singlecoil Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 To eliminate questions:I have a 339 in the Trading Post. It is not the guitar I am referring to: I have posted a WTB for a Used 339 in the Antique Red Color. I was approached last night with what appears to be a real nice 2009. But than the guy tells me there is no COA. Assuming the guitar isn't a Fake Copy. How much would a Missing COA affect the resale value. Assuming the same guitar and year was selling used at 1600.00 . Would that missing COA affect the price at all ? Or quite a bit. I know it's making me question the authenticity. Seems a COA would be a vital piece of your case candy to hold on to. What do you think. Would anyone here consider a Used Gibson Custom Shop with out the COA available? Thanks for the help
shailey8 Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 To eliminate questions:I have a 339 in the Trading Post. It is not the guitar I am referring to: I have posted a WTB for a Used 339 in the Antique Red Color. I was approached last night with what appears to be a real nice 2009. But than the guy tells me there is no COA. Assuming the guitar isn't a Fake Copy. How much would a Missing COA affect the resale value. Assuming the same guitar and year was selling used at 1600.00 . Would that missing COA affect the price at all ? Or quite a bit. I know it's making me question the authenticity. Seems a COA would be a vital piece of your case candy to hold on to. What do you think. Would anyone here consider a Used Gibson Custom Shop with out the COA available? Thanks for the help I wouldn't sweat it too hard... Unfortunately Musicians Friend didn't send a COA with many of the 339's they sold. I owned 1 originally from MF and it didn't even have a truss rod wrench. Since most of these originally came out of GC or MF it's actually pretty likely that they did not have their COA. On another note... I haven't run across a fake ES-339... if the one you are looking at is a fake they did really good. Usually the fakes have really easily identifiable issues with them and just don't look right.
singlecoil Posted February 10, 2011 Author Posted February 10, 2011 I wouldn't sweat it too hard... Unfortunately Musicians Friend didn't send a COA with many of the 339's they sold. I owned 1 originally from MF and it didn't even have a truss rod wrench. Since most of these originally came out of GC or MF it's actually pretty likely that they did not have their COA. On another note... I haven't run across a fake ES-339... if the one you are looking at is a fake they did really good. Usually the fakes have really easily identifiable issues with them and just don't look right. It looks like a nice guitar. It's more I'd be concerned about getting it re-sold. When your selling a Custom Shop that's the first question. Were I to know a head of time the guitar was a lifer. It wouldn't make a difference whatsoever. They still are all coming out of MF or Guitar Center..Music 123 and Guitar Sale ( which are MF ) Who knows if the Coa is included now. They come in Factory packaging so is it Gibson fault?
shailey8 Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 It looks like a nice guitar. It's more I'd be concerned about getting it re-sold. When your selling a Custom Shop that's the first question. Were I to know a head of time the guitar was a lifer. It wouldn't make a difference whatsoever. They still are all coming out of MF or Guitar Center..Music 123 and Guitar Sale ( which are MF ) Who knows if the Coa is included now. They come in Factory packaging so is it Gibson fault? Not sure who's fault it is, but with the return policies of MF and GC you could well be getting a guitar that left and came back as a return... so it could be at a customers house that bought one just to "try out" and return... Who knows? As for resale... Gibson will verify the guitar and issue a new COA if you ship the guitar to them... if you're that concerned about it if you get it...
singlecoil Posted February 10, 2011 Author Posted February 10, 2011 Not sure who's fault it is, but with the return policies of MF and GC you could well be getting a guitar that left and came back as a return... so it could be at a customers house that bought one just to "try out" and return... Who knows? As for resale... Gibson will verify the guitar and issue a new COA if you ship the guitar to them... if you're that concerned about it if you get it... Doing that would cost me more than just selling it for less. As for Missing COA's and Musiciansfriend selling guitars as new that someone else tried. That's incorrect. I don't know about GC. But MF sells all returns as used. I bought a nice Fender Customshop that way. Saved 800.00. Not a thing I could see wrong.
bobouz Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 MF certainly used to sell used guitars as new. Don't know about now with their current selling practices, but I believe it was in '05 that I bought a LP from them which had very clearly been used & a wee bit abused. Obviously I was not a happy camper & worked out a deal with MF. As for the missing COA, I would suspect it happened at GC, where they are notorious for not including case candy (for an assortment of reasons).
singlecoil Posted February 10, 2011 Author Posted February 10, 2011 MF certainly used to sell used guitars as new. Don't know about now with their current selling practices, but I believe it was in '05 that I bought a LP from them which had very clearly been used & a wee bit abused. Obviously I was not a happy camper & worked out a deal with MF. As for the missing COA, I would suspect it happened at GC, where they are notorious for not including case candy (for an assortment of reasons). Yeah the guitar Center on my side of the state is a pit of junk. They are so high pressure I had a sales person follow me into the bathroom to talk. I only go in there to look at what I might be interested in elsewhere. The pedal guy was cool - but I knew exactly what I wanted. I could be wrong but I see quite a few times where MF has that used section in the same link where you'd by the guitar as new. PERSONALLY : A Coa is just a Piece of paper. If I knew for sure I'd never sell the guitar who'd care. I don't understand why you couldn't just bring your guitar into an authorized Gibson Dealer for Authentication. What would be the point in making something that isn't the customers fault cost them money to correct. Oh wait a minute that's why the economy is so bad. Nobody wants to work any more or stand behind what work they do. Brain Fart Sorry..
