Official Luthiers Forum!

For electric folk and other helpinbg bro n law get some idea of guitar values for insurance or whatever.
1) 1956 (early model of that year before changes) all original and tweed case. In really good shape although was played and so not like new.
2) I think 55 Martin 000-28 not in best shape had broke neck and whoever did the repair really sucks,. Lots of crack etc. Plays well though and great tone. Not I know collector item.

3) best I can tell a rickenbacker lap steel (black and white) Looks like new.
All are orginal cases etc and bought by his dad new.
If have gone as high as will for price he is considering selling (I want the martin and would do repairs so offered him $50.00 but he balked)

If any of you are up on values would be appreciated. I have photos, but didn't want to waste forum time

lap steel made in 1940 but i suck at typing, tired after a hard day of golf and trout fly fishing by new house in Branson MO

What brand of electric? Fender?

As for the Martin...I bet that even if it had no neck at all, a retailer would list it at 4 - 5 hundred bucks.

Sorry. The electric is an early 56 Fender Strat (can tell by the E/B string tree or whatever the thing is called and it is ash body, in what I would consider very good to excellent condition. I tend to be conservative on these things though. Looking at the Martin, #'s to me indicate a 1950, but pretty rough. If I was to get it (which I may), I would redo the neck set and fix cracks. But with no intention on selling it. Just happens I am apprentice to very good restoration, repair guy, which doesn't suck for an old fat man like me.

Okay, the Strat could be worth up to $10K, but probably $6 - 8K.

That Martin, though, is worth much more than $50.00, so, in fairness, I think you should direct you brother-in-law to any of the respected retailers around the country that could give him a solid estimate (for the Martin and the other items). It will probably cost him a few bucks to get a written estimate, but it's essential for insurance purposes. I'd suggest Gruhn's Guitars, Elderly Instruments, Mandolin Bros., or Gryphon Stringed Instruments (Frank Ford's retail store).CarltonM38858.0159143519

The $50 thing was just a joke. I would give him what worth is.

Not a grizzled vet yet, but been around olf since, well just about the beginning. May just need to post a lot more to get there

[QUOTE=stan thomison] The $50 thing was just a joke.[/QUOTE]
Whew! Sorry I missed the joke, it's gettin' late--unfortunately, some people DO think that way, though!

But yeah, a written estimate from a reputable dealer is the way to go for insurance purposes.CarltonM38858.0268981481

Howdy Stan. Can't really help on the estimates but saw that you've got a house in Branson now? Great! Hope to see you posting more again.

_________________
Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

If you're in Branson, it's not TOOOO far a drive to Nashville. If you ever
get out that way, you should take them by Gruhn's to get appraised.
Doesn't get more authoritative than that.

As far as the Strat is concerned - if a genuine 56 - you have an ultra collectible year there!!!!!!!!!!!! serials range from 9000-16000
these are the specs:

Mid 1956 Fender Stratocaster guitar specs: Alder body replaces Ash on sunburst finished Strats (blond Strats still use Ash). Also the body finishing procedure changes because of the change to alder - Now the yellow in the sunburst is dyed into the wood, instead of being sprayed (as was done on Ash body sunburst Strats).
Rectangle string tree ("butterfly") replaces round string tree.
Neck backshape gets a large "soft V" shape.
Single Line" Kluson Deluxe tuners (which says "Kluson Deluxe" in a vertical line).
Tremolo bar has an even less pronounced bend.

I wish I could buy one, cause in 5-10 years you wont be able to touch these years for less than 25-50k if you ask me.
Cheers
Charliewood

I've seen Strats that old going for (in great condition) a LOT more money than that....
I knew a guy who had one who was constantly being offered $20K+ for it....back even in the '80's. He never sold it to the best of my knowledge.

_________________
"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

serial number is 10659

Have alot of photo's of both the strat and martin. Not to concerned about martin as I think it has reached max value. I normaly don't consider redo of tops a good thing but this just may be one of those occasions. If could figure out how to send photos here would, but have hard time with computers