Perplexed by a request.

DinoMikeSr

I have the box
I have a lot of guitars. Most of you know they are not expensive but were purchased getting the biggest bang for the dollar. I don’t make my living with them I just love to play different guitars and I do every day. I let people play them and I just say when not played make sure it’s back in the case. I want them to stay new looking and feel new when I pick them up. That’s a mental thing from childhood I guess because I rarely had nice new things.

I have one guitar that I got in beautiful condition years ago for $200. At the time I was going back and forth considering putting EMG pickups in a guitar and the pickups at that time were $200. Thought about and looked around for about 2 years. Then I found the guitar I bought with EMG’s for $200. I still remember being just thrilled with the find and a guitar that felt and played like it did.

I just checked and a used one now is $699. I bought a fitted case for it searching on Amazon a couple months for $78 and a new one today is $230 if I can find one because that guitar isn’t made anymore. If you had a best playing, feeling, guitars that is also now your most expensive to replace this would be the one and right now and I’m struggling.

Out of the blue I just had someone ask me to give them that guitar for their birthday. It kind of felt like I was being stabbed. It would be easier for me to give them $900 to buy another guitar than give them that one. This has been a favorite for 10 years.

I usually give $100 to a young person for their birthday, 16th, 18th. $250 for graduation. Not relatives, people I know. So, I don’t want to come off as the cheap crotchety old man but I feel the request is a bit arrogant. I also realize they have no understanding about the hunt or trying stay within a budget.

I’m venting and I know I can’t take it with me blah, blah, blah. But it is messing with me.
 
You aren't being a crotchety old man (well, not about this at least :)). It sounds like this is your favourite guitar and has real personal value for you. Keep the guitar and just follow your normal rules for birthdays if you feel you need to give this person something. The request is definitely arrogant imho though, and I'd have to consider whether I gave them anything at all if I was in your shoes.
 
That request is definitely a big violation in my code of conduct. You would not have been out of line to laugh it off and tell them no. I could see someone asking if you wanted to sell it. Mojo for being in the awkward position of having to tell them no, or part with a favorite guitar. I'm not sure how close this person is to you. I can't help you make the call.
 
I've given away so many guitars (seriously - over a dozen) that it hardly registers for me. I like some guitars, but in the end they're all lumber and metal so I never get addled by one.
 
I never have. It’s always been a search and labor of love.
For me it's always been a...

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That request is definitely a big violation in my code of conduct. You would not have been out of line to laugh it off and tell them no. I could see someone asking if you wanted to sell it. Mojo for being in the awkward position of having to tell them no, or part with a favorite guitar. I'm not sure how close this person is to you. I can't help you make the call.
Kind of this too for me. Unless you are like 5 years old you don't get to ask for a particular gift and expect it (and even then :shrug:). Someone old enough to want and use a guitar, sure they could drop hints but ASKING for something that isn't theirs :cop:
 
Kind of this too for me. Unless you are like 5 years old you don't get to ask for a particular gift and expect it (and even then :shrug:). Someone old enough to want and use a guitar, sure they could drop hints but ASKING for something that isn't theirs :cop:
Turning 18.
 
I would have laughed and said, “No. You’re not getting one of my favorite guitars.”

There are guitars in every price range these days. If you plan to spend $100, $200, $300, etc, on this person’s birthday, buy them a new guitar in whatever price range is appropriate.
 
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