I have a James Patterson custom built guitar. Looking for info on selling it and what it would be worth. I’ve owned it for over 20 years but can’t play anymore….hands are gone. Any help would be appreciated….

Thanks………

[quote=”Brad Sturm”]I have an Alvarez classical guitar made and signed by K. Yairi. It was built in 1976 for an old friend of the family who was a well established classical guitar teacher. It was a custom build. The model number (CY-70) was never a production model. I called the company and they told me that records of custom built guitars from this time period are only recorded in Japan. They said there was no record of it with them and there was no way of giving a value. It is in perfect condition because it has not been played since this man died in the 80’s. How do I find a value? How do I sell a guitar with no records? Thanks for any response.[/quote]

Actually the CY70 was a regular issue model, though not noted in the catalog at the time. It had a solid Cedar top, with laminated Mahogany back and sides, and would have been at the low end of the classical line at that time. MSRP at that time would have been less than $300, as the listed CY120 was $325.

Figure that you probably don’t need the info at this point, but maybe this will help someone else looking for info on the same model.

yl

Hey, I never object to free marketing advice!
As for my unusual guitar, I do believe I’ve chosen to keep it in my collection, and find the funds elswhere to buy the Taylor T5 Custom I’m lusting after. Still want to try to track down it’s pedigree- it is truly a beautiful peice, now I’ve gotten it cleaned up- though since I’ve been playing blues for so many years, the neck is like a four-lane highway!
Any suggestions about BUYING guitars online? Or- do I just stick with my trusted local Taylor and Fender dealer, Rich?

This isn’t illuminating advice either, but simply list as much information as you know on your auction, if you do go through eBay. The more you flag up, the better a buyer’s search hits it. F’r’ instance, have both “Alvarez” and “Yairi” in the title. It only takes two bidders to push the price up, if they want it.

Here’s a couple of analogies. If a Fleeb auction says “Squier Strat” then it might go for hundreds less than one that says “Squier Strat, Japan, JV serial”. Or “pair of EL34 tubes” will get less than “pair of Mullard EL34s, xf2 codes”.

More info; better chance of people seeing it and wanting it. Best thing is, you don’t even have to be much of an expert yourself. Just list the relevant info and let the bids take their course.

Apols if this was like reading “how to suck eggs”. Our man SB has better knowledge of vintage guitars, if you’d like to wait for a more informed op 🙂

I don’t know if I can help, Brad, as I’m in the same kind of boat; I have a Spanish-style classical acoustic my sister gave me to sell, that was one of at least 27 guitars made by some guys named Bill Tolliver and D. Robinson, back in 1975. I’m having 0 luck getting any info on these guys, so I don’t know if I should even sell it? Last guitar that was “given” to me to sell on e-bay, signed suppossedly by “some band nobody ever heard of” turned out to have been autographed by Fear Factory, and since I didn’t know until almost the end, it went for a measly $330. If this is something really unusual, I’d want to keep it!
I’m searching now- I’ll let you know if I get any helpful info!