| Author |
Topic: Yikes.. what is up with used steel prices?? |
Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
|
Posted 18 Mar 2005 6:07 am |
|
yow.. Just saw an LDG go for 2K+.. A cheapo Fender labeled Maverick.. $800+... an old single 10 Bud with 3 and 1 is over $800 and has met reserve with FIVE days yet to go in the auction...by the time you get 3 more levers on it etc???..
Its no wonder new steels are selling well.. with what you have to pay for an old one that may need a fortune in upgrading or repairs, it probably make more sense to buy new.
Used MSA,BMI ,Marlen,GFI,Dekley [when you can find them ]even some ZB's are reasonable at times, but Bud, Emmons,ZUM,Franklin,Mullen [when you can find them !!] seem to be at a point where it almost makes more sense to buy a new steel.
Am I wrong in assuming this is a recent development??.. Geez, Just last year I saw Pro III and LDG guitars in the $1200-1300 range, P/P D 10's around $1300... am I crazy or has some of this stuff DOUBLED in the past 18 months??...
I mean I have $1200 to spend on a decent used backup steel,and am having a tough time finding anything I can afford...maybe I'm looking in the wrong places!! I dunno, it just seems that the "If its old its gold" mindset has REALLY taken hold in the used steel market.. bob |
|
|
|
Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
|
Posted 18 Mar 2005 6:35 am
|
|
I think you're right, Bob, but it is a free market. Anything is worth what someone will pay for it. Sometimes people are willing to pay more than others think an item is worth, so the average sale price goes up. Sometimes this feeds a trend and the overall market goes up. With the advent of EBay, folks have access to a much wider audience of buyers and sellers. This can lead to bargains on some items and price inflation on others. It's worth what they'll pay.
------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
|
|
|
|
Jeff Hyman
From:
West Virginia, USA
|
Posted 18 Mar 2005 7:00 am
|
|
The LDG is a great guitar. Be glad one is
available and grab it if in good condition.
As you know... they don't make em anymore,
and the tone is fabulous!
Jeff Hyman |
|
|
|
Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
|
Posted 18 Mar 2005 7:08 am
|
|
| I don't care for double frame steels, and could care less if one is available or not,, I still say the prices are crazy... I'll wait.....bob |
|
|
|
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
|
Posted 18 Mar 2005 7:57 am
|
|
"I'll wait"-----while the prices go up some more!  |
|
|
|
Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
|
Posted 18 Mar 2005 8:06 am
|
|
| try to even find a used ZB Custom in decent condition. Good luck. |
|
|
|
Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
|
Posted 18 Mar 2005 8:20 am
|
|
I don't consider used steel prices excessive.
Look at the price of a new Zum or Mullen etc. and about 1/2 of that gets you a NICE used one.
The LDG guitars are a specialty item associated with Lloyd Green. People will pay a premium for that. A little cult action there.
The high money Mavericks on Ebay are usually just a result of uneducated newbies that just want a steel and after all, it IS a Sho Bud right... Look what they pay for the Harlin guitars!!
The Fenders have cool factor and collectibility factor just because they are Fender. People buy and collect all sorts of Fender items. They don't have to be steelers to buy a nice vintage Fender.
The absolute best value in a used steel is an MSA. The plywood or the solid wood instruments pop up at fair prices all the time and bargains are out there. Since there are literally thousands of them still in service there will be a good supply of them.
The best quality instruments such as Zum, Fessenden, Williams and others will always hold their value just because of the quality. You can't expect them to be cheap on the used market.
The Emmons stuff will always be expensive. After all there is the push/pull lore attached and look who's name is on the front of it!
High prices for steels??.....bought a car lately? |
|
|
|
Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
|
Posted 18 Mar 2005 9:08 am
|
|
Bob, it's a simple case of most people being sucked in by a famous, or suddenly popular, name, and not really knowing what they're buying. Buddy Charleton, HOF member and player extrordinaire, is quite happy with a plain ol' GFI!
It's much worse in straight guitars, where people assume there's some "magic" in an old Tele or Les Paul, and pay many thousands for a cheap mass produced, assembly-line product.
P.T. Barnum said "There's a sucker born every minute", and Ben Franklin said "A fool and his money are soon parted". They knew it. It's nothing new, really. The percentage of foolish buyers remains a relative constant. It's only the internet that makes it more noticeable. |
|
|
|
Gary Lee Gimble
From:
Fredericksburg, VA.
|
Posted 18 Mar 2005 9:24 am
|
|
Like Jeff H. said, "the tone is fabulous."
And it was last weekend at the Frederick Moose, Jeff's LDG kicked some serious rear and his pickin kept us all at ears too! |
|
|
|
Jim Phelps
From:
Mexico City, Mexico
|
Posted 18 Mar 2005 9:44 am
|
|
| It seems that all the high-priced steels you're talking about are on Ebay....there's your answer, right there. |
|
|
|
Carl Williams
From:
Oklahoma
|
Posted 18 Mar 2005 9:45 am
|
|
Bob, I was one of the citizens "cult" crowd (no offense taken  ) that was mentioned in one of the posts above who got "hooked" on an LDG. I also thought the used steel market was a little high almost two years ago when I bought my LDG. But, now according to the $2k price tag, I guess I may have made a pretty good investment?! Now that I'm in line for a Marrs Makeover, there's no telling what it might be worth--right Ricky & Eric?? Basically, it's the old law of supply & demand!! Carl[This message was edited by Carl Williams on 18 March 2005 at 09:46 AM.] |
|
|
|
Farris Currie
From:
Ona, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
|
Posted 18 Mar 2005 9:54 am
|
|
depends on what you want!sound,you can't go wrong with a old steel,especially a sho-bud,
emmons and others.the old sho-buds add knees and pickup ect.the mid to early 70s models,i have a old 74 pro1,just had knees on it,i got about 1500 in it.its all stock,and i wouldn't sell it for that right now.that one on ebay is just like mine,and if i had the money i'd buy it. they are so nice. farris |
|
|
|
Randy Reeves
From:
LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA
|
Posted 18 Mar 2005 10:07 am
|
|
one year ago I bought a 74 Sho-Bud; three pedals four levers. it cost 999$.
