The one(s) that got away

[bagman67]

Okay, boys and girls, as we contemplate the onset of a new year here's an opportunity to take stock of years past.  Specifically, what's the key gear you used to have that you  now regret selling/giving away/had stolen from you/accidentally left on a bus?


For me, I sometimes think to myself, "Self, wouldn't it be nice to have [insert departed item of gear here]?"  And then I respond, "Self, you got rid of that thing for a good reason - it sounded like crap, or was unreliable, or you bought it on a foolhardy whim, or what have you", and then I say to myself again, "Self, you are a wise and perceptive man, and I value your opinion, and your kind reminder."  Even so, there's one item I would love to have back in the arsenal:


- A late-1980's Japanese '57 Strat re-issue, in black with a maple fingerboard and a lovely v-profiled neck.  It was my fourth or fifth electric guitar,I think - and I think I really learned how to play on that axe.  It was a gift from a girlfriend, and while she and I didn't work out for the long haul, I retain predominantly fond memories of her, as well.  Regrettably, under pressure from the woman who went on to become my unmourned ex-wife, I sold it.  Something about "why do you need so many guitars?"  Alas.


Next?

 

[Just Another Smith]

A Charvel Model 1, it had one of the best necks I've ever played.  I sold it to a friend because I needed the cash.  I found out years later that the guy got mad at his drummer and threw down that guitar and broke the neck.  Grrrrrr!

 

[Cagey]

I've gone though a lotta guitars/gear over the years and overall I think I've done well with my decisions. But, I did have a bog-standard Fender Strat that I wish was still around. Probably about my 15th guitar. This thing was as out-of-the-box as they come, nothing special. Alder body, maple neck, rosewood 'board, stock pickups, black paint... if it was any simpler, it would have had to take the short bus.

But, you talk about sound sweet! Damn. SRV would have loved this thing. It was a singer. Plus, it played like a teen-aged girlfriend. Just loved to be fondled and tweaked.

On the plus side, I sold it to get a Levinson Blade, which was also very rewarding. Wish I still had that one, too. But, I lost it to misadventure. C'est la vie.

 

[Kublai]

Had an early '70s 335 when I was a teen (early '80s). I didn't really know what I had, but it sounded fantastic. After a few months the intonation needed to be adjusted, but I had no clue what was wrong with it. I was a noob guitar player and this was before the internet. Took it to a shop and explained the weird tuning issue and they couldn't fix it?? Anyway, assuming the neck was shot, I sold it   I miss that one. At least I sold it for more than it cost me.

 

[pabloman]

I miss my SG. Coming in a close second and third would be my Trailer Trash pedalboard with a couple of Keeley Tubescreamers, an OCD, a Keeley compressor, a Choral Flange, RetroSonic delay, a POG and a modded Crybaby all hooked up to a true bypass looper, followed by my modded DSL halfstack. That was my best feeling rig. I was dialed in and could do whatever I wanted. Boy I sure miss that TF employee discount. I got everything at cost. Even the used gear I got for what we bought in for and I could bring them in from anywhere in the country.

 

[Updown]

I traded in my 2009 Gibson DarkFire mid year of 2011, but got just about what I paid for it a year & 1/2 later.  :toothy10:
In return ...
I got a RME Fireface 400 & a 2011 Gibson SG 61' Reissue (which is still in it's original box) Thanks to Warmoth  :laughing7:
Heaps of strings & 2 strat hard cases for my Warmoths  :icon_biggrin:

Don't miss the DarkFire at all (was one of the good one's thou) pic's below of it.
There a bit like a washing machine with to many dials & options etc.
The more of that crap on it, the more somethings gunna go real wrong someday !!
Didn't really like the Piezo on it either.
Plus using it with my Roland VG-99 as 'Guitar to Midi' via the hex & RIP unit, the darn battery was in use constantly.

So now I'm really happy, as I just build Warmoth's & toss in a internal GK-3's  :guitarplayer2: 

 

[Strat Avenger]

I wish I had kept my 1993 Marshall JCM900 100-watt head.
I bought it new, had it for 14 years, and it was in the same as-new condition when I sold it. If I still had the number or e-mail address of the guy I sold it to, I'd offer to buy it back, but I didn't save that information (what a dumb-ass I am). I figured I'd replace it with a new JCM2000 DSL head, but they quit making them, and I later found out that they weren't very well made; the PCBs were prone to cracking.

 

[Cagey]

There a bit like a washing machine with to many dials & options etc.

Off topic, but that washing machine analogy teases a pet peeve. Why do they do that? Same with blenders or food processors. 80 bajillion switches and knobs, and all they do is change speed, if that. As if a 100 RPM difference will either frappé or pulverize something. Sometimes it's just time. Check out the really expensive commercial machines. They don't have any of that crap. Often, the very best stuff simply has an on/off switch, which makes perfect sense.

Pisses me off.

 

[Strat Avenger]

There a bit like a washing machine with to many dials & options etc.

