Collectors will give big notes for the right instruments

Tag : fret wire

Music is on the minds of What's it Worth readers this week. One oftoday's questions is about a once-famous and now nearly forgottenmusician who helped create jazz. And there's a guitar in Wenatcheethat not only still plays well, but also is worth quite a tidy sum.
Q. I have a signed photo of Rudy Wiedoeft. He was the premier jazzsaxophonist of the '20s and the world's biggest musical star ofthat time. Do you know if there is any value? The photo is framed,in fine condition, of him with his saxophone. -- Wayne in Portland.
A. Popular music as we know it would be unimaginable without thecontributions of Rudy Wiedoeft. In the first few decades of the20th century, he was one of the most famous musicians in the world.Yet today, his name is practically unknown.
Wiedoeft, born to a musical family in Detroit in 1893, is widelycredited with popularizing the saxophone and introducing theinstrument to jazz. Players from Coleman Hawkins to Jimmy Dorseytipped their hats to his influence. One of his pupils, Herbert P.Vallee changed his stage name to "Rudy Vallee" to honor his mentor.
An early superstar with Edison, back in the days when that companyproduced wax cylinder recordings, Wiedoeft's Frisco "Jass" Bandlaid down the first jazz tracks. The word "jass" was later changedto "jazz."
A headliner at nightclubs and concert halls in this country andEurope, he also organized the first concert dedicated to classicalsaxophone music, staged at New York City's Aeolian Hall in 1926.
Wiedoeft was a flamboyant showman, often appearing onstage incowboy outfits, complete with chaps and ten-gallon hat. Theaudiences laughed at his antics, but thrilled to his virtuosity.
Touring with piano accompanist Oscar Levant, he wowed the critics.Famous saxophone maker Henri Selmer said, "I have never heard asaxophonist to equal Wiedoeft and I doubt if there will be any toexcel him." Such accolades became routine comments.
Reportedly a hard drinker who loved a good time, he lived a shortlife, dying in 1940. The road and booze seemed to have taken theirtoll, not uncommon with popular musicians, even today.
The fact that he is hardly known today will keep the value of thisnice photograph lower than an autograph from a more recognizablestar. To the right collector, it might be worth between $50 and$100.
It's a nice piece of musical history, shining the spotlight onceagain on a forgotten star. Perhaps it belongs in a museum or jazzarchive.
Q. This is a Model 000-21 Martin acoustic guitar built in 1953 thatI bought new for $140. There's no major damage and it has not beensubject to any repair. All parts -- except the strings -- areoriginal. There are some scratches and a few chips to the bodyfinish. I still play it sometimes and it sounds pretty good. Canyou give me an idea of value? -- Jim in Wenatchee
A. The C. M. Martin company, headquartered in Pennsylvania, hasmade fine guitars and other stringed instruments since 1833. Thecompany has always been run by the Martin family, and the currentchairman is the great-great-great-grandson of the founder.
Always innovators, Martin introduced the 14-fret neck to guitars.That allows for a greater range of notes and became the industrystandard.
Jim also provided us with a serial number for this guitar,important in establishing the date of manufacture. It turns outthis particular instrument was made early in 1953, a short timebefore it was purchased. Martin made only about 6,000 guitars thatyear.
Market values for these guitars are driven by condition, size andwho owned and played them. The larger the instrument, generally,the higher the value. Martin guitars made before World War II areconsidered rare and command very high prices. Martin guitars havebeen played by famous musicians ranging from Joan Baez to JohnnyCash. Their mid-20th century models like this flat top are covetedby collectors and musicians.
In June 2004, a 1939 Martin 000-42 guitar sold at ChristiesAuctions in New York for a world-record $791,500. That particularguitar was used by Eric Clapton on his MTV Unplugged appearance andmost of the value was driven by the star association.
Our example is a fine guitar but won't approach that record value.At a well-advertised auction featuring stringed instruments, itshould sell between $7,000 and $9,000. For insurance purposes, we'dsuggest a replacement value in the $10,000 range. As musicians say,"nice ax."