Tag: musical instrument

Cashout #1: 2018 d’Angelico Deluxe Brighton guitar

2018 d’Angelico Deluxe Brighton guitar

As my time in California winds down, I’m trying to be strategic about my trades and the items I have. I expect this project to continue in some form once I arrive in Michigan (oh, umm, I’m moving to Michigan), but I have some specific debt-related loose ends that I’d love to take care of before I leave. That means cashing out on some of these trade lines. I have about a month and a half to do that, and today was step 1.

Mike (not his real name) messaged me this morning. He asked me if I’d entertain cash offers for the guitar, which was listed for sale or trade. I said I would, and he told me he was a student, had been saving up for an electric guitar, and really, really wanted this model. We went back and forth a little bit on price, and eventually settled on something lower than what I’d listed the guitar for, but which still felt like a really fair price for it.

He wanted to buy right away, so we agreed to meet in the parking lot of the nearby Safeway (which checked two boxes for me: 1) public and safe; 2) I was overdue for some grocery shopping…).

Mike and his girlfriend met me and, reader, I wish you could have seen his face. When he opened that case he lit. up. She was really impressed, too. Lots of oooohs and aaaaaahs, especially over the deep hunter green gloss on the body and the detail on those abalone inlays. It felt great, too, because I knew I had a gorgeous instrument on my hands, and one in great condition, and I have absolutely no doubt that he’ll cherish and appreciate that guitar.

As for me, I have my first cashout that I’ll be putting toward my debts. In the grand scheme, it’s a drop in the bucket, but the method is effective, if inefficient. This trade line started with a movie projector that I had loved for many years and that I probably over-valued at $250, and after a handful of fair-but-uneven trades, I cashed out with $1,100.

Bigger things to come, but this feels like a win.

Digital movie projector line:
Original item value: $250
Number of trades to date: 7
Latest trade: SOLD 2018 d’Angelico Deluxe Brighton (listed at $1350) for $1100
Total line value dollar increase: $850
Total line value percent increase: 340%

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Trade #26: 2018 Warwick GPS Bass for 1976 Guild X500

1976 Guild X500 in original hardshell case

I had this beautiful bass for a really long time. Probably too long. I got it in a trade back in September. I kept getting offers but because it was so valuable I was getting a lot of combination offers — two or three items that roughly summed to the value of the bass. This was tempting sometimes, but one of my rules is to try really hard not to split items into multiple trade lines if I can help it. There’s wiggle room if it’s a really good deal, but I really do want to prioritize 1-for-1 trades.

Back in early December I first heard from Steve (not his real name). An older gentleman, he’s a guitarist-turned-bassist, and was really interested in the Warwick. He made several different offers, some that he said would require cash on either side. The Guild, though, he said he would trade straight across. Some quick research on Reverb showed these guitars sell for between $2,500 and $6,000+.

We went back and forth and he wasn’t quite sure. He was considering gifting the guitar to his son. We said goodbye and I kept re-posting the bass every now and then.

Cut to late March. Steve gets back in touch. He still had the Guild (“He can get his own guitar.”) and remained interested. We met up in a Walnut Creek parking lot and talked. He bought the guitar in the mid-1970s, second owner, and his brother played it here and there as a jazz guitarist. Steve would play a bit but it mostly sat. In the late 1970s he switched to bass (hence his interest in the Warwick), and the Guild sat in its original case for almost 45 years. It’s in ✨pristine✨ condition.

Given the condition, age, and scarcity of this guitar, I’d say it’s worth somewhere between $3,600 and $4,000. Listing it at $3,800. Jeez. I’ve had vehicles worth less than this in this project.

Onward!

1984 Mercier Le Velo line:
Original item value: $200
Number of trades to date: 10
Latest trade: 2018 Warwick GPS StarBass hollowbody ($3200) for 1976 Guild X500 ($3800)
Total line value dollar increase: $3600
Total line value percent increase: 1800%

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Trade #25: 2010 Gibson SG for 2018 d’Angelico Deluxe Brighton

2018 d’Angelico Deluxe Brighton in hunter green

Look. at. that. color. 😍

The 2010 Gibson SG was, as I’d hoped, in relatively high demand. For those following along, I’d taken a risk by trading down for that guitar. The amp and case I traded away was worth a little more, but I thought the SG would be easy to move, both literally (it’s much smaller and lighter than a giant amp and heavy duty road case) and figuratively (bigger market for a guitar than for an amp and case).

And after a few different offers, Tony (not his real name) sent along this offer. It’s the prettiest guitar I’ve seen in a while.

He explained that he’d purchased it brand new last year but was looking for a guitar with a Bigsby (those, I’m finding, are fiercely divisive features — some seek them out, others really hate them, few seem to fall between these poles). He didn’t mind that the pick guard was different from the original shape, for which I was thankful, because various would-be traders were turned off by that.

