Been shooping Craigslist for the all elusive "great deal" on a Strat. I know, generally, that if someone's selling an '04 Am Std. for $875 I can get a new one for $999. I'm REALLY anal with my stuff so I'd be inclined to buy a new one. But theres a few older ones out there. Is there somewhere you can go and get the Fair Market Value? I'm talking the regular stuff to be played not the collector strats.
thx

IMO, checking completed auctions on eBay is a pretty good indicator of what stuff is going for right now.

Most MIM strats usually go for 250-300 and MIA for 600-800 from what I've seen. Depending on model.

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-Classic 50's Strat.
-Std. Telecaster.
-Mike Dirnt P-bass.
-Custody of SE Strat.
-Peavey Predator/Dean Evo/Epiphone DR150/Gibson Slide (much older than me).

Rellik Productions Inc.

This is what I use for as my standard indicator.

The "Blue Book" value is fiction. This merely tells you what a clique of dealers have decided on what a given guitar is worth. In other words, what they all agree on as to what they will sell it for. E-Bay on the other hand, tells you what the real world is willing to pay for it.

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You dig?

Not to disagree with Martian, but I use Blue Book of Electric Guitars, and Vintage Guitar Guide the most current editions as a guide when deciding on how much to bid if I'm shopping Ebay or Craig's List. I really want to pay less than the books value of the instrument.

I've found that most Buy it Now on Ebay or asking prices on Craig's List are inline with those books which probably proves Martian's point to some extent because the seller is using something to set a price for his instrument.

The true value of an instrument is what you are willing to pay for it if you want it badly enough. Ebay is not a bad place to start. If you plan to keep the instrument 10 or 20 years buy new and buy now while there is still some old pricing out there.

I broke down and bought a Sunburst VG Strat today because I know they're going up in price and I don't want to pay the new prices...
another crippliing GAS attack I have succumbed to.

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I'm not slow... and I'm not fast... just sort of halffast...

+1. I think this is the best way to determine market price.
Been looking at MIM strats - probably around $275-300 is a good used price.

Thats a great idea! Matter of fact just checked it out. Told me that some of the CL stuff I was looking at was a bit high. So now I have ammo to negotiate.