spinley - Posted - 02/22/2009:  14:41:47

Anybody seem a earl scruggs special for sale lately? I have one but have not seem one for sale anywhere. I just want to know approx value. Thanks

Stuart

Bill Kemp - Posted - 02/22/2009:  16:55:21

Does yours have the abalone inlay on it with the Abalone inlay of Earls signature on the resonator?

That is the true "Earl Scruggs Special" banjo.

Bill

spinley - Posted - 02/22/2009:  17:10:55

yes

spinley - Posted - 02/22/2009:  17:17:57

Bill I see on your home page you have a ess. I think I paid around 8000.00 in 96 of course it was a new banjo. No question its a special.

Thanks Stuart

Bill Kemp - Posted - 02/23/2009:  00:34:02

I originally purchased an ESS serial ES-99-53 in 2009 and had it for a few years and then sold it to a guy who I cannot recall who it was.

A few years later I was sorry that I sold the banjo off and I started looking for another one. during my search I came accross my original banjo (ES-99-53) on the Mugwumps website as had been stolen and is on the stolen instrument list. I was really sorry to hear about that because it was a great banjo.

Anyway, I was extremely lucky and located a brand new ESS that was in a store showroom from 1998 and was the pride and joy of the owner. I purchased this banjo from him in 2007 and have had it ever since.

This banjo is also a killer instrument and is a dream to play. What a bottom end. I am sure that I will never sell this one and in fact would like to purchase another one sometime in the future so that I can leave one each to my children.

Anyone out there having an Earl Scruggs Special please send me an email as I would like to start a serial number list. Also if you have one that you are thinking about selling please let me know.

Thanks

Bill

Plunkey - Posted - 03/21/2009:  12:10:55

I paid 10k for mine, mint condition, from Charlie Cushman last year. It was named "Special" because it is special! Gibson never made a prettier banjo than that!

Bill Kemp - Posted - 03/22/2009:  13:01:02

I have heard that Janet Davis was selling the banjo's for $11,500.00 when then they were near the end of production. I cannot verify this though but I do know that the list price set by Gibson was at least that high.

Congrats on getting a special. I also agree that it is probably the prettiest banjo that Gibson has made in the modern era. They are hard to come by, and I also agree that most people that own them are keeping them.

Bill

Plunkey - Posted - 03/22/2009:  16:25:55

I wonder what Gibson has in store for the future. (?) I wouldn't buy a Christmas banjo today for the same money. My guess is that banjos (etc.) are the red-haired stepchild of the Gibson company, and they would just as soon let the whole operation go, and concentrate on selling overpriced replacement humbucker pickups and Les Paul reissues. The local music store tells me that they have become impossible to work with for parts.

Edited by - Plunkey on 03/22/2009 17:14:35