MegoAPESnut Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 I have been looking to buy an Elvis J-200 Gibson guitar. I am a huge Elvis fan. My initial reason for wanting this particular guitar has changed, but I am really interested in obtaining one for collectability and display purposes at this point. I am considering the possibility that I will have to resell at some distant point down the line. I am hoping that situation doesn't arise, but I guess I should make my decision with the possibility in mind. Anyway, I have found a model in a guitar shop that has never been sold. The owner is attached to it and has it very nicely displayed in a curio cabinet. He is willing to sell, but with a hefty price tag of $10,000. There is also one on ebay that is used, the pick guard has very noticeable wear. The seller has it listed for $4999 with the make an offer option. I did some research and the few I have found that have sold within the past few years didn't get much more than $3000. So I made an offer of $3000 which was turned down. So, my question is, in my circumstances, which would you buy - The new, old stock, model (which would actually come with a warranty I really wouldn't need as it won't be getting used) at a cost of $10,000 or the used model which might cost up to $5000. I was also thinking of sending the used model to Gibson to have the pick guard replaced (if they will even do this) and maybe a general clean up. Which would you prefer? Which do you think will hold its value better? Would I be able to get $7000 or $8000 for the new model 10 years down the line, considering it will probably be the only one of the 250 that has never been played and is still in new condition? Any insight you can give will be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 The following is just my opinion. I do not consider myself any kind of expert. I would not pay $10,000 for that guitar. I do not think it's that unique to draw that amount. It's appeal is so limited to a very small group and finding someone to pay that much would be risky. I am a huge Elvis fan. Unless this guitar was owned by Elvis I would not consider it. Back in 2007 Martin issued the D28 Elvis. At that time my local Martin dealer had one on displayed selling for $6999 and I wanted it. Two years later they still had it on display. I offered them $4600. They declined. A year later I offered them $4200. They declined. A year later I bought it at their warehouse sale for $2700. Today I would be lucky to sell it for that amount. If it's your dream guitar and you can afford it, go for it. If you're going to sell it in the near future, prepare yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 Collecting and displaying is a different universe from buying and playing. I can see the lure of the expensive guitars, but I just can't see spending that kind of money unless I can resell it for a good profit. As someone who buys a guitar so I can play it, if I had 10,000 to spend on guitars, I'd likely buy 3-4-5 of them... Beyond that, aside from it being called an Elvis Presely guitar, it has absolutely no connection to Elvis. Again, I really do understand the attraction of these guitars with the artist's name on them, etc, but I think they're way-over-priced. However, if one is a collector, it can be a very different viewpoint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fullmental Alpinist Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 Which Elvis J-200? The King of RockJ-200? or the Gibson Limited Edition J-200? [#7 of 250 and previously played by Melbourne musician Fergus McAlpin. (Maybe Flatbaroque, EuroAussie, or BluesKing 777 can tell you who that is....)] Why not an Elvis Presley Dove? Black or Sunburst? Here's a great link on the Elvis Doves and on the difference between Doves and Hummingbirds. I can tell you that I started searching ebay for an epiphone EJ-200 a couple of years ago and now the price is at least double what it was back then. If you check out the recent thread here on the forum you'll see that the real Elvis J-200 was recently played on British television by Elvis Costello in the company of Priscilla Presley. Makes me wonder if they're shopping it in preparation for auctioning it. So, if it does go to auction the price of a Gibson repro might go up as well. Don't know, maybe someone here has an opinion. (Clapton's Martin from the Unplugged concert sold for about $950k. Somewhere around that time Martin started selling a non limited edition Clapton acoustic which is still being sold by them for around $3k.) It's possible that if the Elvis J-200 goes to auction Gibson might start another run of the collectors' model. What will that do to the price of the original run of 250? And what they'll price the new ones at is anyone's guess. If he reads this, Hogeye would be a great source of info on what Gibson has historically done. Dave F and MP are both collectors so you should heed their information. And by the way, Welcome to the Forum! FMA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MegoAPESnut Posted November 13, 2015 Author Share Posted November 13, 2015 Thanks very much for the welcome and the information. Much of what was said is what I expected and it was good to hear it from others. I do plan on getting this guitar as a collectible with no plans to resell. But you never know. I have always been attracted to new, unused items so that is why it intrigued me. However, it is a bit much. It is the Gibson limited J-200 I was referring too. Thanks for the link. I think I might go for that one. It looks in great condition and even with shipping from Australia, quite a bit less expensive than the one I am looking at. Thanks again and I am looking forward to browsing the boards. Unfortunately for me, it will be as a collector. I started playing guitar 30 years ago and, while I could play notes, I could never get my fingers to switch quick enough to play chords. I tried again