As a part of my recent mission to finally get off my fanny and play the music I love in more places, I've started to invest in clothing to fit the part. Nothing too fancy, just a handful of short sleeve (for guitarist reasons) dress shirts, one new tie, and a pair of suspenders that have yet to be purchased. Basically, I'm going for a 1930s-ish look to match the songs that dominate my set list.
Today, after my happy hour set at Headrush Roasters, I came home and put away my clothes (shirt in the hamper, tie on the hook, pants back on the hanger) and stepped back to look at my closet.
The shirts I've been getting are colorful prints that fit the era. For me, my wife has been the eye of decision at the department store. I had the idea of what I wanted, but she is far better a judge on what palette fits me.
Hung on their hangers (not the one I wore tonight, remember, it is in the hamper), the shirts make my closet look colorful in a way that old t-shirts and jeans just can't pull off. It's a cool sight.
What I'm learning is this: As a musician grows, they take on a style not just in their music, but in their person. It's a part, a bit, a character. It is reflected in the way we present ourselves. In a small way, I'm finally seeing that form for me.
~Danny
Friday, August 23, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
Vintage Archtop Market
If you are at all like me, then you love the music of the 1920s and 1930s. And as a guitarist, I'm also all about vintage archtops. With all of the great guitars that are out there, it is easy for me to find lots of eye candy. Gibson and Epiphones from the '20s and '30s mixed in with the Kay and Harmony models from the '50s. Lots to love.
About two years ago (2012ish) I started first watching the market on vintage archtops. Back then, you could get a Harmony or Kay archtop for around $100 if you were patient and knew where to look.
About three months ago, I noticed a jump. The same guitars are now starting bids at $400. In most cases, these are showing higher than their blue book values. Sounds like vintage may be a great investment.
The thing is, I've noticed that little or none of these guitars are selling! Even in a few cases where bids are going up (even into the $5,000 range on one Epiphone I've watched through four separate auctions by the same seller), they aren't hitting their reserve prices.
Then, two weeks ago, a buddy showed me this article:
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2013/08/hot-jazz-new-york
(Let's not even get into the author implying that New York is solely responsible for this rise in swing music. I have other thoughts there...)
My guess is that some collectors or even resalers noticed a small increase in demand and started raising the prices. I'm not necessarily against costs rising to meet demand. I did marry the daughter of an economist... But, I keep going back to a simple belief that items are only worth what an individual would pay for them. So, if no one is buying these things, then the artificially high prices are wrong.
Okay, so this post is simply a rant. I don't have any solution for what is essentially a free market occurrence. I'm just annoyed with it. Personally, I found a nice old National Archtop that I'm kind of falling in love with and I got it for cheaper than I believe it is worth.
So, yeah... I'm just venting.
About three months ago, I noticed a jump. The same guitars are now starting bids at $400. In most cases, these are showing higher than their blue book values. Sounds like vintage may be a great investment.
The thing is, I've noticed that little or none of these guitars are selling! Even in a few cases where bids are going up (even into the $5,000 range on one Epiphone I've watched through four separate auctions by the same seller), they aren't hitting their reserve prices.
Then, two weeks ago, a buddy showed me this article:
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2013/08/hot-jazz-new-york
(Let's not even get into the author implying that New York is solely responsible for this rise in swing music. I have other thoughts there...)
My guess is that some collectors or even resalers noticed a small increase in demand and started raising the prices. I'm not necessarily against costs rising to meet demand. I did marry the daughter of an economist... But, I keep going back to a simple belief that items are only worth what an individual would pay for them. So, if no one is buying these things, then the artificially high prices are wrong.
Okay, so this post is simply a rant. I don't have any solution for what is essentially a free market occurrence. I'm just annoyed with it. Personally, I found a nice old National Archtop that I'm kind of falling in love with and I got it for cheaper than I believe it is worth.
So, yeah... I'm just venting.
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