Just been lucky enough to splash some cash on a NGD. As ever, it took some internal wrangling before I pushed the button and went for it. I'm guessing that most people have the same thought process:
Do I need it?
Can I justify it?
Can I cope with the financial hit?
The argument that usually persuades my conscience that it's alright is the one that if you buy at the right price, you're not actually 'spending' any money at all. What I mean is that if you buy a guitar which you know you will be able to sell on at that price, there's an argument for saying that you haven't actually spent any money at all - you have just shifted your assets. In accounting terms, you have debited your cash account and credited your guitar account - but you still have the same overall net worth and you can always liquidise your assets if you need to by selling the guitar.
There. I've convinced myself again.
Anyone else got any ideas on justifying purchases?
"Anybody can play. The note is only 20%. The attitude of the motherf*cker who plays it is 80%" - Miles Davis
Comments
Can I justify it? No
Can I cope with the financial hit? Probably not
Is the Mrs going to use my gentleman's veg as a necklace if I get another guitar? Definitely
Does it look cool? YES
= NGD
Q. Do I have one in my collection?
A 1. No so it’s justified.
A 2. Yes but need a spare so it’s justified.
I play guitar and take photos of stuff. I also like beans on toast.
A: Yes
Ker-ching.
Eqd Speaker Cranker clone
Monte Allums TR-2 Plus mod kit
Trading feedback: http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/60602/
Everyone knows the equation for new guitars. N+1
*N equals the number of guitars you already have!
This equation can be applied at any time
Money’s been tight for me for a number of years but if something I want can be bought without getting into debt - or causing an avoidable hardship - I don’t think you should deprive yourself.
My only other ‘rule’ is ‘buy used’ wherever possible....
One last question you should probably ask:
Do I have space to store it?
2 - Keep doing it and the other half gets used to it. Wear 'em down eventually.
3 - Learn from the Thatcher tactic - push for something, then settle for something less, which is what you really wanted anyway
I'm about to take a huge plunge for me in getting a guitar built for me but it's something I've always wanted but hadn't been sure in what I wanted etc. In terms of justifying it to the Mrs/partner just forget it unless they are a guitarist also otherwise they'll never understand. As long as it doesn't leave you enough for the mortgage or food for the family etc
No, spread those out - admirable restraint eh
However, there is a 'downside'. I now have a collection of guitars that I really don't want to sell - in those cases that cash has really been converted into a long term guitar asset. The guitar account is filling up, and the cash account is looking severely depleted.