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 hogwldfltr |
Garage Sale for Martin Guitars |
Lead | |
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(05/16/08 7:28 PM) |
I know there have been some great deals found; Mac for example found a nice vintage at one point. I was wondering how many out there routinely check at garage
sales for Martins? Any one have recommendations on doing this? Thanks,
-Lee
*************
I've been known to play with the following: D-18 : D-18V : Backpacker : 000-28EC : D-41 : Breedlove OM-M : Gibson C-0 Classic : Martin D12-1 : and a '98 Harley-Davidson FLTR Road Glide ************* Hand me my old guitar, pass the whisky round. Won't you tell everybody you meet that the Candyman's in town. -Hunter/Garcia |
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 dhcrow |
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(05/16/08 8:02 PM) |
I search all the time - but never any luck. The closest I've come actually happened last week. I was driving to work and saw a hardshell guitar case
sticking out of a dumpster. Well, I got excited (and of course have no shame) and stopped and pulled that case out of the dumpster and put in my car. I drove
to work with my heart beating fast than it should, opened the case to find it empty. Rats!!!! But, I did get a free guitar case that is very good shape. And it
fits the Sigma that I purchased off ebay that came caseless. So, not a bad story, almost related, but........sadly no great deal on a Martin.
I'll just have to be happy with the one's I've purchased new and enjoy that great warranty that comes with them! 
dhcrow
"Martin guitars - just try to buy one!"
Everything you do shapes our future! Be careful out there! Crow |
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Topographic |
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(05/16/08 8:22 PM) |
Access to the Web has changed the serendipitous nature of garage sales; people can too easily research an old "under the bed" guitar these days
and know exactly what they have.
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blankstaircase |
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(05/16/08 9:02 PM) |
I purchased a 1936 Gibson concert uke at a garage sale last year for $200.00. It was in really nice condition. Its worth about 2k. I allways ask if they have
any instruments. If they do, I ask them if I can see them and if there for sale. If they say yes, I ask them to name their price. If it a good price, I buy it.
It happens alot more than you think, even in this day and age of the Internet.
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alancline |
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(05/16/08 10:32 PM) |
A local woman found a 50's D-18 at one of the Salvation Army's here in town within the last couple of years. She kept trying to sell it to the local
vintage shop but kept wanting more than they were offering. Not sure of the eventual outcome.
Alan Cline
Eugene, OR "I Pick, therefore, I Grin!" |
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BILL SP0016RST |
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(05/16/08 10:57 PM) |
A while back a friend of mine told me he donated a guitar to the local goodwill store. I asked him how long ago and he said about a week. I asked him what kind
it was he said I dunno, Marlin or something like that. I said Martin? He said yeah that's it. I was at the store when they opened the next day and was told
they sold it already for some ridiculously low price. Near miss.
"To Johann Sebastian Bach music owes as great a debt as does a religion to its founder."
Robert Schumann |
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johnlg |
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(05/17/08 12:16 AM) Local user |
I know a guy who bought a 68 Les Paul at a yard sale in Milwaukee. He paid $200.
I bought an Eko Jazz Box for $20 at a yard sale once. I've never found a fantastic guitar. I bought this solid top Yamaha with an SKB hard case off craigslist for $85 two weeks ago. it's the new camping guitar. 
I look at the local craigslist listings every other day now. You never know what's lurking in your own neighborhood.
OM16GT....D-15....D12X1....LXM....Larrivee L03R....Taylor 214....Rainsong AWS-1000...Gretsch Americana....Yamaha FG04......Sigma Mandolin..Fender
Strat...Fender Standard Tele..Fender Thinline Tele...Gibson SG.....Gibson Melody Maker.....Gretsch Double Jet.....Fender Bronco Bass
My Soundclick Page |
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Geez60 |
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(05/17/08 7:28 AM) |
I found a 1933 Martin O-17 sitting out with the garbage several years ago.The treble side was smashed and needed to be replaced and the bracing most likely was
loos as it was raining at the time.So far,the side has been removed and the bracing re-glued.It will need new tuning machines and a neck set as well as the
side to be playable.
Geez60 (formally Geez45) |
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Old Martins |
It can happen. | ||
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(05/17/08 9:14 AM) |
I went to a combination divorce/garage sale in the 1970's in L.A. I was invited by a lady who worked in my office at that time. When I arrived, I noticed a
Martin Ukelele on one of the tables with a $20 price tag on it. I immediately pounced in it and paid the lady with a smile.
It was in mint condition. It's a Model O standard Uke and it had a nice canvas bag with it. It appears to be from the 1950's. Needless to say, I still have it and feel very fortunate to have aquired it. On another occasion, my father who was a real estate broker was reviewing properties in Beverly Hills one afternoon. My brother and I had a small guitar store at the time and my Dad was aware of my keen interest in all things stringed. During his drive, he went down an alley and noticed what appeared to be a guitar neck sticking up out of a garbage can. He stopped and saw a guitar body with a neck, loose in the can. He brought it home and gave it to me. Turns out it was a Levin guitar, made in Sweden. It was a smallish one, about the size of a 00-21. The neck joint had simply dried out and, rather than taking it to a repair shop, the owner decided to can it. Other than the loose neck, it had not so much as a ding anywhere in the wood. I simply hot-glued the neck back on and a couple of days later, after a new set of steel strings and a polish job, I sold it in the store for $150. Ha. It only proves that one person's garbage is another person's treasure. 
