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TB 500 #21

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verba

Joined:
09 Dec 2008
Posts: 7
PostPosted: 12/09/2008 at 12:25 PM    Post subject: TB 500 #21 link

Guys,

Can anyone give me an idea of what the TB 500 #21 might go for these days, if I were to put it up for sale?

You can see it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFrY6XbLFTc

It's not been modified in any way. It's yellowed, with the white showing through at the top left of the body and the paint worn down to wood at a point in the back. Basically, what you'd expect after 31 years of regular use with occasional years of sitting in a case.

It plays wonderfully.

Thanks,

John Verba
john_verba@adgression.com

I can take photos and email them to interested parties. Thanks.

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TomWanderer

Joined:
29 Jul 2008
Posts: 49
PostPosted: 12/09/2008 at 1:06 PM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

Hello Verba and all I can say is WOW!
Original white TB 500 with extremely low serial.
I don't think you will have any problem drawing interest and attention.
Thanks for the video and welcome to the forum!
Interesting that the database info posted from Obie's notes states that this one was "for show", manufactured initially for exhibition at guitar shows. Very cool guitar.
(again, Kurt, everyone at this database is forever indebted for all your excellent contributions)
-Tom

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ClausRudolf

Joined:
30 Nov 2008
Posts: 30
PostPosted: 12/09/2008 at 2:44 PM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

Hi John
beauty of a bean !!! would love to make you an offer for that guitar, if possible.
looking for a bean 500 in real good condition for along time.
please let me know, what you have in mind. salute, claus



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humbuck

Joined:
05 Mar 2008
Posts: 65
PostPosted: 12/10/2008 at 4:40 AM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

Nice guitar John, would love to see some pictures!
Thanks, Jetze

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ClausRudolf

Joined:
30 Nov 2008
Posts: 30
PostPosted: 12/13/2008 at 3:31 PM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

hi john,
I just asked myself, if that guitar is now in the hands of mr. gallo...?
please let me know.
kind regards, BB

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000000

Joined:
03 May 2007
Posts: 324
PostPosted: 12/14/2008 at 12:07 AM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

-Post removed by request of the author-

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ClausRudolf

Joined:
30 Nov 2008
Posts: 30
PostPosted: 12/14/2008 at 1:23 AM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

vincent -
is everything all right with that travis bean 500 ? do you know anything about the history of that guitar ?
I was 100 % secure you would buy this one the day it was offered here on the forum...
why not ? have a nice day - BB


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verba

Joined:
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Posts: 7
PostPosted: 12/14/2008 at 4:05 AM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

Claus,

Thanks for your interest.

I'd been (I think, rightly) advised by people on the forum to take my time and consider all the offers. And since my first post indicated I had no idea of the going rate for this particular guitar, there would really have been no way to sell it to anyone on the first day.

The amount being now discussed is exactly where I'd like to be. I'm waiting to hear and also replying, in a fairly timely manner, to everyone who was kind enough to enquire.

And there are pictures in the photo gallery.

Thanks,

John


Oh, and...I bought it new. Nothing's been changed on it. And the piece of paper with cleaning instructions is still in the case.

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ClausRudolf

Joined:
30 Nov 2008
Posts: 30
PostPosted: 12/14/2008 at 4:41 AM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

Thanks, john
yep - take your time, I will wait. and thanks for the pics on the database...looks like a well loved and played guitar. looking forward to hear from you - bye, claus

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KoaGod

Joined:
23 Sep 2002
Posts: 51
PostPosted: 12/14/2008 at 11:45 AM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

verba

wow! Nice pix of the 500! Original owner of a great guitar... hopefully you won't regret selling it. I regretted selling every guitar in the past. and none were like this.
KG

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verba

Joined:
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Posts: 7
PostPosted: 12/14/2008 at 8:38 PM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

A bit of background.

I grew up outside Johnstown, PA, in a place where business is done as follows: The employer is understood to be out to get the most work he can for the least money spent. The employee is understood to be out to get the most money he can for the least effort exerted. And if you grow up there, they'd have you believe it's the only way business is done.

And questioning this reality is thought ludicrous. And not accepting it is weakness. But then again, a wrong move at work can result in, as it did with my dad, getting your pelvis crushed, getting swept down a mine shaft by an underground river, or spending six hours falling a couple feet at a time down an elevator shaft in a malfunctioning elevator packed with big burly guys.

