When is it time to sell a guitar?

[chcjunior]

Here's the gig; ever since I bought my Dean Hardtail I've been extremely displeased with the tone I get from my Gibson SG Special. Of course, before I got the Hardtail I was okay with the SG. I just replaced the '59 in the neck with an AP II but haven't had it cranked at practice yet. I'm also considering replacing the JB in the bridge with a Custom Custom in an attempt to salvage the tone.

The main issue is being the only guitarist in a band fronted my a female singer, I switch back and forth from clean to gain a considerable amount. The SG is acceptable for the high gain material....but is somewhat lifeless yet simultaneously harsh on the clean.

So...to you fellow gear ho's; when do YOU consider it time to Ebay a guitar and pick up a replacement? I've got a few potentials I'm already considering....

[aleclee]

For me, it's when I'm not playing the guitar anymore. If you're "done" with the SG, then by all means sell it.

[muttonchopsrule]

i'd at least try a pickup swap...there's no reason not to when you can take advantage of guitar center's return policy.

and i don't know what pickups are in the SG specials, but my SG standard sounds surpirsing well to me clean. of course there are more factors than just the pickups, but it'd at least be worth a try.

do you like the way the SG plays? or is it just the tone of it that isn't satisfactory anymore?

[rspst14]

I know the exactly what you mean. I bought my Wolfgang three years ago, when I was just learning how to play. I considered myself very fortunate to be able to learn on such a nice guitar, and it was my main player up until this past summer, when I came across a nice deal on a Hamer Studio. After playing the Hamer for a while, I started noticing certain things about the Wolfgang that bugged me. No matter how I tweaked the setup, I couldn't get it to play as well as the Hamer. The neck was too narrow to play comfortably close to the nut, and the basswood body was too soft. It's now been demoted to third place behind my Hamer and my Warmoth Strat, which means it's going to be up for sale soon. Great guitar, but not what I need or want anymore.

Ryan

[JimiHWannaBe]

when you never use it anymore, when you need another guitar or when you find a guitar that replaces it.

[chcjunior]

i'd at least try a pickup swap...there's no reason not to when you can take advantage of guitar center's return policy.

and i don't know what pickups are in the SG specials, but my SG standard sounds surpirsing well to me clean. of course there are more factors than just the pickups, but it'd at least be worth a try.

do you like the way the SG plays? or is it just the tone of it that isn't satisfactory anymore?

I like the way it plays. If I'm just hanging out at home playing thru my Digitech into the computer speakers, I'll play the SG as much as the others.

Who knows....the swap to the APII may already be the ticket? I've considered dropping 250K pots into it out of curiosity as well. There's tons I've yet to try....but I'd hate to spend the time and money just to find out I still don't like the guitar! On the flip side, I'm sure we've all been guilty of just rotating equipment in and out as G.A.S. hits us.

[Kac]

Well, before I answer the question...
I'm the only guitarist in a band with a Female vocalist too.
Rock on in that department.

As for your question, it's time when I see a guitar I would rather have, but can't just buy it, so I have to trade.
Rock On

[jguttello]

Only sell the guitar if you need the cash, you may realize that you may need it later on, wishing you never sold it...

[ledzepp29]

I think its when you have that feeling that the guitar isn't really 'there' for you. I've been more than satisfied with my classic, but I finally got to play a 57 reissue gold top and it blew away every other guitar I've ever played in every way. I then realised that with the money I had for a second guitar combined with the money I'd get from selling my classic I could easily get a 57 used. So thats how it worked out for me...haha

[JB_From_Hell]

I used to keep every guitar I got. Then I sold one. Then another, and another... pretty soon, I've got a fairly regular rotation going on, and I've never had more fun

I'm about to get rid of one or two to buy an old Ibanez Artist... I love getting new stuff

[Guitarist]

For me, it's when I'm not playing the guitar anymore. If you're "done" with the SG, then by all means sell it.

Unless it's a timeless vintage - do what he says.

[St_Genesius]

Yeah, I usually wait until I'm just not finding any usues for an instrument..and then wait another 2-3 years to make sure.

[aestus]

Try the SD p-90 Phat Cats. They're made to fit in humbucker guitars. Everyone should own atleast one guitar loaded with p-90's. They crunch nicely with gain, and very smooth when played clean without the overly bright twang of regular single coils. Seriously, I think you should give p-90's a chance. Especially in that SG.

[That90'sGuy]

In my case, it's rough playing anything other than my Grosh. That guitar is (probably) one of the finest guitars ever made. Everything is immaculate and none of my other guitars will ever compare. I dig my G&L, Dean and Epi, but they can never take the place of my Grosh. Boutique vs. mass production, there's just no comparison whatsoever; it's like owning a Historic RI '57 LP and all the other guitars around you seem like Samicks.

[Gearjoneser]

I've always felt that there's a 'low man on the totem pole.' That's always the one that gets picked to sell. The one that connects with me, my tone, my personality, and my style, is the one that never gets sold, then there's a pecking order, and it's always the one with the least of those characteristics that has to go. The only time I part with a "keeper" is when it comes down to financial wrangling to get what you REALLY REALLY want.

[mrfjones]

when the guitar stops speaking to me. i finally made that decision about my 50's strat. it is a great playing guitar but i just don't play it anymore. it doesn't inspire me any longer.

[Simon_F]

I would only sell it if you need the cash or the space. How long have you had the Dean, and how much did you like the SG before you got the Dean? It could be that you're in a honeymoon period with the Dean, and that after a while you find you appreciate both guitars equally for their different qualities. This has happened to me with my two LPs - the first one didn't get much play immediately after I got the second one, but now (three months down the line) they get an equal share and I appreciate their different characters. Presumably you need a gigging backup for the Dean too - is the SG good for that?

Try a pickup change first anyway - that's always fun.

[nuntius]

I'd only sell a guitar if I really needed the cash.

I second the idea about putting phat cats in - that could give you a totally different tone and a reason for keeping it.

[Boston Joe]

You can always try a trade if you are well connected with the local music scene. It's a very good way to keep good instruments in local circulation.

[Tom M]

When a guitar gets demoted to #3 or below on the list, it could be time to start thinking about selling it. This is especially true if you don't play it, but sort of look at it and wonder what else could be in it's place...