Off topic, but that washing machine analogy teases a pet peeve. Why do they do that? Same with blenders or food processors. 80 bajillion switches and knobs, and all they do is change speed, if that. As if a 100 RPM difference will either frappé or pulverize something. Sometimes it's just time. Check out the really expensive commercial machines. They don't have any of that crap. Often, the very best stuff simply has an on/off switch, which makes perfect sense.

Pisses me off.

Yeah, like all those switches and knobs on guitars that some players insist on having. Give me one knob (volume), and one pickup selector switch.

 

[Orpheo]

my charvel model 6 (my first guitar).
my first les paul (traded it in for my current gibson LP custom, same year, but nice anyway)
my third LP custom (sold it, stupid stupid stupid!)

those are the ones I regret having sold. The ones I regret not having bought are those les pauls, but also a flattop LP in purple with a floyd and 3 emg's. very, very nice guitar. i didn't know warmoth at the time, but I didn't like a flattop les paul. again: stupid me. great guitar.

 

[Doughboy]

Just like the time I could have met Mr. T at the mall. The entire day, I kept saying, 'I'll go a little later, I'll go a little later...' And when I got there, they told me he just left. And when I asked the mall guy if he'll ever come back again, he said he didn't know. Well, I'm never going to let something like that happen again!

 

[m4rk0]

no need to tell about mine.... :-\ :sad1: :tard:

 

[AutoBat]

The only thing I don't have is a Danelectro Fab Tone pedal that died (bad jack connecters).
I got rid of it because I didn't know it was an easily repairable fix.
My first electric lives with my best friend, I played it last week and it's still not bad for a cheapie Yamaha.

 

[mullyman]

There are really only a few things that I regret getting rid of.

1) My red, maple top, Peavey Wolfgang Special. That guitar, teamed up with the 5150II amp and 5150 4x12 slant cabbie I had at the time was just boss. You wanna hear the stupid reason I got rid of it? I was on stage one night and got a little too into what I was doing and was really picking hard at the strings. At one point I went to pick the first string and it wasn't where my pick was going, but it was under my fingers on my left hand. After swiping at it 3 or 4 times, thinking that I was just too excited and was missing the string, I lifted the guitar body towards my face so I could see the entire body. The first string had slipped under the edge of the pickup and was stuck there. I put it up on auction the next day. Isn't that the most moronic thing you've ever heard?

2. My dark cherry sunburst Peavey Wolfgang. I loved that guitar, but something had to go. I don't know why I chose that one. I think maybe at the time I was thinking that the Peavey was a gimmicky guitar and no matter how well it played people would automatically relate it to my love of Van Halen. To be totally honest, over the years I've owned 4 or 5 Wolfgangs and 2 Ernie Ball EVH models. I've also gone through 2 Peavey 5150II heads and a 5150 slant cabinet. None of those items were bought because of my fondness for Van Halen. I bought them because they played well and sounded really good. The 5150II head is a beast. Regardless, whenever I would be on stage with that set up I always heard how much I love Van Halen. I do love Van Halen. Classic VH with DLR is my all time favorite music and I don't think I need to tell you guys what I think of EVH, he's the reason I started playing guitar in the first place. But, honestly, I was never star struck by EVH enough that I wanted the same gear he played.

3. Ernie Ball Music Man Silhouette Special (purple). I loved that guitar. I pulled out the bridge pup and dropped in a DiMarzio Tone Zone and that thing was a screamer. The neck was perfect and I just liked the way it felt. The body shape is pretty boss and it just flat out sat well on my knee when I'd play. I honestly have no idea why I sold it. I probably needed the money. I really regret that one, probably more than the other 2.

Right now I'm fairly satisfied having sold my Cherryburst Warmoth. Ask me this same question come next new years day, I may have a different opinion on that. One thing is for sure though, the white Warmoth in my sig below isn't going anywhere. That guitar is so awesome and it gets compliments wherever I go. It really does turn heads. I don't think I've ever taken it anywhere where at least once someone has stopped me to say something about it. I'm really proud of that one. And not only does it look good, with the DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge and the Van Zandt Blues in the middle and neck positions.....it sounds pretty damn good too.

Great thread. :headbang1:
MULLY

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

I wish I'd gotten this Aria Pro ZZII I saw years ago...it was really cool. 

 

[m4rk0]

is that the black/white explorer?  i almost bought one real cheap a couple of weeks ago.  I can check if it is still there if you want

 

[AutoBat]

Even the pros can get strings stuck on the coils.  Here's Steve Vai's low budget workaround:

 

[Strat Avenger]

I have never, in all my 26 year of playing guitar, gotten a string stuck under a pickup coil bobbin...  :dontknow: :icon_scratch:

 

[DangerousR6]

I have never, in all my 26 year of playing guitar, gotten a string stuck under a pickup coil bobbin...  :dontknow: :icon_scratch:

+1, I've been playing for 29 yrs, and never knew this was an issue nor has it happened to me... :dontknow:

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

I've actually managed to get a string caught under a pickup before.  :dontknow: