The Value of Your Guitar/s

[rawgerpaper]

I've been hearing people, reading discussions and forums (not here in TDRPI, you guys are kind and reasonable) and comments saying about expensive guitar "this guitar is way overpriced", "that guitar just have cheap specs", "it's in the player". I understand them coz I was one of them back then that says "it's way too expensive", and "I can play that song played on an expensive guitar through my guitar". When I got to try in my nearby store, very high-end guitars, custom, signature, and high-end modern ones, and I kinda understood what makes them expensive. The craftsmanship and attention to detail, the frets, neck, body contours, the pickup design, the signature artist wants and tone were worth noticing that it took a lot of time for luthiers, pickup builders, and workers to build one. I think it's kinda disrespectful as well for them when someone says "that's just a tele", "that's just a strat", "the specs is simple" coz it's their craft. I began to respect expensive guitars coz it may be vintage (piece of history there) or a fender master builder, or a well-known luthier, or a well-known brand, or well-built guitar. There may be exceptions I think.

I watched some documentaries and videos of great session guitarists and artists on their guitars and how they bought them, the specs, etc. Some were cheap, some were expensive, but they always say it made a connection with them.

When I was about to buy a pricey tele guitar, I tried my dream guitar (American Original 60s hehe), signature guitars, custom shops, non-Fender teles some were good, some were not good for my taste. I realized what I bought was what made a connection with me and the genres I play. (Almost went for a Brent Mason sig haha, coz that blend mid pickup is really nice).

I realize that whether you have a cheap or expensive guitar the value of your guitar is a mix of your passion, your genre, your heroes, the people who build it, your parents or siblings or friend who bought it for you or bought it with you, kinda bit the branding and price tag (especially for the expensive ones hehe), the money that you could afford at that moment and especially what connection it made with you.

And I think mainly the value of your guitar/s is what really felt close to you.


Just a newbie here and would love to hear your thoughts about this.

 

[brookdalebill]

I value the guitars I gig with most.
I have nice, somewhat pricey “home”’guitars, too.
The tool guitars are indispensable, because they keep me afloat, so to speak.
Anyways, the operator/player is what matters.
A dedicated, disciplined player will work as a team with their instrument(s).
Stuff (guitars) are fun tools, music is the magic.

 

[WalthamMoosical]

friend who bought it for you

That says it all.

 

[Inkman66]

I've been hearing people, reading discussions and forums (not here in TDRPI, you guys are kind and reasonable) and comments saying about expensive guitar "this guitar is way overpriced", "that guitar just have cheap specs", "it's in the player". I understand them coz I was one of them back then that says "it's way too expensive", and "I can play that song played on an expensive guitar through my guitar". When I got to try in my nearby store, very high-end guitars, custom, signature, and high-end modern ones, and I kinda understood what makes them expensive. The craftsmanship and attention to detail, the frets, neck, body contours, the pickup design, the signature artist wants and tone were worth noticing that it took a lot of time for luthiers, pickup builders, and workers to build one. I think it's kinda disrespectful as well for them when someone says "that's just a tele", "that's just a strat", "the specs is simple" coz it's their craft. I began to respect expensive guitars coz it may be vintage (piece of history there) or a fender master builder, or a well-known luthier, or a well-known brand, or well-built guitar. There may be exceptions I think.

I watched some documentaries and videos of great session guitarists and artists on their guitars and how they bought them, the specs, etc. Some were cheap, some were expensive, but they always say it made a connection with them.

When I was about to buy a pricey tele guitar, I tried my dream guitar (American Original 60s hehe), signature guitars, custom shops, non-Fender teles some were good, some were not good for my taste. I realized what I bought was what made a connection with me and the genres I play. (Almost went for a Brent Mason sig haha, coz that blend mid pickup is really nice).

I realize that whether you have a cheap or expensive guitar the value of your guitar is a mix of your passion, your genre, your heroes, the people who build it, your parents or siblings or friend who bought it for you or bought it with you, kinda bit the branding and price tag (especially for the expensive ones hehe), the money that you could afford at that moment and especially what connection it made with you.

And I think mainly the value of your guitar/s is what really felt close to you.


Just a newbie here and would love to hear your thoughts about this.

I have a 2016 MIM FSR deluxe Tele (that I bought while on the hunt for a US model) that I wouldn't trade for $3k Gibson...there are gems to be found in all price ranges.
There's definitely something special you 'feel' when you find 'the one'...and looking at head stock labels or price tags is not the way to find it.

 

[Tarkus60]

I have a 1992 MIM tele that is amazing , my buddy keeps trying to buy it from me. I told him when I pass it's yours.

Then there is the Martin D18 this guitar makes me sound wayyyyy better than I am.

 

[johnny k]

I think i played once a 1960 something mustang that was lended to me because my own mustang got its guts out when someone stepped on my cable while i was doing some kind of solo.
that is the only time i have played an expensive guitar.

