[traynor_garnet]

A buddy of mine has decided to buy his first nice guitar and wants a USA Strat. I told him I would find a good used guitar to save him some coin. I haven't looked at used Strat prices since I sold one about 3-4 years ago (which was difficult at $600!) so I cannot believe what I am seeing.

Why are used Strat prices so bloody high all of a sudden?! I know new ones have gone up, but used prices seem to have gone through the roof.

TG

 

[Budda]

I still see many an MIA standard for $800-$900 in reasonable condition. They've gone up (to me) about $150 in 3 years versus the $400 jump at the till.

Maybe you're just seeing the people who list their '97 standard for $1300?

 

[traynor_garnet]

I still see many an MIA standard for $800-$900 in reasonable condition. They've gone up (to me) about $150 in 3 years versus the $400 jump at the till.

Maybe you're just seeing the people who list their '97 standard for $1300?

Yes, almost everything is at least $1000, upwards to $1400. I thought I could get one for $800, or maybe a decent deal in the $700-750 range.

 

[jdto]

You're probably looking at $900-$1000 for a used Am. std. these days. Between the weak dollar inflating prices on Reverb and the new prices jumping up with the introduction of the Professional line, people are asking crazy prices.

 

[murraythek]

I noticed that too with the pre 2012 AVRI models before Fender made changes with the finishes etc. People think they can increase prices on instruments that did not benefit from the changes.

 

[sambonee]

I'm going the other way. I'm looking to make the Mex and Indonesian fender products sound amazing. don't laugh, it's not impossible.

with the right pickups and picks , a simple guitar can really extend it's ability to create great tones, and still not break the bank.

there are excellent deals on Japanese fender products that are NOT the JV line. Heck I had to sell my JV for $700 and that was tough.

 

[HighNoon]

Always good to have a Strat in the arsenal.....Price can depend on where 'Here' is.

 

[SurfGreenStrat]

Whether it's American or Mexican, people want too much for them. They quote the tax and then basically price the Strat like it was brand new, minus the tax lol. I had to checked Kijiji every day for almost a month to find a Mexican Strat that was offered for $450 with a gigbag. I bartered with the guy and took it home for $425 without the bag. I think that's a fair price, but on my search there were plenty of MIMs for $700-$900. Why would you pull out that much cash to pay a stranger when you could just finance one from L&M or whoever, in your preferred colour with preferred specifications is beyond me.

Good luck in your search!

 

[Fox Rox]

I'm going the other way. I'm looking to make the Mex and Indonesian fender products sound amazing. don't laugh, it's not impossible.

with the right pickups and picks , a simple guitar can really extend it's ability to create great tones, and still not break the bank.

there are excellent deals on Japanese fender products that are NOT the JV line. Heck I had to sell my JV for $700 and that was tough.

I am with sambonee. I have owned American Deluxe Strats and Teles, and MIM Strats and Teles. I will never sell my American Deluxe Strat that I custom ordered from McAulay Music in Cambridge as it is the nicest Strat I have ever played, but that said, I generally like the necks better on MIM guitars over MIA guitars. And to me playability is the most important thing. And then I can upgrade the pickups with whatever I want and still have less invested than I would in a MIA.

 

[sambonee]

Funny that I find when the finish is taken off the neck and replaced with truoil or gunstock oil, (done right) it's hard to complain about.

 

[Scotty]

If prices are up $400 at the till, why would someone not want to take advantage of using that as a reason to get more out of the sale of their used guitar?

If not, its no different than burning cash. The new one is going to cost that much more to replace it...may as well get what you can

 

[Budda]

$1k for a 3 year old guitar now listed at $1.5k in good condition is not unreasonable.

I also dont see these $700 MIMs either. When I do, they dont move.

Still not sure where you guys are looking. Im quoting toronto and london groups.

 

[Steadfastly]

It's just a strat. Why do you need one with Fender on the headstock?

 

[Scotty]

It's just a strat. Why do you need one with Fender on the headstock?

Couldn't the same thing be said about any guitar? We covet brands that are supposedly so much better than brand X, that we forget there are great alternatives that make so much more sense

 

[colchar]

I'm going the other way. I'm looking to make the Mex and Indonesian fender products sound amazing. don't laugh, it's not impossible.

with the right pickups and picks , a simple guitar can really extend it's ability to create great tones, and still not break the bank.

there are excellent deals on Japanese fender products that are NOT the JV line. Heck I had to sell my JV for $700 and that was tough.

The higher end MIMs (ie. the Classic series) are exceptional values. Great guitars, especially for the money.

When I was looking for a Tele to keep for life I couldn't get what I wanted (three saddle bridge, double-bound sunburst body, 7.25" radius, rosewood fretboard, and vintage sized frets) without going to the custom shop level. So instead, I bought a Squier Classic Vibe Custom and then ordered a MIM Classic '60s neck directly from Fender. It came with a logo and a legit serial number. I had that put on the body then sold the original neck to get about half of the money back that I spent on the neck. It was the best guitar decision I ever made. I want to change the electronics and the pickups (it came with Suhr Classic Ts installed and I'm not a fan) and have everything picked out, I just haven't gotten around to it yet (my Dad passed away as the guitar was being put together so I had bigger issues to deal with and have just been lazy since then).

I already love that guitar, and expect that I will love it that much more once the electronics and pickups are changed, so I fully understand and support your quest to mod MIMs to your liking as you can get exactly what you want without paying stupid prices.

 

[colchar]

I generally like the necks better on MIM guitars over MIA guitars.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[colchar]

If prices are up $400 at the till, why would someone not want to take advantage of using that as a reason to get more out of the sale of their used guitar?

If not, its no different than burning cash. The new one is going to cost that much more to replace it...may as well get what you can

While I understand that, asking the same as you paid, and sometimes more, because of new prices is just stupid. They are not vintage items and their value has not increased.

 

[xXErrma GerrdXx]

A buddy of mine has decided to buy his first nice guitar and wants a USA Strat. I told him I would find a good used guitar to save him some coin. I haven't looked at used Strat prices since I sold one about 3-4 years ago (which was difficult at $600!) so I cannot believe what I am seeing.

Why are used Strat prices so bloody high all of a sudden?! I know new ones have gone up, but used prices seem to have gone through the roof.

TG

A buddy of mine has decided to buy his first nice guitar and wants a USA Strat. I told him I would find a good used guitar to save him some coin. I haven't looked at used Strat prices since I sold one about 3-4 years ago (which was difficult at $600!) so I cannot believe what I am seeing.

Why are used Strat prices so bloody high all of a sudden?! I know new ones have gone up, but used prices seem to have gone through the roof.

TG

I got this guy for 450$ about y months ago. It's a 2004 Hwy 1

A buddy of mine has decided to buy his first nice guitar and wants a USA Strat. I told him I would find a good used guitar to save him some coin. I haven't looked at used Strat prices since I sold one about 3-4 years ago (which was difficult at $600!) so I cannot believe what I am seeing.

Why are used Strat prices so bloody high all of a sudden?! I know new ones have gone up, but used prices seem to have gone through the roof.

TG

 

[xXErrma GerrdXx]

About 6 months ago I got a Hwy1 2004 for 450$

To me it was worth it..i love that guitar !

 

[Sneaky]

I sold a few really nice Strats (EJ, AVRI, Mayer, USA Deluxe) a couple years ago for way less than I should have, but nobody was buying so I dropped my asking prices.