vince a Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 Was in GC just about an hour ago discussing the price of a Warwick bass with the salesman. He asked me if I had anything to trade in, and I said "no," as I don't like the 20 cents on every dollar that they give you for a trade-in. Anyway, I did mention trying to sell a couple of guitars . . . a Fender Am/Se Jazz bass and an Epiphone Elitist LP that has a plek job, all Gibson pots and switches, and a Gibson Burstbucker in the bridge position . . . just then, a guy who had been playing an Epi Custom LP , jumped up and said, "I'll give you $1400 for it right now." I was in shock, as the guitar hardly lost its value . . . it even gained a few bucks over what I paid for it. He said he cannot afford a Gibson LP, nor can he find an Elitist LP in really pristine condition. All the ones that he had looked at were trashed . . . some down as low as $750! He didn't want a beat up one. We exchanged numbers . . . I told him I get back to him to let him know. Anyway . . . it seems, since the Elitists are not being made anymore (is that really true???), I guess the used ones are going "up" in value!
epilover9568 Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 Elitist Dots are very hard to find now... I bought mine for $950 about a month ago... One day after I bought mine, one sold for $1000 on ebay... Elitist Les Pauls used are going for about $800-$850 on ebay now... They may be going up a little bit...
TheX Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 I bought my Elitist Goldtop at GC's 4th of July sale for $699.00
Curtoons Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 $1400 may seem tempting now but don't sell! If you love the guitar, NEVER sell. If the guitar was more of an investment, it will only continue to go up in price. Wouldn't it be something if they actually starting fetching a price higher than a Gibson? I for one would LOVE to see that happen!!
Ron G Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 Wouldn't it be something if they actually starting fetching a price higher than a Gibson? Yeah, it would be something - something stupid:-"
layboomo Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 $1400 may seem tempting now but don't sell! If you love the guitar' date=' NEVER sell. If the guitar was more of an investment, it will only continue to go up in price. Wouldn't it be something if they actually starting fetching a price higher than a Gibson? I for one would LOVE to see that happen!![/quote'] I'd take the $1400 cash in a heartbeat for that guitar!:D ](*,)/ Sorry but I don't see that as an "investment level guitar". Unless it's a Matsumoku,but you would have more into it then?
Whitmore Willy Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 Vince, Think about how you are going to feel about it in a couple of years. Then, do what you think is best and live with it. As much as a guitar can become a part of us... It ain't your first born son we are talking about here.
layboomo Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 I don't know why people always take the price they paid for a guitar and add the cost of the mods on top and come up with the used value.....Sorry but that ain't the real world folks. The fact of the matter is that most guitars are worth more in their original form and you'll do better on average selling the stock guitar and then the upgrade parts alone. If you have a guitar you love then obviously don't sell it just for $$....but on the other hand, if it's just one of many and you are getting a good bit over the going used price...you might want to take it?
Whitmore Willy Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 +1 on layboomo. The reason I have sold or kept guitars had little to do with money. Over the course of a life.....Well you get the idea....I hope. lol
Just Strum Posted October 9, 2008 Posted October 9, 2008 I agree with layboomo, despite the upgrade, most time you've reduced value of the guitar. Mods (upgrades) are usually for personal taste and don't necessarily interest a buyer. You might get lucky and find someone that likes the exact mods that were done, but if nothing else, you've reduced your market for the guitar by doing the mods. There's nothing wrong with upgrades, but it's usually for personal reasons. My American Fender Deluxe was upgraded and originally sold for $1200 - $1,300, I got it for $450. I liked the pup changes (from SSS to HSS) and the cosmetic changes I made cost maybe $15. In reference to the Dot Elitist comment http://www.music123.com/Epiphone-Elitist-1963-ES-335-Dot-Electric-Guitar-518419-i1150030.Music123
custer Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 You may see a temporary rise in the Elitist value, but i don't think it will last long.
tulsaslim Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 You may see a temporary rise in the Elitist value' date=' but i don't think it will last long.[/quote'] And what is your logic behind this? They ain't gonna make any more of them. Very few people who own them desire to sell them. They have a reputation for being great guitars. Based on those facts, your logic makes no sense at all. Personally, I'd NEVER sell a guitar that I love that is no longer made.
ne_buddy Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 So far, I haven't noticed a significant rise in value. But for Epi's, the Elitists do seem do hold value pretty well. I bought my Riviera for $999 and haven't seen them selling for less than $700. Not bad.
epilover9568 Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 And what is your logic behind this? They ain't gonna make any more of them. Very few people who own them desire to sell them. They have a reputation for being great guitars. Based on those facts' date=' your logic makes no sense at all. Personally, I'd NEVER sell a guitar that I love that is no longer made.[/quote'] I agree with Custer... And I have proof he is correct... Just look at the Guild Hollow-Bodies... They stopped making those... and their (used guitar) value increased by maybe 10%..... That is a great analogy since those Guilds are of the same level of quality as Epi Elitists... Its kind of wierd... But this mid-level market has lost two very significant builders in the past 5 years.... Epi Elite and Guild ..... It's very strange because it makes perfect sense to buy in this market...
tulsaslim Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 Your 'proof' that elitists won't increase in value due to the fact that Guild hollowbodies didn't go up in value is a stretch (to say the least). I don't know if they will or not but I think your analogy is pretty shaky. Heck, nobody can say whether or not ANY guitar will go up in value over the years. Hence, buying a guitar as an 'investment' is a very risky business. That said, one should buy guitars only because they 'like them'.
epilover9568 Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 I don't know if they will or not True... You don't know much... When you do, make your argument one way or the other, so we can have an intelligent and civil discussion... Now you are just trying to provoke me into a blog-flaming session...
EpiEric Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 Musicians Friend still has brand new Elitist Faded Cherryburst Standard Plus models for 1,149 and Customs and 57 Goldtops for $1,099 - so I wouldn't pay $1,300 for a used one right now. I do think that they'll escalate in value once the new stock dries up.
tulsaslim Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 True... You don't know much... When you do' date=' make your argument one way or the other, so we can have an intelligent and civil discussion... Now you are just trying to provoke me into a blog-flaming session...[/quote'] Let me get this straight. I don't know much but YOU Do? Is that what you're trying to tell me? Based on your Guild analogy? Saying that elitists won't go up in value just because Guilds didn't is like saying "a guitar I bought for $1000 back in the '80's that is no longer in production never went up in value. Therefore no guitar costing $1000 that is no longer in production will ever go up in value". It's just plain flawed logic, that's all. I'm not trying to start a war with you nor am I making any claims that I know whether or not the elitists will go up in value. You claim that you know the answer based on what you're saying about Guild hollowbodies & I'm merely telling you your logic is b.s. based on the fact that it is not logical at all. What's your beef?
epilover9568 Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 Tulsa pm sent... Lets take this offline... I am not starting a flame here.
TheX Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 I doubt they'll see any significant increase at all.
joeymetro Posted October 10, 2008 Posted October 10, 2008 The Gibson Robot guitars have really dropped in price.
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