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How much discount for broken headstock on ES-3X5?

GotTheSilver

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How much would you take off of the price of a vintage (1958-1964) ES-3X5 for a well repaired headstock break? Assume everything else is original and in good (not excellent) condition.

Those who have bought vintage 3X5s with a repaired headstock, have you ever regretted it?
 

lonesomesheik

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I would say half the price of the corresponding one with an untouched neck:hmm
 

oldflame

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Those who have bought vintage 3X5s with a repaired headstock, have you ever regretted it?

Not at all. As long as it has been done properly is the main thing. Okay it's not a collector anymore, it's a player but that's the whole point isn't it? Put it another way...how may famous Gibson's can you think of that have suffered a headstock break and have laid down killer tracks over the decades?
 

slimdave

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Tell that to the dealers man.

A dealer can set the price as high as he wants, but then he has to actually sell it...

In today's market 'players' are a pita to sell. Either it's very collectable or mint, or it's very good priced. Everything in between doesn't move.

The problem as a buyer when acquiring a player is that it's either a great guitar, or you'll have even a harder time selling it than a dealer. In other words: you better buy a keeper, if not you're screwed.
 

marshall1987

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Price reduced much less for the '58 and '59 with well repaired headstock crack. Say perhaps $4K to $6K price reduction.

For the 1960 - 1964, say $6K to $8K off.
 

oldflame

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The problem as a buyer when acquiring a player is that it's either a great guitar, or you'll have even a harder time selling it than a dealer. In other words: you better buy a keeper, if not you're screwed.

That's true to a certain extent. However at a fair price, I'd rather by old broken than new broken. What about you?
 

marshall1987

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Not at all. As long as it has been done properly is the main thing. Okay it's not a collector anymore, it's a player but that's the whole point isn't it? Put it another way...how may famous Gibson's can you think of that have suffered a headstock break and have laid down killer tracks over the decades?

I haven't got a clue........and never really gave it much thought either. And have to imagine most music fans don't give a hoot.:dang
 

slimdave

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That's true to a certain extent. However at a fair price, I'd rather by old broken than new broken. What about you?

I would go for a players' guitar for sure. It's hard to justify the price of an all original piece for me. Everything that I've bought in the last years is old, and everything has issues. But that's me.

And if I'd buy a players' guitar I would try to get a very very good price out of it. Because buying a players' instrument means that future buyers will probably be players, too. And players will try to get the best deal out of it (and dealers usually hate guitars with issues). You can also say that you will never sell this one, but you know that shit happens and it's possible that you will have to sell at some point.

On the other side, I would try to play the guitar before acquiring it. It would have to be a great guitar to buy it. I would have to feel it's a real keeper. Because it's very probable that you'll be stuck with this one for some time. My impression about today's market is that flipping guitars with issues is not a great business. Well, if they are priced as a steal, maybe then you have an option.
 

GotTheSilver

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Thanks for the input everyone. 50% was what I was thinking, but I see a lot of guitars listed with repaired headstock cracks with a lot smaller discount.

I have a chance at one that has a repaired headstock break. I had always thought of this as out of the question for me, but now I have started to consider it. I am hoping to get a chance to play this guitar soon. I agree with slimdave, that I would need to play it first and it would need to be a real keeper for me to buy it.

Oldflame - Off hand, I can think of two Gibsons with repaired headstocks that went on to have great careers - Gary Rossington's Les Paul and Johnny Winter's Firebird. I am sure there are more.
 

lpnv59

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Thanks for the input everyone. 50% was what I was thinking, but I see a lot of guitars listed with repaired headstock cracks with a lot smaller discount.

I have a chance at one that has a repaired headstock break. I had always thought of this as out of the question for me, but now I have started to consider it. I am hoping to get a chance to play this guitar soon. I agree with slimdave, that I would need to play it first and it would need to be a real keeper for me to buy it.

Oldflame - Off hand, I can think of two Gibsons with repaired headstocks that went on to have great careers - Gary Rossington's Les Paul and Johnny Winter's Firebird. I am sure there are more.

Off the top of my head....Greeny comes to mind. ANd that went up in value. I guess it really matters who actually breaks it.:spabout
 

rockabilly69

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Unless you are positive that you are going to keep that instrument, work for the biggest discount possible. When/if the thrill of the new guitar wears off, and you want to unload it, people that are looking to buy will do the same to you. Now if this the only way you can afford to get into the type of instrument you want, broken headstocks will surely open the door, but deal wisely:)
 

CAGinLA

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Back in '07, when I sold my '70 335 with broken headstock, I only got half the value of one without any headstock damage.
 

SuperReal

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Well, I actually own a '64 335 with a well repaired headstock crack (not a real bad break) . It's a red, "custom made" with Bigsby and has a fair amount of play wear. A realistic selling price without the break might be $12,000.

There's no way you're going be able to buy a guitar like this for $6,000. So I don't think the 50% rule necessarily applies to really desirable guitars from collectable years..

By the way, the guitar was intact when I bought it but was broken when shipped to me. I negotiated a discount from the seller, kept the guitar and got it fixed. I'm so glad I did. It's the best guitar I've ever had (of over a hundred) and is my #1 gig guitar.
 

slimdave

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Well, I actually own a '64 335 with a well repaired headstock crack (not a real bad break) . It's a red, "custom made" with Bigsby and has a fair amount of play wear. A realistic selling price without the break might be $12,000.

There's no way you're going be able to buy a guitar like this for $6,000. So I don't think the 50% rule necessarily applies to really desirable guitars from collectable years..

By the way, the guitar was intact when I bought it but was broken when shipped to me. I negotiated a discount from the seller, kept the guitar and got it fixed. I'm so glad I did. It's the best guitar I've ever had (of over a hundred) and is my #1 gig guitar.

I'm not saying issue guitars aren't great players. All I'm saying is tha they are hard to move if you don't get them cheap.

Regarding the price, you can get a '64 335 husk with issues for 4K or less (check lark street music). Add to this price the pat. #s, the hardware and the remaining parts and you'll be no higher than 8k. I for sure wouldn't pay much higher than 8k for a broken neck 64 335.
 
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