Your thoughts on this.

I have to echo some of what others have said.

If it was just the matter of the guitar and the bad experiences you had with your MIL's husband, personally, that would not keep me from accepting the guitar. That's just me. I do understand feelings to the contrary, however.

However, if there is any suspicion at all that it will be a means of manipulation, I would not accept it. I wouldn't even take it with the idea of selling it and giving the money back. Even that could be twisted: "I can't believe you sold that guitar! Now, you try to give me the money? What is this...some sort of pay-off?"

No. I'd refuse as kindly as I could.
 
Any discussion of value?
BIL didn't claim it?
I showed the MIL a couple on reverb but also showed her how long they had been for sale. I told her let’s wait until after Christmas and we will be back down at some point. The BIL asked about it and I told him it’s in the closet pull it out if you wish. I don’t know if he did or not. Things ended up pretty tense, the things we do for love :ROFLMAO: .
 
well and so... I read this whole thread. Lots of excellent insights on here.
I believe you did the right thing in just leaving it be. Least said, soonest mended.

I liked the idea expressed above, that maybe this is an opportunity to repair the relationships...
but I also know how hard that can be. It's good to keep in mind, but... your call.

IMHO no guitar is worth this kind of bull-taco. I own about nine guitars now, and each has their
own story, but they are all good stories. I can feel those when I play the instruments.

That's priceless. Now there are ways to cleanse an instrument (or any object) of negativity.
If a guitar like this came to me, that's the first thing I would do. A cleansing ritual, new strings new strap
new cables... rub 'er down with some Guitar Nomad products, scrape the dead punk skin off the fretboard,
leave the guitar out in the moonlight for a night. Some Arizona sun would also cleanse the instrument ...

Then play the hell out of it. If it doesn't feel right, get it set up by a pro luthier. Then play it some more.
Then keep it or sell it, you'll know by then. Good luck... family comes first. If family members are difficult, then
use love to make things better if possible. Avoid money issues like the plague that they are.
You can always make more money... but with family you get what you get.
 
I don't care where a guitar came from, having said that I never got one from someone I really didn't like (especially family related). But I've bought so many guitars over the years, some sellers I didn't like, but I didn't care. People criticized me back in the day because I bought a bunch of stuff (guitars & amps) from a lady whose husband had just died. But they didn't know or care that the lady wanted the stuff gone fast, NEEDED the money to pay her rent and cried that I had helped her. She was so happy she cried. It wasn't stuff I specifically wanted, and I donated a nice Acoustic (brand) bass amp to a struggling church because I didn't need it and they were all the rage at that time. I didn't maximize my profits like I could have, so it didn't bother me at all. And generally, in this world, I don't care what anyone thinks about anything....get off my lawn. BOTTOM LINE: only you know how you feel, and no one can tell you how to feel.
 
Late to this party lol...

I would have zero issues accepting a Les Paul from an ahole.... Literally swap the bridge pickup, clean it really well, and say "she's mine now suckers!"

If you've ever owned a used guitar, chances are really good that it was played and or owned by an ahole... Just my two cents worth.
 
IMHO It isn't the guitar's fault that your step father in law was a dick.

If wife's mom wants tô give It to you, why not? It's Just a guitar
 
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Take the guitar.
Give the guitar to the most needy deserving student who longs for a good guitar to play. (preferably, a stranger)

Then, the Karma will be corrected.

The most unpleasant thing will be turned into the most joyful thing....by you.

People mistakenly believe that Buddhism is a religion...it's not.
It's a philosophy.
 
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MIL strings attached? Absolutely Not.

Was gonna say depends on the color. But with MIL strings attached. No way.
 
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