How to price sale value for two pedal steel guitars?

[Chris Gentri]

Hi Folks. I'm trying to help a woman sell her late husbands pedal steel guitars, (a Marlen 10 string & Sierra double neck 12 string - see attached photos.) but I don't have a clue how to price them, or where to post them. I have photos and model numbers, but that's the extent of my knowledge. Any suggestions would be a help! Thanks!

Chris

[Dan Kelly]

Hello Chris:

The short answer is that the Sierra could fetch $3,200 to $3,700 and the Marlen could fetch $2,000 to $2,800. These prices are estimates. Without pictures of the underside (important) and without knowing the copedants (What each pedal / knee lever does to the pitch of the strings) it is hard to be more accurate. The instruments are desirable and should sell in a reasonable time.

Posting the items on this forum in the "For Sale: Steel Guitars" section is a great place to start. The history and any details you can get about the instrument will help the interest level. Also information about the cases and any accessories included is helpful. This is your lowest risk and lowest cost avenue.

Posting the instruments on Reverb.com and eBay.com are also options. Fees can run up to 15%+.

For the best results, it is advisable to post that you are willing to ship the guitars to the buyers. Limiting the sale to "local pick up only" will really constrain the interest. Here is a link about shipping: viewtopic.php?t=341355

Using PayPal or Venmo for payment can help, as well. Good luck with your sale.

[Donny Hinson]

My opinion is that realistic prices for either would probably be on the lower end of the ranges that Dan has quoted, since neither appears to be in very good shape. The Marlen is a pull/release version, and might clean up fairly easy. The D12 looks to be a '70s vintage, and might sit awhile, as it's in rougher shape, and the older D12s are usually a hard sell due to their size and weight.

[Bob Carlucci]

here's the thing.. You can go for tip top maximum market price on Reverb maybe, and wait forever and possible never sell, or you can price them attractively and they will sell reasonably quickly... They are both good guitars but neither of them would be considered a must have for most players these days.. They simply are not all that desirable to most steel players, and will not move as fast as many other brands/designs, even if priced fairly.. If I had both those guitars, I would probably start the Marlen around $1700, and be will to make a deal with it for a fair offer.. I personally have a Marlen S10 with 4 pedals, 4 levers, all wood cabinet not formica, and I place its value around $1600...

As far as the Sierra D12, I might try around $2500-2600 to start, see what happens, and be willing to make a better deal for someone that shows real interest.. Just not too many experienced steel players that play or even want to play a D12, and I doubt many beginners would seriously consider it, ..... Realistically, I think those will sell at maybe 1400-1500 for the Marlen and maybe 1800-2000 for the Sierra... others may disagree, but those just aren't fast movers compared to modern brands still in production or popular "legacy brands".. If the Marlen were all pull it would be a $2000+ guitar on a good day, but a PR Marlen is not easy to set up for most guys, and many players don't want to deal with them.... Good luck in any case, and I would love to know how you make out price wise.. I hope you can prove my opinion very wrong!.... bob

[Bob Hoffnar]

I would take them to the Emmons guys in Sevierville, TN and put them on consignment. They will be fair with you. I would avoid the forum guys that will be making offers to you. They will offer you what seems fair and then you will see them on Reverb for twice the money they paid you in a couple days. It's very depressing to be taken advantage of and the flipper guys on the forum will absolutely take advantage of you if they can.

https://www.emmonsguitar.co/

Contact me directly if you want more info.

[Bob Carlucci]

Consignment is actually not a bad idea, but remember the retail seller takes a BIG cut.. a third or more.. Bob said Texas, but I dunno, it would cost a couple hundred bucks just to ship them there. A better idea might be to contact Billy Coopers steel guitars in Orange Virginia, and drive them there.. They will know what they can get for those guitars,and will get the actual retail value on them, take their consignment fee, but again, they are not Emmons/Sho Bud/Zum/Mullen etc, and will be a little tougher sell, and will be priced below those brands... Still your friend is looking at a good piece of change even if consigned, ... To my way of thinking it might be best for all involved.. Coopers will clean those guitars up, make sure they play right and get them ready to sell.. bob

[Don R Brown]

Bob, the Emmons location Bob H suggested is in Sevierville Tennessee, which is right near Pigeon Forge and not that far from North Carolina depending on where the poster is.

I have never dealt with Billy Cooper but have always heard great things about him on these pages so that's another option for sure - good suggestion.

[Michael Whitmire]

I’ll chime in on the Sierra since I’ve been collecting a few for a while.

That D12 is an Olympic probably around 75-79 from the pictures. At least my best guess from what we can see.

Back in the day, it was the Cadillac of steels. All hard black anodizing on the Bellcranks, stainless rods, nylon barrels for both the changer and cranks, and eccentric cams to adjust travel. The mobile knee levers were a neat idea and I believe the first pedal steel to feature modular pickups. All the aluminum on these guitars were hard anodized, not just regular anodized. You’ll find almost very few that have actually worn the changer finger from use. They can have black, gold or silver foot pedals. All anodized.

And they’re all HEAVY.

This one was an absolute player guitar as the leg clamps are not original anymore, tuner keys are worn heavily on the finish, and the hard anodizing on the foot pedals are absolutely worn off on both necks. Someone loved C6 as much as they did those AB pedals!

Without seeing fully the condition of the undercarriage and what might have been done to it, it’s hard to give an actual value. I’m sure we can all agree on the forum, older Sierra’s are hard to get parts for. If it needs parts or anything else it may be hard for most people to justify it.

I see two mobile knee lever brackets in the pictures but no levers actually hanging. Hopefully all the knees are there and just folded up and tightened to remain up or else where but able to be shipped with the guitar, it should be standard with 4 and perhaps a fifth vertical if ordered with it. If it’s missing knees then that’s a huge resale hit. (Missing the fifth vertical lever is ok! It was standard build to be 8x4 on these)

I’d actually be interested in it myself to round out my collection as I don’t have a D12 but I’d probably pass myself as the tape on the legs and non-original clamps probably means it has a bit of issues. And my wife would kill me.

Assuming it’s mechanically sound, everything is working as intended and is just worn, and nothing funky electronically with the modular pickups. If you’re willing to wait, you may get $2200 to $2400 eventually. If you can’t fully tell it’s mechanical condition then I’d say you’re quickly gambling on what you may get and have to wait until someone is willing to gamble or negotiate on unknowns.

Consignment may be your best option for all parties, it can be valued fairly, someone more knowledgeable will be able to let the buyer know what they’re buying, and it will probably save you time and headache if it’s sold to a buyer who is upset because you didn’t know the full details of what you’re selling. You may not be able to walk away with as much money after the deal, but at least all parties will be, or at least should be, fairly treated in the transaction.

[scott murray]

I would list them for sale here on the forum and facebook marketplace as well. Reverb is another option but they take a healthy percentage, as will most anyone you sell with on consignment.

I'd list the Sierra between 3000-3500 and the Marlen at 2500-3000 for starters.
depending on the response and how fast you want them sold, you can adjust the prices accordingly.

I know a few Marlen players who wouldn't part with theirs for anything.
the Sierra is solid and well built but also a beast and a fairly odd duck. there just aren't many guys playing double 12-string guitars though it will appeal to the rare few.

including photos of the underside of each guitar will also help move your sale along. good luck!

[Tom Troughton]

+1 for the Emmons suggestion - it just makes everything easier. I'm a new player, and they were generous and straight with me, even though I ended up purchasing elsewhere. They are always on my list of places to check.

[scott murray]

one great thing about selling with Emmons is that they will make sure both guitars are fully functional and provide any parts or service which may be necessary