shailey8 Posted February 10, 2011 Posted February 10, 2011 Yeah the guitar Center on my side of the state is a pit of junk. They are so high pressure I had a sales person follow me into the bathroom to talk. I only go in there to look at what I might be interested in elsewhere. The pedal guy was cool - but I knew exactly what I wanted. I could be wrong but I see quite a few times where MF has that used section in the same link where you'd by the guitar as new. PERSONALLY : A Coa is just a Piece of paper. If I knew for sure I'd never sell the guitar who'd care. I don't understand why you couldn't just bring your guitar into an authorized Gibson Dealer for Authentication. What would be the point in making something that isn't the customers fault cost them money to correct. Oh wait a minute that's why the economy is so bad. Nobody wants to work any more or stand behind what work they do. Brain Fart Sorry.. You nailed it in the end there... Hardly any company knows what customer service is now... it's that simple.
GotTheSilver Posted February 11, 2011 Posted February 11, 2011 In answer to the original question, I would not think it would take very much off the value of the guitar at all. I have to imagine that the vast majority of guitar players get home with their shiny new guitar and just throw the COA in a closet or a drawer somewhere. Years go by, time to sell the guitar, if they even think about the COA they probably don't know where it is. I recently bought a 2005 '63 Reissue ES-335. The seller did not have the COA. I called Gibson with the serial number and they confirmed the model, color and year of the guitar, and even where the dealer was that the guitar originally shipped to, which matched where the seller said he bought it from. I was satisfied the guitar was authentic and bought it with no worries. Happy I did, as it is a great 335!!! Maybe I am wrong on what other people think, but it just doesn't matter much to me.
BillyGibson Posted February 15, 2011 Posted February 15, 2011 I'd be more interested in how it feels and sounds. Anyone who knows Gibsons, will know it's an authentic 339. A piece of paper is window dressing that's fun to have. Don't these cost $2,000 new? Then less a 15% GC discount would put a brand new one at $1,700. They're having a Presidents Day sale this weekend. For $100, you could get a new one and the COA to boot.
singlecoil Posted February 15, 2011 Author Posted February 15, 2011 I'd be more interested in how it feels and sounds. Anyone who knows Gibsons, will know it's an authentic 339. A piece of paper is window dressing that's fun to have. Don't these cost $2,000 new? Then less a 15% GC discount would put a brand new one at $1,700. They're having a Presidents Day sale this weekend. For $100, you could get a new one and the COA to boot. That would be great Billy: Except they don't have Red in stock. I have a gig where the Bride is insistent on a Red one. It's a long story, but they are making it well worth my while to buy the guitar in Red. How do you get a 15% discount?
rocketman Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 I'll just reiterate what's been stated here. It shouldn't affect resale at all. The 339 is only sold through a few stores. According to Gibson: "The ES-339 is only available from Musician’s Friend, Musician.com, Private Reserve, Guitar Center, Guitarsale.com, and Music 123." So you're at their whim as far as sale prices. I got a figured top one which can be bought from any Gibson dealer. You'll see that the stores mentioned here sell that guitar for $3,249.00. I got it brand new for $2,200 from the House of Guitars!! It's something to think about it if there is Gibson dealer near you.
BillyGibson Posted February 16, 2011 Posted February 16, 2011 That would be great Billy: Except they don't have Red in stock. I have a gig where the Bride is insistent on a Red one. It's a long story, but they are making it well worth my while to buy the guitar in Red. How do you get a 15% discount? Sounds like a sweet deal - play a gig and get a guitar thrown in. \:D/ My coupon for Presidents Day just came. When you read the non-participating brands, (which I haven't on this one, because you have to go on line), it may state, "some Gibsons and some Epiphones" are not included. I only have one Gibson, a LP Traditional Plus and it was included. Then every Epi I've ever purchased has been included in a 15% discount. If you're not on their mailing list, you can sign up. Or sometimes, you can print one off their site. Perhaps even calling ahead and talk with a sales person and tell him you'd like to take advantage of the discount, but don't have the coupon. Then he'll be waiting for you. That's what I've done a couple times and have developed a relationship with my salesperson. I've also heard of people calling the 800 number and talking with a sales person and negotiating over the phone, whereas you can't do that on line. Sweetwater is pretty good about that. In fact I just received an email from them last week saying to call and we'll work out a "personal deal". Tell them what you want and that you're ready to buy right now if the deal is right.
trackerdan Posted May 9, 2012 Posted May 9, 2012 I bought a 52 tele reissue that had the sales reciept but no COA. Took the receipt to GC and they ordered me a new matching COA right up. No problem. Right now I'm waiting for the pelham blue epi 339's to get in stock. If a sales rep followed me into the restroom I'd knock his teeth out to get a smoother deal.
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