Value of autographed instruments?

[TredH20]

About 10 years ago, I won a contest at a local music store (Daddys Junky Music) in which I won an Eddie Van Halen Peavey Wolfgang guitar, front row seats to see Van Halen (w/ Gary Cheron) and backstage passes.

The day of the concert, I went to the store, met the owner and a Peavey rep, picked up the guitar, went to the Fleet Center in Boston, went backstage and met the band. I had a great conversation with Eddie Van Halen about music. He inquired if I played guitar and I said that I didn't that I played bass. He joked within earshot of Michael Anthony about them needing a new bass player. He then grabbed the guitar that I won, and said to the Peavey rep that if he couldn't take the guitar out onto stage to play it the way it was - then they couldn't give it to me. He tuned the guitar quickly made some quick tweaks with the bridge and then played it. He then signed the guitar "To Chris: You can always take the two high strings off. Ha, Ha - Eddie V". He then showed me a guitar that he was given earlier in the day by Les Paul - it was a really, really old acoustic guitar that was beat to hell with super high action and was autographed to Eddie from Les Paul. I thought that was really cool.

We finished talking and I took some photos with Eddie and the band, along with some publicity stuff for the Peavey rep and the store owner. Afterwards, I got to head down and watch the concert and it was a great show.

I still have this guitar in my possession, along with all of the "provenance" from that day. To me this was a fantastic experience, and lends to a great story to tell.

edited - the story is fine, the rest is not. Thanks. -Blisshead

[Blake Bass]

I think you should keep it even if it is a guitar! That is a cool story and I'll bet that guitar has more value for you than it would for anyone else. Especially sentimental value!

[bigtexashonk]

It really depends on whether a buyer considers the auto valuable and something they would be willing to pay extra for. I had a 65 Gibson EBO signed by Jack Bruce and Allen Woody and it ultimately didn't make the bass worth one more cent.

[gjbassist]

DON'T SELL IT! At least not now. I can't say never sell it because a situation may come up in the future where it is necessary. I would hang on to it as long as possible. The longer you have it and the better condition it is in will only make it more valuable. EVH will always be one of the guitar greats, even after he is gone. Just think what an autographed Hendrix guitar would be worth today at auction. I have no idea but I'm sure it would be a lot! Plus I think the story of how he signed it for you makes it even more special.

[stflbn]

If there's authentication to it, it at least doesn't hinder the price.

A name scrawled on a guitar with no verfication or authentication in my opinion can actually hurt resale price because most buyers will assume it's a fake and then need to remove the autograph.

[becker4567]

Similar story, but with a different ending. I had a friend (who didn't play guitar and to be quite honest, couldn't care less about music), and for some reason he won a guitar, tickets and backstage pass to see Queen. Backstage he met the entire band and they all signed the new guitar. Afterwords, he just let the guitar kick around his apartment and let anyone who wanted play with the guitar until all the autographs were scratched off. It was a shame. I think he still has it, but it's pretty well beaten up now.

[your idol]

Originally Posted by TredH20

About 10 years ago, I won a contest at a local music store (Daddys Junky Music) in which I won an Eddie Van Halen Peavey Wolfgang guitar, front row seats to see Van Halen (w/ Gary Cheron) and backstage passes.

who??

[TredH20]

Gary Cheron from the band Extrem?

Whoops...forgot the "e"...

[bassteban]

Nice story- but IME it seems whenever you see gtrs & basses FS w/a *famous* person/band's autograph on it, it's an otherwise unimpressive instrument(admittedly likely not so here)& the seller is banking on the sig to drive the price up. Beyond that, it's against forum rules for a non-supporting member to mention you *might be selling/what's it worth*

[MNAirHead]

Couple of notes...

Signature Guitars (EVH, RJ, Geddy etc) are worth more with a verifiable signature from the endorsing artist.

Value??? I'd guess 2-5x the street value (if you can locate a collector).. a personalized signature may decrease some of the potential

I've sold some of these to large collectors.. before you forget the details, write up the story (on acid free paper), have it notorized, have photographs properly stored... then try to remember where you put the box, hang tags etc.

A guitar like this is excellent trading fodder to a broke EVH fan.

Cool story -- I shouldn't have sold the signature models I had.

At auction your guitar will be worth more with the mated never played signature amplifier..

Tim

PS -- you know the strap is worth almost as the guitar -- correct?

[TredH20]

Originally Posted by becker4567

Similar story, but with a different ending. I had a friend (who didn't play guitar and to be quite honest, couldn't care less about music), and for some reason he won a guitar, tickets and backstage pass to see Queen. Backstage he met the entire band and they all signed the new guitar. Afterwords, he just let the guitar kick around his apartment and let anyone who wanted play with the guitar until all the autographs were scratched off. It was a shame. I think he still has it, but it's pretty well beaten up now.

The guitar is still in mint condition...only 3 people, that I know of have handled it since I got it. Myself, EVH, and my brother - who is a guitar player and has strummed it a few times. After ten years of being locked away in its case - it's still in tune. I haven't even put clearcoat on the autograph (done with one of those white paint pens) - as I was afraid I'd do a crappy job of it and it would look messy.

[Tumeni Notes]

I have a crate combo amp signed by Jeff Berlin !!!!