I just traded down, I still can't believe it.

[El Gringo]

Good for you to have your affairs in order and not to burden your loved ones and the best point of all to keep the vulchers and the Sharks away because I am still alive and well and I already have a shark (family member ) circling around looking to feed and my sister gets all of them including pedals and amps .

 

[ourmaninthenorth]

I never really thought of my gear as a problem for my Wife...I had a long standing reciprocal arrangement with a mate of mine to see them sold properly...in the end ( for different reasons to the OP I suspect ) I sold them myself.

Plus the Wife would be too busy counting the life insurance to bother herself with such acrobatics like the price of guitars.

I daren't cough in the house before she's upstairs blowing the dust off the policies...:laugh2::laugh2::laugh2:

 

[corpse]

The is no denying the new ones are good- and that's alot of money tied up.
Less is more.

 

[J T]

..
I daren't cough in the house before she's upstairs blowing the dust off the policies...:laugh2::laugh2::laugh2:

Better get used to looking both ways crossing the street. Maybe you should hire a food taster too.:hmm

:hee

Yes, selling them to happy owners/players would be good. Your plan is the way to go. Sell them and don't be in a rush.

 

[sikoniko]

I had an original 56 black beauty. I decided I don't have the stomach to do an online with a $20,000 guitar with somebody I just don't know. So I went to CME and made a deal for a beautiful Murphy aged a 2016 true historic which I really love better than the black beauty plus cash of course. I used to laugh at people to do this kind of thing, trading old for new. But at this age in my life I can't afford the risk of getting ripped off and I'm really trying to downsize my collection. I have another Murphy that I will put on the market now and keep this one. I figure if I sold it on eBay I would lose 2000 in their fees plus $150 in PayPal fees. So really if I even got the 20,000 I would really be getting 18+ for it. I tried the forum but nobody seemed interested so I did the next best thing and now I'm happy. I'm older now and don't want to leave my wife stuck with such a hard instrument to sell. I'm a happy camper over this deal. It's OK if you guys laugh at me I don't mind

I guess I'm glad to hear something came of this. I sent you several PM's on the guitar and never got a response...

 

[CDaughtry]

I've done almost the polar opposite. I've sold (with the exception of the Nicky CCs I have) almost all of the new stuff I had, and now have only vintage. Vintage gives me the greatest joy, for a variety of reasons, and life is too short in my opinion. Why not play what you love?
I also have a plan in place, involving several good friends, who will help my wife sell these guitars, in an orderly fashion to receive fair market value, in the event I predecease her.

Play what you love and have an exit strategy...life's too short not to enjoy it to the fullest!:jim

 

[J T]

Play what you love and have an exit strategy...life's too short not to enjoy it to the fullest!:jim

Great advice!

Words to live by, I think.

:salude

 

[corpse]

Why not play what you love?

Old is good too.

 

[Uncle Gary]

+1:salude Funny, at 30 or even 40 it's screw the Mrs I'm getting this axe, it's what I work for. At 60 is ooohh I want to do the right thing by my wife. ...whist internally imagining her flogging your precious vintage guitar to an unscrupulous buyer for half it's value. I get it but won't be downsizing till I'm 80...the frigging Stones are still touring for heavens sake, get a grip you fuckers 60 is young!

Thanks for that. I have no spouse to worry about, but my brother's family will probably have to deal with this after I'm gone. As for the guitars, they will probably go to my nephew, who is a better musician than I (has a couple of albums out).

 

[WhippinPost]

I sold all my vintage guitars I could get a decent amount for and only kept the 2 that I would not get my money back on. I've instead picked up some gibson historic and fender custom shop guitars, which are almost as good at a fraction of the cost.

How do these true historics compare to the regular historics(other than the specs)

 

[cjp54]

I'm glad the trade worked well for you! Enjoy your new guitar in good health!
Fortunately I have a 17 year old son that all my stuff will go to with a detailed description in each case as to what the instrument really is as well as it's current value. I have three vintage pieces that all had issues when I purchased but are still great players with some reasonable value. I'm trying to teach my son as much as possible as soon as possible. I'll be 60 this year and still love playing all my guitars!!

Rock On!!:dude:

 

[Patrick Ginnaty]

One of my pals did a similar thing, sold a mint '64 ES-333 for cash plus an R9. It's tough taking a vintage instrument to a typical gig.

 

[renderit]

One of my pals did a similar thing, sold a mint '64 ES-333 for cash plus an R9. It's tough taking a vintage instrument to a typical gig.

