1965 Strat for sale at Sam Ash

Davlabo

New Member!
Jan 29, 2023
4
Orlando, FL
Anyone have an opinion on quality and value of this 1965 Strat? I looked at it yesterday and it seems to be in almost perfect condition. I'm relatively new to analyzing the vintage market, but prices seem really high right now. I would buy it to play but obviously it would be a substantial investment.

 

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Tone Brothers

Strat-Talker
Vendor Member
Oct 7, 2021
128
Canada
About $5k+ over what I would pay if I was buying this for myself to keep for a while and absolutely fell in love with how it sounds / plays. There’s a premium for buying a near mint strat like this, if you put a LOT of wear on it / gig with it, remember that the wear will devalue the guitar a bit (~10-25%, depending on how much honest wear you put on it).

I would offer $20k and work my way up to $25k (again, only if I fell in love with it).
 
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TomH8

Senior Stratmaster
May 1, 2014
1,410
USA
That’s way overpriced. It’s worth 20-24 at best. Whatever it is worth to you though is what matters.
 

Nokie

Strat-O-Master
Jul 31, 2018
770
91325
I'm very troubled by the note that reads it needs a good setup. Seriously?! Sam Ash is gonna put this guitar up for 30k, a stiff price even for a museum quality '65, and not perform a full professional setup before putting it up for sale? That indicates to me that it possibly has some action and/ or buzz issues or worse that they tried to correct but we're unsuccessful. If you have customers checking out a high price guitar, you want that guitar to play like butter on first examination. I know playing issues have often made it easy for me to say no to an otherwise tempting purchase. I purchased a player-grade '55 from GC back in 2016, for quite a high price, and it was setup impeccably - before it was put up for sale. It was by far the best playing guitar I ever experienced. That made any thought of not pulling the trigger very difficult. Yes, mine was player, and this is museum, bit still - it needs to play very well.

Is the case candy only that pictured? A back plate, Alan wrench, case key, whammy bar, strap, but no ashtray (bridge cover) or printed material?

Anywho, I wouldn't be negotiating any big money on this beautiful '65 until it proves to play just as beautifully.
 
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Davlabo

New Member!
Jan 29, 2023
4
Orlando, FL
I'm very troubled by the note that reads it needs a good setup. Seriously?! Sam Ash is gonna put this guitar up for 30k, a stiff price even for a museum quality '65, and not perform a full professional setup before putting it up for sale? That indicates to me that it possibly has some action and/ or buzz issues or worse that they tried to correct but we're unsuccessful. If you have customers checking out a high price guitar, you want that guitar to play like butter on first examination. I know playing issues have often made it easy for me to say no to an otherwise tempting purchase. I purchased a player-grade '55 from GC back in 2016, for quite a high price, and it was setup impeccably - before it was put up for sale. It was by far the best playing guitar I ever experienced. That made any thought of not pulling the trigger very difficult. Yes, mine was player, and this is museum, bit still - it needs to play very well.

Is the case candy only that pictured? A back plate, Alan wrench, case key, whammy bar, strap, but no ashtray (bridge cover) or printed material?

Anywho, I wouldn't be negotiating any big money on this beautiful '65 until it proves to play just as beautifully.
That's a really good point. We discussed that a bit. It seemed they were scared to let anyone touch it, including their guitar tech. And yes, that's the only "case candy" included.
 

Davlabo

New Member!
Jan 29, 2023
4
Orlando, FL
About $5k+ over what I would pay if I was buying this for myself to keep for a while and absolutely fell in love with how it sounds / plays. There’s a premium for buying a near mint strat like this, if you put a LOT of wear on it / gig with it, remember that the wear will devalue the guitar a bit (~10-25%, depending on how much honest wear you put on it).

I would offer $20k and work my way up to $25k (again, only if I fell in love with it).
I agree with you. I think $25k is a reasonable price. Although if you look at how much these guitars have shot up since Covid, you could argue that they're doing what used cars and real estate have done. If so, this market is going to adjust down sometime soon.
 

Slacker G

Senior Stratmaster
May 16, 2021
1,987
Iowa
It's still just some wood with a few chrome plated pot metal parts, some plastic, a few magnets, and some copper wire.
 

