AmandaM
Ok, so I have an old Aria A585 classical guitar, which my folks bought for me 20-odd years ago when I expressed an interest in learning to play. As with most of my interests as a teenager, the guitar-playing was a bit of a passing fad, and so I recently decided to sell the Aria - it's only gathering dust and quite aside from the very practical purpose of needing cash, I felt I kind of "owed it" to the guit to let it go to a loving home.
So I advertised it on Gumtree, got 2 responses in less than 24 hours, both asking what the model was...which led me to wonder whether I was asking a reasonable price for it. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find much info on that model at all; even the Aria website doesn't have any info.
Does anyone have any info on this model and an estimated value?
Bob-Dubery
I suggest that you check out e-bay and like sites to see if you can see sales of similar instruments and the selling price. That may give you some idea.
Also take it into a reputable guitar store and ask them for an estimate. Don't call them - take the guitar into the shop.
AlanRatcliffe
Wise woman. Some amazing classical guitars were made by Aria in the '70s and '80s.
Have a look on the label in the soundhole. If it has a handwritten signature on it, it's one of the earlier handmade models, which can be worth a surprisingly large amount, depending on features. I'd recommend taking it to someone who really knows their classical guitars (who you won't find in most normal music shops) before you sell - they may also be able too hook you up with a buyer.
Where are you?
AmandaM
Thanks for the advice guys. I've tried looking at sites like ebay etc, but the only Aria models I've seen for sale are more recent ones (i.e. last 20 years or so), so I'm considering maybe removing the gumtree ad for now and taking it off sale in the meantime until I can get more info.
Alan - I'm in Joburg. I don't recall seeing a handwritten signature on the label, just the model and serial number (which pre-dates Aria's system of using the year as the first digit/s - so I assume therefore that it's pre-80s, according to info I have managed to find).
Sadly it's not in the best condition - when I got it, the head had already been broken but repaired by someone reputable, and it has a few obvious scratches on the body which is unfortunate, but a few professional players have played it and have all been quite smitten with its tone.
Can you reccomend someone who might be able to assist me?
