Could this guitar be donated?

[A.Wilder1]

Seeking some forum advice. This is my pops old axe that he handed down to me over 10 years ago. Long story short, it was up for auction in the 90s through his local union after it had been rescued from a house fire. He bid $50.00 on it, walked away and found out later he won it. An even longer story made short, he can’t play it anymore due to arthritis and I have no interest or have much sentimental value in it either. Years ago I bought a hard shell case to store it in, but ultimately it just sits. Being as my father used to live in an orphanage in the 50s we thought to donate it but I’m a little skeptical it’s a good candidate.

It’s a 1978 Fender F-75. I’m guessing a Martin D-28 copy. Laminated spruce over rosewood with ‘Martin-like’ appointments, 1 11/16th nut, soft V neck, 25.5’ scale, etc.

The thing is, while playable, it looks kinda rough. There is some haziness in the finish on the back (assuming because it was subject to water damage), deforming of the top around sound hole, fret wear, and a few other bumps and bruises.

So now I’m left thinking, what’s the best next steps with it? I’m a minimalist at heart so I don’t like it sitting. I don’t want to be wasteful either so perhaps it could go to better use. I’d like to donate it of course but it’s really just a beat up campfire guitar in my eyes. Maybe it’s better to give it away or sell it on the cheap to someone who wants to tinker? Or turn it into a planter box?

What do you think?

[Lkristians]

Perhaps you can check your local chapter of Guitars for Vets (Guitars4Vets). That's what I did with my Dad's Gibson.

[canuck7]

Absolutely! I donated a guitar last year. In the Seattle area, you can donate to Music4Life, which supplies guitars to students in many of the local public schools in the Seattle area. As above Guitars 4 Vets is another good one.
They take the guitar, rehab it and depending on what's best, they might sell it and use the proceeds to buy another guitar for a student or vet, or they go ahead and provide the guitar to a student or vet.
It's a great idea and well worth the time and effort to get it to the local place where you can donate!! Go for it!!

[docwatsonfan]

’d like to donate it of course but it’s really just a beat up campfire guitar in my eyes. Maybe it’s better to give it away or sell it on the cheap to someone who wants to tinker? Or turn it into a planter box?

What do you think?

one mans junk is anothers treasure....or however that goes

that guitar and case look really nice

oh...and I'm a tinkerer

[A.Wilder1]

Thanks for the quick feedback!

Those are great points, I didn’t anticipate organizations for veterans or flipping it for donations purposes.

If I had a box I’d probably put it up here for those looking to tinker while getting a donation to AGF.

I’ll look closer at those organizations and a deeper dive locally.

[Osage]

Guitars 4 Vets is great but be aware that they will sell the guitar and use any money to purchase new guitars to give away. Not a bad thing at all but if you want this guitar to go to a vet, you'll need to find one who wants it.

If it's playable, you could ask your local high school music teacher if there's a kid who needs a guitar. I've given a few away like this and it always seemed to work out.

[KenL]

That "haze" in the finish is pretty common in the polyester finishes they used during that era.

[pickinray]

You could always donate it to Goodwill.

[Denny B]

Originally Posted by pickinray

You could always donate it to Goodwill.

It's been mentioned here before, but some folks forget that Goodwill is not a charity. It's a business. You donate free goods and Goodwill sells them for a profit. They don't donate anything to the needy.

[rstaight]

Originally Posted by Denny B

It's been mentioned here before, but some folks forget that Goodwill is not a charity. It's a business. You donate free goods and Goodwill sells them for a profit. They don't donate anything to the needy.

What Goodwill provides is a job to folks who are struggling.

[pickinray]

Originally Posted by rstaight

What Goodwill provides is a job to folks who are struggling.

This is true. They provide employment opportunities and support to people in need. If I had an old guitar that I didn't want any more and it wasn't worth much, I wouldn't hesitate to donate it to Goodwill.

[frankmcr]

Originally Posted by Denny B

It's been mentioned here before, but some folks forget that Goodwill is not a charity. It's a business. You donate free goods and Goodwill sells them for a profit. They don't donate anything to the needy.

That may not be correct.

The revenues fund job training and other services to prepare people for job success. . . . In 2010, through their involvement in Goodwill's programs, more than 170,000 people were placed into employment. . . . Charity Watch rates the Goodwill Industries an "A".

That's from wikipedia, which can be questionable, but still.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodwill_Industries

[ALBD]

Originally Posted by Lkristians

Perhaps you can check your local chapter of Guitars for Vets (Guitars4Vets). That's what I did with my Dad's Gibson.

Yes. Someone would be stoked with that guitar!

[edgrissom]

I teach guitar at a high school and I promise you someone would love to have that guitar. Every year I have a few guitars like this donated and issue them to kids that need them.

[Tony Burns]

maybe you just sell it locally and send them the check !

it will also save you the shipping charge for the guitar -






.