What kind of value do PRS guitars made in 1985 have as compared to newer ones?

Mike Varney

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Dec 17, 2018
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Hi
My friend is ill and has a 1985 custom 24. The serial number starts with five and then Number less than 200. I am trying to help him sell it. It is in excellent condition. Does anyone have an idea what it might be worth as it is part of a larger collection and we have just started to have dealers look at it today. I never thought of PRS guitars
Going way up in value but thought since this is an old one perhaps it is worth more .
Any help would be appreciated. Many thanks , Mike
 
I’ve seen a bunch in the five-figures... not sure what they actually sell for nowadays but, it could be a pretty valuable guitar.
 
To the right collector ( or player ) it might just be the holy grail PRS there's one on reverb now for an FYI
 
Hi- It asked for my name so I gave it to them but didn't realize that it would show up. It didn't offer me to use an Alias. This guitar is actually Richie Kotzen's first electric guitar, or one of the first, and he would like to buy it back. The dilemma that I have is that my friend that bought it is really ill and he needs to try to get at least full wholesale value. If it is is worth a lot, it will solve some of my friend's immediate problems but if a dealer would only offer 5k or less, than I think Richie and my friend would rather Richie have it. I will check out Reverb Nation and see what they have. It is part of a larger collection but given my friends situation and that it is sentimental to Richie and I do not know much about PRS guitars, I thought I would appeal to those more in the loop. My friend is also selling a 1995 or 1996 Richie Kotzen model tele that he got from Richie at the same time. It is a light green and a pretty cool guitar. Thanks for your advice. Happy Holidays, Mike
 
Well, hell...welcome, Mike. I still have a bunch of old GP mags with the sound pages... Great memories from our youth, huh??
If its in really nice shape, I think Sergio would be correct, in the 5 figure realm. 10k-ish...
It would help a lot if it has a nicely figured top. the main colors of the day were Yellow, Red, and Blue. I recently saw a "metallic flake dark blue, and told the guy valued around 8K.
Original blue-lined case helps, too. Sometimes the Blue stains fade...Good luck, and good luck to your friend with his illness.
And what they said about looking at Reverb might offer some insight.
 
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I've owned a few '85s / early '86s and Garrett Park Guitars is where I'd go if I wanted a sensible market view plus maybe Rumble Seat Music. As a general guide condition is very important as is the visual ‘appeal’ of the maple figuring on a Custom. Originality and colour also count for a lot - Vintage Yellow is worth the most. Also, birds ramp up the value - nice early Custom in VY with Birds and a blue-lined case is worth probably double the same with moons. There are a few priced optimistically at the moment on Reverb and they've not sold. Customs are much easier to sell than pre-Standards, which tend to stick, so that’s good news as you have a Custom. If you have any pictures I’d love to see them (as I suspect would everyone else too!). Good luck!
 
I Can’t thank you guys enough for all of your information. The pictures I took are horrible and my friend’s daughter tried to get the ones he had taken out of his computer and failed. The guitar on reverb is like 25K or something. Hard to believe someone would pay that much for a PRS, Not that they aren’t great guitars.

I know quite a bit about Gibsons but this is out of my field of knowledge so I appreciate all of the good advice. Thanks again and happy holidays to all!
 
Hi- It asked for my name so I gave it to them but didn't realize that it would show up. It didn't offer me to use an Alias. This guitar is actually Richie Kotzen's first electric guitar, or one of the first, and he would like to buy it back. The dilemma that I have is that my friend that bought it is really ill and he needs to try to get at least full wholesale value. If it is is worth a lot, it will solve some of my friend's immediate problems but if a dealer would only offer 5k or less, than I think Richie and my friend would rather Richie have it. I will check out Reverb Nation and see what they have. It is part of a larger collection but given my friends situation and that it is sentimental to Richie and I do not know much about PRS guitars, I thought I would appeal to those more in the loop. My friend is also selling a 1995 or 1996 Richie Kotzen model tele that he got from Richie at the same time. It is a light green and a pretty cool guitar. Thanks for your advice. Happy Holidays, Mike

I hope your friend feels better soon.
 
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