about 10 years ago and, no go. I have always wanted to play, but I think I have to settle for just collecting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MegoAPESnut Posted November 13, 2015 Author Share Posted November 13, 2015 I would not pay $10,000 for that guitar. I do not think it's that unique to draw that amount. It's appeal is so limited to a very small group and finding someone to pay that much would be risky. I am a huge Elvis fan. Unless this guitar was owned by Elvis I would not consider it. After doing some research yesterday I came across the story of the 18 guitars made for the Buddy Holly foundation that each have a fret from Buddy's original Gibson and how this project came to be. I also discovered that they did auction off one of those guitars for 12k a few years ago. I am also a huge Buddy Holly fan, and knowing that one of those guitars with a fret that Buddy actually touched sold for 12k, makes me realize that the J-200 can't be worth anywhere close to 10k. 12K? Really? I would have paid double that for it. I guess it is good I didn't know about it back in 2012 or I might be divorced now!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MegoAPESnut Posted November 13, 2015 Author Share Posted November 13, 2015 I am a huge Elvis fan. Do you follow the ETA (Elvis Tribute Artist) world, by any chance? If you don't, you need to check out one of these festivals. Elvis Festivals The list of them is on the right. This is 3-4 days of awesome entertainment. The competition is pretty cool. Some of the guys are good, some are bad and a few are really good. But the headliner shows are incredible. Dean Z is the best early years ETA in the biz and puts on an electric performance. He also does an incredible Buddy Holly tribute and teams up with another guy to do the Everly Brothers. Look him up on YouTube. Shawn Klush is the closest I will ever get to actually seeing Elvis in concert and he is usually at one of two of these festivals. Every Elvis fan needs to get to one of these a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
splake Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 If it is your dream guitar buy it. The Cost? Its only money. Work hard and make more of it. Now if you were not able to make a mortgage payment or your kid needed braces or you needed a new car or roof, that is different. But if you have 10k in discretionary income. Buy what you want. We spend so much time in our lives giving to corporations, other people, working to live. Hell, if ya got it, and you want it. Buy it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
56Billy Posted August 27, 2019 Share Posted August 27, 2019 I appreciate this is an old thread, however, if you are still interested, I own a certificated (limited edition) Gibson j200 signature as pictured. This is brand new and in immaculate condition in case, if you /anyone is interested get in touch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted August 28, 2019 Share Posted August 28, 2019 Welcome to the boards, Billy. How is that guitar certificated? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
56Billy Posted August 28, 2019 Share Posted August 28, 2019 Hi Cougar, as it's the limited edition model👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
56Billy Posted August 28, 2019 Share Posted August 28, 2019 I should have said 122 out of 250 built in 96/97 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted August 30, 2019 Share Posted August 30, 2019 Do you all realize this thread is from 2015? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabs67 Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 On 8/27/2019 at 1:45 PM, 56Billy said: I appreciate this is an old thread, however, if you are still interested, I own a certificated (limited edition) Gibson j200 signature as pictured. This is brand new and in immaculate condition in case, if you /anyone is interested get in touch. Hi 56Billy. Is this j200 still for sale ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
56Billy Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 Hi, I have not followed it up since my last post. It remains in pristine condition and unplayed 👍 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
56Billy Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 ........and still for sale😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabs67 Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 1 hour ago, 56Billy said: ........and still for sale😄 What is your email address? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted January 26, 2020 Share Posted January 26, 2020 If anyone wants an Elvis guitar they can buy a Harmony Stella H929 and have the guitar he played in "Jailhouse Rock." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
62burst Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 19 hours ago, 56Billy said: Hi, I have not followed it up since my last post. It remains in pristine condition and unplayed 👍 Wow- I guess the "follow this thread button" really works. Billy- is that what alerted you to action on this thread, or are you in "deeep lurk mode" ? ps- Just imagine someone had to make the decision to circumnavigate the Elvis200 bridge with that pickguard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
56Billy Posted January 27, 2020 Share Posted January 27, 2020 I am obviously a bad man 😂😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danw31 Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 is this guitar still available? thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brucebubs Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 On 1/27/2020 at 9:03 AM, zombywoof said: If anyone wants an Elvis guitar they can buy a Harmony Stella H929 and have the guitar he played in "Jailhouse Rock." Elvis played a Maton jumbo in that movie too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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