2010 has arrived and I am sure you like the rest of us is glad that 2009 is over. What a ride and a terrible one at that. Just when you thought it could not get worse it did and finally we can say goodbye to the mess that was 2009. There are some glimpses of hope I see for 2010 so lets keep our fingers crossed.

In the vintage guitar and vintage guitar parts world much was the same as the rest of the world gloom and doom with brief glimpses of hope. The vintage guitar market took the real hit and the good news was vintage guitar parts although down significantly still sold on a regular basis and pulled us through. It showed me that even in bad times one needs relief and if you cant buy a vintage guitar restore the one you had seems to be the message i got.Basically with limited funds people put their guitar back to stock rather than buying other more original ones. This solved their vintage guitar jones at a fraction of the price. The result is that parts sold people were happy and now their guitars are worth more a win win situation.

From a business stand point I would be lying to say we rocked and had a great year. The truth is we got by and thank God parts are selling but business was off. around November we got signs of a stronger recovery and it appears to be continuing and as of today sales are still good and we are also still able to buy great parts. I hope this year will be better for everyone.

The other good news for both is prices have come down on parts . This is great news  for the consumer and us as a buyer. We can sell for less because we are buying parts for less. Unlike the frenzy two years ago now seems to be a good time for everyone to buy vintage parts because the prices have settledand there is a good supply around. The fact that great parts are flowing out onto the market again is because people need money and they realized all those parts sitting in drawers are found money. I know from experience that people have been sending us literally photos of piles of parts they have and this has not happened in ages . People were holding on to them like stocks in the frenzy seeing crazy prices but realize now that now is as goodas anytime to sell. So I expect a great year for parts because of this fact.

Thanks again for all you support and help any questions please send me an e mail at THE PARTS DRAWER and i will answer all e mails within 48 hours

JIm Pasch

Happy Holidays From The Parts Drawer. We would like to thanks all our customers for another great year and for all there business and support. We hope you have a safe and happy holiday and that next years will be a good one for everyone.

We are now offering for a limited time until December 31 2009 a 10% discount on all parts orders over $1000.00 and a 15% discount on all parts orders over $1600 . Simply mention this post or cut an paste it in your email to us and we will  deduct it from your purchace.

I have seen it all over the past 20 years in this business . Even 20 years ago the reproduction parts and guitars were going strong and every year it seemed that another person was making some good reproduction parts. Then about 5 years ago the stuff really started getting spot on and the reproduction parts market had taken it up a notch. Well I am here to tell you it’s over I have now seen the best reproduction parts i have ever seen and at the recent guitar show I witnesses vintage guitar dealers with years of experience looking at these parts and saying ” I cannot tell the difference”

Well today there is a company called RETROSPEC GUITAR and they have finally nailed it down as far as I can tell. They have the hands down best parts I have seen and I spoke to the Own of the company and what they have in store is out right scary, They plan within the next two  years to totally replicate all Gibson and fender parts . When I saw the reaction to these parts by reputable dealers I know I was not wrong.

Thank God I know the owner and he has told me a trick or two and what to look for but 99% of the people i know would buy these as real . They even sell the aged parts even more insane to ever detail. I have to say I am impressed and I usually never am. This will make my life a bitch now being I have to what what I buy over the next because it is impossible and i mean Impossible to tell with a photo of these parts are real or fake.

On one hand I am happy but on the other I just see a nightmare for people like me who deal in vintage guitar parts. Thank god nothing can replace 20 years of experience and I am confident I can tell. I just have a sixth sense with this stuff . My rule of thumb is if i have to think about it for more than 10 seconds it is a fake or not real . Now that is for me not the public. Sometimes I can just Lock at something and Say to myself something is wrong even if I do not know what it is and at that point I run.

So I am here to announce to the world I have seen the best and the future is going to get more complicated for sure with these parts out on the market. so beware and look close at what you buy and buy from a reputable guy who will always refund you if you are not happy. Hats off the to boys at RETROSPEC-GUITAR they have truly done amazing things lets just hope the unscrupulous people stay away . If you need more info or have any comments please e mail me at THE PARTS DRAWER