Sell my '79 Les Paul Standard to fund a Collings Dread? I still have my Baja Tele...

I have serious GAS for a Collings Dread. I'm thinking of selling my 1979 Les Paul Standard to fund the Collings.

A couple thoughts:
- I've had the Les Paul for 20 years so there is some emotional attachment.
- Since I got my blonde Baja Tele in January, the Les Paul has mostly stayed in the case... and before January, it was still mostly in the case since 2006.
- Since 2006, I've played 90% acoustic, so if I need to play electric now, the Baja Tele is great.
- I guess, I'm wondering if I'll miss my Les Paul and that humbucker sound. If I sell it, some day... (you never know with GAS...) what would I get that is under $1000 to satisfy that humbucker sound. And this day may never even come since I am mostly an acoustic guy...
-I've been GASing for a Collings dread for 3 to 4 years.

So the question is keep the Les Paul? Or sell it for the Collings dread?

Those Collings acoustics are incredible, and there are TONS of Les Pauls out there....

I think it really comes down to how much sentimental value you have for the LP.

The Baja is definitely not a replacement for an LP.

You'll have to change your handle! :grin:

No one can really help you make that decision. On paper, it looks like a great swap but I have no idea how much that Les Paul means to you or how much you'll miss it when it's gone. I sold my LP when I bought my Hamer and I don't miss that guitar one bit, even though I sold it to a friend and got the chance to play it again last week. That session actually reminded me of why I was ultimately dissatisfied with that guitar.

Good luck.

Norlin Gibbies are viewed with much less scepticism by the current generation than ours, who watched their heroes playing late 50s originals and consequently dissed the 70s output (Customs notwithstanding). I don't know about the condition or authenticity of your 79 but you bought it when they weren't so desirable and should be able to sell it now -assuming its in reasonable nick- for much the same price as a new one. However having seen how many young bands now play 70s stuff it might well cost you a fair bit more to re-stock with one down the road if you don't gel with the Collings.

Of course you'll miss it but a Collings? WOW! Go for it!

I played a Collings LP (whatever they call it) and it was the nicest LP I've ever played. I expect their acoustics to also be right up there in quality.


What other hum guitars are out there for under $1000? Well, that depends on whether you believe that Fender and Gibson are the only guitars in the world. If you do, you're stuck. If you venture outside that box (most guitarists never do), there are a ton of guitars that are far better guitars and far, far better values. Under $1000 used....Music Man Axis Super Sport, or a non-piezo JP.

Be aware that the market for sellers is not good right now. What you think you will get for your LP may not meet reality and you might end up keeping it when you find what the market really is. I've found that it's gotten even more buyer friendly in the last 6 months......a lot. It's probably why as I tried to reduce my # of guitars down from 10, I ended up going to 15. Too many bargains out there.

Since 2006 you've played 90% acoustic - so what acoustic(s) have you been playing?

The Collings is a very nice guitar.
Still, at some point, you'll regret selling your old les paul.
All of us have done something like that at one point or another and always end up wishing "we had that one back".

A Collins is a great guitar. Have you checked out Hill Country Guitars? They are a small guitar shop in Wimberley, Texas which is a quaint little artist community south of Austin by about 40 miles. They do a big online business and the owner and Bill Collins are friends so they always have some great Collins in stock there.

Check all these Collins out: http://www.hillcountryguitars.com/list.asp?compID=12

I would do it for this reason: I have played a number of Collings acoustics and every single one of them has been nothing short of amazing. They all sounded alive.
To replace your Paul, perhaps save a few bucks down the line and get a Studio or find a reasonably priced used Standard. Or think outside the Fender/Gibson box and get something else.

When it comes to guitars, "seller regret" is tough to avoid. It's like human nature working against us. Like Joni Mitchell once said, "Dont it always seem to go that you don't know what you got till it's gone."

If I haven't bonded with a guitar within two years after I buy it, I assume that I'll never bond with it, and sell it.

You have an emotional attachment to your Les Paul, but the fact that you said that it's been mostly in the case for the last 6 years means something too. And you play acoustic 90%, so that also has to be factored in. And gasing for a Collings Dread for 3 or 4 years? Another big factor!

You'll have regrets no matter what you do, but if it were me, I'd rather have a little regret and put an end to the 3 or 4 years of gasing!

Collings!

When it comes to guitars, "seller regret" is tough to avoid. It's like human nature working against us. Like Joni Mitchell once said, "Dont it always seem to go that you don't know what you got till it's gone."



Yeah. I had an old Gibson ES-125TDC, thinline hollowbody with two p90s. Loved it. Great guitar. Sold it to buy a 1930-something National Triolian. Did I miss the 125? Yeah. But I get over it every time I pick up the National.

You play 90% acoustic and you've wanted a Collins for 4 years.

4 years is a long time to want and wait for a guitar......it's not an overnight fetish.....it's 4 years of wanting the same thing.

Get the Collings.

I've played several Collings guitars at Madison Music and they were all amazing. The Collings guitars that I have played were in the top 1 or 2 percent of any guitars that I have played.

I play acoustic a lot. It's my opinion that a new Collings trumps a 79 Les Paul.

If you want a Les Paul in a cople years you can buy one of $849-$1,100 dollar Les Pauls specials that are available now.

http://www.collingsguitars.com/Instruments/images/d3/13_L.jpghttp://www.collingsguitars.com/Instruments/images/d3/2_L.jpg

Get the Collings.

There are a lot of Les Paul's out there. Yeah, there's emotional attachment, but Collings acoustics are amazing guitars. I don't think I've ever heard a bad one. Can't say that about many guitar brands. I would consider selling my Les Paul if it got me an amazing acoustic that I'd play for the rest of my life. And I traded two other LP's and a Dobro to get the one I have now.

Get the Collings, don't look back, or get a second job and save the money until you can get the Collings.

You deserve a Collings, and a Collings deserves someone who will play it all the time. Your Les Paul deserves the same thing! Everybody wins!

Finally got my Collings D1... WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I need to sell a couple guitars to pay for it. But it plays so good.

I've got the all acoustic version of that Eastman. Someone will be very happy!
Happy NGD!

I have a Gibson Hummingbird, that I love. I have never played a Collings. It seems that a good acoustic costs a lot of money. When you buy like that, you buy for a lifetime.

Dan R

Finally got my Collings D1... WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now I need to sell a couple guitars to pay for it. But it plays so good.

Congratulations. A Collings. :shock: That's special. That's an amazing guitar.

i still have my first squier electric... the body is about to become the guitar i always wanted as a kid when i got the squier, and couldnt afford with a fender neck and a rebuild from the ground up.... i would wager you will regret the sale of the LP