[budda]

Taken from this thread, which I'd like it if people read before or after they reply:

An interesting conundrum..

(also, please read my latest post in that thread)

"First, I will preface this post with this image:

As some of you know, I have my semi-custom Sims up for sale. "Custom guitar" doesn't really fit the description when I couldn't change the scale length, or the body. I just decided woods and hardware, and that's cool - this guitar is the best electric I've picked up.

Unforunately, the body just does not jive with me as well as I had originally hoped. This is not a knock on Sims, as the guitar is stunning in nearly every way. It's a total beast to play sitting down, it just doesn't sit right standing up. Part of that is probably because I am barrel-chested, and part of it is the design of the guitar.

Here's where I'm at, in guitar land:

- working with friends on starting a metal band
- wanting to start a punk/rock/ambience band
- I want a guitar I enjoy playing that sounds great, looks great and most importantly feels great
- I'm between getting one really nice Pro-level guitar or 2 semi-pro imports and upgrading them + money for food/rent/car stuff

That last point is the point of this thread. I have recently been test-driving PRS guitars, and they are nice. Unfortunately, the name "PRS" commands a high price tag - as does "Gibson", which I still enjoy. I have spent a lot of time on a McCarty, and a bit of time on Mira's and a Custom 24. I'd like a Custom 22 if I go the high end route, but even in today's market they are not exactly cheap (though apparently can be had for $1800USD!?). I spent an hour straight standing with the McCarty, so I know that I won't hate the guitar for those longer sessions (thank you Matt's Music staff!).

I still enjoy playing single cuts, but part of me wants to switch it up a little bit. I spent time with a Tremonti SE, and that guitar was also kick ass - not on the same level as the USA guitars, but definitely not a slouch - I could rock one, and rock it hard. I've also had good experience with Agile guitars, and they have an LP w/ a contour and less of a heel, at a reasonable price. I could buy the Agile and the Tremonti and have some money left over for upgrades (that's at least $200 in J S Moores, bridge pickup swap per guitar.. stock pickups are fine though) and money for bills/repairs/living.

I kind of want something new in terms of body style, which is why the Custom 22 seems good - superstrat guitar, but with some traits of a les paul that I love. The tone isn't bad but the feel is really nice, which is what I'm going for. The switching options on the USA PRS (read: ability to coil tap) is really nice, and some guitars come with a 5-way which would be ideal for me. The import Singlecuts have a volume knob per pickup, which means my clean channel stays clean.

Enter the ESP Eclipse. Contour, 22 frets, 2 volume knobs, slimmer body, singlecut, and you can get it w/ duncans (and silverburst, oh my!). I haven't seen too many used ones, but the one time I've tried the LTD EC-1000, I dug it as it felt like my LP studio. Unfortunately, no LTD dealers that I'm aware of, and definitely no LTD or ESP Eclipse models floating around that I can try. I'd really like to, and it's a good halfway - the ESP is going to be pro quality, less costly then the PRS, and has features I like and am used to. I can't try one unless I drive to Toronto though.

Cliffs notes:
- I like high end guitars. I know what I do and don't like and can and can't live with.
- I like the idea of having two guitars for the price of one (who doesnt?!)
- I want a high end guitar, expensive
- I want two have two guitars, and that would cost around half of what the PRS would cost
- There's a middle ground (ESP Eclipse) in price and possibly quality
- Nothing can happen until I sell the Sims.

I need to sell my Sims before I can do anything. It was in its case for around a week or two, I pulled it out yesterday for a little bit and to teach a guitar lesson. It's a beautiful guitar, and I need the money it can bring in or an ideal trade.. but since it's semi-custom and people aren't familiar with the brand (and online, Sims' poor rep) it's not even getting bites . I'm thinking of the PRS for a bit of a change, good resale and a solid guitar. I'm thinking of going import - a used LTD EC-1000, + used tremonti SE, + new AL3200 is still under what most PRS Custom 22's go for these days (lets say around $1900).

I know a lot of people here think I'm crazy for flipping the Sims so quick, but I'm just not bonding with it enough. I'm torn between going high end and having 1 guitar I bond with, or going import/lower down the ladder and having 2 or 3 guitars I do bond with. It's also worth noting that I have a Gibson les paul custom to use right now, so I have the LP thing covered for the foreseeable future.

