I guess that the only thing that you should know is that a lot of them were simply fantastic guitars.
$350 is a steal but I would still talk them down to $300.
"but this one looks like a homemade one by someone trying to score a deal from a gullible Van Halen fan."
Not sure why it doesn't smell right. Are you assuming that homebuilds are always cheap? That is a bad assumption.
Let's do some math:
Average Build Parts list:
Ash Frankie Body ...
Personally, I believe that the way certain guitars resonate or vibrate tones makes a bigger difference on how they sound. Weight has no real factor in my buying / building choices.
I rarely if ever plug a guitar in when I am trying them out. I would rather hear its sonic qualities.
This piece...