Have you ever had to sell a guitar for financial reasons?

[pukematrix]

Sold a Gibson Chet Atkins SST to help a then-girlfriend put a down payment on a car. Boy, do I wish I had that decision back...

[Black Flag]

I had a 1940 00-18H, a wonderful guitar, that I sold in 1972 for $500 to pay for repairs to my VW bus. Talk about seller's remorse!!! I looked for another like it for many years without success until I found a Santa Cruz 000 that is at least as good as my old one, so I'm reasonably happy now.

Chris

[Br1ck]

No, but I pawned my Martin for rent money once.

[BoneDigger]

Only in regard to selling one to buy another.

Todd

Sent from a cell phone. Sorry for any typos.

[TBman]

Originally Posted by pukematrix

Sold a Gibson Chet Atkins SST to help a then-girlfriend put a down payment on a car. Boy, do I wish I had that decision back...

My father once told me, always make decisions standing up....

[mrjop1975]

Yes I had years ago. When I moved back down to Urbana Champaign, as a gift to myself I wanted a bit of a smaller steel string (I still had my Harmony Sovereign) and bought a black Washburn steel string. A couple years later, was having some financial issues, and had to sell it. It was a great guitar, and I do think of it now and then, which is sort of the reasoning why I wound up ordering a Washburn parlor.

[Poppa]

Originally Posted by fuman

I had to sell almost everything I had at one point. It's just stuff. If I'd a held onto it, it would be worth a whole lot of money now, but I wound up with things money can't buy instead.

I hear ya bro. In the past 6-7 years, I've sold over 30 guitars, 12-15 amps and at least 15 pedals. Like you say, "It's just stuff"....but some of the stuff was harder to let go of. I feel blessed that I had them, enjoyed playing them and they provided money in times of need.

A few that really hurt to say good bye to were: 1956 Martin 0-18, 1918 Martin Mandolin, early 60's Gibson L0, 1968 Tele, 1971 Tele, 1967 Gibson ES-335, two late 60's Guild Starfires......I better stop!

[H165]

No. I don't buy things I can't afford to keep.

I envy you. You are obviously in a position to predict your financial future.

I sold my Guild F-412Special to get a car. Stupid, stupid, stupid

[jaybones]

No. I probably could have sold off some of my prized babies and cleared some debt sooner (none of it from GAS), but I know I would always be looking for a replacement for what I sold. And a couple of the instruments in question are worth so much now, that I'd never be able to replace them, or produced in such limited quantities that they are rare as hen's teeth, made of 100% unobtanium and are priced accordingly. I guess that's the same as the first reason not to.

I've just tightened the belt in other areas, made the payments over time and got rid of the debt. It only hurt for a couple decades (student loans)...

[smurph1]

Originally Posted by songz

Yes. I had to sell my '67 D-28 in 2008 to get through the economic
slow down, but I sold it to a close friend and get to play it occasionally.

I had owned it since new.

Ron

Wow. Ouch.

[smurph1]

I have. I got into some credit card trouble and ended up selling a GORGEOUS Tobacco-burst Les Paul "Traditional". I still shed a little tear over that one.

[AndyFrank]

Never had to sell anything to pay for anything else. I feel for those that have had to.

[Steel and wood]

Only to help pay for another guitar.

[Shades of Blue]

I've never "had" to sell anything for financial reasons, but I have bought things before I really couldn't afford. I have bought many a piece of gear on special financing programs where I just knew I'd have it paid off in 6-12 months, but shortly sold it because I knew I made a mistake.

I have also sold gear to pay off cars and help with Christmas purchases for the family, but I never really "had" to. I feel blessed to be in this position, but my family comes first and I'd let it all go if I had to....it's all just stuff.

[GBS]

Bought a very old National Duolian in 1970 by cashing out the remaining $200 of my "college fund". My dad almost went completely off the rails when he learned of it. Sold it in '74, netting $400 to pay for the remaining school. With the oil embargo, the stocks would have only netted at most $50 by then. While investing was not the intent, my dad never did acknowledge the "better investment" I had made. Should have kept it. Would have been a fabulous retirement nest egg now....