Lets look at our guitars thread
Discussion
I understand they’re a mixed bag quality wise. When I was offered this one I did some research and contacted the previous owner. He confirmed this one was particularly good and he’d been through a few. That said, I have only ever played this one but it is great, in particular the neck. It’s fundamentally a simple guitar but very well made and does what it does very well. Sounds great too, recorded this on it recently when messing around, which may or may not be useful - https://m.soundcloud.com/rsbmw/get-the-funk-out-im...
I’ve only had one Jem, a 7VWH in the early 2000’s. It was good but didn’t last long. Whilst I quite like Ibanez they always just leave me a little cold, a bit mass produced and sterile.
IIRC you have a number of Ibanez already, would a Jem really add anything? Could be tricky to get the right example of an N4 though, you can’t exactly pop to a shop and try a few. I’m not selling this one
I’ve only had one Jem, a 7VWH in the early 2000’s. It was good but didn’t last long. Whilst I quite like Ibanez they always just leave me a little cold, a bit mass produced and sterile.
IIRC you have a number of Ibanez already, would a Jem really add anything? Could be tricky to get the right example of an N4 though, you can’t exactly pop to a shop and try a few. I’m not selling this one
Any help / advice appreciated.
The other half was gifted a Made In USA Strat back in the 90’s. It was brand new at the time and has been kept well in a hard case. Played every so often and never gigged.
We’re trying to get an idea on value (not selling but interested) and also, advice on a specific issue I’ve seen. The neck shows signs of surface cracks... are these lacquer cracks only or a sign of something else? Pics below.
The other half was gifted a Made In USA Strat back in the 90’s. It was brand new at the time and has been kept well in a hard case. Played every so often and never gigged.
We’re trying to get an idea on value (not selling but interested) and also, advice on a specific issue I’ve seen. The neck shows signs of surface cracks... are these lacquer cracks only or a sign of something else? Pics below.
rsbmw said:
Value around £1k I would expect, lacquer cracking may put a dent in that. If it were me I'd be sanding it all off to give a super smooth raw satin neck, which is my preference anyway
Thanks so it looks like it is the lacquer and not some deeper issue? That’s what I’d hoped.Ok - here's my baby.
Bought this in 1994 with the savings of my first ever 5 months paychecks. Quite an achievement given I was also living away from home, paying rent, food etc. I think it was c£650 at the time, or approx 1.5x my monthly take home pay.
My '94 wine red Les Paul Studio.
26 years old, still plays beautifully, lovely ebony fretboard.
Bought this in 1994 with the savings of my first ever 5 months paychecks. Quite an achievement given I was also living away from home, paying rent, food etc. I think it was c£650 at the time, or approx 1.5x my monthly take home pay.
My '94 wine red Les Paul Studio.
26 years old, still plays beautifully, lovely ebony fretboard.
Edited by HiAsAKite on Tuesday 5th January 16:46
HiAsAKite said:
Ok - here's my baby.
Bought this in 1994 with the savings of my first ever 5 months paychecks. Quite an achievement given I was also living away from home, paying rent, food etc. I think it was c£650 at the time, or approx 1.5x my take home pay.
My '94 wine red Les Paul Studio.
26 years old, still plays beautifully, lovely ebony fretboard.
That’s lovely! Bought this in 1994 with the savings of my first ever 5 months paychecks. Quite an achievement given I was also living away from home, paying rent, food etc. I think it was c£650 at the time, or approx 1.5x my take home pay.
My '94 wine red Les Paul Studio.
26 years old, still plays beautifully, lovely ebony fretboard.
vdn said:
That’s lovely!
I remember the biggest revelation when I picked it up in the shop (I think it was Denmark street) was the ease with which it played over my current guitar - a Encore strat copy -(which bizarrely I still have for some reason)My biggest shame is having played as much as I could between the ages of 17 and 21, life events got in the way, and I didn't really pick it up again until a few years ago, mainly to keep my toddlers amused and get them into music..., so I feel like I'm almost learning again
HiAsAKite said:
... My '94 wine red Les Paul Studio ... .
I have a 1995 one identical to yours, except mine has gold hardware - which I don't really like as it goes tatty with age. It didn't play very well at first and even a fret level and reprofile did nothing for the problem. Then I discovered it was suffering from the dreaded bridge 'droop' - whereby the bridge, over time, sags in the middle. A replacement cured that but of course had to be aged to match the other hardware.
Here's a not very good photo of the original bridge.
rsbmw said:
Value around £1k I would expect, lacquer cracking may put a dent in that. If it were me I'd be sanding it all off to give a super smooth raw satin neck, which is my preference anyway
I've bought and sold dozens of USA Fenders over the years and I'd say it's worth a grand all day long, unusual body colour headstock which not everyone likes and the colour would put a lot of people off but well loved and played USA Strats sell for at worst £700 and I've sold some very well loved ones examples for just under £1k but they were Black, Sunburst or Candy Apple Red. At best 90's ones in good to excellent condition sell for anything up to £1250.Gone are the days when you could pick up a decent used USA Stratocaster for £450-£500. In about 2006 I bought a well worn Highway One Stratocaster with the thin paint finish and Seymour Duncan hotrails for £185.
Wouldn't worry too much about the lacquer unless someone was planning to keep in in the house in a case. If your planning to play it then a scratch or nick isn't going to be a big deal.
Edited by sutoka on Tuesday 5th January 05:51
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