What is this worth?

Discussion of vintage Jazzmasters, Jaguars, Bass VIs, Electric XIIs and any other offset-waist instruments.
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billboneys
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What is this worth?

Post by billboneys » Fri Sep 16, 2022 2:12 pm

I'm trying to get an idea of a fair price for this so I don't end up in the "Does that make me crazy" thread. It's a 1966 Duo Sonic II. The only two things that I was told aren't original are the two pickup switches and the paint. The paint does look old but it is thick. It has aged nicely though. The paint is worn off the bottom (no idea why) and someone has clear coated it I guess to protect the wood. Plays great and sounds great. I can't get a good idea what it's worth by looking at Reverb. What do you guys think? Thanks for any input.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/RxNv2ySUTrKht2Dc8

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7g3PR34eZNpMjFS87

https://photos.app.goo.gl/UPHnnSuEWwJD3DDs8

https://photos.app.goo.gl/CR8aqMzq2V3Ab9QdA

https://photos.app.goo.gl/BPuFRSECJHrHiXus9

https://photos.app.goo.gl/C4MEAAY39gDUTS2P8

https://photos.app.goo.gl/g2Bxa3oHn7HsQ3Ji8

https://photos.app.goo.gl/NgYsYBnJUbB6TpMH9

https://photos.app.goo.gl/EcTARYi8VwJM4u1z8

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xdk3LvyyLjoczD6C9

https://photos.app.goo.gl/utyFj1os2i8kzDhp6

https://photos.app.goo.gl/LYD6myHn64pBVz1d9
Last edited by billboneys on Fri Sep 16, 2022 9:59 pm, edited 3 times in total.

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marginwalker
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Re: What is this worth?

Post by marginwalker » Fri Sep 16, 2022 6:09 pm

Your photos aren't showing up on my computer but one thing I do know is that the general rule for a refin is that it's worth half as much as a completely original version of that guitar in the same condition

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Re: What is this worth?

Post by Fiddy » Fri Sep 16, 2022 6:49 pm

marginwalker wrote:
Fri Sep 16, 2022 6:09 pm
Your photos aren't showing up on my computer but one thing I do know is that the general rule for a refin is that it's worth half as much as a completely original version of that guitar in the same condition

Never heard of that rule?

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Re: What is this worth?

Post by marginwalker » Fri Sep 16, 2022 6:57 pm

tribi9 wrote:
Fri Sep 16, 2022 6:49 pm
marginwalker wrote:
Fri Sep 16, 2022 6:09 pm
Your photos aren't showing up on my computer but one thing I do know is that the general rule for a refin is that it's worth half as much as a completely original version of that guitar in the same condition

Never heard of that rule?
I’ve just seen that tossed around on forums over the years. Of course, each guitar and situation is different but a refin is definitively worth a significant amount less than the same guitar with an original finish

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Re: What is this worth?

Post by Highnumbers » Fri Sep 16, 2022 8:41 pm

With a guitar like this (which is neither rare nor particularly high- value in the world of vintage guitars), the best way to price out its value is adding up the value of all original unmodified parts.

A lot of these player grade student Fenders are being parted out because they’re worth more in pieces (unfortunately), so the collective total of the parts gives you an idea of it’s peak value.

Blanket equations like the “50% rule” are generally outdated, that mentality has changed a lot in the last 20 years, and each guitar needs to be evaluated on an independent basis. The impact of a refin varies significantly by model as well.

Also, your photos are not showing.

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Re: What is this worth?

Post by billboneys » Fri Sep 16, 2022 9:44 pm

Highnumbers wrote:
Fri Sep 16, 2022 8:41 pm
With a guitar like this (which is neither rare nor particularly high- value in the world of vintage guitars), the best way to price out its value is adding up the value of all original unmodified parts.

A lot of these player grade student Fenders are being parted out because they’re worth more in pieces (unfortunately), so the collective total of the parts gives you an idea of it’s peak value.

Blanket equations like the “50% rule” are generally outdated, that mentality has changed a lot in the last 20 years, and each guitar needs to be evaluated on an independent basis. The impact of a refin varies significantly by model as well.

