UPDATE:  So now a few days have passed since I got my new/old friend. I am definitely pleased with my purchase - however I think $300 was about the right price - hopefully not too much.

I affectionately call it Mr Tobacco Burst, not just cause he has an amazing brown burst on him…but also because the former owner must been a chain smoker - I didn’t notice when I picked him up because the musician lived above an old bar and his place already smelled like a chimney. The case smells just fine interestingly, but when I strum him an odor that is reminesant of my "grandpappy the pipe smoker" wafts from his belly. I have Mr Tobacco Burst hanging up in my office at work now and I am hoping that might help over time to dissipate the stink. I am also contemplating sticking an odor eater in his bowl when he is not being played!

Other observations - the top also has a bit of a bow in it between the bridge and the neck - and the saddle is definately at its last lowest adjustment. Still with the new strings the action is still pretty perfect and there is no fret buzz - so I at least have some miles left on him before shipping him to the mothership - assuming it would be worth the cost.

After removing the old strings I discovered the fret board looked like it hadn’t been cleaned since…well maybe 1976. Some nice OOOO steel wool and some F-ONE Oil and now it does look and feel pretty perfect. He plays and sounds fantastic. I still really love how he feels in my hands and lap. I LOVE his sound.  Was he as advertised... “rarely played - kept in case its whole life, no scratches or dents” no - of course not - he has surface scratches, four distinct small dings in his top, and has clearly been played enough to crud up the fretboard... but then again he was born 40 or so years ago! So IMHO he is great shape for his age…wish I could say the same!