how to sell vintage Strat

bobbio1 · March 20th, 2008, 05:41 PM

Hi All,
I'm new to this forum but look forward to meeting you all.
I have a '65/'66 strat that I am looking to sell. Unfortunately I have replaced some of the pick ups, switches and pots. Hey, I was 18 in 1969 when I bought it and had no idea that I would be selling it vintage 38 years later. I do have most of the original parts though. Here's my quandry. Should I put what parts I have back on the guitar or should I leave it as is (a working guitar) and offer the original parts on the side?
Thanks for your help,
Bobbio

Strat God · March 20th, 2008, 06:12 PM

Definitely put all the original stuff back on it -it'll be worth more and most people will want it that way anyway.

..then sell it to me for a couple hundred bucks.

Seriously, make sure you protect yourself on this kind of large sale - get only a banker's check, money order or direct bank-to-bank wire transfer - sadly, there are lots of schiesters out there.....good luck

bobbio1 · March 20th, 2008, 06:29 PM

Thanks, god,
I'm probably going to do e-bay, that way I can use paypal.

Strat-Talk · March 23rd, 2008, 07:14 PM

What do you mean a "65/66"? Which is it? A 1965? Or a 1966? BIG difference in pricing between the two. One is Pre-CBS and the other is CBS.

bobbio1 · March 24th, 2008, 10:44 AM

Pick-ups are dated 12/15/65 - neck is dated oct. 2, 1965 "A" neck.

Brother · March 25th, 2008, 12:57 AM

I see that you are in Lombard, Il; it may benefit you to talk to the guys at Ax in hand in dekalb, IL. Erin and Leif are pretty well versed in dealing with Vintage fender gear, and are great guys to work with, maybe they can help you out? Anyway, good luck!

Strat-Talk · March 25th, 2008, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobbio1

Pick-ups are dated 12/15/65 - neck is dated oct. 2, 1965 "A" neck.

Most folks go by the neck date for absolute dating. By the way... it says, "2 Oct 1965" on your neck. That's not Oct 2nd. They don't put the day on neck stamps the "2" isn't the day it's the type of guitar. Strat's had a "2" on them if they were made between March, 1962 and November, 1965.

Yes, with the "older" pickup dates it could have not left the factory until 1966. But as far as you and anyone else is concerned it is a 1965. This is worth a good deal of money to you so make sure you realize this.

Bodies, necks and other parts were made in advance and stocked at the factory. Workers built guitars from these parts. and the pickups were one of the last items to go on the guitar as it was built.

Fender sold to CBS in early Feb 1965, but all 1965 Fenders are considered Pre-CBS. After the sale on paper, it took quite a while before CBS took any control of the company.

Strat-Talk · March 25th, 2008, 09:48 AM

An all stock, sunburst 1965 Strat in good to excellent condition should be worth $15,000 to $17,000. If you can't put everything stock back in the guitar you should be able to see these kinds of prices.

Switches and controls have the least effect on the value of the guitar. But pickups are pretty major pricewise.

An all original with changed switch and control pots would be worth less but not by all that much. And, you might be able to spend $500 to $800 to buy correct replacements and have it be an all original guitar again.

A 1965 pickguard though would cost you over $1000. And a set 1965 Pickups would cost you over $1,200 maybe as much as $2,000.

So, go about this wisely. My 1965 Strat was all original except for the plastic trem cavity cover on the back. I bought a replacement that was suitably old and discolored for $100. Is it a '65? I dunno, but then neither would anyone else.

Strat-Talk · March 25th, 2008, 09:54 AM

One more thing, you'll get the most for this guitar from Ebay, or some large dealer... somebody that sells a LOT of vintage gear worldwide.

Many times the highest prices are paid by overseas buyers. They have less access to good vintage US guitars. So, they pay higher prices. This is where a dealer that specializes in good vintage guitars gets the advantage. They have a large base of international buyers on hand.

Of course, you get less if you sell it to someone that is going to sell it right away. But it does make it easier and safer.

As an example. Lets say your guitar is worth $17,000. No dealer is going to pay you that much for it. But you might get $14,000.

You haven't said what color it is. If it is a custom color it is worth MUCH MUCH more.

bobbio1 · March 26th, 2008, 06:18 PM

It was originally white "yellowed" but I unfortunately repainted it soon after I bought it. I bought it used about '69 or '70. I was 18 and wanted a nice looking guitar. It was already fairly beat-up but I know some folks like that. Who knew? I'm paying for my stupidity now.
Thanks for all your advice. I may take a drive to Dekalb.

Strat-Talk · March 27th, 2008, 12:38 AM

A refinish can drop the price by as much as $2000 - $3000 I'm sorry to say. Sometimes even more. If you don't have the pickups and bridge I hate to say it be it would be most successfully sold in pieces. The neck, if it is unmodified... no new tuners ever... in good shape, would be worth $5,000 to $6,000 with a 1965 neck date.

Sad but true.

Strat-Talk · March 27th, 2008, 12:43 AM

Since it is already refinished, you might and I stress might be able to have a pro with a capital PRO refin it again in yellowed White... the original color. You could have it tastefully relicd. It would cost you $800 but it could make your guitar worth thousands more than it's current condition.

The thinking is, it is already refined, so you can't make that worse, and an aged original color relic finish would be "restoring" it to it's former glory. Adds value, I'd think.

StratDen · May 24th, 2008, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strat-Talk

Since it is already refinished, you might and I stress might be able to have a pro with a capital PRO refin it again in yellowed White... the original color. You could have it tastefully relicd. It would cost you $800 but it could make your guitar worth thousands more than it's current condition.

The thinking is, it is already refined, so you can't make that worse, and an aged original color relic finish would be "restoring" it to it's former glory. Adds value, I'd think.

+1 on this! If you're still hanging around, I'm curious how you made our, Bobbio?

MBM1 · September 19th, 2008, 08:00 PM

Did you spray over the white paint or sand it off before refinishing it? Did you rout it out for a humbucker pickup or extra switches?

My thinking is if you have had it since you were 18 you will kick yourself later for selling it. I would seriously consider keeping it. Its a better investment than the stock market.