1971 Martin D18 - SOLD

[macspadger]

I'm currently trying to save up for a Michael Messer Blues 28, but the constant stream of bills mean I never get there.
I've decided to sell my 1971 Martin D18, but thought I'd give the idea of a trade on here a bash first.
If this breaks any forum rules, please remove.

I have owned this guitar since the early 90's. It was made in 1971, spruce top, solid wood mahogany back and sides. I had an under bridge piezo pick up installed in 1996, jack plug is the strap button. It has the scuffs and wear associated with a 47 year old instrument. There are also some cracks on the top. These have been professionally repaired and, in the words of the technician, "they aren't going anywhere". The original pick guard was celluloid. This shrunk and cracked, so I had it replaced with a high quality new one at the cost of £70. Apart from the scratch plate, everything else is original 1971 Martin. The tone is sweet, incredible bass response. It has no truss rod, like all Martins of this era, and will need a neck reset in the future, but is perfectly playable now. 
I had it checked by the guitar tech in GuitarGuitar Glasgow last month. He confirmed that the cracks were sealed and would not spread. Value in it's current condition was given as £800. I am looking to swap for a Michael Messer Blues 28, a steel bodied Michael Messer Blues, or I am completely open to other offers. I will include fitted case with original pick guard and strap button.

If interested, please PM me for more details or photos. Thanks.


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[Jinder]

In my opinion, £800 is a VERY lowball offer on a ‘71 D18. Even with cracks and a neck reset on the horizon, I’d expect to pay twice that.

I think you would be financially much better off to sell it privately or to speak to Glenn Sinnock at www.glennsguitars.com regarding a sale to him-he is a great guy who I have bought and sold guitars from and to many times over the last 15yrs or so. He’ll give you a fair price and fair appraisal of it.

I really feel that £800 is an unreasonably low price for one of these. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to own one and pay £800 for it (if I had the money!) but I wouldn’t be able, in all good conscience, to pay so little for it from a forum member.

[macspadger]

Thanks Jinder. That's the valuation given by GuitarGuitar in Glasgow when I brought it in for an appraisal. I was told that although the repaired cracks were not a problem, because the neck does not have a truss rod, value was significantly lowered. £800 seemed reasonable to me, I paid £700 for it back in the days when the Human League were topping the charts and everyone said guitars were dinosaurs on the road to extinction.

I'll have a look at Glenn's website.

Thank you.

[Stevie]

£800 struck me as too low as well. Once upon a time, I'd have bitten your hand off for it at that price, but I am not drawn to dreads any longer. Having heard great reports about them, I thought the outlet in question had a better reputation than that? I don't believe that there can be many folks around that don't instinctively realise that is a lowball quote even with the alleged repairs factored in. Some stores will sell it for you on commision and I'd find one to take it on that basis.

e&oe...

[macspadger]

Hi Stevie, I am an older fellah who doesn't know a great deal about current values, my peak guitar buying time was the 80's. Haven't thought about prices for years, that's why I thought I'd have a crack at a trade first. I just took it as word from GuitarGuitar in Glasgow as they are professionals. I have to say, they gave me a good price when I traded in my old telecaster. I've taken Jinder's advice and emailed Glenn Sinnock. No reply yet. If nothing happens here, or with Glen Sinnock, I guess I'll bung it on Ebay and let the market decide it's value. Thanks for the advice.

[macspadger]

A deal has been done and this guitar is now gone. Thanks folks.