You all have been asking for one, so here is one.

SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY !!!

First, this guitar is in Excellent
PLUS-PLUS Condition.
On a scale of 1 to 10 it is a 9.5 or better condition.

1962 Bigsby Triple-8 Pedal Steel,
serial# 51562

posted 05 February 2000 05:45 PM         

Now you gotta find the bucks without your wife finding out.

I am familiar with this guitar. It is huge, and it is awesome. Incredible flame maple... the Off-Topic Board has not seen such flames!

The gauntlet has been thrown. Who, I repeat who, will be the Forumite that picks it up and runs to the goalpost?

(How's that for a mixed metaphor?)

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members.aol.com/herbs10178/index.html

posted 05 February 2000 07:04 PM         

Can you please tell us SGF readers why you believe your 1962 Bigsby pedal steel guitar is worth your asking price of $10,500?

I've never seen any steel guitar offered for sale at a price anywhere near your asking price.

It seems to me that if Bigsby's were valuable, the ones that would be most collectable would be their non-pedal and pedal models that were built in the early 1950's.

I don't intend this reply as a "flame" against your posting. In my 58 years, I've learned that everything has a price and many times, it substantially more than I would have ever dreamed.

So Mr. Steelcollector, please take the opportunity here to enlighten all of us about the value of your very interesting Bigsby pedal steel guitar.

Finally, a few photos of the guitar are certainly in order.

posted 05 February 2000 07:34 PM         

Here are some current deals from that paper:
http://my.recycler.com/asp/AdDetails.asp?iID=30885&sBAC=US&bSQ=0

posted 05 February 2000 07:53 PM         

I'd love to see pictures of the Bigsby; I know I'd never be able to afford it.

I Apprecitated your posting regarding your thoughts and opinions on my Bigsby Steel Guitar and my selling price on it.

However, a few facts may be in order here.

#1)According to a noted authority on Bigsby Instruments. My Guitar is, in all probability, the LAST PEDAL STEEL GUITAR that Paul Bigsby made. When you take into consideration the following facts:

(A) ShoBud and Fender had cut deeply into the market for this type of instrument by 1962.

(B) There was a two year waiting period between time of purchase and the time of delivery on the Bigsby Steel Guitar.

(C) Paul Bigsby's Vibrato Business had skyrocketed at this point and he needed to devote nearly all of his time to keep up with orders of his Vibrato mechinisms to Gibson, Epiphone, etc...

(D) Paul Bigsby passed away a couple of years later.

(E) This Particular Bigsby Steel Guitar incorporates virtually ALL of the features offered on his (Paul Bigsby's) Steel Guitars
Throughout All of the years. ie: Keyhead Changers, a split type finger at the changer end, Topped off with the FANCIEST and ONLY FLAMED MAPLE BODY I have ever seen on ANY Bigsby Steel Guitar. Myself, having owned a number of Bigsby's Steel Guitars throughout the years can vouch for the uniqueness of this Tiger Stripe Maple Body.

#2)
With regard to your question as to this Steel Guitar's Value vs: a Bigsby Steel from the fifties.
If the above facts that I have stated -
ie: the custom tiger stripe maple body,
the conditon of the instrument and it's uniqueness in mechinisms, etc... do not address your concerns. Perhaps, you need to understand that this particular instrument vs: a Bigsby Steel Guitar from the fifies is more sophisticated in it's setup ie: the D9 CHROMATIC TUNING, NUMBER OF PEDALS (9), and virtually enough string changes on the D9 and C6 neck to play this guitar in todays music.

In all sincerity as to the Dollar amount being asked for this instrument... Could you find another Bigsby Steel Guitar with all of these features AND in this Condition, for less money OR better yet Mr. Gershen for ANY dollar AMOUNT.
I think NOT.
In short - G. F. A. O. !!!
(Go Find Another One)

Again, I will state that MY request is that ALL SERIOUS INQUIRIES - DIRECT EMAIL ME at
steelcollector@yahoo.com

Photos will ONLY be sent out by US Mail to Serious buyers. NOT POSTED ON THE WEB.

Have a nice day and Happy Steeling,
Steelcollector@yahoo.com

[This message was edited by steelcollector on 05 February 2000 at 08:20 PM.]

posted 06 February 2000 01:08 AM         

First of all, thanks to Earnest
Bovine for your links to expensive guitars and amps that are advertised on the WWW.

I certainly realize that there are very expensive lead guitars, such as Fender Telecasters, Gibson Les Pauls, etc.; and tube amps, such as Fender tweed models, etc.

Apparantly this type of agressive pricing has now arrived for "certain" pedal steel guitars and non-pedal steel guitars.

