PSA: A Gold Sparkle Vanguard in Spring Texas.

[Kalessin]

No affiliation. I'd have bought this if I'd have been able to contact the seller, but it's flagged 'US Only'. A steal at $1200 if legit.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/304043525175

I'm looking for somethign very similar if you happen to be willing to ship internationally. 

[fguitbert]

I can help you out if you want. Have it shipped out to me in Vermont and I’ll forward it for actual freight cost… PM me if interested

[tomteriffic]

It doesn't really look like gold sparkle to me.  It looks like very yellowed clear coat.  Look at the headstock logo, it's quite yellowed.

[Dave Scepter]

Looks like Gold sparkle to me

[Kalessin]

Rather tempting @fguitbert! -- much appreciation for offering. I'm thinking it takes a while to establish trust, and explain that international post won't be any more difficult at their end, and then to arrange the shipping... and needing a US intermediary at the start would be slower again, and at $1200 it'd be gone soon anyway. So I'll just keep my eye out for something already shipping to Australia. And likely someone here will score a good deal in the meanwhile. It all goes around. 

[ptm1diver]

Perhaps you might like a reasonably priced Hamer Diabro?

 

[0054]

6 hours ago, Dave Scepter said:

Looks like Gold sparkle to me

My Newport is the same cilie, yellowed silver

[ebradfordrich]

Hmmm, my manager lives in Spring.   Need to give this one some more thought.   

[fguitbert]

7 hours ago, Kalessin said:

Rather tempting @fguitbert! -- much appreciation for offering. I'm thinking it takes a while to establish trust, and explain that international post won't be any more difficult at their end, and then to arrange the shipping... and needing a US intermediary at the start would be slower again, and at $1200 it'd be gone soon anyway. So I'll just keep my eye out for something already shipping to Australia. And likely someone here will score a good deal in the meanwhile. It all goes around. 

Being in Canada half the time, I’ve lived this frustration more than once. Maybe it’s a good thing, I could be living on the street in a pile of guitar cases if every deal was attainable.  Another thing you could try is writing the seller with the Ask a Question function. If you are able to send him the paperwork for shipping, sometimes people can be talked into shipping internationally.

[burningyen]

8 hours ago, Dave Scepter said:

Looks like Gold sparkle to me

I would bet that’s just yellowed silver. Looks awesome, these are aging really well. I wasn’t a fan of the silver sparkle, but now….

[Stike]

12 hours ago, tomteriffic said:

It doesn't really look like gold sparkle to me.  It looks like very yellowed clear coat.  Look at the headstock logo, it's quite yellowed.

I was thinking that too but it's from 1999 which was well after they stopped using nitrocellulose. I don't recall McFadden's 4108 urethane yellowing that much over time?

Also, I would call that finish more of a metallic than a sparkle bit that might just be me. 🤣

[stonge]

the thing about those Vanguards that always gets me is how vivid the serial number looks, almost like it was chiseled into the headstock.  Did they shoot the paint thinner on those or use fewer coats?  

[kizanski]

36 minutes ago, stonge said:

the thing about those Vanguards that always gets me is how vivid the serial number looks, almost like it was chiseled into the headstock.

They sure do seem pressed in deeper.

[topekatj]

9 minutes ago, kizanski said:

They sure do seem pressed in deeper.

I guess no ‘Made in USA’ stamp was in use in ‘99? Did that start after the company move?

[coffeeroastee]

10 hours ago, 0054 said:

My Newport is the same cilie, yellowed silver

Man holler if you want to sell your Newport😊

[0054]

1 hour ago, coffeeroastee said:

Man holler if you want to sell your Newport😊

TY, but it was a 50th birthday gift from my wife.

 

It is a beautiful cilir, even w overspray.

[hamerican gigolo]

I highly doubt the silver sparkle finish would yellow that dramatically. I had a Studio with the gold color logo.

[burningyen]

Dunno, I feel like I’ve seen a few of these getting yellow. L-4108 may be more resistant to yellowing, but these are now 22 years old. Maybe certain storage conditions help accelerate it.

[cmatthes]

6 hours ago, burningyen said:

Dunno, I feel like I’ve seen a few of these getting yellow. L-4108 may be more resistant to yellowing, but these are now 22 years old. Maybe certain storage conditions help accelerate it.

I’ve seen several that have yellowed, which is odd.  Not quite to that extent maybe, but when the pickup rings and cavity cover were pulled it looked like a different finish.

[0054]

Seriously, my Newport looks just like it, it is beautiful

[Winter]

On 8/7/2021 at 7:35 AM, fguitbert said:

Being in Canada half the time, I’ve lived this frustration more than once. Maybe it’s a good thing, I could be living on the street in a pile of guitar cases if every deal was attainable.  Another thing you could try is writing the seller with the Ask a Question function. If you are able to send him the paperwork for shipping, sometimes people can be talked into shipping internationally.

+1 to this strategy. It has worked for me more often than not. Most sellers just want to know you’re legit and that they’re not dealing with some kind of lunatic so just be straight with them. Hope it works out! 

[tomteriffic]

On 8/8/2021 at 5:14 PM, cmatthes said:

I’ve seen several that have yellowed, which is odd.  Not quite to that extent maybe, but when the pickup rings and cavity cover were pulled it looked like a different finish.

Mine has yellowed somewhat, but not to the degree of the advertised one.  I should pull a ring or cavity cover.  I might be appalled.