over the years I have sold something approaching a gazillion guitars, some because I didn’t like them (eg. every single 335, and there have been many), some because I bought a better one (eg. most Strats, there have been many more), some because I needed money (eg. every vintage guitar and then loads more) and some because I was stupid (countless).
I am now quite content with what I possess (from a gigging pov) but I still look back (no doubt through rose coloured specs) and wish I still had many of them. I’m not including specific guitars ( Fender first year of Custom Shop 40th Anniversary Telecaster no 40 of 300, come home to daddy etc etc) but more those production guitars that were so good and that there is still a chance I might find again.
So I would buy...
Early Classic Player 60s Strat in Sonic blue. Fantastic guitar, the twangiest Strat ever and the match of any of the (more than 20) Custom Shop Strats i’ve subsequently owned.
Epiphone 57 Les Paul Junior reissue in korina. Killer guitar, even better with a Bare Knuckle P90 (this isn’t the bolt on, humbucker diseased epi junior but a pretty faithful repro of the real thing).
Squier JV Tele. Nuff said.
Epiphone Sheraton. This was a lovely reissue from a few years back - mini hummers, very retro trem, limited edition, not the standard Korean one.
Many more... but that’s a start!
Comments
- ‘93 PRS Custom 22, grey-black, stop-tail and birds, heavily worn finish, elusive Dragon 1s... bloody lovely thing that I bought for a song in 2006, I should never have sold that one! I think it went to @Pwalo perhaps on the MR/Intermusic forums?
Probably others too that I don’t remember right now, but they’re the two that instantly spring to mind
Like a complete bellend, I traded it for a Les Paul Standard that I was gassing for at the time and have regretted it ever since (The Les Paul was sold within 3 months)
It was only a USA model and had no right to be a great guitar, but the 3 or 4 other SGs I've had since, (including a custom shop model) have not come anywhere near so far and have long since been moved on.
I loved it - but it had to go for short-term financial reasons. I will have one again...
But none of the several Murphy-aged and other Historic LPs that I’ve owned would get my attention again, nor the two Terry Morgans, nor the various CS Relic Strats and Teles. Why not? Either they weren’t as good guitars as I expected them to be (the Morgans), or they’ve been replaced with better examples (the Relics, the R9). Or I realised they just weren’t floating my boat and weren’t getting used (the PRS Customs and McCartys, and every 335 I’ve ever owned!).
2006 PRS Modern Eagle Blue Jean Fade with solid Brazilian rosewood neck.
2016 Gibson Les Paul Custom R8
both sold and regretted
Ibanez Paul Gilbert Fireman- Sold it because I wasn't cool/good enough to have a Paul Gilbert signature guitar. In hindsight it was brilliant and really versatile. It looked AMAZING. The neck and pickups were pretty special too. I still have an eBay/Gumtree alert for one of these.
In a perfect world I'd have hung on to four if I had space for them (I don't!) and I didn't need the money.
Superb Fender Custom shop 5 string Reggie Hamilton bass. Actually I do regret selling that a bit, apart from the fact that it was pristine condition - I hate shiny new stuff. Played like a dream.
Status 5 string headless with LEDs. Superb bass but annoyingly heavy.
PRS 20th anniversary CU22. Superb guitar, once again to shiny and new for my liking.
Patrick Eggle Vienna Pro. My first really good guitar.
oh yes, I gave one of my sons my Parker Fly deluxe to persuade him to, let's say improve his lifestyle choices about 5 years ago. He did, but he never ever picks up the guitar now. Oh well, I miss the guitar but happily take the result.
The only two I actually miss are the squier strat I repainted and changed everything on and the partscaster tele I recently sold because I bought all the parts individually, assembled, wired it from scratch and spent a long time working on.
Fender classic series 50s strat, 2TSB. I totally realise I could easily buy the same again (although prices are now a bit punchy I find) but nevertheless I shouldn't have sold it for a relative pittance in a shop part-ex.
Also had a Gibson Les Paul Studio Deluxe 60s limited edition guitar. It was really nice. Fantastic neck, great sounds. And I let it go because I didn't love the finish. Daft really.
Godin Artisan TC - really nice Tele with a great neck, all it needed was some new pickups. Again, I'm an idiot.
I won't mind another go on the Jap 62 reissue Fender Strat I sold, but I think I'm at peace with that one due to the neck.
I wouldn't mind the Squier Strat I had in the early 90s again - cream body, white scratchplate, maple neck - again, might have just needed a bit of TLC and it would have been fine.
PRS SE Custom Semi Hollow (the first one with the Rickenbacker type sound holes). I ended up buying a second hand one some years latter to replace it then gave it to my son and bought an S2 version.
Parker Dragonfly 624 in Root Beer. Hated the colour, didn't think much of the piezo pickups and wasn't that keen on the magnetic pickups but it was the most comfortable guitar to wear. Traded for my PRS Studio 22, so I can't complain.
Washburn KC70V in red. My first 'proper' guitar. I never really got on with the Floyd Rose type trem but a great looking guitar. Sold it when I got my Patrick Eggle Berlin Pro but wish that I'd kept both.
Rickenbacker 400* (not sure whether it was a 1 or a 3). It was Jetglow and some plank had fitted a precision type pickup between the two Rick's (and changed to a black scratch plate in the process). Fantastic neck.
Epiphone Century. Single P90, tuned down to D with wound G string. The best home blues-noodle guitar. Don't even have to plug it in