Also, your photos are not showing.
Thanks for the info. I guess I did the pictures wrong. I'll see if I can fix it.

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Re: What is this worth?

Post by JSett » Fri Sep 16, 2022 9:48 pm

billboneys wrote:
Fri Sep 16, 2022 9:44 pm
Thanks for the info. I guess I did the pictures wrong. I'll see if I can fix it.
It looks like you maybe grabbed the links from your Google cloud drive (or similar)? If so, those are locked from public viewing...you need to upload them to a site such as https://imgbb.com then post the BBCode links here
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Re: What is this worth?

Post by billboneys » Fri Sep 16, 2022 10:00 pm

johnnysomersett wrote:
Fri Sep 16, 2022 9:48 pm
billboneys wrote:
Fri Sep 16, 2022 9:44 pm
Thanks for the info. I guess I did the pictures wrong. I'll see if I can fix it.
It looks like you maybe grabbed the links from your Google cloud drive (or similar)? If so, those are locked from public viewing...you need to upload them to a site such as https://imgbb.com then post the BBCode links here
It is google photos and its the first time I've done it that way. Do the new links work? Thanks.

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Re: What is this worth?

Post by JSett » Fri Sep 16, 2022 10:14 pm

Yeah, those links work just fine.

All-original '66 Mustangs in red seem to be selling* for about $2500-3500 at the moment from what I've seen. With the refinish (and the switches, but that's a minor point in comparison) I'd expect it'd be worth about $1500-1800ish in the current market. There's no shortage of red Mustangs on the market that have original paint so you're up against that really.

*selling prices, not asking...those are wildly different things these days as there's a lot of dreamers out there now.
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Re: What is this worth?

Post by billboneys » Sat Sep 17, 2022 5:13 am

johnnysomersett wrote:
Fri Sep 16, 2022 10:14 pm
Yeah, those links work just fine.

All-original '66 Mustangs in red seem to be selling* for about $2500-3500 at the moment from what I've seen. With the refinish (and the switches, but that's a minor point in comparison) I'd expect it'd be worth about $1500-1800ish in the current market. There's no shortage of red Mustangs on the market that have original paint so you're up against that really.

*selling prices, not asking...those are wildly different things these days as there's a lot of dreamers out there now.
Thanks. I'm finding right now that it's hard to even sell stuff at a fair price. Usually pretty surprised when I see how high stuff goes for on Reverb.

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Re: What is this worth?

Post by Nico » Sat Sep 17, 2022 5:30 am

Sight unseen, i'd say below 1500$ for a refin 66 duo as when you add up the parts (like another user mentionned), 1500$ is pushing it a bit.

It's all a bit different when you look at a Mustang for example as the neck decal, body routes, better bridge will get a higher price.

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Re: What is this worth?

Post by BoringPostcards » Sat Sep 17, 2022 7:37 am

No idea what it’s worth, but I will say Duo Sonic IIs are awesome guitars.
Det er mig der holder traeerne sammen.

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Re: What is this worth?

Post by JSett » Sat Sep 17, 2022 7:55 am

Ergh, total brain-fart there (insomnia is a hell of a thing)...didn't even clock you said, and the pictures were of, a Duo-Sonic and not a Mustang :D :D

In which case I'd revise my estimate down to the $1200-1500 range
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Re: What is this worth?

Post by billboneys » Mon Sep 19, 2022 3:52 pm

Thanks guys.

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Re: What is this worth?

Post by BoringPostcards » Mon Sep 19, 2022 6:21 pm

Reverb listings for Duo Sonic IIs are all over the place. I don’t know if people are getting the prices I’m seeing. Some are nearly 4K. Now, these are all original and not refinished examples, but hey maybe you could get lucky and get 2k or more for it.

If it was me, I would keep it and use it. They really are great guitars. The hardtail makes it sound and feel quite different from a Mustang. Not everyone is into the 24” scale, but I love short scales, so I’m biased.
Det er mig der holder traeerne sammen.

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