Never say never, I would but it would need to be peculiar circumstances. I wouldn't for that guitar. I don't think that it will appreciate that much in my lifetime. If I am not going to play it then it is just an investment and not a good one at that.
Would you pay $12k for a guitar you couldn't look at?
- Thread starter StewieCopeland
- Start date
Matthias
Friend of Leo's
I regularly eBay listings that say stuff like “in 100% original condition except refinish and pickups“. It’s certainly the optimist‘s way of saying “not in original condition”.
I will just note I missed a word there… I’m not putting those sorts of descriptions up myself.
Burlington Dave
Friend of Leo's
NO! SCAM!
Run away! Run away!
Run away! Run away!
Any special factory build with a limit to 250 was never intended for players to begin with. It was built for the collectors and the speculators as an investment. Think artwork instead of a guitar and you will get the point.
Ever walk through an art studio and wonder how a simple oil painting can be worth tens of thousands? I think the same applies here. I would never pay that kind of money, but then I am not a collector / speculator either. To that market of people, the price likely isn't bad at all...or at least might not be depending on appreciation.
Ever walk through an art studio and wonder how a simple oil painting can be worth tens of thousands? I think the same applies here. I would never pay that kind of money, but then I am not a collector / speculator either. To that market of people, the price likely isn't bad at all...or at least might not be depending on appreciation.
Yah, even some Reverb vendors call refin'd and modded guitars "original vintage". Now how's THAT for stoopid?
IrishBread69
Tele-Holic
I think the pool of people who could spend £12k on a guitar could possibly absorb some extra risk.
A credit card with a high limit reduces the risk.
The reputation and backstory from the seller also reduces the risk.
Somebody will do it. It'll be fine.
A credit card with a high limit reduces the risk.
The reputation and backstory from the seller also reduces the risk.
Somebody will do it. It'll be fine.
Trenchant63
Tele-Meister
Only if the UPS driver chucks the box on the front lawn while the truck is in motion and I have to jump in the car and chase him down. You can’t put a price on drama like that!!
wulfenganck
Tele-Afflicted
No.
I wouldn't buy a guitar for 12,5k in the first place. Dollar, Euro or Pound.
And I certainly wouldn't buy a sealed guitar.
Now I have bought guitars via ebay without having tested them, but those were from shops with some reputation and it was about guitars in a pricerange around 500,- Euro.
But I wouldn't even spend 125,- Euro for a guitar in a sealed case and with the warning not to look at it.
Quite frankly, the guy buying this certain sealed Tele for 12,5k is either a snob or a moron.
I wouldn't buy a guitar for 12,5k in the first place. Dollar, Euro or Pound.
And I certainly wouldn't buy a sealed guitar.
Now I have bought guitars via ebay without having tested them, but those were from shops with some reputation and it was about guitars in a pricerange around 500,- Euro.
But I wouldn't even spend 125,- Euro for a guitar in a sealed case and with the warning not to look at it.
Quite frankly, the guy buying this certain sealed Tele for 12,5k is either a snob or a moron.
Quite possibly yes.
FenderLover
Poster Extraordinaire
It's hard to figure out if people are afraid of a scam, perceived value, or not being able to play it first. If Leo Fender posted this for sale himself, and/or whatever condition it would take to gain your total confidence, would the price be the object, or the fact that you couldn't play it, like any Custom Shop or Wildwood guitar blindly ordered on line?
I'm also in the yes camp, because anyone looking to spend $12K on a guitar can obviously afford it, and what one may consider unplayable may be the bees knees to someone else. You don't go to a Ferrari dealer with a fat wallet and think, "Hmm... this one here...might be a piece of crap."
I'm also in the yes camp, because anyone looking to spend $12K on a guitar can obviously afford it, and what one may consider unplayable may be the bees knees to someone else. You don't go to a Ferrari dealer with a fat wallet and think, "Hmm... this one here...might be a piece of crap."
If Leo Fender posted this for sale I have to say I would be a bit suspicious...
andy__d
Tele-Meister
Factory sealed is not a good thing. I worked in a small music shop in the 80s, and whilst we could sell a keyboard in it’s factory box, we would open every box, to check and do a (very) basic setup on each guitar, before it was ready for sale: most were relatively OK, but about 1 in 10 needed some TLC before it could go on display (and, sometimes, that involved sending them back to the distributor). If it’s still factory sealed, the reseller hasn’t added any value: so you should get it discounted to their wholesale buy-in price, not retail.
Matthias
Friend of Leo's
I don’t know if it affects Fenders so much but I’ve definitely seen pickguards go bad from leaving the film on for many years.Factory sealed is not a good thing. I worked in a small music shop in the 80s, and whilst we could sell a keyboard in it’s factory box, we would open every box, to check and do a (very) basic setup on each guitar, before it was ready for sale: most were relatively OK, but about 1 in 10 needed some TLC before it could go on display (and, sometimes, that involved sending them back to the distributor). If it’s still factory sealed, the reseller hasn’t added any value: so you should get it discounted to their wholesale buy-in price, not retail.
No
GuitarsFromMars
Tele-Meister
Just say no.
Rufustelestrats
Tele-Afflicted
I am considering this a........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................NO
Stratohacker
Tele-Afflicted
Not from Craig's List or EBay.
I might if it was a guitar I had researched but had no way of seeing in person and the seller was a well established dealer.
I might if it was a guitar I had researched but had no way of seeing in person and the seller was a well established dealer.
