Here's something to mull over when considering the orbital escape velocity pricing of vintage guitars. Guitar World reviews the American Specials in the March issue. They observe that the cost of a 1954 Stratocaster in todays dollars,then $250, would be $2000. They consider both the American Special Strat and Tele details of design and build 'as close to perfection as Fender has ever come in its history' and, in comparative dollars, quite a savings in purchase price.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Absolutely Doc

A friend and I were discussing this a couple of weeks ago. He bought his first strat in 62 for £350. Now never mind comparing it to the average monthly wage of the time. Simply do the maths and work out the inflation to bring that to a today value and you come to a figure of roughly £3000.
Now if you compare the £3000 to average wage against £350 to average wage you come to a very different set of figures. In todays world you'd spend a couple to four months to save the £3000. In 62 you'd take around six months to save the £350.

We concluded that when you look at production techniques and price, the only real strat (used loosely, I love all my strats regardless of where their made) in this day and age thats a direct comparison is Customshop. Fender have spoilt us over the years by offering quality at ever decreasing price points. All you have to do is look to the Mexican lines (though the American made lines display it too). You could buy a MIM over here new for £200 fifteen years ago, I did. Ok that price has risen (inflation, its no harder for me to find £400 spare now as it was for me to find £200 spare then). Fender however have added to the line, replacing all those rungs in the scale ladder. Now I can spend £750 on a MIM. The American made guitars have gone the other way. From a £1200 deluxe or signature series to a £550 highway1, priced right down where you'd expect to find a mid range MIM guitar.
They've filled all the rungs in the ladder leading up to the somewhat elusive masterbuilt guitar that is of direct comparison in production and price to those early days beauties.
Were utterly spoilt.

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Good point about yesterday's prices in today's world. Really puts things into perspective.

Also good to hear they think highly of the new Strats ...

but does Fender advertise in Guitar World? Not saying they skew their reviews to keep advertisers happy ... I have no idea, but it's been known to happen in other magazines. I always use the approach of taking magazine reviews with a grain of salt.

I saw my first American Special the other day in GC. First thing I noticed was that the pickguard had slipped or something while being cut as it had a (very noticeable), wavy edge. Of course, that affects absolutely nothing in terms of playability, but it's hard to imagine how something really obvious like that got past QC.

-phil

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Then again, what do I know ... I've only been playin' for 6 months ... !

I just plain and simple dont trust guitar mags. I refuse to buy them.

Can you recall the last time you saw a bad review for any item?

I dug a old one out earlier and it had a review for the tronical auto tune system. £900 for a set of tuners. They gave it 3/5. Far too lenient in my opinion.

They dont make money from sales, if they do its a fraction of whats made by advertisers. They cant write a accurate review for a product thats got a 2page advert in the same publication.

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Exactly. I've never even cracked a Guitar World (although I've just subscribed), so there was nothing to base my comment on but rates on advertising space in national magazines aren't exactly cheap. No magazine I know of makes money from sales - but considering a full page ad in a national mag costs anywhere from $30,000 to $100,000 or more (per single run), you can understand why the magazine wouldn't want to upset those buying that space. (And why you shouldn't completely trust the reviews.)

-phil

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Then again, what do I know ... I've only been playin' for 6 months ... !

Orbital escape velocity pricing - neat, I like it!

I have little doubt that an American Special or anything from the middle of the catalog would blow the socks off folks in the '50s if we could go back and show it to them. Actually, I think they'd cry with delight at a Classic Vibe Squier. And they'd faint with envy at the price, in relative terms.

One of the builders I admire most is Jol Dantzig, the brains behind Hamer Guitars. He said; "There has never been a better time to build or buy guitars than right now." I'm sure he's right - at any price point.

Cheers - C

Actually, the vintage prices have dropped a bit in the last couple years (with the US recession). But those few years before 2008 were certainly Rocket-like in their trajectory.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Well the vintage market hit its peak in 07 and once the real estate market nosedived so did vintage prices. In the last two years I have been reading a lot about guitar collecting and must say it is interesting. First thing that shocked me was that guys hook up with a dealer who runs there collection almost like a stock portfolio and advises these guys on what to buy as so many cant even play a note. Some of the biggest collectors are Doctors, Lawyers and CEO's.

With the economy crash they say it is the best buyers market in 20+ years and it has also allowed a lot of true musicians a chance to get there hands on some great vintage guitars that they could not of a few years back. In Premiere Nagazine they had a great spread on this with interviews with all these big dealers. One guy had a 59 Gibson Burst someone offered to buy from him 3 years ago for $350,000 and this year he needed money and as yet could not move it for $170,000, pre CBS guitars that on an average were over the $30,000 mark can be had in the right places for $15,000.

They said they figure once the economy gets back to normal prices will rise again but not to the insane heights they were at there peak. They also said guitars in the 3 to 5K range held there value the best with Fender, Gibson and now PRS guitars still the most desirable.

I would recommend everyone to pick up a copy of Vintage Guitar or Premiere and to look up some things on the web as it is very interesting to read. Two years ago I read an interview with those guys the Burst Brothers and when it was ending the interviewer asked what are some hot guitars now and they said the first U.S reissues of the 57 and 62 Strats and Teles, so I went right to ebay looked them up and they were right as they go for as high as 5K. They also said 70s Strats have a market and you can grab em cheap now. So when you know what to look for it is kind of fun.

You can now use Googlebooks to do research with the Bluebook of Guitars.


http://books.google.com/books?q=bluebook+of+guitars

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Mike your a never ending source of great info and bookmarkable pages.

I was just looking through my bookmarks. Theres loads there that I've picked up off you.

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I just recently picked up a nice 95 American Deluxe w/ Gilmore pups and got what I think was a pretty sweet deal. Or at least I hope it was.

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95 American Deluxe w/Gilmore pups
06 Relick'd MIM Tele
Custom Modded Squire Strat
Fender Electric/Acoustic Short Scale Bass

www.iacmusic.com/gaws

Where your friend got a figure of £350 from in 1962 I have no idea, perhaps a little selective memory.
I have to take issue with this costing I purchased a '62 Strat in Jan 1963, (still have it and the receipt) and it cost £178 inc case.

They were actually advertised at 162 guineas = £178.6p

Well its been plenty of years so out of respect I choose not to question his recollection.

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There is a couple popular online dealers in the U.S. They also do their own reviews and allow posts from customers. Just like the mag companies, why would these two website post negative reviews on gear they are trying to sell. Best place to get an honest review? Youtube. Second best? HarmonyCentral.

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


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