I'm Going To Sell, Then I'm Not Going To, Then I'm Going To, Then I'm Not Going To...

[RAILhead]

FIRST WORLD PROBLEM ALERT...


I have a hefty amount of guitars (35 right now) and I seriously enjoy each and every one of them. Literally, they ALL get played, though I do have my main guitars I use for playing at church every weekend. The thing is, with the non-profit my wife and I have (link in sig, BTW), we're spending around 6 months out of the year over here in Cambodia. Sometimes I think of the guitars I don't play as much as the others, and I decide I'm going to sell them. I don't need them — and someone else could be using them to make tunes...

Then I wuss-out.

I don't need to sell them, either. Then I think, "well, since you aren't around to play them like you used to be able to, you've basically become a collector" — and I don't like that thought for whatever reason. I've never bought guitars just for the sake of buying them — I play them. But with so much of my time away from them (and getting them over here isn't a viable option), it seems like a waste on some level.

Every guitar I have has a story and something unique about it. Some mod I've made. Some tweak to fit my preferences. Something to make it mine — to make it special to me.

Don't know the point I'm making, or if I have a specific question; just early morning ramblings from here in Cambodia as I drink my coffee...

 

[tommygunn1986]

Sell a bunch, buy a couple new ones. That'll make the transition smoother

 

[RockinRob]

nothing wrong with having possessions you enjoy, so long as you dont value them above all else. If you dont need the money from them, enjoy them as long as you can, and donate them when you can't play anymore. everybody wins.

 

[tommygunn1986]

I actually had my stable up to 8 guitars at one point. Sold all but 2 (with the intention of just buying myself a good Tele with the money). Hard times hit at the worst time though. Never did end up getting that Tele.

 

[RAILhead]

nothing wrong with having possessions you enjoy, so long as you dont value them above all else. If you dont need the money from them, enjoy them as long as you can, and donate them when you can't play anymore. everybody wins.

I've actually thought about donating some of them. There are some young folks at church that are coming up in the guitar ranks, and I've been thinking about talking to them and their parents to see if they'd be interested in some of them.

 

[77custom]

I feel the same way about my guitars. I have about 30 but, I'm here to play them all. I take them to church on Sunday and play them there. I rotate them. But, I hold on to them because one day I might have the need to sell them for one reason or another. If I were you, I would hold on to them until it's time to let them go. You'll know when that is, He'll tell you! ><>

 

[BluesForDan]

as long as the guitars are safe, you are not hurting for the money tied up in them, I'd say keep them. The non-profit thing may not go on forever and you may find yourself with enough time to play all of them again. Don't worry about them not making tunes because you can't use them right now. Someday they'll be making tunes when you are no longer of this world, as most guitars will outlive us. Barring unforeseen physical calamity, of course.

 

[AaeCee]

Utilize my #1 rule when you first decide to sell one:

Don't even open the case, and pack it up immediately! Worse yet is actually playing it, even unplugged. Doing either will rekindle your emotional ties and likely cause the kind of equivocating you speak of.

 

[RAILhead]

Good points, all. Having and keeping them isn't hurting anyone, and I guess I'm just manufacturing the "guitars being wasted" thoughts I get from time to time.

 

[fewlio]

You should sell the guitars and donate the proceeds to an animal rescue shelter. You're doing plenty already for the Cambodians, spread the blessings around even further I say.

 

[jzgtrguy]

I know exactly how you feel only I only have 4 guitars. I have my main guitar that I play all the time. I've got a gorgeous hand made archtop that used to be my number one but now mostly sits and I have a 72 Gold top Les Paul that I bought new and then modified some years later that I really haven't played in decades. Lastly I have an acoustic guitar a Takamine NP-18C that I like and play occasionally.

I start to sell them and then I chicken out. I'd like to sell them and replace them with guitars I'll use more but I always chicken out...

 

[pattste]

Having and keeping them isn't hurting anyone, and I guess I'm just manufacturing the "guitars being wasted" thoughts I get from time to time.

This. Keep them.

 

[oldcanuck]

Don't know the point I'm making, or if I have a specific question; just early morning ramblings from here in Cambodia as I drink my coffee...

Maybe switch to decaf.......

 

[fjblair]

Maybe switch to decaf.......

