LPguitarman Posted January 12, 2016 Posted January 12, 2016 Ok guys and gals, I'm looking for a little advice. Here's a little background: I bought this beautiful, great sounding Acoustic/Electric guitar 2-years ago from Sweetwater. I paid $2,150. And an additional $138. for a Set-Up and lowering the action from a local luthier. I'm selling it because I need the money, and because I rarely play it due to the fact that I play my Les Paul more. My question is, am I asking too much for a 2-year old guitar? It is practically brand new, rarely played. I started out asking $2,000. and lowered it to $1,950. last week. I actually got an offer for $1,500. last Sunday, but turned it down because I really don't want to go below $1,800. Am I asking too much??? Thanks in advance, for your advice.
rct Posted January 12, 2016 Posted January 12, 2016 Yes, you are. Top end acoustics are generally a life long acquisition because selling them is even worse than selling good electrics. If I needed the money I would have gladly dipped into the bath and taken the 15 hunnert. More than likely I would hold my nose and trade it for something I would actually reach for. Good luck with it. I'd buy it if it didn't have the electricalizations. And wasn't cutaway. And was a Martin maybe. If
LPguitarman Posted January 12, 2016 Author Posted January 12, 2016 Yes, you are. Top end acoustics are generally a life long acquisition because selling them is even worse than selling good electrics. If I needed the money I would have gladly dipped into the bath and taken the 15 hunnert. More than likely I would hold my nose and trade it for something I would actually reach for. Good luck with it. I'd buy it if it didn't have the electricalizations. And wasn't cutaway. And was a Martin maybe. If Thanks for the quick response. I suppose I should lower the price and see if I get any bites. Maybe $1,800. for starters.
rct Posted January 12, 2016 Posted January 12, 2016 I'd actually look at it if you advertised it at 1800, and I'd probably only bring 1700. rct
LPguitarman Posted January 12, 2016 Author Posted January 12, 2016 Does that mean you will buy it for $1,700.? I may let it go for that + shipping...
Guest Farnsbarns Posted January 12, 2016 Posted January 12, 2016 IMO the $138 is a loss, it's irrelevant, so you're looking to protect over 90% of the new price. I think you'd be doing very well indeed to get $1500. That said, I'm not in the same part of the world so I know precisely nothing about the market where you are.
rct Posted January 12, 2016 Posted January 12, 2016 Does that mean you will buy it for $1,700.? I may let it go for that + shipping... Too big, for one. I'm not a very big guy, 5'10ish or so, dreads and I have never really gotten along, but I've used them over the decades. Gibson, for two. I just don't get along with them. Most of the time I don't use a pick on acoustics because I hit pretty hard and most of them start to break up from getting hit too hard combined with fairly light strings I like on them. Gibson dreads always just boom too much for me when I hit them hard, and don't have the delicacy I like when I fingerpick at it the other half the time. Electronicals. No thanks, did that my whole giggin life and won't do it again. There is an M-36, possibly an OM-28 in my future, so I'm good for acoustics thank you! rct
LPguitarman Posted January 12, 2016 Author Posted January 12, 2016 Too big, for one. I'm not a very big guy, 5'10ish or so, dreads and I have never really gotten along, but I've used them over the decades. Gibson, for two. I just don't get along with them. Most of the time I don't use a pick on acoustics because I hit pretty hard and most of them start to break up from getting hit too hard combined with fairly light strings I like on them. Gibson dreads always just boom too much for me when I hit them hard, and don't have the delicacy I like when I fingerpick at it the other half the time. Electronicals. No thanks, did that my whole giggin life and won't do it again. There is an M-36, possibly an OM-28 in my future, so I'm good for acoustics thank you! rct Got it... you were talking in general terms, If someone saw it at $1,800. they would pay $1,700. I'll think about it. Didn't know the depreciation value of high end acoustics, this info helps... Thanks again.
Searcy Posted January 12, 2016 Posted January 12, 2016 They are selling for $1200 to $1500 on ebay all day long so that's what they are worth. Take the $1500 and count yourself lucky.
