What's a ding worth?

[gfa]

From a buyer's perspective, a couple of small dings wouldn't affect my notion of the market value of the guitar. I might use them as a negotiation point, but my bottom line answer is "not much."

[LadysSolo]

As someone who recently bought a used guitar, dings - not too much, but a crack (even repaired,) it matters a lot! (at least to me.) You can tell me "well-repaired," but that's in YOUR opinion. If I am buying, expect to take a big hit.

[Song]

This ding is worth a few thousand

[jpmist]

So, this is just me, but when I scan eBay and the seller says there's a ding or scratch, my mind expects about $150 off a used $1,800 or so guitar in otherwise excellent condition. So that makes it about 8% drop.

And by ding, I mean something that breaks the top finish that my eye will invariably catch every time I pick up the guitar. Bottom, side or neck dings don't seem to bother me. I suppose that discount shrinks when the guitar is over 10 years old or so.

The main issue for me really is if I decide to sell it I'll run up the simple fact that, to me, a guitar with dings is not worth as much as the exact guitar with an unblemished top.

[SFCRetired]

Originally Posted by LadysSolo

As someone who recently bought a used guitar, dings - not too much, but a crack (even repaired,) it matters a lot! (at least to me.) You can tell me "well-repaired," but that's in YOUR opinion. If I am buying, expect to take a big hit.

you have taken yourself out of consideration of ever owning a vintage guitar. Or you could look at it like you are buying a pre-vintage guitar and go ahead and buy that repaired cracked guitar now and save yourself a bundle of money by buying pre-vintage.

I wonder if people look at it that way when they buy a used car? Nope, it has been in the shop. (cars cost a lot more than guitars do and in a few years they are worth 25% of what they cost new even if they have never been in an accident or had any repairs)

[Tone Gopher]

No difference, not an issue.

You'll ask a price, and someone will quibble about it regardless. Then it's up to you to accept, negotiate, or walk away. The ding just doesn't matter.

If you buy a new guitar, and sell it the next day, the depreciation will far outweigh any decrement due to dings.

[LadysSolo]

I just bought a 1967 Gibson CO, couple dings but no cracks. I am just careful, seen too many cracks apparently repaired with superglue.

[Von Beerhofen]

I think the value of a ding deteriorates over time. When it happens within the first few weeks it'll probably cost you around 35% resale value.
However as the guitar gets older dings become more normal on guitars of simmilar age. When a guitar is played these things are simply inevitable, so if you had a ding within the first few weeks, others (perhaps around 50 % of all guitarists) will suffer a ding with 6 months or so.

Within a year almost 90% of all guitarists will have suffered a ding on their expensive instruments and after a few years only 5% may still have an unblemished guitar (that is besides polishing scratches and such).

After 10 years the damage often gets more severe, bits of lacquer may have come off because of accidental contact with a microphone stand or a mother in law. The influence of humidity changes becomes more appearent and in the worst case scenario some guitars get trampled by hordes of fans, not leaving much to sell.

I think the above is a pretty good ruler estimation for how a guitar devaluates over time, but it doesn't take into account any appreciation in value due to vintageness or highly sought after instruments.

Market value of a guitar at any moment is what the buyer is willing to pay for it and may not reflect the true value of the instrument, or the sellers idea of it's true value.

Von Beerhofen

[Hoyt]

If I discounted dings on my best instruments, I'd be paying someone to take it. Any played instrument several years old or more, wI'll have some minor dings. Now major dings you can see from a few feet, that might be different.

[DanPanther]

I will wager that if you list the guitar at the same price as one without dings, and you mention the dings. Not a single person will pay your asking price, all will request a discount for the dings.
Dan

[Brucebubs]

If I tell you all one of my guitars is 5 years old and still completely ding free I just know what will happen.
So I won't..... but it is.

[Porchpkr]

Thanks for so many opinions. The ding is minor. Only visible when light reflects off guitar. I'm going take the advice of 1/2 of list price or $1900. Now let me figure how to post a picture on AGF.

[M19]

Originally Posted by Porchpkr

Thanks for so many opinions. The ding is minor. Only visible when light reflects off guitar. I'm going take the advice of 1/2 of list price or $1900. Now let me figure how to post a picture on AGF.

Remember to upgrade to a Charter Membership so you can post your guitar for sale on the AGF.

[SFCRetired]

Originally Posted by Porchpkr

Thanks for so many opinions. The ding is minor. Only visible when light reflects off guitar. I'm going take the advice of 1/2 of list price or $1900. Now let me figure how to post a picture on AGF.

I listed my HD for 1700 and had 3 offers. 1,000, 1350, and something else I can't recall now. Not one ding on it,(fingers crossed), it does have the typical fine scratch here and there. There are a lot of HD's for sale and from what I see the average is around 2 to 21 asking price.

Be prepared for low ballers, and be prepared that it might take a while to sell. But it will sell. If the ding is as described I wouldn't let that factor into the offers I received or what I sold it for. It should be a non issue.

[Mr Bojangles]

A ding = $100.