|
|
Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 1634
Location: Warren,Pa. | I was just listening to a report on NPR, and the last comment was "people are confining their purchasing to the essentials and looking for bargains."
Has your guitar buying been put on hold in favor of more essential items...or just being afraid to spend. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | you really want to go there? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | Well the fact that the Aussie dollar against the Greenback has gone from 97c in July when I was over there to 70c now has sure slowed me up.
:rolleyes:
AJ |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I've only bought four in the last month
How about you TJ? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 3145
Location: Marlton, NJ | One in... One out. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13988
Location: Upper Left USA | Better decisions I have made over the last 2 years:
- Stopped looking at my Retirement Fund
- Chose not to sell our 2600 SqFt home with the $1100 mortgage and removed all debt except the equity loan, then remodeled the vital living areas and such. We increased livability and and our equity.
- Focused my Bottom Feeding on projects I could actually sell for more than what I paid!
- Focused on buying unique and highly sought after instruments, which included a new one from Mr. Big.
Oh yeah, starting taking meds so I can actually FINISH something I have started... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | Syrah?? :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | The only reason I slowed down is that my list is getting smaller. It was easy after 25 years between guitars to find several that I thought I had to have. Some I didn't need and the OFC and Koa weren't on the list when I started.
I've also decided that there are some, like the 97 and 01 Collectors, that will come up from time to time and I need to have patience.
If I retired early, I probably wouldn't feel like I could afford more guitars. If I wait a few more years, maybe I can afford some or maybe I'll have to try to sell some. The prices right now are such that it seems like a good time to buy. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | The good news is, that most of us have guitars and can play them. For example, we had a friend over last weekend, we didn't go out, just cooped up, and for entertainment sang. I guess it's like the depression days. But I've been living like this since I was born.
So I'd have to say, no, the economic times haven't affected me at all. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | I speaking as a music retailer rather than a consumer here. My business turnover is (just) within target, but there's been zero growth for 3 months and my average sale value has dropped by about 40%. We're selling lots of lower priced items, so while the turnover is steady we're having to do more work to service it. I can live with that, it could be worse. I know a lot of people in music instrument retail and distribution over here who are seriously concerned about their livelihoods. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2007
Posts: 2711
Location: Vernon CT | Started with 8 guitars at the beginning of 08.
Down to 4! I only DREAM about new/More Guitars! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | The last new guitar I bought was the OFC guitar. I did price out the building of a custom guitar, but I can't really justify spending what it would cost. Now I'm thinking of sending an old guitar back to the factory for a new body. I'll probably do that, but even then, I may sell something to finance most of it.
Things could be worse. I've got one friend who's a stock broker, who not only has to deal with his clients, but his father in law is dying. Another friend just had (for the 2nd time in 2 months) a knee replacement surgery, and 2 days ago, his wife's grandmother, at their home, died.
Trust me, I'm counting my blessings...... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | It's crazy. September was my second best month in the two and one half years I've been in business. That's why I was able to spend a thousand dollars for that classical. (Maybe I shouldn't have.) Maybe people were buying in droves because they're afraid if they don't get it now, they won't be able to soon. I, like Paul, have been concentrating on lower-end items. This being a tourist economy, high-end items sell better in summer, low-end in winter. I am hoping for a good Christmas season, but if business is slow I'll hang in there and wait for better times. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2004
Posts: 709
Location: Germany | My strategy is to buy as many guitars I can. So if we are going into a currency devaluation I will still own my guitars. I got a nice Adamas 1689 (from 1981) last week. I'm quite sure I will get back what I invested if I should sell it in five or ten years. Do you know what you will get back from your financial investment or your money in your bank account?
Karl |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Originally posted by Mauvais Beal:
I've only bought four in the last month
How about you TJ? Mom,...Beal's pickin' on me!!
Let's see.... 2 I think and two sets of drums. Just the essential stuff. Oh yeah, I did pick one up for Gway last night, does that count? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Jim,
What did you get?? We want pics,(also we need the check on the Palm tree). |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7223
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Just hoping to sell this and/or this so I can pay my property tax and take care of a few other things. :( |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | As I told my wife....
Our retirement has gone from a 40' Diesel pusher to a 1974 Winnebago 24'.
I splurged and bought the 2008C, but it was under the assumption that the 2080 was going away, which it has not. I quite looking at retirement, don't incur debt (except my house which I just shortened the maturity to 15 years at 5%), and maintain enough cash reserves to keep me going should I lose my job.
I suspect that the 2008C and 1537 will be my final AE guitars, and I have had no desire for another bass (Carvin LB75 in solid walnut) or electric (Carvin DC400P). I bought a Tascam 2488 a few years ago and a Bose L1, so my recording/PA is set.....I am pretty much set up to be a snowbird if that is what needs to happen, and Motorhomes are quite the bargain right now, so let the chips fall. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4048
Location: Utah | I'm with Karl on the devaluation/inflation thing. I've made a few purchases in the last month that I had been planning on putting off. Some music equipment, some other. If we are going into a period of inflation, and I believe we will see very significant inflation, then my current dollars are worth more by spending them today than by putting them in the bank.
