Lunch Report For Monday, October 3, 2011

[Boogie Bill]

Monday, Monday….

Welcome to the Lunch Report. I’m Bill, and I’m turning 61 on Friday. I was born in Hamilton, Ohio, near Cincinnati. My family moved to the Seattle area when I was 10. I’m a college dropout from the University of Washington (Go Huskies!), and I left school to pursue a music career. I actually supported myself solely with music income for about 12 years, mostly doing a solo act—singing and playing my guitar with a drum machine. I moved to Oregon in the fall of 2001, and settled in a suburb of Portland, Oregon, where I live with my best friend, Miss Leslie. She’s a CPA, currently buried with trying get out income tax filings—which have to be in by October 15th.

I still gig; I have a classic rock/blues/country/jazz cover band, with my friends Don and his wife Sandy. Don covers the low end, and Sandy plays keyboards; and she and I split the lead vocals evenly. I do a few of my original songs, too. Sometimes we’ll use a live drummer, but we take a lot of gigs in small places and then we use our Alesis SR-16 drum machines.

I’ve been singing since I could talk, I think. I remember getting up on a stage at a remote radio broadcast and singing for the radio host when I was about five. I sang in the school choirs, and in my high school’s jazz vocal group. I’ve sung at churches, weddings, funeral, and even sung the national anthem at a football game. So, voice is really my primary instrument.

I started playing guitar when I was 14. My first guitar was a four-string Stella tenor guitar, with strings about 1/4” off the fret board. My first good electric guitar was a circa 1960 Fender Duo-Sonic in Desert Sand, with a rosewood fingerboard; and I had a Harmony Sovereign Jumbo for an acoustic. I’ve owned some really great instruments over the years, including a 1968 Telecaster Thinline in ash, with a Bigsby; a 1960 Strat; a circa 1970 Gibson ES-330TD; an ES-150DCN from the same vintage; a 1975 Gibson Les Paul ’55 Special Reissue; and a 1972 Martin D-18. Unfortunately, all of those have gone away, but I still have my Music Man Sabre II that I bought new in 1979, and a second one I bought in 1985.

I currently have 18 G&Ls, and a total of 50 instruments, including my five-string Ibanez banjo, and my Fender Precision “Lyte” bass. It is total overkill, but what can I say--G&Ls are addictive. I have eleven Gibsons, five Ibanez, and seven Martins. I have a lot of “duplicate” models, and yes, it is insane. And it is a lot of fun, too! I know how fortunate I am to have so many nice guitars.


===================

I’m posting this early, so you folks on the East Coast will have something to read at lunch. Lunch today will be on the run, as I will be off to my local Costco pharmacy to get a prescription refill and my annual flu shot. I’m thinking that I might want to cruise into a favorite local “Texas-style” barbecue restaurant. I love their BBQ pork loin sandwiches, and I’ll wash it down with water—or a Coke, if I want to be bad. Their coleslaw is another favorite—I love the celery seed they put in it—tastes like the coleslaw my mother used to make.


===================

To SHAVE, or not to shave, that is the question. I have a full beard and mustache with WAAAAAY too much gray. All my friends in college had beards, while I stayed clean-shaven. When we got out of school, they all started shaving, and that’s when I grew a beard. LOL! I’ve had it for so long, I’m not sure I’d recognize myself without it. I sometimes think I should shave it, but Miss Leslie likes it, so it’s staying. I do have to shave a little under my throat, to keep the line clean; and I do shave the apples of my cheeks.

I shave in the shower, without a mirror. I use a Gillette Sensor Excel razor that uses a dual blade cartridge. I soap up with Neutrogena bar soap, rinse, repeat and then I scrape off the offending varmints. I like the Neutrogena, and I seem to get a pretty smooth shave. The Neutrogena is very gentle on my skin, and I manage to keep from nicking myself, even without the mirror.

I have a Wahl trimmer that I use to keep my beard trimmed. I like to keep it about 1/2" to 5/8” long, so I go over it about every 10 days or so. The trimmer is handy to keep my eyebrows from going totally berserk, too. Seems like as I got older, I lost my hair in the places I wanted to keep it and started growing it in the places I didn’t want it!

So, are you a practitioner of the manly art of shaving? What’s your secret to getting a close shave? What kind of razor—electric or blade? Hot water, or do you tough it out and use cold water? Do you use an electric pre-shave, or a shaving cream/gel?

