1980 ML on eBay - Some things to be aware of

Guest

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2367272030&category=41435

Listed as:

"everything on the guitar is original. Original pickups, original bridge, original frets, "

Pickups aren't original, not DiMarzio super D's
Pickups are installed upside down
Tuners are Grovers with Kluson buttons....... ???

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 4381 Location: Vaasa, Finland

Wierd....

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 4797 Location: BEERMUDA

Cool axe but talking about a vintage LAME top!

If the PU's are DiMarzio's tehy could well be Tone Zones judging from the polepieces!

Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 10:55 pm

So what, that thing is badass.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 4797 Location: BEERMUDA

Oh it's definately cool!

But I'd rather have a more figured top, but for $ 700 it's definately a good buy!

Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 1:25 am

The pickups are not upside down. The adjustable pole pieces are in the normal positions. The bobbin colors are unusual, though. The tuner buttons may have been replaced. They look like the 70s Schaller tulips like Gibson used; maybe Grover made tulip button tuners as well. At any rate, it doesn't seem to bother Elliot.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 393 Location: Lake Mary, Florida

Zebra pups are usually installed so that the white bar of the neck pup is up, and the bridge pup down. That would make the bridge pup of that guitar upside down.

Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 8:24 am

correct.....

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 303

spacebeer wrote:

Oh it's definately cool!

But I'd rather have a more figured top, but for $ 700 it's definately a good buy!

It ain't 700 any more!!!

Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 8:48 am

I think this one's going to Elliott....

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 4797 Location: BEERMUDA

I know but i wouldn't pay it for an ML with such a top! but it's a cool axe, but definately not in $ 1,3K-ish shape!

Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 9:17 am

I dunno. I'm quite into plaintops at the mo (vintage of course) and that thing's quite tasty. I bet it has some wicked old school mojo as well. Wow. If only the seller had waited a month. Oh well. Guess I'll have to make do with a TC... Smile

Joined: 18 Dec 2003 Posts: 2151

I tell you what, between Elliott and Dave it's getting imposible to buy these things anymore. eBay is a waste of time now. I find them much cheaper in music stores and from individuals. I've bought 5 80-83 Standards for $600 or less in the past 2 years.

Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 5:53 pm

Joined: 18 Dec 2003 Posts: 2151

Guess I ruffled Mr. Seller's feathers. Don't worry dude, if you're selling Vintage Dean's, eBay is the place!!! You're on the right side of the transaction and congrats!

This same thing has happened with 81-85 San Dimas Charvels. You get 2 or 3 people who have become big collectors and they fight each other to the death on them. They've gone from $600 to $3000 or more for cool ones just in the past couple years on eBay.

I don't want it to sound like I'm complaining about Dave and Elliott. You guys rule, both top notch cool guys in my book. I'm just sad I can't steal them on eBay anymore Laughing

Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 8:09 pm

ragnut wrote:

Zebra pups are usually installed so that the white bar of the neck pup is up, and the bridge pup down. That would make the bridge pup of that guitar upside down.

However, humbuckers are normally installed with the adjustable polepieces towards the neck for the neck pup and towards the bridge for the bridge pup, which is how they are installed on this guitar. It depends on which convention is the overriding factor and in this case since the color of the bobbins has no affect on sound, I say the pups are installed properly. The bridge happens to be a reverse zebra pup because the adusjtable polepieces are in the black bobbin.

Joined: 18 Dec 2003 Posts: 2151

Which brings up another reason why this guitar isn't original. These guitars came with specially wound cream/black DiMarzio Super Distortions. Those S/D pickups have ALLEN SCREWS in all 12 positions. These pickups look more like Duncan JB's in white/black or as someone mentioned previously, DiMarzio Tone Zone's have pole pieces like that too. DiMarzio Tone Zones didn't come out until 1990.

Guest

Yeah those pick-ups and pick-up surround are NOT original. No way. As well as the selector knob.

Never seen tuners like that, but no extra holes.... so that can be fixed.

For approx: $50 (tuners) and $100 (p/u's - if you can find em) you can make this a 100% original guitar IF the pots/wiring hasn't been messed with.

The rest looks legit.

