Bourgeois Country Boy - used prices?

[Mike]

I ran across a used CB that I really liked but have no idea what the
typical asking prices are. They want about $1600 for it but it's in
pretty rough shape (lots of deep scratches and wear but set up nice and
sounds fantastic) and I think is quite old with the square "Ricky
Skaggs" signature label inside (different than the new Pantheon label)
and a 1 3/4 nut.

Any opinions appreciated!

Mike

[Tony Done]

Post by Mike
I ran across a used CB that I really liked but have no idea what the
typical asking prices are. They want about $1600 for it but it's in
pretty rough shape (lots of deep scratches and wear but set up nice and
sounds fantastic) and I think is quite old with the square "Ricky
Skaggs" signature label inside (different than the new Pantheon label)
and a 1 3/4 nut.
Any opinions appreciated!
Mike
It isn't easy to find prices for Bourgeois, but Elderly has one at $2100 on

http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/20U-9891.htm

My MS Sig used was $2400 (cutaway rosewood/sitka) a few years ago in
near-mint condition.

A new CB is about $2800.

$1600 seems OK to me, but I'm biased and I don't care if a guitar is beat
up when I buy it as long as it sounds good and is in good playing and
structural condition.
Tony D

[Greg Z]

Post by Mike
I ran across a used CB that I really liked but have no idea what the
typical asking prices are. They want about $1600 for it but it's in
pretty rough shape (lots of deep scratches and wear but set up nice and
sounds fantastic) and I think is quite old with the square "Ricky
Skaggs" signature label inside (different than the new Pantheon label)
and a 1 3/4 nut.
Any opinions appreciated!
Mike

A few years ago when Tony from FQMS was hanging out here, he offered me one
at $1900.
But the condition was probably different as you mention on this one.
Without going and looking things up,
IIRC there are/were 2 or 3 versions of this; Country Boy, then Deluxe,
and/or maybe Ricky Skaggs signature.

Z

[Norman Draper]

Post by Mike
I ran across a used CB that I really liked but have no idea what the
typical asking prices are. They want about $1600 for it but it's in
pretty rough shape (lots of deep scratches and wear but set up nice and
sounds fantastic) and I think is quite old with the square "Ricky
Skaggs" signature label inside (different than the new Pantheon label)
and a 1 3/4 nut.
Any opinions appreciated!
Mike

Mike,

If the guitar is solid and without issues, and you really like the
tone, jump on it. Store prices are... Ooops... Joe Jordan just
reminded me... Are we talking about the Adirondack or Sitka-topped
model? There's a big difference....

$1600 for the Ad-topped would be a very good price, if I'm
understanding the amount of damage to the guitar. I just did a bit of
looking and found a used CB/Sitka for $2300. You could probably do
2-300 less from a private seller.

After reading the other posts (always a good idea!), it seems that a
used Country Boy in good-excellent shape might be had for under $1900.
So would one in excellent condition be worth the extra 200 bucks?
Depends on you bank account and how much the banged-up CB is talking to
you, I suppose.


Norman Draper

[Mike]

Thanks for the opinions everyone.

This guitar is a Sitka top version. The shop owner claims that it's a
pre-Pantheon model, not sure if that means anything as I suspect
they're great guitars no matter when they were made.

The scratches, belt buckle digs, etc. don't bother me except for the
asking price. Of course it's hard for anyone else to know without
seeing it, but this is clearly an instrument that's beeen ridden hard
and put away wet a few times...

Mike

Post by Norman Draper

Post by Mike
I ran across a used CB that I really liked but have no idea what the
typical asking prices are. They want about $1600 for it but it's in
pretty rough shape (lots of deep scratches and wear but set up nice and
sounds fantastic) and I think is quite old with the square "Ricky
Skaggs" signature label inside (different than the new Pantheon label)
and a 1 3/4 nut.
Any opinions appreciated!
Mike

Mike,
If the guitar is solid and without issues, and you really like the
tone, jump on it. Store prices are... Ooops... Joe Jordan just
reminded me... Are we talking about the Adirondack or Sitka-topped
model? There's a big difference....
$1600 for the Ad-topped would be a very good price, if I'm
understanding the amount of damage to the guitar. I just did a bit of
looking and found a used CB/Sitka for $2300. You could probably do
2-300 less from a private seller.
After reading the other posts (always a good idea!), it seems that a
used Country Boy in good-excellent shape might be had for under $1900.
So would one in excellent condition be worth the extra 200 bucks?
Depends on you bank account and how much the banged-up CB is talking to
you, I suppose.
Norman Draper

[Mike]

Thanks for the opinions everyone.

This guitar is a Sitka top version. The shop owner claims that it's a
pre-Pantheon model, not sure if that means anything as I suspect
they're great guitars no matter when they were made.

The scratches, belt buckle digs, etc. don't bother me except for the
asking price. Of course it's hard for anyone else to know without
seeing it, but this is clearly an instrument that's beeen ridden hard
and put away wet a few times...