Or do you maintain a hirsute visage? Mustache? Beard? Van Dyke, soul-patch, or just rockin’ some great sideburns? Do you keep the Don Johnson “MiamiVice” unshaven look, or are you gigging in a ZZ Top tribute band?

And then, do you wear cologne or aftershave? Got a favorite scent that makes the girls swoon? Hey, we want to know your secret!!!!


===================

I don’t have a good G&L question for today, but I did take a deep breath while I was typing my list of guitars in the introduction, realizing that there were some vintage instruments that are pretty pricey in today’s market. Wish now I had hung on to some of those, but when I’ve HAD to sell off an instrument, I always KEPT the ones that were the working guitars—the ones that were making me money—and sold the “investment” guitars.

Now, if I really wanted an “investment” guitar, I could go find a vintage Fender to play, but I LIKE playing my G&Ls—actually better than any vintage instrument I’ve owned. So, I guess they are an investment—perhaps I would liken them to penny stocks, rather than having just five shares of Microsoft, or something. It can be hard to sell a $20,000 guitar—but there are a lot more folks interested in $1,000 guitars. So I’m trying to buy low and sell high; and even if I just make a modest profit when time comes to sell, I’ll be doing okay. And, I have the added benefit of getting to play the guitars. I gig with all of my guitars, even with the expensive (to me) Les Pauls and Martins.

So, the question for today is—have you ever bought a guitar that you were going to set aside as an investment?

Are you stockpiling G&Ls for your retirement fund, like me, in hopes they will out-perform the stock market?

Do you have a guitar that you’ve had for a while that has significantly appreciated in value over the last few years—enough to get you thinking that you should not gig with it anymore?

Are guitars good investments?


===================

I’m reminded of a line from Jeff Foxworthy, “You might be a redneck IF,…

…your retirement portfolio consists of your NASCAR Commemorative Plate collection!”

Have a good Monday!

Bill

[willross]

Nice early report. I mean early for us... I've had very long hair for many years, but cut recently and donated it. Here is what I used to look like:



Now it's short with a sort of homeless/drifter look... BTW, I'm glad I don't know what you look like; that shower description was visual. Aftershave/cologne: Brooks Brothers.

Investment instruments? mine are mostly percussion (Frank Giorgini's, HFD Custom wood slit drums), a Klotz violin, and a few guitars. Here's an "old" picture of a 1960 Les Paul Classic "Plus":



Selling is an issue. Big ticket items can be slow movers...


Cheers,

Will

* Edit: I don't know where the pickup covers came from. It was previously owned by Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos. He dropped it and broke the headstock. I bought it from the insurance co. that insures his stuff. Gibson did a seamless repair and now it sits in the closet...

[Dave_P]

Hey Bill thanks for the early lunch report! I'm not sure what's for lunch today, the cafeteria at work is free so I usually just eat there, there are exceptions though depending on the day.

Beard: Just grew mine in a couple weeks ago, I'm very seasonal with my beard. Clean shaven in the spring-summer, full beard in the fall-winter. I don't have any secrets for a close shave, I can never seem to get one without giving myself razorburn, so I'd appreciate any tips as well. I just "upgraded" from the Mach 3 to the Mach 5? or whatever the five blade one is called, mainly because I had a coupon for $4 off, but it does a good job.

Investments: Well I got my second ASAT through the door as an "investment" I really had no intention of selling it any time soon. Love it looks/tone wise, but can't seem to bond with it. So it's on the chopping block, hoping to "invest" in a Bluesboy eventually, bad time to sell instruments though. Just saw a '59 tweed champ for $750, I'd snag that in an instant if I had the money, I'm pretty sure it would be a sound investment

-Dave

[sam]

Hey Bill,

I became electric shave guy in college (years ago) laziness or sensitive skin, not sure. Will use razor on rare occasion for closer cut. Usually turn it on and take it off no pre or aftershave. Did see a store in Washingtomn DC called the Art of Shaving that has all kinds of expensive shave items. Never wanted to spend that kind of money on a razor, especially since I'm not a hairy guy.

Closest I have to investment is my Martin D-41. Originally bought a ASAT Classic Signature for playing but with investment in the back of my mind, hopefully all my G&L's will gain investment status one day.

Guitars as investments are a tough call, but with the stock market doing what it is who knows.

Great start to the week!

[darwinohm]

Thanks for the early report Bill, I am on the way out of town for a funeral.

Guitars are addictive. I currently do not have any I intend to part with. I have some which are collectible and remain basically unplayed. I have always considered guitars to be a good way to stay with inflation. I have cut back on numbers recently and am trying to maintain so if one comes in, one will probably leave.

