The effects of polishing a satin Larrivee on value?

[jeremy3220]

How will buffing out an 03 affect its value? It doesn't seem like a big factor in recent sales I've seen but I also wonder about the long term. I'm wondering if in 30 years if people will be wanting 'all original' Larrivee's. Of course Larrivee's that are currently 30 years old don't fetch much money anyway, so maybe it doesn't matter. I'm just thinking there might be a day when these are treated like pre-war Martin's are now and people will want them with original pins,tuners,etc. 

[Tycho]

I think the short answer is: who knows? 

[stuco]

 

Well, I doubt larrivees will ever be regarded in the same way prewar martins are, those are considered the original standard of great modern acoustic guitar design. PWMartins are and will always be considered the "holy grail" of acoustics although this iconic status is a little absurd. But in some respects such as the actual design and a large number of exceptional instruments I feel that it is deserved.  I think some people will prefer a glossed 03 and some would rather have an "original" finished one.  But as long as the "glossing" hasn't caused any problems with the finish longterm and is done well I don't see it as being a problem asthetically.  But, in thirty years I were looking for a nice "vintage" larrivee 03 guitar I would likely prefer an original one.

But who know I might end up glossing it anyway.

[hatofthecat]

How will buffing out an 03 affect its value?

It can only likely reduce its general saleability as most folks are going to prefer to buy a guitar with an "as original" finish now and in the future.  Bone saddles & nuts, better tuners, ebony pins and pegs are all reversal "enhancements".... glossing is a one way trip unfortunately 

Pete

[Denis]

Thing is, any satin finish will, with time and a lot of playing, will start to develop shiny spots...like under where you rest your right arm so in my mind, buffing is just speeding up this process and making the guitar's finish nice and even.  Just like the satin finish on the neck.  It will never stay satin. 

I remember when I buffed my OM-15.  I didn't even use any "products" just the steel wool.  I'd had it for a year or 2 at that point and you could see a shiny spot developing underwhere I would rest my right arm on the guitar. 

Ask Blue in VT if he would have paid more for his OM-03BW if it hadn't been buffed out...

[jwsamuel]

Well, I have seen several 03 series guitars for sale here that I have been interested in. But as soon as I see they have been polished, I move on. I like the satin finish on the 03 series and do not want one that has been polished.

Jim

[jimmyd]

The chance of 03 Larrivee's having collectable value in years to come is slim to none. There weren't that many pre-war Martins made to begin with. Maybe a few hundred per year at most. Those high dollar Martins are closer to 60 than 30 years old. For example a 30 year old D35 ain't worth all that much. Currently there are hundreds of thousands of guitars in the Larrivee 03 value range being produced every year by more makers than I can count. The special edition Larrivee's  of which only a few are made probably have the best chance of really appreciating in value.

[canoe65]

Well, I have seen several 03 series guitars for sale here that I have been interested in. But as soon as I see they have been polished, I move on. I like the satin finish on the 03 series and do not want one that has been polished.
Jim

I agree 100% with Jim's point of view.  I specifically wanted a 'satin' finish L-03, not an L-05.

I like satin finishes.  My previous two acoustics, a Seagull Cedar 6+ and a La Patrie Etude, were both satin finishes.

Right now, my GAS is nudging me to find a used Larrivée P-03.  If I find one that's been polished, I'll simply move on.  

[PortHueneme]

I believe you should buy a guitar to play. I further believe that guitars built today are better because of the technology. The vintage ones have value because they are rare or in some cases represent the guitar we dreamed about when we were younger and could not afford much. Today many of us are vintage like the guitars we play.

If you like a polished guitar, go for it, it will give you more pleasure when you play. In 30 years you can worry about its value. I have a great collection and don't think of them as an investment. I will just play them while I am around and someone else is going to maybe get a great old guitar.

[stuco]

If you like a polished guitar, go for it, it will give you more pleasure when you play. In 30 years you can worry about its value.

