g&l value used

[gadgetfreak]

I have a simple question, I have 2 g&l's in mint showroom condition. I have a 2008 tobacco burst legacy 100 percent stock with paperwork and ohsc,, and I have a 2005 G&L Asat Custom Classic in Candy apple red Metallic finish includes beautiful ohsc.

Maybe it's just me appreciating how nice these guitars are but it seem's to me people are offering me insulting prices for them used. I mean down right insulting like I want to get angry,lol.

What should one except to see for used prices on these models in Mint condition, not a scratch,ding,nothing.

Thanks fellas for any information you may have, I don't know if everyone thinks I'm a sucker or g&l's hold the worst trade/used value ever on a guitar.

[crfowler]

Beyond saying, 'yes, resale value is woeful', I can only tell you that I paid about $850 for a minty ASAT special semi-hollow w/HSC, and that included shipping. As someone who will never sell my G&Ls and is happy to buy used, I don't worry about their depreciation.

[gadgetfreak]

I just find it so hard to believe that an instrument that cost 1400-1500 new and then cased and not beat up, sells for less than half it seem's, at least that is what people are offering. Maybe if I tried outside of c.l I would do better. I love my guitars but I don't believe in not playing them and I have far to many sitting around. I was going to trade an asat and the legacy for a les paul and some of the offers I'm getting are insanely ignorant and insulting. Guy telling me he want's both my guitars for a studio les paul, is he high or what. I know how nice my g&l's are and I will hold them before I do a deal like that.

[Miles Smiles]

So you better sell the other guitars.

[MJ Slaughter]

Have you ever looked on ebay at completed listings? From what I've seen $600-$800 is not at all unusual for a used USA model Legacy. Some around $1000 but I didn't see many. I bought a 2012 with case for about $635 that had a couple of dimples on the back from falling off a stand. Before that a used Legacy Tribute for $200 no case. Sucks when you want to sell one you bought new but for what ever reason the resale is a little low. I had a nice Dean USA Hardtail which went new for around $2400. I sold it in near perfect condition for $1000 and the only reason I let it go so cheap is I just didn't like the way it felt and it never got played.

[louis cyfer]

that is one of the reasons i love g&l. the really low used prices. i don't think you'll get better than 700-750.

[yowhatsshakin]

What should one except to see for used prices on these models in Mint condition, not a scratch,ding,nothing.

gadgetfreak,

I checked the Blue Book for a price quote and found this:
2008 Legacy:
100% (NEW): $1,050
98% (MINT): $900

2005 ASAT Classic Custom:
100% (NEW): $1,175
98% (MINT): $1,100

You notice that they should demand decent prices used, with only about 20% depreciation, especially if you took well care of them.

Just to amuse you, I also checked the value for a LP Studio. Here are some numbers:
1984-1998:
98% (MINT): $900
2001-2012:
100%(NEW): $1,320
98% (MINT): $1,100

If it has a faded finish, it demands no more than $600 for a MINT; a Gothic is $800 (MINT), Limited Colors $1,000 (MINT), and Standard is $875 (MINT). So that answers your question on whether his offer makes sense.

Hope this helps,

- Jos

[gadgetfreak]

Jos,
I appreciate your work laying that out like that, I always use the motto it's worth what somebody is willing to pay for it. However, more than one person has offered me a les paul studio for both my g&l's. It's almost to the point where it's silly. One guy say's "oh G&l's don't hold there value the same in an "RE on craigslist", so now every bottom feeder is trying to offer me faded worn brown les pauls for my asat custom classic, stating oh it's only worth 500. My asat because it is a custom ordered guitar and has great appointments will probably fetch a little more than an average one, I have the hot rodded model with some better specs.

Yeah I know what I'm doing now, never posting on my local c.l again, I should of known, no matter what I put up for sale or trade I always get everyone trying to give me there old crap that's worth nothing.

[louis cyfer]

every g&l is custom ordered. usa models that is. your personal choices on the appointments don't change the price very much. i think it is foolish to discredit cl for a bad experience. yes, you will find people low balling, it's because when people need to sell fast, they have to take low offers. there is nothing wrong with leaving it on cl, and waitinf for a good offer.

[Fumble fingers]

there are some Legacy and ASAT on CL out here that they say are mint and asking between 600.00 and 800.00 ..... I know its hard to sell cars at NADA book value , economy is weak , people buying used are wanting deals or they will just buy new and get the options they want

[meursault]

You guys are lucky... Around here, it's around 1.000€... Sometimes less, sometimes more... My '92 asat + case for 1k€ and I trade the classic + gigbag with a '91 LP studio lite + case...

[Echoes]

I think the problem that some people do not understand, that most things do not retain their value, most guitars, cars, electronics, etc. I mean, an example, you buy a new Honda for 25k, even one year later you'll lose several grand. 90% of guitars are the same way, when you buy them new, the chances of them retaining their value is very small. So it really isnt just G&L, though I will say that their value does seem a bit under appreciated. But I'm sure there are people who own many things that feel that way.

[JagInTheBag]

I recently bought a minty G&L off of an expired ebay ad for $600. The guitar was stunning, minty but bland. I put a new pg, trem cover, and pup covers ($100), had the trem unblocked and professionally set up ($35) and resold it on ebay, clearing $1,200. The reason, salesmanship.

Resale also has to do with the market place- higher volume of Fenders mean more data points for comparative value and higher trade-in values. Stores that are more clearing houses than boutiques also undervalue G&L trades- they simply don't understand them and lack salesmanship- so they scalp the trade and offer at "lay down" prices.

[gadgetfreak]

Thanks for all the input, Hey I didn't mean to discredit all of Craigslist but I've been using it for years and have done probably 50 deals on there, so I do feel I have a pretty good feel for it and when it come's to instruments, not talking anything else cause I don't deal with it, but instruments it's the same people all the time looking for that deal and I'm not that desperate guy so this time I just got pissed, that's all. I use c.l all the time and have good experiences.

Just bought a sweet vht ultra amp the other day for peanuts and the reason being the guy lived so far away from the rest of the world nobody was willing to travel, I was and scored this amp with upgraded greenback and tubes for half of what the amp cost new without the upgrades. So I do get it, my point was more along the lines that if you don't know g&l's then I feel they get seriously underrated and under valued.

I still have my guitars and polished em up last night, almost dropped one... The asat was so damn slippery from being shined it was like trying to hold onto a slippery fish

[tbp0701]

This is one of the aspects of liking guitars or any instruments that don't carry the names of the most well-known manufacturers. People do pay a premium for certain names, new and used, and the market for the others will be smaller, albeit dedicated. For instance, in your situation I doubt I'd sell a G&L on eBay or Craigslist but would instead try forum classifieds for a better chance at finding someone who knows and appreciates what it is. Also, if I were looking to trade a G&L for a Les Paul style guitar, I would look for a Hamer or Heritage rather than a Gibson, particularly as you're more likely to find someone who looks beyond a couple of brands.

[Its_Him_Again]

Great for buyers and bad for sellers is the fact that G&L resale is simply not good. There's simply very little knowledge of or demand for them out there. If you are expecting more than 2/3 (at most) of what they cost originally, then you are probably gonna keep that G&L, even if the guitar has never seen the light of day. If you're paying attention to the market, you simply don't buy a brand new G&L expecting to make your money back after letting it be a closet queen. You buy a brand new G&L in order to invest in a quality musical tool. Then you get your money's worth in play time, and consider anything you get back upon sale to be a bonus.

[spgl1]

On the bright side, they are fantastic top quality guitars that can be had for a very resonable price used.

I usually buy used guitars, that way I can have more of them.