straycat113 I read part of the post way too long for me but I think I got it sort of. You bought guitars, great Bro! Play on, have fun, write songs, you know the drill!

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

OK I went back and read the entire first post, respectfully but then I had to stop and play for a while, and its still very cool that you got those guitars, Rock the Nations with 'em Bro!

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

i want to buy kongs

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My animated gifs are better!

So back here
So to reply to Ricky:

First thing: I'm not a diehard collector. I don't buy for collecting as such. In fact I can afford to buy a guitar without having to sell another one.
So little by little they pile up.
In the early '60s I was already lucky enough to afford several guitars.
3 have survived these 45 years, a Strat, a 355 and an SG
which all 3 are in pristine condition.
Then my career did not permitted me to focus on music again, not before my return to France in the early '90s.

Then I discovered the reality of the Fender Custom Shop.
My first CS guitar was the Harley Davidson Strat (quite a good start BTW)
then the Playboy and so on....
These were purchased with a sought ROI, not for playing.
So it was the time I started heavily to buy CS instruments
At the same time I bought in two other directions
- Original vintage Guild guitars as I had always been attracted by them. In such case you don't specifically buy only the high end ones but all kinds of guitars of that brand, be it students guitars or One-Offs
- regular guitars which I found aesthetically attracting and playable: reissues of Gibson, Rickys or Gretsch. This is the part within which I can sell ( sold) without any problem for most of them because I bought them
by impulsion, just at a glance. When I decide to slim down the herd , that's where I start..

Apart from specific occasions, for several years I bought only Fender Custom Shop guitars be it new ones or with other collectors. During the last 12 months I bought a CS DG Strat, a CS Yngwee Malmsteen Strat, a CS Robben Ford Ultra, a'63 series L Strat in OW and a CS La Cabronita 1 Especial.
Why ?
-I like the way DG plays. Fender issued a great DG Strat at a "reasonnable" price. Maybe the price will go up, maybe not (most probably up), it doesn't matter it's a fantastic player
-The Yngwee Strat is for it's stunning look and relicing work.I'm of the opinion price will go up.
-The Robben Ford, it's scarce as scarce can be. And a great playable guitar. So both pleasure and ROI
-the '63 it was a bargain price and genuine OL ones in such condition....
- the Cabronita 1 for the fun even if only 10 were made in that color (40 all in)

For the CS Bass VI : when the Limited Edition was released I thought the price was too high specially for an "only in sunburst instrument" as I had already the Japanese model and you don't play Bass VI everydays.
Then an opportunity of a Masterbuilt arose at a bargain price, lower than the LE price and in OW. I didn't let that one go.


I do not consider all those Dealer Select "Limited Editions" as Limited Editions as such; they are simply limited by the number of buyers and can be made again at the Dealer's will.

Regarding the actual LE I'm more optimistic than Ricky

They can be related to an Artist (SRV, EC etc...) so these "Tribute Series" will generally most probably increase in value. There has been some marketing errors like the EVH and the Lenny, but this was known from the very beginning so no one invested in such guitars to make a profit.

They can be related to an event, Anniversary etc.. globally their value may increase. see the present value of the 30th Ann Teles.
Not all will have the same appeal, but it's a trend.

They can be related to a specific Masterbuilder who either left the CS, or died prematurely. Guitars from Black, Stuart, Hamel or English are sought after.

And one of the main factors is "How Many ?" How many were made in such LE. The EC Tribute Strat although a great re-creation from the CS has been produced in 469 units. So its value will increase , but slowly

Buy a CS guitar first for pleasure, then when you sadly decide to sell it and make a profit, then you've got the best of both worlds.

BTW, as you can guess, I haven't been putting all my savings in guitars.
Do the same. That's the wisest advice I can give.
Alain

Great thread Straycat. Congrats on the aquisitions. Merci Alaine I value your opinion. (sorry thats as good as my French gets). Ricky buy it to play it...if it goes up in value great if not play your money's worth out of it. Thats what I do....

Here is a link of 4 articles for those who want to know more:
http://www.stratcollector.com/adverb1.html

alain thank you for those great articles and for introducing me and probably a couple of other members to a new and interesting sight. Those are some exciting and rare guitars you have in your collection. As a player who has has just taken a slight interest in the collectors out look of the guitar I am grateful for sights like this. Looking towards conversing on the forum with you more on the subject. KEEP ON ROCKIN.

My pleasure