GUITARS!!

[AmericanBuffalo]

You know a lot about guitars, thats the main thing

Yeah the world has got weird recently, even shortages of rosewood boards over the last few years and their replacements being ebony, that if I’m right were only on high end models in the past (Jackson USA soloists)

Even PRS doesn’t have the lovely pearl bird inlays they used to have, they look somehow different and cheap

As you have been in the trade for some time, what do you think of the current market for guitars and is it now shrinking with new buyers?

There are restrictions on things like rosewood and abalone as well as Honduran mahogany. You cant get Bolivian rosewood anymore as it is a restricted wood. Honduran mahogany is difficult to source because it has restrictions too. Even the ebony now isn't the same grade as it used to be. There are substitutes for example different types of rosewood, you will see African mahogany which isn't really mahogany but it resembles it in most ways. Different wood species are being utilized now due to these circumstances. The traditional electric guitar woods are ash, maple alder, mahogany and rosewood and ebony for fretboards. Today it varies.
Vintage guitars are great assets! They hold their value. You could buy a 1959 Gibson Les Paul Custom with 3 humbuckers for $375 in 1959. Which was not cheap back then. But the same guitars are worth over $100k today. It certainly depends upon the guitar its year model and manufacturer. I saw a 1962 Fender strat recently which sold for $130k. It was nearly mint kept in its case. But that guitar probably cost $150 in 1962.  The market is great but a guitar is only considered vintage at this point after it is 30 years old. So think about that. Think about guitars you have seen in the past which one day may garner some value. That Parker was something to hold on to. You can start with something simple like a Les Paul Jr. from the 60's which would be around $1500 or so now. only to increase in value. Old Dean guitars are good too if you can find them. you have to know what to look for as the neophytes will gravitate to old Les Paul's, Strats, and Tele's inflating the value.