Price watch (107)

Ibanez fans would know, the RG7320EX is a 7-string model. This here is not a 7-string & the details look sus. One more time - let's not waste our time & money dealing with someone who doesn't know what s/he is selling.

Price watch (106)

 Should you pay $350 for an Ibanez SA160? Maybe, depends on the condition.

Bu the Ibanez SA in question is not an Ibanez at all. Why buy from someone who doesn't know what s/he is selling?

Price watch (105)

This is something that is currently listed in the after-market. Seller stated it as no mods but 1) The hard tail piece is not an original model. The default piece from the factory feature slots as depicted 2) Pickups look different albeit the blurred details. Ibanez's Seymour Duncan IBZ humbuckers for this Ibanez SZ2020 only featured a single row of slotted pole pieces as depicted.

In due fairness, the seller might not be aware of these changes as s/he is not the initial owner of this instrument. 

Price watch (95): BFG edition

Pic: Sweetwater

Greetings, folks. This is not another issue for contention but an attempt to understand the after-market climate & it's price related. I'm sure you've come across the Gibson Les Paul BFG before. It's that bare-bones LP which received a generous number of plaudits & disdain, depending on which camp you are from. The LP BFG used to be available at Swee Lee & listed for $1.5K +/- before further iterations were made available along the way with the accompanying price variations. 

I cam across a couple of BFG listings in the after-market recently which offered food for thought when it comes to pricing discontinued products. The first listing depicted above shows a $1K asking price. I personally find this a fair proposition as the guitar is in a well-played condition & it comes with a hard case of similar condition.

The other listing is a little confusing (it depicted other BFG models) & the asking price is way more. There is no way to assess if this figure is a deserving asking price for the guitar as no actual pictures were included (maybe seller can provide to you personally upon request). 

How much does a BFG go for these days? The politically correct answer is - it depends on demand & supply forces. Do we peg the price according to after-market listings which are not from this country (I currently know of one store here listing their pre-owned products using this formula)? No because the demand-supply conditions are different there compared to local circumstances which I believe is fair application here. So it all boils down to value perception; the seller lists the guitar for that amount which he thinks is deserving. We need not agree to the amount because our perception of value is different as a buyer. 

Of course, there's this arguably false consideration that all discontinued products should command a hefty price tag due to its scarcity. Then again, we need to return to the demand-supply understanding; the final price of the guitar is what had been agreed by both the buyer (demand) & seller (supply) & not a virtual strict adherence to scarcity.  

Price watch (93): Kitty scalpers

Modded version. 'Upscale' features include Bare Knuckle pickups & Graphtech saddles among others.

No mods but not purchased locally. 

Finally, one listed for less than $1K. The Squier Hello Kitty was listed for $799 when it was still available at Swee Lee.

The Fuzz pedal (Fender) was $159. Would you buy any of these items as an investment? 

Price watch (91)

Tread with caution. Best to avoid.

Glaring differences between the sus model & an EGEN8: 1) Awful finger grip design 2) Oversized inlay + that wood between the 24th fret & the pickup ring 3) Wrong input jack location 4) The various EGEN models never featured this bridge.

Price watch (88)

The list price for an Ibanez Mikro bass is $299. We can agree that adding branded replacement pickups & selling it for this price is a difficult proposition considering this amount of money can get us a, new bass.

The RG1527 was in the Prestige line up replacing the RG7620 in the early 2000s. It was a respectable guitar but it was listed for $1.7K +/- so the price you see here reflects the custom paint finish + Fishman pickups. Worth the extra $$$? That's your call.

According to the seller, the cracks there is a factory defect. By the looks of it, since it went round the heel, it might be the result of a fall causing stress cracks on that area. It's gonna be a costly repair...

Price watch (86)

I believe this is one of the most delusional listings I've come across. Why that price tag?

Look at the 'upgrades' but pay particular attention to that last line. 🤦

Price watch (79)

This LP Special was available before the Heritage - Gibson debacle. It was in the $1.3+/- price range, it came with a bag. 'Rare' & 'collector's item' here are purely the seller's interpretation & opinion of the current situation. Yes, Gibsons are not available at the stores here but these are arguably within reach (Music Bliss @ Malaysia). That $2,760 price tag does not come with a bag, FYI.

