f50 values.

[ramblinman]

hello. im curious about this issue. i have been looking at westerly f-50s and jf30s since early december seriously trying to buy a guitar. On here i have seen several references to these guitars being somewhere in the 1500.00 range. which is what i was expecting to pay. However on ebay and gear base the ones listed seem to average anywhere from mid 2k-3k range. I have also noticed these dealers have had these guitars for at least the almost 60 days i have been looking. I prefer an earlier westerly guitar (pre fender). Wear is ok however any structural damage i.e. repaired cracks extra strap holes etc i am excluding. A guitar with play wear is great with me i dont want a museum piece. I am wondering if there is either a shift in the market of these guitars or have these dealers simply paid too much. The people with them for sale seem to be considerably higher than what the perceived market is of people who own them and play them. About 35-40% higher. Thoughts?

 

[capnjuan]

Hi and welcome to LTG. The prices on Gbase and Buy-In-Now usually exceed the general market value of the guitars. GBase dealer-owned prices include a gross margin/profit but are often negotiable. Sometimes GBase prices are less flexible because the dealer doesn't own the guitar and is only brokering it.

Sometimes owners of better-make guitars are prepared to sell 'if they get their price' which is often more than it's worth; add on a fee for the brokering and you get prices exceeding private-seller/buyer at-risk transactions on eBay. And ... of course ... since there are so many examples of it being true, dealers often price as if there's a sucker born every minute. :wink:

 

[Ridgemont]

Its funny, I see people say the $1500 range is fair for an F50, but I have never seen one for sale below 2K. Not even on this site from one forum member to another. Now I have seen the JF30 go for less than 1K and higher end JFs go for 1-1.5K. Sometimes it seems there is an inconsistency as to what people say the guitar is worth versus the actual price at which they are willing to sell.


BAM...1000 posts! :mrgreen:

 

[twocorgis]

Its funny, I see people say the $1500 range is fair for an F50, but I have never seen one for sale below 2K. Not even on this site from one forum member to another. Now I have seen the JF30 go for less than 1K and higher end JFs go for 1-1.5K. Sometimes it seems there is an inconsistency as to what people say the guitar is worth versus the actual price at which they are willing to sell.


BAM...1000 posts! :mrgreen:

Congrats Ridgy!

I think that if you're patient and careful, there are many good deals to be had on F50s. I bought my F50R off of eBay on Xmas day '09 for $1132, plus another $80 to fix minor issues. I found a nice JF55 (same as the F50R) that later went to West at the local GC used for $1000. They're out there, you just have to go find 'em. 8)

 

[204084]

All I know about values of the F50 series is that I paid somewhere over $900 for my new F50R in 1979. If I were ever to think about selling it, my price would be at least 2K. It's in mint condition with nary a scratch.

But I'll never sell it so.....

8)

 

[fronobulax]

westerly guitar (pre fender)

For the instruments I track, Gbase prices are always high compared to eBay. There can be a reason to pay more to get an instrument set up and checked out by a dealer but the prices are higher than that. I have often found that eBay asking prices are higher than eBay sale prices.

Folks who worked at Westerly have said that quality control remained the same and got better while Fender managed the plant. Unless you have some specific reasons to avoid Fender ownership you might be missing your guitar be excluding the newer Westerly guitars.

 

[adorshki]

westerly guitar (pre fender)

Folks who worked at Westerly have said that quality control remained the same and got better while Fender managed the plant. Unless you have some specific reasons to avoid Fender ownership you might be missing your guitar be excluding the newer Westerly guitars.

Yeah Fender didn't even put their name on 'em if that's what you're worried about! :lol: But yes, by several accounts the "Fender" Westerlys were the best. I have two and I believe it. But yeah, I could be a little biased. :lol:

 

[micklevanon]

From my own experience, the 2 F50Rs I looked at were between $2000-$2300. My '91 JF30 was $1K but it is as close to mint as you can possibly get without being NOS. Interesting that someone stated the cost of their F50 was $900 in 1979. The receipt I found in the case for my JF30 had the same price, $900 for the guitar and $100 for the case. Same exact price 20 years later for a guitar and case that look like they just stepped out of the showroom!