I have shaved for 50 years and that probably will not change. It would only make me look older and I am doing well at that already. Will check in later.-- Darwin

[gitman001]

Hey Bill,

Todays lunch (which comes on a bonus morning off!), is my guilty pleasure - Kraft Dinner. I usually only have it 2-3 times a year, but when i do i loooooove it

I hate shaving. I have had a goatee (without the mustache part ) since the G.I.T days, and would also not recognize myself without it. Every few months i grow a full beard around it, then the beard comes off and back to the 1/2 goatee. I must say i do enjoy sideburns as well, they seem to change length on a weekly basis, which is about how often i shave. I need to shave after my shower or i completely tear my face apart Ohhh how i hate mirror fog!

I have never really thought about guitars as investments, it would be nice to think one day they will be worth more than i paid (especially when they can no longer be made of wood! ). I am always on the hunt for a great deal, but in no hurry to continue the collection.

I do have the 25th anniversary G&L, and i also bought a 25th anniversary Seagull, but they both get played regularly...... I don't even want to think about their condition in 25 years.

Its another super busy week for me, i will try to catch up with you guys later in the week
Scott

[astutzmann]

Hi Bill:

I love all my guitars so far, don't consider them collectors, just guitars I want to play.

I envy people who have played a long time, good for you!

I am clean shaven, then every winter when the weather changes, I grow either a beard or a goatee. I let it grow for 6-8 weeks, freak out the family at Xmas and then when its really bugging me, shave it off again. Its a winter seasonal thing. Hate it in the summer or when I'm in florida.

Since its now white and grey when it comes in, da wife says I look like a street person and much older. Whatever.

[Lefty]

Or do you maintain a hirsute visage? Mustache? Beard? Van Dyke, soul-patch, or just rockin’ some great sideburns? Do you keep the Don Johnson “MiamiVice” unshaven look, or are you gigging in a ZZ Top tribute band?

I go with the Mustache/soul-patch combo - I probably wouldn't recognize myself without the mustache.


So, the question for today is—have you ever bought a guitar that you were going to set aside as an investment?

Not really - probably the closest I could come would be my "lefty" G&L Comanche, which is one of 4 manufactured.

Are you stockpiling G&Ls for your retirement fund, like me, in hopes they will out-perform the stock market?

Yeah, that's it - my retirement fund! I only have 4 (USA) G&L's so far. Don't know if they'll appreciate, but I enjoy playing them.

Do you have a guitar that you’ve had for a while that has significantly appreciated in value over the last few years—enough to get you thinking that you should not gig with it anymore?

No.

Are guitars good investments?

Bill

I'm not sure if they are good investments, but I don't think I'll lose any serious money on any of them. - In the meantime, I'll just enjoy them.

[Boogie Bill]

Glad to see you guys chiming in.


Will: I LOVE that Classic Plus!!! Too bad that thing is cut upside down and backwards!!!! I have two Classic Plus LPs: a HCSB from 1995, currently with Duncan 50th Anniversary Seth Lover pickups; and a 1997 Honeyburst with Duncan Antiquity pickups. Love them both, wonderful guitars. I had a 1975 LP '55 Special for many years but had to sell it in 2001. A couple of years later, Leslie and I bought a plaintop Classic, but turned around a week later and traded it back in on the Honey Plus; and then bought the HCSB the next week. I got these for a very good price; they were new guitars bought up by my local Guitar Center from a store that was going out of business, and sold as used without warranty. And yeah these are the LPs I regard as having the best investment potential. Yours is really sweet!

I usually wear cologne everyday. I'll have to try the Brooks Brothers. I have many that I like, including some from Armani, Aramis, Ralph Lauren, Varvatos, Thierry Mugler's Angel and Halston. Sometimes though, it seems like I get the most compliments on plain old Old Spice.


Dave: I've looked at some of those razors with five blades, and suspect it is overkill. I kinda hate shaving, so maybe if I was clean-shaven I would try it.

Sometimes with a guitar I can't bond with, it turns out to be a set-up issue. I have a Legacy that gave me all sorts of fits, until one day I took all but about .002" of relief out of the neck and that fixed the tone. I usually do about .015", so it was shocking, but it plays great--and it sound good now. Every guitar has a sweet spot. I had a similar problem with a Les Paul, and all it took was to have the saddles filed to properly radius them to the contour of the fingerboard. BAM! Halellujah! And sometimes with tonal issues, it is a matter of not locking yourself into "good" or "bad" in your judgement of the guitar's tone; but figuring out, "How am I going to use this." Craig has my "Comanches For Dummies" posted around here somewhere--you might take a look at that and see if the lessons I learned with my Comanche can help you with your ASAT.

