A Few “Wowees” For You
There’s been some interesting — and big — sales of jazz vinyl during the past few days, so let’s get right to it:
Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This was a “original” pressing although it likely did not have the New York 23, since the seller is very knowledgeable and didn’t mention anything. Some sticklers only view this as original if it has the New York 23 label on one side. The record was in M- condition and the cover was probably VG++. It sold for $4,050.
This one wasn’t getting a lot of action early in the bidding and I thought, perhaps, I might even sneak in with a low bid and snatch it. Fat chance: J. R. Monterose, Blue Note 1536. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing in Ex condition for the record, which I take to be around VG+ for better, and probably VG+ for the cover, based on the seller’s description. The record sat there for a long time with no bids, but then . . . . Eventually the bidding reached $1,435.
On this one, CeeDee sent me a noted titled “wowee” and someone else also mentioned it on a previous post, so I guess the high price has caught some attention:
Pete LaRoca, Basra, Blue Note 4205. This was an original New York USA pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The price? How about $820. That’s one reason why when/if I ever get back to selling records on eBay, I would still only use auctions. You just never know what’s out there.
It is crazy out there. Putting aside the mega prices for these ultra-collectibles, the prices for the rank and file records have gotten silly over the past 3 months it seems. I have put in over 30 bids and gotten none. In some cases I was over 100% short of the winning bids. In others which I lost by a few bucks, who knows what the high bidder was willing to go up to.
Anyone have a theory? Global economic improvement? Housing prices up? Safe havens since gold tanked?
Bidding on Eb
Bidding on Ebay, especially on those Blue Note in NM condition that we all want to have, may be a very frustrating experience. Although i already have a large collection of BN, i keep searching on some titles. And believe me i have NEVER win ANY desired BN in the past 3 years…YOU can nstill have some luck anyway, often with Buy It Now options, or not famous dealers..The other way to find them at correct price is obviously not Ebay, just keeping on searching garage sales, some record dealers, flea markets, etc…
Demand > Supply
andy,
Yes you are right. There is in my opinion not a “correct” price. Just the price that buyers are willing to pay at that time and space. Internet has sure helped to create that “big space” calles a world market. Like it or not.
michel, that is really sad. I would not have the stamina to keep on bidding for three years without winning. But I’m sure you win LPs rom other labels 😉
What will happen to the prices in the future. Nobody knows. In the past we have seen prices go up and down in many areas.
Antique objects tend to go up and down a lot deppending on what’s in or not and the general market and willingness to invest. I think jazz is still more of a hobby than an investors market. But who knows. Maybe there are more “tactical” investment buys than we think.
You guys who buy “expensive” records do you ever think of the resale value? I mean maybe not to make a prifit but at least get your money back…
Have you long-time collectors seen prices ever go down significantly over the past 20 years for Bop and Hard Bop? I think I recall that Dixieland, Big Band, etc. used to be popular for collecting, but now it is dead.
I would imagine that in addition to eBay removing the buying friction globally, the resurgence in analog stereo equipment is fueling this run up as well. If and when that trend peters out, I would bet that prices start to stabilize and eventually drop as there will be fewer buyers out there.
@Shaft… thanks for compassion :-). In fact, it is not really sad. I used to be a heavy Ebay addict, but its over now ! Now i bid only very occasionnaly, and mainly for the fun of excitement. And Ebay is an excellent source for any other record than Blue Note or Prestige.
I’ve only been collecting jazz lps for about 25 years and all I’ve seen in prices is the continued escalation in value of most jazz and in the last ten years even rock and folk. I’m pretty shrewd when it comes to spending money on records though.
Sometimes I’ll buy records with vg or less covers if the music quality and record condition is high. The cover is least important to me though I recognize the need for a good cover as far as value goes. If I’m not selling then it doesn’t matter as much, no? I lucked out in a once-in-a-lifetime buys from someone I knew who wanted to get rid of all of his records (mostly jazz) at 50cents a pop at first then he went up to a dollar the second time I went back. I ended up with approximately 400-500 records at ridiculous prices including orig./early pressings from BlueNote, Verve, Prestige, Capital, Columbia, Riverside, etc.
So that really helped me amass a sterling collection of records in a shorter period of time then normal. I enjoyed reading our host’s story about his big purchase a few months back, nodding my head when he described his discoveries. For a collector it is one of the greatest feelings ever, am I wrong? But I digress….
I suppose from a greed factor, I’m hoping that when it comes to the point in time when I can no longer enjoy my records I sure hope I can get a decent amount of $$$ but if not, hey I’ve had so many wonderful days and nights listening to these beauties that outside of them becoming valueless like E,L,&P’s Love Beach or Ferrante and Teicher albums, it doesn’t really matter if I don’t do better than break even.
DaveS, yeah that sounds reasonable but there might be a Miles & Trane factor to it that keeps bebop alive? I’m not sure.
michel, glad to hear 😉
I myself buy both some collectable stuff like an original stereo “Somethin’ else” for $200 and the OCJ Touff Assignment reissue(nice session) for $4.
About the value of music media – well I’m not too happy about all these Blue Note CDs are worth next to nothing today. But it’s ok since I can listen and enjoy them. Music matters most.