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Post by Auf Kiltre on Mar 6, 2024 20:43:11 GMT -5
Kind of an interesting thought, isn't it? Assuming nothing catastrophic happens, where will they all be, how many lives will they touch? Some may be parted out, all those individual pieces making their journey here and there. Some kept within families, some sold off time and again. Will any end up in the hands of future notables? Maybe this will be a bigger legacy than some old unattended music catalog in the cloud.
Anyway, it could be a good argument for "why do you own so many guitars?"
Cuz the more I leave behind, the more I'll live on, perhaps hidden in some unexpected turn of phrase that seemingly popped out of nowhere on this old guitar.
Or at the least provide some temporary warmth around a campfire.
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Post by Larry Madsen on Mar 6, 2024 21:02:03 GMT -5
I suppose I view it as does one of my Car buddies.
When it comes to our classic cars, he (we) do not assume any real ownership of them.
We tend to view ourselves as temporary care-takers.
Guitars in our world here probably assume the same presence.
Their future might be interesting to ponder, however I have never pressed myself to think about it.
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Post by Leftee on Mar 6, 2024 21:22:07 GMT -5
The last luthier to work on my wife’s violin spoke this way. The instrument transcends human lifetimes.
My stuff? Who knows? I’d like to think a build or two would hold a special place in someone’s heart.
Or I could just go the funeral pyre route.
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Post by Taildragger on Mar 6, 2024 23:29:51 GMT -5
Let's see...I'm gonna be be 135 in 1984.
Will likely need to sit down onstage due to advanced age, but since my prostate will probably be the size of a yoga ball by then, I'll have a ready-made chair.
Based on past performance, will probably own 500-600 guitar/basses and have to work 3-4 jobs just to afford string changes.
Sorry to digress a bit from OP's original topic: just wanted to get a feel for what 2084 is going t'be like...
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Post by LTB on Mar 7, 2024 2:09:08 GMT -5
Anyway, it could be a good argument for "why do you own so many guitars?" Cause I'm stupid!  |
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Post by slacker 🐨 on Mar 7, 2024 8:36:47 GMT -5
I have one that has "it". It's nothing fancy, not likely to attract a collector since it's an MIJ Tele, but I'd hope it ends up in the hands of a player. Heck, I'm just worried about it needing a refret and retaining it's magic through that.
Other than that, the rest are simply nice guitars. They play very well, look good, but just don't have that special convergence of parts that makes some guitars special. I know my son has asked, repeatedly, to have the ES-135 go to him in my will, which I have done.
The real question is this....will more modern guitars (80's on up) ever have collector value or will it always "if it ain't 50's and 60's, forgetaboutit"?
Then there's the amps...same question. Will a 2003 point to point wired clone of an old marshall or fender have value beyond as a nice sounding used amp in 50 years?
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Mar 7, 2024 9:02:34 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm not thinking along the lines of future collector items as much as any instrument that ends up in the hands of a kid that it inspires. Most of us grew up with some crappy guitar as our first but still inspired us to make a life long habit out of it. Just a whimsical thought of the trickle down effect we all have during our brief moment in history. It can be applied to cars, furniture, etc. I have a little desk that I use that was my dad's, gone 30 years on the 28th of this month. I was pondering the "STP" sticker inside one of the small drawers that's been there as long as I can remember. I wondered about it's backstory and that led me down the bunnyhole. So much of our "stuff" outlives us.
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Post by Leftee on Mar 7, 2024 9:25:05 GMT -5
I'm hoping this too... specifically with grandkids. A couple years ago I did an arts and crafts project with our oldest granddaughter. I bought pine Tele bodies (one lefty and one righty) for us to paint. She painted the lefty for me and I painted the righty for her. I finished them out and gave her the righty along with a little Supro 1x8" combo (one of the new ones - cool little amp!). She's interested in playing, but her dad is waiting a bit as she needs to grow in to the guitar. I'm going to do this A&C project with the other 4 grands when the time comes.
On a different note, I did hear from a guy who had bought one of my builds about two years before. He said that it was still the best playing guitar he'd ever owned/played and that he played it every day. It's this guitar:
It has SS frets on a roasted maple neck, so it's likely to maintain that playability better than the average bear. In theory, any ways.
So I suspect that I've planted some seeds. And I will plant more - especially since my widowmaker is open again. 🤣
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Post by insanecooker on Mar 7, 2024 9:53:47 GMT -5
I have a few that are already collectible (mostly inherited from my Dad), so I'm assuming those will do good. The rest is all brand name stuff that is in excellent, stock condition, so will likely always have a market, but I don't expect to turn out to have been an amazing investment.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Mar 7, 2024 11:45:04 GMT -5
Yeah, all my "amazing investments" were squandered in the foolishness of youth. My most expensive guitar is likely my discontinued Martin acoustic that still fetches less than what I paid for it. Most of my inventory are partscasters that I enjoy but likely have stink eye elements for more discriminating players. One son plays a bit, I can see him grabbing one of my Teles. A grandson also plays but anything he'd end up with would likely find its way to a pawnshop in record time. My 3 other grandkids don't express any interest in music. I have a nephew that plays, I could see him ending up with one of my Strats. Otherwise, the rest of the collection will probably be snagged up along with the toys and trinkets priced to clear a house of "clutter". I'm ok with that.