Something I liked about the d’Angelico, beyond its immaculate condition and gorgeous aesthetics, is its boutique nature. Fenders and Gibsons are the big names with huge draw, but smaller shops (like Carvin, which I previously traded) have a desirability for collectors, and while there may be a smaller market, it’s often a more fertile one. I’m betting on that, and it’s already bearing out; eight minutes after posting the d’Angelico on Facebook Marketplace, I had an offer.

I’m also heartened by the success this line seems to be having now. This one started as a digital movie projector, and after a few quick trades, it really languished for a bit. I’m glad to see it moving and growing!

Looking forward to seeing what’s next!

Digital movie projector line:
Original item value: $250
Number of trades to date: 7
Latest trade: 2010 Gibson SG with hard case ($1200) for 2018 d’Angelico Deluxe Brighton ($1350)
Total line value dollar increase: $1100
Total line value percent increase: 440%

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Trade #23: Vintage 1976 Fender Twin Reverb with custom road case for 2010 Gibson SG

2010 Gibson SG in faded brown

This one feels a little strategic. It might be my first trade down, and that’s purposeful.

The 1976 Fender Twin Reverb was probably worth about $1200-$1250, given its well-travelled condition and its immaculate heavy-duty road case. It was a bit limiting, though: it was heavy, and it was big. I’m a strong guy, and I can manage moving it around on my own (I’m very mindful of lifting with my legs). And the wheels and casters are smooth and make it about as mobile as something of that shape and weight could be.

But it didn’t fit in my car. Lol.

Having a small two-seater is really fun at times but deeply impractical. Of course, I knew this when I got it. (Minor update on the car: I’ve had lots of offers on it, and a few test drives and close calls, but haven’t yet found the right mutual fit. Alas, I persevere. I’d trade it tomorrow if I found the right fit.) Perhaps needless to say, this giant amp does not fit in an Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce.

So I was limited in my ability to trade it, given that I couldn’t easily bring it to someone, at least not without borrowing or renting a vehicle, which I try to avoid when I can. I also don’t love meeting people from Craigslist at or near my house. So, the amp had me in a less-than-ideal situation.

When Josh (not his real name) wrote me with the SG offer plus a little cash to balance the values, I was listening. He estimated the guitar to be worth around $1100. I think that’s probably roughly right, though with the case and the upgrades, I think the upper end of the value range is closer to $1200.

It’s a beautiful guitar, a style that I haven’t had yet. SG models have those sharp customary horns, and just ooze this aggressive feel about their design.

And it has a Bigsby tremolo and some special Seymore Duncan P-Rails pickups, both professionally installed in Oakland. Not a lot of SGs come with these, so that helps to make this one special.

So here is a beautiful guitar, in very good shape, in a style that is popular and sought-after, from a brand that is widely respected and desired. This is a good trading item to have.

Josh and I met up, outdoors, masked, and carefully distanced. I plugged in the amp and he played the guitar on it. I heard the guitar, he heard the amp. we were both sold. He liked the trading project idea and was happy to support. We also traded band info, and who knows. Maybe one day post-pandemic we’ll meet again.

Walker giving the SG that beautiful demo treatment

He loaded the amp into his van (much more practical than a 2-seat convertible) and I took the SG inside. Even as guitars go, this one is light. I’ve said this before and been wrong, but I think it’s right this time: I think this guitar will move pretty quickly, and I think will breathe some life and momentum back into this project.

Digital movie projector line:
Original item value: $250
Number of trades to date: 6
Latest trade: 1976 Fender Twin Reverb amp with custom road case ($1200) for 2010 Gibson SG with hard case ($1200)
Total line value dollar increase: $950
Total line value percent increase: 380%

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Trade #22: Vintage Fender Bandmaster for Vintage 1976 Fender Twin Reverb with custom road case

1976 Fender Twin Reverb amp with custom road case

Jeez, more good luck with amp heads. These are turning out to be excellent trading items.

At the beginning of this project, I barely knew that amp heads existed. I still don’t know a ton about them, but among the things I’ve learned is this: Damn, do people want them.

Back in May I traded a little amp head for a beautiful blue full size amp (trade #8! The Denny’s trade!!). It was a $200/31% value jump. Seven trades later, that trade line is now a $3,200 Warwick bass. I’m finding that amp heads are perhaps the ideal item for this project. They’re small and very portable, they’re sought after (especially for quarantined, at-home playing), and they’re items that exist within a community that is very active in trading. That’s another lesson that has been really clear in this project. Musicians trade things all the time, and item value is often mushy and malleable.

