Welcome: Tom Bartlett Guitars to Rig-Talk.com

[glip22]

Damn these are so sweet looking. I'll wait to see the reviews first (and raise the cash too )

How do you guys think these will resale? Thats my only worry, Im thinking they won't hold their value as a genuine LP (regardless of it being great or not)

Just ask the guys at MLP...

I would have no concerns buying one of Tom's guitars (if I had that kind of coin).

I'd love to buy one as well, don't get me wrong, I am drooling over these things, for real!

But I don't think I can actually sell one of these for near the amount of money I could put it in... Not that my intention is selling, but if I do have 8k tied in a guitar I have to know that at least I have a guitar that I can sell for good cash if I need the cash... I know that with a Gibson brazilian board 2003 R9 for instance, I can and will get the money I spent on it, and the prices will continue to rise in this bubbled guitar economy...

Nico, Bro. You should stop being so negative. I notice that in allot of your posts. My parents uses to punish me for saying negative things. Now my Daugter gets it.

 

[Nico]

Damn these are so sweet looking. I'll wait to see the reviews first (and raise the cash too )

How do you guys think these will resale? Thats my only worry, Im thinking they won't hold their value as a genuine LP (regardless of it being great or not)

Just ask the guys at MLP...

I would have no concerns buying one of Tom's guitars (if I had that kind of coin).

I'd love to buy one as well, don't get me wrong, I am drooling over these things, for real!

But I don't think I can actually sell one of these for near the amount of money I could put it in... Not that my intention is selling, but if I do have 8k tied in a guitar I have to know that at least I have a guitar that I can sell for good cash if I need the cash... I know that with a Gibson brazilian board 2003 R9 for instance, I can and will get the money I spent on it, and the prices will continue to rise in this bubbled guitar economy...

I don't understand why you would buy a guitar like this worrying about resale. If tying up $8K in a guitar is at all a concern to you then you can't afford it. Bottom line.

Steve

Steve Its just that with any custom guitar you just can't try them before you buy them. So you really don't know how it would feel, sound, etc etc.
So you take a big leap of faith. So that is why I am asking. Its not that I plan on selling or keeping it as invesment. Just to let you know I don't sell much of my gear either because I try to pick it up careful, and when I do I normally don't lose money on it.

Im just thinking out loud sharing opinions and thinking what might happen if I didn't connect with the guitar... I would be scared that it would be hard to move since its a 'rare" guitar sort to speak and the price tag is no help in that matter. That is were I'm coming from...

 

[Ayrton]

That is a very fair statement, and I get that. However, should you somehow be disappointed, you would have no trouble selling it for what you paid (if not more) considering Tom's reputation and quality.

 

[Chubtone]

Nico's concerns are legit especially considering he's in Argentina. He can't just pop into the nearest, cool vintage shop and have them know the Bartlett is better than a custom shop Les Paul. So then he has to advertise it for sale on the forums and many people would see his location and be hesitant to buy.

The other point is that a used Gibson Custom Shop would already be almost fully depreciated and probably stay at or very near what it is purchased for used. And most people that are informed players are going to think the Gibson custom shop is as good as it gets. You have to be unbelievably "in the know" to even know about Bartlett guitars and it's significance would probably go over the head of 95% of Les Paul fans.

Where others are coming from here is that these Bartlett's are as close as anyone is going to come to picking up a real '59 burst in 2011 and for a price slightly over what is an inferior product from Gibson. Viewed in that light, $8k is pretty much a steal.

If I loved playing Les Pauls anywhere near as much as I love looking at them I would have already decided to get a Bartlett. Until then, I hope to see many more build threads by this incredibly talented builder.

 

[Ayrton]

Good point, I forget Nico is in Argentina.

 

[Anonymous]

Nico's concerns are legit especially considering he's in Argentina. He can't just pop into the nearest, cool vintage shop and have them know the Bartlett is better than a custom shop Les Paul. So then he has to advertise it for sale on the forums and many people would see his location and be hesitant to buy.

The other point is that a used Gibson Custom Shop would already be almost fully depreciated and probably stay at or very near what it is purchased for used. And most people that are informed players are going to think the Gibson custom shop is as good as it gets. You have to be unbelievably "in the know" to even know about Bartlett guitars and it's significance would probably go over the head of 95% of Les Paul fans.

Where others are coming from here is that these Bartlett's are as close as anyone is going to come to picking up a real '59 burst in 2011 and for a price slightly over what is an inferior product from Gibson. Viewed in that light, $8k is pretty much a steal.