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Post by Leftee on Mar 7, 2024 11:53:45 GMT -5
I have a couple collectible amps. Those will be sold off before I die.
Thinking about it, I stood a very real chance of failing that goal. 🤔
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Post by slacker 🐨 on Mar 7, 2024 13:19:55 GMT -5
I would not expect any of my guitars to appreciate in my lifetime, but I'm curious about 50-70 years ago. Will there be a brand/mode/era combo that will be revered by players in 2075 other than what's currently in that realm now?
I had one collectable amp....a '66 Super Reverb, but I got rid of it because it was too big to move, too big to store and too loud to play. It was a gem though and I sold it for more than I paid.
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Post by slacker 🐨 on Mar 7, 2024 13:23:01 GMT -5
Another one: what about pedals. I have a quite a few...wonder if any will become hot at some point. Honestly, I don't use any of them except my strobostomp and a keeley moded delay pedal, but I don't sell them because they don't have enough value to make it worth the hassle and they don't take up much space. I keep thinking maybe someday one or more will become a hot commodity when someone famous uses one and they're no longer available or they've changed.
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Post by Seldom Seen on Mar 7, 2024 15:05:47 GMT -5
I’ve often thought about gifting my collection of amps and guitars to extended relatives if I get the opportunity. Gifting to those interested would mean much more to me than the money. My son, who is a good player, and daughter get first dibs on any or all of my amps and guitars.
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Post by ninworks on Mar 7, 2024 15:43:27 GMT -5
I haven't decided what I'll do with all my guitars. I have a nephew who is a musician and plays guitar a bit. I suppose it depends upon if me or my wife dies first. If I die first then she gets them and can sell them. If she dies first I'll leave all of them to my nephew and he can do what he wants with them. If I can last another 10 years they should be worth some serious money. It's not out of the question that there may/will be more of them by then.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Mar 7, 2024 16:12:16 GMT -5
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Post by pamster on Mar 7, 2024 16:53:17 GMT -5
I have more guitars and old tube amps than shoes. When they are no longer a source of happiness, or if there isn't enough space, then they'll probably be sold. Except for the ones given to family members who want them, if any. Someone will be happy with them, and that's good.
Hopefully not for a long time, but certainly before 2084.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Mar 7, 2024 17:55:06 GMT -5
I have more guitars and old tube amps than shoes. When they are no longer a source of happiness, or if there isn't enough space, then they'll probably be sold. Except for the ones given to family members who want them, if any. Someone will be happy with them, and that's good. Hopefully not for a long time, but certainly before 2084. If my kids think clearing out my music room will be a task, they'll get a rude awakening when they go into my wife's closet.😆 |
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Post by Laker on Mar 7, 2024 18:11:27 GMT -5
I suppose I view it as does one of my Car buddies. When it comes to our classic cars, he (we) do not assume any real ownership of them. We tend to view ourselves as temporary care-takers. Guitars in our world here probably assume the same presence. Their future might be interesting to ponder, however I have never pressed myself to think about it. I looked at my stuff in the same way. As I near my 80th trip around the sun I have started passing my classics along to new caretakers. Gone is my ‘66 Vette that I owned for 53 years, and gone is my ‘56 FLH Harley that I owned for 37 years and my wife’s 55 Cushman Eagle I gave her for Christmas around 35 years ago. I just started looking at basses, guitars, and amps and pondering when to sell or give away. The driving force behind this was two years ago I inherited my 101 year old mother’s home when she passed and I found what an absolute PIA it was to empty out her home. I don’t want my sons to have to experience that. |
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Post by LTB on Mar 7, 2024 19:54:44 GMT -5
I'm hoping this too... specifically with grandkids. A couple years ago I did an arts and crafts project with our oldest granddaughter. I bought pine Tele bodies (one lefty and one righty) for us to paint. She painted the lefty for me and I painted the righty for her. I finished them out and gave her the righty along with a little Supro 1x8" combo (one of the new ones - cool little amp!). She's interested in playing, but her dad is waiting a bit as she needs to grow in to the guitar. I'm going to do this A&C project with the other 4 grands when the time comes.
On a different note, I did hear from a guy who had bought one of my builds about two years before. He said that it was still the best playing guitar he'd ever owned/played and that he played it every day. It's this guitar:
It has SS frets on a roasted maple neck, so it's likely to maintain that playability better than the average bear. In theory, any ways.
