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Original Post By:
warndt
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Date: 4/16/2014 7:55:04 PM
(Updated: 4/16/2014 7:57:15 PM)
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I'm considering putting up some fairly nice ukes for sale. Since I have not been following this BB or the marketplace as I once did for some time, I'm interested in any comments on the resale market today ...Hot? Soft? Easy?... Speculative? (Ha! I didn't stay on the path you thought I would)
All comments would be appreciated.
William |
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Posted By:
poster one
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Date: 4/16/2014 11:50:46 PM
(Updated: 4/16/2014 11:52:16 PM)
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William, the market isn't what it was five or six years ago. The top-notch stuff and the rare stuff still hold somewhat of a value. Unfortunately with Martin building a full range of models the 2's, 3's and 5's of days of yore have taken a big hit.
The big question is always going to be: Who is out there that will by my incredible and mint condition extremely rare ukulele?
When perusing eBay it is very common to see the very high priced ukes listed for many months and then not selling.
It also seems to me that most "collectors" have got what they were looking for and most of the rest of the ukulele buyers cant afford the big-ticket items. Most uke players just cant pay big money to keep a ukulele packed away because they don't want to play it.
These are my opinions and aren't worth a whole lot to anyone except me. Hope you get what you want from your ukes.
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Posted By:
Muttzukii
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Date: 4/17/2014 1:26:08 PM |
| Without seeing what you are offering, it is hard to give a good answer. Ditto what UkeS said above, with some additional comments. There are so many new ukes available from so many sources that most beginners just go with new. In the used market, I think, there is some demand for quality tenors & concerts. The soprano market is very oversupplied compared to demand. And as is general in any marketplace: the lower your price relative to perceived value, the more likely they are to move. If you don't want to go as far as putting up FleaMarketPlace listings, perhaps you can tell us what these fairly nice ukes are & what general price range you think they should be. I'm sure that will generate plenty of opinions. Larry
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Posted By:
Fretted
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Date: 4/21/2014 5:50:45 PM
(Updated: 4/21/2014 5:51:42 PM)
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My scattered random thoughts.
Ditto what they said, although I've found that the nicer Chinese ukes have been creeping up in price. A real nice, solid wood import approaches 4 or 5 hundred bucks now. I'd rather save and spend another couple or few hundred on a new Hawaiian, American or luthier made ukulele. If I could find a used one of those in the same ballpark as a high end import, I'd be very interested. Jiust sayin'
I have placed a moratorium on purchasing laminated instruments for the time being. I never end up treasuring them. Every week another line of ukes comes out of one or another of a very few Chinese factories. They look slightly different, but are essentially the same ukulele.
As does every player. I keep looking for the holy grail.
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Posted By:
Ukulele Rob
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Date: 4/22/2014 7:10:28 PM |
| I found my Holy Grail. And then another. And then another. Good thing I don't feel this way about pianos or baritone saxophones, or there wouln't be room at home for a bed.
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Posted By:
Geoff Rezek
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Date: 4/23/2014 7:12:20 AM |
To get the high end retail prices of vintage and used ukuleles I look at the Elderly Instruments listings. http://elderly.com/search/elderly?terms=ukulele&step=20&sort_on=catalog&instock_only=&lessthan=&only_catalog=Vintage%20%26amp%3B%20Used%20Instruments&cname=Search
Geoff Rezek
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Posted By:
warndt
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Date: 4/23/2014 8:07:10 PM
(Updated: 4/23/2014 8:56:03 PM)
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I'm really seeing what Fretted is talking about...What used to be a low end import now seems to have a collectable market.
I also agree with Ukulele Rob since I believe he and I had started about the same time.I own a nice and varied collection and really enjoy the quality in almost all of the ukes that I have.
Geoff also has a point...Elderly moves a bunch of instruments and is a good resource for following the market...along with ebay.
Thanks to all for the input and some very good insight!
Wm.
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Posted By:
Dave in Petaluma
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Date: 4/26/2014 10:04:34 PM |
| Wow, is my first edition Bushman Jenny worth 4 to 5 bills? doesn't have any issues other than it isn't a Martin.
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Posted By:
northern uke
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Date: 4/29/2014 12:59:48 PM |
| Just played my Bushman today for the first time in a long time. Its an Asian uke and worth about a hundred bucks.Vintage has gone up a bit but I notice a lot of middle of the road stuff re-selling for close to new prices. Curious.
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Posted By:
warndt
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Date: 4/29/2014 8:14:11 PM |
"Vintage has gone up a bit but I notice a lot of middle of the road stuff re-selling for close to new prices."
I agree 100% with Northern Uke's observation...the term "collectable" wasn't the best term to use nor as accurate as Northern's description of recent trends. Curious to say the least!
Hell...Give 'er a try there... Dave in Petaluma...5 bills may just be in your near future! Woo Hoo...Good Bye Jenny!!
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Posted By:
Tom B.
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Date: 4/29/2014 9:17:23 PM |
| Dave, I'll give you $395 and not a penny more. :)
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Posted By:
Dave in Petaluma
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Date: 4/30/2014 2:09:06 AM |
| A bulletin board auction? What fun. Seriously I have to list it now on the Fleamarket with photos at sunrise.
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