How much am I worth?

daram

I've always wondered if my guitar is worth much. Is there any easy way of finding out? I dont want to sell it, I just wanna know for the sake of knowing. Anyone any ideas?

Doctor J

Put it on ebay with an insane reserve price, so it won't be bought.

ferdi

what is the guitar?

daram

What if it is bought though? Would I have to give it up?

Its a USA Fender Strat "American Traditional". Initially it was one of the first guitars made in a new Calafornia plant when they were testing there equipment. I think as a result the electrics are mexican but I cant be sure. As far as Im concerned it bears the "American Traditional" tag which no other strats have, so I like to believe its rare.

To add to that, three years back I lent it to Bonnie Raitt when she was playing in Vicar Street. And she signed the back of it afterwise. That adds to the value somewhat I believe.

Photo of Bonnie playing it and again (note mark knopfler in the background) and a bit closer

Doctor J

It's only worth what someone will pay for it.

Put a reserve of $5,000,000 on it. That should be safe, Ebay doesn't say what the reserve is.

See how much people want it, that's how much it's worth.

A regular USA strat from the late 80's is worth about $700 - $900, depending on how rare the model is and if what makes it rare is regarded as agood thing. You're really appealing to Bonnie Raitt fans exclusively and there's no way of gauging how much a fanatic may want the guitar and be willing to pay for it.

Edit -> what's the serial number? Should be able to find out more from that.

daram

How? Is there somewhere you can give the serial and they give you the history?

Another problem with the ebay thing is that bonnie may see it herself. When she signed it she did so on the premise that I wouldnt sell it. She told me she'd had problems with people selling guitars she'd signed on the internet before. Thus she doesnt sign guitars anymore. But I said that my guitar was my life and that Id never sell it so she agreed. I hate for her to see it on ebay.

Doctor J

You can find out where and when it was made. From there you can find out what else was going on in the factory at the time.

daram

Schweet. Ill take that off it tonight.

Doctor J

Roughly speaking, if it starts with an E it's an eighties guitar, N for nineties. The second number indicates the year - ie E9 = 89 N6 = 96 etc etc

daram

I think it 99, seeing as thats when i bought it, and it was brand new, but ill check later anyway...

Doctor J

Have a read of this . The thing with strat pickups is, they sound better further away from the strings. I have mine down around the level of the pickguard, it really makes for classic strat tone.