I like cheap gear. Of course if i had some kind of dough i would probably go for a vintage tele. So far it is a cheap squier, the good thing is that i don't mind dinging it. The stickers on this guitar were like half the price of it.

 

[Moonraker5]

And I think mainly the value of your guitar is what really felt close to you.

Yup, price tag is really for the manufacturer and the seller, not the overly passionate guitar player.

A buyer (in this case someone who really loves guitar music) will note the price and pay whatever it is for the guitar he feels close to. Specs, sentimental connection, craftsmanship, a guitar hero played same...are some of the things that bring a buyer to a guitar he will buy.

Do I wish that all my guitar desires were Epiphone Casino priced guitars? Sure. Those guitars are relatively cheap, but cheap price had nothing to do with my purchase. A band called The Beatles did.

On the other end of the scale is a Gretsch White Falcon. Love the look, sound, iconic nature, Billy Duffy. Insane price? Yeah, I noticed, but like the Casino price, I paid because it was a guitar I felt close to.

Below are guitars night and day in price. But I felt something for these guitars so I bought. It really is that simple. Passion overrides price.

 

[StrangerNY]

I have guitars that cost a lot, and I have cheap guitars. I use them all because they work the way they should.

If it's a good guitar, price is irrelevant.

- D

 

[rawgerpaper]

That says it all.

that's sweet, hoping my best friend would someday

 

[stxrus]

Mine rank in $ amount from $0.00 (unplayable Yamaha acoustic) to around $900.00 for my '55/'74 LP Special. The SG and tele are probably in the $350.00-$500.00 bracket. My Washburn D9C with HSC is probably worth $175.00

 

[ChicknPickn]

Some guitars are like a good friend. They always seem ready to go when you want them or need them to. They give comfort. Then there are the ones that talk a good game, but are never quite right. Oh yeah, they've got the logo, the lacquer so highly polished it blinds you. But you can't get the buzz out of them, no matter what. The nut is cut and recut, no joy. Fret dressings don't find the problem. I have a Strat like that. And I have various Teles that just do right, time after time. Even the ones I cut out myself. And this is why I will not buy a guitar off the internet.

 

[String Tree]

I've been hearing people, reading discussions and forums (not here in TDRPI, you guys are kind and reasonable) and comments saying about expensive guitar "this guitar is way overpriced", "that guitar just have cheap specs", "it's in the player". I understand them coz I was one of them back then that says "it's way too expensive", and "I can play that song played on an expensive guitar through my guitar". When I got to try in my nearby store, very high-end guitars, custom, signature, and high-end modern ones, and I kinda understood what makes them expensive. The craftsmanship and attention to detail, the frets, neck, body contours, the pickup design, the signature artist wants and tone were worth noticing that it took a lot of time for luthiers, pickup builders, and workers to build one. I think it's kinda disrespectful as well for them when someone says "that's just a tele", "that's just a strat", "the specs is simple" coz it's their craft. I began to respect expensive guitars coz it may be vintage (piece of history there) or a fender master builder, or a well-known luthier, or a well-known brand, or well-built guitar. There may be exceptions I think.

I watched some documentaries and videos of great session guitarists and artists on their guitars and how they bought them, the specs, etc. Some were cheap, some were expensive, but they always say it made a connection with them.

When I was about to buy a pricey tele guitar, I tried my dream guitar (American Original 60s hehe), signature guitars, custom shops, non-Fender teles some were good, some were not good for my taste. I realized what I bought was what made a connection with me and the genres I play. (Almost went for a Brent Mason sig haha, coz that blend mid pickup is really nice).

I realize that whether you have a cheap or expensive guitar the value of your guitar is a mix of your passion, your genre, your heroes, the people who build it, your parents or siblings or friend who bought it for you or bought it with you, kinda bit the branding and price tag (especially for the expensive ones hehe), the money that you could afford at that moment and especially what connection it made with you.

And I think mainly the value of your guitar/s is what really felt close to you.


Just a newbie here and would love to hear your thoughts about this.

I own twenty some stringed instruments.
All but two are pretty much gig ready at a moments notice.
All of them were bought so I could play them onstage.
All but two of them were used.
Very few Mods because I liked the way they sound on their own.
I'm the same way with my Amps.

To each their own with tone.

My next door neighbor is a wrench turning fool.
He can not leave an Engine alone.
He loves nothing more than to pull a Motor, break it down to the last nut and bolt, then build back from there.

I just like to turn a key and drive.

Same with my Guitars, I would rather spend my time playing them.

 

[johnny k]

I also bought a 400 euros dean V inferno because i was drunk and passed before it several times before i bought. I have played it twice, i don't know how to play a V sitting down without my left arm getting tired.

 

[Chester P Squier]

Okay, here's my thought, since you asked.

