man, guitars got expensive!

sammyg2 · 03-10-2008, 11:55 AM

I haven't played seriously in over 20 years, and I probably haven't played more than a few chords for the past 15 years, but I'm thinking of picking it up again.
A couple of the guys I work with aren't half bad and they keep saying I should get an axe and play along.
So .................... I go to ebay and check out the prices for the guitars I used to have, OMFG!
Almost $4000 for a left-handed sunburst les paul deluxe similar to the one I sold for $450 in the early 80's, over $1.5k for a martin acoustic like the one I traded for a surfboard.
I can't believe the prices, even relatively cheap import strats are more than I paid for a REAL pre-CBS strat in the late 70's.

I really can't see paying big bucks for a decent instrument when I may lose interest again.
I figure I'll prolly just get a cheap used left-handed acoustic and pluck around with it for a while until I'm sure I'm going to get serious again, then buy something nice. There are a few on ebay i can get for under $100 but who's to say the action is any good? Prolly a fret-buzzmonster or the action is so high I'd get cramps trying to do a bar chord.

Maybe I'll hit the local pawn shops or something ....

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Hit the pawn shops

sketchers356 · 03-10-2008, 12:20 PM

Back in 1960 a 356 cost three grand. What happened?

gassy · 03-10-2008, 12:23 PM

Don't drop it in your pool

scottmandue · 03-10-2008, 12:56 PM

Buy an Ibanez... I got a Ibanez artcore (like a Gibson hollow body) off evilbay for $250

sammyg2 · 03-10-2008, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gassy

Don't drop it in your pool

Maybe i should get one that's waterproof.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

only if you play surf music...

Nathans_Dad · Nathans_Dad's Garage

I bought an Epiphone Masterbilt Acoustic and it is great. I got it for about $300 used, goes for around $500 or so new. Great guitar, low action and sounds good. All tonewood front and sides, no laminates. Find THAT for under $500 in another brand!!

Chocaholic · 03-10-2008, 04:17 PM

Why not get yourself a decent instrument? If you spend $1500 and lose interest in a couple of years, just sell it on ebay for $2k. Or you could buy yourself a POS and have a, well....POS.

sammyg2 · 03-10-2008, 05:50 PM

If I spend $150 on a cheap used guitar, I can play it for 6 months before my technique justifies something better, if I get into it again.
If i don't, I can prolly sell that $150 guitar for $125 or more. Very little risk, very little capitol tied up, very little chance of my wife *****ing because I'm letting a $1500 guitar gather dust

i may decide I suck and don't enjoy it, who knows?
Plus it will help me determine my style and what kind of music I'm into so I can get a good guitar that compliments that style. I used to play a les paul because I was playing, well led zepplin.
I'm probably more bluesy now, maybe even ...... dare I say it ...... folk.

A nice telecaster might suit my style and likes better now, don't want to buy something really nice and then decide I want something more mellow or more whatever.
I used to love my ovation round back because it projected highs well, but not as much bass. I don't think I'd like that any more.
BTW Todd, I once played a set with the ventures (minus Okie) at NAMM using a guitar custom built for Dick Dale so I do like surf music

(that was my 15 minutes of fame so it's all used up).
Word to the young guys, don't do anything special when you are young. Save that 15 minutes so you have something to look forward to.

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Word to the young guys, don't do anything special when you are young. Save that 15 minutes so you have something to look forward to.

Advice from Harry Gray, one of my thesis advisors:

"don't peak too soon..."

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Sammy, the TexMex Strats are a huge bang for the buck at around $300. I have one that I hot rodded with EMG and I sanded the nexk down bare. It screams!

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Buy an Ibanez... I got a Ibanez artcore (like a Gibson hollow body) off evilbay for $250

My brother has an Ibanez that is really heavy, apparently very rare, because it was an unlicensed knockoff of some 1950's Gibson; they got sued. Only "new" guitar he ever bought to my knowledge. Several he got in a pawn shops, including inital Musicmaster and matching amp. Barney's Pawn shop across the street from Jack's House of Music. He got a fretless Fender bass that is pretty cool for under $200, but that was a long time ago. He kept most everything he ever got, well except for the funky Coral Sitar that he sold when he got a real one, which turned out to be a mistake, because they are super rare and could do some pretty neato effects.

He kept the Chapman Stick, which he claims is harder to play than a guitar or a piano. He has a lot of musical instruments, an accordian, sax, trombone, various estate sale and pawn shop scores

I think the Ventures are going into the Rock and Roll HoF at the same time as Madonna.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobra

My brother has an Ibanez that is really heavy, apparently very rare, because it was an unlicensed knockoff of some 1950's Gibson; they got sued.

Sounds like a korina wood Ibanez Destroyer, copy of the Gibson Explorer. I've never ever seen one up close. Eddie Van Halen is holding a very modified such Ibanez on the cover of Women and Children First.

sammyg2 · 03-10-2008, 08:04 PM

One thing for certain, I won't be replacing my old Marshall stack. 100 watt tube head with 2 x 4 speaker enclosures. Don't need that much noise anymore. No wonder my hearing sucks.
{Plus I can get a Roland cube for cost

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

[QUOTE][Ibanez artcore (like a Gibson hollow body/QUOTE]

That would be a good choice...another good choice, that Ive owned for 10 years is the Washburn HB30...best guitar for the buck ive ever owned. Here is one on ebay. Its a well constructed tone machine

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Washburn-HB30-335-Hollowbody-Jazz-Guitar-w-CASE_W0QQitemZ290211332131QQihZ019QQcategoryZ33048 QQcmdZViewItem

bigchillcar · bigchillcar's Garage

same story, sammy..been about 20 years since i sold my amps, a us strat and a charvel model 4 guitar, but in the last month decided i wanted back in the game. back in about 89-90 when i sold my gear, i bought my then 10-year old brother a charvel model 1 with part of the proceeds. he still has it, so i've 'requisitioned it', found a bunch of old pedals, etc. and have borrowed a tiny practice amp. planning to meet my brother and a friend tonight at my brother's house and scare the cats away...

i need an amp. went into a guitar center and looked at electronic ones like the 'line 6' brand. anyone have any experience with these? i need to check out pawn shops i guess and e-bay.

sammyg2 · 03-11-2008, 11:46 AM

My wife works for roland (and Boss pedals etc.) so I don't think i'll have much trouble getting that stuff cheap. too bad they don't sell guitars.

deathpunk dan · 03-11-2008, 12:06 PM

sammy
go on ebay and get an older tokai love rock or burny super grade. These are closer to 50s les pauls than new lp standards. I have an 80 flame top super grade with Seymour Duncan JBs and 59s in it that absolutely screams. Partially chambered body is light and feels odd at first - much lighter than my 1960 les paul jr - but what a great gigging guitar...I'm into it for about $800 altogether and it smoked my former bandmate's 60 lp classic reissue.

scottmandue · 03-11-2008, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyg2

My wife works for roland (and Boss pedals etc.) so I don't think i'll have much trouble getting that stuff cheap. too bad they don't sell guitars.

Have you considered taking up keyboard?

Seriously, it may not look as cool as electric guitar but it adds a really great sound to a band... and guitar players are a dime a dozen.

and Roland makes some very nice keyboards.