And amps are tricky investments IMHO, even old tweed and BF Fenders and old Marshalls. One thing is for sure: if you want to lose money in a hurry, go buy a new state-of-the-art PA system. Tech seems to die a quick death in this business, but a new high-quality USA-made brand-name guitar will usually at least HOLD its value over the long term.


Sam: Ooooh, I love Martins with ABALONE! Your D-41 should be a very good investment. A friend in Seattle has one, and it is a gorgeous guitar. My DC Aura is my only Martin with abalone, and I could stare at it for hours! I would love to have a D-41, D-42 or even a D-45 someday.


Darwin: You have spoken the universal truth: GUITARS ARE ADDICTIVE. Once you get the bug, it it hard to not want every one that comes along. G&Ls especially so--I want Legacys, Comanches, S-500s and Legacy Specials in every color combination imaginable!


Gitman: That is one terrfying thought--that some day out wood guitar will be more valuable because they won't be making guitars out of wood any more. I doubt it will happen in my lifetime--but the writing's on the wall.


Astutzman: Well, just cause I've played for a long time doesn't mean I'm any good, lol! But it has been a great hobby over the years and a way to pay the rent. It is really my only vice, other than food. I don't have a hod-rod or a boat; I don't fish or hunt or ski or play golf. Music IS my life, lol! But man, I've seen 14-year olds in the Guitar Center that can play circles around me. But I do know how to entertain a crowd, and that's a skill set most of them haven't learned yet. (Thank God, or I'd be out of a job!)


Lefty: Four G&Ls may not be enough to constitute a solid investment portfolio, but the good thing is that we get to play them! The lefty Comanche you have, if it's the one I'm thinking of, is gorgeous; and I think as a Lefty, it should hold its value extremely well.

Bill

[zapcosongs]

Still waiting for you to post a picture of yourself someday, Bill.
Maybe this will give you the courage. If I can do it with this face, you certainly can!

As you can see, I'm sporting the goatee thing, and have for a number of years. Usually, in the winter, I'll go full beard - but I'm getting so gray that my wife no longer likes THAT look. She's actually purchased me some beard-coloring product that I haven't had the 'nads to apply yet.
For the areas I do shave, I use generic twin blades on a very old Atra handle.

I did buy one guitar for investment purposes, but it ended up backfiring on me. A few years back, Tom Anderson announced that he was quitting making guitars. Wasting no time, I bid on and won a Hollow Atom (then a new model) that I had no intention of playing. I paid a lot of money for it. A few weeks later, Tom reconsidered, and I lost about a thousand dollars dollars on that one. The good news is that I traded it to a member here for a couple of small vintage amplifiers, which I hope will appreciate.

The only guitar I have that am confident will appreciate significantly is my Rarebird 1st style SC-3. I purchased this from another member here three or four years ago, and believe it to be worth more now than I paid for it.

All in all though, my guitars and amps have held their value MUCH better than my more traditional investments over the last few years. I'm already making this clear to my wife, in anticipation of a future GAS attack. Great LR today - as usual, Bill! - ed

[blargfromouterspace]

Shaving - I have a pretty weak excuse of a beard when I grow mine out. I think that's due to the little bit of Asian blood in my veins. I generally keep a shorn face, except the sideburns, which I've had since I was 17, except where a hairdresser has gotten rid of them for me by being overly ambitious with their clippers. I used a straight razor for about 5 years. I was pretty good at it too but gave it away because if you did slip up it'd bleed for quite some time. I once had to attend a job interview with a piece of tissue pressed to my lip to stem the bleeding. I didn't get the job. True story. I use a standard grey Gilette, whichever is on special the day I'm at the shop. You can't cut yourself if you try with them


Investments - I have a 1968 Baldwin by Burns guitar that I'm hoping will become desirable. So far it hasn't. All I need is for someone like John Mayer to pick one up and I'll be laughing. My dad has an Ibanez Maxxas which is one of the ugliest guitars I've ever seen but has nonetheless proven to be a good investment, even though he didn't buy it for that purpose. He got it for next to nothing about 15 years ago and it's now worth quite a bit.

