If anyone says to me"You only can play one at a time."I counter with "You can only wear one pair of shoes at a time." that usually shuts them up-especially women with Imelda Marcos syndrome.

The International Vintage-Guitar Collectors Association is here in town for FIVE Big Days of Guitar BUYING! They took out two full-page ads to announce the event, have run single full-page ads every day so far. This outfit is looking to buy rare guitars. Here's how they say it works: You bring in your rare collectible guitar, they appraise it, then they check their monster database of collectors who are looking for YOUR guitar, then they make you an offer and you, being stupid, sell your guitar for 20 cents on the dollar.

Here's a published example: Dennis S of Illinois, brought in his late 60s Gibson 335 electric guitar in original HS case... DS said he had the guitar since 1976 and was just wondering if it was valuable. After review, DS received an offer of $2,600 for his guitar. Doesn't say whether or not he sold it...

This "event" is at one of the local hotels and I'm going to head over there this afternoon to check it out, but it's not a sales event, says it's a BUYING event. To me, it sounds like those Gold & Silver buyers who come through town every year offering you untold fortunes for your unwanted gold and silver. I missed them the last time they were here, meant to unload several ingots I've had laying around for years. I've no doubt that a few of the old-timers in this town will haul some valuable guitars to this event and get taken. It still happens now and then at local pawn shops.

My wife really liked one line in the ad: So whether you have one instrument you think might be valuable or a large collection you recently inherited (yeah, like that's gonna happen), you can talk to these folks and see if you get lucky. My wife says, so if I take all your guitars over there, can I tell them you're dead and sell them all?? God, I love her sense of humor!

Its not like selling a vintage guitar is that complicated you need one.

I'd just like to say iv'e dealt with these guys first hand and they arent crooks as you may believe. There is a fine line between the "value" of an instrument and "what someones willing to pay" for your instrument. Its a declining market.. look at your real estate value and tell me its not the truth. George Gruen will "appraise" your item at 40% over the market value and even George himself will offer to buy your guitar for 60% of his own appraisal under any circumstance. I'm well aware they arent a non-profit organization and they have to make a little money in the end as well. Theres no obligation to sell anything to them and i was even told by the end of the deal to go shop it around to ANY music store or online source cause they guaranteed they'd have the best price.. and thats exactly what i did before returning to sell my guitar.. and they were right!

Ebay: It's a thing.

I am a heartbroken victim. They came to california. I can't explain how ashamed I am but I walked in with a 1800s parlor martin that was handed down by my father. I fell for their sales techniques (they are slick and showed me comparisons on the web that I now know were bogus) and walked away with $900. Afterwards I hit the web and found I could have got $5000 or more. I feel like total $@!& and just want to let everyone know to go in there knowing everything about your instrument. Or better yet, don't go at all. They are experts at playing you if you don't know what is going on. -dying inside right now.