It is NOT in the direct interest of Hoshino/Ibanez that we old farts trade, sell and buy old guitars from 30 years ago.
But do have some benefit of it, because we review their new products with the same critical eyes as the vintage ones: "Will this axe ever become a collectible?"
So they can and may use our feedback for their quality management.
Of course our enthusiasm about the brand may be contagious
And it might make young guitarists buy an Ibanez as their first guitar, which is not a bad decision, because just like when they'd buy a Fender or Gibson, the loss on reselling such an A-Brand axe is generally less than 50%.
For instance: I have a Vantage 318T strat (early 90s model made by Samick) with a list price of hfl. 695.- and an Ibanez RT240 which was hfl. 895.-. They are the same age and come from the same distributor: Hoshino (Serlui).
When I bought my RT240 there was also an Ibanez EX170 model for hfl. 695.- (also made by Samick).
Look what happens when you put up a Vantage 318T and a Ibanez EX170 for sale!
Look at the rest percentage you get back for these two axes: same price, same manufacturer, same distributor...
This has also something to do with boycotting the Vantage brand by Hoshino and their dealers after a conflict with Samick. But just look how the market reacts on a brand name!
I'm not reselling my Vantage axes. I keep the 318T as my experimental baritone strat. Unbeatable price: just a second hand Vantage with thicker strings tuned in B.
And their cutaway dreadnought is just as good as an Epiphone Jeff Skunk Baxter.
(What factory do you think they come from?)
Ginger
