Selling my San Dimas Charvel vs. parting it out

[TrueTone500]

I've been trying to sell my '86 San Dimas, but there doesn't appear to be much love for the Kahler model Charvel's - regardless of their vintage. If I choose to part this guitar out, should I remove the machines or leave them? How about the Kahler bridge and pickups?

 

[Chris O]

Why don't you have it modded for a floyd?

KEEP IT. That's a beauty!

 

[Shawn Lutz]

sell it as a whole guitar.

 

[AndyK]

Pearl white Charvel San Dimas with ebony board?? Khaler or not, it's a beauty!

 

[TrueTone500]

It's actually a dark rosewood fretboard and a solid 'polar' white body.

 

[AndyK]

It's actually a dark rosewood fretboard and a solid 'polar' white body.

Oh. Still, a sweet guitar as a whole. What $$ are you selling it for?

 

[rupe]

It's yours and obviously you can do what you want with it, but I hate to see original Charvels parted out. Yeah, you'll probably get a couple extra dollars for it in that manner but you'll also kill off another of only 5000-some original Charvels.

That said the bottom sort of fell out of the "vintage" Charvel market (especially for non-graphic guitars) so the neck and plate won't bring anything close to what they would brought back in '05. It was somewhat falsely inflated to begin with due to a small number of collectors bidding against each other for the most desirable examples and one particular collector who initially snatched up as many as he could but recently started selling off many of his pieces.

For all the more I remember that one selling for back around the '06-'08 time period, you should easily be able to get your money back out of it, but you'll have a hard time turning a meaningful profit either way.

 

[TrueTone500]

All things considered, trading it may be the best thing to do. I was asking $1300.00, which I think is a good price for such a clean San Dimas. It could stand a light fret leveling and a new volume pot.

I know what you mean about parting it out... I had a Yamaha RZ500 that I parted out a several years ago. I couldn't get a good asking price, so broke it down and made twice what I was originally asking. The V4 crank brought $600.00 by itself. It killed me to liquidate such a rare bike, but I needed to money.

 

[AndyK]

I know what you mean about parting it out... I had a Yamaha RZ500 that I parted out a several years ago. I couldn't get a good asking price, so broke it down and made twice what I was originally asking. The V4 crank brought $600.00 by itself. It killed me to liquidate such a rare bike, but I needed to money.

You would be surprised how parting it out would net you LESS. The neck would be the key value, priced maybe at $400. I guess you could get $150 for the trem, give or take. The body - nobody would really want it, kahler and all - $200 maybe? Pickups - $40 each maybe. Total = $800 and change.

Selling it whole is the way to go! Clean it up, take some good photos - and I bet you can get closer to your asking price.

 

[TrueTone500]

Sound advice. I ran it on eBay, but for some reason I keep getting inquiries from obvious scammers. Zero or low feedback with nothing more than CD's, Hot Wheels, and baby diaper purchases.

"I got a rock..."
- Charlie Brown

 

[AndyK]

Ebay should be the last resort. Try here, TGP, and JCF Online.

 

[neilli]

Yeah, it'd be a shame to part it out, but h.s.s. with a Kahler won't get much love. Because of that, IMO $1300 is on the high side - get it close to a grand and you might be OK. Still more than the parts (and I doubt you'd get $150 for the bridge)...

 

[maddnotez]

Ebay should be the last resort. Try here, TGP, and JCF Online.

+1 wait it out.

Someone will buy it.

I always drop my price for a quick sale and later kick myself for not being patient.

 

[TrueTone500]

I know what you're saying... I sold my Cornford 4x12 on a quick sale. Why, I have no f-ing idea? A guy from Tampa asked if I'd sell it, and I said yes. It was one of the later ones with the thicker baffle too.

I'd like to trade it for a Richie Kotzen Telecaster, but stores don't generally carry them. I love the Charvel, but I'm no longer onto the neck shape. GC offered me $1100.00, so I may take it.

 

[AndyK]

If I didn't have my '85 Jackson, this would be mine for $1100!

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[Chubtone]

GC offered me $1100.00, so I may take it.

I would jump all over that for a Kahler Charvel with the three mini toggles. It's no wonder GC is having problems. $1100 is every single penny of what that guitar is worth and then some IMO. Boneheads. Run, don't walk. And when you get paid, literally skip out of there.

 

[Deleted member 3860]

GC offered me $1100.00, so I may take it.

I would jump all over that for a Kahler Charvel with the three mini toggles. It's no wonder GC is having problems. $1100 is every single penny of what that guitar is worth and then some IMO. Boneheads. Run, don't walk. And when you get paid, literally skip out of there.

