Ibanez "Andorra" Classical 1977 value?

[geno101]

I own an Ibanez "Andorra" Classical guitar #2859 made by Aroyi Matsuoka. I haven't really played this guitar for the last 15 years mainly due to not being able to keep my fingernails in good enough shape. I'm now into playing Piano,...badly at the moment, and have decided to sell my guitar. When I bought this guitar in 1977 it was following a really good recommendation in an article in the "Guitar" magazine and I paid £162 ($324) for it from Yardley's in Birmingham, UK, I still have the receipt and Yardley's guitar price list from the time. The guitar is in mint , as new, condition, I've looked after it like a baby, stored in it's hard case with strings slacked off. I put new strings on it a few months ago, tuned it up, and it seems to play better now than when I first bought it. I'm taking it to our local Classical Guitar Centre soon for a valuation but I wondered if you guy's might have some idea as to how much it is presently worth please?

[gemberbier]

I own an Ibanez "Andorra" Classical guitar #2859 made by Aroyi Matsuoka. I haven't really played this guitar for the last 15 years mainly due to not being able to keep my fingernails in good enough shape. I'm now into playing Piano,...badly at the moment, and have decided to sell my guitar. When I bought this guitar in 1977 it was following a really good recommendation in an article in the "Guitar" magazine and I paid £162 ($324) for it from Yardley's in Birmingham, UK, I still have the receipt and Yardley's guitar price list from the time. The guitar is in mint , as new, condition, I've looked after it like a baby, stored in it's hard case with strings slacked off. I put new strings on it a few months ago, tuned it up, and it seems to play better now than when I first bought it. I'm taking it to our local Classical Guitar Centre soon for a valuation but I wondered if you guy's might have some idea as to how much it is presently worth please?

Welcome geno101,

You should look at the exchange rates of 1977 not at the actual rates. The pound was very high in the 1970s. The 2859 was one of the top models. Mine is a 2860 from 1976, but not minty. I bought it because I was already very fond of my other Andorra GA300S from 1988 and I wanted to compare them, and it is already vintage.
They're excellent material for classical guitarists. Great solid tops and really warmer sounding than any new guitar that you buy today.

I would certainly not trade it or sell it to a shop if I were you, because they will lowball. You can ask their opinion and conclude that they know nothing or that they want it for nearly nothing to make a profit.

To be honest, I'd rather give you some advice to get your nails in good shape, instead of mentioning a price. But I could whisper something in a PM tomorrow.


Ginger

[geno101]

Hi gemberbier, Thanks for your reply, yes I was wrongly calculating the £/$ based on today's exchange rate...I'm not sure what it was in 1977. I've found that the average wage here in the UK in 1977 was £78.60, so my guitar cost two weeks wages for the average earner, I remember having to keep the price it cost from my wife  . My nail problem is delamination and now I'm getting older they also break easily, over the years I tried repairing and strengthening them with tissue paper and super glue, but it was a constant battle, I don't think  my enthusiasm was equal to it.

[gemberbier]

Yeah, the nails. Rub them in with protein (you could think of the white of an egg for example) and eat/drink calcium (yoghurt for instance).

And there is a handcream for hands and nails from Atrix.
http://www.amazon.com/Atrix-Hand-Balsam-Calcium-Provitamin/dp/B000SI7IQ8/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1217340337&sr=1-5
Oh, not available.
Then there is Glycerona Hand and Nail Balm, and Vaseline Hand and Nail, and Vaseline Intensive Care Hand- Nail Cream.

For shaping them I use a nail clipper in combination with a saphire file. I also have an fine amaril stone from a German supermarket called Lidl.

In the 1970s and 1980s I used a product called "Steel Nail". I haven't seen it for ages since then.


Ginger

[geno101]

Just for information and interest, I scanned the 1977 Guitar Price List I have, unfortunately the page was slightly too long for my scanner, but if needed I'll scan the last part too.

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/5706/guitarpricelist1977iu8.jpg

[gemberbier]

Just for information and interest, I scanned the 1977 Guitar Price List I have, unfortunately the page was slightly too long for my scanner, but if needed I'll scan the last part too.

http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/5706/guitarpricelist1977iu8.jpg

All right!

Saving old stuff is where knowledge begins.
Now, what's interesting is the ratios among the Andorra prices.

For example your 2859 is roughly worth 16/20 = 4/5 of my 2860 (that is: when mine would be in the same fine condition as yours, and mine has a top repair, replaced tuners and the frets are unbeveled at the moment.

What is also interesting is the price ratio between for instance the jazz box 2355 and the 2860, which was roughly 1:1  !!!

Other new info on the list: there was a 2355, a 2355M but also a 2355 DX.
That's something that actually belongs in the jazz box pages of course, but it is important information. Now we know that we must try to find the "DeLuxe" features of the DX. And we know that the value of the DX is higher than that of the standard and lower than that of the M(aple).

What I find interesting is that the 2860 is on the 1977 list. The list of 1976 only mentions the 2862.

It is also interesting to see the prices of classical Cimar guitars, which are much lower.
In Holland they are pushing these old Cimars and asking pretty high prices. I was thinking perhaps a little too high. If I remember it well between 300 and 400 euros for a model with nice inlays (sold).
And now there is a 379 for sale on the "marktplaats" for 235 euros. I can't find it on your list. It seems to have a solid spruce top and an ebony fretboard.

I'm pretty sure that it's not the level of our guitars. (Then it would have carried another label)

Ginger

[geno101]

Hi Ginger,
You say your "frets are unbeveled", are you referring to the sharp edges on the frets? One thing I don't like about my guitar is the sharp edges on the frets, which I was told made the fretting more accurate but wears out the strings quicker and at £8 a set every 6 weeks it was a big expense. I had considered taking mine to a Luthier to have the frets smoothed a little.

[gemberbier]

Yeah, I was thinking of taking it to Frans or Harry (pros).
But I was referring to the sharp ENDS of the frets, I like them smooth.
I could be that it has been refretted by an amateur.
But I'm in no hurry. I have plenty of classical guitars.


Ginger