Be it for me to judge if this is good or not! Ultimately, it's the players (I don't mean "musicians") in the marketplace that decides the real fair market value of "any" product offered for sale.

Second, thanks to Steelcollector for providing some real interesting information about his Bigsby steel guitar. I wish him all the best in selling his guitar and I hope that somewhere in this process, we get to see some photos of this instrument.

posted 06 February 2000 02:22 AM         

I could sell my 50s Teles but from a collectors point of view its better to keep the Fenders because you would always find someone who would be willing to pay your asking price. With the Bigsby I'm not sure. I would if I only had the cash now, but the market for expensive vintage steels is very limited.
To steelcollector:
I totally understand your point of view but I think it would be a pleasure for all of us "players" if you would post at least on picture. As a guitar collector I always admire the beauty of the instrument and I love to see pictures of Bigsbys - standard or steels.
Good luck !

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spo-dee-o-dee.notrix.de Fender Custom Triple 8
Emmons S-10

[This message was edited by Tele on 06 February 2000 at 03:36 AM.]

posted 02 April 2000 12:32 AM         

Your comments above:

"1962 Bigsby Triple-8 Pedal Steel..."

and

"#1) According to a noted authority on Bigsby Instruments. My Guitar is, in all probability, the LAST PEDAL STEEL GUITAR that Paul Bigsby made."

got me thinking about the date of an old Bigsby brochure that I've had for many years. (I acquired it "new" in the 1960s.)

I found the brouchure and although it's not directly dated, it mentions that the "selling prices quoted therein are effective January 1, 1963."

The front of the brochure shows a picture of a Bigsby 3-neck pedal steel guitar that has 8 pedals. It's not clear if there are any knee levers but I assume not because no mention of knee levers is made in the brochure. On the front of the pedal steel guitar is the name "Wayne Burdick".

My point in bringing back this "For Sale" Thread it to suggest that Paul Bigsby was still selling pedal steel guitars into 1963.

As a matter of interest, the brochure mentions the following prices for the Bigsby pedal steel guitars:

$450.00 - Single neck, 8 string;

$550.00 - Double neck, 16 string;

$650.00 - Triple neck, 24 string.

For 10 string necks, add $50.00 per neck.

All prices are complete with case, legs & cord.

Bigsby offered "two types of changers" for his steel guitars:

1. Foot Pedal Tone Changers: "As many 8 pedals may be installed and may operate on one, two, three or four necks"

These are strictly custome made for each guitarist and no prices are given in the brochure.

2. Hand Lever Tuning Changers: These have three tuning settings (Forward, Middle and Back) and are patented by the Herbert Hise Mfg. Co.

Their prices are $85.00 for 8 string necks and $95.00 for 10 string necks.

I hope that the new information I furnished from the 1963 Bigsby brochure is of interest to the Steel Guitar Forum readers and is not meant to "bash" the representations made by the seller, Steelcollector.

Please post additional comments under this Subject Thread and perhaps Bob Lee can move it to the Bar Chatter page.

posted 02 April 2000 01:08 PM         

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kd...and the beat goes on...

posted 03 April 2000 11:45 AM         

Personally, it irritates me when someone prefaces an ad with "Serious Inquiries Only". I bought my '67 GTO on a whim....I wasn't serious about it at all, until I drove it! Seems to me any inquiry could develop into a possible sale; get somebody interested, then they'll get serious. The "Serious Inquiries Only" business comes off sounding hard-assed, and who wants to deal with that? Especially if they're getting ready to fork over $10,000 for a collectible toy. And no, that's not a slam-- my Goat was an even bigger toy which ultimately gobbled more money than I had ever imagined. At least you don't have to feed a Bigsby high-octane purple gas.....

[This message was edited by Craig Holden on 03 April 2000 at 11:47 AM.]

posted 03 April 2000 01:35 PM         

There's no doubt there will be a market for vintage steels some day that is higher than it is now, and that Bigsbys will be at the top in price.

posted 03 April 2000 02:45 PM         

If you can get 10 000 Plus, why should I begrudge you? I'd love to be in your shoes!

posted 03 April 2000 02:49 PM         

Understand you shouldn't play an instrument of this caliber. So I thought an end table to hold my coffee might be more appropriate. That way I can admire the pretty tiger striped maple, so long as I use my one of a kind the Valentino coasters, that I picked up last time I was in Hollywood.

Anyway I got a place all picked out for it Right next to my 1929 Model J Duesenberg and the Liberace grand piano. I keep that Elvis Gibson guitar I picked up last week in the back seat of the Duesy when I want to get out of the house and play. BTW it’s the one he used in all those movies. They tell me it’s worth $30,000, just cause Elvis owned it. But what would I know? I just like the tone.