Have fun looking. If I could find and F50R for $12-1300 I'd buy one, but that hasn't been my experience.

cheers
m

 

[Ridgemont]

Its funny, I see people say the $1500 range is fair for an F50, but I have never seen one for sale below 2K. Not even on this site from one forum member to another. Now I have seen the JF30 go for less than 1K and higher end JFs go for 1-1.5K. Sometimes it seems there is an inconsistency as to what people say the guitar is worth versus the actual price at which they are willing to sell.


BAM...1000 posts! :mrgreen:

Congrats Ridgy!

I think that if you're patient and careful, there are many good deals to be had on F50s. I bought my F50R off of eBay on Xmas day '09 for $1132, plus another $80 to fix minor issues. I found a nice JF55 (same as the F50R) that later went to West at the local GC used for $1000. They're out there, you just have to go find 'em. 8)

You are right Sandy. If you are patient, a good deal will eventually will come your way. Problem is, my situation of being short of money is a direct result of being short of patience. :wink:

 

[bluesypicky]

A couple of them available right now on the GC used inventory (forgot the locations but a search will let you know quickly) at $1499 & 1299..... I actually contemplated the latter for a while, but then bumped against an old dream of mine at the recent Orlando guitar show (a solid body electric, so not even close!!) and that allowed me to stay true to my "Mr 1k" reputation (a wink to my usual max budget when shopping for guitars)...

 

[ramblinman]

Thanks. found them. both showed 1499. first was a corona with a crack running along neck on top from 15th to 21rst fret. second is a rosewood. i want a maple. the search continues. they did offer for a 1000. though on cracked one. lol

 

[bluesypicky]

I figured the one at $1299 was going to move sooner rather than later.... and it was also a rosewood anyway.
Good luck, one will show up I'm sure.

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

Its funny, I see people say the $1500 range is fair for an F50, but I have never seen one for sale below 2K..............<snip>.......

How 'bout this one?:
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/msg/2182223587.html

It appears to be a Westerly Factory Second, though.

~nw

 

[tjmangum]

Asking prices vs. selling prices are two very different animals. Do a search on Ebay for completed listings. Click on "Advanced" at the search bar and then go down and click on "Completed". Then do a search and look for what actually sold.
I haven't looked for F50s for some time, but I wouldn't be surprised if there still aren't some NOS from Tacoma to be found for somewhere around 1500 -1700 on some dealers shelves, not to mention, as some have said, of decent used examples in the 1000 -1250 range.
Good luck!
Terry

 

[kyguild]

I haven't looked for F50s for some time, but I wouldn't be surprised if there still aren't some NOS from Tacoma to be found for somewhere around 1500 -1700 on some dealers shelves, not to mention, as some have said, of decent used examples in the 1000 -1250 range.

My wife found my NOS Tacoma F50 for 1300 a couple of years ago at a local dealer. Tremendous sounding guitar with exceptional quality build.....don't be scared of a Tacoma model if you can find a good deal on one.

Ky

 

[fronobulax]

It appears to be a Westerly Factory Second, though.

~nw

Because of the stamped 02 on the label, I presume?

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

It appears to be a Westerly Factory Second, though.

~nw

Because of the stamped 02 on the label, I presume?

That's correct. I believe that to be an authentic marking used at Westerly to indicate a factory second.

They also used the letter 'Z' stamped on the back of the headstock. This has been documented by Hans, in various threads.

~nw

 

[ramblinman]

could seconds potentially have structural issues or is it limited to finish issues?

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

could seconds potentially have structural issues or is it limited to finish issues?

My understanding is that from this time period, the factory second classification would indicate a flaw in the finish, only. Many learned folks here have opined, that by the time a factory second reaches this stage of it's life, the finish flaws would be all but invisible, due to the normal wear you'd expect to find on a guitar of this age.

~nw