On the move again! Toying with selling a guitar that I never thought I'd sell...

imalrightjack · August 2023

Here we go with a will I regret this and is there even any point, i.e. does it have any value?

So, it's a 1973 Gibson SG that had a neck break and catastrophic repair. Master luthier Haydn Williams retained the original ebony board and built a new wenge neck - and it's a great little guitar, very resonant. But...I hardly ever play it, as I tend to play fast widdly bollocks it feels way more a jazzy/blues/punk/grunge guitar. It has nostalgic value but then if I held onto everything that had a connection to my past I'd be a ridiculous hoarder. So I am hovering over selling it. Had I any children or relatives to hand it onto, I would. It really does feel like it should be used more.

The new neck is an improvement on the original, it's now fitted with Haydn's hand-wound P90s (I still have the unidentified aftermarket once-yellow bobbins but now covered humbuckers) but...what kind of price would it fetch (it has an Epi case)? I still have the original headstock face and bit of the headstock itself but that clearly doesn't help, aside prove what it once was.

I might well keep it but I'm curious to know what you wise people think.

Full back-story here: https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/183769/the-ongoing-salvation-of-a-70s-gibson-sg/p1

Image: https://i.ibb.co/Ln5qN1B/P1020199.jpg

ICBM · August 2023

I think you should keep it and play fast widdly bollocks on it. They're actually quite good for that, at least by the standards of 'classic' guitar designs.

If you do decide to sell it, it's definitely worth less than an undamaged one despite probably being a better guitar, but it certainly isn't worth nothing.

But I would still keep it.

WezV · August 2023

Keep, because it's worth more to you as is than anyone else.

Loobs · August 2023

That’s very cool, I might be interested if it’s cheap.

Offset · August 2023

I would absolutely 100% keep that!

HarrySeven · August 2023

That’s lovely!

Kittyfrisk · August 2023

Very cool & unique. Don't sell it, you won't get enough to blot out the inevitable regret.

theatreanchor · August 2023

Ach, don’t sell that!!!

guitars4you · August 2023

I'd keep it - as a player grade 'oldie' it is probably worth more to you than try to justify all the 'issues' to a potential buyer who'd want to beat you down on the price - Ask a grand they'd offer less - Ask £800 they'd still offer less, pointy out the 'negatives' each time, as though you hadn't noticed already and price accordingly

monquixote · August 2023

It's probably a brilliant guitar that's worth bugger all so I'd suggest you keep it.

imalrightjack · August 2023

It’d be easier if it went to somebody I know, like @andy1839, where it wouldn’t just be flipped.

I’ll have to have a think. If the four I have listed sold I’d be likely to consider moving it on.

BillDL · August 2023

I've just read your story about that guitar and if it was mine I would definitely not sell it unless I was absolutely broke and none of my other guitars would make enough money.

Strangefan · August 2023

I would love that

andy1839 · August 2023

imalrightjack said:

It’d be easier if it went to somebody I know, like @andy1839, where it wouldn’t just be flipped.

I’ll have to have a think. If the four I have listed sold I’d be likely to consider moving it on.

Having played this, I can comment a little bit on it.

It's super resonant and feels really lively.
The neck is gorgeous. Out of the guitars i played at yours that day, this is pretty much the only one I vividly remember, and definitely my favourite of yours.

I can't play fast or even very well, but as a basic guitarist I honestly loved it.

I thought you'd never sell this!

I know you'll regret it.

MSedg · August 2023

Don’t sell it, you’ll never get out the value to you or the money you’ve put into it.

(if you do though, add me to the queue)

ICBM · August 2023

I've just re-read the original thread and I'm even more strongly going to advise you not to sell it - even if you never play it, and even if you don't think guitars should be left unplayed... it's got a long history with you and one day you'll miss it, and then it will be gone.

Personally, I would put the DiMarzio (I think that's what they are) pickups back in - that will make it more suited to the type of music you play, I think.

sgosden · August 2023

HarrySeven said:

That’s lovely!

Theres your confirmation it tat and no one else will buy it.

roberty · August 2023

ICBM said:

Personally, I would put the DiMarzio (I think that's what they are) pickups back in - that will make it more suited to the type of music you play, I think.

Everything is better with Dimarzios. Definitely wang whatever suits what you do in there. I see guitars mostly as pickup vessels though obviously they are very nice as well lol

Cols · August 2023

imalrightjack said:

I hardly ever play it, as I tend to play fast widdly bollocks it feels way more a jazzy/blues/punk/grunge guitar.

Ah, keep it. Just drop a couple of EMGs and a Floyd Rose into it.

Ooh! And scallop the fretboard.

tony99 · August 2023

Refinish it graffiti yellow, carve a monkey grip into it and add a sideways vibrola / bigsby.

Then you'll never be able to sell it.

Schnozz · August 2023

Get it mounted over a mantle piece somewhere - I had a guitar that I wasn't playing and I wish I did that...

Do you still have the Williams?

tone1 · August 2023

I quite fancy that…but then again, I am a bit of a tart

imalrightjack · August 2023

I think it must stay!

@Schnozz Don’t be silly. I’m about as good at holding onto guitars as Barry Butterfingers.

Penn · August 2023

Funny thing is doing the honest thing and not having the Gibson logo put back on it probably devalues it a lot.

If you’d been worried about selling it ever you wouldn’t have done that. I think that means deep down it’s probably always been a keeper to you.

Keep it.

chris78 · August 2023

@imalrightjack ;
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

And then when you’ve thought about it, no again.

Its not worth much and the sentimental value is so high, you’ll regret it forever.

SpoonMan · August 2023

Well I'll go against the grain and say if you're not playing it and not loving it let someone else.

I'd play the crap out of that!

fastonebaz · August 2023

I play fast widdly bollocks on my SGs for years now. Highly recommended.

roberty · August 2023

chris78 said:

@imalrightjack ;;
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Mama mia, mama mia

elstoof · August 2023

chris78 said:
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
.

No, no, there’s no limits

Schnozz · August 2023

imalrightjack said:

I think it must stay!

@Schnozz Don’t be silly. I’m about as good at holding onto guitars as Barry Butterfingers.

The grey/blue one you had made for you too?? You're worse than me!!

Mudz73 · August 2023

Nice! My birth year too!

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On the move again! Toying with selling a guitar that I never thought I'd sell...

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