JayinLA Posted January 12, 2016 Posted January 12, 2016 My feelings on these things are simple. If the ad is generating traffic, than good. I usually give an Item about 20 days. If I am getting offers in the first week, I wait, and do not lower the price. Believe me, that's what the buyer is waiting for. If you are not getting any offers, you are asking too much. If it's been awhile then you have to consider what the win is on this. Anyone who offers $1500 on a $2000 item is most usually ready to meet in the middle. So you probably already have a deal. Communication is the tool of success.
LPguitarman Posted January 12, 2016 Author Posted January 12, 2016 My feelings on these things are simple. If the ad is generating traffic, than good. I usually give an Item about 20 days. If I am getting offers in the first week, I wait, and do not lower the price. Believe me, that's what the buyer is waiting for. If you are not getting any offers, you are asking too much. If it's been awhile then you have to consider what the win is on this. Anyone who offers $1500 on a $2000 item is most usually ready to meet in the middle. So you probably already have a deal. Communication is the tool of success. That's what I was hoping for. He said 1500. I said 1800. He never answered.
Tman Posted January 12, 2016 Posted January 12, 2016 My advice: Take really nice pictures and write a really nice description. Emphasize that it is rarely played and like new and no issues. Ask what you want and invite offers. Take the first offer that you get that is at a price you are willing to take. Sometimes counter offering above what you will take will result in the offer you will take. Otherwise let it sit there. If it is like new, people will consider it over buying a brand new one and on Reverb and eBay, their purchase is protected. I just sold 4 guitars. 3 went very quickly because they were priced well. 1 was a Masterbuilt Fender (took 3 months) that was way overpriced according to suggested prices on eBay and Reverb and 4 bidders who told me I was nuts while wishing me luck. I lowered the price 25% (still over priced according to them) and it sold.
LPguitarman Posted January 12, 2016 Author Posted January 12, 2016 Just lowered it to $1,800. OBO on St. Louis Craigslist. We'll see what happens.
retrosurfer1959 Posted January 13, 2016 Posted January 13, 2016 Good luck hope you get what your asking for it, acoustics are tough unless it's a very rare or older guitar and collectible if you can get 60% of what you paid you did great. The exception is the really high end customs that take forever to get made or are rare and hard to find. I've actually made a good profit selling those. Unfortunately a Gibson songwriter isn't in that market.and that offer of $1500 was a good offer. And like others have said the setup and work you had done is worth zip that's kinda like listing maintenance done on a car. It is a nice guitar but that's why guitars are not a investment for the 99% of guitars there like a lot of hobbies something you love and throw money into. The lifetime warranty is gone to a secondhand buyers and that's one of the only real values being the original purchaser has for a Gibson
quapman Posted January 13, 2016 Posted January 13, 2016 That's what I was hoping for. He said 1500. I said 1800. He never answered. All the posts here are good ones. The only thing I would add is this. He never answered because he only wants to pay 1500. Selling online is like socially interacting online. People don't care what what they say because they are faceless. I'm not saying 1500 was a low ball offer but he didn't respond because he didn't want to pay any more. If he did he would have replied. Personally I would never buy a 2 year old guitar when I can buy a brand new one for 300 more. Especially on a 2000 dollar guitar. If you hold out long enough you may get what your asking. If you don't it's definitely over priced.
Tim Plains Posted January 13, 2016 Posted January 13, 2016 People have lost the art of negotiating, based on my experiences selling locally. Starting low and moving up has changed to "here's my offer, take it or leave it." Having said that, this guitar was $2,000 new? If so, $1,800+ is extremely optimistic. Think of it like buying a new car. If you don't, then you will be like the many sellers I see locally who keep relisting the same guitars for months because they can't accept the financial loss. Personally, I'm happy to get 75% back on a new purchase. 45% - 60% is the typical range.
