You ever going to sell those?

Selling that cherished Ax.

Has always been a subject that would send a shiver down my spine.

These guitars were my babies marking milestones in my life.

New jobs, vacations with Grand Ma (yeah).

Until recently I just never could turn the corner.

Then I just felt like I wanted to eliminate debt and have some cash. So how would I sell my cherished axes?

Well going to a local music store and doing a consignment deal didn't seem like the thing to do, Setting a price waiting for a buyer and paying a store owner 10 to 20 percent wasn't working. Ebay? yeah I've bid on, and bought but selling?.

Finally Craig's List, free, similar to Ebay and I got to see you bought my AX. At first a seemed like a good idea. The first ad was for my 1987 Les Paul Custom 3 Pick Up Black Beauty, I also mentioned in the ad I had a '74 Les Paul Tobacco Sunburst for $1400, 80's Recording Les Paul Red w' binding.

Actual Ad:

"1987 Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty w/ Bigsby. Bigsby added by professional, Surface checking in paint, minor knicks, completely stock. $2000.00 Cash. Also available, mid 80's Telecaster Thinline $450, mid 90's Joe Pass Epiphone Emperor $400, Mid 90's Epiphone Casino (335) $400, Mid 70's Les Paul Standard Tobacco Sunburst $1500, '87 Les Paul Studio Red w creme binding $1200. Many other Strats, Teles and rare birds by Gibson email for more info. All Guitars in Excellent Condition with photos to follow."

I got no responses for the Custom a ton for the Standard. I ended up selling it to a guy who paid cash. I also had to field e-mails inquires and requests for photos. I did get responses for the tobacco sunburst. It was a little scary though a guy coming to my house with all my gear and a cash deal for $1400. He showed albeit late, tatooed, with a huge dude in the Dodge Nitro, cell # from Jersey, car from New York and buying in CT. He ended up buying my Fender Telecaster Custom and MIJ Fender Esquire, total $1400, $800 for the Teles. I then continued with Craigs List until it seemed the magic was gone only responseds were from antique dealers and snotty people looking for a deal. So,,,, Ebay

The Ebay ad went like this:

1989 (from Neck pocket sticker) '57 Fender Vintage reissue in Lake Placid Blue. All the case goodies, Completely stock. Some staining on case exterior and back of neck (see photo). Made at the Fullerton Plant not the new Corona plant. $1500 Cash.

It was amazing I had a bid in minutes and it sold for $1400. Next was shipping, luckily local music store had a Fender box that fit and off to the UPS Store where I insured it for the full value and it was about $50 bucks.

Next up was a rare 1984 Gibson Explorer III it sold for $900.00. shipping this was an expense due to the neck being at risk particularly in the headstock. So I paid over a $100 to ship which was well worth it.

Then another rare Gibson a 1999 SG Deluxe which went for $800 and 50 or so to ship.

The most surprising was 1987 Kramer Richie Sambora Signature which I bought for $400 and sold for $1200. The winner of the auction contacted me on the day I shipped hoping to cancel the purchase but I had shipped. So he flipped it on ebay sold it before he had received it and used my ad verbatim, crazy but he sold it for $1300 or $1400!