It aint 100% original and shouldn't be advertised as such.

Of course the seller can always play below 70 IQ type and let the buyer beware Smile

Still a sweet axe. I'd go $1300 max.... go for it guys.

Tone

Joined: 18 Dec 2003 Posts: 2151

Oh yeah, nothing against the guitar in any way. If freakin' KILLER! The goofy parts are a fairly easy fix, just hope there's no extra holes for the pickup rings.

Personally, 1981 is my favorite year. I like the thin V'd necks of the 81's as opposed to the Les Paul style necks of the 79-80's. Big headstock 81's give me a woody Very Happy

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 303

Greg Crowe wrote:

Big headstock 81's give me a woody

That's way more than I needed to know.

Joined: 18 Dec 2003 Posts: 2151

Hey, at least I didn't post pictures ! Very Happy

Guest

Greg - Better get out the MACRO lense dude Twisted Evil

Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 1:33 am

Is that Mike's guitar??? The buyer on that origina reciept says Mikey, is that our mike??

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 2990

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 303

Mike was the salesman, Peter is the owner of the guitar.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 4381 Location: Vaasa, Finland

Not meh!

Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2003 6:41 pm

Anyone notice that the guitar was appraised in 1903? Rolling Eyes

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 303

Vanilla Gorilla wrote:

Anyone notice that the guitar was appraised in 1903? Rolling Eyes

I would think a guitar that was over a hundred and twenty years old would be worth a lot more than that.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 303

Looks like Jeff really wants this one! Four days to go and it's already over 1400 bucks!

Joined: 19 Dec 2003 Posts: 35 Location: denvuh!

OI VEY!! Always with you Greg! Always the ruffling, ruffle ruffle ruffle! Mr. Green

just bustin your chops, Wink

Greg Crowe wrote:

Guess I ruffled Mr. Seller's feathers.

Guest

CVX Dividend Check came in last week.... and it's burning a hole in my pocket........ and it's molten HOT, and my Docter says this is the only way to fix my condition!!! ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tone-cheez

Guest

http://cgi.aol.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2367826990&category=41435

Joined: 18 Dec 2003 Posts: 2151

Wow! It's reached $1500+, matching the appraisal.

Question: Which came first(the chicken vs. the egg thing), the appraisal or the actual value of the guitar? Did the appraisal help the auction bid to $1500? There were a few people making fun of the appraisal and now it looks like Mr. Seller is getting the last laugh.

Hmmmmm, should I throw a 1980 Dean up on eBay with a $2500 appraisal??? Laughing

Me thinks that clean 81 rare white ML on eBay that went for $1256 might have been a pretty good deal after all ???

Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2003 9:23 am

Greg Crowe wrote:

Wow! It's reached $1500+, matching the appraisal.

Question: Which came first(the chicken vs. the egg thing), the appraisal or the actual value of the guitar? Did the appraisal help the auction bid to $1500? There were a few people making fun of the appraisal and now it looks like Mr. Seller is getting the last laugh.

Hmmmmm, should I throw a 1980 Dean up on eBay with a $2500 appraisal??? Laughing

Me thinks that clean 81 rare white ML on eBay that went for $1256 might have been a pretty good deal after all ???

I'd say!

Guest

last couple hours here....... see if it hits 1600 Smile

I personally don't see anything wrong with the value of these going up up up..... like the dow in the days of late Smile

Joined: 18 Dec 2003 Posts: 2151

Tone-cheeze wrote:

last couple hours here....... see if it hits 1600 Smile

I personally don't see anything wrong with the value of these going up up up..... like the dow in the days of late Smile

I hear ya!!! While it makes them tougher to buy, it's nice to already have a collection appreciating in value better than any taxable stock market type stuff Very Happy

Guest

Well - my xmass is complete Smile

Bring on the Turkey and the CB ML's!!!

You got that right Greg, and you can't play a GE Stock!

You guys have a happy holiday!!!!!!!

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 303

Looks like I made a few good investments in the last three years.

Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2003 7:56 pm

PresidentDave wrote:

Looks like I made a few good investments in the last three years.

WHAT?? Your stuff's all junk compared to that one!

JK hehehehehe