izston Posted February 27, 2012 Posted February 27, 2012 Hi Not so long ago I wrote about an early '80's Hummingbird I bought online for A$1350.00 I have found out after seeking a professional opinion of guitar setup, that some of the bracing is split (splits run in-line with the bracing) the neck needs a refret, and a little work (no reset required... thank ****!) (I thought it may need a refret)and a "general" touch up (for the want of a better description). I trust the luthier / technician and his opinion and his reputation. The bottom line is after the cost of the guitar, repairs and professional set up I would have spent approximately A$3000.00 on the instrument. The guitar will be ready for collection in just over 2 weeks. I am now thinking would it have been wiser to buy a brand new one for A$5000.00 (expensive in Australia) I could have got a new one from the US for roughly US$3500.00 (maybe) including postage. Anyway, I have agreed to have the guitar repaired but feel that I put myself in a corner by buying the guitar in the first place. I am ready for any percieved truths, opinions, and words of "buying used guitar wisdom" that members may have.
E-minor7 Posted February 27, 2012 Posted February 27, 2012 I'd say 3000 AD. is too much for an early 80's Bird that ends up kind of modified. If you are able to let it go, do that and continue your search for the right guitar. A better bargain won't be that hard to find -
57classic Posted February 27, 2012 Posted February 27, 2012 I'd say 3000 AD. is too much for an early 80's Bird that afterward is kind of modified. If you are able to let it go, do that and continue your search for the right guitar. A better bargain won't be that hard to find - Gently put. Though it may end up being overpriced, you may fall in love with it. Here's hoping that you do. Good luck.
eltonwce Posted February 27, 2012 Posted February 27, 2012 I had Gibson repair do neck reset, refret, plane fingerboard and reglue loose bracing Total was $1500. $3000.00 is way too high.
ParlourMan Posted February 27, 2012 Posted February 27, 2012 I had Gibson repair do neck reset, refret, plane fingerboard and reglue loose bracing Total was $1500. $3000.00 is way too high. I'm assuming the A$3K takes in the cost of the guitar (A$1350) and the repair (A$1650). Not 3K to repair it, am I correct? Even still, you'll have a guitar that is a "fixed-up" model, in resale terms this matters, is it possible for you to back out the deal? If not you may have backed yourself into a corner, best outcome is that you love the guitar and keep it forever and remember it as the "price of an education on 2nd hand guitars", if you don;t you're 3K out and still without a guitar that you love. Tough call, I hope you make the right decision for you.
eltonwce Posted February 28, 2012 Posted February 28, 2012 I forgot to mention I only paid $100.00 for the guitar in 1976. So the $1500 Dollars 30 years later was not that big of deal to me. It is a J-45 deluxe Square body. Still Think $3000.00 is too much no matter what you paid for guitar.
slimt Posted February 28, 2012 Posted February 28, 2012 I am not sure of the Dollar differences.. Have you sent it in already? has he started the repairs?
stein Posted February 28, 2012 Posted February 28, 2012 I get that things are different for Aussie's. I still don't understand why guitars are so expensive over there. The only way to really say would be to ask what does an 80's HB go for over there? If you have to pay 5k for a new one and have 3k into a used one that is completely rebuilt, that can't be too bad. At least the wood is aged, right? Sometimes, we don't always get a return on 'repairs', kinda like tires and maintenence on a car. I'm sayin that when we have to spemd too much sometimes, it ain't a bad choice we made, just luck of the draw. It would have been good to catch the bracing issue before you bought it, but what is done is done. You did right by keeping it up, possibly making it available to the next generation. And IF you have more into than it is worth to sell, I don't think it is all too much. We should'nt loose sight of why we spend on this hobby in this first place. I can't imagine not being happy with the result. It looks like a GREAT axe.
jchabalk Posted February 28, 2012 Posted February 28, 2012 I was in a similar situation a few years ago.. I bought a '76 hummingbird at a shop in another city (i was visting for work). After a little while of playing it i realized it had some problems that were going to take more than a minor adjustment to correct. The bill of materials was pretty similar to what you're talking about: - neck reset - fret board plane - refret - (bonus) new bridge - repair a couple of small cracks Going into it i convinced myself all it needed was a setup and a new saddle. After a while of mulling it over I decided to go through with the repairs. The cost was pretty considerable given what i'd paid for the guitar and the overall "value" of a 70s Hummingbird. In retrospect - both a month later as well as today 4 years later - i think it was the wrong thing to do. The guitar didn't have good bones to begin with and i sank too much money into it. I should have sucked it up and cut my losses. For the first couple of years it was solid and just sounded (and played) like an overbuilt Norlin Gibson, not great, not terrible. Now, 4 years after having the work done the guitar is a little off again, the neck angle is worked its way back towards needing another reset and it won't stay in tune for more than 10 minutes or so. If nothing else I learned a lot from it. I still play it sometimes - and when i do i don't baby it, that's for sure ;)
izston Posted February 28, 2012 Author Posted February 28, 2012 I had Gibson repair do neck reset, refret, plane fingerboard and reglue loose bracing Total was $1500. $3000.00 is way too high. A$3000.00 includes repair and price paid for the guitar. Still very expensive.
izston Posted February 28, 2012 Author Posted February 28, 2012 I was in a similar situation a few years ago.. I bought a '76 hummingbird at a shop in another city (i was visting for work). After a little while of playing it i realized it had some problems that were going to take more than a minor adjustment to correct. The bill of materials was pretty similar to what you're talking about: - neck reset - fret board plane - refret - (bonus) new bridge - repair a couple of small cracks Going into it i convinced myself all it needed was a setup and a new saddle. After a while of mulling it over I decided to go through with the repairs. The cost was pretty considerable given what i'd paid for the guitar and the overall "value" of a 70s Hummingbird. In retrospect - both a month later as well as today 4 years later - i think it was the wrong thing to do. The guitar didn't have good bones to begin with and i sank too much money into it. I should have sucked it up and cut my losses. For the first couple of years it was solid and just sounded (and played) like an overbuilt Norlin Gibson, not great, not terrible. Now, 4 years after having the work done the guitar is a little off again, the neck angle is worked its way back towards needing another reset and it won't stay in tune for more than 10 minutes or so. If nothing else I learned a lot from it. I still play it sometimes - and when i do i don't baby it, that's for sure ;) Lets swap condolences..lol
izston Posted February 28, 2012 Author Posted February 28, 2012 I am not sure of the Dollar differences.. Have you sent it in already? has he started the repairs? I have sent it in and am going ahead with the repairs. I could not bear having a Gibson sitting in the corner, knowing what I know about it and not getting played. I would never sell it on in it's present condition. So I will bite the bullet on this one, and fingers crossed it will be a "Freshly Layed" Hummingbird when I get it back.
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