1958 Telecaster Value

[Dmatt88]

So, decided to part with my 1958 Blonde Telecaster.
Looking on reverb and numerous other websites, I cannot find an all original 1958 Blonde that has sold since 2011 to get a real idea of current value.

It is 100% original, tuners, frets, body finish, neck finish, pots, pickups, pickguard, screws...etc...

If anyone knows of a recent sale or current value and could point me in the right direction would be great.

Guitar is in near mint condition. One ding on bottom of body on the edge a few inches from jack.

 

[MickM]

See what you can find out and post some pics here. After you figure out what you want for it, put it in the classifieds. In the time being you gotta' show us some pics!

 

[brookdalebill]

Howdy and welcome!
Good luck!

 

[gridlock]

$30K or more.

 

[Sax-son]

To be honest, I don't have a clue. For me personally, the value is in the playability and the tone. I never visit those rare collector shops. I was never interested in that. However, if you can sell it for a bundle, why not?

 

[Deeve]

So, decided to part with my 1958 Blonde Telecaster.
Looking on reverb and numerous other websites, I cannot find an all original 1958 Blonde that has sold since 2011 to get a real idea of current value.

It is 100% original, tuners, frets, body finish, neck finish, pots, pickups, pickguard, screws...etc...

If anyone knows of a recent sale or current value and could point me in the right direction would be great.

Guitar is in near mint condition. One ding on bottom of body on the edge a few inches from jack.

Pics, my dude; pics. . .
Please share a few pics.
And, welcome.
Peace - Deeve

 

[KokoTele]

Vintage Guitar Price Guide from last year says $17-22k in excellent condition for a backloader, $16-21k for a top loader. Those figures are a year old and the market has gone up some in that year. How much? Not sure. 10-25% maybe more? The high end of every market has been crazy in the past year.

If it were me and I didn't need the cash right away, I might throw it out at $35k OBO and see what happens.

 

[Boreas]

Welcome aboard!

I would recommend that before you list it, you get it professionally appraised. It may cost a couple hundred bucks, but may be well worth it - if nothing else for ammunition when negotiating price. Another consideration would be to sell it on consignment at a noteworthy vintage guitar shop.

Definitely post some pix!!

 

[Dmatt88]

I’ll post some pictures tomorrow when I get home.
Thanks for info!

 

[Dostradamas]

Starting very high with such a rarity might just get an investor.

I would figure a value, double it and start there

 

[KokoTele]

When you said you hadn't found any recent sales on Reverb, I'd assumed you looked in their price guide too. It turns out there have been recent enough sales to find a good price range, and I'd lower my price range quite a bit. One sold just under $20k 6 months ago:

https://reverb.com/price-guide/guide/726-fender-telecaster-1958-blonde

 

[skunqesh]

would love for this to be authentic.

bear in mind - a lotta penthouse forum stories start like this.

 

[Recce]

You can send pictures to Gruhn Guitars in Nashville and they will appraise it. I don’t know what they charge. That would be a good start. Somewhere around $25,000 is my guess.

The B part of this unless you really need the money those are very rare and you should keep it.

 

[Timbresmith1]

Have an appraisal done by a reputable vintage shop. It will protect you if JoeBlow gets a burr under his saddle about some inane detail that doesn’t line up with his 5 digit expectation.

 

[El Tele Lobo]

You could always have it appraised someplace like Gruhn Guitars in Nashville or a similarly reputable seller of vintage instruments.

 

[loudboy]

Have an appraisal done by a reputable vintage shop. It will protect you if JoeBlow gets a burr under his saddle about some inane detail that doesn’t line up with his 5 digit expectation.

I would agree with possibly consigning it.

Unless you really know everything about vintage instruments, it would be very easy to get in a lot of trouble.

You won't get as much, but the dealer takes responsibility for verifying the authenticity and gets to deal with the yahoos.

They also have a much further reach than you do, as far as finding someone who can pay top dollar.

 

[EsquireOK]

So, decided to part with my 1958 Blonde Telecaster.
Looking on reverb and numerous other websites, I cannot find an all original 1958 Blonde that has sold since 2011 to get a real idea of current value.

It is 100% original, tuners, frets, body finish, neck finish, pots, pickups, pickguard, screws...etc...

If anyone knows of a recent sale or current value and could point me in the right direction would be great.

Guitar is in near mint condition. One ding on bottom of body on the edge a few inches from jack.

Get an appraisal from Gruhn’s, Elderly, or Norm’s, not the TDPRI.

 

[Masmus]

Careful how you sell it. Someone many years ago told me you never advertise $X or best offer, it legally binds you to the best offer. $X or make offer doesn't bind you to anything except what you're asking for it.

 

[eddiewagner]

Thats your chance to meet Keith Richards

 

[slack]

I don't mean to sidetrack this, but given all the Gruhn appraisal suggestions... If you want a piece of paper that might help you sell your guitar, that's what you're paying for with that. Otherwise, regarding accuracy and relevance, IME they are generally worthless. The vast majority of guitars that I've inspected that had a vague and generic Gruhn appraisal, had an inaccurate appraisal.