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jiml2 |
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(05/17/08 11:15 AM) |
I bought a martin 00-17 ('42 or '43) from a friend who bought it for $25 -- his story. I paid about 30x that amount for it, but we were both happy. I
sold it serveral years ago -- still kicking myself over that one!
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MPkrNth |
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(05/17/08 11:20 AM) |
I was driving down an alley last fall when my wife spotted a guitar neck sticking out from behind some garbage cans. Turned out to be an old Washburn, pretty
bad shape but still worth halling home for repair practice.
I agree with an earlier post that the web has changed how these things happen. A local older couple inherited a '52 D-18 that belonged to his recently departed sister. They left it in the basement for 2 years, almost turned it into a play guitar for their young grand kids, but at the last minute decided to throw it on ebay and see if they could get $600 for it. Of course they got a wave of emails telling them what it was and to have it taken off and appraised. I was fortunate to get it the second time around, but for a fair market price. I played a bit for them and they were kind enough to share the story with me when I went to pick it up. I think years ago this one would definitely have ended up in a garage sale of some sort judging by the couple who sold it to me. |
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Mygrassisblue |
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(05/17/08 2:58 PM) |
I bought a 1968 D-18 at a yard sale for $50 a few years back, it sounds great but did have a little minor belt buckle rash on the back of the guitar (which
almost polished completely out) but other then that, it sounds great and gets a lot of playing time
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dogaround |
Not a Martin but.... | ||
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(05/17/08 8:57 PM) |
I bought a 1966 Epiphone classical guitar at a yardsale for $10. I found the same guitar on the internet that day for $400. I wouldn't pay that much for
a classical because I don't play it enough, but I do like having one in my flotilla & the price was definitely right.
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Metropro |
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(05/17/08 10:36 PM) |
Several years ago I was helping a friend clean up his basement that had been flooded. I spotted an old, beat up guitar on the sofa. He asked if I wanted it
since he was going to take it to the dump. I said, "No." Then thought better of it. It was a 1931 0-18 that was coming apart at the seams. I told
him I'd take it, but I wouldn't leave until I had made it absolutely clear to him what I thought it was worth. He didn't care, he wanted me to
have it. It's the best guitar I've ever played.
Generally, I find instruments at estate sales. Not yard sales. In an estate sale, the owners have died and either there are no close relatives or they've just hired someone to sell everything off. Prices can be all over the place. Often they're asking way more than a piece is worth because they really haven't a clue. For example, $10 for a broken tambourine. $250 for a damaged autoharp. But they can also be dirt cheap. I've never seen a vintage acoustic guitar though. I have seen lots of pianos, clarinets, trumpets, organs, accordions, banjos, violins, electric guitars etc.... I tend to favor areas that were once well-to-do but are now a bit shabby. Or, places that have summer homes where people might have retired to. I'm looking for a home where the owners were young in the 1920's or 30's and might have bought a vintage guitar. 80 years later, the neighborhood has changed, and they no longer have any living relatives. No one knows what any of the old things are worth. Often if they advertise they won't even mention if there are instruments. Well, they'll mention the piano and ignore all the others. Good hunting. Chris |
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george kraushaar |
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(05/18/08 12:03 AM) |
Somebody dumped off a Guild D-30 at the church rummage sale. The minister, a guitar player himself, paid the church $500 for it. He probably could have got
it for a lot less, but I guess that's what happens when you're an ethical person.
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Scottish Thistledown |
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(05/18/08 6:33 AM) |
Someone on the AGF scored a 1951 0-15:
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125469&highlight=garage+sale+Martin His friend bought it at the sale for $10 and he paid his friend $200 for it - after some work he's going to have a really nice guitar! I love reading stories like that - though Mac's must be the best!
DISCLAIMER: I am not actually Scottish, nor am I a thistle.
~Lynn Alpine 000-28VS |
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WaveRay |
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(05/18/08 9:50 AM) |
I don't know if this fits the bill but, I visited a guitar store in Rochester, NY a few days ago and asked if he had any used guitars sitting around. He
said he just got a Martin in a couple days earlier that was pretty clean. He said it was somewhere in the 50's vintage and showed it to me. It was an OO-17
and very clean. Played like butter and sounded like a dream. I never heard a small guitar carry bottom end like that. I looked at the serial number and thought
is was low. I handed him the guitar back and....(now, at this point, in retrospect, I should have gotten a price from him) pulled out my trusty Martin serial
number card from my wallet. I asked him to read me that serial number again and when he did I foolishly announced to him it was acutally a 35. Instantly
realizing my mistake, I mumbled obsenities to myself, shook it off and asked to play with it some more. I would have felt worse if the guys had been an ass
but, that not being the case, I walked out feeling good for playing such a fine instrument.
