Would you pay big dough for a celebrity guitar?

[spellcaster]

Some comments that were made in my recent "2000.00+ MIJ Clone" thread, got me thinking about this. Would you pay significantly more than the street value of a guitar because it had been owned by a celebrity?

I tried to think back to an instance where I was faced with this kind of choice. The only thing that comes to mind was about five years ago, seeing a 12 string acoustic on eBay that had been owned by the guitarist in America. I have to admit, the thought of having the guitar that played the riff in Sister Giolden Hair sitting in my livingroom was tempting. In the end, my financial circumstances made the decision not to hit the Buy It Now button easier.....but I have a feeling that if it had happened a couple of years later when my income had almost doubled, I probably would have been an owner.

so....What do you think? I'm not suggesting most of us would have the means to own a Clapton or Townsend guitar, for example, but would you stretch an extra grand or two or three more than market value to buy a Tele or 335 based on the fact that it had been owned or played by someone special?

[itsallintheblues]

If it was the Monterey Pop Stratocaster that Jimmy Hendrix owned.. I think I would.. but a Custom shop replica is fine.. thats my dream stratocaster!

other than that.. I think not..

[zontar]

No. I would not.

[YeahDoIt]

If I owned a recording studio then I might buy celebrity guitars and rent them to clients.

[Dirt Rich]

It depends on the artist. If it was someone who was a huge influence to me, or wrote some of my favorite songs, a few grand wouldn't hold me back if I had it to spare. I'd want a verified certificate of authenticity to go along with it, but it wouldn't be a case queen either. I'd play the hell out of it.

[die Bullen]

I absolutely would not pay more for a celebrity owned guitar because I don't hold celebrities in reverence in any way. And DR is right- for something like that to have more collector value there would have to be significant documentation proving that the guitar was the celebrity's.

[etechstan]

Simple, no. In the past, I've pulled people out of fires, stopped a suicide, taken children out of abusive families. I really don't care for pro athletes, actors or musicians who throw money around to make themselves feel good. No celebrity is worth any kind of money.

[Dirt Rich]

Owning the actual guitar some of your favorite songs were written on isn't worth a little extra coin to any of you? I don't care about celebrities either, but songs mean a great deal to me, so as long as we aren't talking about a ridiculous markup in price, I think it would be cool to own something like that.

[die Bullen]

It isn't worth more to me personally- it would be more in the realm of " that's kinda neat" than "WOW".

[etechstan]

If I got a hold of SRV's #1 or Lenny guitars, the first thing I would do is restore them. Refinish, get rid of those goofy initials...

[Dirt Rich]

I have no problem with natural relics, especially if those marks represent stories of great moments in rock history.

[spellcaster]

I remember reading an article a few years back written by a reknown luthier who had the opportunity to tear down Buddy Holly's Strat. One of the things that stuck in my mind was his remark that when he removed the pickguard, there was a spare pick inside that had been slid in under the edge of the guard. I'd have paid huge dough for that pick.

[die Bullen]

Now this ain't a guitar but I would pay top dollar for Dizzy Gillespie's or Louis Armstrong's trumpets....

[YeahDoIt]

I suspect that if I happened to be in the right place at the right time I might play Eddie Van Halen's guitar rig, but I would still sound like me. Because much of the sound is in the hands.

[zontar]

Owning the actual guitar some of your favorite songs were written on isn't worth a little extra coin to any of you? I don't care about celebrities either, but songs mean a great deal to me, so as long as we aren't talking about a ridiculous markup in price, I think it would be cool to own something like that.

No.
It would be cool to own such a guitar, but I have no interest in paying extra for it.
I can get a guitar that I like for much less.

[Teleblooz]

Just one - Micawber.

[itsallintheblues]

Just one - Micawber.

I wish I can say that, but I cant play with a missing low E string!

[Teleblooz]

It's easier than you might think, but it sure feels weird.

[spellcaster]

You surprised me, TB, although I guess it was inevitable that somebody would try it Keef-style.

