What's My Inherited Custom Jackson Soloist Worth

[gritsnfairydust]

Hello all. It wrenches my heart that I am in a place in life where I am even having to consider letting go of my father's treasured instrument but I truly believe with pure intent that there are times sacrifices have to be made for the greater good of others. I have unfortunately found myself in a dire financial bind and the alternatives for other options is lacking and time is of essence. I have a story behind the circumstances but I don't neccessarily feel this is the forum to share...not yet anyway. You are welcome to view my Facebook page & nose around if you wish @ Gwen Boles. Having said all of this, let me tell you about what I have. First of all, this was my father's guitar. The 1st one he ever bought & it was a prized possession of his. I was 12 years old. Now let me tell you that my father was not a professional musician. The closest thing he ever got to being a professional in that regard was being the dj at the local skating rink in his teens. He was the epitamy of a 70's rock kinda guy. (The reason my love for 70's rock is instilled today) Moving along he had all of these little hobbies on the side that kept his spirit alive. Restoring muscle cars and picking a tune were the two that made his soul smile. He was completely self taught one bloody finger at a time. I only heard over the course of my days under the same roof maybe a total of 8 songs he ever fully learned to play and every single chord his shoulder would move to the beat. Having said that, I am truthful in telling you this guitar has rarely been played. Shortly after he purchased it, he purchased an acoustic guitar and the Jackson became show & tell. He was so proud of it showing every person who visited our home. no one was allowed to touch it, let alone myself (he was the same way with his restored cars...do not touch). My father lost his battle with renal failure 11/21/2011. He was 57 years old and died waiting on a kidney transplant. The day they took him off the transplant list because his health had deteriorated to where he was no longer eligible to receive one, his inner light turned off as well. The only times a glimmer would sparkle were on the days he had enough strength to pick his own tune. I now have all three of his guitars (he'd later purchased another acoustic). Two of those my teenagers have learned to play on as the Jackson has remained untouched. This time of year always puts me in a sentimental place and a few weeks ago I found myself dragging out the Jackson just to feel close to him. I had prayed for an answer to my financial troubles and when I opened the case I realized this could be it. All other times I'd opened the case I'd never really paid attention to the compartments within the case possibly because even at 39 years old I still feel like Id get in trouble if I touched anything. I smiled as I felt my daddy smiling upon me. Every original receipt, price tag, strings, picks, & paperwork that had anything to do with this guitar from day one is there. The Jackson warranty card, the custom order ticket, the assembly inspection ticket from the factory, etc. Serial # J4077. The factory inspection date is 01/04/1988 with purchase date Christmas 1988. It is in a Jackson hard case with lock and original keys. I know I have rambled so ridiculously much I may not have kept anyone's attention, but if I have I ask you to please help me determine a monetary value that would honor both my father & the sacrifices being made yet without the assumption I believe its worth millions nor that I would be taken advantage of. I have lots of pictures if I can just figure out how to upload. ----With sincere appreciation

[jacksonluvr]

Hey there friend, welcome to the board. Pics will help a lot! There are a LOT of different variables that can determine the value of the Soloist. (One being which tremolo is installed Kahler or Floyd) If it is a graphic or odd/rare color etc.

You have an '88 Jackson Soloist which isn't the highly revered (and ridiculously overrated) San Dimas era guitars. But, depending on a few different factors a general rule of thumb in today's market is a low of $750 -(Student series -dot inlays on fret board)- $1500 (1 or more of these unique options: Rare graphic, celebrity owned, unique color, matching headstock paint, reverse headstock etc)..

Once again, this is a GENERAL GUIDELINE!! I am NOT the Bluebook of Guitars! Having the case candy and a flawless instrument should help with the value as well.
So gets some pics hosted on photbucket.com and then paste the link here..

[neilli]

+1

If you're struggling to host / post the pics, PM me and I'll host them and put them up in this thread.

[gritsnfairydust]

Pics

Thanks for the info. Hopefully you'll be able to see the pics.

http://s1024.photobucket.com/user/gritsnfairydust/slideshow/

[pianoguyy]

a general rule of thumb in today's market is a low of $750

Well, the 'average' low may be $750. But that is in ideal situations. If you need it sold today vs being able to wait, or if you are in a musically desolate area where there isn't a market for nice gear vs selling it globally ----
I have picked up 3 in the past two years in the $400-600 range. Oddly, the $600 one is the one that needed some work. The cheaper two were fine.
And I just missed out on one last week. It went rather quickly. And others that I passed on.

I just thought I would toss that out there so that you wouldn't be offended thinking that someone tried to 'lowball' you.


So, no, I don't think you are going to solve your financial woes by selling it.
But every bit helps, right?

[pianoguyy]

Thanks for the info. Hopefully you'll be able to see the pics. /

I do like a color matched reverse headstock. But that's just me.

Just an fyi, the serial numbers don't match. Your one card has J3342 as the serial.

[neilli]

I'd pay way more that than $750 for that guitar - rev matching head, factory Floyd from that era, gold hardware plus it's like a time capsule with paperwork. What's not to like?! I for one would be sorely tempted by it..

