Hi guys,
Thanks for the feedback.
I’ve never posted before, so I think I wrote my post as if I was talking to a large group of people at once rather than individually (meaning it might be too loud or simplistic). I didn’t mean it to seem judgmental or as if I was pontificating from a soapbox. It’s something I’m frankly conflicted about myself, which is why I asked. And I definitely wasn’t casting judgment on anyone for doing anything they want to with their guitars. I do it too.
I agree it’s the modularity of the design that makes it timeless. And if I look at a telecaster for sale I tend to catch myself thinking, “I could buy that and I’d love it and play it…and then I’d change the pickups and….” Well you get the point.
What made me question what some are doing is I was looking at the body of a beautiful MIJ 52 reissue and I was thinking, “I would buy that if the whole guitar was for sale.” Then I noticed the neck, then the pickups, then the bridge, etc all for sale separately and I do think there is a difference between people doing what they will with what they own and a commercial business based upon cannibalizing functioning mechanisms purely for profit. It’s sort like being a legal chop shop.
Of course if I’d have bought that MIJ 52 reissue as a whole guitar, I’d have loved it and played it… and then changed the pickups, etc.
So I can see how some might see that as a double standard in my thinking.
Anyway, again, I wasn’t casting aspersions. Just for me, I really don’t think I’d buy something from someone who doesn’t love guitars and commoditizes (if that’s a word) their parts purely based on profit (you can make a living selling actual replacement parts, lot’s do). But I’ve boycotted other businesses, retailers, etc for different reasons. And those businesses probably go right on their way and not notice, but it’s the only voice I have in relation to the principals they operate under. And normally I don’t say much about it, just in this case I wasn’t sure what my final thoughts about it were so I wanted some opinions from a body who’s knowledge and viewpoints I respect. I wasn’t trying to sway anyone’s thinking either way just curious how others saw it, so I’ll shut up now. Thanks again for responding.