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  #1  
Old 03-05-2021, 08:16 AM
kayakman kayakman is offline
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Default Too much money on a guitar

Has anyone asked ,why did you spend that much money on a guitar?Just curious..

Last edited by kayakman; 03-05-2021 at 09:17 AM. Reason: dont like
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Old 03-05-2021, 09:39 AM
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hubcapsc hubcapsc is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kayakman View Post
Has anyone asked ,why did you spend that much money on a guitar?Just curious..
I have not, but would if I got some of the guitars I'd like to be playing, like
an old d-28 or an old j-35...

At least old j-35s "only" cost $12,000 or so...

-Mike
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Old 03-05-2021, 12:32 PM
merlin666 merlin666 is offline
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I doubt anyone knows how much I spent on instruments. That's between me and the seller.
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Old 03-05-2021, 04:21 PM
Mark L Mark L is offline
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How much did their pickup, suv, sedan etc cost, and exactly where did it transport them ( literally and figuratively)?

And, what was the environmental impact, from source to sink, of their automotive meanderings to and from the burger and beer joints and the idling in line at the drive throughs?

And, in the end, how much was their purchase worth after, say, 5 years or so?

I usually find that “nuff said”.
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Old 03-05-2021, 10:33 PM
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Sure, my wife asks it quite often. She is not a musician and I explain this is my primary hobby, but she thinks it's way too much anyway.
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Old 03-06-2021, 05:06 PM
Fretboard Phil Fretboard Phil is online now
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Yup. I point out to my friends at work that my instrument costs are in line with what they paid for snowmobiles, power boats, flying lessons...All good hobbies, like music. One difference I point out is that I can use the music toys every day of the year. I don't have to wait for guitar season or piano season.
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Old 03-06-2021, 08:07 PM
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I am a frugal guitar buyer so if anyone is shocked that a spent X amount on a guitar I tell them how much it costs retail.
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Old 03-07-2021, 12:51 AM
Glennwillow Glennwillow is offline
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I don't discuss price with anyone outside of my wife. And my wife is less bothered by the cost of instruments than I am. I have been very fortunate in so many ways.

We put our money into things that matter to us. I'm not interested in a $40-50K pickup truck, a $200K RV, a $20K fishing boat, a $25K motorcycle, or a $300-400K 2nd vacation home, though I understand plenty of people are. In fact at my stage of life I am starting to think about getting rid of things. But I have not started selling of my guitars yet.

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Old 03-07-2021, 07:26 AM
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Methos1979 Methos1979 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fretboard Phil View Post
Yup. I point out to my friends at work that my instrument costs are in line with what they paid for snowmobiles, power boats, flying lessons...All good hobbies, like music. One difference I point out is that I can use the music toys every day of the year. I don't have to wait for guitar season or piano season.
Same here. Anyone that I know well enough to talk about my expensive guitars I know well enough to compare them to their expensive hobby gear!
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Old 03-07-2021, 07:31 AM
Rudy4 Rudy4 is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kayakman View Post
Has anyone asked ,why did you spend that much money on a guitar?Just curious..
I've asked MYSELF that same question a few times...
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Old 03-07-2021, 08:40 AM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kayakman View Post
Has anyone asked ,why did you spend that much money on a guitar?Just curious..

Way back in 1999, I bought my first Collings guitar, a DS2h, the nearest thing to perfection for me that I had ever played.
At £2750 ($3800USD) it was more than twice as much as I'd ever paid for a guitar, and I'd been a Martin player up to then.

I took it around to show friends, and was, frankly, ridiculed.

I played that guitar for 20 years and sold it in 2018 for what I bought it for.

I've bought used Collings since and only spent a similar amount on a '34 Gibson (imported from USA so including shipping to UK, excise duties, handling charges and 20% VAT on all).

Non guitarists and the thrashers - cannot possibly understand. Bluegrassers can and do.

Old Joke : "Folk guitarist walks into a guitar shop and asks "what have you got for £50?
Bluegrass guitarist follows him in and asked what is the finest guitar in the shop?"

I guess you had to be there, I'll see myself out.
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Old 03-07-2021, 09:51 AM
Don W Don W is offline
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Check out the price of a good piano or a good cello...it makes a really nice guitar seem inexpensive. There was a time however when I had enough money to buy a guitar in the 5-8K range but opted for the 2 1/2K guitar...(still a real nice guitar) because I was worried I would not play a really expensive guitar as much for fear of damaging it. Today I think I probably would not have that conflict.
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Old 03-07-2021, 01:01 PM
guitar george guitar george is offline
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Most guitars are merely a temporary place to park some money. You usually can get most, all or even more of your money back if you sell. When my wife asks how much a guitar costs I usually say, "I got a good deal and can sell it anytime I want for more than I paid." That seems to keep her happy.
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Old 03-09-2021, 02:23 AM
Ray175 Ray175 is offline
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To date I have stayed below the 3,000 euro ceiling I have set myself. For an exceptional instrument I might stretch up to 5k but it would have to be very special TO ME, and not "just an investment" - for maybe a 1930s National resonator or a first generation Rickenbacker 360. I would love an L5CES with a single P90 but that's above 5k......
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Old 03-09-2021, 01:38 PM
Lost Sheep Lost Sheep is offline
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Default Cost and value

To quote a fellow from another support group

"My greatest fear is that, after I die, my wife will sell all my XXX for what I told her I paid for them."

(XXX = tools, guitars, guns, paintings, record albums, electronics, stamps, whatever)

One of the best-playing (and worst-sounding) guitars I ever owned was a $10 "rescue" guitar from a flea market. Unplayable. Neck was bowed so badly the strings laid on the frets. (But the neck had no twist in it whatsoever.) I adjusted the bridge height and with a flat file, round file, sandpaper and a wood block, did a fret job on it.

Nowhere near as difficult as it was truing up a bent-up bicycle wheel - that involved completely re-spoking the thing.

Nice, close action and as sweet and easy playing as anything I have ever had the opportunity to play. Sold it when I changed duty stations for $50 (but the buyer never did pay me the last half of the price).

As a player, I am willing to pay for:

Sound quality, Playability, decent electronics if present, durability and a nice case to protect my beloved.

Last edited by Lost Sheep; 03-09-2021 at 04:48 PM.
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