Help with purchase of used PRS that needs some restoring

[zurdyo]

Hey all,
I'm talking to the seller of a PRS SC245 model and I'd like some info from you guys in relation to how to proceed:

1. What's the current price of a PRS SC245 25th anniversary smoked black slate?
2. Is this model a limited edition, hence worth more than a regular SC245?
3. Although it's an instrument from 2010, there seems to be quite some damage to the pickup covers and bridge due to acid sweat from the previous owner. How could I proceed with restoring these parts? Would I need to buy new ones? Does PRS sell these parts? As far as I know, the 57/08 pickups are not for sale, hence I would imagine the pickup cover wouldn't either.
4. Do you consider this to be a good purchase for around $3000?

Here are some pictures of the instrument and the first picture clearly shows the damage to the bridge and pickup covers: http://pho.to/6fhA9

Thanks for any input you might provide!!

Cheers,

Z

 

[justmund]

Can't see any pics? Anyway my opinions on your questions:

1. Check completed listings on eBay etc for an approximate market value
2. A little bit, but I'd rather a new one with a 2-piece bridge
3. The damage is more that likely just on the surface and can be cleaned up with a good metal polish
4. Assuming you're in the US, no, that's way too much.

 

[zurdyo]

Can't see any pics? Anyway my opinions on your questions:

1. Check completed listings on eBay etc for an approximate market value
2. A little bit, but I'd rather a new one with a 2-piece bridge
3. The damage is more that likely just on the surface and can be cleaned up with a good metal polish
4. Assuming you're in the US, no, that's way too much.

Hey, thanks for the reply. I added the link I forgot to post and no, I'm in Italy, not in the USA, although I saw a few good auctions for brand new models for around 2800 bucks

 

[justmund]

No probs The tarnishing doesn't look too bad but if you can get a new one for less money, I know which say I would go. You could even find one with a top/colour that really spoke to you too.

 

[Duffy]

Hey all,
I'm talking to the seller of a PRS SC245 model and I'd like some info from you guys in relation to how to proceed:

1. What's the current price of a PRS SC245 25th anniversary smoked black slate?
2. Is this model a limited edition, hence worth more than a regular SC245?
3. Although it's an instrument from 2010, there seems to be quite some damage to the pickup covers and bridge due to acid sweat from the previous owner. How could I proceed with restoring these parts? Would I need to buy new ones? Does PRS sell these parts? As far as I know, the 57/08 pickups are not for sale, hence I would imagine the pickup cover wouldn't either.
4. Do you consider this to be a good purchase for around $3000?

Here are some pictures of the instrument and the first picture clearly shows the damage to the bridge and pickup covers: http://pho.to/6fhA9

Thanks for any input you might provide!!

Cheers,

Z

That's a really nice looking guitar Zur. It reminds me a lot of my new Tremonti SE Custom in black/grey flame, four controls and general vibe; except mine has the very nice trem.

I definitely dig this guitar. I don't know what that price represents in your country, but if it is reasonable and there are zero considerably detracting flaws, it might be something to grab without too much hesitation.

I personally could really dig having a guitar like that, and my Tremonti Custom SE in black/grey flame looks, feels, plays, and sounds very remarkable. It has a similar vibe. I can't believe how different my Tremonti sounds from my new Santana SE in Santana yellow, between the Tremonti and Santana - even though they both have the same SE 245 pickups. Maybe there is some variation in the specs of these pickups, coming, off obviously different assembly line set ups. I would suppose that all SE 245 pickups are the same, however.

Anyway, if this is a good deal, don't disappoint yourself by hesitating and letting that beautiful guitar get grabbed by some other lucky party, much to your dismay. Try to work the best deal and grab it before it's gone if it's not a outright rip-off.

Good luck. I can really appreciate that guitar.

 

[CJM3175]

$2800 is still way too much for an old non 10 top sc 245, even if you are in Italy. Patience is a virtue, wait until you find one that speaks to you, for me the 2 piece bridge models have a much nicer sound. Check the "sold listings" on eBay to see what kind of quality has been sold at what price. Determine a reasonable price for yourself, and try stick to it. In the US that guitar you showed would probably sell for around $1800. Considering that you are in Italy, I think $2300 would be a more than a fair price for both parties.

 

[zurdyo]

$2800 is still way too much for an old non 10 top sc 245,

Hey CJ, what exactly is "10 top"?

