Which model of Les Paul would you Invest in?

[BlueGuitar!]

I would use this market downturn to invest as much as I could. Things will turn around in a few years and when they do I would buy whatever I wanted. I have guitars that have appreciated in value but I buy guitars I like to play. Not everything is about ROI.

If you're really going to think of the guitar as an investment then I would do an analysis and consider the opportunity costs you may forego by making this investment.

Spot on. Inflation is really putting the crunch on people's hobby/luxury buys. Used and new guitars are moving much slower on the bay and verb. I'd expect some pretty nice guitars which were once thought to be 'never-sells' by their owners to be showing up for decent prices in the next coming months. Currently sellers are in denial that the market isn't what it was just half a year ago.

I've never been to a guitar show but now that theyre back after the c-vid days it'd be a good idea to check them out. Although I think the rich are doing well to stay rich, so higher end models won't see much of a decline. Better get that r9 while you still can.

 

[Amp360]

I'm going to Philadelphia on Saturday. I'll post some pics!

 

[BlueGuitar!]

I'm going to Philadelphia on Saturday. I'll post some pics!

Cool! If you make a new thread do us a favor and direct us to it here. I've only seen footage from NAMMs so I'd be curious to see what's out there in a big city guitar show

 

[Amp360]

I made one in Dallas about two years ago. It was a great show. Bursts, tons of great guitars you don't see every day and nice people. I had gone to look for an ES-345/355 and bought the perfect (for me) guitar, a late 60s ES-355 factory mono with Bigsby. I just didn't see that many online and figured I would take a chance. That was during Covid and Texas was wide open, so it was great.

Years ago I would hear great things about Philadelphia so I'm hoping it's fun. I've sold a ton of things I hadn't played in a long time, so I have a bunch of cash. The difference is there's nothing I really am dying to have right now.

I made myself a list in no particular order but I'm not sure I'll see what I want:

1- Fender Strat Ultra pre-1991
2- Gibson Theodore
3- Gibson Firebird X
4- Nice early 70s Telecaster
5- Late 50s Martin D-18/21

It's about an hour and a half/two-hour drive from me (from Maryland) but I'm using it as an opportunity for a first long drive in a Tesla so gas is free. I figure it will be a nice way to spend a Saturday.

 

[BlueGuitar!]

The funny thing about investment grade luxury items is they have substantially degraded value in a downturn and will take longer to appreciate after.

Art and instruments are luxury items.

People find them easy to live without when you don't have "extra coin" laying about.

More budget-friendly guitars aren't moving. I'm selling a nice Epiphone and I'm getting much less interest and a lot of lowball offers compared to my experience selling sub-1k guitar a year ago. Higher end guitars seem to be selling fine... I see them come and go on the bay and verb. I think it's just income inequality increasing... stock market artificially inflated by the money-printer can be a factor in that.

Rough example: if eggs cost the store 1.5x to buy from their supplier they're charging 2.5x more to customers. Inflation's being used as an excuse to extra-squeeze fhe commonfolk. More monopolized things like energy and internet/cable are even worse.

 

[HariMakaren]

I agree with one of the authors of the comment in this thread that the inflation rate, which has only gone up recently, affects hobbies and favorite pastimes. Unfortunately, playing the guitar also falls into this list. I really hope that this outrage will stop soon and that prices will go down at least a little bit. There is little chance of that though. But even if it happens, it won't happen soon, God willing, in the next few years. One good thing is that it became easier to earn, for example on 1houseofpokies bonuses. I'm waiting for prices to drop!)

 

[Sgrady41]

I have quite a few “collector” guitars. I enjoy them, sort of like an art piece. They don’t leave the house and they have appreciated but that is in concept. I have flipped some and made money but the ones I have I don’t see me
Letting go. I have quite a few Gibsons, a few fenders and a couple different acoustic brands. I have my main players but in the end I don’t see them as a retirement fund. Enjoy them and hopefully the trend will continue with them going up in value. My Gibsons are 80’s, 90’s 2000’s and current. I mainly play the current regularly. The older guitars are for special occasions and I do hang them up every once in a a while to look at and enjoy.

 

[uncajoey]

Forget guitars. Warren Buffet suggested for the average guy to invest in an S&P 500 index fund, and let it ride. I’m paraphrasing, obviously, but he did mention the S&P specifically.

 

[rialcnis]

Angling for money can sometimes cause people to make the wrong choices.

 

[Big Daddy Class]

HJ-era Historic Reissues will be the next 'Pre-War' collectibles, but not in our lifetime.

I had a slighly more omnious thought recently. If there is another war soon, today's guitar will legimitaly be "Pre War" guitars.

 

[rialcnis]

I had a slighly more omnious thought recently. If there is another war soon, today's guitar will legimitaly be "Pre War" guitars.

Everyone will want one unless they are all radioactive

 

[Jethro Rocker]

Depends what one means by invest in.
As an investment?
None. Guitars are not an investment for me.
As an instrument to put money into?
Lots.
I have 7 Gibsons right now, from a "vintage" for me 1976 Custom and 1975 L6-S to a Custom Shop Modern Axcess Bengal Burst. Some of those cost a pretty penny or 2.
But they are to use. If they do not rise in value by the time I need to ditch them, at least I got years of enjoymemt out of playing them out. They all get gigged.

I might pick up a new 60s Standard or even an R0 sometime.

 

[Big Daddy Class]

Depends what one means by invest in.
As an investment?
None. Guitars are not an investment for me.
As an instrument to put money into?
Lots.
I have 7 Gibsons right now, from a "vintage" for me 1976 Custom and 1975 L6-S to a Custom Shop Modern Axcess Bengal Burst. Some of those cost a pretty penny or 2.
But they are to use. If they do not rise in value by the time I need to ditch them, at least I got years of enjoymemt out of playing them out. They all get gigged.

I might pick up a new 60s Standard or even an R0 sometime.

I certainly do not see my guitars as "investments" but I do see them as purchases that retain their value. I am fairly confident that my collection will rise with inflation and cost of living and that if I ever needed to do so I could sell and not lose. More of a "savings account" that I can (and do) play.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

I certainly do not see my guitars as "investments" but I do see them as purchases that retain their value. I am fairly confident that my collection will rise with inflation and cost of living and that if I ever needed to do so I could sell and not lose. More of a "savings account" that I can (and do) play.

Yes it does tend to work that way.
The afrorementioned 1975 L6-S I bought like 5 years ago for $1300. I see them on Reverb for minimum $2500. But if it didn't rise, it would be no matter to me. I plan to keep playing em till the very end!!