How much is a Strat worth ?

[BrianD]

I think, to answer the very original question (title) - "What is a Strat worth?". The simple answer is - whatever someone is willing to pay!!

[Twang46]

I think, to answer the very original question (title) - "What is a Strat worth?". The simple answer is - whatever someone is willing to pay!!

I wish it was as simple as that Brian.....if a person was just buying to look for a profit in the long/short term....the "whatever you can get for it" is very true

Problem is that most of us (me included) initially buy the guitar because we like it & hope we are buying at the "right price" so that if we decide to sell we tend to hope that will either break even or not lose very much if it's time to sell.

I have made a profit on a couple of guitars, which was very nice at the time. One profit in particular was very surprising to the point of I was left wondering what I had sold ?

I suppose the best value/quality is the custom "shop built" guitars but they can & do lose value, but long term will always be saleable

Gets more fascinating every day this thread

Dick.

[abstamaria]

Yes, you're right, Tony, Dick. There are exceptions. And I agree with you, too, Brian. The value is ultimately whatever someone else is willing to pay.

I have just avoided the issue for myself by deciding from day one that I bought the guitar for my enjoyment and that, if I can find someone as irrational as me when I need to sell it someday (hopefully a long time from now), that would be an unexpected bonus.

I was told that with some exceptions Fender will use a grade AAA flame maple neck only on Masterbuilt guitars. That neck will add nothing perceptible to the sound and, in a live setting, particularly on stage, probably won't be noticed by anyone in the audience. But to some they will add a joy to having and playing the instrument. Here is the head stock of a masterbuilt Jazzmaster, to which Anna's new P-Bass is intended to be a companion piece (for Ventures music). It is hard to justify its cost on a logical basis, but it is really lovely,

Andy

[stephen]

Andy, I know where you're coming from on this and I agree. No longer being of working age and now of somewhat slender means (!) I doubt if I'll ever be in the position of deciding whether or not a Masterbuilt Fender is personally good value. I'll just have to content myself with just looking at guitars such as yours! The figure on that maple is just something else.......

Stephen.

[abstamaria]

l retired from my firm of 40 years last year, Stephen, when I turned 65. I have been working on my own since. While I am quite busy still, the work will taper quickly and I will then be truly retired.

About eight years ago, l sold a 1963 English car that I had for some time. That made me comforfable enough to buy some really nice guitars and amps. Old cars seem a better investment than guitars. But then I also bought that car to enjoy, without thinking l would ever get the small amount I paid for it back. I was just lucky. It is good we all have guitars we like.

Best,

Andy

[Billyboygretsch]

Whether a hobby or as a profession playing guitar is not expensive
A golfer friend of mine spends £180 per week playing and all he has to show is a nice tan
A builder has to purchase expensive tools a van etc
Buy a new car and that's a new custom shop strat down the drain every year for 4or5 years

Sure it's nice to retain value - unfortunately rare and collectible seems to get labelled onto many guitars which are not leading to people having expectations of making money

Strat or any other gear if you invest £10k and throw it away after 10 years it has cost £20 per week.

I like to acquire guitars as a hobby as having the money in the bank earns you next to nothing. I have made and lost money on equipment but overall over the years have probably broke even. Costs few repairs, strings etc - it's cheap.

Only problem with the Strat is there are so many options on the market with a huge price difference for something which to the average person sounds and plays the same. Therefore is supply outstripping demand ? That will mean lower pricing.
Still cheap hobby so if you can afford it buy it !

[abstamaria]

Sometimes you will need to get a Masterbuilt to have a copy of something that never, but should have, existed. Here is Anna's "Hank Marvin" P-Bass, Fiesta-red, white scratchplate, figured maple neck, and gold hardware. Naturally with bridge and pick-up covers on. What Jet should have used.

[Gary Allen]

I find myself and others wanting to buy strats on looks alone,it used to be all about sound but clever marketing has changed things in recent years. You can make a cheap guitar sound expensive but can you male an expensive guitar sound expensive? Like anything else in life,if you like it then buy it.

[dave robinson]

Sometimes you will need to get a Masterbuilt to have a copy of something that never, but should have, existed. Here is Anna's "Hank Marvin" P-Bass, Fiesta-red, white scratchplate, figured maple neck, and gold hardware. Naturally with bridge and pick-up covers on. What Jet should have used.

Sorry Andy not for me. Jet's Sunburst P Bass followed by the red one with tort plate are iconic and always will be. The red & white/ maple doesn't do it for me on the P Bass. unless it's the early one from '54.
Out of interest, Jet actually ordered a fiesta red Jazz bass with tort pickguard back when they were introduced but failed to collect it - How do I know ? Because the bass was bought by a colleague of mine from Sheffield. It had concentric tone & volume pots which were unusual at the time, Jet saw the guy using it some time later at a club in London and approached him with the words ' You've got my f******g bass' . . . . . . . .

[abstamaria]

Thanks, Dave. That would be the PBass with the rosewood fingerboard, yes? We wanted to match the flamed maple of #34346. Looks good on stage. With the gold hardware, it looks fabulous.

I need to check, but was Jet's sunburst a rosewood fingerboard model already?

Andy