[Teleblooz]

Nah - I'm a huge Keef fan. Him and Springsteen.

[edandis]

I agree. Buying an artists model isn't going to make you sound like them.

[spellcaster]

I wasn't talking so much about signature models as much as the idea of buying an actual instrument that had been owned by someone significant.

IMHO, signature models from guitar companies are dumb and just a marketing strategy. No offense intended, if you own an SRV or Clapton Strat, by the way. If I really felt like I needed to own a Blackie, for example, I'd buy a nice black Strat, midboost kit, and pickups, and do it myself a lot cheaper than the one on the rack with a facsimile signature.

[die Bullen]

but what do you think about my earlier comment SC? There are a million guitar pros- don't you think that Dizzy Gillespie's horn for example somehow goes into another class?

[etechstan]

I wasn't talking so much about signature models as much as the idea of buying an actual instrument that had been owned by someone significant.

IMHO, signature models from guitar companies are dumb and just a marketing strategy. No offense intended, if you own an SRV or Clapton Strat, by the way. If I really felt like I needed to own a Blackie, for example, I'd buy a nice black Strat, midboost kit, and pickups, and do it myself a lot cheaper than the one on the rack with a facsimile signature.

The CS Texas Specials in my Highway 1 and my HotRod DeVille nail the SRV tone. I got about $1000 into the whole thing. A lot less than what an SRV Strat would go for.

[itsallintheblues]

I agree with Stan.. the Texas Specials nail that tone.. it can deliver that big sound with the right settings.. but then again, I'm not SRV.. so I only hear that tone when I pluck/hit the string at the right moment, right pick angle, and right etc... it doesnt happen that often though.. it's like "oh that's SRV right there" and then when I try to repeat it, it goes away.. LOL

[die Bullen]

that's why I never try to emulate anyone- you have to find your own tone,,,

[spellcaster]

but what do you think about my earlier comment SC? There are a million guitar pros- don't you think that Dizzy Gillespie's horn for example somehow goes into another class?

It may be that there's more exclusivity in owning a famous piece of brass, just because there aren't as many really notable players. I'm finding it hard to look at impartially just because of how annoying horns are to me. But, if it's what you like, owning a trumpet that belonged to a world-class player would give you a personal connection to that person perhaps even more than a guitar.

[zontar]

It may be that there's more exclusivity in owning a famous piece of brass, just because there aren't as many really notable players. I'm finding it hard to look at impartially just because of how annoying horns are to me. But, if it's what you like, owning a trumpet that belonged to a world-class player would give you a personal connection to that person perhaps even more than a guitar.

But it would have his spit on it...

[die Bullen]

Ha ha- that's what spit valves are for!

That's kind of what I meant about exclusivity- I can only think of a few top trumpet players but a zillion guitar players come to mind

[etechstan]

He just wants the spit for the DNA so he can clone his own band.

[zontar]

Ha ha- that's what spit valves are for!

That's kind of what I meant about exclusivity- I can only think of a few top trumpet players but a zillion guitar players come to mind

Still has the spit on it...

[etechstan]

It may be that there's more exclusivity in owning a famous piece of brass, just because there aren't as many really notable players. I'm finding it hard to look at impartially just because of how annoying horns are to me. But, if it's what you like, owning a trumpet that belonged to a world-class player would give you a personal connection to that person perhaps even more than a guitar.

Horns annoying??!! The harmonica is the most annoying instrument ever devised. Metal and wood spit filled vessel of ear piercing shrill. There is a live Springsteen song that is just a nails on chalk board spitfest that made me dislike his music even more.

[Hu Duck Xing]

If I had big dough,,, why not? But I ain't got big dough! I do have a couple guitars that were owned by well-known people in their respective musical communities, but are not "famous." One of my steels was played on TV a lot, by a well-known steel player. Nashville Now. Doesn't make them worth more though.

[Teleblooz]

The harmonica is the most annoying instrument ever devised.

You obviously have never spent much time with a bagpiper.

[etechstan]

Funny!!!!!