Price watch (76)

Available at Swee Lee for $1,899. It's listed for more most probably due to its 'upgraded' pickups, which are a pair of Duncan's Black Winter. Folks, the 1221 is equipped with a pair of DiMarzios from the factory. Implying the Duncans as 'upgrades' is frankly, uncalled for.

Yes, the Japanese Squier Silver Series guitars are somewhat valued in the collector's turf. The reputation of these instruments are somewhat positive but there were lemons during the day & these might still be out there. The asking price as stated here is nearly $1K. There are other after-market Fenders out there which could pretty much out perform this Squier despite not being Japanese. If there is perhaps an ardent collector here interested in this instrument for what it is, the $960 deal might just happen. The domestic market here is not made up of serious collectors to begin with. 

Price watch (75)

 

I do not wish to initiate another price watch episode too often because it implies a very disconnected after-market situation in which buy-sell are not underscored by appropriate awareness but this one is rather insulting. The TS7 pedal you see above has a clear gash on the label as indicated.

It is described as an item with minor scratches ... wait, what? The pedal clearly indicates a maifestation of robust use leading to significant dents & chips. If you are unable to fairly describe an item in terms of its wear & tear condition, please do not even go there. Leave it to the potential buyer to see & decide for himself. Take this case for instance, if I contest the condition of this pedal (because to me a gash is not equal to a minor scratch), there is a potential for dispute as the seller might not agree to my assessment of things. 

Alternatively, you can indicate a rating for you pedal, eg.: TS7 in 8/10 condition as opposed to settling with descriptives. Most likely, if the buyer wish to mitigate the rating, he will ask you why you rate it as such. This (to me) is a healthier / less contentious approach. We can agree that buyers & sellers in the after-market do not know one another, it's not worth initiating acquaintances with displeasure.

75th

The Fender 75th commemorative anniversary models were over & done with. These were made in limited quantities for sale in 2021.

These instruments are readily recognized by two special features; the 75th commemorative logo embossed at the rear of the headstock & a similar one engraved on the neck's bolt plate. Also, the serial numbers of these instruments indicate a 2020 - 2021 year of manufacture. If any Fender instruments bear any of these features, these are the official commemorative models.

In that same year of manufacture, Fender stamped other non-commemoorative models with the Fender 75 logo which caused confusion somewhat. We can see this on Mexican & Japanese Fenders as well & they are just there to mark the occasion, nothing else.

Drawing this to your attention because there are individuals out there who believe they are selling a 75th but in fact they are not.

Pics: Zenith / Essex

Price watch (69)

There are currently three Ibanez TOD10N in the after-market which are priced above the retail listing ($999). No doubt, the TOD10 is a popular, fast-selling model but stock will be replenished time & again. It's worth waiting, yes?

Recently, we've seen a Mexican Fender crossing the $2K mark, this Vintera Jaguar comes close - $1,999. In the after-market, it's listed for $1.5K as seen above - would you fork our that much money for a used Mexican Fender? I have nothing against Mexican Fenders, majority of them are well made but price means everything.

I reserve no apologies in saying this is trash. A dilapidated bag with missing handles... just because it bears the Taylor name, it somehow replicates the relic philosophy of Fender & Gibson?

Price watch (68): Rotten edition

Folks, I've never done this before, it's a first. This guitar is currently an active listing in the aftermarket. The Jackson Minion Series is a short scale instrument & it doesn't come with a bag. The price you see there is the latest revision by the seller.

Seller gave me the lowest rating based on the reason stated above.

I was not agreeable with the initial price as it did not come with a bag. If I have to purchase one from Swee Lee, it would set me back another $75. Seller shared he wanted a Floyd-type bridge instead & asked me stuff about whether some Jackson guitars can be modded to fit one. My due advise was that the default cavity in any guitar should be big enough to accommodate the FR bridge dimension. Cavities for traditional whammy bridge (eg. that of a Strat / non-Floyd Jackson) would not fit the FR model. I also advised him to buy a guitar with an FR bridge already fitted in as the cost of re-routing a cavity is not cheap. He finally asked me if $200 is an agreeable price & I agreed hence the screen grab you see here.

And then this happened - he raised the price which effectively voided the previous agreement. I politely backed out. Note the time & date of this comm.

Two days later, another comm was made & again I politely reminded him it was a no go. Coming back to the rating screen grab - note that seller got back to me two days later... how was this a 'back out last minute'? Mind you, I backed out immediately & from the conversations you see above, it seems that the seller did not understand the crux of the matter. Also, would you communicate with someone at 2am in the morning?

