tvguit Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 I just got back from the Music City Guitar Show and I was wondering if anyone else got a chance to go? I am not a dealer but I decided it would be worth it to get a booth and try to sell some guitars. I didn't expect to sell anything but was really in it for the networking/general guitar atmosphere. I had always heard about the Friday night load in where only dealers are allowed being the time to sell/trade. I was curious to see what was out there I guess. What a whirlwind. It was a really great show and I had a great time. I sold some guitars and bought a very special 1954 J-45 (paid too much!). It has just the right combination of play wear and cleanliness. It must have been someone's home guitar that never went out in the cold or to a show. The finish is very clean and it plays great. Did any of you guys get out to the show? What do you all think about buying a guitar from a guy at a show? Good/bad idea? Just curious to see what others think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichG Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 I have not had the opportunity recently, but years ago there used to be a good show on LI where I bought a nice 1982 LP Standard for $750 which I thought was reasonable at the time. I think these shows are a great place to see what's out there. And don't feel bad. If you wanted it and you bought it you didn't pay too much! Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdd707 Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 John, Glad you had a good time and sounds like you scored a nice Gibby. As for buying at a show, I bought my AJ used and a new '94 J45 at difference shows and they were both great and the prices were reasonable. I also sold two electric Gibsons which helped finance the acoustics. You are right about the networking ... and all those guitars in one place at one time. Those places are loud however and it's hard to really hear the subtle tones we all talk about here. A good show should have soundproof booths. The shows I refer to above were both here in the Heart of the Heart of Dixie, good ol' Jeff Co AL. You are probably too young to have attended because this was almost 15 or 20 years ago. Good events and wish the magic city would host another. Probably not profitable however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 There were some very nice guitars--new, late model and vintage--at the Orlando (Florida)show last year, and some good buys as well as some grossly over-priced guitars. Shows offer a great opportunity to play a variety of guitars and see a whole bunch in one place at one time. I didn't buy a guitar, but I know at least one other regular on this forum did. Here's some Gibby's from that Orlando show: And here's an overview: A one-owner Super 400 that an individual was selling: And the back and sides of a first-year rosewood batch 910 SJ. I might have sold my soul--or at least rented it for an extended period of time--for that guitar. Can't remember the price, but it seemed way out of my league. The top was just as good, by the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvguit Posted December 2, 2012 Author Share Posted December 2, 2012 The shows I refer to above were both here in the Heart of the Heart of Dixie, good ol' Jeff Co AL. You are probably too young to have attended because this was almost 15 or 20 years ago. Good events and wish the magic city would host another. Probably not profitable however. That is what I was told (and yes I am too young to have gone!). I talked to a guy about doing a small show and Birmingham and he said that it would be a whole lot of work and probably not be profitable. He said that previous Birmingham shows were not bad but lost a lot of money. Too bad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 Would love to go to a guiatr show, but there are none even reasonably close. Probably a good thing. Not unlike an alcoholic with a pocket full of cash in a liquor store. Glad you found it worthwhile on both the buy and the sell side. I've heard anecdotally that vintage prices at some shows are sky-high for borderline instrtuments. I'd be one of the shmucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 geez theres more gibsons in those photos than in ireland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 geez theres more gibsons in those photos than in ireland And I promise you that was a tiny percentage of what was there. I actually took a lot more pictures than this, but it is pretty representative. Dealers were from as far away as New York. I think it ws the first time for this show, which I believe was in February. You can be sure I will go again if they have it this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaiser Bill Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 I have been to a few guitar shows in Buffalo NY and down around Pittsburgh. My experience is that the dealers want to buy your vintage instruments for pennies on the dollar of what its worth, and when you politely refuse, the start finding fault with your instrument. For example...I tried to sell my '59 Strat (I'm the 3rd owner) for $8,000. they offered $3,000 because the knobs wern't original. Uh...excuse me?? The knobs ARE original. Then another dealer asked if I had the orginal 3 position switch (I have installed a 5) I showed him the switch that was in it when I bought the guitar in 78...he said the switch wasn't original...what a snoid. It was original like the guitar. The only thing thats not original on it are the strings. I'll go back again in another year...just to make waves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 I go once a year to play some guitars and for educational purposes. Most of the guitars I strummed were pretty much just "old" guitars, kind of cracked and beat, and needing the usual fret work and neck resets, not sounding that good, AND still priced at top blue book regardless. My friend brings a guitar or two for trade or sale, but he aways forgets to bring the barrel and a jar of vaseline for the negotiations. I imagine that a lot of guys showing are stand-up guys, but a LOT are of the used car salesman type of mentality, and leave a bad taste in the mouth. I usually spend 2 to 3 hours there on the first day, and I don't remember seeing any guitars sold when I was there. Sellers pretty much stick to their price guns the first day.....most sales happen on Sunday, and one of my buddies who had a booth there once said that most of the sales and trades at these shows are between the guitar sellers themselves and NOT to the general public......but like the OP said, a good way to network and learn.