How to spend £2.5k

lincolnblue

Although it's a few years away, I am planning on a big guitar purchase for a big birthday. I think I'll probably have around £2.5k to spend.

I'm trying to decide what would be the best way to spend it. It's going to be a guitar I keep so re-sale value isn't likely to be an issue. 
In your opinion, what would be better, buying a used guitar e.g Fender, Gibson, a new guitar like Deusenberg, or getting a guitar custom made for me?

I'm not sure what type of guitar I want yet so not after suggestions of models, but just curious as to how you think that sort of money is best spent

wesker123

Huge 2nd hand guitar market now with so much choice at that price.
I would go to somewhere like Codamusic and try their electrics & acoustics.

BBBlues

If you say resale value is not a factor, it’s purely down to your personal preference...

In my experience, resale value will always be a factor (eventually) for most people and you shouldn’t overlook this. Bearing this is mind, I’d go s/h Fender or Gibson custom shop.

drpbier

Watching. Might be in the same boat - so far my thoughts are something from makers known for great quality but do their own thing. I have Patrick Eggle, Friedman, Music Man in mind.

JerkMoans

Buy my Custom Shop ‘57 reissue Les Paul Custom. 

Job done, Bish bosh.

lincolnblue

drpbier said:

Watching. Might be in the same boat - so far my thoughts are something from makers known for great quality but do their own thing. I have Patrick Eggle, Friedman, Music Man in mind.

I have a few years to save so it really is early days but Patrick Eggle is one I've thought about. 

Snags

I've rapidly approaching a Significant Birthday and have come to the conclusion that as there is no one specific guitar I absolutely know that I really, really want I'm better off not attaching heavy money to the idea.

Instead, I'm hoping to use the intervening months to go and play lots of different guitars that have always held a mild curiosity, and look at whether anything super-nice comes up secondhand in either the double humbucker or dreadnought line.

Deciding that it needs to be big bucks because it's a big birthday when I don't actually have a "dream" or aspirational guitar in mind suddenly struck me as being a mug's game, and would likely end up with me regretting dropping the money down the line. If I can use it it to sneak two really nice but more affordable instruments past Mrs Snags' "there's no space left" detector that seems like a much better plan. Particularly as I've had an ace amount of fun out of a pre-loved Reverend recently for only a few hundred quid.

YMMV, but possibly worth a thought. And of course, you've got longer than me to fixate on "The One" at which point the game changes.

mgaw

2nd hand without a doubt for me, I rarely see the point in buying new, unless its the only one available to you....I did do just that with a Preston Thompson Acoustic, I had been looking for a looooooooooong time for a used one and ran out of patience....

stickyfiddle

For my 30th I went to my shop of choice, played about 20 guitars and came home with a Gibson Dove, which was the best in the shop by miles. 

I then swapped that for a Martin HD28 18 months later, and that guitar is even better. 

My point, I guess, is not to get too hung up on the instrument itself, but that the shopping experience can be as much part of the gift as anything else. 

Wazmeister

wesker123 said:

Huge 2nd hand guitar market now with so much choice at that price.
I would go to somewhere like Codamusic and try their electrics & acoustics.

My advice exactly 

FastEddie

Speak to Martyn Booth. I've one of his guitars and it's in a different league to the Custom Shop Les Paul's I've had.

or

Add a bit more and spec a PRS Wood Library - this is my next guitar.

guitars4you

I'd choose the used approach - You'll get more for your money, with less/little depreciation over a 10/20 year period , as most of the depreciation has already been paid by the previous owner - Vast choice of used guitars today and many in pristine condition with little use - Granted the guitar for sale might not be on your door step, but neither are many/any custom built options - No brainer as far as I'm concerned

Nerine

Yep. 
For that sort of money, I'd be looking at scoring a deal on a used R8 or R9 Les Paul. 
The people that buy those kinds of guitars are very unlikely to play them in too much anger. 
That's generalising of course. 

Dodge

I'd be trying to find an 80's PRS Custom at that price point.  Great guitars and whilst I know you said you weren't bothered about resale, they are becoming collectable and should start to appreciate.

sweepy

Custom built Les Paul perhaps ? There will be 3 Ryder Les Pauls at the Brum show on Sunday.

roberty

JerkMoans said:

Buy my Custom Shop ‘57 reissue Les Paul Custom. 

Job done, Bish bosh.

Details?

JerkMoans

roberty said:

JerkMoans said:

Buy my Custom Shop ‘57 reissue Les Paul Custom. 

Job done, Bish bosh.

Details?

Details

Alnico

I'd be on a train to Croydon for a cup of tea.

Good luck.

Greatape

http://www.peachguitars.com/guitars/electric-guitars/suhr-classic-pro-peach-ltd-hss-maple-3-tone-sunburst.htm

Strat54

Dodge said:

I'd be trying to find an 80's PRS Custom at that price point.  Great guitars and whilst I know you said you weren't bothered about resale, they are becoming collectable and should start to appreciate.

They seem to have already hit a celiling. I don't see them appreciating at the moment. Even the 85's are being discounted from their once lofty prices. Nice guitars but then again so are the latest ones. 

TINMAN82

I recently got a new custom shop strat from coda for £2.5k. Haggled them down £300 lower than list price as a 2017 model. I was s but worried it hadn’t sold for a reason but needn’t have been. Best strat I’ve ever played.