No Longer MIJ?

[VoiceX3]

There were 2 or 3 that recently sold on the JCF FB Classifieds page...

Really? How'd I miss that? LOL I really JUST sold my GK 250ML on there, so I was in and out of there a lot lately. Damn.....

[Mudlark]

There was a '96ish 22 fret DK1 that sold around $800 on Reverb not too long ago.

[Vass]

If you're patient and realistic you can steal USAs and old pro series. Most I ever paid for a USA was $1200 and that was brand new. I have used USAs and not a one did I pay over $1000 for- including a student Rhoads and a RR1.

Professional Pros I've paid from $300 or so up to maybe $600. Ebony, the whole 9. Patience, patience. I don't buy guitars new anymore and I wouldn't ever consider paying $1000 for an import Jackson new. Not because they're not good guitars- I'm sure they're great! I just don't need to. I'll buy someone's GAS mistake for less than half that.

[Number Of The Priest]

I don't know why we don't discuss pricing more often. If we're excited to score a bargain, should we not share the price, if nothing else to add searchable information to the forum? And even if we paid fair market prices or overpaid, it's still helpful to know these, so that we can set our own personal pricing targets, like "Hmm, he paid $1500 for that USA Jackson, but I'm only comfortable paying up to $1000".

With the timeline below, you can tell that I've gotten smarter waiting to pounce on good deals. Key traits are being patient and realistic as Vass mentioned above.

Here are most of my guitars that I remember, and their prices. All guitars are used. Never bought a new one. If this isn't allowed, please let me know.

1990 Ibanez RG560, fair condition, generic case = CAD$600. Overpaid. Bought in 2001.

Mid-1990s Jackson KE3 Kelly Professional, good-to-great condition, OHSC = CAD$600 plus tax (I think). Overpaid. Bought in 2002.

1994 Takamine EF385C, fair condition, generic case = CAD$400 (plus tax) I think. Fair price. Bought in 2003.

1998 Jackson SHS1 Shannon Soloist, excellent-to-mint condition, OHSC = USD$850 plus shipping. Bargain. Bought in 2004.

1998 Taylor K14c, excellent condition, OHSC = CAD$2400 plus shipping. Fair price. Bought in 2004.

1999 non-serialized (possibly early/prototype) ESP/Edwards E-LP-90LTC '68 Les Paul Custom, excellent condition, original gig bag = USD$720 plus shipping. Fair price. Bought in 2005.

DIDN'T BUY ANYTHING BETWEEN 2005 AND 2014.

2005 Yamaha FG720S-12, excellent condition (but it was a lemon), generic case = CAD$225. Fair price. Bought in 2014.

2013 Taylor 110 and 2013 Taylor GS Mini, mint condition, original hard-sided gig bags = CAD$675 for both. Bargain. Bought in 2014.

Unknown year Bedell TB-18-G, excellent-to-mint condition, original gig bag = USD$329 plus shipping. Bargain. Bought in 2014.

1995 Taylor GAMC, mint condition, OHSC = CAD$1500. Fair price. Bought in 2014.

1988 Charvel Model 1C, fair condition, no case = CAD$250. Bargain. Bought in 2016.

(Haven't yet used the serial number to date the year) Yamaha FG700MS, mint condition, no case = CAD$100. Bargain. Bought in 2016.

2009 Charvel USA Pro-Mod So-Cal, good condition, generic case = CAD$800. Fair price. Bought in 2016.

2011 Charvel Japan Pro-Mod So-Cal, mint condition, OHSC = CAD$660. Bargain. Bought in 2016.

2009 Jackson Pro Series KE3, excellent-to-mint condition, OHSC = CAD$250 plus tax. Bargain. Bought in 2016.

1986 Charvel Model 1, fair condition, no case = CAD$180. Bargain, except it was kind of a lemon. Bought in 2016.

2016 Jackson SL3X, mint condition, no case = $275. Bargain. Bought in 2016.

[AdRock]

AS much as I love my Jacksons I've been gravitating more towards ESP. The bang for the buck in the LTD's and even the EII's is pretty damn hard to beat. Plus the thin U neck on the ESP's feels almost just like the necks on my mid 90's Dinky Rv's. So comfortable.

