Inflation
Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 11:02 amEarlier this week I took a phone call from a guy from the Isle of Wight who was looking to sell a Sho~Bud LDG. I asked him about the guitar, and it transpired that it was a round front but unusual with triple raise and double lower. I got him to email me some photos, and the guitar was just immaculate as he hadn't touched it since the 1970's. The guitar had remained in its case all these years. The green colouring was as solid as it was when it was new, with absolutely no fading to brown anywhere. The seller said that he bought it on a whim from Eric Snowball at the Steel Mill in Maidstone. When I got the date of purchase from him I worked out that it was the period when Eric and John Edmed were carrying out a price war on Sho~Buds in the later 70's.
When I finally got down to brass tacks and asked the seller how much he wanted for the guitar, he said he wanted what he paid for it - £350!!!! I asked him twice if he was sure, and he said yes. He said he tried to play it a couple of times and realised that it wasn't for him, and he packed it up in the case and put it in his spare bedroom where it has remained since. He was delighted to get his money back. I went over to the Island on the ferry yesterday and picked the guitar up in Cowes at the ferry port. The case was absolutely mint, and so was the guitar when I took it out. It was a real time capsule job, set up in Day mode. It was a pre- pot metal job with teardrop knee levers (3 + 4). I gave the guitar a real going over with a teflon-based lubricant when I got it home, and it played superbly. More importantly the tone was to die for. Those big old round fronted 'Buds are great - Lloyd's guitar is indeed a round front. The receipt for the guitar was still in the case.
I rang one of my young pupils last night who has been using guitars from my own collection when she comes to me for lessons. I asked her if she would like to buy the guitar for what I paid for it. She nearly snatched my arm off. So, it is finally going to a home where it will be used and appreciated. I was trying to work out what £350 would be worth these days after inflation, but gave up. So, this bargain of the year has made 3 people very happy.
When I finally got down to brass tacks and asked the seller how much he wanted for the guitar, he said he wanted what he paid for it - £350!!!! I asked him twice if he was sure, and he said yes. He said he tried to play it a couple of times and realised that it wasn't for him, and he packed it up in the case and put it in his spare bedroom where it has remained since. He was delighted to get his money back. I went over to the Island on the ferry yesterday and picked the guitar up in Cowes at the ferry port. The case was absolutely mint, and so was the guitar when I took it out. It was a real time capsule job, set up in Day mode. It was a pre- pot metal job with teardrop knee levers (3 + 4). I gave the guitar a real going over with a teflon-based lubricant when I got it home, and it played superbly. More importantly the tone was to die for. Those big old round fronted 'Buds are great - Lloyd's guitar is indeed a round front. The receipt for the guitar was still in the case.
I rang one of my young pupils last night who has been using guitars from my own collection when she comes to me for lessons. I asked her if she would like to buy the guitar for what I paid for it. She nearly snatched my arm off. So, it is finally going to a home where it will be used and appreciated. I was trying to work out what £350 would be worth these days after inflation, but gave up. So, this bargain of the year has made 3 people very happy.
