Inspired by the "justifying multiple guitars" thread, I think part of the reason I have the number I have now is because I'd rather keep it than have the money I could get for selling it. But not necessarily if I could get back what I paid. (The main reason I've always wanted to get in to buying second hand is to minimise the difference between those two values actually).
So how many guitars do you have now and how many would you have if you could swap any for the amount you paid (adjusted for inflation if you like)?
I think if that was the case I might be down to two or maybe even one.
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My hobby is herefore effectively free, it's just money in held in the guitsr rack, instead of the bank. I can therefore have as many guitars as I want. I think I've got the best guitars right now though, so don't need to ad or sell. Instead, I'm going through an amp and pedal journey.
I couldn't stomach the hit on buying new, I just don't see the point.
Locking grovers, oil city pickups, pio cap and cts pots, wudtone bridge, but I just don't gel with the guitar. If I could get what I paid I'd be thrilled - in reality, if someone offered me £450 I'd take it - the pickups and bridge would make over half of that.
Even £400 would do it frankly... But it would benefit from the pickups being re-fit as the shop did a bit of a bodge. It works and looks fine, though. Great sounding, coil taps... The neck is probably the most comfy neck I've ever played though.
Even now I try to convince myself I love it, but I just don't bond with it. I wish it had a shorter OR longer scale length.
Funny how picky we are!
I’ve been gigging for most of my playing life and although never earning serious money (I’ve kept a record over a few years and generally break even when you include things like fuel, rehearsal space, food, drinks, strings etc), the gig money always feels like getting a refund on a night out with your mates, so I keep it separate. It’s paid for a number of holidays, bought many guitars that have passed through my hands and been enjoyed for a while. Only a few stick around though. I’ve never bought anything to flip, but have bought a couple of things unseen that as soon as I got them in my hands I knew weren’t for me, so they went on their way.
The other is an Ltd again around £150 which is in the process of being upgraded. A mate let me have it as it was lying around gathering dust.
The more expensive guitars I’ve got have been modified too and I plan to keep them indefinitely. Nearly all have been gigged well in the last 10-15 years though now I’m retiring mostly to home playing they don’t get the wear and tear of being bashed up at shows.
So although I could manage having one guitar, they are different enough to justify having them, it's not the resale factor as to why I keep them.
Having said that, I do have a large modeling amp which I'd sell if I could get a decent price for - but I figure my kids could get some value out of it when they're older and experimenting with what sounds they might like to explore..
Also in the last few years on this forum I've read so many horror stories about eBay and courier companies that I've developed a fear of using them (despite having sold dozens of guitars in the past with very few problems).
I'd like to got rid of loads of guitars and I really wouldn't be bothered about the prices, if only the selling process was a bit less of a hassle.
Ironically, many of the guitars I have now are relatively high-end things which I bought used, so I probably would make my money back if I sold them. Although I also have a few things like PRS S2s which, I know, don't do very well in the secondhand market.
I'm tempted to regale the story of my first marriage and subsequent divorce !