To sell or not to sell

It could just about pay for a H251…

If you’re not emotionally attached I’d say sell it if you’re not using it. But if you love the guitar, productivity be damned… keep it.

If it doesn't serve you, sell it. Especially if an H251 or other gear feels more inspiring.

Funny to see this now. I picked up a D-18 over the weekend that is the best sounding acoustic I've ever had. But I cannot deal with the modified low oval neck on it. So now I'm trying to sell THREE guitars so I can get one with a v-neck. Stupid acoustic guitars.

I'll say this, though, if the writing comes easy on it and the feel and sound matches with what you expect and need out of it, you should absolutely keep it. It's very hard to find the right acoustic guitar once you've developed certain expectations.

In my humble opinion, you should not confuse the guitar for an investment because it's a piss-poor one compared to the stock market, requiring upkeep and physical space. Just see it as an instrument. And if you're not using it frequently, it becomes just a depreciating asset that contributes little value to your life. Even if it has gone up in price, it could mean little if damaged. If you're not using it, it's like having $5k+ in cash under the sofa.

I would either start using it as my main playing or recording instrument and fully enjoy the sound it produces or sell it. But I wouldn't keep it if it was just in storage (unless I was fully set in life and I didn't mind losing money).

But that's just me. We're all different.

Hmmm. 

I have a friend who owns, among other cars some kinda $250k special edition Porsche 911. It does indeed live in the garage 11 months a year... basically a track car and one that, per insurance & legally speaking he can only drive I believe its a max of 10,000 miles a year.

And I'll tell 'ya, it rolls far less then that. His daily is a fairly new Toyota tundra. And I'll say that he & his wife have been working in the medical industry for decades & make excellent money. Certainly more then I can dream of... wait... no... umm... 

Anyway that's his thing. He loves cars. Goes to the track & lights 'em up. They don't all get driven everyday. That's impossible. 

Sorta like, I have another friend... guitarist in a label band... touring band... (not his day gig FWIW) who plays & gigs mostly vintage guitars. Things like a '64 ES335. Known him for about 15 years and that's what he's always done. Asked him once a long time ago, at a gig we did together... how can you just leave that ES on a stand in this club filled with drunken college meatheads?

Said - everything's insured and I just don't think about it. Fair nuff. Now sometimes he gigs newer Gibson's other things but those vintage guitars & amps? They don't sit home in a museum, they get tossed into trailers and pulled around. Otherwise what's the point?  

Its like owning the Ferrari... if your worried about dings or even tearing the thing up? Cost of putting it back together? Then you probably couldn't have afforded the thing in the first place... because believe me those lady shaver super cars? Oh yeah they get wrecked. And then its all $pecialty factory mechanic$. 

Over the years I've owned & have sold a fair amount of vintage gear... legit old Neve modules. German & Russian mics. Pre-CBS Fender amps... real 60s fuzz boxes that I know, given the value of what they are? Once its gone its gone. I'd never be able to afford to buy it back. Some of its still here and yeah, its gotta get used or its gotta go. 

Ultimately I'm kind of a collector but everything has to have actual real world "use value" to me as a studio rat musician & producer. Its not about the money, but it is about the business of music. If I had deeper pockets & unlimited storage then I'd probably keep everything! 

At the same time I can relate that having owned $5k telecasters, ultimately its just another fucking telecaster. But is it YOUR telecaster? 

This is my weapon. There are many like it but this one is mine. 

This is a valid point. Did this particular guitar give you dreams or keep you up at night before you bought it because you were worried that someone else might get it?  If so, then it’s not for sale.  If it was more “impulse” buy then it is expendable.  Some acoustics give me the “sweats” and those I have to keep.  

Yup. That $5k investment should be giving the owner something right now, not in the future. Could be intangibles such as the will to play, the "sweats", inspiration, a work of art to see every day. But it should be something. Hell, if a $5k guitar gave me the motivation to play every single day it would be chump change. But if it's not adding anything to my life, it might be subtracting if it gives me anxiety or causes me to lose the opportunity to have something that I would enjoy even more.

I have a lot of stuff that falls into the “I don’t use it very much but there’s nothing I want more that it would pay for if I sold it”…because everything is ducking expensive…

But there’s no shortage of great $1500-$2000 strummer guitars…so get something that’ll make you money and you’ll use all the time!

My two pieces I’m contemplating selling are a Vac Rac and Highland BG-1…which are great, worth a lot, could get something I’d use more…but I know I’ll never find them again for what I paid. SO if you got a screaming deal on the Martin and you know you’ll never find another one for what you paid, maybe keep it

Only sell it if you know exactly what you're getting with the money...its got to be worth it, and preferably something that is as sexy as that guitar.

If it were me? I would keep it. But I’m a guitarist primarily. I definitely wouldn’t part with it lightly.

As for the Pre War? They are on my radar. The ageing thing is neither here nor there for me. The client list though?

Have you or anybody else here played one?

Cheers,
Geoff

I've played some fantastic sounding Martin's that cost $1,200-$1,600. They record as well as any Martin. I had a very special D-41 Turbo. There were only 11 made to those exact specifications. Of the 11, 2 were shade tops. I bought the better one. It was like owning a Stradivarius. Master guitarists I knew thought it was the finest guitar they'd ever played. Back when I bought it, it was $5,500. I had to sell after surgeries to survive. Of all the guitars I've had, it was the most special. I miss it, but do not need it.

Over the years I've used many D-28's, and a few signature models. The Martin I have now was a gift, a 000-16 GTE. I could easily get a Martin that sounds as good for $1,100-$1,500. I'm able to get the Martin sound on recordings and I think you wouldn't feel like you're missing much if you let the D-28 go.

Sell the D-28, cherry pick one of the very good Martin's like the Aura models that sell used for $1,100. You'll be 97% or maybe even 100% as happy with the tone. Then pocket the change and be happy. Get something you'll use a lot.

You can always indulge in a special edition any time you're extra flush.

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