Only recently discovered these and never tuned in to an auction, or bothered to look what stuff goes for. But its a superb/guitar porn you tube channel on its own and UK based.
They often do stock rundowns where you don't hear the guitar, but detailed verbal descriptions. Looks like they do every 3-4 months auction and do 300-500 guitars, expensive to budget but nothing boring.
They also upload auditions of guitars, looks like the premium £ ones only, but have just uploaded 20+ today.
LOVE IT! They only have 3.5k subscribers, but for me the best guitar youtube channel online.
It seems like a great place to look if buying and has soul for all the right reasons. I REALLY like the nature of the guitars they sell.
Anyone used them?
Vid 1: Look and hear this 64 strat.
Vid 2: An example of a run down of stock.
Dont worry, be silly.
Comments
What you'll read below via various postings, by quite a few members, will be a barrage of moaning, based on their fees - Add 25/26% to the hammer price to cover G&H's fees on the sale, plus appropriate vat on what we call the margin scheme - vat on their profit effectively - On top of that they will take a further 15/20 from the owner of the goods - So yes they acquire funds at both ends of the auction
In very simple terms, if they offered a poor route to market, for the owner/seller of the guitar and indeed for the potential buyer, then they would not be in business - Each auction they will sell over 500 guitars in some form or another - So must be doing something right - Granted Bath is quite a journey for many, but you can view + try before purchase - You can't on reverb/e-bay and even on this forum (yes a few exceptions)
Do they make errors, I'm sure they do - Do they have a successful business - Yes
If/when anything happens to me I've left instructions with my daughter to contact them - One transaction and no fussing about with multiple postings on reverb etc and a thousand questions to come back, plus of course ridiculous offers - So I can see the point of such a 'transaction'
From a nostalgia point of view, it is hell of a trip to see so many old guitars and indeed models I've never seen before
The charging structure is exactly the same.
That's how auction houses work.
I agree with you: The "barrage of moaning" will be from those who are more familiar with Ebay auctions, and their fee structure, but that's a completely different business model..
Then equally I’ve seen prices that IMO are bargains
But as you say fun to browse
https://i.imgur.com/1CjvLq6.jpg
Moaners gonna moan, let them.
12.5% of a 10-25k car is more desirable than 25% of a Squier Strat
The guitar assessor’s are very good on the whole and can be used to evaluate guitars not necessarily in the auction.
If the listing sells for more than your maximum bid, so be it.
[This space for rent]
I have never bought from them.
The pre-auction section of the website is a brilliant way to spend a spare 30 minutes and is much more searchable than it used to be. For example, you can just put 'acoustic' or 'Yamaha' in and have a gander. I am/was an FG fan and it's fascinating to see the old FG's going through and for how much.
As regards money; I was just looking to get rid of two instruments I no longer wanted, and don't trust much about the internet. I was happy with the service and the money. I took both instruments to them and we had a weekend in Bath.
If your'e looking to monetise a guitar for the maximum amount, there are probably better options. eBay etc. tFB seems as good an option as any if you become a member and can get your head around downloading pictures.
It's a mistake to grouse too much about GH profits. They're in it to win it and everybody deserves a profit if they're running a decent business model. I think their business model is to take guitars from people who just want to 'get rid', or maybe from people who don't know a lot about guitars, and then auction them to buyers who want market price. So fair dinkums.
1968 Gibson LG-O or (!) 2011 Martin OO-15M each going for £600-800 anyone?
Or, for the collectors, a 1938 National Style 0 (£4 - 6K Ouch)
:-)
I've been meaning to check it out, but I need another spendy rabbit hole like I need a kick in the head.
We are so used to the benefits of being ‘consumers’ that we may not realise an auction is not part of that world - you are expected to be savvy and to know how to protect your own interests, and are treated on the same basis as a dealer with years of experience.
Occasionally I have browsed the GH website but perhaps oddly have never seen anything I desperately wanted to bid on.
It's the same model as Bernard Butler's favourite Les Paul. Absolutely stunning and sounds filthy!
https://www.musicalinstrument-auctions.co.uk/sale/40/197/Interesting-composite-Stratocaster-electric-guitar-comprising-early-Fender-parts-including-a-preCBS-neck-and-scratchplate
certainly gets rid of 100 questions to me the dealer or you via an eBay sale