I am happy to know that it's worth is 1500$.
that doesnt matter to me at all.
I am not new to music. I am rather new to steel playing. got into lap steels a little over two years ago.
then I found this site. you guys(and gals) feed my appetite.
on another forum alot of young dudes are just now hearing about pedal steel. they all rave about Jerry Garcia and Robert Randolph.
I wont judge, because that's where they are at with their experiences.
they are hungry for lap steels and pedal steels.
perhaps the market is in resurgence.
could be a good thing or a bad thing...generally the price of everything is going up.
Im glad there are no added fees for playing a steel.[This message was edited by Randy Reeves on 18 March 2005 at 10:07 AM.] |
|
|
|
Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
|
Posted 18 Mar 2005 11:57 am
|
|
| Randy Reeves. You just hit on maybe the newest reason why used steel prices are up--young players into Randolph and Garcia who are interested in getting laps and pedal guitars. |
|
|
|
John Poston
From:
Albuquerque, NM, USA
|
Posted 18 Mar 2005 12:27 pm
|
|
| If the demand for steel guitars goes up, lets hope the demand for steel guitar players follows suit. |
|
|
|
James Cann
From:
Phoenix, AZ
|
Posted 18 Mar 2005 1:51 pm
|
|
quote:
The LDG is a great guitar. Be glad one is
available and grab it if in good condition.
As you know... they don't make em anymore,
and the tone is fabulous!
Yep! When I found mine, I ended up paying some $400-$500 more than I had budgeted--pretty well forgotten when I opened it up.
Carpe Diem! |
|
|
|
Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
|
Posted 18 Mar 2005 3:14 pm
|
|
John P. Are you talking about the demand for steel players who play like Robert Randolph?  |
|
|
|
Ed Mooney
From:
Evanston,IL
|
|
|
|
Farris Currie
From:
Ona, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
|
Posted 18 Mar 2005 6:44 pm
|
|
| Bob,a cougar for sale on forum right now,700.00 price is right single 10 |
|
|
|
Lem Smith
From:
Long Beach, MS
|
Posted 19 Mar 2005 5:56 am
|
|
Ed, I noticed on the one that's on Ebay that you linked to, they say it's a 1969 model. Then they say
| Quote: |
| ACCORDING TO THE STEEL GUITAR DEALER IN NASHVILLE, TN. THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THIS INSTRUMENT WAS MADE. |
Wonder what dealer told 'em that? I know Bobbe knows better than that!
|
|
|
|
Bob Smith
From:
Allentown, New Jersey, USA
|
Posted 20 Mar 2005 6:41 am
|
|
| 2k ,for probably the most prized ,collectable pedal steel guitar sounds like not too bad a price. Look what people pay for 58 Les Pauls, etc.!! Vintage steel guitars are a cheap the way I see it.(cheaper than new ones ) and just like most other things that people cherish they will cost even more next year and so on. Bob |
|
|
|
Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
|
Posted 20 Mar 2005 7:13 am
|
|
Bob.. I have to disagree.. an LDG is a nice guitar,but that guitar doesn't seem like that great a deal to me. All Sho Buds/Emmons are getting crazy lately...
I am seeing more and more old steels fetching new steel prices.. You can get a new GFI and all the support that comes with it for LESS than 2 K.. If that "good deal" 30 year old steel needs work, you WILL pay through the nose to replace worn parts.... bob |
|
|
|
Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
|
Posted 20 Mar 2005 11:43 am
|
|
| Thats not necessarily true. There are plenty of reasonably priced parts available for both Sho-Buds and Emmons guitars from people like Duane Marrs and Bobbe Seymour. ZB's also from Greg Jones. Also, I don't think that you can compare a GFI's sound with a classic Emmons or Sho-Bud that have been kept in good condition. Also, you always get what you pay for. You buy cheap, you get cheap. Zum is a perfect example of price matching quality, also Fulawka. [This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 20 March 2005 at 11:44 AM.] |
|
|
|
Cliff Kane
From:
the late great golden state
|
Posted 20 Mar 2005 2:34 pm
|
|
| This is true all over. 10-20 years I was able to buy Fender and Gibson guitars from the 60's and 70's for around $500. The same with British motorcycles from the 60's, lots of Triumphs and BSA's for around $500....now all of that is up to around $2,000. Man, I wish I still had what I had. Check out the price of Selmer Mk. VI and Super Balanced Action saxophones....yikes.....a lot of those are not spectacular, but they've got the rep and if they fall within a certain serial number range, watch out! these are going for close to three times what a top-notch new instrument goes for and they are arguably not as good as a lot of the new horns on the market. [This message was edited by Cliff Kane on 20 March 2005 at 02:36 PM.] |
|
|
|
chas smith R.I.P.
From:
Encino, CA, USA
|
Posted 20 Mar 2005 7:00 pm
|
|
| I just did some work with Erica Duke, a cellist. Her bow cost $20,000. |
|
|
|
