Resale Value

[bigredbass]

I read Vintage Guitar, and as I live in Nashville, occasionally troll through Gruhn Guitars, and in both cases am always flummoxed by the vagaries of the used guitar market.
 
I can understand certain things, but in general you just have to chalk it up to supply and demand and what's a new one cost/are these still being made and are the new ones any good.
 
I've generally stayed out of the usual Les Paul/Strat/Martin scene.  I've generally followed the 80's Japanese guitars, whether the Matsumoku items or 'lawsuit guitars' or overlooked gems like the Yamaha SG2000 and the Ibanez Artists, as well as their bass counterparts.  They're all going up as they're rediscovered by new people, and they are rarely available new anymore as Japanese labor/exchange rates skyrocket.  Aria SB's are as expensive now as originally sold, even while Aria is re-issuing them in a VERY fine recreation.  Yamaha in America is as clueless as ever, so new SG's are pretty rare.
 
Old Music Mans are vintage to kids born about the time they came out originally.  Steinberger headless axes are going up; several years ago you could buy them all day long for less than a grand.  
 
Alembics (and generally most 'boutique' basses) always take a hit as small builders have no way to sell in big volume.  But it makes a great way to afford them for those of us in the used market.
 
I read the endless promotion that a closet full of primo vintage pieces is a better 'investment' than tradtional investments.  Anybody remember the vintage sports/exotic car market from the 80's and the ensuing crash of that market in the 90's?  No thanks.  I just want them to play.  EVERY market invariably crashes and prices readjust.
 
J o e y

[white_cloud]

Its because new Alembics, despite being awesome are overpriced!

[tubeperson]

Then new USA made Fenders, especially the Custom Shop are also overpriced. I bouth a 1959 NOS Blond Precision and the neck had to be replaced by Fender within the first year.  At that level it never should have happened.  At least they did honor their warranty.

[rockbassist]

Mike,  
 
You are correct. Your post does state that used Alembics hold their value but why don't new Alembics? Sadowsky's Pedulla's and even Fender's hold value. Why not Alembic? I love my Alembics but like I stated in my original post, why do they drop in value when they are used?  
 
Tubeperson, I agree Fender Custom shop basses are over priced but I don't think real vintage Fenders are.  
 
I also play guitar. I love Les Pauls (Gibson not Epiphone or as I like to call the Epiphony) Gibsons are way over priced. You can get 3 Fenders for the price of a Gibson.  
 
Bigredbass, I appreciate your input on the Japanese guitars but to be honest, I will never buy a bass that is made outside of the US and even then, only if I can touch it, feel it, play it. I've had several Music Man's and have had dead spots in every one of them. I will never play one again. Ten yeard ago, I had a relatively inexpensive Ibanez that sounded great, but I love vintage Fender Jazz, Alembics and Sadowsky.

[tmoney61092]

anything that came out of Matsumoku is worth it, i have a rickenbacker copy and les paul copy that came form there in the 70's that are 2 of my favortite instruments, they are cheap and as good as what they are copying
 
~Taylor