Yes, but thats the point if you do irreversable modifications to it the value will be affected in the future.  Think if you bought a Fender Telecaster in 1953.  You didn't like that "yellow" finish so you painted it red instead.  That guitar in original condition would be worth over $50,000 today while a repainted one would be worth probably a fourth of that.

[Tycho]

Today many of us are vintage like the guitars we play.

Cruel!

Yet true.

[jeremy3220]

Thing is, any satin finish will, with time and a lot of playing, will start to develop shiny spots...like under where you rest your right arm so in my mind, buffing is just speeding up this process and making the guitar's finish nice and even. 

Yeh I thought about that. possibly in 30 years you wouldn't be able to tell whether it was buffed or not.

I didn't mean that these would ever reach pre-war Martin status but rather that they might become highly collectable items due to the diminishing supply of tonewoods. Probably not rare enough though.

[PortHueneme]

Yes, but thats the point if you do irreversable modifications to it the value will be affected in the future.  Think if you bought a Fender Telecaster in 1953.  You didn't like that "yellow" finish so you painted it red instead.  That guitar in original condition would be worth over $50,000 today while a repainted one would be worth probably a fourth of that.

I agree if you are buying it as an investment. If future value is the reason you buy, then you should keep the guitar in it case, in a box so all stay pristine for a future date.
What I think about is a guitar from 1953 it 54 years old. When my 2005-06 guitars are 54 years old I will be 111. By then I will be relegated to playing a parlor or uke as the space in a coffin can be a little cramped. 

[ducktrapper]

I agree. It will push the price down if anything. The original patina and all that.

[noyage]

Bone saddles & nuts, better tuners, ebony pins and pegs are all reversal "enhancements".... glossing is a one way trip unfortunately 

Theortically, one could de-gloss.

[stuco]

Theortically, one could de-gloss.

Maybe, but I'd like to see it done and it would actually be even less original than the "glossed" guitar(more finish would be gone)

[dp36]

"Well, I have seen several 03 series guitars for sale here that I have been interested in. But as soon as I see they have been polished, I move on. I like the satin finish on the 03 series and do not want one that has been polished."

I did the same thing...passed on a polished one....bought a non polished one. Although I think the polished one look nice.

[axeman]

If I had to guess, I'd guess that in 30 years the most valuable Larrivees are likely to be the upper end ones, and the maybe the rarer 03's.  I personally prefer gloss to satin, so if the job is done well I'd still be interested.  My guess is the difference between a well done glossed 03 and a stock satin won't be too great in 30 years.  In fact, since satin doesn't tend to wear well in my experience, the well glossed one might "age" better, in looks, if not in sound and value.  Fact is, I'm considering an 03 12 string right now.  The fact they are satin is the only negative, to me.  As for what I'd do, if it was mine, I'd have it the way I want it and enjoy it for the next 30 years.  Preserving a guitar in a condition you're less than happy with just in case it MIGHT be worth more that way just wouldn't be worth it to me.  But, if you're really concerned, why not get one to preserve in pristine condition and another to do what you want to?

[tikabear]

I prefer satin on a used 03 series.  That said, I got an om03 here about a year ago that was "polished" but not glossed.  The previous owner said he didn't like the "swoosh" sound made but his arm brushing against the guitar and stopped after "step 1" of the Orsino method.  The look it still matte but it's smooth to the touch which I relly like.  He left the top satin which is an absolute deal breaker for me.  If the top's been polished, I move on.  My OM03 is the best playing Larrivee I've ever owned.  I daresay I'd keep it over the L09Koa I recently got.

[whiskeyjack]

It's a buyers' preference.   Some folks like satin.  Some not.  By glossing a satin guitar you'll lose the folks who like satin while appealing to those who might like a quality glossed -03 at a reasonable price.

I've glossed four guitars.  Sold three.  Glossing didn't influence their selling price at all.  I do think that glossing increased the appeal and interest in the sale of all three.  In one of those instances, I sold the guitar for $200 more than I paid for it.

It just depends on who's buying and what their preferences are. . . . like anything else.

Regarding how a glossed satin guitar will be accepted or rejected in a few years . .   It's hard to know but I suspect it won't be such a big deal.