This is partially a vent, and partially a "my guitar world is upside down and I hate it, advice from the wise needed!" thread. I own 2 electrics and need to sell them both. I still have my Pacifica 812V w/ gig bag to sell, which would be a great 2nd guitar to someone, but no bites there either. The yamaha is tying up part of a bill, but I'd put the funds towards my next purchase if said purchase was deemed worthy.

In an ideal world, I'd sell both the guitars, use my friend's LP until AJC shipped me out a custom guitar, and I'd be set. Unfortunately, that's not real life right now haha.

Thank you for reading."

FML guys, this really sucks

 

[The Dark Wolf]

I'd say one of the most important things, Justin, is finding a guitar you feel is comfortable. I got no hate for dreaming of a great guitar, getting it, and then wanting to bail on it because it doesn't "feel" right to you. COMPLETELY understandable.

Find something that sounds good, and plays good, above all else.

And your life doesn't suck. :lol: It's a guitar. Trial and error is part of life, and makes it fun. You had a badass awesome custom guitar - time to move on. (Look at Donnie. He doesn't let shit get to him about gear and bullshit. Perfect attitude on that guy.)

 

[budda]

Cheers Bob. The issue is, the guitars I want are in the price range of what I hope to get for my Sims, but apparently I'm going to have to take a serious bath on the sale.. which means not being able to afford the guitars I want (PRS Custom 22 or McCarty).

Between pretty much being unemployed, not having a band AND not having a guitar I love to play (read: my escape), and not having the money to afford some basic stuff, as well as not hitting the gym/eating right, I've been far better. That's for another thread though.

edit: yes please, x100

http://cgi.ebay.ca/1996-PRS-PAUL-RE...QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item335dad7188

 

[Jack Secret]

Selling the Sims? You waited so long for it and were so happy upon it's arrival and we were all elated that it showed up at all! Well, if you're not feeling it, if anyone understands it's guitar players. I had a PRS custom 24 hardtail which I never got used to so I sold it about a year later. Luckily, I didn't take too much of a hit on it. I don't know what you paid for the Sims but I don't think you're gonna get near that for what you sell it for.

People make mistakes selling guitars as well. I had a '89 Hamer Californian...boomerang inlays, ebony board...I still hate myself for selling it but I was on an all Ibanez kick at the time.

Hope it all works out, budda. I just had my first custom made (The Ibanez Swirlnick) and immediately fell in love with it.

 

[budda]

Cheers, Jack.

My issue with taking a huge hit on the Sims is partially the hit itself, and partially the fact that I'm relying on getting enough money for it that I don't have to pay too much out-of-current-pocket to get what I do want. Doesn't help that I still have my Pacifica 812V to sell as well.

As I've said, the Sims is easily one of the best, if not best guitars I've picked up in terms of construction, tone and appearance (and for the most part playability, but I have some issues personally there as well), but the comfort level is just not there. I enjoy playing the loaner LP Custom more, and she weighs a ton (and I'm also noodling on it as I browse forums right now)

edit: here's my latest post on guitarscanada

"It all boils down to comfort, and this guitar just does not have nearly enough of it for me. That bugs me, since on paper and from checking the site I figured it would be everything I want in my custom singlecut, but it's not close enough. I just want a guitar I enjoy playing more, and this guitar isn't it. The kicker about your "main guitar" not being satisfying? What exactly are you supposed to play to deal with the frustration? You want your go-to guitar, so that you can beat the hell out of the strings, play loud, have pinch harmonics leap out at you and feel your 160bpm 8th note palm mutes rumble in your chest, but alas... not so much! Sure the 11.5lb-ish boat-anchor LP Custom gets partway there, but only in that it's comfier to play than the Singlecut... "

 

[F1Filter]

My issue with taking a huge hit on the Sims is partially the hit itself, and partially the fact that I'm relying on getting enough money for it.

Unfortunately that's the elephant in the room. While you might have paid a certain amount for it. The whole issue with brand equity (deserved or not) is going to play a HUGE factor in it's resale value.

Not trying to be a dick or a hater. Just looking at this from a pragmatic point of view.

 

[budda]

Yeah, I know.

There's a certain point I really don't want to have to go under, and that's a little above half what I paid for it.

I never thought I'd see the day where rocking out would be so hard to come by! :rant: and if I were in the states, what I'm looking for would be easier to come by at a lower cost, no less.

 

[Jack Secret]

The main problem will probably be that no one has really played any Sims guitars so they may balk at paying a high price for something to them is untested or never heard of. I mean, when I got my Bunker Treker, I had never played an actual Bunker guitar before but I had played an Ibanez USRG30 which is exactly the same guitar and made by Bunker, save the Schaller Floyd replacing the Ibanez Edge bridge.

