Bozo guitar worth

[Fran Guidry]

Originally Posted by blue-wily-fox

I didn't know that clown played guitar???!!!

We were all wondering who would make the completely predictable joke on Mr. Podunanvac's name.

Congrats.

Fran

[Larry Pattis]

FYI, I have never heard of Bozo dating any of his handmade guitars (with writing or carving on the guitar itself), and the carving (if that's what it is) on the brace may or may not be from Bozo himself.

I'm still hoping it's a handmade version (for your sake!), and also hoping for much better photos. A really good close-up of the purfling and rosette might be all that is needed, but better photos everywhere would be nice!

(EDIT: Thank you, Fran)

[ship of fools]

Like Larry said almost all of his guitars were stamped on the neck heel block, but you never know. And of course Bozo the Clown played guitar I can remember seeing him play when I was a kid.Ship

[Larry Pattis]

Rich sent me better photos, and clearly the guitar IS a handmade Bozo.

Good deal.

I wrote to Rich:

The main "marker" for your guitar being a handmade Bozo (and it is indeed a "real" Bozo, as you suspected) is the purfling and soundhole rosette material, along with the "Bozo Podunavac" stamp on the interior center-seam-reinforcement (seen in photo P8200209.JPG). I suspect you'll see this stamp-mark in more than just a few places, if you can eventually look inside the guitar. Also, this guitar has Grover tuners, and the Asian made guitars often had Grover copies, with the name "Clover" (I'm not kidding) on them. Of course tuners can be replaced, but these look to be original.

If it's Brazilian (and I am still uncertain about that, even with the better photos), I think certainly the value would be at no less than $4K, and perhaps right up to $5K. For insurance purposes I might go a bit higher, since the guitar is irreplaceable. Call it $6K for insurance.

FYI, most of the Brazilian that Bozo built with from that era would now have cracks, regardless of how well-kept the guitar was I regards to humidity, etc.

It is a very small and strange collectible market for Bozo, and despite his reputation and history with Kottke and Peter Lang, the prices are a lot less than one would think...especially with "vintage" stuff being so overpriced....and he's not building anymore, so you would think there would be a serious "collectible market" for authentic Bozo Podunavac guitars...

Lang himself sold what Bozo calls a "full-abalone" 12 string (it was his Lang's brother's guitar) that was in mint condition for just under $10K last year. It should have been worth $20K, but his guitars just do not command those prices!

[Folkstrum]

Been lurking on this thread out of idle curiosity. How nice it is to have Larry Pattis around! I wish I had that kind of expertise---on ANYTHING!

The economy is certainly reflecting its down-self (downside?) in the Classifieds here (people NEEDING to sell for finances, AND prices being dropped pretty regularly on primo instruments). I always thought of Bozos being "legendary," and to be honest, kinda surprised the prices aren't higher. Wonder if it would help to hold on for awhile (?). Oh well, thanks for an informative thread guys!

[ship of fools]

Can you share the pics that he sent you, its hard to tell from the ones he posted so more pics are always great, as for insurance I would increase that by a bit more and say around $7,200.00 mark , just because of the market and that seems to be the price area where you see most of them listed for.Ship