Acoustic Guitar ?

[seti]

My dad has a pristine 1954 Epiphone 12 string probably played 10 times since the 60's and a 1930's Turtleback Kalamazoo 6 string he is wanting to sell.

Where do you get a decent appraisal?

What is the best market for these guitars?

[Marvel]

One would like to get a lot for those, but you probably won't. I would

give a call and talk to someone at Elderly Instruments in Michigan

(link below). They sell a LOT of used instruments, and price them

fairly. You may be able to send them pics so they could more accurately

judge the value. They have a couple of Epiphone archtops from the 1940s

that they are selling between $1300 and $1900, for example. The

Kalamazoo brand doesn't show up as often.

I have a '40s lapsteel

guitar that was a Gibson second, and made over as a Kalamazoo. I paid

little for it and it has always just been a tool for me, so it meant

nothing to me to refinish it and upgrade the tuners, etc. Kileed

whatever value IT had.

For those who don't know, the Kalamazoo

brand was antoher line that Gibson owned, along with Epiphone. The

older ones were quite good instruments really, as indeed, some of the

newer Epis are, even if they are made overseas. The old ones were not.

I

would love to see pics of the Kalamazoo, and might even be interested

when you come up with a price. Acoustics are really my favorites. My

1951 Martin I finally gave to my brother-in-law (and he isn't selling

it!). I still have my 74 Guild and my 91 Taylor. Also have an early

'20s maybe Vega mandolin banjo. It is mostly a curiosity, as no one

wants it ( I could trade it I suppose, on another old oddity) ... but

I'm rambling.

Very cool!

Bruce

http://www.elderly.com/

[johnyholiday]

got a pic, this is a 1960 Epi acoustic electric went for $225

[seti]

JohnyHoliday it looks just like that one. I have seen the price range

from $200 - $2200 but haven't figured out why yet but I will. I like

the sound and looks of the Kalamazoo better than the epiphone but its

probably worth a little less. I would ask for one of them but I am not

musically inclined.

[Marvel]

It's funny how certain brands command higher prices than others, and

not always because they are better. Martin guitars have long been

considered "THE" acoustic flatop, and deservedly so. Still, different

years, different woods, etc., are all a part of what makes that Martin

sound. ALL companies have made lemons, some just have more of them.

Some just don't sound as good as others.

My 1951 Martin listed for $125. I paid $350 in the late '60s. It would

now fetch over $2k pretty easily (it isn't for sale anyway). The

Epiphone probably listed for $100 or less. In pristine shape, it would

surely bring far more. The Kalamazoo would have cost even less when

new. But then a dollar was worth more. I love old instruments. Kinda

like old speakers [] .

Of old guitar companies in teh U.S., many are forgotten, or if folks

find one in the closet of a relative, they would dismiss it because

they have never heard of them. Kay, Harmony, Regal and others, have

been reborn in China, Korea and Japan, as cheap imports. Some are even

pretty good.

A good friend of mine has a Regal that was made in the '30s or '40s

maybe. A tiny guitar with a huge sound. Beautiful spruce top and

Rosewood back and sides. He paid $35 for it. I would pair it even with

Martins of the same era and model.

Bruce

Bruce

[Duke Spinner]

i like my old Washburn ...

made right in Chicago