Appraisals
After 30+ years of appraising various types of guitars, we’ve gained an extensive amount of knowledge and experience. Phone calls and beginning your appraisal process are always on the house at Vintage Guitar Appraisers. If you’re wanting an official, physical copy of your appraisal which includes two expert evaluations to determine what has been changed and modified to give you an accurate value, it will cost $99. Appraisals can be conducted in three ways: over the phone (via text), virtually, or in person. Over the years, we’ve come up with a system of appraising that is unique to the industry. We provide our customers with three possible prices based on several sets of scenarios.
1
“Retail Replacement Price”
This price is based on replacing an item similar to yours for insurance purposes. Insurance companies need a written format where the price reflects that of current market value. When replacing a lost or stolen guitar, one would need the cash value to reflect what the market currently is, as opposed to what it once was. “Retail replacement price” needs to be high so that if there’s a guitar on the market in better condition than the lost or damaged one, you, as the buyer, will have enough cash to purchase the one that is in better or similar condition to the lost or damaged one.
2
“Fair Market Value”
This price reflects what guitars similar to yours have recently sold for, not what the music stores are asking. This is the most important dollar figure to us because it’s not to insure it; it’s to give you insight to what the heartbeat of the market is. We find that stores with great reputation and location can get more than “fair market value” based on their credibility in the guitar world. This price does NOT always reflect what you, as the seller, could get for your guitar.
3
“Immediate Cash Value”
This price is for someone looking to sell their item immediately. This is usually done by selling to a wholesaler or cash buyer that collects guitars. We have found that a large percentage of the market that has inherited a guitar wants or needs to go this route.
Our system is as follows:
Start Appraisal Process
We also have the unique ability to offer you value based not only on the guitar as a whole, but also what the guitar could be worth in parts. Sometimes, a guitar is worth more based on the components it’s made up of, as opposed to a complete playable guitar. The reason being is that some guitars cannot be repaired to be a well playable instrument. However you’d like us to appraise your guitar, we’re more than happy to check it out! Ideally, we’d like to see your guitar in person, but we can do a lot from pictures. Click here to start your online appraisal.
