Ebay Watch: Prices are Down, Another Cycle?
If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines on eBay waiting for prices to come down, now may be the time to jump in. I don’t have any hard data, but I’ve been watching eBay almost every day for a while and it’s clear that prices for jazz records are down quite a bit from where they were 12 months ago, six months ago, even three months ago. I see it less in the highest-end collectibles, and more in the second-tier records, which either are not selling at all or are selling at lower prices with fewer bidders. I’ve seen these cycles come and go many times before and just when you think, uh-oh, the bottom’s going to drop out of the market, there’s a resurgence. And, given the state of the worldwide economy, it should be no surprise that prices of collectibles would go down. Still, there’s always the concern: Will the market come back again this time, or is there something more fundamental going on? What do you think?
The very collectible record will probably remain in demand, so prices will probalby still be high (not higher anyway). Regarding prices slowing down on “not top collectible records” I have the same feeling , but i think it is too early to have a definitve opinion about the impact of the economical crisis. Moreover, These times it is VERY quiet on ebay… So when you have only a few really interesting records, it is understandable that the market is not crazy.
I agree with Michel, but would like to introduce one another element: style of jazz. I noticed that Dixieland/or N.O. revival is not in demand anymore. Even a Sidney Bechet on Blue Note is fetching way less than some time ago. IMHO not because of the economic situation, but because the generation who liked this music is dying out. I notice the same phenomenon with mainstream, thirties jazz, Krupa, B. Rich, O. Peterson etc. The interest in this kind of music is wayning, because the guys who dug it are not there anymore.
I suggest to follow the A.M. record of BUNK in Fred Cohen’s present auction (JRC). I would be surprised if it brings $ 50.
Agreed : it was the same for R’n’R and Pop music records : prices wherer very hight ten or fifteen y years ago for the same reason, but now the new gnerations are not interested in this music : so prices are getting lower. Only highy sought after albus command big prices.
Noticed that The Magnificent Charlie Parker with the David Stone Martin cover has sold twice recently for well under a hundred dollars… down significantly from some previous listings. Same goes for Hutcherson’s Happenings.
As to trends, as a part-time DJ, I’ve also noticed that the funky side of the jazz spectrum has dropped noticeably in price – I suspect for a few reasons. First, the cache around vinyl is fading as club/lounge scenes are unfazed by use of laptops. The hip hop world has embraced electronic and other sources of sounds often abandoning the sample. And most importantly, the parallel movement of ‘retro’ time and real time. It’s roughly a 15-20 year spread depending on how hip your scene is.
In bars around here two turntables and a crate of records is considered pointlessly cumbersome.
There are some items that become iconic collectibles and these will retain their value, I think. The Blue Notes, for example. And there are some artists that are iconic, such as a Trane or a Miles or a Pres. Beyond that, you wonder whether there is a life span for certain artists. If nobody really remembers a guy like Gene Ammons anymore, does anyone care about collecting his records, other than the fact that he may have recorded with Trane or he may have been on the Prestige label?
I hope nobody will remember Gene Ammons, because i’m still looking for an original copy of “Funky”, at affordable price 🙂
This is true on Dusty Groove which always has miles of Ammons. Search alphabetically on the site always involves scrolling through pages of his stuff.
Tfurther my last: the Bunk Johnson LP (American Music 643), a collectors’ item in a sense, in Fred Cohen’s recent sale, did not get bids. Minimum prce was $ 50.
I can definitely feel where youre coming from bethellodge. Nobody seems to play vinyl anymore, there are a few hardcore heads but for the most part, it’s cdj’s. As far as hip hop, sadly it has gone the way of the casio melody. I am all for innovative use of synthesizers, but most of it now is just standard presets. I just wonder how long it will be before we cycle out of the cheese era. I think you are right about the 15-20 year thing, so maybe the 90’s can recycle a little after 2010 or so. I can dream cant I?
Contrary to what you are saying Chris, here in South Africa mainstream jazz is growing rapidly even among the young generation. As for vinyl, south africans are slowly go back to it because of quality sound they get from it.