So I suspect that I've planted some seeds. And I will plant more - especially since my widowmaker is open again. 🤣
Well, you are one very cool grandfather Eric! Those are keeper’s |
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Post by rickyguitar on Mar 7, 2024 20:26:25 GMT -5
I have good playing/sounding instruments but realistically no real dollar value. Same with amps, Yamaha keyboard. I do gave an original 60's Maestro fuzz tone.
Kids all played some and quit. Same with one grandson.
I really don't care where they go but I do hope they will be appreciated.
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Post by Leftee on Mar 7, 2024 21:02:35 GMT -5
I’ve been on a bit of a sell-off lately. I’m down about 5 guitars and 5 amps. A bunch of pedals, too.
So my recent acquisition posts are a fraction of what has moved on.
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Post by LTB on Mar 8, 2024 20:30:59 GMT -5
I’ve been on a bit of a sell-off lately. I’m down about 5 guitars and 5 amps. A bunch of pedals, too. So my recent acquisition posts are a fraction of what has moved on. Same here Eric, I now have 2 acoustics, 2 Electrics, 5 basses, 1 guitar amp and 2 bass amps. What do I actually need? Maybe 1 electric guitar, 1 acoustic, 1 guitar amp and 1 bass amp. Thing is, one of the two acoustics was my mom’s but I play the acoustic electric more and the I love the two electric guitars I have for two types of playing (smooth instrumental and classic rock/country). I could get by with one bass but I love them all. |
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Post by windmill on Mar 9, 2024 19:34:12 GMT -5
So I have a bit of gear collected over the years, with the intent of using it "when I get the time", turns out that time is now as I am in sort of semi retirement. Over the years I have gone through the process a few times of which guitars I would get rid of and in what order if money ran short or having to downsize for some reason and, of course, when I get old. So i have narrowed it down to three which I will probably keep and will only let go when I can't play at all. But after reading the OP and I started thinking about it, it gave me a start. a bit of a shock actually and upset me a bit. A couple of years ago I had a local luthier build MY guitar, a high-quality version of my favorite style of guitar with the neck built to my specs, in my favorite colour and trim, with high quality stock-style parts and appointments. I have played it almost every day since. It is may be the only one of this style in the world, ( it may not be as well ) The OP made me realise that one day I will have give this guitar up, and I DON'T WANT TOO !!! It is so good and IT IS MINE !!! There is no other like it and it is MY guitar. As the saying goes, it will be the one they will "have to pry out of my cold, dead hands" |
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Mar 10, 2024 12:24:33 GMT -5
I've heard folks talk of taking their favorite guitar with them in traditional burial. Unless a crematorium can turn an electric guitar's hardware to ash that ain't happening with me. My favorite #1 is a partscaster and wouldn't be missed if I opted to "take it with me" and wouldn't judge anyone for doing the same. Certainly an invaluable instrument would raise some eyebrows with heirs, but it's just material possessions that we've all earned the right to do with as we please.
My OP was more aimed at reflecting at the legacy of an instrument as its passed on to someone else, either through death, sale, donation, etc. Before I moved from Michigan to Florida I sold a really nice Agile LP type guitar. The guy I sold it to sent me a video a while later of his young kid's band jamming in the backyard. It made me feel good knowing it found its way into an aspiring young guitar player's hands. Even if he traded it or sold shortly after, it played its part in the chain of custody.
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Post by LTB on Mar 10, 2024 12:41:52 GMT -5
I’ve been on a bit of a sell-off lately. I’m down about 5 guitars and 5 amps. A bunch of pedals, too. So my recent acquisition posts are a fraction of what has moved on. Same here Eric, I now have 2 acoustics, 2 Electrics, 5 basses, 1 guitar amp and 2 bass amps. What do I actually need? Maybe 1 electric guitar, 1 acoustic, 1 guitar amp and 1 bass amp. Thing is, one of the two acoustics was my mom’s but I play the acoustic electric more and the I love the two electric guitars I have for two types of playing (smooth instrumental and classic rock/country). I could get by with one bass but I love them all. Correction, I can't count! Only have 4 basses not 5 LOL |
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Post by slacker 🐨 on Mar 11, 2024 9:57:35 GMT -5
I've looked into thinning the herd a few times, but the guitars I'd consider letting go are all not worth much. For example I have a mid-80s MIJ contemporary strat that appears to be worth 300-400 bucks. It's worth more than that to me. It's a great player. It may not have value because of the model/origin, but it's an amazing example that is much nicer than a crapton of MIA strats I've played that would have more value simply because they're MIA. Shrug....I have a 5400 sq foot house with an entire room just for my guitars, amps and a piano. So, for now at least, there's no driver to sell 'em.
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