I say Yes

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Blues Ya?

I've just reviewed this entire thread and am quite taken aback at your haste. You sought to consult what is likely one of the most multifacetd knowledge bases on the Fender Stratocaster in the world and failed to heed their counsel to obtain the best expertise possible regarding this instrument.

Even if you had to invest in a flight to London, Ceri could have been of great assistance to you even to getting you over to Christies'. If they don't know Strats, no one does.

Most unfortunate

Doc

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"Another day in paradise!"

Well - yes, actually. Even more than you may think. So happens my esteemed parent these days moves through extremely rarefied air in the rooms of Christie's, Southeby's, Bonhams and the rest, on both sides of the Atlantic. An introduction to the right person would likely not be hard...

Hey ho. A rare guitar seller who's website claims they're "set to be Europe's premiere guitar specialists" is one that in fact isn't, yet. Looks like they just got a handy boost to their sales figures, though!

- C

Holy Moly! I was about to contact this company to do a bit of business (not on the scale of a 63 Strat mind!) and found this thread by Googling them to see if they were reputable.

That is absolutely outrageous - I read their description of the Strat and they are creaming themselves over it. I can't believe someone would do that - they must have seen you coming.

Lesson learned - by me certainly, my Strat goes elsewhere!

Hi jakehadlee, welcome to the Forum.

That ain't necessarily the lesson to learn. That dealer is only doing what all dealers do: buying as low as possible and selling as high as possible. They are dealers, they don't usually work on a percentage commission like an auction house.

Look around the Forum some more. There's several good threads like this one. A Forum User named LionsHead (lion's head, lions-head...? something) has been running another thread about a very old Strat, a '55 or '56 I think, which belonged to his grandfather. He's going about selling it in a much more careful way. Talking to various dealers, auction houses, etc etc. Useful stuff on that thread (as well as much banter...).

Anyhow. Post some pics, show us what ya got! Lots of people here always fascinated to chat about this stuff and share knowledge...

Cheers - C

What a find! I cant believe vic was in such a hurry to get rid of this guitar. There is no point in crying over spilt milk, still i cant help but contemplate the what if's. The thread was a great read. Even if it did end in disappointment.

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"I started out with nothing, and still have most of it"

Thanks for the welcome! I appreciate a dealer's got to do what a dealer's got to do, but if they told this guy it was a refurb and not worth that much, then announce on their site that it's a genuine, and very rare, sparkle finish - then something's gone wrong. You can give them the benefit of the doubt and say that they genuinely thought it was a refurb until they did some research, but then that makes me wonder about their level of expertise.

I think the lesson is - if you have a guitar worth something, don't sell via a dealer.

The guitar I'm thinking of selling is not quite on the level of a '63 Strat - its a '73 Gibson SG Special. Very nice guitar, though not as nice as my 1985 MIJ Strat - which I wouldn't swap for that guy's '63 - except to sell and buy my old guitar back. Played many, many Strats, new and old - and none of them touch my MIJ. If the 80s MIJ Strats had been made in the US, I reckon they'd be worth $2k now, at least - the best guitars Fender ever made IMHO.

Your SG was put together by drunken monkeys in Bangladesh. It was later refurbished by a crack addicted raccoon, devaluing it greatly.The only fair option is that you mail it to me with a check for $1500 US and a note of apology.

I'll be awaiting your parcel, (and you should cover all shipping charges.)

Lol! Sound like nearly as good a deal as the guy with the '63 got!

Don't know if I'd go quite that far - but definitely know what you've got and what it's worth before letting it go to a dealer, that's for sure!

Lot of people here would agree with your feelings about '80s Japanese Fenders, by the way. Including Fender's management at the time...

Cheers - C

Yeahj, do a ton of research before selling anything of value like that. Let's face it dealers do this stuff all the time. they are adept at lowballing even seasoned sellers. if you show a lack of knowledge, or a sign that you can be pressured into selling they will do it. You need to find out for sure what you have is worth, and then work to get as close to that as you can.

in fact a dealer might be one of your better chances to get a fair price, just don't expect to get anything close to it without a protracted bargaining process.

I wish my Dad played the guitar...... I inherited his 1960's accordian. I think its worth about $10 bucks.......

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'00 American Deluxe Stratocaster (Kinman Hx pups)
'08 Ibanez AS73 (Gibson Burstbuckers)
Fender DeVille 410

Guess you're right - I'm a bit bitter and twisted about dealers I must say as many years ago I sold a lovely old Gretsch on commission through a dealer, and he "sold" it for a ludicrously low price which - frankly - to this day I do not believe is what he got for it. Not suggesting the guys mentioned in this thread would do anything like that, but it has made me very cynical of professional guitar dealers. Trouble is, when you need to make a quick sale of a rare guitar, dealers are often the only way to go. You make a good point about making sure you know what it is worth before you sell.