Why does this enrage me so?

[lefchr]

But it has free shipping, so that makes it totally worth it.

[Holy Schnikes]

Honestly these prices don't enrage me one bit as I'll never be in the market for a coveted vintage instrument. Too many other excellent options out there that spawned from these originals so I think it's cool these pieces of history command such ridiculous prices.

Speaking of ridiculous prices, the very 1st Strat ever produced sold for 250k recently...

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wir ... k-23084713

[spacelordmother]

Speaking of ridiculous prices, the very 1st Strat ever produced sold for 250k recently...

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wir ... k-23084713

Ridiculous yes, but something with history like that actually makes sense to me.

[Mike]

Guitars like this $250k Les Paul don't cause me to become enraged-- more disappointed.

That is no longer a guitar. A guitar is used to make music. Whoever ends up buying this thing is likely never going to play it. They'll probably put it in a temperature and humidity controlled glass box in some windowless room. They're choice, of course, even if I think it is a bad one.

I just read an article about a Stradivarius viola that is soon to be auctioned (here). 1 of 10 Stradivarius violas in existence. $45M starting bid. The article stated that up until 1987, it was owned by a musician who actually used it to make music. But as the article pointed out, at $45M, it is well out of the price range for every professional viola player. It is no longer a viola-- it is now a decoration. Maybe it will be used on very special occasions. Sad.

One more tangent. I am just as disappointed when I hear someone say, "I'm going to be buried with that guitar" as I am about instruments that are priced out of making music. I know most people aren't serious about that, but some people mean it. I want all my instruments to go to people who will play them (hopefully better than I do!) when I can no longer play them. I don't care if they go to friends or family members who play, or to kids just starting out. I certainly don't want my best instruments rotting away in a box (underground or otherwise). I want my instruments keep making music long after I am gone.

Mike

[Sidewalk]

It's obviously not for musicians, it's for collectors and a kind of disgusting class of people with way too much money.
I can't even rationalize paying more than $600 for a guitar and I get a sick feeling in my stomach whenever I pay the street price for something I didn't pre-order. It's annoying but it probably stops me from losing way too much money buying and selling gear. I wish it was easier to focus completely on the music side of things but much too often my creativity gives way to browsing Reverb and eBay and here looking for new things to buy.

[Rob Fossil]

I can't even rationalize paying more than $600 for a guitar and I get a sick feeling in my stomach whenever I pay the street price for something I didn't pre-order.

I would have to say my cap on basses/guitars would be $1500. I don't think I've ever spent more than $1000 on a guitar, but I'd go a bit higher for the right one. I think a quality guitar usually runs in the $500 - $1000, if you can grab anything cheaper that you don't have to mod or upgrade, then that's a major score in my book.

[Holy Schnikes]

Yeah, I've never found a guitar for less than $500 that didn't need at least a few upgrades.

[whiskey_face]

if I had stupid money I would buy it. why the fuck not?

[whiskey_face]

if I had stupid money I would buy it. why the fuck not?

and add a floyd, do a really shitty relic job, and pop in emgs just to fuck with people.

no way man, I would just play the shit out of it.

[FuzzHugger]

I'm very proud of myself that I couldn't tell the difference between that and a new standard LP.

It comes with "free shipping" so that was probably added into the price. Common sales tactic.

[The_Active_Conundrum]

250k is.....sad.

I understand basics of economics for it to get to that point.

It doesn't enrage me. Being a 60's instrument its kind of amazing its in the present in one piece, you know? What irritates me is when a Custom Shop makes a stock instrument and "relics" it and then charges a ridiculous amount when the instrument still needs mods to play right. Or when a small builder makes a Strat clone that plays like a bad Korean strat but they slap a veneer on it and charge multiple thousands for a crap instrument.

[friendship]

http://thestrad.com/latest/news/blind-t ... nstruments

[BitchPudding]

Everything about that listing is fucking stupid.

[coldbrightsunlight]

I find this sort of thing insane. Back when it was made it was just an ordinary instrument! Now because it's old it's stupidly expensive because it's OLD. And like you guys it annoys me that it'll probably never get played again. The way I see it instruments that don't get played are worthless because if they're not getting played, are they really instruments anymore?

[rfurtkamp]

The old Strads etc are loaned out to musicians to get played generally by their wealthy owners.

These are going to be put behind glass.

But if it makes somebody happy to do it, more power to them. If they can drop that kind of coin, they're realistically already paying out the nose in taxes and other things, and for them, it's not a big deal.

Sort of like buying a 100k sportscar or whatever, it's just what makes you happy and you can.

I'd play it if I wanted it, and if I could afford it, I'd get it. Same as anything else.

Chances are it wouldn't make me any happier than any other LP I've ever played but I don't hate those who can swing the $$$.

It really wasn't an "ordinary" instrument back when it was made either though, those were stupid expensive pieces of wood that you didn't casually buy even then.

Not a house-worth, but a large sum. Same with any of the old instruments.

Thing to remember is that even clunkers appreciate with inflation in ways that are boggling.

I can see paying six figures for that before I could see paying $500 for a Teisco.