All of that is why I was comfortable trading the Sheraton II for the amp head. It was coming from a guy who knew amps, and even built them himself, so it felt like I could trust what he had to say about it. And, I thought I’d be able to find a trade pretty quickly.

But for logistics, it took less than a day.

I posted the Bandmaster on Craigslist last Saturday evening, the night I acquired it, and on Sunday morning, Eric (not his real name) contacted me. He said he had a 1976 Fender Twin Reverb with a road case that he’d be willing to trade straight across. He was downsizing his gear — he’s a guitarist who lives in a condo, I imagine his neighbors are supportive of this decision — and so was interested in trading away his larger, more powerful amp for the smaller head. The amp’s custom case was useless to him without the amp to protect, so that would be part of the trade.

These are quality items.

I did some research, and immediately it looked good. The case alone was worth half of the amp head. A Twin Reverb is a classic amp, sells well on Reverb.com, and this one had been purchased a couple years ago from a reputed area seller. Eric had been clear that the amp was a little worn, but the case was clean and the amp is in excellent working order.

[ A brief note on approach: I have tried to stay away from two-for-one trades. I’ll often get offers of multiple items whose value will roughly sum to that of the item I’m offering. I haven’t wanted to do those trades, because I don’t want to split trade lines if I can help it, and because I think it might be hard to trade things together. This case is different, though. This is a great package deal. I can’t imagine anyone saying, “Yeah I want the case, but keep the amp.” The case adds hundreds of dollars of value (the $399 price sticker is still on it) and I don’t expect to have a problem with trading them as a single item. It’s not much different from trading a guitar that comes with its own hardshell case. ]

We agreed to the trade and were going to meet on Wednesday, but he wasn’t able to hoist the amp into his truck by himself to come meet me (and really, it’s no joke. It’s heavy af). So we rescheduled to Saturday and I borrowed a bigger car, for the low, low cost of a couple of bagels (shoutout, once again, to my incredibly supportive friend Walker; this thing would not have fit in the fun-but-impractical little car I’m driving right now).

After a foggy drive up to Vallejo and a distanced, masked meeting in Eric’s condo’s parking lot, the trade happened and the new item made it back home.

Fingers crossed for a nice guitar coming next! I’ve had good luck with those in the $1,000+ range. But really, who knows what it’ll be. Very fun to see where this goes, and excellent to see this previously-lagging trade line pick up and see some growth.

Digital movie projector line:
Original item value: $250
Number of trades to date: 5
Latest trade: Vintage Fender Bandmaster amp head ($850) for 1976 Fender Twin Reverb amp with custom road case ($1250)
Total line value dollar increase: $1000
Total line value percent increase: 400%

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Trade #21: 1989 Epiphone Sheraton II for Vintage Fender Bandmaster

1966-1967 Fender Bandmaster amp head

Back in the game!

After a bit of a hiatus this project is back up and running. There was never a conscious pause, but my time and attention has been largely elsewhere over the last couple of months, and it meant that trades have taken a bit of a back seat. I’ve been able to spend a little more time on it recently and now there’s been some movement, thank goodness.

I’ll say this: I wasn’t sure about it, but now I think the Gretsch-for-Epiphone was a good trade. Every time I renewed or reposted the Epiphone listing, I received a bunch of new offers. Lots of them were a little too undervalued to be a good trade for me, some of them were way too good to actually happen (which is to say, after reconsidering, the other party backed out). But a ~$700 semihollow guitar with no cosmetic defects was a good pickup, and I was able to find a good deal after a couple false starts (e.g. I spent a recent morning out in Livermore, but the guitar wasn’t to the prospective trader’s liking. He kindly covered the gas for the long trip, though. Kind people are everywhere.)

This one happened over just a couple of days. Ray (not his real name) is a guy who builds amps for fun. He plays guitar and puts amps and amp heads together in his spare time. He didn’t have any semihollow guitars at the moment, but was awash with cool amps. The Bandmaster is a clean, vintage head with a gritty, powerful sound. He played for me in his basement workshop (I stood outside, all masked up, even in a bit of rain) and the sound was deeply impressive.

Not much more to say. Ray was all too happy to tell me about the condition, the minor modifications (including a dope little raw switch in the back that he added in), the role of all the tubes, switches, ports and so on.

And he loved the Sheraton. He played it for about 30 seconds and was sold. Hardly any questions, he was getting what he wanted and was glad to pass this great little amp head onward.

Looking forward to seeing what comes next from this trade line!

Digital movie projector line:
Original item value: $250
Number of trades to date: 4
Latest trade: 1989 Epiphone Sheraton II ($700) for Vintage Fender Bandmaster amp head ($850)
Total line value dollar increase: $600
Total line value percent increase: 240%

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