How much would you spend on a guitar...

[VonBonfire]

....before you felt like a selfish jerk?

No judgements tho, everyone has different income levels and different motivations for buying a given axe. I was telling the wife after ten years of building a house and improving the property if I sold it I wouldn't take any crap for spending 10k on a guitar, which basically amounts to 1k per year of hustle. She completely agreed. I wouldn't do it just cause 10k is basically a year I could scrape by just playing guitar instead of working but 5-6k, yeah MAYBE. Thought it might be a fun discussion.

 

[DanTravis62]

3-4k is my limit

Generally speaking the benefits don't outweigh the costs at that point for me

 

[Matt300ZXT]

The most I've ever spent on a guitar was a little over $2200 I think after shipping/taxes/etc from Reverb for one of my Warriors. The next most was $1800'ish for my other Warrior. If I was making really really really good money, I think the most I could ever justify, before it became a point of diminishing returns for me, would be around $3500-4000, but it'd have to be one helluva nice guitar that had a good market for resale/trades in case I just didn't gel with it after a while.

 

[VonBonfire]

The most I've ever spent on a guitar was a little over $2200 I think after shipping/taxes/etc from Reverb for one of my Warriors. The next most was $1800'ish for my other Warrior. If I was making really really really good money, I think the most I could ever justify, before it became a point of diminishing returns for me, would be around $3500-4000, but it'd have to be one helluva nice guitar that had a good market for resale/trades in case I just didn't gel with it after a while.

I said 5-6k cause a real nice PRS is about that much money and I need to rock a pure neo-soul machine with a pair of tan slacks at least once in my life before I die.

 

[Matt300ZXT]

I don't buy new, anything. I can't justify the immediate depreciation. So, whenever you get sick of that 335, maybe I'll buy it for like $1200

 

[DanTravis62]

The most I've ever spent on a guitar was a little over $2200 I think after shipping/taxes/etc from Reverb for one of my Warriors. The next most was $1800'ish for my other Warrior. If I was making really really really good money, I think the most I could ever justify, before it became a point of diminishing returns for me, would be around $3500-4000, but it'd have to be one helluva nice guitar that had a good market for resale/trades in case I just didn't gel with it after a while.

Yeah 3-4k is the max more me, but my sweet spot is generally moreso around the 2k range as well - i can play gigs with it and it seems like i'm getting all the benefits without the anxieties of rarity and resale value

 

[VonBonfire]

I don't buy new, anything. I can't justify the immediate depreciation. So, whenever you get sick of that 335, maybe I'll buy it for like $1200

I hadn't bought a new-new guitar since the 90's for that reason but the guitar was a floor model and I got it for low end of the market used 335 pricing. Can't beat it. I could flip it for a small profit and go guitar shopping again.

my sweet spot is generally moreso around the 2k range as well - i can play gigs with it and it seems like i'm getting all the benefits without the anxieties of rarity and resale value

That's pretty much it for me to. If I spent 5-6k I'd have to gig it, or at least play the hell out of it at home though, or it'd just piss me off sitting in a case all the time. Some of the gigs I play I wouldn't sweat bringing a 6k guitar too, other gigs I def wouldn't.

 

[Matt300ZXT]

I used to be super duper careful for my guitars, not so much anymore now. When I was learning all those pop songs a few months ago and was playing a LOT and knew I was going to be playing out live, but on my nicer instruments, it eventually dawned on me that hey, it's ok to have a few scratches or swirls on a guitar, maybe a small ding here and there. Not that I want to toss my guitar down after I'm done playing and break it, or spin around on stage and accidentally hit the headstock on my amp or a wall and break it off, but I'm cool with leaving them out all willy nilly, laying around as long as nothing is at risk of falling on them.

 

[rsm]

Depends on the guitar.

 

[VonBonfire]

I used to be super duper careful for my guitars, not so much anymore now. When I was learning all those pop songs a few months ago and was playing a LOT and knew I was going to be playing out live, but on my nicer instruments, it eventually dawned on me that hey, it's ok to have a few scratches or swirls on a guitar, maybe a small ding here and there. Not that I want to toss my guitar down after I'm done playing and break it, or spin around on stage and accidentally hit the headstock on my amp or a wall and break it off, but I'm cool with leaving them out all willy nilly, laying around as long as nothing is at risk of falling on them.

You're doing neo-soul now though. That means flawless finishes and crisp, starched, creased slacks. If your outfit doesn't cost as much as your guitar you're doing it wrong.

 

[Music&Chaos]

The furthest most limit I could imagine myself ever spending is way higher than I ever imagined it would be but still within reason - about 5k.

In all honestly, I have never paid even half that for a guitar - but I am just thinking; if all the stars aligned, the finances flowed right, and I absolutely loved that instrument - that is the most I could mentally ever see myself spending.

 

[rsm]

I don't buy new, anything. I can't justify the immediate depreciation. So, whenever you get sick of that 335, maybe I'll buy it for like $1200

I buy instruments new when I can (guitars, basses, keyboards). I usually buy during sales and usually have points for more money off.

I buy used instruments if they're no longer made or have colors/specs I want that are no longer available on new instruments.

 

[Matt300ZXT]

You're doing neo-soul now though. That means flawless finishes and crisp, starched, creased slacks. If your outfit doesn't cost as much as your guitar you're doing it wrong.

Hey, I posted an 80s hair metal clip yesterday, I am not 100% neo soul.

 

[skoora]

Depends on the guitar but I’m usually comfortable in the 800-2000 range. Once it gets over 2, it needs to be U.S.A. Made and pretty bang on something I’ve wanted for a long time. A certain finish/color, certain specs etc. I’m more drawn to neck shapes over anything else. Give me a neck and frets my hand feels like home on and I’m most of the way there.

 

[Markedman]

$25,000.00 for the right pre-CBS Stratocaster. $3,500.00 for everything else.

I paid $1,800.00 for my Jackson RR in 1988 which is about $5000.00 in today's money. I still have that guitar and play it regularly.

Recently I paid $2500.00 for a Knaggs and I play that 90% of the time.

I bought a 1972 Gibson SG Custom last year for $4000.00, couldn't bond, sold it for $3000.00.

 

[VonBonfire]

$25,000.00 for the right pre-CBS Stratocaster.

Are you just looking at it as an investment piece? Or would it be getting regular play time?

 

[NeubyWanKaneuby]

$3K is the most I want to spend. Try to buy used when I can.

 

[JackBootedThug]

11 or 15k… I can’t remember…

 

[311boogieman]

None of my guitars are over $500, so there's that.

I said 5-6k cause a real nice PRS is about that much money and I need to rock a pure neo-soul machine with a pair of tan slacks at least once in my life before I die.

Only took you the 4th post in to bring up the inevitable

 

[sandman]

$2500-3000 and even then the guitar has to really play and sound exceptional. To me there is diminishing return after $1500-2000 often. Different brands and build styles will affect my reasoning for spending more or less also.