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Location: Flahdaw | Just an observation, but this time last year there were alot more distressed deals out there on C.L., Ebay, even here....absolute steals. This year, not so much. Maybe the corner has been turned? |
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Location: closely held secret | Or maybe they're in pawn shops... |
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Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Funny, in terms of buying stuff, I'm holding back except for the essentials. My combo speaker is dying and I'm replacing it (with an Eminance Swamp Thang!) I don't feel a corner's been turned, it's more like purchases for essentials have been deferred and now I can't wait any longer. |
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Posts: 3666
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | My yardstick doesn't have that-small increments. |
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March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | It's been my best year yet. 4 1/2 years of running the shop, and I can finally afford to custom order my dream guitar.
I WILL say though that the cost of heating my home has doubled in the past few years. At $3.44 a gallon for fuel oil, I will have to start passing up great deals on guitars, like the one OMA has up on the for sale board. I WANT it, but I can't have it. :( |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | So, Alison, what are the specs of your dream guitar? |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Still working out the details with Al. |
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Posts: 1119
Location: Michigan | Things are going so well here in Michigan I am going to buy you all the custom Adamas of your choice... |
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Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | buy a guitar or amp or something and I will let you know |
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Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | ... my work hours have been cut from 40hrs/week to 24hrs/week since April with no real change in the immediate future......no improvement for me.
...on the plus side, I am becoming very good at "puttering" |
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January 2009
Posts: 4536
Location: Flahdaw | Well, like I said, last year craigslist had tons of great deals out there. Most of the ads said things like "must sell, lost job, need money for kids Christmas presents"....stuff like that. This year there's nothing but Estebans, Squires, and Hohners....at retail pricing!!! Something has changed. Maybe everyone that HAD to sell something already has....last year. |
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Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | I'm sorry so many are hurting. I occurred to me that my post sounded callous. South Dakota has not been hit by the economic downturn like most of the rest of the country. Our unemployment rate remains around 4 percent. North Dakota is doing even better. Nebraska isn't too bad either. I just lucked out and moved to, not only the most beautiful place in the country (IMO), but one where jobs are relatively plentiful.
Of course here in the Black Hills, most of those jobs are service sector, low paying jobs. Tourist economy. But except for HEATING OIL :mad: , the cost of living is pretty low here. |
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Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | OK, I just finalized things with Al.
The top will be dark grey, the natyral color of the graphite. loke on the 2080's.
The epi's will be a bit lighter, pearlized grey, but pieced together like the wood ones are so they look like leaves.
The neck will be a typical Adamas neck with the skunk stripes.
The bridge will be plain, not carved, and it will be walnut.
The fretboard will be walnut with maple fretmarkers. But those fretmarkers will be SWANS!
The headstock will be burled walnut.
The trussrod cover will be walnut with a maple A on it.
The rope binding will be walnut.
Al D electronics with the BOOST BUTTON.
And of course the neck will be l-o-n-g.
Won't be ready for at least six months, but I'll post lots of pics when I get it. |
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Location: south east Michigan | nice |
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Location: Utah | Nice, Alison. I'll be by to give it a test drive next summer. |
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January 2009
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Location: Flahdaw | So, you're talking a baritone? |
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Posts: 3969
| Sounds wonderful, Alison. Can't wait to see it. |
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Posts: 4081
Location: Utah | IMO, worth what it cost you, is that we are seeing a temporary false improvement. The fundamentals haven't changed in terms of corporate profits, and the government policies haven't changed, so I see no reason for the long term trend to change. There are a lot of indicators hinting at a second recession next year.
However, we are seeing signs that consumers are more willing to spend money. Black Friday was busy in the Salt Lake valley this year. I went to our local master violin builder's shop for a metronome, and literally there were no parking spots available. I walked out after waiting 10 minutes and came back an hour later, and still had to wait 30 minutes to pay for the item. In the meantime the other patrons were trying out and buying all kinds of expensive violins, violas, and cellos. We're talking $2k minimum. Some people obviously have significant discretionary money to spend.
Local CL and KSL.com instrument listings seem less desperate, but much is going unsold. I sense some caution but less panic than a year or two ago. |
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March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Yeah Darkbar, it's a baritone. And after I get it, I should be done for at least a while. I'm going to make one of those New Year's Resolutions. NO NEW GUITARS THIS YEAR. |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Originally posted by CanterburyStrings:
I'm going to make one of those New Year's Resolutions. NO NEW GUITARS THIS YEAR. Ask Beal how that worked out for him... |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Canterbery, that is going to be one sweet git. Now I'm jealous. |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Way to go, Alison! |
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March 2010
Posts: 370
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba CANADA | Hate to be 'doom and gloom', but the places that I am looking show no sign whatsoever of recovery. If anything, just the opposite.
I spend a lot of time looking at vintage and high end guitar sites, and a disturbing trend has been emerging.
Have a look on EBay (or Craigslist...or yadda yadda...) and you will see MORE absolutely primo, closet queen guitars now than at any time in the last ten years. I'm talking about stuff that was put under a bed in the sixties and hasn't seen the light of day since. The absolute best of the best...
These are guitars that only the most serious, well-coined collectors could have been able to justify buying... even back in the day when they were more 'affordable'.
I'm sure there are many here who will have contrary opinions, but no serious collector (at least, none of the ones I am acquainted with) would EVER part with items like these unless they had their back to the wall.
A few examples... Early 60's Firebirds. There are usually one or two available on Ebay at any given time. Last week there were 10+, two or three of these being AAA, museum-grade examples with BIN's half of what they were a year ago.
I have been following Rickenbacker basses for almost five years now. You might occassionally see a pre-'73 (the really rare ones...). Last week, there were several, including a '67, again in NM. Never seen a 60's 4000 series on there since I have been looking. They just don't come up.
Fender Jazz basses, same thing...including probably the best 60's example I have ever seen, going for a BIN that makes me cry.
This may just be a 'blip', but if the people that could previously afford these high-end toys (usually the ones that drive the American economy...) are now hurting enough to have to them let go, it can't possibly be a good sign.
I know everyone wants to stay positive and put the best spin on things, but the deficit being what it is (totally out of control...), means that until the tax-paying public decide to bite the bullet and take measures to start paying it down (instead of voting down every measure that has any hope of getting it back in check), there won't be any recovery. How can there be?
No one likes taxes (obviously...), but if the people that CAN afford it don't start dealing with the problem, will anyone else?
I doubt it...
:eek: :eek: :eek: |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally by dark bar:
Just an observation, but this time last year there were alot more distressed deals out there on C.L., Ebay, even here....absolute steals. This year, not so much. Maybe the corner has been turned? Don't know about that... Some poor soul just had to sell me this for much less than it is worth.
(Still has Factory Dust, 3 shim action and the string that connects the preamp to the can)
And I Thank Him!
This one's a Keeper.
And I am still unemployed with no sign of that changing.
I will be going-out busking for rent money in a bit. |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Originally posted by Old Man Arthur:
Don't know about that... Some poor soul just had to sell me this for much less than it is worth. Maybe he shoulda tried being unemployed... |
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economy improving?
