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Why Are The Guitars ALWAYS The First To Go?


rockstar232007

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It seems like that whenever times are tough (financially) the first things to go are the guitars/amps, specifically the LPs. When I was younger, I was always led to believe that our guitars are our true best friends, our "wives", our soul mates even, but it looks like ALL that has changed...A LOT! because EVERY time I see an ad for an "LP for sale" (or any other gear for that matter), the seller claims he is selling it "because I need the money" (which in most cases is just a clever ploy). I mean, would you sell your wife/gf, best friend, or soulmate? Don't answer that, I was kidding.

 

I'm in just about the same boat as everyone else, but I have NEVER once thought about selling ANY of my guitars/gear...except for my "Splatter" Strat, but that was so I could save up for, and eventually buy a Gibson LP, so it doesn't count!

 

P.S. I can understand if it were a life or death situation, or something along those lines, but there are easier ways to get money for your gear, without actually selling it. Like Pawning.

 

Call me old fasioned, but...I'm just sayin'!

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I did it in the late nineties.

It was a matter of survival in a brutal divorce.

 

Knowing what I know now, I don't recommend it to anybody.

 

If you can sell your beloved gear and make a tidy profit, that's one thing - but rarely the case.

 

I all but gave away a fortune in gear, guns, tools, furniture, a couple trucks that were paid for, etc....

Did it help?

Not in the end, I was still a couple hundred grand short....

 

I'd sooner turn to crime than sell my guitars or guns now.

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I don't think the guitars are the first to go...I think guys reach a point where they almost don't have a choice.

It is good for those of us who have the liquid cash to grab great gear at bargain prices though.

I'm a conservative guy and I've been fortunate to never over extend myself financially so badly that I've had to let good gear go cheap, instead I like to make sure I can capitalize if the used market falls. There are some deals to be had on eBay! I picked up a LP DC recently that is unbelievable in every way...for very cheap. It's the same thing I do in my professional life.

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Guitars are the most expensive thing a lot of people own, next to their houses and cars, and if money is an issue, getting rid of your car isn't the best option. In many cases, it's easiest for the guitar player in the family - especially since it's most likely not an income-related item - to part with their hobby, rather than sell the TV and have a very upset child wandering the halls.

 

Looking through my house, things of value that could be sold:

Guitars

Computers

TVs

 

Not much else that I can think of... "classic" TVs aren't worth anything anymore, computers aren't worth much, unless they're very new, but guitars hold their value pretty well. Isn't that what Gibson players always preach - resale value?

 

Personally, I think you're all too attached to your guitars. They're not people. I'm not even as attached to many people as you are to these instruments.

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Personally' date=' I think you're all too attached to your guitars. They're not people. I'm not even as attached to many people as you are to these instruments.[/quote']It's not as much of an "attachment" as it is, a way of profound emotional release. And yes, they're not people, but they do "listen" and "respond/convey" in EVERY emotional situation, sometimes better than any person would.
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Thank god there not people I care allot more about my guitars than I do people! hell you don't see me on a people forum.

+1. Who needs Myspace?!

 

Hell! I actually have more guitars than I do friends! I mean, not that I don't have friends, it's just that my guitars make better company.

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I sold the only guitar for which I have ever had any emotional attachment. My descision - It wasn't forced upon me.

 

Whilst I'd rather not sell my #1 LP, it wouldn't be a total disaster if it really had to go. The rest? Not really bothered, to be honest. In fact I'd rather I did get rid of a couple.

 

I'm moving home tomorrow and, as it happens, I have four of my electrics facing me as I write this. I've just had a bit of fun with each of them before packing them all away prior to the removal truck's arrival. The outcome? My #1 sounds and plays peerless (as ever) but I had almost as much fun in getting an old '76 LP Custom copy to sound as good as it can in my, inexpert, hands. If I had to play nothing else fot the rest of my time on Earth but that old copy I'd still manage to get through life.

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Never had to sell anything because I needed money, BUT, everytime I just want to get rid of something quickly I will write "I sell because I need the money". Makes it easier: people wont inquire much about why the hell I'm selling a piece of gear in mint condition, and it also makes them think they are ripping me/you off, so they hurry to buy before any other guy does or me/you decide not to sell.

 

It's all gross manipulation of the weak minded guy that's looking for that great deal. And it works.

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Only one guitar I regret selling years ago was a Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop. And I did sell it because we(wife & I hint, hint...) needed the money. Looking back though, there have been several other times since that I needed the money, but I would never do that again.

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Hey, you may think you're in the same situation as someone else but you would probably be wrong!

You may also think that you would never sell your guitar, but when you are out of a job, the kids are hungry, the rent or mortgage is due, and you have no other options, that guitar you love so much will fly out the door! The economy is so bad of late I can't fault anyone for trying to survive!

 

Guitars are amazing and I love mine.

But I also know where my priorities are and my family, my home, and income come first.

Most of us who own a nice guitar probably got it while times were good. It only seems natural to liquidate when times are bad if you have to.

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Hi to all the postees. Yeah I normally sell my guitars if I'm skint but I normally tend to sell them if I'm not 100% happy with them. It doesn't really take much for me to part with an axe. The porn shop has seen a fair few of my cheapies in the past. If I sold the guitar I have now I wouldn't take it to a porn shop because they'd take my eyes out.

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Hey' date=' you may think you're in the same situation as someone else but you would probably be wrong!

You may also think that you would never sell your guitar, but when you are out of a job, the kids are hungry, the rent or mortgage is due, and you have no other options, that guitar you love so much will fly out the door! The economy is so bad of late I can't fault anyone for trying to survive!

 

Guitars are amazing and I love mine.

But I also know where my priorities are and my family, my home, and income come first.

Most of us who own a nice guitar probably got it while times were good. It only seems natural to liquidate when times are bad if you have to.

[/quote']As I said. I can understand if it were ABSOLUTELY necessary. And, I may not be in as bad of a situation as most people, but I do basically live paycheck-to-paycheck, and DO know where my priorities are. Hell I haven't bought a guitar, (or anything else, with the exception of strings) since 2004. I can barely afford to get setups on the ones I have, so I do know where everyone's coming from.

 

The thing that I don't get is, back in the day (30-40 years ago), people would just as soon starve, than sell their beloved instruments, or on the other hand they would actually use them (as the tools they are) to make somewhat of a living, even if a small one. Now I'm not implying that anyone who sells they're guitars, or amps, or anything else are stupid, or anything. I'm merely pointing out how badly times have changed between now, and then, when people truly charished their guitars, so much so that they wouldn't let them go, no matter what.

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