Where can I get an electric guitar appraised near Long Island?

[Elliot Luber]

I have a great 1983 Gibson 335 DOT CMT from the Custom Workshop when it was in Kalamazoo. A friend thinks's it's much more valuable than I do, and I'm trying to decide whether or not to sell it as I don't play it as much as my mandolin these days. I live on Long Island but would be willing to travel a little with it. How much will an appraisal cost me anyway?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Seattle]

I can't imagine an appraisal means much. Find one like it that has been sold (ebay) and that is your answer.

[journeybear]

I asked a friend who lives in the city. He doesn't know LI too well, but offered this:

The best place in the city would be 30th Street Guitars: http://www.30thstreetguitars.com/ Have your friend ask for Matt Brewster and tell him that Freddie Katz sent him. He'll take good care of him

Maybe if you drop the name he can give you an estimate over the phone, in case you don't want to go all the way in on a hunch.

[Elliot Luber]

Thanks. I'll look him up.

[allenhopkins]

...Maybe if you drop the name he can give you an estimate over the phone, in case you don't want to go all the way in on a hunch.

Hmm... "Estimate over the phone?" Hold the guitar up to the phone and twang a couple strings?

At least e-mail the guy a pic of the instrument. Estimates based on photos also seem a bit bogus to me, but maybe not as bogus as estimates based on phone calls.

Mandolin Brothers on Staten Island sells electrics, both solid-body and semi-hollow. A visit there would certainly produce an informed estimate. Is that "a little" travel, or too much?

[mandroid]

Yea, Given Brooklyn is actually on Long Island's western end, Staten Island is quite Near By.

[journeybear]

Hmm... "Estimate over the phone?" Hold the guitar up to the phone and twang a couple strings?

Not exactly! But he might be able to get a ballpark figure, based on make, model, year, and condition, to determine whether it's worth shlepping in and out of the city, which can mean the better part of a day.

[MikeEdgerton]

Multiple pictures and serial numbers generally will get you in the ballpark over the phone and via e-mail. Ebay completed auctions (results in green shows they actually sold) will also give you an idea. You've got Mandolin Bros. in Staten Island. I assuming the late Stan Jay's children hired at least one expert to guide them. You've got RetroFret in Brooklyn that's even closer. You can also contact Larry Wexer.

OK, not so sure about Mandolin Brothers. I just got a pop up message when I went to their website asking to e-mail the Jay kids if you want to visit their showroom. That doesn't look good.

[houseworker]

George Gruhn will appraise the guitar for you from photographs: https://guitars.com/appraisals Cost is $50

Sales on eBay suggest that an auction there would close out at around $2K, give or take a bit. You'd need to allow for eBay's commission of 10% + PayPal's fees.

[Jeff Mando]

I can't imagine an appraisal means much. Find one like it that has been sold (ebay) and that is your answer.

I think Seattle is right. An appraisal is good for insurance purposes, but often much higher than things actually sell for. Check on eBay--not what people are asking, but the ones that actually sold. That represents real money -- not some goofball's appraisal. You have to sign in to check the Completed and Sold listings.

Years ago, that was my strategy on eBay -- I got a written appraisal from one of the "big names" and included pictures of it with the guitar I was selling. Doesn't work. If you have an appraisal for $3600, people still want to "buy" it for $800. Don't know if they are just too savvy these days, or too CHEAP!

I may be paraphrasing something someone told me Gruhn once said -- how's that for passing the buck??? --- anyway the quote was something like, "What do you want, an appraisal for insurance purposes, or do you want to know what the guitar is worth, or do you want to know what I will pay for it? Those are three VERY different things."

[allenhopkins]

...OK, not so sure about Mandolin Brothers. I just got a pop up message when I went to their website asking to e-mail the Jay kids if you want to visit their showroom. That doesn't look good.

Website says that showroom visits are by appointment only through September. After that, ???

[mandroid]

All of Manhattan and Queens are not far once you are further west .. than like Montauk .

[Elliot Luber]

[QUOTE=allenhopkins;1432578]Hmm... "Estimate over the phone?" Hold the guitar up to the phone and twang a couple strings?

I plan to do it in person. Thanks.

Yes, I knew Stan Jay, but it can be hours to get back and forth to Staten Island.

I'm looking for ballpark value. I was planning to sell it for X and my son's friend, a "collector," says it's worth 5X. I know guitars, but I might as well get a valid opinion. I offered to sell to him for just 3X (assuming we'd both be happy), but he suddenly says he's broke. My suspicion is I'll sell it for around X. More specifics once I know what it's worth.

[mandroid]

crossing LI sound on a Ferry to CT or RI any more convenient ?

You can read a Book while on the LIRR.

[Elliot Luber]

Thanks. I'll take it to Manhattan. With the Ferry, it's faster to drive around through NYC to go to Connecticut most of the time.

[houseworker]

I was planning to sell it for X and my son's friend, a "collector," says it's worth 5X. I know guitars, but I might as well get a valid opinion.

Why not tell us what X is?

[Mandobar]

You can find out a lot by searching through thegearpage.net. You might try and post your question there also.

You can also do a search on gbase.com. I see a few of this model there, including this one: http://www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-es-...hop-1984-blond

and this one, where I believe the price is probably due to the color: http://www.gbase.com/gear/gibson-es-...-1983-pearlesc

You really need to have an appraisal done by someone who deals with electrics, and is knowledgeable about Gibsons. Gibson made and continues to make a lot of custom models. Try John Reynolds at Golden Age Guitars in Westfield, NJ. He worked at Mandolin Brothers for years, along with Larry Wexer.

[chuck3]

Try Retrofret in Brooklyn. Good people. They have an amazing mandolin collection as well, but vintage electric guitars are up their alley. 30th Street is good but I would also try Retrofret.

Here's a link:https://www.retrofret.com/