[jonc]

i hate shaving but i hate stubble more, so it's the blade for me. i also have a few guitars put aside for "investment" but i'm mixed on how well, if at all, they will perform against other investments. a lot will depend on whether these instruments will be desirable to the youngin's at some point. from what i'm seeing, most youngin's don't care all that much for vintage and to be fair, the instruments available to them these days are top notch. even the "cheapies." i do think "some" holy grail Martin's, Gibson's and Fender's will always be collectible, as will Stromberg's, Larson Brothers, etc. i just don't know if G&L's will ever reach that point and while Leo-era G&L's are my favorites, for sheer playability, build quality, fit and finish, the new ones are really superlative. that said, as G&L gains more traction more people are becoming aware of them and the prices for some vintage ones have recouped their value. though no where near what is was just a few years ago.

[Sprinter 92]

So, the question for today is—have you ever bought a guitar that you were going to set aside as an investment?

I have several guitars that fall into that category. I bought my Comanche V and HG-2 to set aside as investments. I almost never touch those two guitars. I consider the rest of my collection an investment too, but I occasionally play them.

Are you stockpiling G&Ls for your retirement fund, like me, in hopes they will out-perform the stock market?

I use to have a stockpile of G&L's. I've thinned the herd down to six guitars that are rare or uncommon.

Do you have a guitar that you’ve had for a while that has significantly appreciated in value over the last few years—enough to get you thinking that you should not gig with it anymore?

I don't gig, but my '78 Les Paul has appreciated in value nicely.

Are guitars good investments?

Yep!



Sprinter 92

[Philby]

Hey Ed, you look like a university professor I used to have in engineering. I'd call that beard and glasses combo the 'academic' look. I hate the intermediate stages of growing a beard so I've never gone much longer than a week without shaving. Unfortunately my skin dislikes the whole experience but things have improved since I discovered Braun electric shavers. My daughter told me to shave my ears the other day. Wow, hair grows from the strangest places once you hit 40.

I haven't bought any instruments as investments. My primary concern is that they feel good to play. Nevertheless I try to keep them all as spotless as possible in case they should become collectible. The only instrument I have that I know to be worth more than I paid is an '85 A-series Fender Strat from Japan. It is only collectible because it is from the first run of Japanese made strats which, at that stage, were intended for the Japanese market only.

I have no idea if guitars are good investments as a rule. Sticking with the well known brands (Fender, Gibson, Martin) seems to guarantee that you at least don't lose too much money. It's a real lottery with other brands. I wish I'd bought a Charvel Surfcaster before their prices went ballistic.

[Aussie]

Shaving. I clean shave with a blade razor on workdays and don’t shave at all on weekends and holidays. No tips on shaving but I can get a cleaner shave when taking off a couple of days growth than I can with daily shaves. The whiskers are definitely getting tougher as I’m getting older.

Guitars as Investments. I don’t buy guitars with investment in mind …. They’ve all been acquired and used as working instruments. After a break in a few years back that was motivated by a gear inventory on our band website I no longer provide detailed lists of the gear I own (even though through fortunate circumstances I only lost two guitars in the break in. I did lose a couple of amps, a bunch effects and a heap of video and audio production gear though). Dad has been played guitar since the ‘50s and I bought my first (second hand) guitars in the early ‘70s. I’d definitely subscribe to the view that if you buy carefully and secondhand, you should generally be able to at least recover what you paid. I don’t turn gear over a lot so I have probably done a little better than hold my own on some of the longer held gear.

Cheers, Robbie

[zapcosongs]

Oh Philby....
I walked into a music store one day in the early/mid 1990's intending to buy some strings. Longs story short, the store was going out of business and was blowing stuff out at unbelievable prices. I walked out with a Charvel Surfcaster bass, orange with a great flamed maple top - for less than $200, American. I sold it in 2000 for $500. I thought I was smart. NOT!

Anyway, in 2000 I picked up an early Japanese reissue of Fender's 1972 Thinline, in pristine condition, for that $500 I got for the Surfcaster (still can't play bass worth a damn!).

I recently checked on the prices for these, and in this condition, I may have doubled my money.
So go figure.
Anyway, let's turn to our Engineering assignment, shall we? ;+) - ed

[yowhatsshakin]

Hi Bill,

Great to here from you again and thanks for keeping the LR going. have been pretty busy lately which ahs only allowed me to follow the new posts but had to be skimpy on actually contributing.

To SHAVE, or not to shave, that is the question.

Geez. i wish I had to shave every day. My beard never really wanted to grow and getting a '5pm' (a term used in NL for a stubble after a days work) takes me like 5 days, So shaving once a week is good enough for me. Apparently not man enough ....

