What should I do with my Sheraton?

[IRG]

So a few months ago I bought a nice, used but totally mint, 1999 Sheraton. I paid $800 for it, which is a lot, but it came with a mint hard case, a pair of DiMarzio 36th PAFs, a GraphTech ResoMax NV-2 bridge, Gotoh tailpiece, Graphtech nut, and Rpver 106C Rotomatic tuners - all new hardware is nickel.

These were all mods I would thinking about, the 36th PAFs are perfect for this guitar, plus all of the original hardware was included. When you factor in the cost of parts and then installation, $800 was a pretty good deal.

And then, over the holiday break, someone (or something, such as a dog/cat) knocked over the Sheraton, causing a major headstock break.

Fairly clean break, fixable for about $100 - $150.

Not sure I want to keep this guitar or not now, even if it's fixed properly. I know it can be play and function just fine. But I've hurt my resale value for sure. So I'm thinking of listing it locally on CL with a couple of options for buyers, tell me if you think I'm realistic or not.

1. Sell it for $600 now, and I have the neck fixed at my expense.
2. Sell it for $450 as is, nothing fixed.
3. Sell it for $350, but I strip off the upgraded pickups/hardware, and you fix it and reassemble the original parts.

Am I being reasonable with this offer or not? I realize a new, unbroken Sheraton is $600. $675 with a case. But these upgrades are nice. At $450 you get everything, other than it being fixed - hey if you're handy and can do it yourself, $450 might be a pretty good deal here.

Any other options I should consider?

Before break:

Break from 2 angles, the right side is worse, as the binding was broken too:

 

[chupe442]

Sorry for the break.. Man that sucks!

IMO.... Your "best" bet will be to strip it back to stock and sell it for 350.00 (if your lucky) prior to the repair.

If you liked it, fix it and keep it. Its yours. You broke it, and any money invested is already at a loss to you. So play that bad boy!

 

[Alty]

Tricky one...as here in my local shop they have a 'damaged' Sheraton, looks like someone tried to take back the finish and took a slice/chunk out of the body in the lower left side but apart from that it is as factory and could pick it up for around £200 so not sure what a broken headstock would carry here as it becomes what someone will pay rather than a more definative value just being SH.

As for all the added parts, IMHO they were added for playability reasons and not to add value to the guitar so any loss in money for them individually would be 'normal' and personally think that if I was buying a guitar with better parts as yours the value isn't in the prices for those parts, it is if it works for me so it becomes a 'whole' consideration when it comes to paying for it.

I'd have it fixed...or learn how to do it myself.

If selling was the only option, I'd sell the better parts individually (If I didn't need them) and return the Sheraton back to stock and sell it on as is. The monetary gain 'might' be a bit less but also possible less hassle havng to sell more parts.

Good luck whichever road you take.

 

[IRG]

Yeah another option is to fix it myself, learn the process - I know some people who can help, and that won't cost me anything, and if it still plays and looks great, then bonus, keep it and be happy. If not, then strip it, sell it at a loss I guess.

 

[Alty]

Yeah another option is to fix it myself, learn the process - I know some people who can help, and that won't cost me anything, and if it still plays and looks great, then bonus, keep it and be happy. If not, then strip it, sell it at a loss I guess.

Shame but if you have to sell it then I suppose an option that loses you the least money but it's the damage that is hit and miss in what you might get....or find another non broken body Sheraton that needs work and transfer everything, you might be lucky and find a neglected one for the same as a HS Fix but don't know much about US SH sales apart from what I see here.

 

[Curmudgeon]

Yeah another option is to fix it myself, learn the process - I know some people who can help, and that won't cost me anything, and if it still plays and looks great, then bonus, keep it and be happy. If not, then strip it, sell it at a loss I guess.

This is what I'd do. That's such a fine-looking guitar, and I'm sure it sounds fantastic. Heck, if I had the scratch, I'd buy it from you!

 

[ScottMarlowe]

I too would fix it myself. Clamps, hide glue, time and effort == same guitar you had before.

Note I can buy a used Sheraton in good condition, no case from GC for $400 or so. So I doubt anyone's gonna pay $350 for one with stock parts and a broken headstock.

 

[TheX]

Easy fix, and it will still be a nice guitar.

 

[rogue_one]

In my opinion you're best bet is to fix it yourself. Even if you part it out and sell it with stock parts, it will not be worth much at all. Plus, if it is fixed professionally, the stigma of having a headstock break is there and you won't get much then either.

That really sucks about the break, OP, but if you loved it before, you'll love it again after the repair.

My concern would be repairing the Poly. You could just strip all the poly, then have it refinished as a natural with nitro, new poly, or tung oil. You have numerous choices there.