Mike

Post by Norman Draper

Post by Mike
I ran across a used CB that I really liked but have no idea what the
typical asking prices are. They want about $1600 for it but it's in
pretty rough shape (lots of deep scratches and wear but set up nice and
sounds fantastic) and I think is quite old with the square "Ricky
Skaggs" signature label inside (different than the new Pantheon label)
and a 1 3/4 nut.
Any opinions appreciated!
Mike

Mike,
If the guitar is solid and without issues, and you really like the
tone, jump on it. Store prices are... Ooops... Joe Jordan just
reminded me... Are we talking about the Adirondack or Sitka-topped
model? There's a big difference....
$1600 for the Ad-topped would be a very good price, if I'm
understanding the amount of damage to the guitar. I just did a bit of
looking and found a used CB/Sitka for $2300. You could probably do
2-300 less from a private seller.
After reading the other posts (always a good idea!), it seems that a
used Country Boy in good-excellent shape might be had for under $1900.
So would one in excellent condition be worth the extra 200 bucks?
Depends on you bank account and how much the banged-up CB is talking to
you, I suppose.
Norman Draper

[Tony Done]

Post by Mike
Thanks for the opinions everyone.
This guitar is a Sitka top version. The shop owner claims that it's a
pre-Pantheon model, not sure if that means anything as I suspect
they're great guitars no matter when they were made.

It's hard to know how the new models compare with the old ones. Dana was
under a lot of pressure in the Akai days, so attention to detail may not
have been the best (witness my guitar), but he claims to have tuned every
one himself. I don't know whether that is still the case at Pantheon, the
website says "we" not "I". From what I have read, they are all good, as you
say.

What I really like is the bolt on neck, it takes all the worry out of a
possible neck reset.

Tony D

[Mike]

Well I decided to go for it! Got it for $1475 with a (non original)
Martin-Geib case. I've never bought a guitar this quickly (just saw it
over the weekend) but I was at the store with my brother, who has for
years trying to convince me that mahogany makes for great guitars, and
I'm plenty familiar with the "snooze/lose" thing..

That day we were just killing time while the wives went shopping.
Played a lot of guitars (Martin D-18GE, which I've always liked)
several Collings, a couple of very nice Goodalls. As I was looking for
my next victim, my brother walks over with a grin holding this beat up
old Bourgeois and says "you gotta try this" Needless to say, it was
the pick of the day. Unbelievable bass, sparkling highs, and just
loud. This thing is really broken it and it shows in all possible
ways! It just did everything well.

I was kinda looking for a great strumming guitar I could play out with
and not worry about and it fit the bill. Just wanted to make sure I
wasn't paying too much as I'm not very familiar with the used Bourgeois
market. Thanks again for the opinions!

Mike

[Tony Done]

Post by Mike
Well I decided to go for it! Got it for $1475 with a (non original)
Martin-Geib case. I've never bought a guitar this quickly (just saw it
over the weekend) but I was at the store with my brother, who has for
years trying to convince me that mahogany makes for great guitars, and
I'm plenty familiar with the "snooze/lose" thing..
That day we were just killing time while the wives went shopping.
Played a lot of guitars (Martin D-18GE, which I've always liked)
several Collings, a couple of very nice Goodalls. As I was looking for
my next victim, my brother walks over with a grin holding this beat up
old Bourgeois and says "you gotta try this" Needless to say, it was
the pick of the day. Unbelievable bass, sparkling highs, and just
loud. This thing is really broken it and it shows in all possible
ways! It just did everything well.
I was kinda looking for a great strumming guitar I could play out with
and not worry about and it fit the bill. Just wanted to make sure I
wasn't paying too much as I'm not very familiar with the used Bourgeois
market. Thanks again for the opinions!
Mike

<grin> another convert.

Your comments on the comparison with some other well known makes and models
are interesting, because I never get to see any of these where I live in Oz.

Tony D

[Sherm]

Post by Mike
Well I decided to go for it! Got it for $1475 with a (non original)
Martin-Geib case. I've never bought a guitar this quickly (just saw it
over the weekend) but I was at the store with my brother, who has for
years trying to convince me that mahogany makes for great guitars, and
I'm plenty familiar with the "snooze/lose" thing..
That day we were just killing time while the wives went shopping.
Played a lot of guitars (Martin D-18GE, which I've always liked)
several Collings, a couple of very nice Goodalls. As I was looking for
my next victim, my brother walks over with a grin holding this beat up
old Bourgeois and says "you gotta try this" Needless to say, it was
the pick of the day. Unbelievable bass, sparkling highs, and just
loud. This thing is really broken it and it shows in all possible
ways! It just did everything well.
I was kinda looking for a great strumming guitar I could play out with
and not worry about and it fit the bill. Just wanted to make sure I
wasn't paying too much as I'm not very familiar with the used Bourgeois
market. Thanks again for the opinions!
Mike

Good for you, Mike!

Hmmmmm . . . except that now its me, Tony, Andy, Greg z (formerly) . . .
and you're judged by the company you keep, you know.

But still . . .

Sherm