Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

[Brow]

Hey guys.

Just thought I'd get some opinions on a swap I've been offered:

I'm not asking which will I prefer or anything like that, as I know that's personal preference, more like is it a fair swap etc?

I have a Gibson Faded Flying V that I've had for a while that whilst it's a perfectly good guitar, I've never really used it too much and it's spent a lot of time sat in it's case. I've been contacted by someone asking if I'd be interested in a swap for his LTD EC-1000 Deluxe in see through Black Cherry with the stock EMGs.

Would this be a 'fair' trade in your eyes?

I've never played an EC-1000 before, but I have briefly owned an EC-401 before I got rid of it quickly, which was nothing to do with the guitar itself just that a deal on an amp came up and I couldn't resist

My V currently has BKP Riff Raff/Mississippi Queen pickups, which I would be removing before making the trade, and the LTD also doesn't come with a case or gigbag.

I'm not chasing any particular tone or look specifically; more so just thinking of what I can get in trade for something I don't use much.

Here's pics of both for no particular reason!



Thanks for any opinions you might have.

Craig

 

[JeffB]

Re: Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

Your gibson will hold much of its value. The LTD will not (and has not since the day that other guy took ithome)

No way *I* would make that trade based on economics. Now if the LTD floats your boat in other ways, that is a different story.

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

No way, I would keep the Gibson. I am not even a Gibson fan.

 

[Bfeeney]

Re: Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

If your V is collecting dust and you're not keeping it to help put your grandkids through college trade it for something you'll use

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

Have the guy throw some cash your way, especially since he doesn't have a case for it.

 

[sixstringsamurai333]

Re: Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

Yep. Do the math and make sure he puts enough cash in such that when you sell the LTD you'll ultimately make up the value of your V.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

I think it's a fair trade. Actually, I think those LTD's cost more new than the Faded Flying V's. If you like everything about the LTD then I say go for it.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

Craig, I know you say you aren't playing the V but would you play the LTD any more? Personally I'd keep the V but then I do really want one anyway.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

Keep the V. If you decide to sell it, you'll get more for it than the LTD.

 

[Brow]

Re: Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

Hey guys.

Thanks for your opinions so far.

I don't think I need to reply to each individually, but the 1's below are asking specific things so I'll reply to those 1st:

Have the guy throw some cash your way, especially since he doesn't have a case for it.

He does have a hard case for it, but he's said he was only going to include it with the LTD if it was a cash sale. It's annoyed me to be honest as my V would be coming with the padded gig bag it shipped with as well as the extra hardcase I bought separately for it!

I think it's a fair trade. Actually, I think those LTD's cost more new than the Faded Flying V's. If you like everything about the LTD then I say go for it.

Yep, the LTDs are about £300 or so more expensive new than the Faded Vs were. Over here they are/were anyway.

Craig, I know you say you aren't playing the V but would you play the LTD any more? Personally I'd keep the V but then I do really want one anyway.

I think I would Don yeah. I really like the look and tone of Vs and Explorers but as I'm short and on the 'festively plump' side they're not always comfortable for me, whereas I get on with LPs and similar styles fine. Plus I've had an EC401 in the past so I know I can get on with them.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

No freakin' way. Why:

Your gibson will hold much of its value. The LTD will not (and has not since the day that other guy took ithome)

Take the pups out and stick it in a closet. If I had the cash, I'd buy it from you right now just to keep you from trading it away for an LTD!

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

My mate had a ec1000, we ended up trading for my roland synth. After about a week i had the major traders remorse. So i re traded it with a another friend for mij ibanez sabre. He loves the ec but i personally found it awkward and lifeless

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

The question you have to ask yourself is this. Do you choose your guitars for their (future) monetary worth or do you choose for the satisfaction that they will bring when played? Obviously, both together would be nice.

How about some hard figures? What is each guitar worth in a cash sale? Would you be wiser to sell your Vee for cash and then purchase, say, a used LTD EC-401 and pocket the difference?

 

[Brow]

Re: Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

No freakin' way. Why:


Take the pups out and stick it in a closet. If I had the cash, I'd buy it from you right now just to keep you from trading it away for an LTD!

Shipping to Minnesota would be a bit of a b!tch to be honest!

My mate had a ec1000, we ended up trading for my roland synth. After about a week i had the major traders remorse. So i re traded it with a another friend for mij ibanez sabre. He loves the ec but i personally found it awkward and lifeless

I guess you get guitars like that from every brand I guess. I'm still not 100% sure on the trade yet anyway.

The question you have to ask yourself is this. Do you choose your guitars for their (future) monetary worth or do you choose for the satisfaction that they will bring when played? Obviously, both together would be nice.

How about some hard figures? What is each guitar worth in a cash sale? Would you be wiser to sell your Vee for cash and then purchase, say, a used LTD EC-401 and pocket the difference?

Future value is 1 thing I don't really think about to be honest; I've always picked guitars based on how they play and sound, everything else is an afterthought.

Thing is; I'm not really out with the intention of buying something new. If I saw an EC401 for sale that I liked I wouldn't feel any inclination to buy it: I'm more than happy with my current crop of LP style guitars. I'm only really considering this trade as it came up and I don't use the V too much.

The more I think about it the more I think I may just stick with the V and give it more play time

 

[skyydogg01]

Re: Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

I'd keep the V for the simple fact that I hate the flag inlays and that gaudy binding on the LTD 1000 series

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

I think it's a fair trade. Actually, I think those LTD's cost more new than the Faded Flying V's. If you like everything about the LTD then I say go for it.

perfectly said! If it was a regular gibby V, then Id say some addl cash should come with the LTD, but since its faded, the LTD (tho they dont hold resale) was more expensive new, its a fair trade.
I would simply say if you dont play the V and would play the LTD more, its a no brainer. If you dont think you'll play the LTD more, then dont do it and try to sell the V for money to put to something you'll use. The LTDs are great players. I see alot of guys gigging with them.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

When it comes to trading, what was paid new means nothing. It's what it's value is now, at that given moment. It doesn't matter if the EC was more expensive than the V new off the shelf. What matters is what either one would fetch on the used market and the V would be a hell of a lot closer to the original price than the EC. Gibsons hold their value better, that is just a plain fact.

 

[jtougas]

Re: Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

What ErikH said...

Besides, his avatar is awesome...

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

Don't

.02

 

[Brow]

Re: Am I mad to be contemplating this swap?

Thanks guys.

After thinking about the deal for a few days I think I'm sticking with the V. I'm going to force myself to play it more and see how I feel about it afterwards.