Jazzmaster Prices

[regimentle]

So they are doubling and tripling every year now, but is anyone else kind of scrambling to get the money together for one before they are beyond unobtainable or have a lot of you just given up?

And what should a pre-cbs refin go for these days?  I personally have lost hope in owning an all original, but that's fine.  I want a custom color anyways and won't be dropping five grand so that's my only way to get one.  But I don't seem to be seeing anything less than 2600 bucks when a year ago 2000 seemed like too much.  In fact, a lot of places want 3000-3500 for a refin, which is insane, but it seems to be the norm. 

What are your thoughts?  And I don't need an explanation on price inflation or gaining value over time, and I know a lot of purists who scored theres 20 years back for 700 bucks will laugh, but there has to be others in my situation out there with something to say about all this.

[glimmertwin]

I just got $3100 for a 61 refin.  I was even shocked at that...I thought I wouldn't get more than $2600.

It had nice sentimental value but I don't need a $3k guitar....

[andrewaward]

Think I saw that one on ebay Glimmertwin - it had a GREAT 'burst refin.......I'm sure that helped it reach the $3k plus.
And it had the cool  old case.........it was the complete package.

I was also surprised though that it sold for that amount. Recently a few refin's have been seeing $3k..........Pretty sure that will be the going rate next year for complete package ones..
I doubt prices will go down anytime soon. Ebay is a nice indicator of prices, but not the be all end all.

Less authentic refins with unorig cases can still be had for reasonable money (ie, $2250 and less).........Of course Regimentle when you say you are looking for a PreCBS it depends on if you are wanting a slab neck or not - thats also a factor in the pricings.

[i love sharin foo]

Yeah, slab boards do seem to go for a good bit more. To be honest though, my early '62 slab is my least favorite. It does sound real nice, but I think I prefer laminate boards. I don't know how much of it is just the board alone though. I figure that enough things changed over the next few years after switching to laminates that the difference in sound is probably due to everything as a whole and not just the board. That said, I did have another '62 which wore a neck date only a couple months later than the one I have now and the difference between them was like night and day (I had them both at the same time for a couple years). Okay, enough rambling.

Justin

[glimmertwin]

Think I saw that one on ebay Glimmertwin - it had a GREAT 'burst refin.......I'm sure that helped it reach the $3k plus.
And it had the cool  old case.........it was the complete package.

Nope....mine was the gold one with tort guard that had turned to an olive green from the yellowed laquer - but yes, it was on ebay fairly recently.  I can't even look for it in the completed items screen because it brings a tear to my eye knowing someone else is playing it as we speak...

[mezcalhead]

Nope....mine was the gold one with tort guard that had turned to an olive green from the yellowed laquer

Yeah, I remembered it from the old days as soon as I saw it for sale. Sweet guitar.

[andrewaward]

Nope....mine was the gold one with tort guard that had turned to an olive green from the yellowed laquer

Sorry - there was a nice 61 refin'd burst that went for $3180 a few days ago - I assumed that was it.

[Aug]

oh, I'm certainly scrambling to acquire one or three...not only are they amazing guitars, but they are looking to be an incredible investment...

[serial]

Damn, I guess I did ok with mine-I suppose thanks to a poorly worded auction or uninformed seller, I snagged my '65 for around $1300 a month or two ago.  Only thing not original was the neck plate (had a '70 on it).  The bridge pickup needs a rewind, but the seller described the guitar as having both 70 (neck plate), 66 (a pickup) and 65 dates.  Neck, body, pots, pickups, etc are all '65-correct.  Pickup dates on one could look like '66, but are actually a "65" and match the neck pickup, which is in the same handwriting, same date, but the '65 is clearer.  Body is stripped on the front, but has the sunburst on the back.  Was gonna have it refinned eventually, but I haven't been able to put it down and don't feel like being w/o it for a month or more at the moment.  Very Tom Verlaine-ish and smoking cool.

Don't think I'm gonna find another like that at that price anytime soon!

[andrewaward]

$1300 was a good price 

You could possibly go for a partial refin - try getting a match to the back.......if you like sunburst that this...

[fullerplast]

Don't think I'm gonna find another like that at that price anytime soon!

Outstanding!

Great score. The necks are selling for more than that these days...

[serial]

I was actually thinking about vintage white (it has the tort guard obviously).  I've always dug that look.  Finish is off about 10-15% of the back, but not at all oversanded, which is nice.

[andrewaward]

vintage white and tort will look great

[regimentle]

I've found a couple cool refins, the coolest being a '61 Candy Apple Red with matching headstock.  The price is basically what those 61's have been going for on eBay and I was concerned it was unrealistic, but I guess now maybe I'll take the plunge. 

Quick question though, it's a reputable dude, but would a mint guard be right for that year or is that probably from a bit later on?  It's definately an old guard.  And did they make CAR back then?  I know it's a refin and I really don't care if it's right for that year, but I guess I'm just wondering.

[Jay]

Do you have detailed pics of the guitar inside and out?  Might be wise to post them here and make sure that what your getting is legit not to mention I wouldn't spend that kind of money with anyone that wasn't willing to get you good photos.