(Seriously. The mechanic would work on the lifting mechanism 'til he thought he had it repaired. They'd turn in the safety pins on the elevator by hand. It would start to plummet and the pins would shoot back out into the shaft walls, and everyone would hit the floor and go back to waiting. No wonder my 100% German, 2nd generation, WWII-vet dad could be a bit, um, surly.)

A Russian friend of mine calls it a Culture of Scarcity. And I completely respect it. Why would one not?

After Johnstown, I started out as a senior copywriter at the second largest ad agency in Baltimore. Then played some music. Then walked into a $1.5MM a year design firm as a freelancer, and walked out two years later when the place was at $9MM -- having created virtually all the copy and concepts over that time.

I strongly felt that the owner of that place had my back. That we tried to put each other's needs first. I know he listened a lot. And I know that long after I was gone, when the ad business contracted, that fellow spent seven figures of his own money keeping everyone on staff until they found their next gigs.

My Russian friend says that's a culture of abundance. You kind of have to respect that one, too. And I do, very much.

Concurrently, I've seen my mom -- who is a tough-as-nails, 100% Italian, second generation, WWII/Depression era Catholic UMAW-conditioned woman -- become generous, supportive and patient. So when I wrote a long email to one of the bidders on the forum (and one only) to say, "This is what I plan to do, on behalf of the kids and with these outcomes in mind, with anything over [a certain amount that comes in]," I wasn't surprised that my wife said, "The bidders aren't going to care what you're going to do with the money."

My answer was, "Eh...this guitar might open some doors. It might not. And complex personalities can surprise you."

Far as I've seen, having what people want always puts the onus on you to maximize the return on inventory. And I've never found it any easier or harder managing an inventory of one. It's always about supply and demand. And possibilities and perceptions.

So I sent the email and get back a short missive informing me that I was attempting to start a bidding war, and that that person would have been willing to pay 166% of what I'd said I'd received as a bid to that point, but was no longer interested. So I had a bid that was not a bid. Unfortunate, because it was plenty.

It did, though, establish a good price to request of the folks who've emailed, and that's what I was looking for. And then I suppose we'll work backwards, down from there, if necessary. It would be grand if an amiable fellow provides enough for this asset to get the kids a complete Logic-driven studio...down to the Primera Bravo II for burning and printing CDs. (The income won't all go to that, of course.)

I doubt I'll regret letting it go at that point. A lot of times to take hold of the new thing, you have to let go of the old. And handing it off to someone you find it a privilege to interact with can be, well, just as valuable, over time, as the value of the reinvested assets...even taking into account their earned return over time.

So that's what's been going on. And from here, negotiations will be private.

Again, thanks for your interest. It's a lovely guitar. I've had it 30 years...it's time to find it a great next owner. ; )

John

Now I really do have to get back to everyone. Could be a long night, but necessary.

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000000

Joined:
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Posts: 324
PostPosted: 12/14/2008 at 9:57 PM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

-Post removed by request of the author-

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rlrlrl

Joined:
24 Dec 2007
Posts: 260
PostPosted: 12/14/2008 at 11:01 PM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

I'm both amused and surprised. Vincent, it seems that people have tried to bully you into bidding wars in the past, but I don't think that's happening here. Mr. Verba seems completely honest, if a bit talkative (can't blame him for that, now can we?). A lot of people have been stumbling on to this site for the first time, and learning of the value of these guitars that they've been playing for years. I don't think you should take any offense at what he wrote you. I also don't think you ought to post private emails on the forum without consent of the sender. I guess that's just my opinion.

Anyway, this is a stunning guitar, and I hope it gets to be played more and more.

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000000

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Posts: 324
PostPosted: 12/15/2008 at 12:00 AM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

-Post removed by request of the author-

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verba

Joined:
09 Dec 2008
Posts: 7
PostPosted: 12/15/2008 at 1:06 AM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

I thought "intense greed and delusion" was a nice touch. It makes me sound a little unhinged. : )

John

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ClausRudolf

Joined:
30 Nov 2008
Posts: 30
PostPosted: 12/15/2008 at 2:05 AM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

dear mr. verba,
please cross my name of your list, this thing is insane.... a dealer from belgium offered me a nice black painted bean 500 half a year ago for 5000 euro ( about 7000 bucks ), but at that time, I did not have the money to buy it...
but - that´s another story. driving around with famous directors - maybe that´s the way to sell this guitar for such a fantasy-price...
good luck BB

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verba

Joined:
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Posts: 7
PostPosted: 12/15/2008 at 3:02 AM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

rlrlrl,

Thanks.

