Why do Huss & Dalton guitars have a below average resale value? There is such a tremendous loss from buying new then selling used.

I feel they make a wonderfully crafted acoustic from a craftmenship/cosmetic position.

I have played many and have owned two. I sold both at a $$$$$BIGGGGGG LOSS$$$$ with very few interested buyers. I just never came close to falling in love with either.

Could it be because I am a "SPOILED COLLINGS BRAT?"

If they are to be such great guitars, why do they re-sell $o low with low demand. You would think someone would be all over the used Huss & Dalton market at the prices I've seen.

Interesting question. I've owned three...an OM, a standard dread and a really high-end dread—all now sold. The high-end was one of the nicest dreads H&D has made, full 45-style, mint condition, high-grade woods and it ultimately sold for less than half what it would cost new. The others also lost considerable value (in comparison with similarly-appointed used Collings). The simple answer, as I've trained my young sons to recite, is that the value of anything is "what the buyer is willing to pay". That said, my guess is that they may occupy a sort of middle ground in that many buyers may purchase H&D as a step up from their Yamaha, Taylor, lower-end Martin, etc. and then subsequently discover, e.g., Collings (or other better-sounding but similarly-priced guitar) and realize that if they are going to spend between $2500 and $5000, they might as well get a Collings (or 2). Off goes the H&D to the resale bin. To clarify, maybe they are a just a bit overpriced and/or Collings is a bit underpriced given their relative quality and the forces of supply and demand depress the H&D.

You said something interesting when you said you "never came close to falling in love with either". This may be a more straightforward explanation because I share the sentiment. I have owned more than a dozen Collings and I really, really like or love every one of them. I only liked the H&Ds...dated H&D, married Collings (actually, this means I am technically a polygamist).

I've wondered the same thing as I've watched the market. I think they're generally excellent sounding/looking instruments. But I haven't "fallen in love" with mine either. Maybe that explains the resale value. And maybe I'm a spoiled Collings brat too.

I know what you mean. I was second in line to buy a fine H & D rosewood dread about three years back, but the surprisingly low $1,200 price tag was as appealing to the first in line as it was to me. I would have been glad to have that guitar.

I have liked every HD that I have played, but when I have A/B'd them with Collings or Santa Cruzes or Bourgeoises (sometimes), I've always preferred the alternative, at least a little. Maybe in part it is that they just aren't quite as distinctive as the other middle/high end brands?

Hey, trying to sell my H&D right now on the forum, I hear you. Let's face it, it took some time for Collings to build some resale value and it will with H&D. They just don't have the name and reputation yet, even if it is VERY deserved.

quote:

Originally posted by Brett:
Hey, trying to sell my H&D right now on the forum, I hear you. Let's face it, it took some time for Collings to build some resale value and it will with H&D. They just don't have the name and reputation yet, even if it is VERY deserved.

HOw long have H&D been around reference to Collings?

it would be my opinion that most perhaps not
all boutique guitars because they are relatively
unknow tend to be difficult to market used.

Trading them with a dealer who has a track
reckord with that particular model is probably
the best way to get as much as possible.

I took a 50 per cent hit on a Goodall when I
traded out of it and that WAS a Goodall dealer

Ricks has had much better luck with offing
his though . So it is a patience thing and
knowing someone who will work with you .

quote:

Originally posted by SongMan:
HOw long have H&D been around reference to Collings?

Their website notes some 10-year anniversary guitars available.

quote:

Originally posted by SongMan:

HOw long have H&D been around reference to Collings?

Collings started around 1986 & H&D around 1995. So that's almost 10years differences.

H&Ds can be wonderful guitars. I am amazed at what they do with the "boring" EIR/Sikta combination. I know that I'm probably in the minority here, but I like my pain-jane TDR better than any D2H that i've ever played. Is it a better guitar? Nope. Just a different sound that is warmer and less strident, to my ear. Not as immediately impressive as the Collings sound, but it's one that slowly crept up on me, until I couldn't resist and my choice became a no-brainer. And it does seem that they sell for less on the used market than they should. But that's great for prospective buyers. I would encourage anyone that's looking at a Standard or Vintage series Martin to look at H&D as well. That's how I ended up with them, and I'm very glad that I did. It's been said that they go for the 1950s Martin sound in their TD series, and I would tend to agree.

steve

H&D TDR
Rockbridge D18

I'd say the problem is twofold.
#1 Time in business, 11 years,
#2 Quantity built, about 1/2 of Collings volume.

The highest resale "values" are the companies which build the most and have been around the longest. Someone else posted elsewhere that "95% of guitar forumites sell within 1 year of purchase after the newness wears off".

That baffles me, but I buy to play not for resale. I'm also old enough to realize that buying a signature model will NOT make me play as well or sound like the person's name on the guitar. But that's just me.

The first Collings, as I understand it, was made in 1973. Production was a trickle until the late eighties. When I bought my first in early '93, no player I knew had even heard of them. They have now, and they all own at least one. One band mate, an ever sicker dude than I am, owns 17 now, all dreadnoughts, and a couple mandolins, including one varnish.