If you owned a collectible classic guitar would you play it?

Jethro Rocker

Jethro Rocker

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I don't mean a 300k Burst necessarily but even a 40 or 50k Goldtop or such. If (and some here might) owned one would you play it or hang on the wall? Keep in case to take out now and then?
How often would you play it?
Just curious.
I know some of the owners of original burst LPs collect because of the value. They might dabble but not really play them.
For me even a 60k guitar is meant to be played. If I owned one I would play it out, admittedly sparingly, and keep it with me at all times. Certainly play it at home.
I think any guitar is meant to be played. @67plexi 62 or 61 Strat, he plays it. As it should be.

1958



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Not that I actually have anything that’s truly classic, or collectible….but I’d play it…I have my oldest guitar(age wise) next to me as I type…I used it on my last recording….I would gig with it….without hesitation….proudly. Any of my guitars that are in my collection, are there because I really like them for some reason. I enjoy having any time that I have with them.
 
I play out almost all of my guitars. My main two or three guitars before building my own were my '69 SG Standard, '76 Bicentennial Firebird, and '85 Les Paul Standard.

The FIrebird is easily worth five grand these days. Same with the SG, and maybe the Les Paul is just under. My next gig will probably see me playing my homemade Flying V and my ES-335. Again, not cheap guitars. I still have to separate my brain and guitars, as they were just used guitars when I bought them, as opposed to what they are now. My SG, I paid $200 for, but was still a lot of money at the time. My FIrebird was $300, and my Les Paul was $700. I have other guitars that are old, and I did not pay much for, but now look at them and need to remind myself, "Oh yeah, that is fifty years old now." I also do the same thing with amps. I have no problem taking a 40 - 50 year old Marshall or Hiwatt to a gig. I just need to make sure I keep an eye on the stuff.

Since I don't play out as much as I used to, I can't justify the money on new "gig specific" gear that I can not worry about breaking or having stolen. I'll continue to use the stuff that doesn't owe me anything. I just bought a cool new amp, but I plan on using that as a replacement. I hope that it's such an anomaly, that no one will want to steal it.
 
Thatbastarddon said:
Not that I actually have anything that’s truly classic, or collectible….but I’d play it…I have my oldest guitar(age wise) next to me as I type…I used it on my last recording….I would gig with it….without hesitation….proudly. Any of my guitars that are in my collection, are there because I really like them for some reason. I enjoy having any time that I have with them.
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Amen.
You have 'em cause you like 'em so play away!!
SG John said:
I play out almost all of my guitars. My main two or three guitars before building my own were my '69 SG Standard, '76 Bicentennial Firebird, and '85 Les Paul Standard.

The FIrebird is easily worth five grand these days. Same with the SG, and maybe the Les Paul is just under. My next gig will probably see me playing my homemade Flying V and my ES-335. Again, not cheap guitars. I still have to separate my brain and guitars, as they were just used guitars when I bought them, as opposed to what they are now. My SG, I paid $200 for, but was still a lot of money at the time. My FIrebird was $300, and my Les Paul was $700. I have other guitars that are old, and I did not pay much for, but now look at them and need to remind myself, "Oh yeah, that is fifty years old now." I also do the same thing with amps. I have no problem taking a 40 - 50 year old Marshall or Hiwatt to a gig. I just need to make sure I keep an eye on the stuff.

Since I don't play out as much as I used to, I can't justify the money on new "gig specific" gear that I can not worry about breaking or having stolen. I'll continue to use the stuff that doesn't owe me anything. I just bought a cool new amp, but I plan on using that as a replacement. I hope that it's such an anomaly, that no one will want to steal it.
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Absolutely get that.
I have no real classic guitars, the Wine Red 1976 LP Custom was upwards of 5k when I got it, worth more now. The new 1960 Reissue was a more pricey bugger but I really love it so it deserves to get played.
 
I forget if it was The New York Times or Wall Street Journal. But, they are the culprits for jacking the values of old guitars. It was only violins that demanded high prices until that article. After that, every hedge fund broker had to get his hands on any old Gibson, Fender, Gretsch, Rickenbacker, and any other guitar someone in the sixties or seventies got famous playing. $200 Gibson SG all of a sudden were $2000-$12,000 depending on the year and model. Same with pre CBS Strats. Everything got out of hand, and players were all of a sudden locked out of the used guitar market, which was now called "The Vintage Guitar Market." Some of the collectors seem way too obsessive to me. I don't see why you need to own 25 1954-1957 Strats or 10 '58-'60 Les Pauls. Especially when they don't even play them. Get them back into the hands of players. Not that I'm a big Metallica fan, but I'm relieved to see Kirk Hammett playing the Peter Green/Gary Moore Les Paul on stage. That's where that guitar belongs. If I had the cash to buy it, I would be playing it in a beer soaked dive bar.
 
