??? To Trade or Not To Trade ???

Thinking of trading an Epiphone Flamekat (http://www.accessguitar.com/inventory/epiphone/electrics/flamekat.html) for a MIK Lite Ash Strat (http://fastfude.org/topic.php?id=36479).

Paid around $450 for the Flamekat 4 or 5 years ago, never play it. The Bigsby is cool, but I need to have the nut filed so it will stay in tune. Also, I'm not a big fan of the stock Flamekat pickups, they sound anemic to me. I do have some Lawrence 560 mini humbuckers that I could drop in there, but that might just be polishing a turd... I've been known to do that, i.e., invest too much trying to make a not-so-good guitar into a great "sleeper" guitar...

I have gotten lucky with a couple of MIM's and Peavey's, but sometimes I'm not so lucky... :oops: :razz:

I currently own a MIK Lite Ash Strat, and I really like it. Stock, I think the Lite Ash Strat is a much better sounding guitar than the Flamekat. However, I don't really need two. Also, the one I'm thinking of trading for has 12's on it. The current owner admitted to me that he had to have the neck heat treated because it was badly bowed... Then he went right back to 12's, and now the neck is bowing again.

I'm thinking if I go to 9's and relieve the neck, the neck may or may not straighten out, so that's kind of a gamble too.

Even if the MIK Strat was set up well and minty like my Flamekat, it would be a tough trade. If the neck on the MIK is obviously funky (haven't actually played it yet), I could require they throw in some cash towards my Flamekat, or maybe the smart thing is just to walk away.

I know, I over think stuff sometimes!

What would you do?

I wouldn't trade a functioning guitar for a non-functioning one. The neck has already been repaired once and the same problem is coming back = stay away.

Common sense! I know!

That's what I lack sometimes... Thank you! lol :lol:

I wouldn't trade a functioning guitar for a non-functioning one. The neck has already been repaired once and the same problem is coming back = stay away.

+100

Thank you to all who participated in this thread... Looks like it's peanut butter for the win! :lol:

I'm not a strong swimmer, but it's fair to say I'm positively buoyant! :oops: :wink:

I'll try and offer a cash price, minus the price of a replacement neck. If he wants to buy my Flamekat outright for $400, I'd be happy to do that too. Lord knows, I've got too many projects laying around.

Thanks again for talkin' some sense into me! :mrgreen:

I voted other because usually I would say keep the flamekat because you already have a lite ash and just for the sake of variety but here lately i've been leaning more towards the philosophy that if you find something you like stick with it. So unless you think you could sell or trade the flamekat for an amp or something else of more value to you I would recommend getting the strat. Besides if all else fails you can probably trade or sell the lite ash strat for an equal if not greater value than the flamekat so it's not like you would be stuck without options

edit: didn't read the neck bow part, in that case avoid like the plague, but hey if you are still dissatisfied with the flamekat don't hesitate to sell or trade for another strat

The serial number is on the neck and if the neck can't be saved you have only parts to sell if you change your mind. IMO 12's should not ruin a "good" neck and if it does then the neck was weak anyway. Before slinkys everyone played big strings. I play 11's on everything with no issues.

Trade but ask for some cash on his end. Make sure to mention the neck damage:-)

Mmmm, peanut butter. (Looks like you already made your decision so that's what I went with.)

CC

No. You don't need two of the same if you only have two, and that neck sounds like a potential write-off – by the time you find out you'll be stuck with it.

But unless a guitar is a collector's item, I don't see the point in hanging onto one you don't play. So maybe swap the Flamekat for something else, and something problem-free that you know you can sell on again if you decide it's not for you.

The guy with the MIK Lite Ash Strat got seller's remorse at the last minute and decided he didn't want to sell and/or trade.

Maybe I'll try a new nut on the Flamekat. If it stays in tune, then I can think about upgrading the pickups.

I've never had a Bigsy equipped guitar, so it's a bit different from anything I've had before. I'm not sure if dislike it or just can't get used to it because I'm too accustomed to playing Strats...