Page 63 in the introduction thread
05 HD-28V 03 Taylor 455ce (dealer custom rosewood) 05 M3M 71 D-18 99 Seagull S6 2/3 of my hair |
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Jason Verlinde |
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(05/18/08 10:12 AM) |
Until a couple of years ago, I was able to pick up a bunch of vintage Martin ukuleles (and non-Martins) at garage sales. None cost the going rate; I think the
max I paid was $150 dollars. And a few months ago, my mom found me a nice early '30s Gibson L-00 at a flea market. I'll spare you the price but it was
a good one.
Most of the garage sale crowd is definitely hip to ebay by now, so it's gotta be harder to find good stuff. Then again, you can't ever go to garage sales looking for anything specific -- unless it's baby clothes or Nagel prints.  All you can do is educate yourself about what to look for and what
it's selling for if it happens to cross your path. Lately, when I see good stuff at a garage sale, folks have already gone online and priced even higher
than it would cost at a store! That's always interesting... .just yesterday I saw a little no-frills Oahu amp priced like it was a Fender Champ!
Jason
Verlinde
The Fretboard Journal |
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MojoDreads |
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(05/18/08 10:13 PM) |
Years ago I found a 1930's National Duolian at a yard sale for $3. I also bought a 1969 Telecaster at a garage sale, but I can't remember the exact
price, but it was around $400. I am a part-time antique dealer and I have found GREAT things at yard/garage/tag sales, but I gave up on the yard/garage/tag
sale thing years ago... the amount of time and effort just isn't worth it. Good stuff just doesn't seem to show up like it used to.
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dogaround |
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(05/19/08 2:51 PM) |
The time I used to spend yardsaling is now spent on Craigslist |
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Dave in Tejas |
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(05/19/08 4:34 PM) |
Bought a 20's Martin style 2M uke, for $120. with hard case. Last year. I had to talk her down, though.
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waterpoet57 |
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(05/19/08 7:41 PM) |
BILL SP0016RST wrote: Blimey, they're dead rare those Marlins. Most of 'em were used for firewood in the great 70s energy crisis
Conor
D-18GE (Guinevere) | 000-15S (Georgia) | Backpacker (Gaby) | Forum Intro P56 "A highbrow is anyone who can listen to the William Tell overture and not think of the Lone Ranger" JACK PERUS |
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d28smrh |
Thats my story and I'm sticking to it! | ||
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(05/26/08 6:01 PM) |
I purchased a 1945 Martin D18 in a pawn show about 7 years ago. It was all original except for the tuners were replaced with grover rotomatics. the sound,
fantastic. The bridge, bridgeplate, pickguard,fingerboard, everything was original except.....................some fool had spray painted the top white! After
about 50 hours of wet sanding, I was able to remove about 95% of the spray paint down to what I believe is the original finish. I promptly sold it to a guy in
the eastern U.S. and trippled my money. I missed that guitar everyday! So about a year and a half ago, I e-mailed the guy asking if he still had it and would
he be interested in selling it back to me. He said, he would, but he would not take less than two and a half times the price that I sold it to him for. I
choked it down, and sent him the money. I now have my guitar back and I absolutely love it. (not sure how much I actually paid for the guitar though!)
I'm new at this UMGF stuff and I'll try and attatch a picture. The picture says 1946 martin, but I'm sure by the serial number and the specs(ebony
fretboard and bridge,small graduated dots etc. that it is a 1945 model). This is a TRUE story!
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OLDANDINTHEWAY |
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(05/26/08 9:51 PM) |
Found a 1923 Washburn bowlback mandolin hanging in a thrift shop - $3.00
Bought a 1932 Gibson tenor banjo, with original case and accessories, for $80.00 in the1970's. The owner said if it had been a 5 string, it would have been worth something! He had 5 or 6 Gibson guitars -some were tenors - for $200 to $300. I was a poor G.I and could only afford the banjo. Have found a 1952 D-18 and I'm trying to get it. It has a lot of issues and needs much repair. Happy hunting. EDIT - I had a Washburn 5 string neck fitted to the Gibson. The fitting destroyed the B-9 Washburn, but enabled me to return the original Gibson tenor neck (with all hardware) at any time. The luthier was a very skilled person -his customs started at $3500. He even built double necked (6 and 12 string) guitars from scratch. The neck swap was MUCH cheaper ($125)then having a custom neck made. P.S I don't know what model tenor it is - no stamp, serial number, etc..
Last Edited By: OLDANDINTHEWAY
05/27/08 9:43 AM.
Edited 2 times.
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bluegrassD28 |
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(05/27/08 2:53 AM) |
Do still have the 1932 tennor Banjo? If it's a TB-3, it could be worth a few bucks!
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Hamjack |
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(05/27/08 7:19 AM) |
Topographic wrote: Gee, I guess I didn't find a 1928 00-28 in the back corner of a friend's attic last summer.
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