Would you pay R100 000 for an Ibanez?

Matt-White · 2012-06-27T17:23:44+00:00

That's what a collector from Bloemfontein just did. He bought a JEM Evo - a new and very limited edition true replica of Steve Vai's own guitar. Of the first one Ibanez built for him 25 years ago. The six string replica even has the same dings and scratches. Built in Japan, of course, and just arrived at Toms in Bloem yesterday. It was signed by Vai on the back and the name "EVO" is written by hand below the bridge. The Evo replica series was launched at the beginning of the year and, before they were quickly sold out, retailed for just over $10 000 in the US. SA only got one, which was snapped up by Toms. It is therefore surprising, and extra special, that the local one is numbered "1 of 100".

Bob-Dubery

shaunf wrote The title of this thread was "would you pay R100k for an Ibanez?" my answer: no, not even probably the most famous one in existence. Why ? I don't like them. They do absolutely nothing for me. Nothing to do with brand loyalty. There are a multitude of other guitars I would pay that sort of money for. A guitar with a built in grab handle is not one of them.

You completely misunderstand the game. That guitar is bought as an investment. Only 100 made. Those limited edition guitars are always investments.

So, yes, if I were in the position I might spend a 100 grand on an Ibanez, especially if I had a reasonable expectation of making a good profit in a few years.

sharonzaz

Heres the thing....
Ibanez and vai always claimed the off the shelf guitars
Of the Jem are exactly the same as the one he's playing,
so in theory all you need to do is buy an jem you can find, new or old.

Sadly that is never the case, and never will be from any
Manufacturer that make a signature guitar.

So why the hell would you pay even more money for yet
Another lie?

I wouldn't pay 100k for any guitar, not a copy
Nor the original of any guitar that has been spat and drooled on by any other dude in the world.

To balance this equation, I have a fender that is a normal
USA standard, been with me (from new) for more than 15 years, have been with me around the world for more than 3000 gigs, big or small, have (mostly mine as a few dudes did play it) my drool and spit on it, has dings and scratches that I have put on it from extensive use over the years and I would not let it go, not for a 100k or any other number multiplied by 100k.

The other day the neck came off for the very first time
Since I got it and it was crazy to see it like that for the first time..

shaunf

X-rated Bob wrote
shaunf wrote The title of this thread was "would you pay R100k for an Ibanez?" my answer: no, not even probably the most famous one in existence. Why ? I don't like them. They do absolutely nothing for me. Nothing to do with brand loyalty. There are a multitude of other guitars I would pay that sort of money for. A guitar with a built in grab handle is not one of them.
You completely misunderstand the game. That guitar is bought as an investment. Only 100 made. Those limited edition guitars are always investments.

So, yes, if I were in the position I might spend a 100 grand on an Ibanez, especially if I had a reasonable expectation of making a good profit in a few years.

No, I understand fully. There are many, many investment choices one can make in this world. For me some of those choices involve a purely mechanical decision, for example investment in a financial instruments, and others there would be some kind of emotion or passion involved, normally involving some kind of object, like antique furniture, a vintage instrument etc. Often the intrinsic value of these objects are nowhere near what their prices would suggest. This additional value stems mainly from the emotional value we as humans attach to them. For example, a 1959 Les Paul should in theory be no more valuable than a similar guitar available today off the shelf. However, human emotion attached to them has resulted in them becoming a lot more valuable than their intrinsic value would suggest, however in order for this to happen and for people to recognise this value, you need to "buy in" to the emotional value of the object, otherwise you will fail to attach this value to the item. That is the case to for me in this instance. The guitar is intrinsically valued at whatever it cost to produce, which is nowhere near R100k. I am unable to attach any additional emotional value to it, thus I would not be prepared to pay the additional asking price, over and above it's intrinsic value. I would also not part with the additional money to buy it on the basis that others out in the market would be prepared to pay R100k or more, since I cannot recognise the value myself, and as such I would feel it to be a poor investment.

flatfourfan

MikeM wrote I wouldn't pay R20k for an Ibanez!

I wouldn't pay 20k for any guitar........personally I love Ibanez guitars.

chris77

Far Canal!! ? Not because it's so expensive or it's an Ibanez, but Bloem? ??? Look it's great place and having grown up there I will move back in a flash. Great place to live really, great schools, great people etc. But if I had enough money to splash R100 000.00 on a guitar I would be living by the sea somewhere ?

On a side note, the dude playing the guitar in the video is Nico, manager from Toms in Bloem - and probably the main reason I started playing guitar. We hailed from the same school and for one of our Choir Festivals they did a rocking version of Bohemian Rhapsody, with a full band. Even then I couldn't sing to save my life, but as eager beaver std 6's me and a friend scored the opportunity to be "rhoadies" for them, carrying some of their stuff and sitting in on rehearsals. Seeing someone that good up close playing a song I loved.... man, it was tickets. I just had to learn to play after that. :-[

IceCreamMan

all guitars are limited editions AAMOI, not all appreciate.

Would i pay 100k , if i could and wanted one , yes i would.

Ibanez may not have the heritage of the 'merican brands but they make mighty fine guitars so why not.

somehow we have this obsession that if its made in America it must be good...

aubs1

IceCreamMan wrote Would i pay 100k , if i could and wanted one , yes i would.

Me too!

There's a "Hendrix" double stack Marshall at TOMS-Braamfontein, (been there for years) they will not sell it. The last time I asked, it was valued at R150k. I don't have that colour money, but if I did, and they would sell, I'd buy it!!!!

Bob-Dubery

IceCreamMan wrote all guitars are limited editions AAMOI, not all appreciate.

Well, in a way. There were only so many Ibanez AR300s made before they changed the original spec. But "so many" in this instance was quite a large number, and there was no guarantee at the time that Ibanez would cap production.

