Can you tell me about my Skyhawk

[Ian Clark]

Hello - I'm a new member from England having just found the web site. I bought a black Skyhawk (serial no. G022878) with white pick guard, maple fret board, sickle headstock, about 10 years ago from a small collection which was being broken up. It was still as new and had never been played - even still had protective plastic film on pick guard. I removed that and have played it from time to time at home but its never been gigged. Mostly its sat in its hard case in my spare room. I don't know much about it except that maybe its becoming quite sought after. Can anybody give me some more info or history. I know the basic stuff about Leo and George setting up G&L etc., but not much more that that.
regards
Ian

[MrRoundel]

Welcome. Might I suggest that you purchase either or both of these books: "Guitars From George and Leo", by George Fullerton, and/or "G&L: Leo's Legacy", by Paul Bechtoldt. The first is easier to find, as it's still in print. Paul B.'s is not as easy to find and contains some information that has proven inaccurate since it was printed (1994). Otherwise, you've just got to hang around here and perhaps ask more specific questions. For some great information on your guitar, and other G&L's, you can try checking out Greg Gagliano's site (link below). Good luck.

http://www.ggjaguar.com/gnl.htm

[Ian Clark]

Thanks MrRoundel for the help and the suggested web link which so far suggests that my Skyhawk is a late one between 1988 and 91. I previously stated it had a maple fingerboard - wrong, it has a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard. I read elsewhere that the neck and bodies are dated? Where is the date? I'm guessing you have to take the neck off to find it - is that right? If so forget it. Its a fabulous guitar to play but I don't play an electric any more so its kind of wasted. Whats best way to find real value and is ebay the best way of selling this kind of thing?

[MrRoundel]

Ebay may be the best place to sell it, although, the Marketplace here on G&LDP may top it right now. The market is a bit soft of late, so it might be best to hit your target market right here, and the ad is FREE. Value is subjective, of course, and again the market has been a bit soft. Last week a pretty nice candy apple red Skyhawk didn't hit it's opening price of $800. It looked like the case was original, and it had the desirable sickle headstock, as I believe you said yours does. I'd hazard a guess that yours, if it's in mint condition, with original hard case, vibrato arm, paperwork, is probably $900-1,000 in today's market. Perhaps if it's a really perfect example, and somebody is looking for one for a collection, you'd get a little more. Price example: Last month I paid $1,100 for a rather rare Comanche VI from around the same vintage, in a beautiful cherry burst, OHSC w/keys, & vibrato arm. The finish had some problems on the headstock, so it wasn't mint, but I believe it's a bit more valuable, all other things being equal, than the Skyhawk. Then again, any given day YMMV. Good luck.
If I were you, I'd place the ad in the Marketplace here before trying Ebay, as Ebay takes a lot of your money for using their site, Paypal, etc. G&L takes nothing.
Either way, how about some pictures?