 

[CJM3175]

A very small percent of the maple trees cut in North America are actually figured. To make "10-Top" status, a PRS top must have clearly defined figure across its entire top with no "dead" spots. A guitar designated as a 10-Top will usually have a small "10" written on the back of the headstock in the upper right corner. Some of our earlier guitars have the "10" stamped into the finish in the same position.

In dollar terms, it usually adds another $300-$400 to the price if it is a 10 top.

Check out this thread to see what some of these tops look like http://prsguitars.com/forum/showthread.php?10060-Ten-Top-Tuesdays

 

[zurdyo]

Wow, truly beautiful!

I must say that this guy lives some 350 miles from me, so it's unlikely that I will have a chance to try it. In a few places I even think I might see dents that, due to the bad lighting, are somewhat concealed.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll gather some more info and then make him an offer that's more in the whereabouts of $1800 and see what happens.

 

[Duffy]

Wow, truly beautiful!

I must say that this guy lives some 350 miles from me, so it's unlikely that I will have a chance to try it. In a few places I even think I might see dents that, due to the bad lighting, are somewhat concealed.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll gather some more info and then make him an offer that's more in the whereabouts of $1800 and see what happens.

Good plan. If he can't sell it and needs money he will probably be interested in negotiating with you.

One thing I found is to include in your communication to him that you are prepared to "buy the guitar today", paying with "cash on the barrel head".

Mentioning that you are going to buy it "now", "today", with "cash" is often a motivating stimulus that is very difficult for them to ignore; and they find it irresistible, often, faced with the prospect of "cash in hand, today". You can use this approach if actually you may not be able to pull it off until "tomorrow" and it usually has the same effect, but you don't reveal the exact details until you have "sealed the deal"; then you inform the seller that something came up and yhou can't make it until tomorrow. However, it is best to try to pull off the great negotiated deal immediately or as soon as possible, the same day, before the guy has a chance to sleep on it or give it prolonged thought. Sometimes they back out of their agreement to sell it so cheaply, given extra time for the prospect of cash in hand and the associated "rush" to wear off.

 

[teleholic]

zurdyo, here's a 2013 with 2 pc bridge and 57/08's in nearly flawless cond: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2013-PRS-SC...d-/380964735930?pt=Guitar&hash=item58b3448bba

it'll prob end up really cheap but he doesn't ship to Italy, either try your luck asking him or use a forwarder..I got my SC58 rather cheap that way..

 

[zurdyo]

Hey, thanks all for the great advice!

Tele, the auction looks really interesting, yet neither does it get shipped to Italy, nor is it a coloring that speaks to me. (any idea why a search for "PRS SC245" on the eBay site doesn't give me that particular auction among the results?)

I love CJ's advice to be patient and wait 'till the right one comes along. I'm sure it will eventually, perhaps on the British market where shipping to Italy is cheaper and there are no customs charges!

 

[justmund]

Don't forget to include "SC 58" in your searches, essentially the same guitar as a current SC245 but with an Artist grade top (and a couple of other appointments). FYI Artist grade tops are one "grade" higher than 10 Top.

e.g. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111415248170

There's also the Stripped 58, again the same guitar but with a standard (sometimes opaque) top, these are sometimes called (wrongly) SC58s but you can luck out with some nice tops on these (the later ones had a 10-top option too). They go for much less $ than a SC58 or recent SC245.

 

[zurdyo]

Gotcha!

 

[zurdyo]

The seller just came down to €1700 ($2280) after I pointed out some of the things you suggested. He also added a few more pictures of the "damage" the instrument has: http://pho.to/6ganF

You really think those pickups and bridge can go back to looking like they used to in the beginning with metal polish?

On the bridge pickup you can hardly read the 57/08 engraving...

 

[vchizzle]

I don't think those bridge posts will come back to "new" looking. Gold can be hard to bring back to shiney and new without taking some of the gold color away. I still think you could find guitars in much better condition for a similar/lower price. Keep watching, you'll find a better deal. If you happen to really like that guitar, that's a different problem...depending on what the seller's rock bottom price is.

 

[toothace]

Unless this guitar has that "ooooh that's the one I've been searching for" look, I'd pass and wait for a better one to come along...as other posters have stated, there are plenty of fish in the sea...