues on ebay by mistake. It was a decent strat/tele hybrid reminding me strongly of the Schecter PT I had had previously. Solid axe but not what I was looking for. Finish was good Korean standard with heavy poly on the neck. Somewhat hot pickups.

The new versions have a serial number on the back of the headstock that looks like your average Cort/Samick serial number decal setup. The old ones I saw (small sample of two) had the serial number on the neck plate.

I am sure St. Blues can straighten you out on exactly what you have--- unless you KNOW it is from the 80s, then it is a 1985-ish "Blues King III."

I have one of the old early 80s Bluesmasters in "Memphis Cherrywine Red" over ash. More a round hipped tele than anything else...LP influence is minor visual style point. Great maple V neck. pull switches on the knobs to cut coils back for more bite. Wonderful guitar. The decal on that one says "Strings and Things Custom"---pre "St. Blues" era.

I have seen nice 80s St. Blues/ Strings and Things guitars selling for $550-$600 on ebay over the past six months, some cool looking ones with battle scars going for less or not meeting reserve. I can imagine a nice one going a bit higher, maybe.

I sold my 2005 St. Blues Telestrat on the bay for $425.

Joe

[beach bob]

Originally Posted by mojo2001

That bound strat was called a "Blues King III"...it indeed appears to be an 80s version....I say "appears" because the first run of new St. Blues, made in Korea and China some had a decal that looked a lot like the mid 80s one. The old ones I saw (small sample of two) had the serial number on the neck plate.

I am sure St. Blues can straighten you out on exactly what you have--- unless you KNOW it is from the 80s, then it is a 1985-ish "Blues King III."

YES!!! Blues King III, that is indeed the model name, which I could not remember to save my life.
So thanks a bunch for that, Joe. Udaman

re: the guitar's age, I am uncertain only about it's current value, not it's provenance... I bought it new and have the receipt, dates to 1986, though oddly the salesman didn't bother putting the model name on the receipt (he just wrote "St. Blues strat"), and as you can see from the pics the S&T folks didn't bother with putting the names on the models back then either!

Originally Posted by mojo2001

I have one of the old early 80s Bluesmasters in "Memphis Cherrywine Red" over ash. More a round hipped tele than anything else...LP influence is minor visual style point. Great maple V neck. pull switches on the knobs to cut coils back for more bite. Wonderful guitar. The decal on that one says "Strings and Things Custom"---pre "St. Blues" era.

Way cool... I remember seeing some of those in shops before they put the St. Blues label on them... the red transparent ones were always a favorite of mine. Generally speaking, red Fender style guit's have been a fave of mine for years, even though I STILL don't have one... Years ago I let a deep red trans over ash G&L ASAT pass me by, dang was that thing gorgeous. And don't even mention candy apple red ... schwinnnnng!

I gotta say, your St. Blues Ebay report is pretty disheartening... I'm no expert, but you'd think a guitar made back then, of quality Japan bodies and necks, assembled in the USA, would command a better price. Considering the finished product was great, and they had major player exposure back then with em. Figuring in inflation $$ they aren't even keeping up. Makes little sense to me... considering (for example) the little bit I know about 80s era Japan Fender models and current value... I guess it's hard to get around the Fender name, and the uphill battle if it's not one of the Big Names, wherever it was built ...

Screw it; I'll keep it... it's a great guitar.

[serialsteve]

You need an old Hamer Sunburst...

[beach bob]

Originally Posted by serialsteve

You need an old Hamer Sunburst...

stalker!!!!


I'm dying over here...

[serialsteve]

Hey, I can have two "first loves", can't I?

I love Teles AND Hamers...

[odiemann]

The last value offered on mine was in the $1100 area and I have been told recently they are rising. TK, who designed them here in Memphis, mentioned offers in the $1600 range in the past year. But that is only for the Bluesmaster model, the Tele styled one. The others are about half that is selling prices.

I love mine, and won't sell. A comfort to know though