how much should this cost?

[stonepiano]

I was looking into a vintage 62 (I think) sunburst Epi Casino with a bigsby trem and I want to know about what they should cost.

I saw a great one at a boutique shop here in Chi-town with great neck, the paint was all spider-webbed and it was heavy as hell. Much heavier than my '99 Casino and even my '95 Les Paul, which I've gotten new.

Now, because of where I saw it, I'm afraid the snooty clientele might be racking up the prices so I want to know I'm getting fair shakes if I front the booty for my first vintage instrument.

I'm not gonna include the price they had until I get a couple ideas from you guys to see if they're even in the ballpark. I REALLY like this guitar but have a sense, as a non-collector, that I might be getting duped.

As a side question, does anyone know anything questionable about this particular model with the bigsby? Any reliability issues?

Thanks guys,

Miles

 

[Buck62]

Here's the (1998) Blue Book value of that guitar....

1961-1965 Epiphone Casino

100% (Perfect): $2,300
98% (Mint) : $2,100
95% (Exc+) : $1,900
90% (Exc) : $1,500
80% (VG+) : $1,200
70% (VG) : $1,000
60% (G) : $900


Sorry that my edition is so old, but I don't think prices would've jumped too much higher since then. It should still be under $3,000 in 100% perfect condition, probably around $2,700 or $2,800. You can do the math from there, depending on the condition of the guitar.

 

[riley357]

http://store.bluebookinc.com/downloads/browse.asp?product=electricguitar

This is a link to the publisher of the Blue Book. It looks like they charge 10 bucks for a PDF download of Epiphone pricing.

I think you can get the entire Blue Book for about $30.

 

[stonepiano]

Buck!

Hey Buck!

That certainly helps...Their price is comparable. They wanted $2100 for it.

It's over at Chicago Music Exchange on School and Clark... Have you ever shopped there? I like what their repair guy did my 815 Taylor but there's such an attitude in the place. Like I'm in New York or sumthin.

and riley, that page looked really interesting... but they are cheap bastards. I can't even price my fernandes for free. oh wait, maybe I'm the cheap one.

stone

 

[Buck62]

Ah, yes... I've been there!

I went there once, about ten years ago.
To say that they have an attitude is an understatement. It's like saying that Godzilla is "slightly misbehaved".

I was very interested in a guitar there and tried to get them to drop $50 off the price, but they wouldn't budge, so they lost the sale.
But be VERY careful!!! I have a story for you....

Billy Corgan went in there and bought an early 60's Gibson (I believe it was a '61 SG) and told them he'd have one of his bodyguards, who's a Chicago cop, pick up the guitar the next day. When Billy got the guitar, they swapped the original pickups on him!!! This story was told to me by two completely seperate and VERY reliable sources.
If they did that to Billy Corgan, imagine what they'd do to a Joe Shmoe like you or me!
Make sure you go over that guitar really good! If you're not sure if every part is authentic, take someone with you who knows their guitars.
I'd hate to see you get something less than the "real thing" for your money.

 

[foo]

If it is a '62, the serial number should be stamped into the back of the headstock (not inked on) and shoudl be between 42441 and 61180 or 71041 to 96600. Be aware that Gibson/Epiphone numbers from this period can be misleading as they sometimes used the same serial number twice, and also used some of the second group in later years, ie in 62, 63 and 64.

In that event, check the other features of the guitar. The chrome P-90's and the parallelogram inlays didn't come until late 62 on the Casino. It should have dot inlays and (?) Epi style pickups (which are narrower than the Gibson's and have pole pieces at the edge) if the serial number is an early one.
It will have a rectangular blue label under the bass-side 'f' hole which will say Epiphone and Kalamazoo Michigan on it. I think the serial number should be on there, too.

The Bigsby is probably why it's so heavy. (Take a good look and see if it's non-original - that reduces the value and gives you some bargaining power) They came with a vibrato as an option - but I'm not sure if it was a Bigsby or the Gibson one. I'm sure you could order it with a Bigsby if thats' what you wanted. The body should be hollow. They did come with one or two pickups.
Because the Fab Four used one, this guitar can be more expensive than the Gibson equivalent, the ES-330, which typically has a wider, flatter neck (particularly in 61, 62 and early 63).

There's not a major difference in value between these years. It isn't until post '65 that the values change somewhat.

It should have a sunburst or a light brown (kinda caramel looking) finish.

And don't let their attitude put you off - there's nothing finer than a fine vintage guitar. (Okay, one thing )

Questions?

Email me or post them here.

foo