[Vass]

AS much as I love my Jacksons I've been gravitating more towards ESP. The bang for the buck in the LTD's and even the EII's is pretty damn hard to beat. Plus the thin U neck on the ESP's feels almost just like the necks on my mid 90's Dinky Rv's. So comfortable.

Picked off a ESP Eclipse for $750, minty and flawless with case. No reason to pay more for a new LTD- though I'm sure they're great guitars.

It's not about being a cheap fuck- Maybe I am- but it's more about being patient and keeping GAS on some sort of a leash where I ask it to defer immediate gratification. I see threads with super excited NGD posts that are fired up but paid way too much. The Professional Pros are terrific but when I see that one went for $1200 or whatever I don't get it- it's not that they're not terrific. They are. It's not that they're not worth it. They are. It's not that theyre not a great deal relative to whatever you can get new for $1200... They are!

But you don't have to pay that. Be patient and eventually all will come to you.

Now- I probably waste more time looking for the one at the price I want to pay than it's worth. If it's $1200 or $1500 in a week I won't remember.

[Number Of The Priest]

Everything Vass said above resonated completely with me.

I'll add that the thrill of the hunt for bargains is part of the fun for me. I enjoy the challenge. I also revel in the fact that if I ever need to sell, I can easy recoup my original investment, or even make a profit.

Some people buy, hold, and flip assets such as real estate or stocks. You're not going to buy every property or stock at any price or you'll kill yourself. You wait for the right deals and then act on them. For me, I feel like gear acquisition is much like playing the real estate market or stock market. I also get to enjoy the gear, but that doesn't mean that people who pay higher prices for gear aren't buying to enjoy it too.

[Guitarkid8]

Forgot to update this. Did the xenophobe route, albeit in the lower price range (what I do with just about everything in life). Picked up an (obviously) MIJ DXMG and fixed it up for less than a what a JS32 is new. Nostalgia and a kick ass guitar all in one.

I doubt I'll purchase another new Jackson, save for a custom shop if I hit the lottery.

[paulbag]

I need to learn to practice this type of patience from here on out. Over the years I've actually bought 4 brand new USA Jackson's... the first was the arch top Death Angel from Matt's, but I've purchased new Jackson's in 2014, 15, and 16. I'm not rich, believe me... I quit smoking cigarettes in 2013 and I justify it that way. It's less than I would've spent over the year on cigarettes and it keeps my guard up when life bitch slaps you and you start entertaining the thought of smoking again... but used USA is the way to go. Did I overpay for the brand new Jackson's? Most would certainly say "yes"... but I don't regret buying them. They're awesome and I'm becoming a Jackson hoarder and this country could use my business... lol

[Vass]

I need to learn to practice this type of patience from here on out. Over the years I've actually bought 4 brand new USA Jackson's... the first was the arch top Death Angel from Matt's, but I've purchased new Jackson's in 2014, 15, and 16. I'm not rich, believe me... I quit smoking cigarettes in 2013 and I justify it that way. It's less than I would've spent over the year on cigarettes and it keeps my guard up when life bitch slaps you and you start entertaining the thought of smoking again... but used USA is the way to go. Did I overpay for the brand new Jackson's? Most would certainly say "yes"... but I don't regret buying them. They're awesome and I'm becoming a Jackson hoarder and this country could use my business... lol

See, the death angel is a different thing. You can't just hit up eBay or reverb and have a menu of angels to choose from. You want one, there's a great chance you'll have to either order it or like the specs on one that's at a shop.

Could you wait for one to your liking in the used market? Sure. But you could be waiting literally forever.

Paul this is the way I justify your behavior. You're welcome.

[paulbag]

Thank you brother... I appreciate that \m/

[ps43203]

Chapman guitars are a really good deal for what you get. I will say after being an import only guy, due to lack of funds, and currently getting a USA Dinky, there is no comparison. I will only go for USA Jacksons now, because I have had a taste and it is yummy, lol. I have not played a new guitar, that I have felt a bond with, yet, I hope I do.