Dangerously Close to a Rant: Part 1
A blog is a great way to disseminate information to a very small group of interested individuals. Many of the blogs I’ve read become mired in personal opinion, while I try to keep to the facts with a little humor thrown in now and then. To an aficionado, the small details are the fun part and I choose to spend considerable time on them. Well, let me get mired in personal opinion for once. I’ve got plenty of pet peeves-more than most. Things like why are all potato chips small these days. It used to be that potato chips were the size of an Idaho potato but not any more. What do they just use the ends now and save the fat middle part for special chips only for the wealthy or well connected? I could go on but this isn’t my potato chip blog, although I’m pretty sure I could write one. They were invented right up the road from my home town, in Saratoga Springs, NY. Never mind. OK, I’m going to talk about the asking prices for ES 335s by the folks who list on Ebay. In case you haven’t noticed, the guitar bubble has burst. At this moment, the number of vintage 335s that sell on Ebay as opposed to the number listed is in the neighborhood of 7%. That’s about 1 in 15. At the peak of the market a 67-69 wasn’t worth $8000, so why list it at $8000 now? Because you missed the market and you think there’s a sucker out there who didn’t get the memo. Well, surprise, the one who didn’t get the memo is you, Ebay seller. Now don’t get me wrong, this is America and you can list your guitar for as much as you want. Unless you actually want to sell it. Let’s take a look, shall we? There are currently 13 335s listed between the year 1965 and 1970. None have any bids and only one walnut 69 is listed under $5000. Think that’s a fluke? Let’s look at what has sold. Of 20 335s listed in the past 30 days, only 3 have sold-a 66 for $4419, a 68 for $4200 and a 69 for $3500. What does that tell you? It tells you what I’m telling you. The bubble has burst-supply and demand has hijacked your investment and you better either lower your price or put it back under the bed. The higher priced 58 to 64 models don’t fare any better-in fact they are worse. Sale percentage in the last 30 days is 0%-zip, zilch, nada. A few 355s and 345s have sold at what appear to be good bargain basement prices but they aren’t they are the market values. All were either no reserve auctions or they were best offers. A 59 355 MONO for $11,300 is as good as you can expect right now.
ES 355 Mono 1959 $11,300. Nice Ears on that one.
A very nice 64 345 for around $7500-nice score but that’s the current market price. A 64 355 MONO for $6600. The day that a 68 335 is worth more than a 64 345 is the day I get out of these guitars and start collecting Martins. I’m not taking condition or originality into consideration because this tide is lowering all ships. Tomorrow I will rant at the dealers who didn’t get the memo.
ES 345 From 1964 sold for $7392.45. I offered the seller more than that but he chose to take his chances at auction.
ES-355 Mono from 1964 sold for $6600