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 The best values at the Orlando show were the late-model (less than 10 year old) Gibsons. They had a few H&D's that I also thought were pretty well priced. The vintage Gibsons were generally seriously overpriced for their condition and tone, but there was a lot of bargaining going on. I went on the second day of a two-day show, which is the best time to bargain if you are serious. At the very least, it's a great way to look at and play a variety of guitars, and put faces to names. If you are looking for a specific type of guitar, I would suggest taking one of your business cards, or making one up especially for the purpose, and printing the details of the type of guitar you are after on the back. I guarantee you that the dealers will be on the lookout for a guitar for you if you go to this degree of detail. Act knowledgeable without showing off. Look, listen, and learn. Take a camera. Take a small automotive type extension inspection mirror and a mini maglite. Take a fair amount of cash, so you can at least put a deposit on a guitar if you find something you like. I love to shop...... By the way, here's the top of that batch 910 rosewood SJ. The light spots on the top are just reflections. It was in excellent condition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 It occurred to me that some of you 'guitar show goers' should get together and travel to a few together, perhaps as the Unnofficial Gibson Acoustic Guitar Forum Members Guitar Show Visiting Division, with full badging and moral support from us overseas members! They would see you lot coming and shrink! Take the measuring gear...... BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Right-on, BK !....The vigilante Gibson Forum posse>...YEEEEeee-HAaaaaa! I have in the past yaers attended some VG shows and one a few months ago. Believe me....they haven't changed...accept maybe for the worse. I agree with the original poster that...'most of the action' takes place at the 'dealer level' before the show opens to the public. The last show that I went to in Raleigh, NC, featured mostly new stuff. There was a couple of booths that were selling and 'buying????' vintage stuff! The owner sent out a couple of chicks to scout and examine 'potential purchases'. They would take pics and examine and confer with the boss over the phone about prospects......yawn! I sold my Fender Tele to a private buyer for cash and walked....Turned that into a local purchase of my '55 LPjr with a couple 'hunnard' left for repairs and am a happy camper! Thats my guitar show story....and I'm sticking to it.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Right-on, BK !....The vigilante Gibson Forum posse>...YEEEEeee-HAaaaaa! Yes - I have the vision now - the Gibson Acoustic Forum members - known and feared as the the GAF or Gaffers! - lookout - here they come... BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 THIS http://www.vintagecityguitars.com/sellers?gclid=CL7Ziv2O_bMCFUOK4AodqGQAmw is how we do it on the net, these days...... Gidyap Boys....Lets RIDE!!!! GAFFERS..... ....indeed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvguit Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 I showed up late on Friday night and started off bring in my tweed Geib case and was chased to my booth. Most of the dealers there were very respectful except for one or two. My wife had to bring the rest of the guitars in because I was so swamped (she's a saint!). I passed on all the offers on Friday night. The next day I sold 5 guitars and 3 of them went to some really cool Nashville cats. One of them was a BIG time session player in Nashville. He played on pretty much every big pop country album since 2002 (Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, the list goes on forever). You know what he bought??? My Silvertone (Harmony Sovereign) that I reset the neck on. He also bought my beat up '64 Duo-Sonic that people had been looking at all day long. I sold another guitar to a tour manager/guitar tech/guitar player for a certain female artist that is famous for playing her Gibson J-200. She also had a GIbson artist model (L-200). I sold this guy my very rare Epiphone FT-50 but I was really sad to see it go. That was the guitar I played sitting at the table while my wife made dinner. I guess I'll have to find another. He said that he and that artist were flying out to New York the next day and that he was spending both of their per diems on the guitar. I would have been starstruck had I known who either of these guys were! It seemed like everyone in there knew who they were except for me. The best part: they were both the coolest guys in the show. I got an invite to go look at that singer-songwriter's guitar collection (including her 1947 Gibson J-200) and take pictures for my blog. I'll let you guys know when I get back from that trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasAK Posted December 3, 2012 Share Posted December 3, 2012 Guitar shows, Oh my, I hope they have instant back ground checks. On a serious note, I have never seen so many guitars in one place. Are they common, or becoming more common? Sounds like a great market for vintage material and contacts. chasAK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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