With the guitar under discussion here you know that there will only ever be 100 made. So the rarity is built in.

deefstes

What?!?! Two pages of discussion already and not a single reference to eyes being gouged out? ?

sharonzaz

http://guitarinternational.com/2010/05/05/jimi-hendrix-fender-stratocasters-that-pay-tribute-to-hendrix/

Have a look at number two.
About 20 years ago it fell into my lap, not knowing
What I had I sold it after a short time.

You can swear at me as you like, I know I was a dumbass.

Point is, even if that same guitar came back at me
Now I would not pay more than I would pay for another
Guitar at THAT quality.

I've owned so many guitars over the years that at the end
It is not more than a piece of wood at the hand
Of another player.

The only regret about that guitar is the fact that
I got and sold it (same) for a small price.
I would never buy it again for a huge amount.

Found a pic on my Facebook with it in my hands...
Even more idiotically I had put dimarzios blade something on it....derrrr the stupidity ☹

sharonzaz

deefstes wrote What?!?! Two pages of discussion already and not a single reference to eyes being gouged out? ?

Three ?

nicovlogg

Just as an aside, I read an article about this where the buyer expressly stated that his purpose was to buy the guitar as an investment. He's going to seal it and bring it out in a couple of years and see if there's anybody who wants their eyes gouged out for a few hundred thousand ?

deefstes

nicovlogg wrote Just as an aside, I read an article about this where the buyer expressly stated that his purpose was to buy the guitar as an investment. He's going to seal it and bring it out in a couple of years and see if there's anybody who wants their eyes gouged out for a few hundred thousand ?

There we go.

:roflmao:

BMU

I came this || close to buying the multicolour Universe reissue. I mean, it is ***The Passion & Warfare guitar***!!!! ?

Oh the emotions... I had sweaty-palm GAS for about a week, couldn't think straight - all the symptoms.

I think it was $8000, locally what, R80k maybe? But I hung in there, it blew over and sense eventually prevailed.

So in principle yes to the original question, in practice no just 'cos of my personality. I'm fairly level-headed and definitely a player not a collector. In the end it made sooooo much more sense to just go with a standard old cheap-ass J Custom for R35k, which is what I did. (LOL!)

flatfourfan

I guess it all comes down to how bad do you want something.

I just can't get it over my head that I have a running car in my garage that is a replica of a porsche speedster which is basically what this guitar is (a replica of the real thing......lol.

and it cost me R32 000.

car/ guitar.......hmmmm

IceCreamMan

flatfourfan wrote I guess it all comes down to how bad do you want something.

I just can't get it over my head that I have a running car in my garage that is a replica of a porsche speedster which is basically what this guitar is (a replica of the real thing......lol.

and it cost me R32 000.

car/ guitar.......hmmmm

getting completely side tracked here, statrt a thread on the car an post pics ..loads of em. my wife always wanted one and i spent weekends driving all over gauteng trying to find one in good condition that wont have me working on it every satyurday and that looked good...okes advertise em as good condition and when u get there they rust buckets ...u knwo the drill with vintage cars.... eventually gave up and while she was on holiday one year i bought her a golf cabriolet instead.... not quite the real thing but the next best i could come up with..so post pics please!!!

ZarK

It would be a closer comparison if the Speedster replica was made by Porsche, but I agree, I wouldn't spend that much on a replica unless it was a seriously good investment... (+1 for seeing your Speedster ? )

@BMU: I was also tempted by the swirl reissue UV... The original neckjoint and relative asking price put me off... (Dig the swirl, though...) IMHO your J-Custom at a measly R35k (lol) is a superior quality instrument to most guitars out there (incl. the UV) in any case... Good move!

flatfourfan

IceCreamMan wrote
getting completely side tracked here, statrt a thread on the car an post pics ..loads of em. my wife always wanted one and i spent weekends driving all over gauteng trying to find one in good condition that wont have me working on it every satyurday and that looked good...okes advertise em as good condition and when u get there they rust buckets ...u knwo the drill with vintage cars.... eventually gave up and while she was on holiday one year i bought her a golf cabriolet instead.... not quite the real thing but the next best i could come up with..so post pics please!!!

You were at my house before.....didn't you see it?

Ask me anything you want on that thread as I don't want to flood this one.

http://www.guitarforum.co.za/off-topic-lounge/been-asked-for-some-updates-on-my-speedster/

vic

IceCreamMan wrote
flatfourfan wrote I guess it all comes down to how bad do you want something.

I just can't get it over my head that I have a running car in my garage that is a replica of a porsche speedster which is basically what this guitar is (a replica of the real thing......lol.

and it cost me R32 000.

car/ guitar.......hmmmm
getting completely side tracked here, statrt a thread on the car an post pics ..loads of em. my wife always wanted one and i spent weekends driving all over gauteng trying to find one in good condition that wont have me working on it every satyurday and that looked good...okes advertise em as good condition and when u get there they rust buckets ...u knwo the drill with vintage cars.... eventually gave up and while she was on holiday one year i bought her a golf cabriolet instead.... not quite the real thing but the next best i could come up with..so post pics please!!!

FOR 6 DAYS YOU WILL WORK FOR YOUR CAR...AND ON THE 7TH DAY YOU WILL WORK ON YOUR CAR... ?

Jayhell

I'd buy 10 x 10k guitars. I always wonder, how much better can a guitar be than a good guitar. As an investment? Naw, I'd buy art or something. Guitars are made to be played till there is nothing left of them. I'd spend a couple of K on one of those Voodoo Strats though. Ibanez reminds me of speed bikes, it is something that a certain type of player enjoys, but that player is not me. Anyway, if the world ends in December, we can't take our axes with us, now can we? ?

« Previous Page Next Page »