• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Attic find - (warning G*** ** content)

#24
I personally would sell it as-is and be happy with the take. Here's the problem. The more you invest, the more you have to promote it as a great, playable guitar. SOMEBODY will ALWAYS find something wrong. Then the wrangling begins. Think not? Look at how many people here on TB want to return basses for the most trivial imperfections. Or how many here have received instruments back for trivial reasons. Not to mention those who got instruments back in bad shape compared to when sold / shipped.

if you sell it as-is, you need make no apologies or remedies for what the buyer receives as long as it is represented honestly. Somebody out there wants to save that guitar from the abusive owners in it's history. That person is your best customer.

About 10 years ago I sold a set of estate sale basement found 30W McIntosh monoblock amps. They were not pristine by any stretch of the imagination. I sold them As-Is with no promises made. I truly had no history on them and no ambition to rehab them. They sold for 75% of the value of decent working units and 50% of the value of premium units.
 
Last edited:
#26
bikemusic said:
OP here - I'm in the Pittsburgh area and haven't dealt with any local luthiers.
Click to expand...

I'm not in the Pittsburgh area myself but have family there, and have visited N Stuff Music (N Stuff Music | Pittsburgh, PA), who are an authorized Martin dealer/service center. I didn't transact with them, but was impressed with the store - very cool staff, they were happy to let me check stuff out stuff, were engaged, even gave me a few playing tips while I was there. Should be a good place to start.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NortyFiner and Duder
#29
bikemusic said:
OP here - I'm in the Pittsburgh area and haven't dealt with any local luthiers. I'm sure there must be a few around but I'm not sure there would be a Martin specialist. Pittsburgh isn't that huge a city. Would you think it's worth going further afield to find somebody that knows more about the specific brand? From what I've heard Martin is sort of the Fender of acoustics.
Click to expand...

I'd absolutely take it to the Martin factory for a repair consultation and appraisal and sort things out from there, given your location.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VoodooJazz, Queue, Nobis17 and 6 others
#30
bikemusic said:
Would you think it's worth going further afield to find somebody that knows more about the specific brand? From what I've heard Martin is sort of the Fender of acoustics.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't insult Martin like that. Classic Martins can sell for thousands of USD depending on the model, condition et al. I remember once seeing a $12K tag on a vintage D-28. Whatever money you put into fixing your find, you can likely get a worthwhile profit back unless it's just completely broke. That is why you really should exercise the patience to take it to a pro luthier, preferably one who is a Martin guy.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: keyofnight, DrMole, Sushi Box FX and 1 other person
#31
Picton said:
Why haven’t you posted pics yet, exactly?

A lot of us love guitars, too.

And @JoshS is right. I’d just call Martin. Then, maybe take a drive. Or they’ll know a local shop to drop it at.
Click to expand...

Sorry for the delay on photos. I had to go home at lunchtime and take some. You can see a few issues; somebody stuck a contact mike on with double stick tape and I'm afraid to try peeling it. It has a chip out of the fretboard binding and needs a re-fret. But the body is gorgeous Brazilian rosewood, the last year Martin was able to use it. The neck is reasonably straight (when I lifted the straightedge to where a nut would be it's about 3mm from all the higher frets).
PXL_20210419_163144544.jpg
PXL_20210419_163256539.jpg
PXL_20210419_163441784.jpg
PXL_20210419_164124081.jpg
PXL_20210419_163707354.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Picton
#33
Martin's come with a lifetime guarantee for the original owner. That policy can be extended to Martin Dealers, in the late 70's I had a great D-18 that I bought in Santa Cruz, and then moved to the high desert. The arid climate killed the guitar and the back developed a crack. One of our local music stores had a relationship with Martin, he said if I bought a guitar from him he would send my D-18 back to the factory for a warranty repair. I still have the used 1977 Strat I bought - the Martin came back completely refurbished, looked like a new guitar at no cost to me. Might be worth looking into.

Just saw the pix - nice looking guitar.

I had an old 70's Goya 12 string for awhile, when Goya's were made by C.F. Martin - it was a tank and sounded great. Always nice to have a 12 around for that once and a while sound.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: JoshS
#34
generally, the math works out like this

lets say you have an instrument in tip-top playing shape that is worth $2500 regularly on ebay/reverb.

you have one not working. needs a bridge, set up, perhaps frets, whatever. does not need major reconstruction (ie massive top/back cracks) but needs more than just set up and strings. as is, you'll likely get less than $1000 on ebay or similar.

the work will usually cost less than $500 to get said instrument into working order.

so, invest an extra $300-500 or so, make an extra $1000 or so.

obviously these are made up numbers, but from my experience this is a reasonable ballpark. people don't like to spend on "for parts/not working" to restore, unless they really know what they are getting. the market for who wants to buy that is smaller, which i think is what drives the price down, less people are interested in the first place, regardless of the above math. the supply/demand of not working vs restored is drastically different.
 
#36
bikemusic said:
Somebody gave me an old Martin 12-string acoustic guitar. A little research indicates it's a 1968 Martin D12-35, which was top of the line back then. Body has no cracks, neck is tight, finish is original, and there are some dings and chips but nothing major. Probably needs a re-fret. But- it has no strings, nut or bridge pins so it's not playable. I see these being sold for $4000 and up but I don't think somebody would pay that money for a non-playable instrument. I don't want to put a huge amount of time/money in since I just want to flip it (money for basses). In this situation would you A)sell it on eBay as-is for whatever it brings, probably a fraction of its worth, B)put in $50 for strings, nut and bridge pins and then sell it as a working vintage instrument, or C)try to make a deal with a collector/vintage luthier who could bring it back to its top value?
Click to expand...
You know the rule: Pics or no guitar. ;)
 
#38
Passinwind said:
I'd absolutely take it to the Martin factory for a repair consultation and appraisal and sort things out from there, given your location.
Click to expand...

I just want to see the Martin factory, personally. :) Even if you aren't a Martin guy, I bet it is a terrific visit.

It appears the museum and shop is closed for drop offs. Even still, I'd contact their support. They've been great when I've contacted them.


BTW, OP, that thing looks great. What a score! I hope that guitar gets the love it deserves.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tothemax, Duder and Passinwind
#40
If it was truly stored in an attic, attics and basements are the worst places to store guitars. Attics can get up to 150 degrees in the summer. Basements can be wet or overly humid. Definitely get it checked out and set up by a pro.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back