OffsetGuitars.com

The current market for MIJ/CIJ Fender guitars in the UK defies all logic, they are vastly overpriced, in my opinion. I feel this all started in the UK when a certain dealer imported a bunch of MIJ guitars in desirable colours, and asked big money for them (to be fair, maybe to cover import costs and let him make a profit), but now everyone else seems to think their MIJ/CIJs are worth a fortune, and prices them accordingly. I also guess the current popularity of offsets also doesn’t do the prices any harm.

But as for future values, think about the current set of vintage Fenders from the 60s that fetch the big bucks, they are in short supply, they are perceived as having way better build quality than all but the best of recent Fenders (Custom Shop/AV/AVRI). People rave about the pickups/the amazing tone of the aged bodies and pups, lovely aged nitro finishes and worn in necks. They are seen as the gold standard of guitars by which all modern Fenders must be judged.

Can you say any of that about MIJ/CIJ offsets?

And if that sounds like I’m bashing them, I’m really not, I currently own two MIJ Fenders that I’ll never part with - I love them. But the Tele has been completely gutted with new pups and electronics, and I’m considering the same with the Strat, which will undoubtedly trash any potential vintage value, but will make them better guitars.

For the MIM offsets, the price for new guitars goes up each year as well.

The Vintera Jazzmaster and Jaguar have each gone up $100 CDN over a 1 year period since their launch.

The TVL Jazzmaster debuted in 2014 for $1299 CDN, the 2020 price is $1859 CDN, a $560 dollar difference over 6 years.

Even if you don't buy as an investment and want to buy new, the new price creeps up each year.

This is also Fender's most profitable year in their history due to the pandemic as I watched on the news last night.

Musjagjazz wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 17, 2020 8:37 am

For the MIM offsets, the price for new guitars goes up each year as well.

The Vintera Jazzmaster and Jaguar have each gone up $100 CDN over a 1 year period since their launch.

The TVL Jazzmaster debuted in 2014 for $1299 CDN, the 2020 price is $1859 CDN, a $560 dollar difference over 6 years.

Even if you don't buy as an investment and want to buy new, the new price creeps up each year.

This is also Fender's most profitable year in their history due to the pandemic as I watched on the news last night.

The rapid Vintera increase is related in my mind to the 2020 increase in demand for guitars. Vinteras are just right at the price point for quick profit increase. It’s still a bummer.

I would also more or less guarantee that MIM Jag will be more playable and sound better than the CIJ. Way back in the 90s, everyone I knew thought those CIJ offsets were absolute garbage. I mean, that was the reason we had to hunt down vintage pieces. I dunno, I'd go modern MIM all day, and I'm very suspicious about the "value" moving forward of those CIJ guitars.

blackbox wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 07, 2020 7:41 pm

I would also more or less guarantee that MIM Jag will be more playable and sound better than the CIJ. Way back in the 90s, everyone I knew thought those CIJ offsets were absolute garbage. I mean, that was the reason we had to hunt down vintage pieces. I dunno, I'd go modern MIM all day, and I'm very suspicious about the "value" moving forward of those CIJ guitars.

Disagree about the 'garbage'. Admittedly the hardware & electronics need upgrading (which is a pretty significant cost) but the bones of every MIJ I've tried or had has often been superior to some US instruments.

However I don't see how people can justify charging like £800 plus for a stock MIJ/CIJ guitar when it's gonna need at least another £200 put into it. About 6 years ago I got a Daphne Blue Jag for about £500 (traded a Vista Jagmaster plus £250), put about £250 worth of upgrades into it, but it kicked ass. Traded it plus £500 for my Marr Jag- I do miss it a lot. I also picked up a CAR Jag for £350 on Gumtree. Flipped it for a profit like an asshole, wish I'd held on now!

I think the MIJ/CIJ command higher prices because they are more vintage-spec than the equivalent MIM or US models. For around a grand you can get a AM Pro model which'll be a superior player, but to traditionalists they just look bloody weird. The best bet really would be a Road Worn or 60's Lacquer series MIM model, but the RW's are scarce (and some hate the relic stuff) and the lacquer's come in limited colours with curry-powder headstocks. There's also a bit of a hard-on for anything pre-2000 currently, so 90's models like the Squier Vistas are going absolutely ape shit. It's stupid. But ultimately if people weren't fucking dumb enough to pay these prices then they wouldn't consistently be going up.