Tell me about it. My eyes get screwed up just keeping an eye on it. And peeps look at you strange when you take it in the bathroom with you...

 

[Pellman73]

I've done almost the polar opposite. I've sold (with the exception of the Nicky CCs I have) almost all of the new stuff I had, and now have only vintage. Vintage gives me the greatest joy, for a variety of reasons, and life is too short in my opinion. Why not play what you love?
I also have a plan in place, involving several good friends, who will help my wife sell these guitars, in an orderly fashion to receive fair market value, in the event I predecease her.

Play what you love and have an exit strategy...life's too short not to enjoy it to the fullest!:jim

Agree

also-- I've been told never to be worth more dead than alive. Which I am right now, which is not good.

:wah

 

[Bhodie]

I know how you feel.. I'm 65 and my son has no interest in playing.. so I am down to my R4 GT, my 8 string lap, pedal board and great amp..

i have gone gone through the same thing with all my "toy" categories (guns, boats, watches, etc..). I have also instructed my wife that when I die, to NEVER sell what is left for what I told her I paid for it!!! :laugh2:

 

[R E T]

God, you guys are depressing me. At 64, I finally have the guitars I've always dreamed of when I was young, and now you're implying that it's time to start selling them off. I can't imagine myself owning only one guitar. Last time I owned one guitar was when I was in college, and I literally wore it out in four years.

LOL, I am with Uncle Garry on this one. I just retied (early) at 56 and bought 3 guitars in the last 2 months. Albeit they are newish one's (a 2007 Les Paul Junior 58 DC, a 2011 Les Paul Historic R6 GT and a 2016 Les Paul Historic R8) they have added nicely to the few oldish ones I own. Being a lefty doesn't allow me to buy 60's guitars I would like to own so my 70's , 80's and 90's models will have to do but I am at 11 now and am loving them all. I'l sell mine when my hands stop playing nice lol.

Great read though. I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Rich

 

[alnico59]

I'm only 50. So I'm still buying. I guess my analogy would be, most guys in their 50's and 60's have reached a point in life where the kids are finished with college, the house is paid off, retirement savings become available, etc.. Then they purchase their dream Harley full dress, mobile home, offshore fishing/Bass boat or sports/muscle car. Not only do these items cost way more than guitars (not counting crazy vintage) Also guitars can be used longer and enjoyed easier as health issues set in. I don't worry about it. I say enjoy your guitars, don't worry. Sell them when you no longer can enjoy them. Or, when you need the money.

 

[CharlieS]

I don't blame you one bit. I had thought about buying some vintage stuff, but I think we are nearing the end of the game for big demand. The top shelf stuff will find buyers, but I'm not so sure about the mid-range 20k -30k guitars. I suspect that they are no longer appreciating assets and would be hard for my family to unload. I'm seeing some of the same vintage pieces for sale for ages at prices which no longer reflect the true market. If conversions were selling for prices similar to historics, as they used to, then I'd buy one.

I could save the money and woodshed, which would improve my guitar tone more than a vintage guitar would.

 

[omni43]

Sounds like you are being responsible and thinking of your family; those are good things.

I had an original 56 black beauty. I decided I don't have the stomach to do an online with a $20,000 guitar with somebody I just don't know. So I went to CME and made a deal for a beautiful Murphy aged a 2016 true historic which I really love better than the black beauty plus cash of course. I used to laugh at people to do this kind of thing, trading old for new. But at this age in my life I can't afford the risk of getting ripped off and I'm really trying to downsize my collection. I have another Murphy that I will put on the market now and keep this one. I figure if I sold it on eBay I would lose 2000 in their fees plus $150 in PayPal fees. So really if I even got the 20,000 I would really be getting 18+ for it. I tried the forum but nobody seemed interested so I did the next best thing and now I'm happy. I'm older now and don't want to leave my wife stuck with such a hard instrument to sell. I'm a happy camper over this deal. It's OK if you guys laugh at me I don't mind

 

[martie6621]

Good post! I cannot agree more with what you decided to do with trading down. The truth is (and when you have a lot of money tied up in vintage guitars this can be hard to admit) the new guitars being made today are quite good and play as well or better than old ones. I am not saying there is not a cool factor with old guitars. I have done it (bought one) many times. The pursuit of a fine vintage guitar is a lot of fun. When money (or owner's age and current status) is no object, then vintage makes for a fun hobby. I have a few nice vintage pieces and will keep them for now. That said, the new ones make more sense to buy,own, and play. Don't look back - if it works for you, you did the right thing. I'll be doing it one day.