Talk me out of buying another guitar.

[Justin Cyder]

Am I mad? I'm contemplating dropping 6k on a Fender strat. It's an enormous sum for a mass produced guitar. Then again it is a 1962 strat.

I've wanted one for years, the market is definitely hugely down from five years ago, I've looked on blue book & the price is about fair, but I would realsitically need to chop a few out of the collection to justify and fund it. Deal or no deal?

It would be to play, not to invest, any financial appreciation would just be a bonus.

[Uriel]

Justin Cyder said:

I would realsitically need to chop a few out of the collection to justify and fund it.

If you can justify it and fund it, then do it.

If you love it, you're buying because you want to have the guitar rather than buying an investment (which may be a good buy anyway), you can spare the money and if the guitars you're chopping in to get this one don't yank your crank as much (assuming they don't else you wouldn't be in this quandry) or are cheaper and more readily available, then you have no reason not to.

What colour/condition is the Strat?

[jbudgie]

Whats 'the 'blue book' ?

[Justin Cyder]

It's a refin in black, hence 50% of an untouched price, otherwise all checked & original from pups to pots to saddles & knobs.

The blue book is like the glass's guide for guitars.

[Uriel]

Buy it.

[Xandski]

Justin Cyder said:

Am I mad?

No

Justin Cyder said:

Then again it is a 1962 strat.

A good reason to buy it!

Justin Cyder said:

Deal or no deal?

Deal

Justin Cyder said:

It would be to play, not to invest, any financial appreciation would just be a bonus.

Its better off in your hands than someone who is going to mount it on their wall and never touch it and the fact that it will appreciate is something that makes it even more worth investing in. It'll make more over time than an ISA will and I know where I'd rather have my money tied up...

[Justin Cyder]

You chaps are bad for my wealth.

[Turn7]

Get it bought !

[gbbird]

Go for it. You only live once

[davepoth]

Justin Cyder said:

It would be to play, not to invest, any financial appreciation would just be a bonus.

Well why are you not out there buying it now? Get it done!

[Animal]

Sorry, can't help - I'm fighting the urge to dump 2k I don't have on a 1981 Les Paul Custom!

[Justin Cyder]

Right, doing the man maths, I've got an unloved Les Paul, a '76 strat I haven't played for years, a 2008 strat that's spare, a Parker P38 that's on Ebay, a heavily modded 2005 strat that's a main gigging guitar, a Palo Escrito tele that's gorgeous & a PRS SE.

I reckon on a good day I can hang on to the gigging strat for work, the PRS because it's brilliant, the Tele because I love it to death. Row out the rest and I might raise £3 to 3.5k.

I've got cash in hand to buy upfront anyway, but keeping it down to 1.5 - 2, plus thinning out the dusty end of the collection whilst picking up a guitar from the end of the hand crafted Leo Fender period with clay dots, slab neck, Brazillian rosewood and no CBS paw prints on it is beyond my weedy resistance.

[Xandski]

Animal said:

Sorry, can't help - I'm fighting the urge to dump 2k I don't have on a 1981 Les Paul Custom!

Why? Any classic guitar is going to make more money long term than the average savings account and, minor consideration here, you'll also be the owner of a beautiful instrument that'll give you more pleasure and memories (if you play live) than a healthy bank ballance. There, thats the financial side done

Having just dropped over a grand on two Parkers, one of which was just a neck, body and scratchplate (the grand includes all the electronics it), I'm really not in any position to convince you both either way...

Just fing do it :P

[Xandski]

Justin Cyder said:

a Parker P38 that's on Ebay

Am biding on it as we speak I love parkers... I have 3 P38s and a Nitefly in the collection at the moment.

[Justin Cyder]

Are you? Good luck, it's a good one. Here's how it was before and during the refurb. Chipped paint on the horn.





and all done.

[Xandski]

Thanks, its a stunner that will have a good home should I win it ( I really hope I do)

My collection (in part)



This is my main guitar and the rebuild (before the pickups, sustainer and graphtec ghost midi system went in).



My other 38 after being lent out to a guitarist who broke a string on both his main and backup within two songs.

[Justin Cyder]

Live = 10% more push on the strings! I got it from Ebay with the damage on, spent days rubbing it down and filling the dings until it was as smooth as a baby's bum, that was a real effort, then sent it off to Wheeler the magician, who took a month painting it. He reckons it's two coats of paint and eight coats of nitro lacquer. It's much darker than a standard red 38 & the pearl flecks shine through.

Only Parkernauts will ever notice, but if they do, they're going to want to know about the colour.

[davepoth]

Justin Cyder said:

Right, doing the man maths, I've got an unloved Les Paul, a '76 strat I haven't played for years, a 2008 strat that's spare, a Parker P38 that's on Ebay, a heavily modded 2005 strat that's a main gigging guitar, a Palo Escrito tele that's gorgeous & a PRS SE.

I reckon on a good day I can hang on to the gigging strat for work, the PRS because it's brilliant, the Tele because I love it to death. Row out the rest and I might raise £3 to 3.5k.

I've got cash in hand to buy upfront anyway, but keeping it down to 1.5 - 2, plus thinning out the dusty end of the collection whilst picking up a guitar from the end of the hand crafted Leo Fender period with clay dots, slab neck, Brazillian rosewood and no CBS paw prints on it is beyond my weedy resistance.

I reckon you might do £4k on those ones you are selling. Mid 70s Strats are making strong money (a couple of 76s on eBay in the USA are going for $2800 or so), I guess mainly due to them being old Fenders, rather than any idea of playability.

[Big_Dog]

Anything only costs what it loses really. If you are keeping it 18months or so you would easy see your money back.
Meanwhile you get to enjoy it and thats what we work for.
Why haven't you bought it yet?
You can't afford not to.
Don't let me influence you though.

[Justin Cyder]

It's genuinely about owning one from the period. I've been a fan of Fender guitars since I don't know when & the market has moved in my direction enough for one to become a reality. I say own one, I've got four right now, but one from the tail end of the glory days is a dream.

A '54 with Tad Gomez's John Hancock on it would be nice...