 

[otaypanky]

I wasn't up as high as 36 Railhead, maybe 18 or so with nearly as many amps. I'd have similar thoughts of guilt about them not getting played, enough even though I'd rotate through them. I'd think about how the money I could get for some of them would help with some of our expenses. Then I'd rationalize they were already paid for long ago and we were not in dire need of the cash, etc. But soon we'll be moving to a new home where I won't have as much space now I have to think of it from a more practical perspective and I have actually been able to part with some gear that I loved. In the past I'd take one out to sell, take some pics, plug in to make sure everything is working correctly ~~~ Oops, that was the mistake.
Don't play it! That starts the indecision cycle all over again.
I found that the hard part was seeing the much loved guitar go, but weeks afterward it was just a fond memory. I guess I'm getting old enough that I realize I can't have all my toys forever, but I can have the memories, and I'm lucky to have them. It also frees me up to fall more in love with the guitars that consistently stayed as my main guitars, with zero guilt about the ones not seeing the light of day. I've actually been able to start parting with stuff I thought I'd have forever, and do it with no regrets.
One of the sentimental guitars I sold went to a friend. He was really thrilled to get it, so that made me happy. Later that same day I found out that a good friend who is battling cancer had travel expenses to get his treatment that equalled what I got for my guitar. So I gave that money to him. That made him happy and made me happy too. So now I was happy and I had two friends that were happy. After seeing your Threaded Leaf Project website it's easy to see you have a pretty big heart too. You mentioned giving some of your stuff away. I'd be willing to bet if you did gift some gear to deserving and appreciative new owners you'd have more joy in your heart as a result than you ever did from owning the gear.
Another place to find grateful hands for unwanted guitars or related gear is the non-profit shown in my signature Guitars4vets.org

 

[LIONEL69]

guitars are like adoptive pets ... you really pay to get them but you don't don't don't have to neuter or freed them... the only problem is ... if your guitar tech is shaded ..

 

[Guitardave]

My $.02 would be that once the guitar is gone I don't tend to worry much about it - it's the angst of deciding which ones to let go of.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tamader74]

FIRST WORLD PROBLEM ALERT...


I have a hefty amount of guitars (35 right now) and I seriously enjoy each and every one of them. Literally, they ALL get played, though I do have my main guitars I use for playing at church every weekend. The thing is, with the non-profit my wife and I have (link in sig, BTW), we're spending around 6 months out of the year over here in Cambodia. Sometimes I think of the guitars I don't play as much as the others, and I decide I'm going to sell them. I don't need them — and someone else could be using them to make tunes...

Then I wuss-out.

I don't need to sell them, either. Then I think, "well, since you aren't around to play them like you used to be able to, you've basically become a collector" — and I don't like that thought for whatever reason. I've never bought guitars just for the sake of buying them — I play them. But with so much of my time away from them (and getting them over here isn't a viable option), it seems like a waste on some level.

Every guitar I have has a story and something unique about it. Some mod I've made. Some tweak to fit my preferences. Something to make it mine — to make it special to me.

Don't know the point I'm making, or if I have a specific question; just early morning ramblings from here in Cambodia as I drink my coffee...

Bud,...I've watched some of your post, watched a 'build' or two you've done, and I've enjoyed all. I too had a 'few' too many (LOL) at one time (don't EVEN want to admit/say the amount out loud,...sorta' wished there was a 12 step program for the addiction...).

But, if you've read some of my post, I sold mine off to save my life,...the Corp. I retired from took it upon itself to take away my Medical Insurance, and I had the wonderful experience of living long enough to watch my Vintage Collection go out the door, one at a time.

I was NOT supposed to be around here in '04 to type this post,...But by some miracle, and a whole lot of prayers, my belief in Karma,...and a pissed 'offness' /fighter attitude,...I'm NOT cured, but I'm in remission.

At first I was resentful as Hell that I had to do what I had to do,...my bank accounts wiped out, my guitar/Instrument's gone,...and then it hit me...like a ton of bricks,...if I had not had those guitars to sell, I would surely not have made it, I also during this 'Sell-off' paid off our Home, paid off everything really (I was NOT going to leave my Wife with any other grief other than my demise),...and now I have the pleasure of being on this side of the ...snow to enjoy my Mortgage free home, and all the bills 'paid in full'.

I too have in the past, given/passed forward Instruments to the younger players, and even to those who are older and can't afford one...and what it adds to their quality of life, is just a joy to see.

So,...In the end here, and as I was able to see...Yep, guitars are just tools...and sometimes it's just good to have a 'multi-purpose' tool. My guitars that I loved, had a love for me too...their value (which when I sold them, was WAY more than I paid for them back in the day), basically paid my Medical bills.

When you read this, take in the collection as a WHOLE, and what the total 'value' is,...be it to help a struggling Musician, or later in life when they are called upon to do 'Better works',...The value of a dollar, is only WHAT that dollar can do,...and that cannot be changed. Tom

 

[Totally Bored]

At 35 guitars, your a collector. It's not a bad thing so embrace it. You play them and enjoy them. It's fine. I have 13 and I feel the same way.

 

[treeofpain]

One of the most fun things I've experienced in life is giving away guitars. Find a promising player with his/her head screwed on straight who doesn't have a nice guitar and BLOW THEIR MIND. It's totally awesome.