seprep Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Hello, My brother passed away last year. He was a huge Beatles collector and owned a Höfner Beatle Bass, a Rickenbacher 325, a Gretsch Country Gentleman and the Gibson J160e in the photo here. All were from the 60's area. He had the Gibson J160e hanging on his living room wall with some nice framed photos of John Lennon playing one. Anyway, I’m trying to learn what I can about the 3 Gibsons so I can sell them. The three vintage Gibsons I have are: - Gibson ES 335 TD | Serial #907073 - Gibson J160e | Serial #948533 | I believe it is from 1968 - Gibson J-100 | Serial #82919005 Can anyone help with the years these were manufactured and a value for each? They all are in excellent condition because they were rarely played. Thank you in advance for your help. Hopefully there is a photo below here that shows all three guitars. If not, here is a link to photobucket.com where you can see them: <a href="http://s926.photobucket.com/user/seprep/media/3_Guitars_w-Cases_zps78d3cc18.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad106/seprep/3_Guitars_w-Cases_zps78d3cc18.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 3_Guitars_w-Cases_zps78d3cc18.jpg"/></a> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Sorry about your brother passing! Condolences to you and Family All are very nice looking guitars.... The J-100 would be a 1989 from the serial#....early Bozeman-made perhaps? I think that you are correct on the J-160E being a 1968....it would transition to square-shoulders in 1969 The ES 335-12 would also be from the 1968-1970 period. Kind of a 'rare bird' They all appear to be in extra-fine condition. I am sure that your brother was very proud of them NICE collection! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seprep Posted February 19, 2014 Author Share Posted February 19, 2014 Thank you retrorod! I really appreciate your kind words. I also thank you for the information. Can you recommend at good online vintage guitar site where I might consider selling these? Is eBay a better option? Also, do you have any idea of the price value of these models? I know you can't be exact without seeing them, but maybe a ball park idea? Or, maybe you could point me to a source where I could research it myself. Thank you again for your reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted February 19, 2014 Share Posted February 19, 2014 Well, I have vintage price guide books(they are available at Barnes & Nobles, internet,etc). These book prices can be a bit higher than what someone would offer you, however. If you are familiar with Ebay, you could do a 'completed listing' search on each model and get some idea of what real people are paying. There is always some (costs) associated with selling on Ebay. There would be commision fees if you put them up for consignment sale at the BIG Vintage dealers....Gruhns, Mandolin Bros., Elderly, etc.But they reach a large number of potential vintage buyers. What part of the country or region do you live? I can give you 'ballpark' figures this evening in a PM possibly? Most of the Forum members hesitate to offer 'values' because it can vary quite a bit. Just do some googling of each specific guitar and date and you will find many dealer 'asking prices' plus more usefull info on each guitar. I will talk to you later, I have to work! Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 I sent you a PM. What does the label read in the J100 ? Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versatile Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 Interesting guitars... A player would probably wish to keep these instruments for their quality/history... Another option is to retain as investments...probably a better hedge than banked $/£'s.. :blink: As mentioned, looking around webward can bring up some info.. As always...anything is only worth what someone will pay... That ES335-12 is a rare and niche guitar...not necessarily what lots of folks wish to buy.. The J160e has huge Beatle-cachet, but as evinced by earlier posts, is not a great sounding guitar...just the best electro-acoustic available at the time... :blink: V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bishopdm Posted February 20, 2014 Share Posted February 20, 2014 My condolences on the loss of your brother. Try contacting Joe Vinikow at www.archtop.com if you want to sell the ES-335 TD. That's certainly a guitar he would be interested in. And be sure to mention the other two. While Joe's focus is vintage archtops, he has been know to offer flattops on his website. Best of luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Please, hit us back, seprep ! Don,t get lost in in the 'time warp'... We have much to discuss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seprep Posted February 21, 2014 Author Share Posted February 21, 2014 Thank you everyone for your comments and information. Retrorod - Thank you. See a photo below of the label inside the J-100. Versatile - All great comments and advise. Yes, the Beatles factor for the J160E is fun indeed. I wish I could just hang on to them as an investment, but the extra cash will come in handy is these tougher times. I'm finding out the ES335-12 is a rare bird. I took it into a local guitar shop and the guys went crazy over it. They said they don't see the 12 string version ever. And they said they'd never seen a vintage guitar of it's age (68 or 67 yet tbd) in as great condition as this 12 string is. Thanks again. bishopdm - Thank you for your condolences and your suggestion. My brother