Larrivee Resale Values Slipping Or Did I Get A Great Deal?

[jwsamuel]

I had a Larrivee D-50 that I sold about 18 months ago. I regretted selling it and have been looking for another one since. Earlier this afternoon, I was looking on eBay and saw a D-50 up for auction that was ending tonight. It had a low bid, so I put in a bid to see if I could get it at a low price. I had the high bid but with nine hours left in the auction, I did not expect my bid to last. Well it did last, and I got this D-50 for about two-thirds the price ($400 less)  that I sold my first D-50 for last year.

So now I am wondering:

• Is the market for used guitars that bad right now?
• Is Larrivee getting hurt worse by the economy than other brands?
• Is there something other than the economy that is pushing down prices for used Larrivee guitars?
• Or did I just get lucky and snag a great deal?

Any thoughts?

No matter what, I am thrilled to get another D-50.

Jim

[sayheyjeff]

congrats on the new d50.  my impression is that it is a great time to buy a guitar.

jeff

[dermot]

I am wondering:

• Is the market for used guitars that bad right now?
• Is Larrivee getting hurt worse by the economy than other brands?
• Is there something other than the economy that is pushing down prices for used Larrivee guitars?
• Or did I just get lucky and snag a great deal?

Any thoughts?

There's been some stupid low selling prices lately on alot of mid -to- high end guitars - 09+ series larrivee, Morgan, Webber all at prices i never thought i would see, even some "B" Martin's like 60's 18's are falling... a good time to be buying, but i would not want to be in a position to sell anything right now...

IMHO | YMMV

d.

[GA-ME]

I saw a Santa Cruz 12 fret dred in IR/Sitka sell for 900 bucks on another Forum. Crazy Stupid Deals! Same forum has a nice 1995 Collings 000 2H sale pending at 1500. Yup good time if you have spare cash and a hankering for guitars.

[jwsamuel]

My only experience recently has been with 15 and 16 series Martins and they do not seem to be affected too much by the economy. I have seen a number of guitars just not move but had not seen any great deals until the D-50 came along.

Jim

[hadden]

I've had a Beneteau OM sitting in the corner that needs selling -- I need the cash, but I suspect I'm going to get clobbered. I sold another one through the 12th Fret and it got less than half of new after languishing for 10 months.

[Mr_LV19E]

I'm a little surprised this one sold for as much as it did.  It is a beautiful guitar though.

[unclrob]

And that was still below what it should have sold for.

[jwsamuel]

I don't want to post the exact price, but I got the D-50 for under nine hundred.

Jim

[Mr_LV19E]

Jim, I saw yours under completed listings and yes you got a great deal.  Congrats!!

[leftync]

When I bought my D-50 (older model, rosewood b&s) in January, I was stunned to see it go bid-less on the bay at $1200, while a Martin Sigma went for almost that in competitive bidding. B/e I knew the seller from another forum and b/e he lived w/in driving distance I went to see the guitar during the bidding. I didn't bid b/e my offer was part cash, part trade. But it added up to his minimum bid. I might have offered less, but I didn't. He might have asked for more, but he didn't (although the lack of bidding on e-bay wasn't a good sign for him). I like to think of it as win-win, but I doubt that in a better economy I'd have been able to get something this good for $1200. I certainly wouldn't take $1200 for it.
Of course, the lefty market is altogether a different market. But it's clearly a buyer's market. The trick is having the cash to enjoy it.

[DJ in FL]

You got a GREAT deal on a great guitar for sure!

IMHO is a fantastic time to be buying and yes there are a lot of used quality gits out there...supply and demand is working well.  Just as real estate, cars, boats, etc...you name it --it is a tough economy and I bet everyone of us feels some pain, or at least a pinch from belt being tighter these days. If you did not tighten up, you are indeed one of the fortunate ones.

If you are fortunate enough to have some "excess $$" (if there is such a thing as excess $$), then great deals out there to be had on your timetable and terms.

Hope we can all hold onto our guitars and play them as often as we can...lessen that stress we all have.  As John Conlee sang to be JUST A SWINGING on that front porch swing with pretty Charlotte Johnson (and our Lari) is good.  OK, that's not exactly what he sang, but close enough for government work.

[DaveyO]

I bid on that guitar!
You got a great deal, congrats.
Dave

[leftync]

I took a look at the listing and yeah, you got a great deal. Little pattern to the bidding on Larrivees, as some are actively pursued, others go without bids. Frankly, I don't think $1500 would be too much to pay for a guitar that good assuming it's been well taken care of. My D-50 was about 15 years old, needed about $100 of fretwork and general maintenance. Neck resets on Larrivees are rarely needed, from what I read.
Although I have no plans to sell either of my two Larrivees or to buy another, it is a bit depressing to see such low market values. I paid about $500 a couple of months ago for a spruce-majogany parlor (no other number or designation). I didn't think that was too bad or too good. But again, lefties are a separate market.
Enjoy the D-50.

[Danny]

   You are very fortunate, that was a great deal.

[kwakatak]

FWIW, I've seen a couple of Martins going for insanely low prices: a D-16GT for $600 and a 15 series going for $300. THey were on craig's list though and weren't local to me, so I didn't have a chance on either.

[jwsamuel]

FWIW, I've seen a couple of Martins going for insanely low prices: a D-16GT for $600 and a 15 series going for $300. THey were on craig's list though and weren't local to me, so I didn't have a chance on either.

Wow...I have not seen any Martins going that low. It seems that used guitar prices are lower now than they were in the midst of the financial mess earlier this year. I have noticed a lot of guitars going unsold at what seemed like reasonable prices last year.

Are people just becoming less willing to spend a lot of money on things they really don't need, even if they have the money?

Jim

[Danny]

Wow...I have not seen any Martins going that low. It seems that used guitar prices are lower now than they were in the midst of the financial mess earlier this year. I have noticed a lot of guitars going unsold at what seemed like reasonable prices last year.

Are people just becoming less willing to spend a lot of money on things they really don't need, even if they have the money?

Jim

I don't think it's as bad as it may seem. I have been looking for a 15 series Martin and they are holding a higher value. One will come along that is a surprise in any brand, but in general good guitars are not losing as much as the "one" rock bottom deal that pops up.
                 The higher end models do seem to have slowed down though. Even then if it is a desirable model they still move quickly.

[Ted @ LA Guitar Sales]

Jim, you got a crazy deal on that D-50, congratulations and enjoy!

Used Larrivee prices are as low as I have ever seen them. It would be easy to say it's the economy but I'm not seeing the same thing with other brands. One of the reasons for low eBay prices might be that Larrivee is one of many manufacturers who does not allow their dealers to sell new guitars on eBay, which means eBay shoppers have no idea what the current MAP is on a new one. For instance the MAP on Jim's new D-50 is almost three times what it sold for. Something tells me if there was a new D-50 listed at MAP by a dealer next to the used one, the bidding might have gotten more interesting.

on a positive note, hopefully the current low prices will encourage folks not familiar with these outstanding instruments try one.

BTW, did you get you're OX yet?

Ted

[jwsamuel]

Hi Ted,

No OX yet...maybe when I get home from work today.

Who knows ... Who knows...I may be calling you about a Cargo!

Jim