Lord Summerisle Posted November 4, 2009 Share Posted November 4, 2009 I saw a rather unusual guitar in an antique / junk shop tonight. The headstock identified it as a "Blueridge." It looked to be quite old and had Grovers which had oxidized somewhat, and a fair few scratches on the back. Maybe it dates from the 1970s or 1980s? It looked like a well-played but looked-after guitar. Extensively played but not abused...On the heel was an inscription that seemed to be a limited edition number...81/190 (or something like that). A couple of photos (sorry, these are truly awful snaps from my crappy phone's camera) - The guitar plays beautifully. But I've never heard of Blueridge. At first I wondered if they were a local company (given that the Blue Ridge mountains are partly found in North Carolina), but a Google search tells me that these guitars are imported. The store owner wants $350, which may be a little high? I don't know, I wasn't really looking for an acoustic guitar tonight. I was just bored while my wife was busy buying pottery we don't need. $350 would be a good start towards a Masterbilt (for example)...or perhaps I'll go back and see if I can get the store owner to make a deal... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ship of fools Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 A lot of pickers like them, okay guitar from the few I have tried. With out a model number kind of hard to tell if its worth $350. but most of them sell for a higher price so could be a good deal.Its looks like a older (earlier ) model, the head stocks are usually more ornate.Ship here a little write up for you. http://www.lonehand.com/blueridge_guitars.htm and this is were they hang out.http://theunofficialblueridgeguitarforum18213.yuku.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 There's a dozen or more models on Musician's Friend right now, and other sites I presume. Blueridge guitars are made imported from China by Saga. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ship of fools Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 You are right Red but the only difference is that those have the fancy ornate headstocks, and this one is plain and I have never seen a pickguard like that before on a Blueridge so it leads me to beleive that it is a much older model ( one of thier first lines )so until a model number can be found it's almost impossible to figure out which one it can be.Ship Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 You are right Red but the only difference is that those have the fancy ornate headstocks' date=' and this one is plain and I have never seen a pickguard like that before on a Blueridge so it leads me to beleive that it is a much older model ( one of thier first lines )so until a model number can be found it's almost impossible to figure out which one it can be.Ship[/quote'] For sure. I was just trying to say that Blueridge as a brand is pretty widely available, since LS said he hadn't heard of it before. I didn't think MF or any other online seller would help identify that particular model. The forum you suggested could probably help. Good idea. Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Summerisle Posted November 6, 2009 Author Share Posted November 6, 2009 Thanks guys. I may go and check out the guitar again, try and find a model number, and then take a look at the forum you mentioned. The junk store gets most of its stuff from estate sales, and I could tell the guitar had a few decades' age to it. Unless it turns out to be a collector's piece or ultra-rare model, I think $350 is more than I am prepared to pay (especially as the junk store owner probably picked it up for $3.50)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el capitan Posted November 7, 2009 Share Posted November 7, 2009 Looking through old copies of Acoustic Guitar recently, I saw a review of this guitar.They didn't think much of it-whereas recent Blueridge dreadnoughts gained rave reviews.I think it's way overpriced and you'd be better off looking for a recent Blueridge(or even an Epiphone !) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwalin Posted November 7, 2009 Share Posted November 7, 2009 I just played a new Blueridge, and was quite impressed.....have no idea what model, though.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ship of fools Posted November 7, 2009 Share Posted November 7, 2009 el dorado what model number was that, I have looked through some of my older pics and still have not found one that looks like that.ship Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freak show Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Forget the guitar! Snag yourself that pretty porcelain pony on the stand behind it!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el capitan Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Oct 1993 Budget steel-strings under $500.Model BR-OS. $359 NEW! They didn't like the finishing,but liked the sound.It finished in the middle equal to a Sigma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 Oct 1993 Budget steel-strings under $500.Model BR-OS. $359 NEW! They didn't like the finishing' date='but liked the sound.It finished in the middle equal to a Sigma.[/quote'] Complain about the scratches, graffitti on the heel, and oxidized tuners... offer him $200.00 and let the negotiating begin. In MOST cases, antique dealers don't know from guit tars. To them, it's just another piece of furniture to adorn your rumpus room. Shux, a new set of full sized locking Grover's will set you back $75 - $100.00! Then there's the finish that needs work. Of course you will take an inspection mirror and flashlight to check for loose and broken braces. Also throw in a "compensated saddle material," and "nut condition and scale length." And really, the strings are really not up to par.. and that pick guard. "I don't think that's original." "Blueridge? Isn't that a Kmart brand?" vis. blue light special? Offer him a C note and a half.... See if he bites. Oh, and make sure you get the case in the deal. He probably shoved it somewhere in the back room under the polishing supplies to get it out of the way. (Happend to me once. All I had to do was ask.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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