"Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

[BloodRose]

Ok, Im facing some challenges. Need some guidance

have decided on a few guitars I can part with.. GibsonV, Tokai LP JR, Tak 12 string , EPi LP 60s Tribute and my Squier vintage modified "very modified" tele.

Have to line up the next row of things to go.. I LOVE LOVE LOVE all the axes I have now, but have to make some hard choices...
I need to decide tween my "LPS".. I want to keep one..

I have a Dean Soltero Bella Noir. It was one of their special run models in 2008 I believe. It is black, gorgeous, Grover keys, ebony board, incredibly low action, and thin neck that plays like butter.. Like new condition

Or a Gibson LP Trad Pro with WLH set that plays and sounds amazing.. A couple minor scuffs

OR a 1980s Burny "LP Custom"in white that I removed the EMG Zakk set and put in a Bare Knuckles Rebel yell set in. Its in EXTREMELY good shape with only a couple of small dings. Plays like butter, sounds amazing but is very heavy..

After those, I have to decide tween:
An 87 (I believe) Kramer Pacer
Gibson Explorer
Guild star
Washburn MG130 in black . These are Grover Jackson designed 24.75 scale set neck superstrats. H/s/s with floyds Duncan Custom 8, Cool rails/cool rails
Washburn MG130 with Blue quilt maple top Duncan JB/Cool rails/cool rails
Japanese Squier Strat with bill Lawrence pickups
Chinese Squier Strat modded with Sperzelkeys, Duncan C5, Silver Lace sensor middle and Blue Lace neck.. Headstock was repaired and Im assuming this will have very little value.

Then, last resort are my two charvels... Red USA Custom and White Pro Mod. Both heavily modded with Brass Claw, ti parts etc..

My goal is to try and keep the charvels, at least one LP type, the strats (Though Im pretty sure only the white one wont sell) And One if not both of the MG130s.
The Blue one is in EXCELLENT shape, except a little cloudiness in the finish at edge of fretboard and some small scuffs.

So, What would you choose if you had to make this choice?? As I said, there isnt a dog in the bunch, so Im really struggling to decide...
Thanks for the input..

 

[ErikH]

Re: "Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

I've been in your shoes (not exactly 100% but had to sell a lot to pay off bills, debt, etc.). Now, this may be extreme but this is what I did.

If it has a name on the head stock and can bring in some cash, no matter how much, sell it. It's "stuff". That's it. If you have to keep one, pick it and set it aside. Prep the rest for sale, don't play them, and get them moved to bring in the cash needed.

I did the same with pedals, amps, cab, accessories, parts, you name it. I only kept the guitars I had built myself (no name on the head stock), my Martin D-28 (sentimental to the core) and the Dean ML my wife bought me. Everything else saw the door and was sold.

If it was a choice of paying things off and being able to get something else down the road vs. struggling, I'd pay things off every time. I'm not gonna lecture but think of your position and family. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices. It sucks but waking up and realizing there are no major bills anymore is relieving.

Good luck to ya. It sucks, I know, but you will feel better later when it's all gone things are simpler. Move on to amps and effects next.

 

[devastone]

Re: "Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

Yeah, it's tough, set aside a couple of favorites, and detach yourself from the others. Sometimes the decision about which ones to set aside comes down to how much $ do I need and which ones will bring in the most. The JEM in my avatar was my main/favorite for 10 years or so, but in 2017 it had to go to pay rent, my YZ250 paid rent and a few other bills, basically everything except a parts strat (I needed something to play in church) and a Boss GT-1000 that I picked up cheap (see previous). I'm incredibly thankful that I am working again at a good job, but I am much more selective now, and I've decided I only need a few guitars at this point in life. I still haven't replaced the YZ, I'm having trouble cutting loose of that much $, so that part of life may be over now, not to mention I'm old and out of shape and not sure if I even up for riding again right now (on the flip side, a day at the track was some of the best exercise I ever got).

I feel for you man, when it gets tough you have to not only evaluate the personal value, but the monetary value as well. Praying that things turn around quick for you bud.

 

[Gtrjunior]

"Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

"Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

I can’t do it right now, but if you still have it available in a few months I might be interested in the Kramer or possibly one of the Charvels


But obviously if you get the opportunity to sell in the meantime, by all means go for it.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: "Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

Yeah like Erik said
The name branded ones sell first
If they are all good
Hold one to the least likely to sell
All the rest hit the block

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: "Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

As above said, I'd sell what name sells well.

Out of the bunch, I'd probably keep the Very Modified Tele on the first place. Probably it's modded for a reason and these mod-moddings end up special that has high personal value but sell low. Definitely a keeper.

Then, I spared the Dean Soltero. Man those are flat-out amazing, more refined machinery than Gibbo LP types in the price range in my humble opinion.

I'd keep both of the Charvels. They are your modded race cars. Being parted, you would regret it.

The white Strat. Having a white Strat never hurts.

Then I'd say goodbye to all the rest.

off: I actually did it with 90% of my stuff around 2012 when the bankfukk crisis slowly raped the country I live in and I lost my job. Everything I owned to that time went down the sink for survival except for a couple of guitars, a small rig capable of gigging, a computer with barebone audio production tools, a box of clothes and 2 pairs of shoes. Then, time and new opportunities re-booted my life. I try to keep it really simple, though.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: "Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

Good advice thus far! Thank you! At first my brain says try and keep the best stuff, but it would be quicker, easier and more beneficial to sell the name stuff. The Gibson lp will sell quicker. The Soltero is a great axe. So much so that I had one from the original run, I foolishly sold it and went out of my way to get another. I’m not a brand snob at all, so that is why this is so hard.. I love em all. But the brand ones would be easier to sell. And. I’ll still have better gear than I am worthy of ..

