3 virts on ebay - go get 'em

[MCChris]

I'm would not be shocked in the slightest to discover that this seller a.) has purchased a Ferrari and b.) is getting a divorce.

[polara]

True about the lack of surprise on the split or car. Still, fer what it's worth the guitar I bought from

Joe was pristine and fairly priced, and he's helped me out getting info in the past.

[Jack C]

Luke's link to the Ferarri forum is pretty damn funny. Same Joe, making friends wherever he goes.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72137

[darc]

From said Ferrari forum: "I suspect that he'll get better"

Hahahahah... oy, now I've gotta add a Ferrari Chat Forum to my favorites list... This'll be like watching a car wreck.

I've been told by a lot of good people that Joe is actually a very nice guy in person, but it seems like typing makes him insane. (And yes, I *am* embarassed that I find it so fascinating.)

[Tres Aardvarks]

waitaminnit, is that a Sustain block? or just a regular fixed bridge?

[darc]

Sustain block. And that Korina sure is purdy.

[JohnnyB]

Luke's link to the Ferarri forum is pretty damn funny.  Same Joe, making friends wherever he goes.

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72137

That's hilarious!

Within a day and a half, he dissed one of the forum's sponsors and main suppliers of Ferrari parts--the one with the impeccable reputation for customer service.

He already has his detractors and the "benefit of the doubt" supporters. Sound familiar?

How long until he names Jack Russell Racing, Traimpz348, and Tmobileguy as the new "axis of evil"?

[Tres Aardvarks]

Sustain block. And that Korina sure is purdy.

I dunno. Korina doesn't do much for me figure-wise. Maybe because we have a dining room table that looks like that?

[SirDouglas]

WOW!... ok i wont tear into him then.... as for growing up... opinions are allowed anywhere... my mistake for mistaking that paint as non factory... lets hope we never meet and we'll call it even.

But theyre still over priced

Sir Douglas

Randy

[tobereeno]

Tobe you SCUMBAG! Man, some things never change.

yeah, I'm such a muckraker

poor guy, a second divorce, and he loses his kid too. I don't envy him at all - this can't be a good time for him, Ferrari notwithstanding.

[serial]

I haven't heard anyone have a negative guitar purchase issue from Joe. I played the 12 string neck on that Fath double a while before the present owner got it and in fact within five minutes of Michael Fath dropping it off at the shop (I passed him in the parking lot). At the time I played it, the 12 string neck needed a LOT of adjustment. The 6 string neck was fine other than having old strings. Fath apparently used it for a photo shoot and cased it for many years thereafter. I never said nor intimated anywhere that the neck was warped, simply that at the time I picked it up, it was virtually unplayable (as often happens with these 12ver necks if they aren't set up I suspect from talking to other owners).

The korina Virt is a very early one (the earliest one I know of date wise, but I don't have the first few logged in) and has had the end frets shaved off at the body. The early ones were made from korina picked up from the old Gibson factory in Kalamazoo. The celestial finish was one of the handful of custom finishes offered on Hamers in the late 80s and is VERY cool IMHO.

[hardheartedbill]

this is hysterical, will he ever learn? anyway, no surprises from Joe on gear, i bought a Newport from him , it was straight up and farly priced, whose gonna buy the Ferrari next year? LOL

[Nuclear Wessel]

As for the Virt being an ugly guitar, maybe. But the appeal of its rarity and unique features has blinded me to its aesthetics. I can't justify paying that much for it but with its extended scale length, the korina one would be a fun guitar to put heavy strings on and tune down to B to B.

As someone else mentioned, while the price may be fair, it's a little high for "once in a while".

[Hamerica]

I do not see $3000 being a bad price given how rare these are. People are more than willing to pay $3000 for a new, dime a dozen, Gibson. You know Hamer will not make these again. What did these cost new in 2005 dollars? Probably more than the $3000 opening bids. I don't understand why people feel the need to attack other people's ebay ads, if the price is not right it will end with no bids. Would you like somone to insult your choice of wife, house or clothing? Grow up.

In the end, the only way compare prices is to have two identical items for sale, in the same condition, with different price points. If what he says is true and there are only one of each of these in those paint jobs, you can not compare it to anything IMO. And if the guy bought it cheaper and sells it higher, well that's good business. How long would your employer stay in business if he bought high and sold low? I tried to buy that Celestial, after all the shipping and such it would have been $2800, so the guy is looking to make $200, a whooping 7% return, but he is throwing in an extra pickup, so he's probably taking a loss. Name an industry that operates on less than 15% ROI.

Lukes post is pretty much right on. An enlighten man will light the path for many.

Thanks for a good well thought post.

[anotherfreak2]

UGLY!

this is beautiful!

Korina, sustainblock, HAMER!

worth every bit of $2500

[Hamerica]

The Korina one is also one of the first ones. I've got a nice pic of that one in the case next to a Ferrari Red one.

Damn shame about that mod.

Hmmm....Ferrari Red...

Hmmm... Sustain Block...

[Jason01]

Ok Greg, I wanna see you bench report the korina virt and give it back its 36 frets Not sure what you could do about the humbucker route but heres a guitar that really looks like it deserves unbutchering.

p.s. I wasn't on the weekend Joe apparently went off and got banned but he's very knowledgeable about guitars, gear, and music. He was always there to answer questions and help out, even though he was a bit "blunt" at times with his answers and opinions. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a guitar off him and his prices seem pretty fair ( a bit on the high side but thats some rare stuff he's selling) to me.

[black magic]

The Celestial Chap is killing me!! If that had just 1 Humbucker, I may have fallen victim :-) Jack.

[tobereeno]

it does have one humbucker..

[black magic]

oh I see Tobe, but I was thinking just 1 Hum from the factory only as I only use the bridge pickups in any guitar, the exception being 2 Hums out of phase in the middle position, that sounds cool at times :-) Jack.

[tobereeno]

it's a stacked humbucker in a single-coil space. the hotrails, is, well, a very hot pickup.

[MrGuitarguy]

Ok Greg, I wanna see you bench report the korina virt and give it back its 36 frets Not sure what you could do about the humbucker route but heres a guitar that really looks like it deserves unbutchering.

p.s. I wasn't on the weekend Joe apparently went off and got banned but he's very knowledgeable about guitars, gear, and music. He was always there to answer questions and help out, even though he was a bit "blunt" at times with his answers and opinions. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a guitar off him and his prices seem pretty fair ( a bit on the high side but thats some rare stuff he's selling) to me.

He's also incredibly paranoid about what others think about him. In fact he's probably reading this right now and getting pissed! I don't think i've ever read so much from someone who had so much to prove. I found Joe's comments somewhat knowledgable, but certainly nothing over the top. Besides there are guys here who make their living repairing and working with the equipment we all have questions on. Not to mention they will be nice to you too! lol!