PRice of a 535 in the UK

[jjkrause84]

Hey guys, I was wondering....

 

What can I expect to pay for a 535 (second hand) here in the UK? All the places I've seen looks like 1,600 quid and up!

[mark555]

Hi from another Brit up here in Yorkshire.

 

First of all, 535's are thin on the ground, but I am always looking for used Heritage guitars of any model to see how they sit in the Uk market place. Four years ago I stole a 555 including case from a music store for £800 - bargain of the century I think. the last 535's I have seen on the used market have been around £1000, give or take a bit.

 

I have found that here in the Uk almost every guitarist wants a Gibson if they are in our market place, and will pay plenty for a 335, so the few 535's that go on sale fetch prices dependant on the demand for that guitar at the time it is put into the market place. I watched my 555 hang on the wall of a shop for three months with no interest from any one, and figured if I went in with a crazy offer at 3pm on new years eve I could get the deal I wanted, and sure enough I was right. I think £1600 is way too much for a 535. They may well be better than a 335, but they don't as yet hold their value like a 335.

 

To get one at the right price over here, you have to buy the guitar and not be too picky if it is not the finish you want, availability is everything over here. good luck, I hope you find one, I can tell you they are fantastic. Welcome to the forum, great to have another brit here.

[mark555]

By the way, the best thing to do is look for a private seller and get in there. If one comes up around here in Yorkshire I will post a note on the boards. Jay Wolfe in Florida is brilliant to deal with if you want to import one from the USA, and any of the good guys on this forum would go out of their way to help you.

 

Buying direct from the USA at this time would keep the price relatively high because of the exchange rate, so if you do buy from there, pic your time. I'll bet Jay, a regular contributor here would really look after you - drop him an e mail, he has a good website.

 

I guess it all depends on how fast you want one.

[jjkrause84]

Thanks for your replies Mark.

 

First off, and I know it's not fair but....I'm not British! I'm American, I just live here.

 

I saw a 150CM on eBay in "my" colour (emerald green, a tribute to you-know-who) for 800 quid but, alas, no available funds That got me thinking, however, that perhaps the prices here weren't that incomparable to those in the States. I figure, if I look on the bright side (and I'm Californian, I ALWAYS look on the bright side!) I can do one of two things:

 

A) buy a second hand 535 when I'm home for Christmas next year and then sell it here if the market is right (there's 535 for sale for 1,600 up as you've duly noted) thus generating "free" money which can go towards a custom order from Jay (not that I want anythign revolutionary or anything, just particular a colour and block inlays, really).

 

If, on the other hand, the markets are not too different then I could buy one here or there contingent on finding "the one" at a price I will be able to afford.

 

In any case thank you very much for the warm welcome!

 

-Jon