Did this poor guy get ripped off?

The seller may have gotten ripped off, I think an all-original 1953 Blackguard may fetch even more than that!

 

likely so...too bad

 

300 space bucks was A LOT of coin in 1953!!!

There where new cars for under 1500.00 IIRC...

 

Would we all smirk when it turns out to be a 'relic' ? ..... yup, me too !!

 

Looks original though, except for the Top Hat!

 

When we face a 12k USD guitar sale, it's hard to agree that the seller has been "ripped off". Maybe the guitar could be worth ten times more, but as long as the seller doesn't know that, and he sold the guitar for a price that satisfies his pockets, I think everyone's fine.

Giacomo

 

From the Inflation Calulator:

 

There where?

 

Quite often the asking price you see on original 50's teles is not what they sell for. Actually, $12,000.00 for a quick sell ain't too bad! My friend had the very first production Byrdland and listed it through Elderly Music for $24,000.00 about 10yrs ago. He ended up with $14,000.00. Still, a nice chunk of change.

 

If the seller paid $300 in 1953 he may have gotten ripped off twice. I don't think Telecasters were selling for that much in 1953. Not according to the Duchossoir book.

Here are some list prices for Telecasters from the book:

1951: $189.50
1957: $199.50
1960: $209.50
1966: $214.50

 

Here is what they were new in Dec 50 I doubt he paid $300.

 

What you got to remember is that chances are that the person who bought it wanted it for a shop. So he is not going to pay it's true worth because when he sells it he has to maker a profit. Have any of you guys watched Pawn Stars.

Also this may not be a nice thing to say but the way I see it the seller should have done his homework first if he wants to sell it to me for 12 Gs then that's his problem. Just my 2 cents.

 

It's a tough one. Ideally a 'fair price' sale is between a knowledgeable buyer and a knowledgeable seller. I'm pretty sure this guy who sold the 1953 Tele is going to go home home happy, then check up how well he did compared to others who have sold similar instruments, and then feel ripped off.

However, that knowledge is readily available, and if the seller has not taken the opportunity to find it's true worth, then the problem is his own.

You can't hold a buyer responsible for 'cheating' someone out of their items worth, unless it's obvious that the seller would have little to no chance to find that true worth [i.e. a Nanna selling her dead husbands guitar, that's sat under the bed since 1965, and she has $100 on a tag at a garage sale]

It's a fine line between doing the right thing, and doing business. Ideally they should all fall in the same circle, but often they don't.

 

Maybe the buyer should post clear, detailed pics here so we can tell him whether he got a good deal or not.

 

Thanks for all your compliments guys! Just to let everyone know that'll I be posting photos of my '53 tele that I've scored from the original owner very soon.

 

Hey Robt57, you should've gotten that guitar. After all it's a '53 year model just like yourself...