^^^this

 

[TrueTone500]

GC offered me $1100.00, so I may take it.

I would jump all over that for a Kahler Charvel with the three mini toggles. It's no wonder GC is having problems. $1100 is every single penny of what that guitar is worth and then some IMO. Boneheads. Run, don't walk. And when you get paid, literally skip out of there.

You're comment makes no sense. As a former dealer, you know that any instrument is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. Guitar players, (like monkeys) will generally play whatever their heros playing. Monkey see - monkey do! If Jake E. Lee were to show-up on-stage with a white HSS Charvel w/3 mini switches and Kahler... Monkey fun for everyone!

 

[rupe]

GC offered me $1100.00, so I may take it.

I would jump all over that for a Kahler Charvel with the three mini toggles. It's no wonder GC is having problems. $1100 is every single penny of what that guitar is worth and then some IMO. Boneheads. Run, don't walk. And when you get paid, literally skip out of there.

You're comment makes no sense. As a former dealer, you know that any instrument is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. Guitar players, (like monkeys) will generally play whatever their heros playing... Monkey see - monkey do! If Jake E. Lee were to show-up on-stage with a white HSS Charvel w/3 mini switches and Kahler... Monkey fun for everyone!

That comment made perfect sense because nobody is lining up to buy the guitar at your current price, and I'd bet you'd have a tough time selling it outright even for $1100. Jake (or anybody else for that matter) isn't playing anything like it, so it has no rock star association, and likely won't in our lifetimes...not sure what you getting at there? (hopefully it was a joke)

The only Kahler'd models that ever interested the collectors (the ones who actually paid decent money for old Charvels) were ones with custom graphics and/or celeb guitars...a plain jane white, Kahler, rosewood board, 3 mini-toggle Charvel is the absolute least desirable set of specs to that crowd. This same guitar was for sale several years ago for $900 when the market was at its peak and it didn't sell quickly...it's likely worth less now. Not sure if you're the one who bought it then but I assumed that you were...if so (or even if not) you should jump at the $1100 offer.

I think it's cool as hell and would play it in spite of its hardware and electronics shortcomings (as long as it played and sounded good), but it's not a particularly valuable example. That sucks, but it is what it is.

Best of luck and I hope you get your price, but I don't see it happening.

 

[TrueTone500]

GC offered me $1100.00, so I may take it.

I would jump all over that for a Kahler Charvel with the three mini toggles. It's no wonder GC is having problems. $1100 is every single penny of what that guitar is worth and then some IMO. Boneheads. Run, don't walk. And when you get paid, literally skip out of there.

You're comment makes no sense. As a former dealer, you know that any instrument is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. Guitar players, (like monkeys) will generally play whatever their heros playing... Monkey see - monkey do! If Jake E. Lee were to show-up on-stage with a white HSS Charvel w/3 mini switches and Kahler... Monkey fun for everyone!

That comment made perfect sense because nobody is lining up to buy the guitar at your current price, and I'd bet you'd have a tough time selling it outright even for $1100. Jake (or anybody else for that matter) isn't playing anything like it, so it has no rock star association, and likely won't in our lifetimes...not sure what you getting at there? (hopefully it was a joke)

The only Kahler'd models that ever interested the collectors (the ones who actually paid decent money for old Charvels) were ones with custom graphics and/or celeb guitars...a plain jane white, Kahler, rosewood board, 3 mini-toggle Charvel is the absolute least desirable set of specs to that crowd. This same guitar was for sale several years ago for $900 when the market was at its peak and it didn't sell quickly...it's likely worth less now. Not sure if you're the one who bought it then but I assumed that you were...if so (or even if not) you should jump at the $1100 offer.

I think it's cool as hell and would play it in spite of its hardware and electronics shortcomings (as long as it played and sounded good), but it's not a particularly valuable example. That sucks, but it is what it is.

Best of luck and I hope you get your price, but I don't see it happening.

Actually, his comment is IMO nothing more than condescending conjecture. People will pay what they perceive it is worth. In this case, it's not worth a lot right now because in is not perceived as desirable. As far as Charvel guitars are concerned, I'd take an authentic San Dimas, California made Charvel (regardless of the tremolo brand) over a Fender made San Dimas counterfeit 'Fenvel' any day. I've played several of Fender's clones, and they don't come close to the real Charvel. Not now - not ever.

As far as his comment on GC going out of business due to their purchasing proclivities... He's clearly an idiot.