My Martin 00-14 Custom Limited Edition acoustic. Purchased new.

It would go into my casket by my choice.

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I have to admit, it's pure ornament. The finish is very thin vintage-like matte satin
and just the humidity from the skin, let alone skin and sweat will instantly trash it.
I played it a couple times and started to notice a bit of this so I stopped. If you
try to wipe the sweat off it polishes it and ruins it again. :rolleyes:
 
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I own nothing collectible. Closest I come is a 1974 Ovation acoustic/electric. I was playing it today. Purchased it a few months before my future bride and I started dating. I still have both the guitar and the bride.

But like classic cars. If I had one I’d drive/play it. Why have it if you don’t.

A side note. It is true. The guitar player gets the girl. I can vouch for that.
 
iblive said:
I own nothing collectible. Closest I come is a 1974 Ovation acoustic/electric. I was playing it today. Purchased it a few months before my future bride and I started dating. I still have both the guitar and the bride.

But like classic cars. If I had one I’d drive/play it. Why have it if you don’t.

A side note. It is true. The guitar player gets the girl. I can vouch for that.
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Yes cars are a fine example too.
 
A couple other things.

As the Ovation approaches 50 years, I have become a bit more particular and careful. While my electrics all sit out on guitar stands ready to be grabbed at a moments notice…. If the Ovation isn’t in my hands it’s in it’s hard shell case and latched.

My youngest kid who plays a pretty mean guitar and bass knows he’s the future caretaker when I’m gone.
 
iblive said:
A couple other things.

As the Ovation approaches 50 years, I have become a bit more particular and careful. While my electrics all sit out on guitar stands ready to be grabbed at a moments notice…. If the Ovation isn’t in my hands it’s in it’s hard shell case and latched.

My youngest kid who plays a pretty mean guitar and bass knows he’s the future caretaker when I’m gone.
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Because I take them out, all mine stay in cases. Otherwise they take up twice the room and I need them in cases at some point anyhow.
The one I have had the longest is my first guitar, the 1978 Goya L6S copy I had since new. Otherwise the 75 L6 and the 76 Les Paul. It is in extremely good condition but not sure it is collectible as such. The Custom Shop has risen 2k in retail since 2019. They haven't dropped in value, for sure. I think I may use the 76 later this month for a 1 set fun thing.


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The closes i have to a collectable guitar would be my Richie Faulkner epiphone and its my primary player, already has some light battle scars. Honestly im in the boat of, if i wouldn't even break it out of its case to play it...why own it? Unless it holds some sort of sentimental value.
 
I see no point in having it if you don't play it. There's no greater example than Joe Bonamassa - the dude tours with a couple million dollars' worth of vintage/collectible gear.

The only guitar that I have that comes close to falling into this category is my '79 LPC Silverburst. I guess right now they are worth about $10k, which is not a crazy amount of money, but more than most would spend on a guitar. I don't hesitate to play it anywhere I want at any time I want.
 
SG John said:
I forget if it was The New York Times or Wall Street Journal. But, they are the culprits for jacking the values of old guitars. It was only violins that demanded high prices until that article. After that, every hedge fund broker had to get his hands on any old Gibson, Fender, Gretsch, Rickenbacker, and any other guitar someone in the sixties or seventies got famous playing. $200 Gibson SG all of a sudden were $2000-$12,000 depending on the year and model. Same with pre CBS Strats. Everything got out of hand, and players were all of a sudden locked out of the used guitar market, which was now called "The Vintage Guitar Market." Some of the collectors seem way too obsessive to me. I don't see why you need to own 25 1954-1957 Strats or 10 '58-'60 Les Pauls. Especially when they don't even play them. Get them back into the hands of players. Not that I'm a big Metallica fan, but I'm relieved to see Kirk Hammett playing the Peter Green/Gary Moore Les Paul on stage. That's where that guitar belongs. If I had the cash to buy it, I would be playing it in a beer soaked dive bar.
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Sounds like the basis for a new classic tale - The Adventures of Guitrobin Hood.

I suppose I can see the investment angle of it though.
I couldn't own it and not play it.
 
Despite the historical value and beauty of any guitar, it is a tool at the end of the day and a tool should be implemented. Owning something to stare at never made much sense to me, other than a piece of artwork and I have opinions of that as well: they should all be in museums for everyone to witness and not in a private collection.

I don't own anything right now that would be individually valued above probably $3000, so I don't have that worry. But if given the chance to acquire a valuable piece? Yeah, it's getting used or it ain't getting bought, period
 
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