Value of '04 American Standard?

[ccrnnr9]

Hey guys I am in the market for another tele and I found one in my area that on first observation is in flawless condition. It is an '04 standard (USA) w/ black pickguard in the honey blonde finish and maple fretboard. It comes with a nice hardshell case. I was wondering what price is considered "good" for a standard tele in near perfect condition? I am fine holding out so I would like to find something in that "deal" range even if it means waiting awhile. The seller is asking $675 and I don't want to make a lower offer until I know I what an appropriate lower offer would be.
~Nick

[hankk]

If it plays and sounds good, the price sounds fair to me. Is the nice case the plastic molded case? If it were a rectangluar Fender case it would put it in the great deal catagory!

[CatfishStudios]

Ive seen them go between $500 beat up, too $850 clean...so in flawless condition, 04 American Standard Tele at $675 is a decent price. I have a basically mint 06 American Standard Tele, and I would ask more if I were selling. I wouldnt go lower than 750 bucks.

[tc6969]

I would throw $650 at him and then take the wife to Arby's with the $25 you saved to celebrate your new axe!

[Darrell]

The AS Standard in Honey blonde? Is that natural wood grain? Is so that is a premium ASH model. If so, that is a 75 to 125 premium over the standard AS tele pricing. Not only that, they are not easy to come by.

675 is a very good to excellent price. I would say at 675 that is almost a "steal". That guitar new, is nearly 1000 bucks.

[mellecaster]

I wouldn't call it a "Steal"...but certainly a fair price for both of you, and as stated above a pretty good deal.

[Darrell]

Historically, Sunburst is a 75 dollar upgrade, and Ash is a 125 dollar upgrade.

So you paying 550 for a Tele that has a sale price of 800 and a list price between 900 and 1000.

[Gaber_771]

if the honey blonde you're talking is the kind of transparent white ash body that i have, i paid 875 for mine... its the perfect guitar, so its easily worth 1k more than that too me...

[IronJoe]

Fender was making the American Ash Telecaster in honey blonde at that time. The difference between it and the regular American Telecaster is the American Ash has a U-shaped neck, a black 5-hole guard and (of course) the semi-transparent blonde finish. It may have different pickups, too.

Some people refer to the American Ash as the 8502, but many people find that annoying. I tend to agree with that assessment.

The American Ash was a cross between the 52RI and the American Series. People who have them seem to swear by them. That said, it must not have sold very well - or perhaps dealers didn't make enough money from them - because they're long gone.

$675 with a case is a GREAT price. Snatch it up.

[ccrnnr9]

Well it is a Standard USA, not an ash. I couldn't tell from the pics at first but after calling to check it out it is definitely vintage white. Do you think $600 would be too much of a low ball offer? Also, the case it comes with is the fender rectangular USA made case cut for a strat but fitting both strat and tele. It looks to be in mint condition.
~Nick

[mikethebike500]

I agree on the 675 price...that sounds really good, and fair

[91xlntS-3]

These usually go in the $700 to $750+ range on the bay. $675 sounds like a really good deal, especially with the Fender rectangular case. If you're really interested, I'd be making a decision pretty quick before it's gone! If you make a lower offer, the worst thing that can happen is the seller will say "no".

[skydawg]

Originally Posted by tc6969

I would throw $650 at him and then take the wife to Arby's with the $25 you saved to celebrate your new axe!

why not six and a quarter and take her to red lobster?

[IronJoe]

Anywhere from $600 - $700 is a good price for these. If it's in great shape, then $675 is a good deal.

If you go to check it out, take note of the fret wear. If there is a lot of wear and it needs a re-fret, you might drop your offer a little. A 4-year old guitar should be ok, though.

Let us know how it turns out.

By the way, did you ever get that C30?

[Telarkaster]

I've never seen a Std or Am Series for that low of a price used, I'd jump all over it. But then maybe they grow on trees where you live. At that price, I'd be suspicious that it was stolen. May be fair market value in your area.

In the end, it's worth what you or someone else is willing to pay for it.

[jazz guru]

I paid $699 for mine two years ago - totally mint even the stickers were on the pick guard and the plastic was never peeled off the pickguard as well - case included - never registered or anything. And I bought it from a music store. Mine is sunburst and rosewood. So to me it seems like a fair deal not a steal - unless prices have gone up dramatacally - walk up and take out 6 $100 bills and see what he says cold hard cash talks loud - and like was said before all he can say is no and you can up your offer.

[Darrell]

Ok, Vintage White, not Honey blonde, not Ash, stardard C shape neck, and standard tele components....625 would be a fair deal, 675 is a tad on the high end.