No matter what you do, you are going to be taking a negative hit on the value, unfortunately.

If my Sheraton were to break I would strip it, sand it, and go natural with tung oil.

 

[Frogfur]

You buy stuff to keep..not flip. Keep it and enjoy a nice guitar. I've had one in the past, wish i still had it.
Best of luck

 

[IRG]

In my opinion you're best bet is to fix it yourself. Even if you part it out and sell it with stock parts, it will not be worth much at all. Plus, if it is fixed professionally, the stigma of having a headstock break is there and you won't get much then either.

That really sucks about the break, OP, but if you loved it before, you'll love it again after the repair.

My concern would be repairing the Poly. You could just strip all the poly, then have it refinished as a natural with nitro, new poly, or tung oil. You have numerous choices there.

No matter what you do, you are going to be taking a negative hit on the value, unfortunately.

If my Sheraton were to break I would strip it, sand it, and go natural with tung oil.

Good advice, I'll probably go this route. Refinishing the neck natural with some tung oil sounds good.

 

[charlie chitlins]

Buying a guitar with a neck repair sucks.
Playing a guitar with a neck break you fixed yourself is cool!

 

[James Carney]

You think you can get $350-$450 with a break like that?
I do not agree.

 

[IRG]

You think you can get $350-$450 with a break like that?
I do not agree.

That's why I asked

So no selling, will do the fixing. Keep it, and enjoy it some more.

And if the fix fails, then I think I will light it on fire!

 

[rogue_one]

That's why I asked

So no selling, will do the fixing. Keep it, and enjoy it some more.

And if the fix fails, then I think I will light it on fire!

The sell it as "Art" on the bay....

 

[Bytor1958]

Keep it and fix it. A little glue, claps and some black paint and a good polish. Good as new!!

 

[Brians Evil Twin]

Fix it yourself and play it for a year or so. Lots of tutorials here and on Youtube. It's a relatively clean break. If you like it enough, have the neck and headstock refinished, it's much easier to hide with a black neck than natural.

If you don't like it, I would return it to stock and sell it, asking $100 less than used in your area. Buy another and reinstall the good parts. You'll lose some money, but at least you'll be back to square one.

i don't think you'll recoup much at all as long as the headstock is busted because only people like me will buy it and we'll only give you $100 parts or no parts. The repair is where the cost is to the average Joe.

 

[rem22]

I would fix it and keep it. The resale value is seriously low after a neck break and ti can qtill play great if properly fixed.

 

[paco1976]

That's why I asked

So no selling, will do the fixing. Keep it, and enjoy it some more.

And if the fix fails, then I think I will light it on fire!

Wise choice.

You'd sell it at a huge loss.
God luck with the fix.

 

[rabidhamster]

So a few months ago I bought a nice, used but totally mint, 1999 Sheraton. I paid $800 for it, which is a lot, but it came with a mint hard case, a pair of DiMarzio 36th PAFs, a GraphTech ResoMax NV-2 bridge, Gotoh tailpiece, Graphtech nut, and Rpver 106C Rotomatic tuners - all new hardware is nickel.

These were all mods I would thinking about, the 36th PAFs are perfect for this guitar, plus all of the original hardware was included. When you factor in the cost of parts and then installation, $800 was a pretty good deal.

And then, over the holiday break, someone (or something, such as a dog/cat) knocked over the Sheraton, causing a major headstock break.

Fairly clean break, fixable for about $100 - $150.

Not sure I want to keep this guitar or not now, even if it's fixed properly. I know it can be play and function just fine. But I've hurt my resale value for sure. So I'm thinking of listing it locally on CL with a couple of options for buyers, tell me if you think I'm realistic or not.

1. Sell it for $600 now, and I have the neck fixed at my expense.
2. Sell it for $450 as is, nothing fixed.
3. Sell it for $350, but I strip off the upgraded pickups/hardware, and you fix it and reassemble the original parts.

Am I being reasonable with this offer or not? I realize a new, unbroken Sheraton is $600. $675 with a case. But these upgrades are nice. At $450 you get everything, other than it being fixed - hey if you're handy and can do it yourself, $450 might be a pretty good deal here.

Any other options I should consider?

Before break:

Break from 2 angles, the right side is worse, as the binding was broken too:

Im sorry for your loss.

get it fixed man. Or dont, its into the truss rod channel, but should be relatively easily fixed.
You hurt your resale value when you sell it. You dont play resale value. Of course, you may be able to claim it on your insurance, depending on the policy. Then you wont have to look at the reminder of an expensive guitar gone bust.