Collectibility Vs. Playability

[etepbbb]

Guitars aren't fucking stamps.

It's his money, what do you care how it's spent. That said, I'd keep the player and sell the Demartini. Seems to me guitars as an investment isn't a great idea. It's always the stuff know one thinks twice about that becomes worth something. Finding a guitar that feels, sounds, plays right; thats what I'd keep.

[Twitch]

I can see someone being a collector and player, hell Ive flipped a couple guitars before. If I had the money, Id have a collection like CG88 or gtrbuyer. Some of them Id play and inevitably there would be some that would be more fun to look at than to play.

Just like women, theres some you keep and theres some that are more fun to look at than to do anything else with.

[SixstringKing]

CG88 and gtrbuyer have wicked "collections", but I don't think they were buying them as an investment. Gtrbuyer's collection is mainly Charvels' which let's be honest, don't have a great resale value unless you find that "one person" that just has to have that guitar no matter what. I've never bought a guitar thinking, "Maybe in 50 years......" I buy them to play them just like they were ment to be.

[Twitch]

Yeah but gtrbuyers collection as a whole to another Charvel collector would be worth more than he paid for them Id bet. Quite honestly, well probably never see the collectability of early Gibson and Fender, but any high priced axe will at least hold its value rather well over the years. I understand what youre saying though, theres nothing wrong at all with playing the hell out of them.

[SixstringKing]

I've known Dark Knight for a couple years now and have bought a few guitars from him. He's a cool guy and has some great guitars in his group. He asked me this question months ago, hoping he wouldn't have to sell either, which guitar would be better to hang on to. I think his post is genuine in trying to get a perspective from this group. He's got an idea what he wants to do but is looking for other thoughts or opinions that he might not have considered.

With that in mind, as I read this thread, there are a handful of responses that I think are helpful while others strayed a little from the original intent. But that is expected from internet forums. Just thought I would chime in since I know what DK was looking for.

I don't think that myself or the 2 other gents were really straying off the subject, the way DK was wording his posts could lead one to believe that we was looking for someone to PM him and offer to buy whichever one he was going to sell without posting in the classified section to which you need a Platinum membership. And to which, by forum definition is forbidden.
I'm sure he's a great guy and I'm sure that that wasn't his intention. All I did was post that that is what it looked like and poked a little fun at it. BUT, you didn't put the full quote as to what I said to which you could see that. I'm sure DK could see that, if not, I'm sure he would have posted otherwise.

[SixstringKing]

Yeah but gtrbuyers collection as a whole to another Charvel collector would be worth more than he paid for them Id bet. Quite honestly, well probably never see the collectability of early Gibson and Fender, but any high priced axe will at least hold its value rather well over the years. I understand what youre saying though, theres nothing wrong at all with playing the hell out of them.

That's the thing, Charvel's and Jackson's have there own little nitch just like the Ibanez JEMs. It's just another guitar, but, to us it's a whole different thing. End of the day it's the same old story, "Only worth what someone is willing to pay for it!"

[Axewielder]

Yeah I dunno, the stock market has gone sideways for the last decade so why not buy guitars as investments?? At least I can get a bit of fun out of them (as opposed to watching another ETF shit the bed).

[Chad]

I don't have a whole lot of investments, but of the stocks and mutual funds I do have most have taken a poo in recent years.

I do have a lot of guitars and try to buy nice ones and hold out for good deals. Usually when I sell a guitar, I make a little or break even at worst. And I get to enjoy them while I own'em. I look at guitars as pieces of art. I love playing guitars, but I just love guitars. I almost enjoy them as much as art pieces as I do instruments. Tweaking and working on guitars is a fun hobby as well. With that said, I play every guitar I own, and if I don't "bond" with one, I don't keep it. So they are functional art pieces to me. I reckon for me it isn't a matter of collectibility vs playability, but rather a combination of both.

[Hellraiser6502]

I don't have a whole lot of investments, but of the stocks and mutual funds I do have most have taken a poo in recent years.

I do have a lot of guitars and try to buy nice ones and hold out for good deals. Usually when I sell a guitar, I make a little or break even at worst. And I get to enjoy them while I own'em. I look at guitars as pieces of art. I love playing guitars, but I just love guitars. I almost enjoy them as much as art pieces as I do instruments. Tweaking and working on guitars is a fun hobby as well. With that said, I play every guitar I own, and if I don't "bond" with one, I don't keep it. So they are functional art pieces to me. I reckon for me it isn't a matter of collectibility vs playability, but rather a combination of both.

My sentiments exactly.

[Ward]

My sentiments exactly.

Mine too.

[vector]

I don't have a whole lot of investments, but of the stocks and mutual funds I do have most have taken a poo in recent years.

I do have a lot of guitars and try to buy nice ones and hold out for good deals. Usually when I sell a guitar, I make a little or break even at worst. And I get to enjoy them while I own'em. I look at guitars as pieces of art. I love playing guitars, but I just love guitars. I almost enjoy them as much as art pieces as I do instruments. Tweaking and working on guitars is a fun hobby as well. With that said, I play every guitar I own, and if I don't "bond" with one, I don't keep it. So they are functional art pieces to me. I reckon for me it isn't a matter of collectibility vs playability, but rather a combination of both.

+1 If I can't play/bond w/ it, I don't want it. Have had LOTS of opportunities over the years to snag some sweet collectible axes. Sometimes it took years, sometimes hours to determine that it just didn't have the mojo. But the end result ws the same- it ended up on the block. Let someone else bond with it.
I just cringe at the thought of some non-guitar playing schlub inviting friends & associates over to see his mint whatever, behind plexiglass. Definitely NOT saying Dark Knight is that person but they're out there.

[chrisolson]

Buy 'em. Play 'em. I can't play for shit, and have the whole WDM collection. Not an elitist either, but it's not up to anyone to judge what I own by how well I play it. I finally had the means to get a few of my dream axes, and if I play them or not, it's nobody's business but my own. That said, if there's one thing I can't stand, it's a guitar in a case that never sees hands.

To the OP, if your intentions were pure, my apologies, and shame on me, but if it was a weakly disguised attempt to get offers, shame on you. Only you know which it was, and you sure as heck don't have to answer to me or anyone else here.

[CowboyFromHell]

Having been a lifetime musician and previously a collector, there are guitars I've had in the past that I didn't like the "playability" of but couldn't at the time bring myself to get rid of for various reasons. Collecting guitars that you may not like to play but hang onto as a manner of maintaining a piece of history doesn't make someone a nerd. When a person came along that fell in true love with a particular guitar in my collection I then let it go to them because I knew that not only would they play it but they would appreciate the history of it and take care of it.

[Corpsegrinder88]

When a person came along that fell in true love with a particular guitar in my collection I then let it go to them because I knew that not only would they play it but they would appreciate the history of it and take care of it.

I completely agree with this.. I bought RR0025 for this very reason. I fell in love with it at Waynes house and i knew he wouldnt ever sell RR0011 so once he saw the hearts he sold it to me.

i take it out and play it every now and then but for the most part its staying a case queen.

I think when it comes to Jacksons for me there are playable ones (beat to hell or refinished) and then collectible ones. ( minty for the most part and all original) Like J0323 Explorer. Love it. got some dings but how rare to find a low serial and still original?

I say i am a good mix of player and collector. and i also cant play for crap.

[BenoA]

I have a collection of guitars that are guitars I like to play, and none of them are worth shit.

I think exactly like this... And for me the "mojo" from a guitar comes when I hold it/play it and that the guitar makes feel something special.

I bought 2 RG550s and my BC Rich Gunslinger Retro because they brought back some cool memories from my teen age years.