John

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verba

Joined:
09 Dec 2008
Posts: 7
PostPosted: 12/15/2008 at 3:11 AM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

BB,

Thanks. And thanks especially for your patience with me with the process.

John

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admin

Joined:
01 Jun 2001
Posts: 1266
PostPosted: 12/15/2008 at 7:57 AM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

Let's keep selling correspondences off thread please. And while on the forum.. please be nice.

admin

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rlrlrl

Joined:
24 Dec 2007
Posts: 260
PostPosted: 12/15/2008 at 9:00 AM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

VG - I didn't write in a contrary opinion simply because I felt like objecting to take whatever you said and disagreeing with it. Most of the time I agree with you on here, and I find your comment "What did you do with your life before I was born to excite you?" to be a little on the vicious side, even if you're just joking around, which I suspect you're not. Once again, my take on this was that if you don't want his Bean, for whatever reason, all you have to do is keep quiet. Or if people are persistent in asking you why you're not buying it that you feel you have to respond, you could at least say that your motivations have nothing to do with the structural and cosmetic integrity of the guitar. I'm sorry I chimed in.

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TomWanderer

Joined:
29 Jul 2008
Posts: 49
PostPosted: 12/15/2008 at 9:59 AM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

It should be said in all fairness that Vincent was sort of dragged into this thread. His name was brought up before he posted his story. That story which I found to be very interesting. It is a fine line to walk to let prospective buyers know what they are in for without hurting anyone's feelings. I think Vincent's sharing his experience here could be helpful to everyone, and I would imagine it took a bit of biting-the-tongue to hold back his part as long as he did.
I definitely agree with the Admin that we should all be nice to each other while on the board. I also think that if there is relevant information about a guitar in question or up for sale it is helpful to the members of the community, especially aspiring bean owners. I don't think anyone is being particularly devious or vicious here. This bean has been brought to the forum for people to post interests and questions, and in a matter of something worth so much money it doesn't seem like a bad idea to hear all sides of the story.
I know it really isn't any of my business (except that I am a forum member), but it seems that the "offensive" angle in this thread is only exposed when too much is read into the posts looking for "attacks". I don't know how everyone can act like friendly adults and still share their experiences to help buy and sell great guitars while looking out for each other in the process, but I felt at first that this thread was coming close and I appreciated the contributions from Vincent and others.

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verba

Joined:
09 Dec 2008
Posts: 7
PostPosted: 12/16/2008 at 8:20 AM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

Vincent,

Just for perspective. When a neophyte shows up here with a Bean, he quickly hears, from more than one source, "Gallo will pay 2 to 3 times market value just to keep a guitar out of someone else's hands."

OK. That's one objective. And it's not my place to question what someone does with their money.

At the same time, you know, maybe I putzed around and played with the situation enough that I denied myself the chance of participating. Not...intentionally. Just by, eh, stirring the pot. See what happens.

I liked the line "I was kind once. It felt good," on the forum page of your website. That's cool.

Anyway...I once had a guy who worked at Doyle Dane Bernbach in the 70s, tell me, "Tom Collins ('immortal' ad copywriter) told me, 'Start where they are.'" As in: Acknowledge/care about that guy you're writing to who wants to know, "What's in it for me?"

So I started at www.vincentgallo.com. I really respected the lay-it-all-out-there-like-the-whole-world-should-love-me-and-resent-the-ones-who-don't approach. I just skip the second part, 'coz it leads to acid reflux, in my case.

When I start where the other folks are, I write short little communiques about business.

Oh look, the Bean doing what it was made to do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqD3YmsTByw

John

Eccentrics own these things. You know that.




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holmes

Joined:
29 Feb 2008
Posts: 182
PostPosted: 12/16/2008 at 11:03 AM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

frankly everybody, my mind is blown.

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TomWanderer

Joined:
29 Jul 2008
Posts: 49
PostPosted: 12/16/2008 at 12:23 PM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

You said it holmes.

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charlie

Joined:
06 Jan 2008
Posts: 250
PostPosted: 12/16/2008 at 4:52 PM    Post subject: RE:TB 500 #21 link

Whew!!!

First: Nice guitar.

Second: Nice looking family, so whatever happens you are a lucky man.

Third: Just put the damn thing on ebay and don't take any side offers. Let the free market decide. It only takes 2 people to bid against each other to avoid everyone second guessing what they should pay, what its worth, etc. I think it will go for around 10k, although it sounds like it will probably go higher. A straight up auction is the only way to cut through all the BS from buyer OR seller.

Fourth: Good luck!

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