It's tough to be more specific on value: ebay is in some ways the 'fairest' way to value something as it's a wide market, but even then some stuff goes crazy low, or crazy high. I'd say you'd get well over a grand for it. Sure, it's not a 86 or earlier and it has the oversize pickup, but otherwise there's a bunch of stuff in its favour.

The warranty form filed out with another serial is odd, but the tag and the stamp on the guitar match so...

[Newc]

To be frank, the $400-$500 selling prices are when someone waves that amount in the face of someone who is over a barrel.

A playable USA neckthrough Jackson is easily worth $1000 at minimum. No one, however, is willing to pay that, because they lay out the "why pay full price if I can get it for less" and "I need room to make a profit when I sell it in a week or two" excuses.

I won't bore you with the nerdy details of why I think your guitar is worth what I think it's worth, and most here would disagree with those points anyway largely to justify whatever skinflint offers you're no doubt getting right now.
The few minor inconsistencies regarding the hardware colors are easily explained, and quite nerdy, so I won't bore you with those details either. You should know that they do not diminish the dollar value. Those who are sending you offers have either ample spare parts on-hand to color-match the hardware, or plenty of money to buy what they need to do so.

I will say that, assuming the condition is as good as you say, it's worth at least $1500 plus shipping. Its value as a collector's item will only increase, especially if it stays in great condition.
This is a luxury item, not food and shelter. Sell it as a luxury piece and don't take anything less than $1500 USD plus shipping costs, because I guarantee you that whoever does buy it will put that price on it at least, of not double, touting its unique features.

[jacksonluvr]

THAT'S A REAL BEAUTY! I would put that one on the high side do the gold hardware, matching head, real Floyd, case candy. It has potential to hit between $1400- possibly $2000.. Just depends on the market and if the right buyer is out there. That's my personal opinion, once again, I'm NOT the Bluebook of guitars, just my humble opinion.

[daisp]

She's a nice one for sure...keep it if you can, you'll regret selling it someday

[jspeed]

Hello all. It wrenches my heart that I am in a place in life where I am even having to consider letting go of my father's treasured instrument

Sorry for your loss

The guitar looks to be mint, so the new replacement cost for a new USA made Jackson of that level of quality would be expensive and have to wait a very long time to finally get it.

With great photographs on ebay, I think it could fetch at least $1200 to $1500 or even more from anyone with money in their deep pockets, who can appreciate it for what it really is and doesn’t want to screw around wasting their time with some of the beat up old rag a muffin dog guitars out there.

The wealthy have done phenomenally well during the past 20 years, if one of them wants to own your mint vintage white Jackson USA, make them pay for it.

Good luck to you!

[xenophobe]

Nice config. If it were mine, I wouldn't take less than $1500 for it. I don't think I could ask much more either though.

[pianoguyy]

But now the question is:

She wants to sell it right here, right now.
How many of you guys that said she can get $2k for it, have the $2k - right here, right now - and without first getting permission from the wife because Christmas is coming up and you have to buy presents for the damn kids?

And then, if any of you happen to have the cash sitting around, are you willing to spend it on a plain white guitar. Color matched reverse headstock is the only 'interesting' thing on it. A gold floyd - whoopdidoo. It also has the 3 mini switches that so many people complained about for so many years.

Don't get me wrong, if she wants to put it on EvilBay for the a month long auction, she could a decent price after she re-lists it a couple times.
But not if she wants to sell it locally any time soon.


Personally, I think that it's really ironic though, that the people that are saying that she can get more are also saying two things:
1. I think it is worth that much but I don't have the money for it.
2. Anyone telling you it is worth less is trying take you for a ride.

Well, if you don't have the money to pay for it, then obviously she has to take a cheaper 'ride'.



This is the reason why businesses go broke or why people get stuck with old stuff cluttering their house --- they think that they can just demand a certain price. Sorry, if no one is willing to spend that much, then it must not be worth that much.

[xenophobe]

It's a minty 88 Soloist with Floyd rev and matching headstock. Fairly rare combination. $1500 is a fair price. Yeah, maybe you could get $2k for it if you're willing to sit on it or find the right buyer at the right time, but you have to figure, you're approaching Custom Select pricing and instead of getting something really cool you can have almost what you want.

As for solid colors like white and black, fairly more desirable and sellable than most other colors.

[neilli]

Personally, I think that it's really ironic though, that the people that are saying that she can get more are also saying two things:
1. I think it is worth that much but I don't have the money for it.
2. Anyone telling you it is worth less is trying take you for a ride.

1. nobody in this thread has said "I don't have the money to pay for it". And only one guy said 2k, and that was at his estimated top end.
2. It would be true, somebody trying to wangle that guitar for 500 bucks is absolutely taking advantage of either someone's lack of info, or their circumstance.

The point being, this lady came here for some advice at a difficult time and we're trying to help. IF it should come to a ebay listing / classified post, then we can all vote with our feet. Like Mike said, 1500 is a good / fair / reasonable price for that guitar, in that condition. Sure, there are some graphics from that era, but there aren't a ton (and let's be honest, many of them look pretty mediocre) and there was pretty much no fancy wood on Soloists at that time.

Therefore, at least in my opinion (and let's face it, it's all just opinion, and yup, everyone has one) a primo condition, factory OFR (with no hack to remove the JT6 stringlock), colour matched, rev head, time capsule guitar 'should' get a premium.