Organizer Dave Crocker On The Chicago Guitar Show 2007
Dave Crocker has been doing guitar shows nationwide for a considerable amount of time. This year marks his 18th year bringing guitar shows to Chicago.
In this interview, he gives a brief history of the show and gives an overview of the Chicago Guitar Show, specifically. What's it like watching this event grow into the nationwide phenomenon that it is today? Dave Crocker told Gearwire's Rob Warmowski in our exclusive interview. Want to know what's hot in the collectable market right now? Dave Crocker says 1970s-era, USA-made guitars are a good investment, especially Gibson flat tops, Les Pauls, and more. Check the video for the full scoop.
[ROB WARMOWSKI PLAYING GUITAR]
ROB WARMOWSKI: Hey everybody. Welcome to Gearwire.Com. We're here at the Chicago Guitar Show for 2007, and I'm here with the show organizer, Dave Crocker. Welcome Dave.
DAVE CROCKER: Good to be here.
ROB WARMOWSKI: Dave, how many years has the Custom Guitar Show been rolling?
DAVE CROCKER: In Chicago, this is our 18th year. We started in Oklahoma. The Texas shows we've done for 28 years or so but this is our 18th year here.
ROB WARMOWSKI: And how many different towns do you put this on in?
DAVE CROCKER: The organization originally had four partners and we promoted shows in California, Nashville, Austin, Philadelphia, St. Paul, Dallas, Chicago. Larry Briggs still promotes the California shows then we do these out here in the midwest.
ROB WARMOWSKI: So let me ask you since you've run shows like this all over the country, what parts of the country are the hottest market for collector guitars?
DAVE CROCKER: You know, the collectors will go kind of wherever they need to to get the stuff. You pull different kind of equipment out of different places. The bay area was real good for orchestra stuff, from the Gibson Orchestra era, the '10s and '20s. Oklahoma and Arkansas: That area is real good for a lot of Strats, swing music, and Teles. Up here around Chicago, we'll see a lot of Larson Brothers, Valco stuff, Regal Dobro, stuff that was manufactured in the area tended to stay in the area.
ROB WARMOWSKI: Interesting. So about vintage guitars as an investment, what can you say about that?
DAVE CROCKER: Buy what you like and it'll probably go up regardless. I mean the 30 years that I've been active in it, I've seen nothing back up. We may have some adjustment periods but right now we're seeing -- if you're just entering the market, the '70s stuff there's still room to grow. Basically, anything that's U.S. made is going to have some value to it.
ROB WARMOWSKI: So, if you're evaluating '70s guitars for investment right now, throw out a couple of models.
DAVE CROCKER: Gibson Flat Tops, the ES-335's, any of the ES Gibson stuff, Les Pauls, Stratocaster, Fender stuff. Primarily Fender and Gibson from the '70s are probably what a lot of guys are going to target right now.
ROB WARMOWSKI: And that's word from the expert, so pay attention will you? Dave, thank you so much.
DAVE CROCKER: I appreciate it. Thanks for coming over.
ROB WARMOWSKI: Thanks for watching Gearwire.Com.
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