was good guy and died much too young. He was only 58. He did love his guitars. FZ Fan - Thank you for taking the time to comment. Frank Zappa Rocks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted February 21, 2014 Share Posted February 21, 2014 Thanks for the pic....! Just like I thought....the J100 is an early Bozeman-made maple jumbo. (Early Bozeman) is the draw for me! Oddly, it is MY favorite guitar of the three !.........and subsequently causing me severe GAS pains ! G uitar A cquisition S yndrome (since you are a non-player) It is 'rumoured' that damn near all of 'first-year' Bozeman-builds were possible only with much of Ren Fergusons labor on each one. His talent eventually left the standard-offering line and was enlisted to the Custom Shop of limitless 'creativity and beauty'....Jes Sayin' ;) Another PM to you... seprep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shonita & Los Gatos Posted February 24, 2014 Share Posted February 24, 2014 Hello, My brother passed away last year. He was a huge Beatles collector and owned a Höfner Beatle Bass, a Rickenbacher 325, a Gretsch Country Gentleman and the Gibson J160e in the photo here. All were from the 60's area. He had the Gibson J160e hanging on his living room wall with some nice framed photos of John Lennon playing one. Anyway, I’m trying to learn what I can about the 3 Gibsons so I can sell them. The three vintage Gibsons I have are: - Gibson ES 335 TD | Serial #907073y - Gibson J160e | Serial #948533 | I believe it is from 1968 - Gibson J-100 | Serial #82919005 Can anyone help with the years these were manufactured and a value for each? They all are in excellent condition because they were rarely played. Thank you in advance for your help. Hopefully there is a photo below here that shows all three guitars. If not, here is a link to photobucket.com where you can see them: <a href="http://s926.photobucket.com/user/seprep/media/3_Guitars_w-Cases_zps78d3cc18.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i926.photobucket.com/albums/ad106/seprep/3_Guitars_w-Cases_zps78d3cc18.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 3_Guitars_w-Cases_zps78d3cc18.jpg"/></a> Beautiful guitars. so sorry for your loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoletaRick Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Unless it is down to the wire, I would advise holding on to this small but wonderful collection. My condolences on your brothers passing. I can say this, he had wonderful taste in his choice of guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Those 1989 J100s were a nice Guitar... sorry for your loss.... I would be hard pressed to sell those if it was me. Nice guitars Btw... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 I think that there is a huge "disconnect" with seprep (a non-player) and the rest of us salivating fools..... IF....I was flush with cash....I would make him an offer on all three, that would make him and I both very happy. However, that is not happening in today's economic crunch....Damnit!!! PS....since I mentioned it......anyone else 'feeling the pinch'....or is it 'just me'? If its 'just me' than I guess I need to add another job to my two Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versatile Posted March 7, 2014 Share Posted March 7, 2014 You are not alone...in feeling the pinch... :blink: What I find very annoying is the media 'bigging up' any green shoots of recovery And the hugely speculative purchase of property in London UK by rich oil sheiks et al... The properties are 99% left empty and distort the market for sensible hard working folk Life is very tough for the 'man in the street' with chronic job insecurity Most workers have not had a pay increase for 6+ years... V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 I, 'totally' "get" and feel what you are saying, Versatile It is happening in the UK as well, eh? Best of Luck to ya'... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capmaster Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Hello Seprep, my deepest empathy for you having lost your brother. :( As for the guitars, they seem to be in pristine condition. My only add to the recommendations already given would be that it was best if you're in no hurry selling them. With a certain degree of patience you might be able to gain better prices, and thoroughly researching before offering them is a good idea in any case. My best wishes for you and your family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seprep Posted March 12, 2014 Author Share Posted March 12, 2014 Shonita & Los Gatos, GoletaRick, slimt & capmaster - Thank you for your advise, condolences and good wishes! I wish I could keep these guitars for better days ahead, but with one daughter a freshman in college, another daughter visiting colleges now and a son constantly needing new "sports" equipment, I need to say goodbye to them. retrorod - "Disconnect." I resemble that remark! :) Yes, what I knew about guitars I could have written on my thumbnail. But now, I could fill out a whole piece of college rule paper with info about these three guitars. Still it is knowledge that doesn't even scratch the surface of the knowledge of you guys on this forum know . . . but knowledge none the less. I showed these guitars to some guys at local (none chain) guitar shop and they were amazed at the condition of all three. Regarding the ES 335 12 string, they said it was the nicest vintage guitar that they had ever seen. Again, thanks to everyone here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.