Maybe Sims will buy it back from you at a reduced price.

 

[budda]

I thought about contacting him about that as well.

I spy lurkers, share your thoughts :lol:

 

[The Dark Wolf]

not hitting the gym/eating right,

This one's easy. :yesway:

Hit the gym, and start eating right! :lol:

Man, I'm good. Call me Mr. problem solver.

 

[budda]

This one's easy. :yesway:

Hit the gym, and start eating right! :lol:

Man, I'm good. Call me Mr. problem solver.

The gym is easy enough, the eating right bit is hard when you don't have a lot of money to spend on food let alone anything else. Which decreases motivation to hit the gym.

It's a bitch, I'm tellin' ya :lol:

 

[The Dark Wolf]

I'm a bitch, I'm tellin' ya :lol:

Fixed.

:lol: Justin you know I love ya. But man, excuses are just that - excuses. There's no real excuse for not doing what you've done before, and you know it. You want better health and shit, face up, and just realize you got sidetracked. happens to everyone. Now get back on the horse and start again. Man, I HATE excuses. They'll fuck you up every time you let 'em.

 

[budda]

True story.

Now, back to the guitar BS...

 

[The Dark Wolf]

True story.

Now, back to the guitar BS...

See my first post.

You tried something, it didn't work, you're probably gonna get hosed somewhat.

But better to be with something that will make you happy. Just like a relationship. You just gotta bite the bullet and...

 

[The Dark Wolf]

 

[budda]

boober you crack me up :lol:

It's the finding the next one that's giving me issues. Can't do much of anything until the current one gets some money back in the bank.

 

[darren]

Somebody over at GuitarsCanada summed it up pretty well:

Thing is..most people will have trouble sympatizing with you since, i personnaly never saw a musician so hard to please guitar wise..LOL. Since i've known you, every guitar you had seem to had something wrong with them..so you keep flipping gear.. U realy need to get into a store where you know the owner or sale rep...sit down..and plays a SHIT load of guitar, right now, you don't know what you like it seems.

You're gear-whoring like the guys who have been around for 20 years longer, who have good careers and can afford to flip stuff. The reality is YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THIS AT THE STAGE IN YOUR LIFE YOU'RE IN.

I'm hoping you've learned your lesson(s)... i think acquiring the Sims was a poor move for many reasons, and i'm baffled as to why you didn't go out and play PRSes before dropping big coin on a guitar you'd never played before from a builder who's unknown to many, and has a questionable rep among others.

It's a buyer's market, and likely will be for some time. The economy is forcing a lot of people to dump a lot of their possessions, and for many people, that means taking a bath on their high end guitars. Nice PRSes have been selling for very attractive prices on the used market for the last year or two. If you're lucky, you'll find someone to buy the Sims before the market rebounds, but chances are, by the time you find someone to take it off your hands at a price that isn't rape-tastic, the PRS market is also going to rebound and you'll have missed your opportunity.

I think you need to re-examine your priorities (again... haven't we been through this before?) You're fresh out of school. You have no money. You have debt. You have no job, and you have a hobby that you like intensely. Which of these things should be the priority?

You traded away a guitar you liked a lot for a custom from a small builder... and you didn't like it. Then you spent a crapload of money on a custom from another small builder... and you don't like it, and now you can't sell it without losing your shirt. Not to mention the money you've spent on high-end amps.

If i were in your position, i'd suck it up, swallow my pride, acknowledge my mistakes and sell the Sims and the Pacifica for whatever i could get for them. I'd even sell off the Roadster. I'd pay off my credit card debt FIRST. Paying interest on credit card debt while continuing to live beyond your means is a slippery slope into financial ruin.

I'd find a good used Tremonti SE and upgrade the hardware and the pickups as budget allows. I'd buy a smaller, more affordable amp that gets me close to the tones i love. And I would be happy with that until i truly had the means to save up for and appreciate exactly the guitar and amp i wanted.

PRSes, other custom guitars and Mesa amps are going to be around for a long time. You can always buy what you want later when you have the means.

 

[Stitch]

<<<lots of stuff I agree with>>>

If i were in your position, i'd suck it up, swallow my pride, acknowledge my mistakes and sell the Sims and the Pacifica for whatever i could get for them. I'd even sell off the Roadster. I'd pay off my credit card debt FIRST. Paying interest on credit card debt while continuing to live beyond your means is a slippery slope into financial ruin.