My first electric is a Squier Affinity Strat. Solid body. SSS. Bolt-on neck. It plays rather well. I like the way it sounds.

In 2008 I got a Gretsch Electromatic 5120. Hollow body. HH. Set neck. I liked the humbuckers at first, but as I got older, the humbuckers began to sound dull, compared to the single coils in my Strat. I figured I was losing the top end of my hearing.

In January, I got my Fender HH Player Telecaster. Not a budget-line guitar. The humbuckers sound livelier than the ones on the Gretsch. I probably should have had the pickups upgraded in the Gretsch, such as to TV Jones of some kind.

But best yet, the Telecaster plays well. I can play and change 6-note barre chords on it, such as I could not do so well on the other two guitars. Maybe it's the 9 1/2 inch radius maple fretboard on the Tele; I don't know for sure. But I do love my Tele.

I was never a Tele person before. I used to wonder why so many people were so nuts about the Fender Telecaster. Now, I know.

 

[DekeDog]

The insurance company won't reimburse you for sentiment, nostalgia, dues, dings, or mojo.

 

[JL_LI]

Don’t confuse value and price. I have guitars with costs to me ranging from the gas to get there to thousands. But I enjoy playing all of them. Value? Is one of your children more valuable than another? They’re all too valuable to me to sell and lucky for me, I don’t need to.

 

[unixfish]

Don’t confuse value and price. I have guitars with costs to me ranging from the gas to get there to thousands. But I enjoy playing all of them. Value? Is one of your children more valuable than another? They’re all too valuable to sell and lucky for me, I don’t need to.

Wait! What!? You can sell your kids? Why did nobody tell me? I could have saved thousands!

 

[drmordo]

I have a bunch of guitars and I rotate them. It's a bit of a "guitar du jour" situation.

That said, my go to guitars are my Korean Casino, partscaster Telecaster Deluxe, and my 90s Gibson SG 61 RI. I have more expensive guitars and I have cheaper guitars, but those are the Kings of the Hill. The SG has been at the top since the 90s, the Casino for around 15 years, and I just built the Telecaster last December.

IMO the only thing that matters is that a guitar makes you want to play it. If it's a beat up piece of crap with high action and won't stay in tune, *but you love to play it*, that is the only thing that matters.

My second tier guitars that I love but don't quite make the favorite list are my Burns Brian May, EVH Wolfgang, Jeff Beck Strat, and my Bullet Telecaster with Jimmy Page electronics. All are great guitars, but they don't inspire me quite the same way. My recently acquired Les Paul DC might make the second tier after I get the action dialed in.

 

[Short on cash]

I have been fortunate with guitars most of my life.
My first good guitar was a new gold top Les Paul around 1969 or so.
Through the years I have literally owned hundreds of guitars.
Most have been hi end guitars.

Growing up the imports were just terrible junk. They didn't play well and
sounded worse. So when that first Paul came along I knew what good
guitars were all about.

I remember when imports started to gain in popularity and quality.
In the last decade or so some of the imports have been some of the
best guitars around for the money.

Those Mexican Fender guitars are really good instruments. I own 2
Mexican Strats that are just incredible guitars for the money. I bought
a Duosonic a couple of years ago just to check it out. It did need a little
work on the nut but for the money it's a fine little guitar.

Recently I bought a pair of Epiphone Casinos mainly just to check them out.
I was surprised to see they did vary as much as they did. On one the binding
was considerably smaller than the other one. Both need nut work but they
weren't terrible. They are good for a $500 guitar but I'd say that was about top
end for them. I gave one of them to a close friend and he really likes it.

I don't know about Ibanez or the rest but between Fender and Epiphone imports
I'd say the Mexican Fenders are some of the best guitars out there for the
money.

Several years ago I bought a Fender Squire just out of curiosity and will say
the fit and finish is unbelievable for the money. I think it was around $200 or
so and other than the pickups being a little weak it's a fine guitar.

The last few years these guitars have come along just out of curiosity to see
the strides in quality the less expensive guitars have made.

I usually play them for a while and I end up giving to young people who are
interested in learning to play. One of the best experiences I have had was from
a young man about 12 or 13 that I gave one of those Gibson single pickup Les Paul
that I think was about $300 or so. I gave it to him on his birthday as a complete
surprise to him and I remember he was so excited he said " Think I'm gonna'
pee my pants !" Sometimes money means nothing.

I like to play my Les Pauls, Hamers and the rest. But the import guitars are a really
good buy the last few years. Way better than they were 10 or 15 years ago.

Enjoy and play on !

 

[JL_LI]

Wait! What!? You can sell your kids? Why did nobody tell me? I could have saved thousands!

One of mine, at 39 is still living on subsidy on the upper east side. He lives paycheck to paycheck on the upper east side. Nobody wants to buy a money pit.