charvel identification

[rjohnstone]

They're appreciating right now relative to their recent used value. When I think of a collector's item, I think of something that sells for more than it retailed for when it was new.

That's one way of looking at it.
But you need to factor in inflation in those prices as well.
A $400 guitar in 1987, when factoring in inflation, is roughly a $700 or $800 guitar today. heavy emphasis on the word "rough".
So did it really go up in value or is it just the perception that it did?

As for some of the older SD era guitars, I agree that some just don't haul in the bucks like they used to.
I never cared for the Kahlered pointies myself. I think they are hideous.

Death to grunge... may it stay dead and never come back. Those were some dark days.

[dg]

Yes DG, that's a good measuring stick for a collectable. Worth more than what it retailed new. Where's the old catalogs?

Here's a list of MSRP & some of the Sam Ash prices from back in the day:

http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=75159&postcount=30

They were definitely not cheap guitars.

Catalog Scans here:

http://audiozone.dk/index-filer/CatalogScans.htm

[mapleneck]

Very, very helpful. Page 16 in the 86 Japanese Import catalogue. It looks like it matches the sellers pics to the T. I'll have it in 2 days and will verify and have answers if it was turned into a mutt.. Both those websites are much appreciated.

[Hotplanet]

Well, I agree and disagree. I believe that an item, any item, is worth what someone is "willing" to pay for it. Where it's made is sometime not a fair assessment of true value. Value is measured by item rareness, or who may have used the item and what significance that item holds. i.e, Is a 1962 Ferrari GTB worth any less because it's made in Italy? Or a 1962 Pontiac super duty? Because 'IT" was made in the USA? Same with Guitars, it's all relevant to the buyer . and what their tastes are. Sometimes things accumulate value based on Fads, they quickly disappear , then eventually come back to the perception that it still holds value in whatever regard to the buyer in question. So, while a Japanese "high quality" guitar may never be as valuable as a hand made American guitar, it will retain value based on what the market is willing to bear. Simple as that. And, bear in mind that certain Japanese guitars were considered as good as many of their USA custom counterparts. Remember as you search that an item that contains true rareness will always be worth more no matter where it was made. If you like it buy for what you 'see' the value to be, if you do that you'll never miss.

[mapleneck]

A very comprehensive overview of the various criteria to consider in the possible increase in value of imports. I see them trying to talk up values of Japanese Fenders online , and who would doubt their quality. Hand-made and production models [US or import] will always be debated as to value.

[straycat]

Japanese Fenders are a very different animal than a Japanese Charvel.

[mapleneck]

No comparison! Just some philosophical discussion of import values.

[mapleneck]

Are all Charvel Models 1,1A etc. through 4A bolt-ons worth about the same? Is one any more harder to find than another? It seems like you see more 1A's and 3A's than the others. I see that the neck on this 3A isn't 1 piece of maple, but 2 at the headstock. . I assume the USA's are.

[jackson1]

I see that the neck on this 3A isn't 1 piece of maple, but 2 at the headstock. . I assume the USA's are.

I think you are referring to what is called a "scarf joint". Headstock and neck are glued together at this point. USA's too.

[mapleneck]

Like most glued wood joints, I assume they rarely known to ever separate? ...unless you live in the tropics with no air.

[straycat]

Its a very strong joint. Much stronger than a 1 piece.

[Hotplanet]

Indeed!!

Back to the Cost vs. Quality or Land of Orgin Questions...Not too sure where this one is headed..But...

If you like it and you're willing to pay the cost of admission, then by all means spend the cash. If not, Thats ok too. Are there too many overpriced guitars on Ebay, well ofcourse, it the nature of the game. does that mean that decent quality guitars of any orgin are worth less. Or are we to say thay Only American made items are of decent quality? It's truly up to the buyer and what only they are willing to spend. You can look on Ebay and see when a guitar is over priced easily, but sometimes people pay because the somehow get emotionaly attached to it via pictures, then as all people do, justify that purchase through some other type of logic, that logic can be almost any excuse to make it a justifiable purchase. I do it as well, and I've surely made a crap load of mistakes. But I beleive that if you are vested in that 'item' then it will have it rewards for you and what you see in it. So again, I'll say it, if people are willing to spend the cash and justify it, then that's what that item is worth to that particular person at that time, does not mean the market as a whole is willing to agree that an itme should have been sold at that amount. But that's the way it is kidd's..THX

[mapleneck]

That's how the thread started. Charvellotic almost fell in love with a 5FX, 3 oldies said jump on it, it's rare, Sunbane agreed but said it won't be worth anything being an import, and then it was gone. You're right, sure it's going to be spontaneous and impulsive sometimes and we're at a disadvantage with EBAY than the Guitar Center. I see shopping on EBAY like a used catalog of sorts. It's a crap shoot. This Forum is considerably helpful in getting helpful control of emotional buying. It's already saved me some money this week! You guys are the best!

[Hotplanet]

Hey Mapleneck.....

You're right on the money. I own an original 5fx, and it is a wonderful guitar, is it collectible, crap, who knows, it has a ton of value to me, and that's all that matters to me. He should have snapped it up. I also just got an older CSM1G for $125,, and it a mess for sure, eBay is a gamble, buy what you know, and ask questions for sure. When I opened the case it smelled like last nights Keg party!! The case is toast, and that's the difference sometimes. I would never sell anything that trashed, crap I would not even give that case away for free, but it's the risk I took. I knew the axe is need need on new love.