I'd find a good used Tremonti SE and upgrade the hardware and the pickups as budget allows. I'd buy a smaller, more affordable amp that gets me close to the tones i love. And I would be happy with that until i truly had the means to save up for and appreciate exactly the guitar and amp i wanted.

PRSes, other custom guitars and Mesa amps are going to be around for a long time. You can always buy what you want later when you have the means.

Eh dude, you hit it on the head. The thing that stands out to me is the credit card - that needs sorted above all else. Rapetastic rates, you'll get fleeced and be fighting that for the rest of your life if you don't handle it now. Especially with the economy where it's at, flip off the stuff that isn't essential and get the necessities done! You've gone without a seven for ages, you can go without a top-of-the-range semi custom instrument for a while too.

And I'm sorry, but the gearwhoring comments are completely correct. You're almost as bad as Matt, but the difference he has the income to support it and the contacts to keep things rotating smoothly. You do not, and it's bitten you in the ass. And personally, I wouldn't want a reputation for constantly buying and flipping shit and never being happy with it, but that's just me. :shrug:

 

[Drew]

If i were in your position, i'd suck it up, swallow my pride, acknowledge my mistakes and sell the Sims and the Pacifica for whatever i could get for them. I'd even sell off the Roadster. I'd pay off my credit card debt FIRST. Paying interest on credit card debt while continuing to live beyond your means is a slippery slope into financial ruin.

Darren may not have put it as gently as he could have, but that's maybe not a bad thing - he's right.

Clearing up your debt and having the money to feed yourself NEEDS to be your first priority here. This isn't even debatable.

After that, one of the reasons I've held off on buying a custom is not that I didn't think I could afford one - if I sold some stuff and tightened my belt for a bit, I probably could - but that even after more than ten years of playing I'm still not 100% sure what I'd want the specs to be. I'm getting closer - something vaguely stratty, H-H with a three way and a coil tap, OFR7, alder or swamp ash body, maple bolt on neck with a maple board - but that's still not 100% and any custom guitar I bought, as cool as the NGD! thread might be, still MIGHT not be perfect for me (for example, neck profile? Body shape? Some sort of a figured top? And anyway, a year or two back that'd have been SSH not HH - the specs are still evolving) Considering the depreciation I'd take if I was wrong, and that I'm really pretty happy with my current guitars, I just don't think it's worth the gamble.

You have a very nice, very expensive custom guitar that you've realized just isn't for you. You have what personally I consider the single greatest guitar amp I've ever played but it's just not quite working for you and you kind of want something else. Between the two, you've invested a LOT in that rig, and while you can probably get back a lot of what you spent in the Recto (you got it used, right), you're probably going to lose 40% plus on the Sims. That's a very expensive lesson to learn.

At the end of the day, are you any happier now than you were when you were playing a Les Paul into a JSX? Sell the Sims, get something to play for the time being (I can't recommend the PRS SE Singlecuts enough, especially if you can get one used), get a decent dorm-appropriate practice amp (look at the Tech-21 Trademark 30, they're cheap, loud enough to keep up with a quiet drummer unmic'd, and sound shockingly good for their size), and don't worry so much about the gear habit - it'll give you something to look forward to when you get your first "real" job's paycheck, after college.

 

[Drew]

One other note - I own a Roadster too. I love it - it's about as close to the "perfect" amp for me as I've played, and I have very little interest in anything else on the market these days.

However, it's worth considering how I got there - I've owned a bunch of Mesas both as my taste in tone and budget changed (Rocket-44, then after a brief flirtation with Marshall after playing one live and really digging how well it cut, a Nomad-45, then a Single Rec, then after I fell for the Recto sound in a big way, the Roadster). Conventional wisdom is this is a bad idea, something like "buy once, it's cheaper in the long run" and that's probably true, if back in my sophomore year in college I'd just bought the Roadster, I'd have spent less in the long run, but back then (ignoring the fact the Roadster didn't exist) I didn't know exactly what I wanted. Now I do. Spending big the first time because it's cheaper in the long run is only true if you know exactly what you want, and you clearly (this isn't an insult) don't. So, spend some time figuring out what you want, don't be afraid to not buy top of the line to see if you like something because if the Sims has taught you anything it's that sometimes you need to have day-to-day experience with something before you realize if it's right for you or not, and then once you KNOW what you're after, go for it.