If I loved playing Les Pauls anywhere near as much as I love looking at them I would have already decided to get a Bartlett. Until then, I hope to see many more build threads by this incredibly talented builder.

All true, but, once again, either $8K is a big investment for you or it isn't. I would say the vast majority of folks here don't worry about the resale value of say, an $800 guitar. The reason for this is that the investment is not that big in relation to most folks income here. They'll buy a guitar like that and if they lose some bucks on resale, big deal...

If you are going to buy an uncommon, relatively unknown builders handmade to '59 spec Les Paul replica guitar (regardless of how much they are praised by Les Paul experts), you better have the scratch to throw around... Either that, or you better damn sure KNOW you're are gonna dig it enough to keep it. Given it is unlikely you're gonna play one without buying one, either $8K is a huge, concerning investment, or it isn't... Doesn't matter where you're from IMO... There are gonna be no reliable resale stats for a guitar like this because very few are sold and very few come up for resale... The market will pay what the market will pay if and when you have one for sale... A used Gibson Historic would be a much better investment if that is the concern, because it has a ready buyers market and the resale value is clear... If I had to guess, I'd say the guitar would hold value relatively well because few come up for sale and the few folks that are in the know will be willing to pony up for a used one rather than wait for a new one, but that is pure speculation on my part...

That's just how I see it...

All that said, I'd pony up the cash in a second for one of these if I could play Les Paul's worth a shit... I'm blown away by them and have been gassing hard, but in the end, it would end up sitting in the corner of my guitar closet... this much I know...

Steve

 

[SuperFlyinMonke]

My word, these are amazing. I was playing a few Gibson's at my local shop yesterday and none spoke to me. Not that I'm in the market for one, but I always love to check them out.

 

[Nico]

Nico's concerns are legit especially considering he's in Argentina. He can't just pop into the nearest, cool vintage shop and have them know the Bartlett is better than a custom shop Les Paul. So then he has to advertise it for sale on the forums and many people would see his location and be hesitant to buy.

The other point is that a used Gibson Custom Shop would already be almost fully depreciated and probably stay at or very near what it is purchased for used. And most people that are informed players are going to think the Gibson custom shop is as good as it gets. You have to be unbelievably "in the know" to even know about Bartlett guitars and it's significance would probably go over the head of 95% of Les Paul fans.

Where others are coming from here is that these Bartlett's are as close as anyone is going to come to picking up a real '59 burst in 2011 and for a price slightly over what is an inferior product from Gibson. Viewed in that light, $8k is pretty much a steal.

If I loved playing Les Pauls anywhere near as much as I love looking at them I would have already decided to get a Bartlett. Until then, I hope to see many more build threads by this incredibly talented builder.

Wow, you are inside my head! Couldn't and have said it better myself!!!

 

[Jay Strange]

What thread from TGP?

 

[japetus]

lawl.

 

[steve_k]

I hate lines really long lines......I thought the Nik Huber I just bought was expensive!

But, if it is a piece that makes you happy and you get the satisfaction owning and playing it, then go for it. I would rather pay up for a work of quality and craftsmanship with one guitar than two or three future doorstops.

Don't tell anyone you bought one though. You will get labeled as rich and talked about for spending too much money.


Steve

 

[joepete77]

wow, these look really nice! I always love following these type build threads and watching guys like this do their thing.

 

[Chubtone]

Don't tell anyone you bought one though. You will get labeled as rich and talked about for spending too much money. Steve

Don't we all spend too much money?

 

[some dude]

Hmmm. Not far from my parents house. I wonder if he'd let me try one... or chase me off the property with a shotgun.

 

[pstar]

You cats get your barlett LP's ?

 

[chumbucket]

All that said, I'd pony up the cash in a second for one of these if I could play Les Paul's worth a shit... I'm blown away by them and have been gassing hard, but in the end, it would end up sitting in the corner of my guitar closet... this much I know...

Steve

I'm in the same boat. I've bought at least 10 of them over the years and they never get played. I end up back with my old Charvel in my hands and the LP's collect dust and then get sold.
I need a 25.5" scale LP with a flatter radius neck, jumbo frets, and a Floyd.

 

[freeballinusa]

Brad any pix? How are these coming out!?

 

[locoed]

Tom is a great guy,informative,and helpful to say the least. And he builds some cool guitars

 

[King Guitar]

Rob got his 1958 gold top last week, I haven't seen it yet but hopefully he will post up some pics. I am told it is amazing! Mine and Freeballins are 1959 Flame top bursts and are underway. John, sent you a PM.

 

[MOOSEHEADS]

Ummmmm.......

58 Goldtop.......

MOOSEHEADS is now DROOLING.....