Two for the $1,000 Bin, Two for The Watch List
A couple of albums we were watching this weekend broke into the $1,000 bin: Freddie Hubbard, Open Sesame, Blue Note 4040. This was an original pressing listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The final price was $1,150. Also, Hank Mobley and Lee Morgan, Peckin’ Time, Blue Note 1574. This was a West 63rd Street pressing without the New York 23, which I think is an original, contrary to my previous post. This one was from the same seller and was also listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The final price was $1,202.
Here are a few we’re watching now: The Dual Role of Bob Brookmeyer, Prestige 7066. I’m trying to see if there’s something wrong with this one. It looks like an original New York yellow label pressing and it seems to be in pretty nice shape, at least VG+ for both the record and the cover. The auction closes tomorrow and the bidding is only at $30, which seems kind of low for an original Prestige in the early part of the 7000 series. Is there so little interest in Brookmeyer? I mean, Moondog Prestige records sell for a lot more than Brookmeyer records, it seems.
Dexter Gordon, Go, Blue Note 4112. This is an original New York USA pressing, featuring Sonny Clark on piano, which always adds to the value of a record. This one is in M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. The bidding is in the $275 range, but it still hasn’t met the seller’s reserve price.
That Brookmeyer record does not go for much more than $50. It’s a shame – he’s terrific and put out some very nice records. He just does not have a “collectible” name for some reason. All the better for those of us who enjoy his records, I suppose.
The seller of the Hubbard(rover-90)got some nice bids on his items,befitting his rep as a dealer. He hasn’t listed since his extensive Esquire/Prestige pressings list of a while back. Very reliable and accurate descriptions,I find. I hoped to score one of the Byrd’s listed,but once it got into the $400 range…
Re:Dexter-I never bid on items that have reserves,as my experience has been they’re always too high(personally). I figure you either list something at the lowest price youll accept,or list it a lot lower to inspire more active bidding. I do the same as a seller-no “reserve not met” for me…yuck!
Hi,
thanks to give me the opportunity to provide my humble opinion.
I believe that there is a need for the reserve even if a lot of buyers don’t like it.
The buyer is looking to get the cheapest price possible , just make sense.
On the other hand, the seller would like to get his money back or making money . To me, it is like buying stocks on the NYC stock exchange.
If the seller bought the item at
$500, I hope that he won’t let it go for $200.Add to the equation the cost of doing business through Ebay ( 10% selling fees + listing fees + Paypal US exchange etc ) and you are in for a financial disaster.
So, I support and understand the reserve, to me , it makes just good business sense.
You do not want to leave/loose money on the table.
thanks
It’s just cause Brookmeyer was white. Bill Evans is collectible cause he was a junkie and Miles gave him cred. James Moody isn’t…’cause he sounds too white. Billy Taylor isn’t… ’cause he’s articulate… and his light skin and glasses make him look like half a chinaman on the way to synagogue. And the fact that Sonny Clark brings more dough than Bud is like the cast album of Beatlemania bringing more than the original Parlophones.
PST,I get your point as far as recouping one’s investment is concerned. It may be true on an INDIVUDUAL sale,but my educated guess is that over the long haul,more items are left untouched that start with high reserve prices. I think a cursory look at lps will show more-and higher-bids placed on items that don’t have a RP. My guess is that ‘buyer frustration’ kicks in long before the RP is reached,cutting down on quantity of bids. Some items will reach high return regardless of opening bid,too. Perhaps the key to getting back one’s investment is to have a ‘mixed bag’ of listings that can help your bottom line. I’d just as soon sell 10 lps at $60 each than have one sit on the shelf for months at $500. Just my two cents.
“Billy Taylor isn’t… ’cause he’s articulate… and his light skin and glasses make him look like half a chinaman on the way to synagogue.”
All I will/can say is “wow”.
ceedee, I agree with you that putting too high a RP is counter-productive. After all, for buyers like you, chances are once you’ve identified a seller as one who has too-high a RP, everything they put up is passed by, even if perchance, they put a more reasonable RP on one. They’ve painted themselves as unreasonable, and that’s the end of it.
As you know, I’m not really an eBay buyer, but I’ve been tracking auctions there for several years now, primarily looking at auctions for records I own. My personal gripe is with insane “buy it now” prices that sit out there for years. Compare these two listings, the first having been literally out there for years (wow, it’s discounted now!).
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TEMPO-VIVACE-symphonic-masterpieces-of-dance-theatre-LP-Mint-2064SD-Vinyl-/220452704459?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item33540150cb
and then there’s this one.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tempo-Vivace-Symphonic-Masterpieces-Of-The-Theatre-Cook-Blue-Vinyl-Bizet-Rossini-/251251753836?pt=Music_on_Vinyl&hash=item3a7fc5836c
Hi guys, I was watching this auction last week for Freddie Hubbard, Goin Up. Needless to say I just about fell off my chair when I saw where the final price went.
I would have thought that $1259, even for a NM copy of this particular album was getting up there.
Then again, I guess it depends on who is in the market, what they are looking for, and ultimately how much they are willing to spend.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/FREDDIE-HUBBARD-GOIN-UP-BLUE-NOTE-4056-ORIGINAL-FIRST-PRESS-MONO-NM-TOP-COPY-/281108953301?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&nma=true&si=V2JE%252F6SwW2tsrQlsrrt0KhH%252BIro%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
Well, I did get a laugh at Dan’s post I think Bob Brookmeyer isn’t as collectible also because most of his best stuff was pressed in relatively larger numbers. I do find that there is merit to white players getting less historical credit, I think the reason for why some of the greats are less collectible than the tier below them is a supply issue.
Coltrane is clearly on the next level to Mobley, but Mobley records go for more. It’s due to supply. Same with Powell vs Sonny Clark. That and Clark mostly recorded for Blue Note and had more iconic covers that Powell(I know he did a few Blue Notes, but not as many as Clark).
My favorite Brookmeyer was actually his big band compositions which were largely not recorded under his name. I love it, and it’s not to expensive. While white players may be undervalued, records from the 70s and on are usually undervalued as well. There were a lot of just OK sessions, but some great stuff done as well and usually available for cheap.
Ah… If I only had the dough to buy that Open Sesame. So far I only ran into a NM Japanese Toshiba stereo reissue for less than 50 bucks. As always I photographed it from all corners, make sure to view in slide show mode HERE 😉