What's the most you've spent on a guitar?

[Yrksman]

$10,000 US = £7500 GBP at current exchange rate.

I’ve exceeded that a significant number of times. The most I’ve paid £11,000/$14,750.

[wvblues]

The most I had ever paid was in June of 2021 when I bought my Iris DF Smeck which was the gateway guitar to buying more expensive instruments. Since then I sold 4 of my stable guitars and bought a Boucher HG-56 which I traded within a month for a 1967 D-18 which is the best dreadnought I have ever owned .

I firmly believe in 3 things. The law of diminishing returns trying to play any instrument before you buy and buying used guitars if possible.

That said, I believe the 3-4k is the ultimate sweet spot especially for used guitars. I also believe that Eastman makes the best inexpensive alternative to this price range. Especially their thermocured guitars.

[Yamaha Man]

$2000 for a used Martin D-35.

[Lillis]

$1400 for my Larrivee and it’s so much better than I am it’s not even funny.

[Sugar Bear]

I'm not really sure, to be honest. All my really expensive guitars were given to me as gifts by my wife.

My late Dad grew up during the Great Depression. He could pinch a penny 'til Lincoln cried for mercy. I think he instilled the mental block that I have toward spending a lot of money on things for myself.

I don't mind spending a lot on my wife and kids, but if it's something for me, I start getting weird about it at anything beyond J-45 money.

I have visions of my Dad coming back, like some Shawnee version of Jacob Marley.

"How much did you pay for that guitar?"

"What are you doing here, Pop?"

"I've come for your sake. These are the chains that I forged in life. The chain that you bear was this long seven guitar purchases ago. You have labored on it since. It is a ponderous chain!"

"Get out of here, Pop! You're not real. You're long gone."

"Why do you not trust the evidence of your own senses?"

"Because a little thing affects them; a blot of mustard, a bit of under-done potato. There's more of gravy than of grave about you, I'll wager!"

"Man of the worldly mind! Do you believe in me or not?!?"

Yeah, so knowing that I'm like that, my wife surprises me with nice guitars now and then. Left to my own devices, I'd never play anything too expensive.

She likes my playing and singing, so she buys the high end stuff for me so I won't feel weird about owning them. She's a very insightful and understanding woman.

[standup]

Looks like the vast majority, like me, have paid under $5000. Not surprising. I have instruments that are worth, now, far more than I paid for them. Because I'm old. I used to be able to buy used guitars for $300 or so. Back in the day.

None of them -- not one -- are worth $5000 now.

But I have instruments that make me happy. One of them cost over $1600. But that's an exception.

I have a double bass that probably could be sold for a lot of money, but I like it and I use it. So the value is a little meaningless.

[musicman1951]

My Lowden was just a smidge over $10,000. I played the same model with different woods that was $3000 less, but my ear had to have the Sinker Redwood/African Blackwood.

I'm lucky enough to have invested well over my whole career, so it didn't put much of a dent in my retirement savings. But most of the time I am stuck in "savings" mode after 45 years of watching the pennies. The difference with instruments is that I have always mentally leveraged being a music teacher into purchasing better instruments than I needed. I was always a good work around of the mental anguish of laying out a lot of money. It didn't hurt that the horns I used in my teaching were deductible.

We all find a comfort level for whatever reason: wallet, interest, spending the money on other things, guilt, etc.

[CASD57]

$1200 Gibson J15 new

[strumming]

Originally Posted by Sugar Bear

I'm not really sure, to be honest. All my really expensive guitars were given to me as gifts by my wife.

My late Dad grew up during the Great Depression. He could pinch a penny 'til Lincoln cried for mercy. I think he instilled the mental block that I have toward spending a lot of money on things for myself.

I don't mind spending a lot on my wife and kids, but if it's something for me, I start getting weird about it at anything beyond J-45 money.

I have visions of my Dad coming back, like some Shawnee version of Jacob Marley.

"How much did you pay for that guitar?"

"What are you doing here, Pop?"

"I've come for your sake. These are the chains that I forged in life. The chain that you bear was this long seven guitar purchases ago. You have labored on it since. It is a ponderous chain!"

"Get out of here, Pop! You're not real. You're long gone."

"Why do you not trust the evidence of your own senses?"

"Because a little thing affects them; a blot of mustard, a bit of under-done potato. There's more of gravy than of grave about you, I'll wager!"

"Man of the worldly mind! Do you believe in me or not?!?"

Yeah, so knowing that I'm like that, my wife surprises me with nice guitars now and then. Left to my own devices, I'd never play anything too expensive.

She likes my playing and singing, so she buys the high end stuff for me so I won't feel weird about owning them. She's a very insightful and understanding woman.

Do you mind if my wife calls your wife to have a chat? ;-)

[Dave Hicks]

$1750 for a Taylor 12-string; at its standard price of $2700, I wouldn't have bought it.

D.H.

[Bridgepin]

The most I have spent is $3000. I have purchased a few in the $2000 to $3000 range. I'm a hobbyist player and can't bring myself to spend more than that on one instrument. But on the grand total having 15 guitars I have spent..... oh boy a lot.

[Rick Shepherd]

Back in 1980, I bought a Taylor 855. It was alot of money in those days, and I wasn’t making much money. Now, spending 10k+ isn’t an issue, especially since guitar playing has been a life-long passion.

[383roller]

I’ve paid over 10k twice, I don’t regret it. Buy smart and it’s money tied up at worst.

[rabbuhl]

My wife gave okay for a new LP. The Gibson factory flooded so there were relatively few production LPs I went for a Custom Shop. It was on sale at that time so right around $3000. Fantastic guitar.

[raysachs]

$3500 for a Martin 000-28EC during the height of the pandemic when very little discounting could be had. By far the most I’ve paid for a guitar I kept more than a couple of days. I spent $3800 once but returned the guitar about 2 days later. My playing doesn’t justify the cost, but if that was my standard, I doubt I’d have ever spent more than $1000, maybe less. I love the guitar, play it almost every day, and don’t regret a penny of it.

I’ve spent a little more or less than $2000 a few times - I spent just under that for my CEO-7 (pre-pandemic discounting in full effect). I love it and play it almost every day too, like it as much as the 000-28EC with its completely different sound. Took me a while since I started playing a lot again to figure out what I like, but these two feel like I’ve finally gotten there. Doubt I’ll ever sell either or buy anything else, though it’s possible I’ll add a carbon fiber guitar again someday, just for the convenience. But for now, more than two would create more headaches than benefit, so nothing else for a the foreseeable future..

-Ray