Vintage Jag Pricing

[dhadis]

So I've been on the hunt for a vintage Jag, and in the process I've been trying to wrap my head around the complexities of pricing. 

As a lot of you have noted on here, there's been quite a jump in prices lately.

Anyhow, as I understand it, refinishes go for about half the price of original finishes.  Is that right?  But what about factory refinishes?  Do they go for more than non-factory refinishes, or does the refinish cut the price of a guitar in half regardless of who did the refin?

The reason I ask is because I have my eye on a '60s custom color factory refin with some non-original parts and no hard case, and I'm trying to figure out if $2.5K is far too much, or if that's actually the going rate these days. 

And is it even possible to score a non-refin custom color for that price or less these days, or is that totally a thing of the past?

[Jay]

IMO a factory refin is still a refin but the quality of the finish should always be considered when looking at a refin.  A refin from the factory is probably nicer then the typical amateur job and therefor should demand a premium price over another refinished instrument.  Especially if it's a custom color.  The change parts are what would concern me more. If the guard is not original or it doesn't have the original case that's a hefty chunk of change to get it back to spec.  Got pics?  What color is it? Is this a pre CBS or Post?  All things that would have to be looked at before we could give a good guess on a fair price.

[dhadis]

Ah, gotcha.  This all makes sense.  Let's see, it's a pre-CBS but the factory refin was done after CBS buy-out, it's a 'yellowed' LPB (I have pics but don't know how to post them here), and the changed parts are the guard, the nut, and the trem arm.  Also, it's missing the mute (which seems pretty common).  That would be, what, $400-$600 more to get it up to spec?

[Jay]

You can use something like photobucket or imageshack to host pics for you...  Here's a link that should help.

http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/vie ... 239#p30239

[dhadis]

Thanks, Jay!

Here's what it looks like:







(I apologize if these are taking up too much bandwith, please feel free to delete them if they are!)

[spacecadet]

That's a smokin' hot guitar right there.

[spaceghost]

awesome.

[Jay]

It looks like the bridge cover is a repro also but it's kinda hard to tell a lot from the pictures.  Are there any with the guard off that show the factory re-fin markings?  Either way, it's pretty nice looking.

[dhadis]

Oh yeah, it is a repro bride cover.  I forgot to mention that.  There are no photos with the guard off, but I did get the instrument's story from the seller, and it sounds pretty legit.  And yeah, I agree, it is a fine-looking instrument.  I'm just trying to figure out if it's worth the $2.5K, considering the refin and the replaced pieces and missing case.  Thoughts?

[Jay]

Well, even for 2.5k a story that "sounds" legit isn't really enough to go on.  You need to get facts. Those pictures are ok... it looks like the finish is in nice shape but it's impossible to tell whether it's a factory refin or not.  The only way to know for sure is to look for the markings underneath the pickguard/in the cavities and see.  That said, in my opinion and based on what I've seen, I would look elsewhere for a nice original burst with all the right bits.  It'll be a better investment in the long run and I personally enjoy having a guitar I know hasn't had parts lost/replaced over the years.  Hopefully some of the other members with more vintage knowledge will chime in with opinions.

[blacktiger]

1) Was the guard replaced at the factory or is it after-market?
2) Are those F tuners?  If so, they are non-original.

Based on what I've seen on eBay over the years, a legit factory refin does go for more than any other refin, but not as much as an original finish.  If the replaced parts were changed out at the factory when the refin was done that tends to have less of an impact on value as well.  I haven't paid too much attention to eBay auctions lately, but it's been a long time since you could get an original CC Jag in the $2.5K price range.  You might get a SB, though.   

[Jay]

The tuner buttons look like Klusons to me and the guard is almost certainly a recent repro judging by the even mint green coloring.

[1946dodge]

What  a beautiful guitar! I love the colors.
How does it sound?

[Ahahah]

The only way to know for sure is to look for the markings underneath the pickguard/in the cavities and see. 

Before scratching the paint in the cavities... 

The marking can also be a series of letters & numbers :

- burned or stamped into the body
- burned into in neck pocket (generally, 4 digits)

Sometimes, the name of the color to be applied by the factory for a refin was stamped too : i.e. "CAR", "SB", etc...

[Ahahah]

The tuner buttons look like Klusons to me and the guard is almost certainly a recent repro judging by the even mint green coloring.

Same here.
I would add the pickup covers in the non-original part list.