Talk me into or out of this

[gunslinger_burrito]

I've been trying to sell my G&L for while ( http://ilovefuzz.com/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=37696 ) with practically no luck, since I was an idiot years ago and spray-painted the headstock. For reasons I won't go into, I just don't want this guitar anymore, but I don't want to lose out too big in a trade or sale. I was thinking of offering it for trade for a guitar of significantly lesser value, just so I can finally have a "regular" guitar to play again. All my other axes at the moment are tuned crazy, baritones, mulitple weird strings, or total junker nowhere-near-constructed things.

Would I be a total idiot to trade the G&L for a Deluxe Tele of some kind? I've always wanted on of the ones with the wide-range style 'buckers. I also know that a lot of my favorite tones have come from those guitars (certain eras of Isis, anyone?)

I guess I'm also wondering if anyone here can tell me what a reasonable price to ask for the G&L would be?

Penny for your thoughts!

[colin]

The sad fact is that G&L's don't hold as high resale value as other well known guitar companies. Basically anything that isn't Fender or Gibson is a lot harder to sell. I currently have an Asat Classic for sale locally and I've had pretty much zero luck too. Lots of trade offers, but nothing great so far. I had it priced at $820 initially and now I'm down to $700 and still nothing.

Modified guitars can be hard to sell as well. The changed pickups in your Commanche probably won't affect the value too much, especially if you still have the original guard and z-coil pickups to include. The spray-painted headstock though... that kills the value in my eyes. Honestly if I was in the market for that guitar, the headstock would likely be a deal-breaker for me. Only way I'd buy it was if it was WAY cheap.

If you have a trade offer for a Tele Deluxe, yeah I'd probably do it. So you'd be trading an American made guitar for a Mexican one that retailed for a lot less new, but it's not like they're crappy guitars. Probably a pretty fair deal in reality.

[AxAxSxS]

did you take it down to wood prior to spray painting it? if you didnt prep it at all it might be possible to get it close to original looking.

[Chankgeez]

Unfortunately, Colin speaks the truth on this one.

Honestly, I hadn't looked at your sale thread before and I'd never comment on something like this unless asked, but since you asked...

Yeah, you've devalued the guitar a lot. It's definitely a "player's" instrument now. $1000 is way too much to be asking for that. You'd be lucky if you got half that in sale or trade. To me, it's almost not worth getting rid of. I know you say you don't want it now, but your feelings towards it may change. I'd put it in a closet, save up for another axe and rethink the whole thing sometime later. If you really wanna get rid of it though, expect to take a big ding in terms of value.

[gunslinger_burrito]

That's what I was thinking......

did you take it down to wood prior to spray painting it? if you didnt prep it at all it might be possible to get it close to original looking.

No prepping, just sprayed it straight over the finish, but it was seriously like 8 years ago. Oh well.

[fishtankdork]

modding a guitar is an insta keep. i would never pay more than 25% of a guitars value if it was modded. on top of that g an l do not hold value. i think you should keep it. chances are ur g&l will play better than any mexican made thing u trade for.

[trace]

That's what I was thinking......

did you take it down to wood prior to spray painting it? if you didnt prep it at all it might be possible to get it close to original looking.

No prepping, just sprayed it straight over the finish, but it was seriously like 8 years ago. Oh well.

You could probably clean that off... Maybe even just scrape it off with a credit card or something to not mar the finish or maybe a mild chemical stripper... Worth a shot.

[gunslinger_burrito]

modding a guitar is an insta keep. i would never pay more than 25% of a guitars value if it was modded. on top of that g an l do not hold value. i think you should keep it. chances are ur g&l will play better than any mexican made thing u trade for.

Ironically, this was my intention when I did that. It does play awesome. But life is weird, and I suppose that I'm a weirdo....so for weird reasons I wish I could let it go to someone.....

[colossus]

That's what I was thinking......

did you take it down to wood prior to spray painting it? if you didnt prep it at all it might be possible to get it close to original looking.

No prepping, just sprayed it straight over the finish, but it was seriously like 8 years ago. Oh well.

You could probably clean that off... Maybe even just scrape it off with a credit card or something to not mar the finish or maybe a mild chemical stripper... Worth a shot.

This. There's def a chance some light Citristip may get it off. Or even light sanding if you're really scared.

[MEC]

Yeah, try some #0000 steel wool on it.
It should take it back to where you can see the label but you may lose some gloss.

[gunslinger_burrito]

Thanks guys. After pulling it out and playing on it some more last night, I think I'm going to to hold on to it anyways. Every time I think I'm going to sell it or get rid of it, I play it, and I am reminded of why I haven't gotten rid of it... I'm just reeeeeeally itching for a new guitar, and I need to get the monies saved up as quick as I can for it.....

[skullservant]

Thanks guys. After pulling it out and playing on it some more last night, I think I'm going to to hold on to it anyways. Every time I think I'm going to sell it or get rid of it, I play it, and I am reminded of why I haven't gotten rid of it... I'm just reeeeeeally itching for a new guitar, and I need to get the monies saved up as quick as I can for it.....

I know that feel dude.
I've also modified the shit out of my guitars and basses to the point where I could never get rid of them if I tried. SUPER niche-y, super personal mods that keep in mind how I play and what I'm after that I think most people wouldn't really be into. Part of why I do that is so I CAN'T get rid of the instrument because I know I will regret it. The other is to make it exactly how I want. If there is something that you are still unhappy about with it, look into a reversable mod for it that would enhance your experience with it and WANT to play it some more

[Chankgeez]

I haven't really modded most of my guitars, but I tend to buy oddballs. They don't really appreciate in value and I'd take a loss if I sold 'em. So, I hang on to 'em. Many of 'em need work anyway. I don't think you'll regret holding on to it.

[osbornkt]

As a buyer of normal guitars and modding them to all hell, yeah, even little tweaks will make most people not want them. I've tried to sell some of the past guitars I've done stuff to, and then you wait forever for that one person to come around and offer you, as Fishtank said, about 25% of the actual value of the guitar + work invested..
I know for a fact that I'll never be able to sell my Tele for anything besides parts, but whatever.
You're making the right choice holding on to it. I've kept all my old axes that have various mods, and they always end up being fun to play a few months down the road. Give it a break for a while and come back and it'll have some of that magic again.

[AxAxSxS]

If you did zero prep work, there is a good chance that you will be able to chip the paint off in flakes. This would be the ideal way to remove the spraypaint. A chemical sztripper, you run the risk of it removing some of the origional finish, sanding, you would have to be EXTREMELY carefull not to sand to far down.
Since you are keeping it, Good idea, maybe just pick at it a bit now and then and eventually you may get it back to where you could ask close to full value.