Price watch (50)

More listings in the after-market, year-end clearance most probably. Take a look at the above listings, both are American Strats. Judging by the specs, the red one is an American Special & it's listing for nearly $1.6K. The brown one had the seller correctly identify the guitar & the listing price is more reasonable. 

After reading the listing description, we now understand why the price is a little excessive; it has DiMarzios in there plus an upgraded bridge. I find the sale condition here a little disrespectful, the Texas Specials were default pickups to begin with, the fact that it will only be included if the deal goes through implies that you don't deserve them to begin with. Also, please be mindful of 'upgrade' in your listing descriptions. Names like Gibson & Fender, among others, sell better with original parts in the instruments. Upgrade is subjective; it might be a value-add for you, others see it as devaluing the instrument by removing original parts. It's fair to disclose the brand of the replacement parts, if buyers are in the know, they will readily acknowledge the 'upgrade'. In any case, we should NOT compel others that some stuff are upgrades. In any case, between these two, the brown American Special is a more worthy consideration.

Moving on, can you get a value-for-money American Fender with $1.5K in hand? Definitely. This American Pro with Shawbuckers is really a good deal.

Ditto this American Standard.

This is the way not to get your stuff sold. 1) List it with fuzzy photos & not letting others see the brand name on the headstock.

2) Associate it with a more iconic guitar despite the fact that the instrument has zero resemblance with the actual thing that it's supposed to emulate.  3) Lastly, over-price it to give a semblance of value when in reality, it's a novelty item with a you-should-know-better value. 

This episode's recommended item - Epiphone SG Modern (FYI, it's the new headstock design). Do keep a lookout for the newer Epiphone models as these are relatively new in the market so the chances of you buying a used, worn, neglected instrument is rather slim. Unless it's trashed for some reason.