[Tele Fan]

That's exactly what I paid for mine '97 American Tele, and I feel I got a good deal.

[boris bubbanov]

Design-wise, this isn't really different from most another Am Se Teles from two or three years before or after.
If there is any way you can steal out there and test play a few other examples and see if this is at very least an above average example, that would help.
I guess what I'm saying is, there are Am Ses from 2004 that play and sound good enough, $ 700 is not too much. Yet there are other AS 2004s in real nice shape that aren't worth $ 550 because they haven't got the groove.

I sure love the neck pickup on my black 2004-5 American Series tele.

[ccrnnr9]

Originally Posted by IronJoe

Anywhere from $600 - $700 is a good price for these. If it's in great shape, then $675 is a good deal.

If you go to check it out, take note of the fret wear. If there is a lot of wear and it needs a re-fret, you might drop your offer a little. A 4-year old guitar should be ok, though.

Let us know how it turns out.

By the way, did you ever get that C30?

Ya I will check it out this weekend and buy it if I like it. I will keep the boards updated on whether or not it goes through.

As far as the C30 goes, no I didn't get it but I did get a new amp. I take lessons from a small little dive in town and the owner sells a lot of used gear and does consignments. He had a med student do a consignment on a late 80's Peavey Classic and had it listed for $300. I was at lessons yesterday and he plugged into it and played through it. It is a hybrid (SS pre-amp and tube power) amp but the tones were pretty great. Some of the pots need replacing but he is letting me take it for free for now and he is going to charge me $200 even for. It is a 2 channel amp with gain and volume controls, 3 eq controls, spring reverb, tremolo with depth and rate control, and a couple other small features. 60-70watt amp (can't remember) and gets pretty darn loud without much breakup at all. I was able to play clean with loud drumming. I am going to take the tubes he has out of it when i get more cash so that it doesn't break up as easily. I think he said he had 5831's in there now (although that may not be correct...I'm horrible with that kind of stuff). So bottom line is that it isn't as good as a C30 but for a college student on a very tight budget it will be perfect and still give me good tones. The way I see it is that it will fit the bill until I get into the real world and can afford to drop $600-1000 on a nice true tubey. Sorry for the long OT rant.
~Nick

[CatfishStudios]

Originally Posted by Telarkaster

I've never seen a Std or Am Series for that low of a price used, I'd jump all over it. But then maybe they grow on trees where you live. At that price, I'd be suspicious that it was stolen. May be fair market value in your area.

In the end, it's worth what you or someone else is willing to pay for it.

Strange, I see American Standards for 500 bucks all the time, on local craigslist. Ebay is up there 750-800... I still think 675 is very fair. I paid $999 for mine, new..and still feel good about it. Man, go get your Tele...and promptly post pics.

[Telarkaster]

Originally Posted by CatfishStudios

Strange, I see American Standards for 500 bucks all the time, on local craigslist. Ebay is up there 750-800... I still think 675 is very fair. I paid $999 for mine, new..and still feel good about it. Man, go get your Tele...and promptly post pics.

I never see them for $500 on Craigslist here. Different area, different prices.

[kp8]

In 2004 i bought a loaded MIA body for less than $300 (Sage Green Metallic) and then bought a never used 2004 RW board MIA neck for almost the same price as the body (i think like $265-$280 range) bolted it together and had me a more or less new MIA tele for like $570, but with the specs *i wanted* ... The body was a bit scratched up (i think the guy who owned it was a metal or punk guy haha)... but with those metallic finishes you can't see any scratches unless you are right holding the guitar. Later i have neck inserts put on and swapped out the bridge plate for a callaham. It's a player.

[brokenLP]

I bought a '04 new in July '04 for $750. Chrome red with/rosewood fingerboard. Nice guitar Sold it a few months ago for $525 but did not include the case. Mine was fairly beat up when I sold it with paint chips along the body radius, fret wear, and a few dings on the back of the neck.

$675 with case for an AmSe in "flawless" condition is a fair price. Offer $600 and see what happens.

[CatfishStudios]

Originally Posted by Telarkaster

I never see them for $500 on Craigslist here. Different area, different prices.

Um...different country and different currency as well eh? I would suspect them to go for a little more in Canada than in the states.. any way ya look at it..here or there would still be a good deal...

[outbreak]

man i wish usa fenders cost that here, my mim cost me $650 australian and that was marked down

[CSS]

Dude, If you don't want the guitar and the seller is wiling to ship, I'll give the 675 for it. Fender rectangle case included? Heck yea I will. Let me know and I'll PM my contact info.