Ruscio

Senior Stratmaster
Silver Member
Nov 14, 2016
2,780
Pennsylvania
It's still just some wood with a few chrome plated pot metal parts, some plastic, a few magnets, and some copper wire.
Right, and a diamond is just a bunch of carbon atoms stuck together. Put together the right things, no matter how ordinary, in just the right way, and add in a touch of history or tradition, and it can be mighty desirable, therefore valuable.

These vintage strats are pretty affordable compared to similar-age Les Pauls (or cars).
 

Will Lefeurve

Most Honored Senior Member
Mar 1, 2016
6,615
Angleterre et France
I agree with you. I think $25k is a reasonable price. Although if you look at how much these guitars have shot up since Covid, you could argue that they're doing what used cars and real estate have done. If so, this market is going to adjust down sometime soon.
Well if that plonker Klaus Schwab at the World Economic Forum at Davos gets his way, your adjustment down could well be right by 2030.. haha.. ;)

iu
:thumb:
 

Nokie

Strat-O-Master
Jul 31, 2018
770
91325
That's a really good point. We discussed that a bit. It seemed they were scared to let anyone touch it, including their guitar tech. And yes, that's the only "case candy" included.
Aha, well I'd be curious to know how well it plays as is and if the electronics are sound. It is a beauty fer sure.
 
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supersonic395

Strat-Talk Member
Jan 30, 2023
20
England
So the 3 tone sunburst finish doesn't look good, there's neck pocket fit issue easily seen in one of the close up pictures and the high E string runs very close to the edge of the fretboard. I'd be so curious to hear this however and compare the pick-ups to the current day PV'65 pickup's.

It would be worth it for Fender themselves maybe to buy it? Would be a good reference guitar for them.
 

slowesthand

Senior Stratmaster
Oct 23, 2011
2,538
NY
I'm very troubled by the note that reads it needs a good setup. Seriously?! Sam Ash is gonna put this guitar up for 30k, a stiff price even for a museum quality '65, and not perform a full professional setup before putting it up for sale? That indicates to me that it possibly has some action and/ or buzz issues or worse that they tried to correct but we're unsuccessful.......

I can think of two possibilities.
1. The guitar is is such perfect shape they are unwilling to touch anything.

2. They tried to setup and the trussrod wouldn't move.
 

dlew919

Strat-Talk Member
Oct 19, 2018
98
Belmore
Right, and a diamond is just a bunch of carbon atoms stuck together. Put together the right things, no matter how ordinary, in just the right way, and add in a touch of history or tradition, and it can be mighty desirable, therefore valuable.

These vintage strats are pretty affordable compared to similar-age Les Pauls (or cars).
And to add to your point about perceived value - Diamonds are the most common gem on the planet.
 
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Will Lefeurve

Most Honored Senior Member
Mar 1, 2016
6,615
Angleterre et France
And to add to your point about perceived value - Diamonds are the most common gem on the planet.
Well in 1965 the price of an ounce of gold was $35.12 today its at $1840.00 and that's being held artificially low considering the trillions of dollars printed. So.. Its the value of the dollar that's tanked in real terms, consequently you have an asset that's superficially gained in value.. those crafty old banksters eh.. ;)
 
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Nokie

Strat-O-Master
Jul 31, 2018
770
91325
I can think of two possibilities.
1. The guitar is is such perfect shape they are unwilling to touch anything.

2. They tried to setup and the trussrod wouldn't move.
Yeah, it's your second possibility with which I would be concerned. And there are other problem possibilities such as a buzz issue I previously mentioned. The latter is common and can be frustrating to try and fix - they should not put that on the customer at a price of 30k.

I don't believe in the "too perfect to touch" idea. A good setup, involving truss adjustment, bridge intonation and height adjustments, are not going to be detrimental to the guitar - and if they are, they shouldn't be charging 30k for this Strat. For that price, it should operate as any good guitar and be adjusted to a level of excellent playability.
 

Anand Mahangoe

Strat-Talker
Jan 26, 2022
145
The Netherlands
Hey man, great looking guitar BUT very expensive if i may say so.....I just bought mine 1 month ago for 17K EUROS.....has quite some dings / dongs and stuff...but nothing too much....soundwise KILLER but needed a regret which was not expensive at all...250 euros....If the guitar is in very good shape , plays and sounds great..I guess max 25K !

Here is its sounds :

 
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