Price Guides
The following items are digital scans from our archive of original documents
Price Guides
Blue Book of Guitars - 3rd Edition (1996)
“Instruments built in Japan the late 1970s through the 1980s. Some guitars may also carry the trademark of JOODEE or YAMAKI.”
“These high quality guitars copied popular designs in the 1970’s, but turned to original designs like the ‘Power Series’ solid bodies or ‘Headhunter Series’ semi-hollow bodies in the 1980s.”
No price guidelines are given on page 165.
Blue Book of Guitars - 4th Edition (1997)
“Distributed by MCI, Inc. of Waco Texas”
“The Daion logo was applied to a range of acoustic, semi-hollow body, and solid body guitars and basses. Some Daion headstocks also feature a stylized tuning fork logo.”
Please note that some misinformation is present in this guide.
Models highlighted include the Heritage, Maplewood Series(?), and Mark Series.
Detail price guides are given for the Mark Series (I, II, III, IV, V) on page 231 and 232.
A PowerMark XX-B is pictured.
Vintage Guitar - Price Guide (2003)
Daion guitars are on Page 18 and basses on Page 178
Regarding guitars, “Mid- to higher-quality copies imported from Japan. Original designs introduced in the ‘80s.”
Mark I, II, III, IV: “D-style, cedar or spruce top, various hardwood back and sides.” 1978 Natural from $100 to $300.
Regarding basses, “Higher quality copy imports from Japan. Original designs introduced in the ‘80s.”
Savage Bass: “Maple neck, rosewood board, 22 nickle-silver frets.” 1982 from $150-$300.
Vintage Guitar - Price Guide (2004)
This is one of the few price guides that names individual Daion models.
Guitars mentioned on page 23 are 555 Headhunter (up to $900), Caribou (up to $700), Mark I, II, III, IV (up to $400), and the Mark X (up to $800).
Basses mentioned on page 202 are the Savage Bass (up to $600).
Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars - 10th Anniversary Edition (2006)
Daion is mentioned on pages 153-154.
The content (with misinformation) is similar to the aforementioned Blue Book of Guitars (1997), though the price guidelines are different.
Vintage Guitar - Price Guide (2008)
Content is very light for Daion in this particular
“1978-1985. Mid-to higher-quality copies imported from Japan. Original designs introduced in the ‘80s. They also had basses.”
At this point individual models are not mentioned, but rather generically in a category for “1978-1985.”
Acoustic and electric guitars are mentioned on page 28.
Electric basses are mentioned on page 264.
Vintage Guitar - Price Guide (2010)
“1978-1984. Mid-to higher quality copies imported from Japan. Original designs introduced in the ‘80s. Only acoustics at first; in ‘81 they added acoustic/electric and solid and semi-hollow electrics. They also had basses.”
We now have two categories of prices, “1978-1985 Higher-end” and “1978-1985 Lower-end.”
Daion acoustic and electric guitars are mentioned on page 31, and electric basses on page 299.
Vintage Guitar - Price Guide (2016)
Content is similar to earlier versions. Guitars on Page 34 and basses on Page 339.
“Higher End” guitars and basses are valued up to $1000.
“Lower End” electric guitars and basses are slightly down in value.
“Lower End” acoustic guitars are marginally up in value.
Vintage Guitar - Price Guide (2017)
Content is similar to earlier versions. Guitars are on Page 61 and basses on Page 365.
1978-1985 “Higher End” acoustic and electric guitars are valued up to $500 to $1000.
1978-1985 “Lower End” acoustic and electric guitars are valued up to $300 to $400.
1978-1985 “Higher End” basses are valued up to $500 to $1000.
1978-1985 “Lower End” basses are valued $325 to $425.