"This guitar is the best I've ever played!"

[alanp]

I sometimes wonder if there's something wrong with me when I see a constant flow of auctions, where people are selling Gibson Les Pauls, PRS-whatevers, etc, all with the comment:

"This is one of the best guitars I've ever played!"

... and, typically, with a shopping list of aftermarket parts bolted onto it. And it makes me wonder to myself, "If it's so good, why would you get rid of it and get a new guitar of unknown trouser-rustling ability?"

This could just be my inner hoarder.

[jubal81]

You know, my first reaction to that is to call it BS.


However, I've built and had gear that really was great but just wasn't all that useful to me or maybe it was redundant.


So, 85% BS?

[juansolo]

Sold the best sounding guitar I'd ever owned because I just couldn't get on with the neck.

[gordo]

Have sold gear just because I was bored with it.  I've since turned into a hoarder and won't part with ANYTHING.  But yes, my BS detector goes off when I read that.

I picked up a baseline Line6 Variax 300 on ebay for a few hundred bucks a few years ago and the seller listed it as "professionally setup" (BS flag #1), and "one of the best playing guitars ever played" (BS flag #2).  It shows up at my doorstep and not only does it look better than the ebay photos, but had one of the best setups I've played and remains one of my favorite guitars.  Its like an old pair of slippers.

Maybe he was bored with it...

[culturejam]

I've sold or traded some excellent gear that I really liked. Mostly I sell guitars or amps for a few reasons (and usually more than one applies): Limited funds, limited space, don't play it often or at all. If I really want something new, I usually have to get rid of something old. Not always, but most of the time that's how it goes. So I have to make some tough decisions, but it mostly comes down to what doesn't get played (regardless of quality or relative awesomeness).

[gtr2]

Maybe they prefer poorly playing guitars more 

[EBRAddict]

I think part of it is they rush out, plop down the credit card and buy yet another  $2,500 guitar without thinking it through. It may sound great, but how many gold top Les Pauls does one man need? 

[culturejam]

but how many gold top Les Pauls does one man need? 

Three? 

[alanp]

Depends on whether they're gold top Les Pauls, or just investment widgets that will hopefully appreciate in value.

[GermanCdn]

Someone please explain to me the meaning of " how many does one need", I am unfamiliar with the concept.

As far as selling great playing/sounding/looking gear, the reality is some gear doesn't make the cut when you have to cull the herd, and it gets sold.  I typically don't try to oversell stuff that doesn't make the cut (I usually start by "it's time to thin the herd", in fact I think i have a template setup in ebay just for that).  Sometimes you just can't live with the neck profile/control configuration/colour, kind of what CJ and JS were alluding to.  Then, of course, you realize you were wrong, and go buy another one.

And the answer to how many goldtops is enough is 11.

[jubal81]

I want to be Curtis when I grow up.

[jkokura]

No - Curtis hasn't grown up yet - I think I'd rather never grow up and be like Curtis.

Jacob

[TNblueshawk]

Maybe they prefer poorly playing guitars more 

This would match up perfectly with my poor playing 

[raulduke]

I guess sometimes people need cash for whatever reason they may have.

Some musicians do also seem to be impulsive types when it comes to purchases... and the grass is always greener and all that.

I think my favourite BS sellers lingo is 'plays like butter'. That one always makes me laugh.

[gtr2]

What's it like to play with butter?