MY CONDITION RATING SYSTEM FOR INSTRUMENTS ========================================== Blue Book of Guitars scale: 100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60% MNT EX+ EX VG+ VG GD+ GD MINT -------- EXCELLENT -------- VERY GOOD -------- GOOD I use the widely used Blue Book of Guitars (Steve Fjestad) system of rating an instrument's condition. That system takes as many things into consideration as can be observed, determined, etc. It uses 2 indexes, a percent of mint original condition and a range of condition. For the percentage rating, an inspection of the instrument is done and a percentage of original mint condition given to the body, neck, finish, hardware, trim and other considerations. Then those percentages are averaged, and additional considerations are given to values such as rarity, appeal, market demand etc. This system gives a quite good rating of the elements of an instrument that are still remaining combined with other considerations that effect an estimate of it's condition. So determining a rating for a guitar might go something like this: The body is intact except for 1% of the body that has dings below the finish, ... so the body gets 99%. The neck has no dings below the finish, the finish is like new as is the neck overall, ... so the neck gets 100%. The finish is worn, dinged and chipped in a few places that makes 5% of the finish area not in mint original condition, ... so the finish gets 95%. The tuners are 3 individuals on each side of the headstock but 1 of them is bent and the others are 10% less than their mint original condition, ... so 16% is subtracted for the bent tuner and 10% for the general condition, so the tuners get an average of 84% + 90% = 87%. The rest of the hardware came out to 87% also so we don't have to include that in averaging. The binding, pickguard and decal are all in good condition showing a judgement value of 5% below mint original condition. To this I calculate a judgement of general condition as being 10% less than mint original. So adding those considerations up we get 99 + 100 + 95 + 87 + 95 + 90 = 566/6 = 94.3% . There are many of the guitars available and demand is moderate so/and it will sell about 15% slower than average similar used guitars so I average that 85% with 94.3 for 179.3 /2 to get 89.65%. I see no further positive indicators such as rare color or original case ... nor any negative indicators such as modifications or non-original replacement parts, ... so the final figure is 89.65%. Now I can assert that condition to the range rating: Mint (MNT), Excellent (EX), Very Good (VG) and Good (GD): Blue Book of Guitars scale: 100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60% MNT EX+ EX VG+ VG GD+ GD So the above hypothetical guitar would be rated at 89.65% and EX/EX- . Most guitar dealers, collectors, etc. utilize a fair rating of condition system. If they do not specify how they rate an instrument then you should ask them because rating ideas and methodologies vary widely. TIP: A seller providing a fair rating has already put valuable time into doing so. When you are nearing the purchase of a specific instrument you cannot inspect yourself, it is a good idea to request a detailed inspection report from the Seller ... and OFFER to pay him/her for about an hour of a qualified person's time to provide the inspection and report, ... so you will know what you will be purchasing. I normally charge $25 for a detailed inspection report. The quality of an inspection report rapport can also provide some insight into who you are dealing with. |
MY CONDITION RATING SYSTEM FOR INSTRUMENTS ========================================== Blue Book of Guitars scale: 100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60% MNT EX+ EX VG+ VG GD+ GD MINT -------- EXCELLENT -------- VERY GOOD -------- GOOD I use the widely used Blue Book of Guitars (Steve Fjestad) system of rating an instrument's condition. That system takes as many things into consideration as can be observed, determined, etc. It uses 2 indexes, a percent of mint original condition and a range of condition. For the percentage rating, an inspection of the instrument is done and a percentage of original mint condition given to the body, neck, finish, hardware, trim and other considerations. Then those percentages are averaged, and additional considerations are given to values such as rarity, appeal, market demand etc. This system gives a quite good rating of the elements of an instrument that are still remaining combined with other considerations that effect an estimate of it's condition. So determining a rating for a guitar might go something like this: The body is intact except for 1% of the body that has dings below the finish, ... so the body gets 99%. The neck has no dings below the finish, the finish is like new as is the neck overall, ... so the neck gets 100%. The finish is worn, dinged and chipped in a few places that makes 5% of the finish area not in mint original condition, ... so the finish gets 95%. The tuners are 3 individuals on each side of the headstock but 1 of them is bent and the others are 10% less than their mint original condition, ... so 16% is subtracted for the bent tuner and 10% for the general condition, so the tuners get an average of 84% + 90% = 87%. The rest of the hardware came out to 87% also so we don't have to include that in averaging. The binding, pickguard and decal are all in good condition showing a judgement value of 5% below mint original condition. To this I calculate a judgement of general condition as being 10% less than mint original. So adding those considerations up we get 99 + 100 + 95 + 87 + 95 + 90 = 566/6 = 94.3% . There are many of the guitars available and demand is moderate so/and it will sell about 15% slower than average similar used guitars so I average that 85% with 94.3 for 179.3 /2 to get 89.65%. I see no further positive indicators such as rare color or original case ... nor any negative indicators such as modifications or non-original replacement parts, ... so the final figure is 89.65%. Now I can assert that condition to the range rating: Mint (MNT), Excellent (EX), Very Good (VG) and Good (GD): Blue Book of Guitars scale: 100% 98% 95% 90% 80% 70% 60% MNT EX+ EX VG+ VG GD+ GD So the above hypothetical guitar would be rated at 89.65% and EX/EX- . Most guitar dealers, collectors, etc. utilize a fair rating of condition system. If they do not specify how they rate an instrument then you should ask them because rating ideas and methodologies vary widely. TIP: A seller providing a fair rating has already put valuable time into doing so. When you are nearing the purchase of a specific instrument you cannot inspect yourself, it is a good idea to request a detailed inspection report from the Seller ... and OFFER to pay him/her for about an hour of a qualified person's time to provide the inspection and report, ... so you will know what you will be purchasing. I normally charge $25 for a detailed inspection report. The quality of an inspection report rapport can also provide some insight into who you are dealing with. |
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