Owning a steel that Bill Bigsby owned ought to complete my collection. Incredible Hulk eat your heart out!

Do you think I'm making a mistake? Lets see it plays all the changes of today at $10,000, or I can get a new Carter that does the same thing. Hummmmmmm. Maybe I should just get a new coffee table.

One other SERIOUS INQUIRY, If I do decide to add this to my historical collection, Should I worry about assumed names? Or do I just make the check out to Mr. Steelcollector?

Makin' Room.
<

[This message was edited by Mac Lloyd on 03 April 2000 at 02:56 PM.]

posted 03 April 2000 04:20 PM         

A guitar is "worth" whatever someone wants to pay for it. What an instrument sells for also reflects the value of the money to the guy spending it.

If and when someone pays $10 grand for this guitar, one of the things it will say to me is that the buyer is in a position in life in which $10 grand just isn't that much money. And there are a lot of people out there nowadays that, for a variety of situations (inheritance, booming stock market, good careers, etc.), fall into that category. And I don't begrudge them a cent they have made and how they want to spend the bucks. Hey, I have a great guitar collection myself that I have a bunch of dollars sunk into. I wouldn't want to spend 10 grand on that guitar, though I dare say someone would, and if I were in a different position, I might.

I did spend 13 grand on a bass boat because I am an avid fisherman, and nobody blinked an eye around here, since it's one of the low-mid-priced boats on the lake. And I know guys that have spent over $30 grand on bass boats and another 20 on a truck to haul it with, and they just have regular old middle class jobs with working wives. They want that bass rig bad enough to sacrifice for it.

(Anyone here have a boat you spent over 10 grand on, and maybe go out a dozen times a year, if that much? )

It seems that for a lot of people, finding 10 grand to spend on a one-of-a-kind Bigsby is out of the question, which is fine. The truth is, though y'all might want a Bigsby, y'all just don't want it bad enough to fork over 10 big ones. Which is also fine.

Herb's Steel Guitar Homesite

[This message was edited by Herb Steiner on 03 April 2000 at 04:22 PM.]

posted 03 April 2000 05:04 PM         

quote:

---

Has anyone as of yet at least made an offer?

---

An instrument of this magnitude may take a couple of days to sell. Mr. Steel Collector may find to sell it quickly some reconsideration of the price may be in order.

posted 04 April 2000 07:24 AM         

I knew there was a deal pending, though confidentiality demanded I not mention any part of it. I received an e-mail today from the player that purchased this guitar. When he saw the condition and setup of the instrument, he understood its significance and came up with significant bucks. The owner said he would have some digital photos for the forum at a later date.

Mac, it looks like you'll have to settle for about 900 bucks for that '86 Cadillac, which is probably what that thang is worth, if in immaculate condition. Of course, you still have your Dusenberg, right?

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Herb's Steel Guitar Homesite

posted 04 April 2000 09:11 AM         

Just a thought!

[This message was edited by Joe E on 04 April 2000 at 09:13 AM.]

posted 04 April 2000 09:40 AM         

Forgive my ignorance but, what in the world would ever make a '59 "Gold Top" or a '57 "Strat" worth $30,000!?! (I wouldn't pay the $10K Gibson's asking for a new Super 400 either!!) These were and are factory, production-line, instruments! They are made out of mediocre woods and electronics (nothing state-of-the-art). Leo Fender nor Orvil Gibson never intended or imagined that their guitars "for-the-masses" would be priced at more than a 3-bedroom house in the years that these two examples were made. What gives! I'm not intending to stir-up any trouble, I just don't understand.

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

posted 04 April 2000 09:50 AM         

BTW wanna buy a slightly used one of a kind Cadillac? You might say I picked it up at the factory.

posted 04 April 2000 09:56 AM         

quote:

---

I found this absolutely hilarious. NOT that the guitar sold for big bucks, but that you folks were offended by his price.

---

posted 04 April 2000 10:56 AM         

Your right! His attitude made him very unaproachable! I would still love to see this guitar though. I would have been the one to ask him to send me pictures even though I wasn't going to buy it.

Glen,

I hate to say it but most of these guitars end up over sea. The Oriental collectors pay big bucks for this type of stuff. And lets face it, if you had a guitar that someone was willing to pay you enough for a deposit on a house, you'd take it.

As for "what vintage guitar is worth" as a player.... Not much!! Most of the guys who play old Pauls or Strats have changed just about everything on them that makes them valuable, to make them playable.

