Buying and Selling Guitars. When to get help?

[Don54]

OP, I want to echo what others have said and thank you for putting this out there. It’s sobering and will help out others that might be struggling. I hope you find the help/support that you need.

[Malcolm Kindnes]

Originally Posted by jmagill

Dave, regarding your compulsion, you've already received lots of great advice here.

Regarding the losses you take in your buying and selling, I'm always a little puzzled by those who buy a guitar knowing they will lose money on it when they sell it.

While I don't recommend buying instruments as investments, I have taken a loss only once in 50 years of trading, and that case was acceptable to me before I made the purchase because it was part of a larger deal, and timing was a factor. In every other case I sold for more than I paid by following a few simple rules. Some of them govern just my own tastes, but the ones that might be applicable to most folks I offer below. All of the following rules can be summed up in this One Rule and its Corollary:

The One Rule: Always buy instruments that are likely to appreciate in value.
Corollary: You make money when you buy, not when you sell – buy at the right price and you’ll get more than you paid when you sell (with thanks to jschmitz54 of the AGF). Admittedly, this takes some experience, knowledge and understanding of the marketplace, but it’s not rocket science.

1. Always buy the highest-quality instruments. With apologies to anyone’s favorite brands, this usually means luthier-built instruments. Whether it’s from a factory (Martin, Taylor, Gibson, et al.), medium-sized shop (Collings, Santa Cruz, Bourgeois, et al.) or small shop (Pre-War, Huss & Dalton, et al.), the only production-line instruments that meet my qualifications are usually vintage examples of highly desirable models. I look for luthiers building exceptional instruments who are early in their careers and their prices are relatively affordable.

2. Look for the uncommon. It need not be unique or rare, but if it’s a highest-quality instrument of a type or model not usually seen, it will be more attractive than other instruments in the marketplace should I need to sell. If it is unique or rare, that’s a bonus. You're not going to get your money back on an instrument when there are thousands of the same model out there in the world.

3. Don’t break the bank. Figure out a way to pay for a desired instrument that doesn’t cause an unacceptable level of financial hardship. In other words, don’t pay more than you can afford and plan ahead. See #6 below.

4. Money tied up in instruments stays in instruments. I sell instruments only to buy others, and if I’ve followed the One Rule’s corollary and bought well, I’ll sell well.

5. Always trade up. Every new instrument should be a little higher on the food chain than what it replaces.

6. Be patient, but be ready when the Exceptional comes along. See #3 above. Build up your war chest in a ‘Guitar Account’ and don’t buy on credit.
.

This is all very sensible advice and more or less the policy that I have followed throughout my long, guitar playing career. However, you and I are not suffering from an addiction in the way that the OP is.

There is so much of everything now available in our society that it is very easy to believe that "more" is the answer, when in fact it is the problem.

[ol4t]

I totally understand where the OP is coming from. It's very similar to gamblers I've known, always the thrill of the experience overcomes the reality of chances of winning.
You've gone through some life changing experiences lately (been there), just go sit down and play. That's the best medicine for your soul, mind and Fingers.

I don't need no stinking audience.

[brijas99]

Originally Posted by Mandobart

Thanks for sharing your story. From reading this forum for many years I believe there are a few others here who also have an unhealthy obsession/addiction with churning through guitars.

Anything in life can start out normal but morph into something unhealthy. I've seen a lot of posts here that either joke about, normalize, condone or encourage the buy/sell/re-buy frenzy that some pursue. And the wide fuzzy line between "enjoyable hobby" and "unhealthy addiction" easily can vary from one person to another.

I think most of us are adults here and responsible for our own actions, but we should recognize that we may be encouraging unhealthy behavior for some individuals with what we post. We wouldn't encourage compulsive gamblers to go to a casino, or overeaters to go to an all-you-can-eat buffet, or for alcoholics to go to a bar....

One of the most sobering and honest posts I've ever read on the forum. Takes allot of courage to write a post like this and share it with the world. Thanks for sharing your story. Gives us all a little something to think about.

