Oliver Ditson; model? How to estimate selling price?

[harrison phipps]

Very nice condition Ditson in my shop, spruce top, mahogany back, side & neck, ebony fret board & bridge, no cracks, bar frets, great finish except for a little pick rash and the original case.  Headblock is stamped inside with the number “138” and back of peghead is stamped “Oliver Ditson Co. Boston, New York.

 

Wondering if anyone has any idea of the model # and where I can go to find an approximate selling price as the client wants to sell.  It needs a neck reset which I may or may not do depending on client’s desires.

[Steven D. Wilson]

Maybe it's the camera angle, but I am not seeing any compensation at the saddle.

Could this be a Hawaiian model? I have a 1935 Martin 0-18K that was sold as an Hawaiian guitar and the saddle is also straight as no compensation is needed when playing with a bar.

The Vintage Guitar Price Guide says "From 1916 to 1930 Ditson guitars were made by Martin". It says Ditson also established Lyon & Healy. They list the Ditson models values ranging from $2.300 to $62,000!

[Paul Verticchio]

Harrison/Steve:

The VGPG prices are unrealistically inflated.  Actual "selling prices" are significantly lower in the current depressed market. Please do not use those prices for reference.  The VGPG has turned into more of an ID & information book than a price guide. It's all good though.

Just my opinion: but if I were the owner wishing to sell it, I would NOT have a neck reset done. It probably won't increase the selling price.  Most serious buyers of this particular instrument likely have their favorite reset tech's and like for all the work done by their folks.

The final selling price will be significantly influenced by how the owner markets/advertises the piece and will ultimately be determined by the best $$$ offer he/she receives. And remember, an appraised value, an asking price and a selling price are three entirely different "things".

And generally, and this is just a suggestion, it's not a good idea to get into the habit of valuating instruments for customers. The market is too volatile and repairing & selling instruments are two entirely different fields of endeavor & expertise. In other words, a misjudged estimate, either high or low, will come back to bite you. It's also a reputation killer.

Thanks for the pics of this rare instrument & best of luck (-:

[Steven D. Wilson]

I agree with Paul 100% about the limited usefulness of the VGPG for pricing purposes. Was going to add that caveat but I was in a hurry. How about that straight saddle though! If it is a Hawaiian model no need to do a neck reset. If it is not and it's anything like the Martin Hawaiian I mentioned with a straight saddle, it is difficult to get the intonation right for Spanish playing. Perfect for lap playing though!

[Joshua Levin-Epstein]

There is a description of the Martin built Ditsons in the Johnston 2 volume book. It was made before 1921 when the Ditsons got regular Martin serial numbers. I would assume (because I'll never see the guitar) it is made for Spanish playing, is fan braced so it wants nylon or gut strings (so the straight saddle is less of an issue). I'll bet it would sound pretty good with synthetic gut strings.

 

I would go to Richard Johnston (Gryphon), George Gruhn, Matt Umanov, Marc Silber or Lowell Levinger in regard to a selling price. They all deal in less common instruments like this.

 

Joshua

 

[Paul Hostetter]

Maybe it's the camera angle, but I am not seeing any compensation at the saddle. Could this be a Hawaiian model?

The parallel saddle was normal for that era, when gut strings were the usual strings. I would continue to string it with gut or nylon, meaning the neck angle is probably A-OK right now.

Very sweet specimen!

[Steven D. Wilson]

Good call on the gut strings, Paul. Never considered that. On the x-braced, steel stringed Martin I have the Hawaiian models had a straight saddle and the Spanish ones had a slanted one.

[Eric Steven Johansen]

The Early Martin website has one just like this. Says there that it's a 1916 martin made style 22.