I don't set the values, I just have to pay them if I want a piece of history.

I'll take my Les Paul that I've owned the last 10 years and put against anything. It may not be as pretty as some, but plays and sounds as good as any.

posted 04 April 2000 12:30 PM         

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kd...and the beat goes on...

posted 04 April 2000 01:00 PM         

Same reason a Babe Ruth baseball card from 1938 that cost a penny is worth big bucks now, or an indian head penny which was worth, well, a penny, is also worth big bucks now.

posted 04 April 2000 01:30 PM         

Look at the NASDAQ today, and watch all the smart guys, who thought that every thing had to worth what ever somebody else would pay for it. "Somebody" and a whole bunch of "sombody elses" got a history lesson...

posted 04 April 2000 01:35 PM         

I did not find Steelcollector's attitude stand-offish, incidentally. I did wonder what was bothering some of his critics, who would no doubt have accepted a ridiculously high offer for the guitar if they were the owner. This instrument was not your average Sho-Bud/Fender Maverick, after all.

And Glenn, Dan is exactly right. What makes a 1959 Les Paul seem like its not worth $30 grand to you is the fact that you don't own it. If you did, you would read about its value in Vintage Guitar and it would most certainly be worth $30 big ones.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Homesite

posted 04 April 2000 04:41 PM         

If the seller was not in immediate need of the cash but instead was waiting for the price he would like to get, or close to it, he would hold out and wait for the right buyer. This also happens all the time.

It's all part of the buyer/seller negotiation dynamic that is so fascinating.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Homesite

posted 04 April 2000 07:02 PM         

BTW, please remember, I am not putting out an opinion about that Bigsby's "value". I am only concerened about how to measure "value". And therefore, in NO way am I comparing this guitar to a Maverick!... well just before you all feel like

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.... J-D.

[This message was edited by J D Sauser on 04 April 2000 at 07:10 PM.]

posted 04 April 2000 07:55 PM         

b0b, I have no problem with the purchaser. I do feel the seller could have been a little more discrete and compassinate to the people on the forum that would have liked some more input. If I buy a Steel or an auto or whatever, the price I pay for it is my business for me to divulge if I should see fit to do so.

BTW: I have a Rick Frypan/Pancake 6 string short scale for $5,000. It has been used and abused but sounds as good as it did the day it was originally sold. Mfg date was somewhere between 1931 to 1935 as best as I can determine. I also have a Rick Bakelite 1938 6 string for sale for $2500 in almost new condition. I have 2 Emmons P/P 1967 bolt on and 1974 Emmons P/P wooden necks and body lacquer finish, also used and abused. I will make you a deal you can't refuse. E~mail me if interested. Only serious inquiries and picture only on request with a $1000 deposit. I have other items, Bigsby foot volume control, Sho~Bud volume control and other acessaries too numerous to list. Prices furnished on request. LOL...anybody interested?

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kd...and the beat goes on...

posted 05 April 2000 12:26 AM         

Kenny, you placed ridiculous prices in your last post for an example, I know; but I have seen Rick Frypans from the 30's go for $1500-2000. And prewar bakelite Ricks go for $750. And there were thousands of these things manufactured. Triple neck Stringmasters now sell for over $1000, again thousands were manufactured. So, finding one for sale is not a problem and the buyer will frequently have his choice of alternative guitars. This in itself tends to bring down prices.

By the way, a 1964 Emmons recently sold to a Japanese collector for $4000.

As far as the Bigsby guitars go, the best estimate from Paul Warnik, Tom Morrell and others who have researched the subject is that there were between 160 and 200 Bigsby instruments manufactured between 1946 and 1962. Undoubtedly some of these are no longer around... burned up in fires, dismantled, etc., so the number of potentially available guitars is even less than that. Also, Paul Bigsby made and signed these things himself. What would be the value of a collectible Telecaster that was authenticated as being made and signed by Leo Fender himself? Certainly more than the average Tele, which is already up in the stratosphere price-wise, no?

Many guys on the Forum in the past year have mentioned they are looking for a Bigsby guitar. I have received many inquiries about my Reissue. Yet, this is the first Bigsby (to my knowledge) offered for sale on the Forum. Scarcity and lack of available substitutes brings the prices up in any market... steel guitars, pork bellies, or widgets.

I don't see how the purchaser of this guitar would or should be embarrassed by anything that was said on this thread, incidentally. The criticisms seem to have been directed to the seller and to the state of the collectible guitar business in general. If the man has the bucks, the business is between the buyer and seller, and it's none of ours to comment on the dynamics of their deal, IMHO.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Homesite