I'm not going nuts with spending, just buying stuff that I would normally have waited months or longer to buy. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3618
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I'm Happy with what I have right now. Of course that could change in a day. I am doing the one out one in thing also now. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | Well, I do have plenty to play, but I still have wants, and in this economy, well, let's just say they're remaining wants for now.
It's really sad how much of a difference a few months can make. June was really the turn around for me. Aside from the economy, my main customer is in the middle of a big strike (Boeing), and I've seen an 80% drop off in new business this year over last.
Sucks, cuz there's a few of you out there with guitars I want.
Miles yours is definitely one of them.
And a FD-14 is up now too. Double Dammit! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | CS and Temp mentioned that as "music retailers" their sales of lower-end items have been steady...
I may attribute some of that to hard economic realities, sorta.
"Guitars will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no guitar..."
My attitude about guitars-as-investments is that I can play my guitars for awhile before I have to sell them.
And I now I have them, even though times are hard I 'Got Guitar'!
Knowing of my impending unemployment, I still bought two brand-new T's and two new electrics.
If times get Real hard, they are each worth at least a month's rent.
I've said it before... If you've got the money, now is the time to be buying!
[I also still have guitars that I Should Sell, but I just cannot bring myself to do it.] |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | I just had a talk with my wife. She said to send the guitar back to the factory, but that I couldn't sell a guitar. The guitar I was thinking about selling is a Preacher 12. My wife said that I couldn't sell it because it was hers (that what's yours is mine bit, I think).
I'm pretty certain that my wife is unique..... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | ...well, she did marry you. That right there makes her somewhat of an anomaly. A very sweet and kind one, to be sure... but still. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2008
Posts: 27
Location: florida | i just bought a viper on the bay for about 500 dollars and now i am looking to get a new amp for it, so i guess it hasnt really slowed me down too much, i never have been a big guitar collector though, i play what i buy, so i really only have two...well now three guitars. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Did you get the white viper from Dr Tom? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Al should be proud that we have been mature enough to keep away from politics for one whole page.
Jeff, buy guitars instead of RVs. My dad has basically blown his retirement funds on motor homes and is pinching pennies now that he's older than he planned on getting. I've given the family permission to shoot me if I ever talk about buying an RV in my retirement. Actually, they should have enough evidence to get me committed to a mental hospital if I ever start talking like that.
My wife hasn't bought the guitars are a good investment argument yet. Maybe she remembers that I wouldn't accept that argument about diamonds. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2008
Posts: 4996
Location: Phoenix AZ | My guitar buying (and selling) habit has always been funded by "play money". Meaning never money that I actually needed for food, mortgage, etc. So in that regard the economic diaster that has transpired since May 2, 2007 has not had a negative effect on my hobby.
But the real fact is that for the last 7-8 months there really has not been anything I wanted to buy. The last one I got was the Takamine 430 Singer/Songwriter and that one has pretty much taken over as go-to instrument. I bought a few smaller things and invested some in my hifi system.
Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | and a Mac ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I have sold off a bunch and bought very little over the last year but like Dave my "slush" fund never interferes with my "bill paying" fund.
I just decided that I never played a lot of excellent guitars that had been replaced by equally excellent guitars that I felt fit my style or mood or age better....hence some excellent instruments have left or they are in the process of leaving casa de stevie. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
Al should be proud that we have been mature enough to keep away from politics for one whole page. And very first sentence on the thread was...
Originally posted by Bauerhillboy:
I was just listening to a report on NPR... Ummm.... Isn't that a politcal statement on it's own? :rolleyes:
Sorry, couldn't resist. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | I'd be right up there with the category 3 folks if real life didn't have a way of interfering with guitar purchases; in order to be sure I'd get to the Southern jam next week I had to go buy another car--I just couldn't trust the old one. (There are now lots of potential guitars tied up in the new wheels......)
Someday, I'll have my custom Adamas.......
--Karen |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7223
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Guitars are unique as an investment and Ovations are unique within that genre, as well as some others, but go with what you know.
Ovation "bargains" can still be found. At the very least, one should be able to turn those bargains around for profit in a few years. The longer you wait the better, usually. There are exceptions and in fact, sometimes, you can only "break even". Well that's not so bad. When times are tough, "breaking even" is just fine. But the added value in a guitar, is that you can always PLAY IT, and you can always choose to play it for cash. Even if you don't get paid to play, well there is the fact that you can just play it, instead of some other form of entertainment that you had to pay for.
So, guitars are a unique investment. They are tangible, and have some value-added features.
Again, there are not too many things you can buy, use and abuse for 20 years, and then sell for at least what you paid for it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I missed that Damon, maybe because I don't listen to NPR. If someone starts talking on my radio, it better be to announce the next song or I switch to the CD player. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | I think Stephen and I have the same arrangement with finances. I have a separate account just for "unnecessary necessities". When it goes dry, I stop spending and start selling. Over the years, it has grown to where I have a few very nice instruments, so now I really don't try to make a profit on sales. I'm just happy to pass them on. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
I missed that Damon, maybe because I don't listen to NPR. If someone starts talking on my radio, it better be to announce the next song or I switch to the CD player. +1 Almost makes me want satellite. |
|
| |
Hard Economic Times and Guitar Purchases