With the price rises

[Spitfire]

Due to the current eccomomic climate.. it makes sense to buy british...

It was the final factor that made my buy BK in the end... but also what options would we have for guitars.. it makes the gentelmen guitar builders that post on here seem more reasonably priced when the mass produced imports prices are creeping up.

[Twinfan]

Yep, 'tis true.

Or you buy used instead of new.....

[Spitfire]

i dont think i have one big piece of new gear at the mo.. everything is used apart from my nova delay and other small things.

Im a big fan of used things, especially if you are on a budget.

[Stevepage]

I won't be buying new for quite some time now. When I do, it'll be from a british luthier/company. I've only got my eyes on a Les Paul type guitar. For the amount Gibson charges, I could get a custom with specs of my own.

[Jonny]

I've been buying used. The only things I'll probably buy new are pickups and all the small things.

[dave_mc]

Yep, 'tis true.

Or you buy used instead of new.....

surely if the new prices go up, that'll affect second-hand prices too? might be a tiny bit of lag if the sellers don't realise it, but i'd assume they'd notice before long? :)

EDIT: i thought a lot of the USA-made stuff was too dear before these price rises... :lol:

[Twinfan]

Could well do.  Time will tell.....

[dave_mc]

yeah. i mean, i always decide whether or not a second-hand purchase is "worth it", with regards to going new instead, based on what it goes for new... i assume most other people do too?

obviously condition is another major factor.

[jpfamps]

I have to admit I would be very unlikely to buy a new guitar or amp. Unless there is a real dearth of examples in the secondhand market you will always get better value second hand.

Regarding second hand prices, they are simply determined by supply and demand. If the increase in new guitar prices increases the demand for 2nd hand, then the prices will go up.

If the economy goes the way it is looking (ie very bad), then I can see prices coming down.

My guess is that the second scenario is the more likely.

There are already signs in the vintage/ secondhand market that people are trying to "get out" of gear, however at the moment many peoples expectation on price are at odds with the reality of the market.

[TheDev01dOne]

Credit crunch or whatever is a weird thing. Everyone is short of money, so retailers jack their new prices up.. But then a lot of people need money so are selling their used gear to either fund new purchases or just reclaim some money.. Seems to me like most well known brands (Fender Gibson PRS Marshall Mesa etc etc) are pretty steady in prices for used stuff at the moment. There is still big demand for them and people essentially know what they're getting so they know what it's worth to them etc.

The main place I see a difference is in vintage, rare, boutique stuff. Anything that you're taking a bit of a chance on has plummeted down in price on the used market. 12 months ago any eBay listing with "boutique, rare, vintage, mojo, custom" would sell easily at a good price. Now they seem like bad things, why would someone risk £2000 on some obscure luthier built guitar they've never tried or played when they can still get a bog standard Fender Strat for £800.

It's a buyers market if you're going used. Especially if you know exactly what you're looking for. It's only going to get worse.