Cougar Posted January 13, 2016 Posted January 13, 2016 I bought this beautiful, great sounding Acoustic/Electric guitar 2-years ago from Sweetwater..... Man, that is a beauty. I bought a new mid-range Martin from Sweetwater some time ago. Gorgeous, refined, but never really bonded. I sold it locally (it was 'as new') for about 80% of the price I paid for it (actually, I got it for about 15% off full price). And I was happy about that. It funded my awesome jumbo Guild 12-string. 80% puts yours at about $1700. As others have mentioned, that may be optimistic. But "like new" is a good selling point. craigslisters like to haggle and get a "good deal." Putting it up for $1800 may get you $1700 or $1650. Best of luck!
LPguitarman Posted January 13, 2016 Author Posted January 13, 2016 Here's a bit more info. A brand new Songwriter on Sweetwater is going for $2,899. I was basing my initial sell price off of that. $2,000., so you would pay $899. more for a new one vs. my 2-year young one. I realize Sweetwater may give a discount off of the $2,899. so that is why I was thinking $1,800. I'll let it ride for awhile and see how many hits I get at $1,800. I wanted to start high, because I know people will always try to knock your price down. BTW, I have received at least 3 "scam" offers since I posted it in mid December. Gotta beware...
kidblast Posted January 13, 2016 Posted January 13, 2016 They are selling for $1200 to $1500 on ebay all day long so that's what they are worth. Take the $1500 and count yourself lucky. Clint nails it...
LPguitarman Posted January 13, 2016 Author Posted January 13, 2016 Since I don't want to give up the Acoustic side overall, I want to use some of the money from the Songwriter to buy this. MK vs. Songwriter Smaller to Dreadnought. Dreadnought is too big for me. Still electric. Played one in a music store...bonded to it immediately. $300. + case. So, I'll just keep this one and not worry too much if I don't get to play it. But I have a feeling, since it is smaller, I may pick it up more. I like the sound hole different location. I think it really adds to the sound. I like the looks, I'm big on different looks. Just look at my Reverse Fireburst LP. It's different too. Anyone ever played one of these?
RevDavidLee Posted January 13, 2016 Posted January 13, 2016 Wow the price of these guitars has really gone up. I bought a Gibson Songwriter Deluxe back in November of 2005 brand new for $1500 + $106 for the Gibson case (which pissed me off at the time because I thought it should be included for a guitar of that price point). Mine does not have the cutaway. I really love the guitar so I have no intentions of selling it but it sounds like I could get the bulk of what I paid for it back given todays ridiculously inflated prices. Mine is in mint condition as I really pamper my guitars. Good luck to the OP in selling this guitar. These are great guitars!
Searcy Posted January 13, 2016 Posted January 13, 2016 ... A brand new Songwriter on Sweetwater is going for $2,899. I was basing my initial sell price off of that. $2,000., so you would pay $899. more for a new one vs. my 2-year young one. I realize Sweetwater may give a discount off of the $2,899. so that is why I was thinking $1,800. The price of a new guitar at Sweetwater doesn't matter. You aren't selling a new guitar. You're selling a used one. Ebay selling history is what will decide the offers you are getting.
LPguitarman Posted January 13, 2016 Author Posted January 13, 2016 The price of a new guitar at Sweetwater doesn't matter. You aren't selling a new guitar. You're selling a used one. Ebay selling history is what will decide the offers you are getting. I know Clint , I was just comparing the difference between a "Like New" and a brand new for $899. more. Someone earlier in the thread mentioned they would rather pay $300. more for a new guitar vs. a used one. It's probably more like $500. to $700. more accounting for a Sweetwater discount.
LPguitarman Posted January 13, 2016 Author Posted January 13, 2016 Wow the price of these guitars has really gone up. I bought a Gibson Songwriter Deluxe back in November of 2005 brand new for $1500 + $106 for the Gibson case (which pissed me off at the time because I thought it should be included for a guitar of that price point). Mine does not have the cutaway. I really love the guitar so I have no intentions of selling it but it sounds like I could get the bulk of what I paid for it back given todays ridiculously inflated prices. Mine is in mint condition as I really pamper my guitars. Good luck to the OP in selling this guitar. These are great guitars! Yes, the Songwriter is a great guitar, and If I didn't develop the GAS for the Michael Kelly after I saw it and played it, I'd probably just keep the Gibson. But I am looking for a little cash to recover from Christmas too.
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