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Post by welder on Jun 17, 2020 10:53:00 GMT -5
OK...I've changed a lot of Strat pickguards over the years. Upgrading, modding, etc. Naturally, the mounting holes don't always line up exactly for various reasons. What I've always done is drilled out the "no longer needed" holes to 1/8" and glued in a piece of 1/8" wooden dowel to plug the unnecessary hole. Then drilled a new hole to line up to the new pickguard. I'm guessing most people don't waste their time doing that and don't worry about it. My question is....are there any Strats that you would not want to plug holes on, drill new holes for new pickguard, etc. for the concern of not wanting to de-value the guitar? Obviously, in most cases, nobody would know or care. But, is there a certain level of instrument that you would not do this to so that it would be 100% "original"?
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Post by Leftee on Jun 17, 2020 11:05:08 GMT -5
I usually fill the unused hole by gluing a round toothpick into it and cutting it off flush with the surface of the guitar. Cracker Barrel toothpicks are the perfect diameter.
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Post by welder on Jun 17, 2020 12:18:57 GMT -5
I usually fill the unused hole by gluing a round toothpick into it and cutting it off flush with the surface of the guitar. Cracker Barrel toothpicks are the perfect diameter. Leftee, I have no technical problems with doing the job. My question was more about plugging holes/drilling new ones in valuable instruments. Do you think it would take away from the value? 50 years from now is somebody going to pull a pickguard on a 2020 American Strat and say, "Nope....I'm not paying $20,000.00 for this guitar. Some hack plugged the original holes and drilled new ones".
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Post by Leftee on Jun 17, 2020 12:31:33 GMT -5
I think any time you have to drill on a vintage or potentially-vintage instrument, you run the risk of reducing value. That is regardless of filling holes.
I wouldn’t worry about a common modern instrument. Maybe I would for a CS or commemorative instrument that was made in extremely limited numbers.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Jun 17, 2020 16:56:09 GMT -5
Like Leftee says: if an instrument is particularly valuable or collectable--right now--it's inadvisable to make permanent modifications like drilling holes because it does knock dollars off the value. How much? Only the market will tell you when you go to sell it. But it's your guitar, and if you'll like it more with a different pickguard, or locking tuners, or want a Bigsby on it, absolutely modify the guitar if you will enjoy playing it more with the modification(s). It's a guitar, and it's made to be played. One of the things that happens with many players is their mind becomes polluted by the insanely high values placed on certain few (very few) guitars of the past. If you buy a modern guitar and you're concerned with devaluing it, the absolute worst thing you can do is play it or even handle it. If you're concerned about maximizing any future potential value: wipe off your fingerprints, put it in the case, stick it under a bed or in a closet, and forget it's there. Any certified financial planner who's not a nut would laugh at the idea of buying modern guitars as an investment. You'll do far better putting your money into a managed fund or healthy stock. So get out the drill and the toothpicks and glue
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Jun 17, 2020 17:04:04 GMT -5
And as with anything, there are practical limits to making permanent mods to any guitar. Here's an example of a modification that would knock the value of a modern guitar to around 10% of its current resale value. Someone apparently thought this was a good idea. For me, it serves as a lesson in what's possible when you drink way too much before changing your strings.
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Post by welder on Jun 17, 2020 18:43:11 GMT -5
That does it Peegoo! You talked me into it! My Custom Shop SRV Strat is getting the pink pearloid 13 hole pickguard!
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Jun 17, 2020 18:58:49 GMT -5
Agreed.
What will devalue more than fill/redrilling is either A) doing it sloppily, or B) doing it such that it couldn't be reversed with relative ease. In the case of an SRV (I hope the pink pearloid was a joke?) there is definitely a case to be made that the original guard should go back in to be sold. If you can fill/redrill again with no real problems to get the original guard on, then you're good. I've seen glue smears all over, chipped finish, holes bore out so big they can't hold threads without further work, and so on. Those things put a burden on the next owner to then have fixed (or fix themselves) which is a big turn off.
In terms of sheer collectability... I honestly have no idea what is being made today that will eventually be collectable. Honestly, no one ever knows. If people knew in '59 that the Les Pauls would be highly sought after, not only would they have been bought up quickly, but Gibson would've kept making them (presumably, their judgement on these matters is always suspect). A guitar has to have a pretty high collectability threshold for that sort of thing to matter in the price, and there isn't anything out there I can even imagine being like that. Maybe a Collings from before Bill died? I keep thinking early Taylors (which are built very different from modern ones) will start taking off in the collectors market, but they never really do.
There is another category of guitar which is high priced out of the gate, but likely won't be collectable... it will likely just keep a steady value. Lots of "Custom Shop" instruments are in this ballpark (my apologies to people buying up CS instruments as a retirement plan, it ain't gunna werk). Buyers of those on the used market can be very anal. Even then, if it is something hidden under a pickguard, I really don't think many would care even at that point. The people who are THAT picky generally can't operate a screwdriver, so you're safe.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Jun 17, 2020 20:31:05 GMT -5
That does it Peegoo! You talked me into it! My Custom Shop SRV Strat is getting the pink pearloid 13 hole pickguard! welder, if you do that, we'll have to call you Stevie Ray Yvonne. NTTAWWT "My apologies to people buying up CS instruments as a retirement plan, it ain't gunna werk." What funkykikuchiyo means by that is even though CS guitars do increase in value over time, they do so in parallel with the inflation rate and their relative market value remains fairly static. I know this is true because I have two early CS guitars, both bought second hand. Even though I could sell them for more than they cost, there's no appreciable profit margin.
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Post by Pinetree on Jun 18, 2020 4:22:23 GMT -5
If I really like a guitar I rarely even open it up.
But if, in my opinion, it needs a little help, I don't hesitate to get the drill (or router) out.
Now, if I were working on someone else's vintage instrument... I'd at least attempt to discuss removing any wood.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on Jun 18, 2020 8:08:24 GMT -5
What funkykikuchiyo means by that is even though CS guitars do increase in value over time, they do so in parallel with the inflation rate and their relative market value remains fairly static. I know this is true because I have two early CS guitars, both bought second hand. Even though I could sell them for more than they cost, there's no appreciable profit margin. Right, thanks for clarifying. If your retirement plan involves playing lots of guitar, then it is a whole 'nuther matter!
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Post by Leftee on Jun 18, 2020 9:47:24 GMT -5
What funkykikuchiyo means by that is even though CS guitars do increase in value over time, they do so in parallel with the inflation rate and their relative market value remains fairly static. I know this is true because I have two early CS guitars, both bought second hand. Even though I could sell them for more than they cost, there's no appreciable profit margin. Right, thanks for clarifying. If your retirement plan involves playing lots of guitar, then it is a whole 'nuther matter! It does!!!
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