So, the question for today is—have you ever bought a guitar that you were going to set aside as an investment?

Are you stockpiling G&Ls for your retirement fund, like me, in hopes they will out-perform the stock market?

Do you have a guitar that you’ve had for a while that has significantly appreciated in value over the last few years—enough to get you thinking that you should not gig with it anymore?

Are guitars good investments?

Not really. Every instrument bought is mine because I love the sound, shape, history, or whatever. But investment has never been the prime objective. I play every instrument I own and even a spotless, virginal Broadcaster got 'soiled' by me. Rule 1: an instrument needs to be played. Rule 2: see rule 1. If they become valuable, great! If not, great too because I will have had a lifetime of enjoyment so that makes it by definition a good investment. My heirs can sell the collection for whatever they want. I guess that is the benefit of not having kids to be put through college

Talk to you later,

- Jos

[CGT]

So, let's see...

I shave every day, el cheapo Gillette twin-blade and shaving gel from Costco. Nothing fancy. Gets the job done. Sported a beard for about 6 months in my late twenties. The less said about that the better.

I don't buy guitars as investments, but I do seem to attract good deals on players. Both of my main guitars have "gone up" in value with respect to what I paid. I bought a Gibson Sonex 180 Deluxe for $100 in 1986. I can probably turn around and sell it for $500 or $600 today if I put some work into it, so It's gone up significantly. I only paid $500 dollars for my pristine 2005 USA Legacy late and if I were to sell it today, I'd probably make a 50% profit. However, the likelihood of selling either of these axes is nil.

I don't think that guitars are a very good investment, especially the many special editions that Gibson and Fender put out. Remember the run on the initial batch of Gibson Robot Guitars? There was a whack of them on craigslist at a significant markup within minutes of their selling out, a few months later, "investors" were letting them go below retail. The most valuable and pricey guitars aren't collectibles but instruments meant to be played and with few exceptions, I think it will stay that way.

[Philby]

I recently checked on the prices for these, and in this condition, I may have doubled my money.
So go figure.
Anyway, let's turn to our Engineering assignment, shall we? ;+) - ed

Interesting story there Ed. I was going to feel sorry for you for a moment re. the Surfcaster bass until I saw the tele thinline. She looks lovely posing unassumingly there by that tree. Fender Japan instruments seem to be going through a renaissance now that people have figured out they're constructed to pretty high standards and they age well. I'd say you've doubled your money easily.

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

Younger people seem to be able to get away with the "bed head" casual unkempt stubble look. However, you just look like an old slob when you are older and you don't even have to have entered the "G" or "W" stages. Though this may not be true of everyone, because it is something that few can pull off I usually stay fairly groomed. I highly recommend the 5 blade razors and shaving gel for a close clean shave. Those 5-blade razor blades get EXPENSIVE though. Shaving blind in a shower? That's crazy!

I do not think guitars are good investments. I suspect believing investment guitars will pay off is like believing a dressed up hobby is a profitable business. This is not to say people who are serious and knowledgeable do not and cannot make profitable exchanges. It seems to me that most people are really only enjoying the guitar in some form like admiring its beauty and/or enjoying ownership for a period of time. How often do these investments get played? Any guitar that is so collectible that it cannot be played for fear it will lose value is not really a guitar. It is like owning a bottle of the finest wine that you cannot ever drink. How many people who own guitars that have substantially increased in value purchased them solely in order to sell them at a high profit? Some of this looks like coincidence and chance. Of course there will be some guitars that are worth more than you paid. Who knows which ones? A true investment by definition has some certainty to it otherwise it is closer to gambling leaning on chance / luck.......a crap shoot.

[Ledergeist]

Bill,
Nice to see you on point this week...
Shaving:
Braun electric, 2 or 3 times a week. I'm afraid if it grew out too much I'd be too 'Academic'
I did rock a porn stache for a short while in the '80's. In fact in the only photo of me with a Les Paul, It's there. I'll try to dig that up....

Of course, had I only known vintage Epiphones would be going sky-high, I would have kept the Casino, Sorrento, and 2 Wilshires. Still have a '68 Newport bass... Yea!
As for G&L's, I'm also glad to have found my SC-3 a few years back, now it looks like it would take about 40-50% more cash to get a similar example.

I'd probably worry too much if I had something really valuble gear-wise, on the other hand, I do try to pick things up that are non-run-of-the-mill, limited-production items.
At least I feel reasonably sure with that kind of stuff, you won't take a loss if it's gotta go....

Go Brewers
BW