Q: Trade my Gibson for a Squier?

[SpinWheelz]

It's like this: Gibson Melody Maker vs. Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster. In all likelihood, I'd pull the neck pickup from the Tele and 'esquire' the thing.

Any thoughts on this move? Have I gone mad? A USA-made no frills guitar for Chinese-made much-lauded one? It's a single-coil Melody Maker in white we're talking about here, not a P90-shod one.

Would you do it?

[Big Mike Simpson]

No...

[Donnie55]

Yea Spin
You have gone mad. I love teles and play one as my main axe. But an American made Gibson at resale will recoup or exceed the original investment. You could probably sell all the junk your not using any more thats stashed in your closet or under your bed and come up with at least half of what you need for the CV. Dont party for a month save that money and go buy a new CV. Then ya got the best of both worlds. And leave the neck pickup in it for awhile , give it a chance I bet you will like it

www.myspace.com/redtele2

[3 Chord]

No. The only Squiers that you should trade for (IMHO) are the original JV or SQ series. But if you were trading for a JV serial number guitar you would be ripping off the person so you would have to live with that.

Unless... you don't bond with your MM. I myself just traded off a Nashville Tele that I tried to love. Now I'm playing a MIM Squier Tele and love it. This was not a straight across trade mind you but my point is this,

If you like your MM, keep it. If you only keep it becasue it says Gibson on the top, then that's the wrong reason.

If you don't like it, then get a guitar you like, who cares what it is worth or what others think. No use hanging onto a guitar that you don't bond with.

Maybe your guitar plus a little cash (or cool guitar stuff) from the Squier owner would be a little more even trade.

[Donnie55]

I have to agree with 3 Chord. With all the ranting I did , he speaks the real bottom line. If you cant bond with a guitar, it aint worth much unless your collecting. I love to hear someone playing a Les Paul. I have had several and always trade or sell them , they just dont work for me. So , he`s right dont keep it for the name.

[SpinWheelz]

Thanks for the comments so far, folks. Have to admit that I'm quite surprised - I'd expected a Tele-oriented board would advise me to go for the Tele! It's refreshing to get such objective points of view.

To be honest, the Gibson Melody Maker is a nice guitar, but there's nothing that makes me want to grab it each time I reach for a guitar. Not like my SGs and Les Pauls. If I don't swap it out for another Tele (with or without cash factored in), I might end up selling it anyway. I'd rather keep adding the collection if there are guitars I'm not playing too much.

[Dizi]

Why trade? Buy the CV, they are cheap!

[wolfman63]

Wheelz, Donnie and 3 Chord are both right. I've had Gibsons that were just not right for me. They made a bunch of Les Pauls and others over a period of years that had design changes and changes in the finish that made them less than desirable guitars. Then a management change -I'm told- and the design changes were dropped and things went back to the original design , and things got better. I have several LPs that have been built since the resurection and they are great. But all guitars are just a little different. There ARE lemons available in everything. Play what you're thinking about trading for and make your decision. Hell with the name, you'll know if you're doing the right thing or not. I have a couple of Squire guitars that are good solid work horses. And I've had some Gibsons that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Names don't mean $#%!

[SpinWheelz]

I'm not too fussed about names on a headstock. In fact, I'd love it if all my guitars didn't have names on the headstock - I just loathe ostentatious branding.

It's funny, I posted this same question at the MyLesPaul forum. Over there, I've got a couple of guys telling me to lose the Melody Maker and get the Tele. Here I'm getting the vibe that I should keep the Gibson and not get the Tele. What's the world coming to?!

In any case, this thread just became entirely moot, thanks to the Friday Fender deal thread. Thanks to that, I just ordered a Nashville Tele. Which means that the Melody Maker walks.

[D.S.John]

My question is, have you played a CV or are you trading because you think it'll be a good guitar for you. The reason I ask this, is that if for you have played a CV and know that it is a guitar you can and will use, then the trade is a good enough reason, pointless having guitars hanging around not really getting used when you can have some fun with the CV. On the other hand if not then try a CV before you trade, or you might end regretting it if the guitars not right for you. You'll end up having a guitar hanging around being used now and again and with a lower resale value than the Gibson.

Ah now I just read your new post, never mind the advice may come in handy for someone

[dalandan]

buy a new squier. keep the gibson. it's cheap enough. if you want the squier, get a new one.

[scosystems]

Quite simple for me this one - keep the Gibson and just buy the squire.
You can beat the MM full USA made guitar for around £300.00.
Do not let it go even if you don't "get on with it"!

[SpinWheelz]

Unfortunately, much as I would love to hold on to the Melody Maker for some novelty's sake, it's gonna need to go. It becomes a question of space and finances - to accomodate the new Nashvile Tele, something's gotta walk.

I know this discussion started out with a Squier CV Tele, but now that I've made this impulse purchase on the Nashville Tele, the question becomes
both moot and irrelevant. Thanks for the input, folks.

[braderrick]

I say trade, weren't melody makers going for $350 or so? Isn't that about the same the CV? The melody makers are the very cheap Gibson's and I say trade it to a TELE! I'll admit it would be different if you had an old gold top or a custom shop les paul, but a melody maker...trade it.

[Post Toastie]

I have the White MM and love it . Nice and light and fun to play. The few Squier CVs i have seen are heavy. Look around for a mid 80s Squier Tele MIJ they play great and are light.

[stantheman]

Sell the American-made. You're cheating Yourself out of a couple hundred bucks surplus if You do a "straight-up trade".

[Shiro]

Originally Posted by stantheman

Sell the American-made. You're cheating Yourself out of a couple hundred bucks surplus if You do a "straight-up trade".

Yup. What he said.

[Hack]

Do what makes you happy, but that Melody Maker is going to appreciate. The Squier, no.

Ten years from now, it may become one of those "Damn, what was I thinking . . ." episodes.

[ajgus]

Originally Posted by Hack

Do what makes you happy, but that Melody Maker is going to appreciate. The Squier, no.

Ten years from now, it may become one of those "Damn, what was I thinking . . ." episodes.

I don't agree with that at all. The CV is NOT one of those guitars at all. My '97 Korean Ibanez Iceman is one of those guitars. The CV...Not. Those MMs are pretty sweet. But, the CV is one of the greatest guitars that Squier has ever produced. It is a QUALITY guitar. I agree that it made not be a great straight-up trade for the MM, but understand that the CV is a REALLY good guitar. You will not regret purchasing it...IF that is a guitar that you have played & are looking to own. It really kind of depends on YOU. Sorry for all of the CAPS

[Guns1rose]

dont do a flat out "trade" like ill give you this, you give me that...
if you have to, sell the melody maker and get as much money as you cant out of it.
THEN you can maybe buy a CV and more.

[jwl325]

Looking at some recent completed auctions on the 'bay, on average it looks like a used MM goes for what a new CV goes for. Some went a bit higher, $400-$450.

If your MM is mint, I'd take a chance on selling it used and then buy a new CV; definitely wouldn't trade used for used.

Best case scenario, you might come out $50-$100 in the black.

Happy hunting!

Bill

[Wardpike]

I wouldn't.