Trading your favorite guitar?

[gonoles]

Over the years I've had many great guitars.  However, I always seem to want something new and different no matter how great the current guitars is.  The two greats just happen to be Larrivee 19 models, but brand is not the point of this post.  Since I can't own 30 guitar because of money, space, and a beautiful wife I'd like to keep.  What does everyone think on the topic of trading away our extra special guitars in search of that next extra special guitar?

[broKen]

I'm usually on the stinky end of a trade. I don't do it anymore.

[Strings4Him]

I have done only one trade.  I traded a guitar plus cash.  It went very well.

I have sold many at a loss so I could get the next "best" guitar.  I am a bit weary of buying and selling--for now--and simply want to enjoy what I have and become a better player.  Over time I might sell some as people make posts looking to buy.

[oldncrusty]

Trade?  I didn't know that was an option!  
I should sell off some of the fleet, but I just don't want to.  Besides, they all look, play, and sound so good.  They each have their particular uses for different styles of music. 
Picking one or two to sell would be a painful process.

[naboz]

I have traded; but only on this forum because it engenders an atmosphere of familiarity and trust. 
I had been wanting a walnut guitar, as walnut has the characteristics of sound that is pleasing to my style of play--and to my ear.  I am always perusing the Sale or Trade section (window shopping!) and KDonovan had offered up the idea of a trade.  We spoke a few times by phone then and sent each other photos of the guitars, and then both made the leap that each would hold to his word--sending the guitars on their way.  I was and am thrilled with the way things worked out and will probably not be letting go of this L03W.  I think he was just as satisfied with his OM03SP Spec. Ed.
It can work; just be of integrity from the outset.

[Chasjax]

I agree with both naboz, oldncrusty, as well as Strings!  I'm in the throes of needing to let one or two go, and then I see something of interest and I do a trade instead of a sale.  Like naboz, my guitar transactions have been only with members of this Forum, which gives me confidence that everything will be as represented - I have experienced no disappointments here.  Mama caught me sneaking a banjo in the back door recently and under pressure I had to tell her that I was going to sell one or two.  Now, how to decide which one it will be?   

Chas

[fongie]

I hear ya'

I've had many nice Larrivees in the past especially my C-05, C-09 and my Martin 0-16NY'er which I sold off so I could fund for the 'ONE'. Beautiful guitars especially the C-05.

Has there been any regrets? 'No' Disappointed? 'Yes' But in order to obtain that tone I am after, I needed to sell.

Dig this, I had 10 Larrivees and now 0. And here is the twist, I found the tone I was looking for in Martin guitars and have finally found the 'ONE' I think.

IMO don't look back, no remorse, search for that 'ONE', life is too short.

[SMan]

I have never traded but I did sell my favorite guitar about a year ago.  A beautiful Taylor K20 with some of the nicest Koa I have ever seen.  That said I owned it for about 15 plus years and was ready for something new. Although there are times I miss it, I was able to put the money towards taking an acoustic guitar building class.  There will always be others. 

[Danny]

   I've done it, will do it again, see nothing wrong with it. I do have a tinge of regret sometimes though. I think my F-III is safe though.

[teh]

Since I don't trade guitars or wives (Coming up on 36 years on my D-35 and 33 years on my wife), I guess that makes me a "Clingon" (Sorry for the bad pun to all Star Trek Fans). If I had several guitars, I might sell my second favorite guitar but I can't imagine why I would ever sell my most favorite guitar except for a family emergency. And yes they would all go if it came to that.

