How much is a Strat worth ?

[abstamaria]

Not a Strat, but here's a video sent by the dealer we ordered a masterbuilt PBass through. He took and emailed photos as soon as he received the guitar, but later also sent the link to the video, saying the still photos couldn't do the superb neck justice.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mx5TmxayB ... e=youtu.be

You won't get that in a production Strat.

A masterbuilt was useful here because we needed a PBass that was to early 1959 specification, and there are no production guitars available. We also wanted a light guitar for our bassist Anna, who is petite. Anna went the extra mile and chose masterbuilt rather than team-built (there are features that Fender reserves for master built guitars). Greg Fessler, who built the Oasis Hank Marvin Strats, built this PBass. It took about a year.

We just took delivery the other day (the dealer is in the US). I have been traveling and have yet to see it in the flesh.

It was quite expensive and perhaps an independent luthier can make one as good or better. But it wouldn't be a Fender, and the price is what Fender charges. So you pays your money ...

Best,

Andy

[dave robinson]

I saw one of the £2300 Masterbuilt Strats go for around £1500 second hand a couple of weeks ago in the same store. So the answer to the question is NO they don't hold their value. A bargain if you're a buyer though.

[abstamaria]

Yes, I agree. They won't hold their value. That is true also of new Ferraris, Mercedes, and similar cars, high-end bicycles, boats, golf clubs, and other expensive toys. Practical considerations weigh heavily against them.

Andy

[David Martin]

I saw one of the £2300 Masterbuilt Strats go for around £1500 second hand a couple of weeks ago in the same store. So the answer to the question is NO they don't hold their value. A bargain if you're a buyer though.

A Masterbuilt for £2300? That's a bargain in itself...

Remember folks, if we're talking new prices, 20% of that is VAT... So a £3000 new guitar is only "worth" £2400 the moment you leave the shop... And, generally speaking, a retailer taking in a pristine used guitar will want to sell it at 2/3 its current new price which would be £2000, so to make a profit they will probably offer you £1500... So it pays to choose carefully by playing it before purchase, even if it means a car journey... £1500 is a lot to lose through over excitement!

[dave robinson]

I saw one of the £2300 Masterbuilt Strats go for around £1500 second hand a couple of weeks ago in the same store. So the answer to the question is NO they don't hold their value. A bargain if you're a buyer though.

A Masterbuilt for £2300? That's a bargain in itself...

Remember folks, if we're talking new prices, 20% of that is VAT... So a £3000 new guitar is only "worth" £2400 the moment you leave the shop... And, generally speaking, a retailer taking in a pristine used guitar will want to sell it at 2/3 its current new price which would be £2000, so to make a profit they will probably offer you £1500... So it pays to choose carefully by playing it before purchase, even if it means a car journey... £1500 is a lot to lose through over excitement!

David I made a mistake, it wasn't a Masterbuilt. I'm mistaking with Custom Shop models, they are the ones going for £2399 and that's what I saw for £1500 - I got confused with the titles. These are still great guitars though I wish they wouldn't relic them.

[abstamaria]

I think Custom Shop guitars are roughly three classes – the production models, a limited produced for off-the-shelf sales (such as the Time Machine series); the Team-Built custom models, which are especially ordered guitars by customers, built by unnamed workers at the Custom Shop; and the Master-Built custom models, which are especially ordered and built by one of Custom Shops’s master builders. Occasionally, there may be a run of identical Master-Built guitars especially ordered by a shop, such as the Oasis Hank Marvin Stratocasters built by Greg Fessler.

I wouldn’t justify buying any one of them for practical reasons.

Coincidentally, the Precision Bass subject of the video above finally arrived from the U.S., and we saw it for the first time yesterday. It is absolutely gorgeous. And so light. Perhaps beauty is its own excuse for being. This was built by Greg Fessler, too.

Andy

[abstamaria]

Can't put it down.

[stephen]

Beautiful looking bass, Andy. Not surprised that your bassist can't put it down! I was never too sure about the gold anodised scratch-plates until I saw the Mexican Strat that Fender brought out for the 50th Anniversary. In Aztec gold & all gold hardware, shimmering invitingly under a spotlight at a guitar show, I just couldn't resist! It's almost a dead-ringer for what was apparently the Custom Shop's second limited production run, the Homer Haynes Limited Edition or HLE of 1989. (see page 59 of The Fender Book by Bacon & Day)
Fortunately for me (as I'm a sucker for affordable guitar-bling!) it plays & sounds great and is probably the 'best' of the three Mexican Strats. that I own.
This has been a very interesting thread and I can agree with most of the views expressed.
Your band has some beautiful gear Andy. Do keep sharing the photos.

Stephen.

[abstamaria]

Thanks. Stephen. Descriptions and even photos are ofren uninspiring and don’t prepare us for the real thing when we finally see it. I thought this “standard ’59 “ Precision Bass would be a wallflower, but it took my breath away when I saw it.

What a guitar you have. Sometimes our not-carefully-thought-out decisions are the most satisfying ones. I will look up the Homer Haynes Limited Edition model when I get home.

Best,

Andy

[Tone]

The 'Oasis' Strat mentioned by Andy is a Masterbuilt which has not only held its value but is now worth a lot more than when it was released in 2009 at a cost of £5000. Because it was such a small run, examples don't come on the market very often but those that have appeared recently have fetched about £8000 (Oasis are currently advertising one at that figure). And, of course, there was no.53 which is the one Hank had with him (notice I don't say played!) on his recent UK visit which Oasis were advertising at £10000 and has now been sold.

There are exceptions to every rule!

Cheers.

Tony