G&L Commanche Trade Help?

[mc2]

Need some help/advice, as I'm not a G&L guy....

Someone offered me a trade + cash for one of my Hamers but I don't know what this G&L Commanche is worth. Owner says it is mint and was one of the expensive ones, around $2200.

But I also see some less expensive G&L Commance Tribute models that look similar.

Here is the info on his guitar he is offering. Any help on what this one is worth used? At what price would this one be easy to flip/sell? If I can get a quick $1000 for it, I'd probably do the deal. Is his definitely one of the hi-end Commanches?

I DID search these one the web/EBAY but just trying to double-check my thoughts. I'm not sure which types of bodies and colors on these are more desireable and the differences in value used. My guess on this one is somewhere around $1000-1400 from what I could find. Can you guys maybe narrow this down a bit more for me?

Thanks

--- INFO FROM HIM

His G&L info/pics

Serial # is CLF48216

specs... I think

http://www.glguitars...anche/index.asp

I blurred some pictures.

http://www.guitarsby...?g2_itemId=9959

I blurred some pictures.

[Turdus]

G&L's are fine guitars. I've owned several of the USA Legacys, and every one was fantastic. That said, I think the used G&L market is a tough one. You'll have your die hard supporters, much like the HFC. But if it were me, I'd look real hard at the value, and be prepared to sit on the item for awhile before a buyer was found.. if your intention is flipping it.

Can't give you any specifics on the Commanche except the used one I see on Ebay for $1500. I'm gonna go out on a limb, and assume that the seller will be sitting on that one for awhile.

[murkat]

Only if you are desperate.

1k tops.

[django49]

The Tributes are imported and must less expensive. Fine guitars, I am given to understand.

Mine is the fancy woods and the semi-hollow version. I understood "list" to be $3800 and paid half that (new from dealer). I have been told I should not expect more than about 1/3 the original "list" even though it is virtually unplayed.

I don't know the list on this one, but would think it hard to "flip" unless you were content with netting under $1k.

Great instrument......I just cannot get into "Strat" styles. Failed experiment for mew.

[JohnnyB]

A USA model in good shape should be able to fetch $1K. Don't worry about the Tribute line if this is a USA. If you decide to sell it, most potential shoppers will know the difference between USA and Tribute. The resale value of USA G&Ls has gone up in the last few years from $400-600 up to $800-1200.

A pretty reliable resale indicator is completed sales on eBay. I just checked and there were plenty of excellent-condition used Comanches that sold for over $1K. Listings with BIN above $2K universally tanked.

What's this Comanche's color, features and finish? Certain features add value, like figured maple top, ebony board, natural wood binding, matching headstock, and certain finishes such as the translucent finishes over figured ash and the metalflake finishes.

The Comanche's Z-coils plus the on-guitar controls provide a wide range of sounds and pickup selections. The Z-coil has more bottom end than a typical Strat pickup, so you can get tonal balances similar to Specials and HB-equipped guitars. But roll the Comanche's passive bass knob to 60-80% and you get authentic Strat sounds.

Wood selection in USA G&Ls is at least the equal of Fender Custom Shop and often better.

The only downside of the Comanche is that there's less strumming room between pickups, but most people seem to get used to that. Underneath the pickguard is a swimming pool rout, so it can accommodate aftermarket pickups.

So...the final determiners of value of this Comanche are: USA?, color, finish, features, condition, and case. Some premium G&Ls come with a plywood/tolex case instead of molded plastic, and that adds value too.

[Morris Davis]

I owned a comanche but didnt like the pickups. They were definitely noiseless, which was great, but the tone seemed sterile to me. I bought mine new for $1,100 a few years ago and sold it about a year later I think for $950. I guess prices have gone up since then ... it was only about 3 years ago.

[JohnnyB]

I owned a comanche but didnt like the pickups. They were definitely noiseless, which was great, but the tone seemed sterile to me. I bought mine new for $1,100 a few years ago and sold it about a year later I think for $950. I guess prices have gone up since then ... it was only about 3 years ago.

The G&L MFD pickups of all configurations are pretty sensitive to setup. It's not uncommon for Comanche and ASAT Z-3 owners to give themselves more strumming room by lowering the pickups and raising the pole pieces. This takes the bottom end and fullness out of the tonal balance. I'm not saying that that's what you did, but I have found with the various G&Ls I've owned (7) that there's a sweet spot for pickup height and pole piece height to get the full tone to pop into focus. They also like NPS or pure nickel wrap. They'll certainly sound more thin/bright with stainless strings.The Comanches I played sounded fantastic. It probably helped that they were being played into Dr. Z and Top Hat amps, whichwere favorites of G&L aficionados when I hung out with them in the late '90s.

[morningstar]

BluesBuster liked G & L USA models. This guy was technically excellent and Euro trained. If it's good enough for BluesBuster it's good enough for me. If he's lurking, perhaps Ted could chime in here.

I still like Day-TONE-ahs best. So there. Still those Comanche Z3 pickups always catch my eye.

morningstar

[JohnnyB]

I still like Day-TONE-ahs best. So there. Still those Comanche Z3 pickups always catch my eye.

morningstar

+1 on Hamer boltneck guitars. Concerning G&L Strat-type guitars, the S-500 and Comanche depart from the standard controls in a couple of ways: The 3 knobs are master volume, passive treble, and passive bass. Because the MFD pickups have a bigger, more robust sound, you have to roll off the passive bass knob to around 60% on a Comanche to get the tonal balance of a vintage Strat.

The other distinctive control is a mini-toggle that turns on the bridge pickup. This enables you to get neck/bridge or all three pickups. The Z-coils plus the neck/bridge pickup combo enables you to get sounds you can't get from a Strat--more like what you'd get from a Tele or Special. Then you roll off the bass and pick the #2 or #4 position on the blade switch and you get that classic snarky Strat sound.

Will Ray's signature model is a semihollow ASAT with Z-coils (and a hipshot B-bender). I've played a Z-3 semihollow side-by-side with a vintage Gibson ES-5 Switchmaster with P90s and you could dial in the ASAT to sound very close to the Switchmaster.

[Rocktuna]

Underneath the pickguard is a swimming pool rout, so it can accommodate aftermarket pickups.

Actually the USA Commanche's do not have a swimming pool rout, Legacys do.

How old is it? I have a 2009 with the flamed maple top and all the goodies ($2275.00 new) and it is the best built guitar I have ever seen. The fretwork was amazing, they're plekked.

The fit and finish, wood quality is amazing. It has become my # 2 guitar. (Nothing will ever replace my Wolfgang)

I love it so much I went out and bought a 2010 Legacy. The Commanche doesn't have the spank of the single coils. It actually sounds more like a mini humbucker to me.

I've had some older G&L guitars and they never quite hit the spot. The new ones give me a wet spot.

[mc2]

Thanks for all the help. I did the trade + cash deal. G&L Comanche USA arrived....minty/nice axe. Got it from a collector 60+ years old, so it is pretty much new, like it just came from a Guitar Center.

I mainly got it to flip, so it is on EBAY for opening bid of $999 which, I think, is pretty damn cheap. Only thing odd is the hardshell tweed case has a Carvin logo on it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/G-L-Comanche-USA-/150822242001?pt=Guitar&hash=item231db4c6d1