Martin signed by Macca - what a bargain!

[Dave W]

Come on, gents, step right up and hit the BIN on this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Paul-McCartney-Signed-1971-Martin-D-35-Acoustic-Gtr-/140902333997

If only it didn't have that repaired headstock break!

[Highlander]

I wonder how you would value that scuffy old guitar with the ciggie burns that Emmylou has used for years that belonged to Gram...?

... or that tatty thing Neil Young uses that used to be dragged round by Hank...

Barely worth a mention...

[Dave W]

At least the guitars you mention are double celebrity owned. This one isn't at all. You can buy an autographed Paul photo for in the neighborhood of $1000-2000, and a used 1971 Martin D-35 without repaired headstock damage would be a $2000-2500 guitar. What on earth makes this guy think he can get $800,000 for this?

[Highlander]

We don't have a d*ck-head emoticon do we...

Uwe mentioned a long time back that he has no interest in celebrity owned instruments and I tend to agree, but there must be an awfull lot of Karma around those instruments considering the amount of enjoyment they've given over the decades...

[ilan]

FWIW, a friend of mine has a similar '71 D-35 (that he bought years ago for $1,500) and it's an awesome guitar. Not the easiest guitar to play, but with medium-heavy gauge strings, the sound is unbelievable. It's also significantly louder than any other acoustic I have heard.

[lowend1]

At least the guitars you mention are double celebrity owned. This one isn't at all. You can buy an autographed Paul photo for in the neighborhood of $1000-2000, and a used 1971 Martin D-35 without repaired headstock damage would be a $2000-2500 guitar. What on earth makes this guy think he can get $800,000 for this?

It's the Andy Williams connection that drives up the value...

[rahock]

FWIW, a friend of mine has a similar '71 D-35 (that he bought years ago for $1,500) and it's an awesome guitar. Not the easiest guitar to play, but with medium-heavy gauge strings, the sound is unbelievable. It's also significantly louder than any other acoustic I have heard.

My personal observations on acoustics made with good wood, is that something magic happens when they hit the 30 year old mark. I know aging is a gradual process, but this 30 year thing is something I've observed on several occassions. One of the things that improves substantually is volume.
Rick

[ilan]

Interesting. Why then doesn't a similar thing happen with classical guitars? The really good ones usually sound best when new.

[Highlander]

A guitarist I worked with in the early eighties was always impressd with my Ibanez 12 string, which is now 32 years old (excluding shop life) - sweet sounding lady, somewhat abused by her owner...