I hereby re-iterate the fact that sometimes, I am being too nice to people. If you are fuzzy with buy-sell terms, note that once an offer is accepted, the agreement is binding. If any terms of the agreement change without the other party agreeing to it, the agreement is void. If you fail to understand the mechanics of contract law, it might be the reason why you are bent on blaming the other party for something you failed to begin with.

I already own an RR Minion, I am negotiating this deal for a young learner. At this time of the year, I am happy to facilitate meaningful indulgences to keep kids out of trouble during the year end school holidays. Picking up music / learning to play an instrument is certainly one of them. I also make it a point not to expend too much energy dealing with such individuals - simply not worth it. 

PS: If you know this individual personally, maybe you can share with me stuff to make me understand why he behaved this way. This is not a doxxing exercise, I have made efforts to conceal his i/d. See... I'm still being too nice to people who treated me like trash.

Price watch (65)

Please do not do this- you listed your guitar as such...

 ... but upon clicking, it's something else. I'm sure many of us out there would feel insulted - why should we buy from such an individual?

When the Highway 1 instruments debuted, they were less than $1.3K. I'm not aware of any cult followings for these models to justify this listed amount. What's that? You said Fender prices would appreciate over time? Well, it's still a demand - supply situation. 

On that note, this well-maintained American Standard goes for much lesser. For a guitar sitting higher in the Fender tier (vs the H1), I'd recommend this one instead.

All Squier Bullet nodels were less than $300 before they were discontinued & superseded by the Sonic Series. 

Price watch (59)

As depicted above: Squire Bronco bass + ibanez amp = $500 for two used items. Swee Lee's prices: Bronco bass $299 + Ibanez IBZ10BV2 $99 = $398 (new + warranty). You decide.

Swee Lee: $899...

So there are two listed for more than $1K... 😶

Price watch (58)

Look at this bullsh*t. This is clearly a Japanese Fender which is nothing special. It's just offered with a P90 in the neck as depicted. In fact, the pics used were captured from Swee Lee's web store listing not too long ago. That price - downright ridiculous. 👎

In fact, it costs more than a legit '76 Strat. The account name is also sus as kids would say these days. So be careful. 

Hello June 👋

Obviously

Once again, I have contested the authenticity of this 'Ibanez'. On two previous occasions, the platform admin chose to believe the seller, let's see what entails after this episode. It would be interesting to know who they referred to, with regards to product authentication, in deciding what unfolds next.

If you are an Ibanez enthusiast, the RG7XXX is a 7-string reference, it's clear the listed instrument is not one. Also, an RG7320EX is clearly listed at the manufacturer's webpage & for ease of reference, I've included it here. 

Pic: Ibanez

Price watch (56)

The Ibanez SA120 is an affordable instrument, less than $500 new. This one, according to the seller, had mods done to it & the asking price is reflecting that. You'd agree that for that kind of money, it's a hard figure to deal with; >$1K for a used, entry level Ibanez with a shaved neck & the Ibanez decal removed. Oh dear...

Price watch (49)

OK, let's take a look at what's good for the money post-Black Friday / Cyber Monday. This Prestige RG, in my opinion, would be a good bargain if the headstock has less dents / chips. If you don't mind the relic-esque look then it's a good consideration. Then again, who goes for a relic'd Ibanez? People prefer to have the Fender / Gibson name on the headstock if their instrument looks battered / abused, agree?

No... please don't do this. You need to give a heads-up to buyers new to the scene that this is not a genuine article. Is it that difficult to insert the word 'copy' in the title?

This is a good one, condition-wise & the fact that it comes with a semi-hard case.

But please be informed that the guitar's neck & body are from two separate instruments (albeit the same model). Personally, I wouldn't mind this at all because the TL62 inherent features are kept in tact. Also, kudos to the seller for being up front about it & providing fair disclosure.

Final one for this episode - this American Strat, with reference to the price, is a good deal. FYI, a little after Y2K, the American Standard models were known as the American Series, the 'Standard' tag was dropped. These models feature steel block saddles with an offset screw location (as seen above). I'd rather you get this guitar than buying a new, off-the-shelf, entry-level American Strat (American Performer - $1,999). Yes, for recommended items, I will leave the seller i/d visible for your keen reference.