dlevitan10 - Posted - 02/12/2022:  08:10:08

Looking for help in setting a price for the guitar. The neck was replaced by Don Young 15-20 years ago. Tail piece broke but was non original. It’s from German Silver and it’s a Tricone. Any help is appreciated. Will be
Listing for sale once I have
Obtain a good understanding of its market value.

docslyd - Posted - 02/12/2022:  09:10:13

Dan: The first thing related to value is square neck vs. round neck. I’ll assume, since the neck was replaced by Don, that you’re referring to a round neck. If so, these are the rarer of the tricones. Second is originality. Replacement neck makes the guitar more functional but less collectible and, in my opinion, hurts the value. Third is condition, such as dents, scratches, oxidation and open seams. Style three has always been my favorite and quite desirable on the market. Photos would certainly help to determine a value and keep in mind a couple other things. Similar listings often show unreasonably high asking prices and appraisals done for insurance purposes usually are higher than market value. All that said, a Style 3 round neck tricone shouldn’t be too hard to sell for decent money as there are very few around!

docslyd - Posted - 02/12/2022:  09:15:00

PS, Dan....for the price point  you’re looking at, it might be worth paying someone like Gruhn Guitars for a written appraisal and go from there. Depending on how anxious you are to sell it, you can provide a copy of the appraisal and knock a grand or so off the top.  You’re probably in the 8 grand range....very roughly....

Edited by - docslyd on 02/12/2022 09:17:00

dlevitan10 - Posted - 02/12/2022:  10:03:13

I posted a couple of pictures. Yes it’s a round neck that Don Young put on.
I did post pictures I can post more if anybody wants to see.

dlevitan10 - Posted - 02/12/2022:  10:13:04

I also contacted Grumman guitars for an appraisal, sent pics. Curious to see what they say.

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 02/12/2022:  10:41:45

Dan put the photos on his profile page. I've posted them here into the thread for more convenience.

Edited by - MarkinSonoma on 02/12/2022 10:42:15

MarkinSonoma - Posted - 02/12/2022:  10:48:14

I am also curious what a Gruhn appraisal will bring. Adding to what  Eric wrote, the replacement  neck by Don Young surely will have a significant effect on the value since the guitar is no longer original. 

 

And the irony  is that after Don did the work, there's a good chance the guitar plays better now than the day it left the factory in 1929. 

Edited by - MarkinSonoma on 02/12/2022 10:48:57

dlevitan10 - Posted - 02/12/2022:  10:56:51

Thanks for posting the pics as I am new to the forum and wasn’t sure how to do it. Totally agree the replacement neck impacts the value.
The guitar will definitely be sold and I am just trying figure out a reasonable price for it.

docslyd - Posted - 02/12/2022:  11:57:26

...Dan, you mean Kummer's Vintage?? He'll probably want to buy it directly from you. Also, thanks for the photos Mark.  If and when you decide on a price and you want to maximize your sale, I would suggest some very clear and detailed photos. For whatever reason, the ones you posted here are sort of fuzzy and don't reveal the condition of the body, nor the sharpness of the engraving.

You might consider getting a tailpiece for it...about $45.00.   It wouldn't have to be original. Without being strung up, the cones and the T-bridge will "flop" around and possibly do damage to the cones, if they're original.  

Edited by - docslyd on 02/12/2022 12:00:24

dlevitan10 - Posted - 02/12/2022:  12:01:06

I meant Gruhn guitars for the appraisal. I will reach out Kummers.
I am not familiar with them. Thanks

dlevitan10 - Posted - 02/12/2022:  12:10:35

Thanks for the suggestion. The photos I took quickly and will redo when I am ready to sell. I did reach out to National about a replacement tail piece and they are sending me one. I also just sent an email to Kummers

rcc56 - Posted - 02/15/2022:  23:26:49

I can provide just a little bit of help:



1. Lawrence Wexer, a respected NY dealer, sold one some time back. It was in squeaky clean, shiny, all original condition, with almost no wear at all. His asking price was $16.5K. What the actual selling price was is unknown.



2. A re-necked instrument of this sort will generally bring 40% - 60% less than one with its original neck in otherwise similar condition.



3. An appraisal from Gruhn will carry more weight than one from most other dealers.



4. Round neck tricone #3's were made in very small numbers, and we only see 1 or 2 of them on the open market every 5 years or so. That makes it hard to find comparative prices.



5. Tim Kummer is listing one now, but the price is not listed. He rarely publishes his prices.



I would say that if the cones are original, Eric's rough estimate of an $8k, perhaps a bit less because it will have a replaced tailpiece, would be a reasonable estimate for an asking price, if it is set up in good playing condition.  Be prepared to consider offers.

Edited by - rcc56 on 02/15/2022 23:41:20