 

[Aceman]

Re: "Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

The Dean is rare, unique, and plays awesome.

LP Trads are available everywhere. Anyone can buy a set of WLH’s. Might find a better LP cheaper...

 

[VinceT]

Re: "Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

Great advice here already.

One little brain-hack to aid detachment, list them all in a spreadsheet with likely sales prices, and likelihood of sale, etc. Then make your cull based on how quick you can sell and how much you can get.

You’re already doing this, BUT the big difference is that, while it’s in your head, it’s close to all the sentimental stuff, - once you write it out, it’s a big step to non-attachment.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[BloodRose]

Re: "Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

Ace, yeah. Only thing is.. with the gibson, I wanted a black one. I played bunches and bunches of lp trad pros. Black mostly, and none sounded especially good. The red one had such mojo that blew me away. Still wanted black, but couldn’t get red one out of my mind cuz it sounded so darned good. I told myself a couple weeks later... if they still have it, it’s meant to be mine. They did, so talked Mom (rip) into co-signing for me to finance it. It even had some scuffs after that time from people molesting it. I normally would have insisted on a new primo one, but that one just has vibe..So, thats why I struggle. It just has mojo. But, the dean is rare, has an amazing neck. So perhaps with pick up upgrade.....
Hell, tbh, the Michael kelly patriot custom I have is amazing! Early ones came with tone pros bridges and tail pieces, Grover keys and some kind(can’t think right now). Of upgraded pups. Small name, but decent. I had a rio grand bbq custom made with no legs since guitar is direct mount for the bridge, so it is super sweet.

Vince, yes, pretty much what I’m doing/ have done

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: "Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

Which Tak 12 string?

Please let me know if you decide to part with the Charvels. I’ll move mountains for those.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: "Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

I have a TAk 12 string accoustic.. ill post model later. not a high end model, but nice

 

[regan]

Re: "Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

Ace, yeah. Only thing is.. with the gibson, I wanted a black one. I played bunches and bunches of lp trad pros. Black mostly, and none sounded especially good. The red one had such mojo that blew me away. Still wanted black, but couldn’t get red one out of my mind cuz it sounded so darned good. I told myself a couple weeks later... if they still have it, it’s meant to be mine. They did, so talked Mom (rip) into co-signing for me to finance it. It even had some scuffs after that time from people molesting it. I normally would have insisted on a new primo one, but that one just has vibe..So, thats why I struggle. It just has mojo. But, the dean is rare, has an amazing neck. So perhaps with pick up upgrade.....
Hell, tbh, the Michael kelly patriot custom I have is amazing! Early ones came with tone pros bridges and tail pieces, Grover keys and some kind(can’t think right now). Of upgraded pups. Small name, but decent. I had a rio grand bbq custom made with no legs since guitar is direct mount for the bridge, so it is super sweet.

Vince, yes, pretty much what I’m doing/ have done

If you have a guitar with mojo, never sell it, as when you're in a position to replace it finding another that sounds as good isn't a given.
Sell the stuff you don't play let someone else enjoy them, keep the stuff you do play

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: "Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

I have a TAk 12 string accoustic.. ill post model later. not a high end model, but nice

There’s a specific one I’m kind of looking for (EG523-12 or something like that). It was just a Korean model or whatever.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: "Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

Great advice here already.

One little brain-hack to aid detachment, list them all in a spreadsheet with likely sales prices, and likelihood of sale, etc. Then make your cull based on how quick you can sell and how much you can get.

You’re already doing this, BUT the big difference is that, while it’s in your head, it’s close to all the sentimental stuff, - once you write it out, it’s a big step to non-attachment.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

As you already know, this is excellent advice.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: "Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

I would be inclined to keep:
Epi '60s LP,
Squire Tele,
Chinese Squire Strat,
Charvel (white, modded one)
Possibly the Tak 12.

I would get rid of the rest (especially the Burny, but I'd keep the pups and put the EMGs back in).

Good luck.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: "Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

By the way, I’ve been half-heartedly attempting this for a few years. I’ve successfully listed and sold a Gibson Les Paul Jr. (2015 model that I hated the neck in from day 1) and my old Deluxe Plus Strat (that I’ve been thinking of selling since 2001, at least I more than doubled my money on it over the years).

All the other I bought for a reason, and I still have that reason!

 

[justFred]

Re: "Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

Take a month...keep a record of how much you play each guitar...keep the three most played...sell the rest...

 

[BloodRose]

Re: "Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

There’s a specific one I’m kind of looking for (EG523-12 or something like that). It was just a Korean model or whatever.

Mine is a GJ72CE-12 Nat Or GJ720E. Cant tell if that is a C or a 0

 

[Gtrjunior]

"Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

"Les paul' decisions. Other herd thinning help needed..

Mine is a GJ72CE-12 Nat Or GJ720E. Cant tell if that is a C or a 0

Probably a C
C usually stands for Cutaway
E is usually for electronics. (Acoustic/electric).

Of course if you’re isn’t a cutaway....then disregard...lol