For those who buy, sell, swap and trade, I would be interested to see a poll with two choices in a straight up or down vote:

Did you suffer from seller's remorse when you sold your favorite guitar? Yes or no

Did you suffer from buyer's remorse when you bought your next favorite guitar? Yes or no

[Danny]

                    YES & NO

[ewalling]

I've bought and sold quite a few nice guitars and not really regretted letting most of them go. One sale really was stupid, though - in 2007 I special-ordered a Gibson CJ-165 in sitka and rosewood from my local GC. It's commonly reported that Gibsons can be iffy; if so, I got an absolute corker. Not saying it was perfect - soon after buying it the nut needed replacing - but it was a wonderful guitar where it really mattered - the feel and the sound. It was one of those guitars where the sound seems to leap from the soundboard. Gorgeous, ringing trebles and superb growly mids. Mine was a sunburst and it was drop-dead gorgeous, too. But ... the 000-42 is the ultimate short-scale rosewood small-body guitar, isn't it? That was my thinking when I traded an exceptional Gibson for an okay Martin. To add injury to insult, the CJ-165 in rosewood became obsolete sometime after I sold it in 2009.

[Alexrkstr]

Well... I just sold two of my favorite guitars (Taylor W16ce and a Gibson Les Paul Classic) to get a PRS Signature Limited. Worth every wood cell in those guitars, It's the journey, not the destination ;)

[Queequeg]

I have too many guitars now, and I should offload a few.
Only one I sold that I wish I still had was a 00-60. That was a very special guitar. Fortunately for me right after I sold it, Danny got something going for us on the F-IV, which was a pretty nice 00-3 with a hog top. This one made it easier to forget the 00-60.
I guess I haven't forgotten it; have I? 

[Dotneck]

What does everyone think on the topic of trading away our extra special guitars in search of that next extra special guitar?

I've traded and sold a lot of guitars over the years. Most were mediocre and I don't think twice about them. I did once sell a gibson L-20 I wish I still had. But my son needed a saxophone so c'est la vie.

Now most of the guitars I have I like pretty much so it gets harder to be tempted for swaps...I guess if you consider letting them go then they can't be too close to your heart.

[Danny]

.I guess if you consider letting them go then they can't be too close to your heart.

Hearts change, they are just like that.

[BLTQ]

I wouldn't sell or trade my favorite guitar(s) in hopes of something better.  If you're still in love with the instrument I think it would be hard to even consider doing that.  I did sell a Gibson Explorer a few years ago that was once my pride and joy, but over the years it got to the point that I no longer enjoyed much about that guitar at all.  It was WAY too heavy and didn't have the sound I was after.  I hardly ever even got it out from under the bed to mess around with it, but didn't think I could get much $$ for it since it had been modified with an after-market Kahler.  Eventually I reached the point that any money would be preferable to keeping that guitar around, so I put it on eBay with a low starting bid and no reserve and it now belongs to someone new who's thrilled to own it.  My only regret about that move is that I didn't do it sooner.  The proceeds from that sale allowed me to score my Larrivee RS-2 and I couldn't be happier with that guitar.   So, my two cents is this: if you are convinced that there's something out there that you must have save up the money and buy it.  You can always part with your previous fav after you're sure you've come to own one even better.  Good Luck!

[maLavvo]

Like most of the people here, I also trade and sell to get an upgrade or to get different variety of what I already have.  So far, most of my deals, either sell or trade have been fair, specially from here at the Forum.  Sometimes i don't mind getting some loss (in value) if I really-really like the guitar I am trading for as long as both parties agreed on something.

I had also few lucky experiences that I bought for less and was able to sell for more money (promise, did not happen here in the Forum). 

[fongie]

I wouldn't sell or trade my favorite guitar(s) in hopes of something better.  If you're still in love with the instrument I think it would be hard to even consider doing that. 

Your right, it is a painful decision, thats why I try not to get too overly attached.

When you are after that certain tone and comfort, sometimes hard decisions have to be made. And touch wood, my decisions have been spot on.

[Danny]

   I have had to decide and sell my guitars and much more as we downsize into retirement. All the guitars are up for grabs except one, and even that is for just for now. Tomorrow could "change" things.
                                             
                                                Life changes you and you either accept that fact or live very unhappily.