If you where going to buy a Strat for $2000 or less and wanted to have the best chance of going up in value. What year make and model would you buy?

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98 MIA Strat, 07 MIM 60's Reissue Strat, Mustang l, Mustang lll

It's real hard to predict. The most appreciation I ever saw was when my '73 Strat that I purchased new sold for 5 times the amount in '04. It was completely stock and needed fret work too....go figure!

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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!

I'd say the best bet would be an American made FSR. Preferrably one that came out in very low numbers and/or one with very unique features. Werent there some American Standards released recently with only 150 pieces and a nitro thin skin finish? I'd bet on something like that accruing maximum value.

Keep in mind though, guitars are a lousy investment vehicle, especially in the last few decades when companies are making so many of the things. The market is flooded, not a lot of scarcity. If you're in it for financial gain stick to bonds.

even though you would have to really luck into one, I would go for an 82-84 American Vintage reissue that was made in Fullerton. You MAY luck into a burst one for around 2000 and they will go up in value, in my opinion and others, they are the next big thing on the vintage fender market due to limited production.

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Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

Current guitar models are highly unlikely to appreciate in value like they did in the vintage years.Your best bet would be to get one with limited production numbers and even then you're not guaranteed to make much profit even if you leave it unplayed in the case with all the case candy.There are so many factors that determine a guitar's collectability and value that it's just about impossible to predict what ones if any will grow in worth.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

i believe this a good value.
black on black 1975
http://www.vintageguitars.net/products/ ... &category=

or 1973 strat, the yr i was born.
http://www.vintageguitars.net/products/ ... &category=
or this one alittle over budget definite mojo
http://www.vintageguitars.net/products/ ... ?id=190508
or
http://www.vintageguitars.net/products/ ... ?id=190508

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

Pick up any American Standard, have someone famous play it on the road, get plenty of pictures and documentation.

Unless you're very young, I doubt you'll live long enough for anything made today to be overly valuable in the next 30 or so years.

You may get really lucky and have one hold its value and maybe even go up a couple hundred dollars. I doubt you'll pay 2K today and in 5 or 6 years sell it for 5K regardless of the model.

However, for 2K you can get one heck of a nice guitar to play and enjoy.

Jeff

What about any of the anniversary editions?

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98 MIA Strat, 07 MIM 60's Reissue Strat, Mustang l, Mustang lll

If it's real profit you're after, the guitar market is probably the wrong place to be looking

If you want a player that you can turn around and sell, you'd have to look vintage. Otherwise I agree with BlackCatBone.

I'm not really looking for profit but just holding its value would be my goal. A guitar I could buy now and take care of and then sell in a few years and get what I paid for it would br nice.

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98 MIA Strat, 07 MIM 60's Reissue Strat, Mustang l, Mustang lll

well, the only thing i can say,
get a avri or a avri hr, or a custom shop.

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

Buy an American Standard for $1000, then put the other $1000 in GM Motors.

You'll have $ that will go up AND a brilliant guitar!

For reference, in 1991 I earned a $3k signing bonus for the Army that I was going to put into Snapple (Ice Tea) stock for $0.16/share.

I bought a '69 camaro instead, dropped the transmission, sold it for a $500 loss.

Flash forward 8 years and Snapple was bought out by Pepsi and split, selling for over $36/share. That $3k would have turned into $675,000.

Whoops!

Oh well. I do have a nice abode and an American Deluxe, and now I drive a Toyota Corolla.

Think long term in the stock market AND enjoy that guitar!

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Electric Guitar #1: Fender American Select Mahogany Stratocaster HSS
Electric Guitar #2: Agile Al-3110 Les Paul
Acoustic: Fender CD200SCE Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Amp: Line 6 Spider III 75 75W 1x12 Combo Amp
Piano: Yamaha M450

You shouldn't get a guitar. You are in the wrong place and you upset me. You are not even thinking about a strat collection. If you want money ... find a job. Leave those Beautiful guitar to us who relly enjoy playing, observing and taking care of them.

Best regards.

Well I guess it's a good thing I still live in a free country and can buy any guitar I want. As far as upsetting you because I want to buy a fine instrument, well my friend you are thinking all wrong. Any guitar that is well made should be like a fine wine and go up with age and care. Not only that but if you are any good as a guitarist, it will go up just because you played it. But I guess that would not be you. You just like to buy overpriced junk and sit and watch it depreciate. You probably drive a Pinto and think it's a classic.

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98 MIA Strat, 07 MIM 60's Reissue Strat, Mustang l, Mustang lll

I agree with most of what has been stated. However, if apreciation in value is your goal, for 2K I would seek a decent vintage Strat in excellent condition from the early 70 or 60s if you can find one. If the condition is great it will likely go up in price. If you seek new, I would pay a little more and consider a Les Paul (The value will go up).