Dave, I truly wish you all the best in you being able to make things better for you !!

[Jim Owen]

All the best, Dave. You’re ready to get some help.

[rllink]

A very interesting thing, back in the early eighties I got divorced and at the same time I got into photography. I bought a dozen cameras of different formats, I don't know how many lenses, tripods, camera bags, just everything I could buy. I was in the camera store several times a week buying and trading stuff. I wasn't happy unless I was getting something new.That was back in the 35mm film days and I even bought developers and all the equipment to develop film and print pictures.

My life was in turmoil back then and I never thought about that driving my spending, but looking back now I think that might have been the case. I still have most of that stuff in a storage shed, less the cameras my son took. I haven't touched it in decades.

[RP]

Originally Posted by rllink

A very interesting thing, back in the early eighties I got divorced and at the same time I got into photography. I bought a dozen cameras of different formats, I don't know how many lenses, tripods, camera bags, just everything I could buy. I was in the camera store several times a week buying and trading stuff. I wasn't happy unless I was getting something new.That was back in the 35mm film days and I even bought developers and all the equipment to develop film and print pictures.

Back in the 90s I befriended a professional outdoor photographer https://www.denniscoello.com whose works have appeared in various magazines, calendars and books. This was prior to the invention of digital cameras. He appeared to live pretty frugally, but he admitted that he'd willingly drop several thousand dollars to pick up a single f-stop on a lens. It's all a matter of priorities...

[SFCRetired]

Well you aren't the only one who suffers from buying. I have seen it in many forms in my life. The internet just makes it worse and easier. I knew a woman who would buy groceries and never take them out of her car. True story and then go buy more.

In the last 10 years I have bought and sold probably 20 guitars, most were cheap some were not. But I seldom lost more than a hundred bucks, most I broke even. I'm through buying guitars, if what I have isn't good enough I don't deserve any of them.

But don't leave unless you feel it's in your best interest and if so I wish you well. I always enjoy reading your thoughts on things.

[rllink]

Originally Posted by RP

Back in the 90s I befriended a professional outdoor photographer https://www.denniscoello.com whose works have appeared in various magazines, calendars and books. This was prior to the invention of digital cameras. He appeared to live pretty frugally, but he admitted that he'd willingly drop several thousand dollars to pick up a single f-stop on a lens. It's all a matter of priorities...

Of course, there are professional photographers and serious hobbyists who are looking for every edge, but reading the OP's post, looking back and thinking about it, I think for me it was a distraction more than a love of photography. All I'm saying is that I think that I understand what the OP is going through and wish him the best getting through it.

[King Robert]

How do I sell a guitar on this forum?

[rabbuhl]

I only just buy. I always tell my wife this is the last one. Maybe some advice from older people can help, i.e. less stuff.

[rollypolly]

Interesting topic and I’m glad it’s discussed openly here just in case someone does develop a problem. I will admit I may suffer in the same way but on a much smaller level. I can’t seem to find “the one” and keep searching, probably after that tiny dopamine fix I get from a new guitar.

I’ve seen a therapist for other things including addiction and her big advice is that our minds are always hungry for pleasure but that we have to feed them a little pain in order for them to produce the dopamine naturally. That’s where exercise comes into play , and even taking cold showers. Those things actually do help a lot.

[colins]

Originally Posted by King Robert

How do I sell a guitar on this forum?

This thread and buying a charter membership may help - https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=172837

[Jim Owen]

Originally Posted by King Robert

How do I sell a guitar on this forum?

King,
Charter members can post to the classifieds. Just be careful—the classifieds are open to internet searches, and every so often scammers come calling.

[abn556]

Well - its healthier than self medicating, though I understand losing money is no fun and disrupting your relationships is not good. Perhaps instead of buying anything new and then flipping it you should invest that money in some counseling. I am not a counselor, but the high you get from NGD is quickly gone and you’re right back where you started. Each cycle becomes another dead end that leads you right back to the feelings that has you searching for a new fix in the first place.

Remember that the whole point of the guitar is to play them and make music. I personally find peace and relaxation in playing.