Concerns about selling EB/Music Man EVH parts?...

[joeb1982]

A good friend of mine who owns 5 Music Man EVH's that obtained in the early 90's is looking to sell.

Trans Gold, Trans Red, Trans Green, trans Black, and Trans pink.

He's looking to make some cash off of these babies............however, he wants to sell them in parts.

He wants to take these guitars apart and sell them to people who could use the parts for their EB/MM guitars. He wants to selll everything from the necks, to the bodies, and the accesories. I'm sure people could have a field day if they are looking to customize an EVH MM. He also wants to do this because he knows how hard it is to get parts for the EVH and Axis guitars.

It sounds crazy but my buddy wants to know if he could get in trouble if he made an ad or listed all the parts for these guitars on Ebay. I'm helping him out because he's going to give me a chunk of the money if I help him sell these parts.

5 Music Man EVH guitars for sale but for sale by parts, everything original, mint condition, nothing changed or altered.

Does anyone have any suggestions or commments on whether or not this would bring any trouble?

 

[OrangeChannel]

Dude....Restrain your boy! They are worth more in once piece as opposed to parting them out.

 

[spkirby]

DO NOT TAKE THEM APART!!

They are worth more in one piece than broken up into components and there is a healthy demand for (complete!) EVH's on the 2nd hand market & ebay.

For the love of guitars(!) keep them in one piece PLEASE!

S

 

[Jim Warnstedt]

These guitars are not worth as much parted out because you can get replacement parts through Ernie Ball on everything except the necks, bodies, pick-ups, and the tremolo. And actually, they will replace these items as well, as long as you send in your original for the new one! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD......DON'T DO IT! He is sitting on $10,000 considering all 5 guitars are in mint condition. Parted out, who knows? Just my 2 cents.

 

[GWDavis28]

Dude the Trans Pink and Green are worth a fortune!!

Taking these instruments apart is taking apart a Shelby 427 Cobra!! Not wise!! If you don't know a 427 Shelby Cobra orginials worth millions.

Post the instruments here for a week or tow and if he doesn't get any hits here, then post them on ebay.

There are people on this forum that are very interested in these instruments.

 

[SGMan88]

STOP!!! PUT THE TOOLS DOWN AND LET THESE GUITARS LIVE!!!
Like you have heard over and over these guitars ARE NOT worth nearly as much in parts as they are whole.

 

[KungFu Grip]

This is the guy that had all 5 on one ebay auction right? He needs separate auctions for each, preferably not all at once (might look shifty to some ebayers). With the upcoming Van Halen tour and such, it would be an absolutely DREADFUL idea to part these out. Crazy even.

 

[Warg Master]

no, the guy with the five guitaars was selling the AXIS not EVH

 

[dan ratcliffe]

i dunno, i'd love an authentic "tone" knob...

 

[hbucker]

I understand your friend's line of thinking. And it does apply to 90% of the guitars out there. In pieces, they're worth more than they are as a whole. This has to do primarily with depreciation and resale value. A person has $1,000 guitar that is still in great shape but the market now says it's only worth $450. The going rate for the parts would easily add up to more than you could sell the guitar for a as a whole.

The EVH on the other hand, sold new for about $1,400 and in good shape is worth roughly $2k+ for starters. Like others have said, certain colors are actually worth more than that because they're rare. I really don't think it's worth the effort to try selling them in pieces. Collectors aren't interested in pieces and they are the people paying $2k+ for these guitars. A few players will spend that for EVH's but even they have a bit of the collector attitude. Otherwise they can just save their money and go buy an Axis.

The item on these guitars that makes it truly an EVH is the neck. (some would argue the pickups too but that's another long thread and nothing but speculation) The trem is a good trem but nothing irreplaceable especially since Music Man will sell you one. Machines: good but nothing special. Locking nut: really nothing special. Body: it's a little different than the Axis but I'm really not sure you're going to get collector $$$ for it on it's own. A cream colored Strat style tone knob = about 25 cents. Pot, jack and switch = about $1.00 used.

Basically, your friend would have to get $1,000 for the neck, $800 for the body and $500 for the pickups just to come close to what he could get for the guitar in one piece. Mix and match the prices however you want but to make it worth the effort of taking the guitars apart and selling it off in pieces he has to sell the pieces that are valuable for insane prices that I don't think anybody would pay. Yes he'd get good money for them. But not better money than he'd get by keeping the guitars in one piece.

I can hit you with the sentimental "For the love of Pete please don't do that to these guitars!" stuff too. But if he's doing it for $$$ reasons alone. I think it's a foolish thing to do BECAUSE these guitars are worth so much in one piece.

If they were Axis' he might have a point. Since they're EVH's leave them in one piece.

To answer the question you actually posted: No, I really don't believe there is anything your friend can get in trouble for by selling them off in pieces. He owns them and can do anything he wants to with them (unfortunately!). People on this forum might decide to terrorize him but that's another issue...

 

[pack-rat]

Anyone know of any good power amps (mixers)

bah sry wrong thread.

 

[joeb1982]

Like I said, he is crazy. The thing is he wants to make this an opportunity for people to build, rebuild, or restore EB/MM EVH guitars using original parts. It's obvious once they're apart in other peoples' hands those gems will never be original again. I guess those guitars could become extinct if you take away the remaining EVHs.

Money doesn't mean much to him anyway because he's very wealthy. He's a friend of mine through the guitar hobby but he's also a customer of my father's heating and oil business. I would benefit more than him with the money, in parts or as a whole since he's already loaded.

I'm going to talk to him about it. I don't want him taking apart guitars that will never be produced again and that are very valuable. I appreciate the feedback...thanks!!

 

[OrangeChannel]

Yeah Joe! Stick up for them tharr axes! Jst don't go with that gun in your hand!

 

[spkirby]

I don't believe the B.S. about "The thing is he wants to make this an opportunity for people to build, rebuild, or restore EB/MM EVH guitars using original parts."

He's obviously a mad axe murderer!!!

 

[nobozos]

Dude, don't let this happen. For this man's personal safety, don't let this happen.

If I see these parts auctions on Ebay, I will make it my lifes mission to hunt this guy down and make the rest of his life miserable.

Too many people look at the EBMM/EVH as a superb musical instrument. The perfect convergence of form and function. He is looking at them as purely an investment. To me, it's sacrilage. Alot of us would love to own even one because of our appreciation of the guitar and the man whose name it bears. This guy has 5, and all in mint condition.

The fact is that he will make more money on them selling as a whole instead of parting them out.

Tell him he is wrong. Don't allow it.


Remember, I am out there. The EVH Avenger.

 

[Warg Master]

I agree, it's just not right to let him destroy the guitars.

 

[NorM]

Like I said, he is crazy.
Money doesn't mean much to him anyway because he's very wealthy.

Tell him I will come pick one up!