Gifting Guitars

[tapper mike]

Have you ever had a guitar that was in good condition that you no longer played and decided to gift to someone rather than store or sell?

Recently I was thinking about gifting my Jackson JS34 (Indonesian dinky) It was nothing but problems for me. I'd look at the whammy bar a string would break and I'd need to do a neck adjustment. I figured I'd lock the trem touch it up here and there and give it away. Had parts issues which had to be replaced. Finally when done I realized that some issues would recur with the new owner. So I decided to give him a MIM HH telecaster. By the time I finally got around to it he'd lost interest playing guitar and he did have sufficient means to purchase his own. I'd tried to warn him of the dedication required in playing guitars and it finally sunk in.

In the past I have gifted guitars to people who.. Some of them were cherished. Some were simply wall art. And some went on to be main gigging guitars played night after night giving them attention that I could not offer.

What's going to happen to your guitars after you die?

[VariKusBrainZ]

They will mourn my passing

[Bombadil]

Yup. I've given away 5 guitars.
A Yamaha classical;
A Takamine 12 string;
A Tenson cheapy that I bought when I first got to Germany when all my guitars were still in transit;
A Sigma 000-15.
And a '97 Mexican Strat.

One I gave to a homeless person who'd had his guitar ripped off. He needed it for busking.
Another I gave to the son of the couple we stayed with in Ireland. That went nowhere.
I gave the Sigma to his father because he actually wanted to learn, and I'd left that guitar in Ireland to be there for our visits.
The other 2 were given to a center for Itinerants for clients where I used to work.

They were all perfectly playable. The Tenson was the worst. I paid, I think, 129€ for it. Still, it was very playable. Just sounded like a plywood box.

After I die, my Missus will probably keep a few, and sell the rest. She plays, but not often these days.

[Uncle E]

I've nearly succeeded in building my ultimate all-in-one guitar. Hopefully by the time I pass, that will be the only guitar left and all others will have already been sold or donated.

[Magic Russ]

I've nearly succeeded in building my ultimate all-in-one guitar. Hopefully by the time I pass, that will be the only guitar left and all others will have already been sold or donated.

What does that look like?

[Uncle E]

Like this, except with a white pickguard and nickel covered passive pickups:

[tapper mike]

had a Yari Alvarez for a time. It was nice but it really wasn't me. I gave it to a buddy he was 70 at the time and living on Social Security picking up odd jobs where he could. At 25 he was my rock. I could hand him a chord progression and he'd hold it down so I could jam over the changes. He played more folk music than I'll ever know. He pushed me on to stages and helped me get my feet wet playing in bars. And even though he had only rudimentary knowledge and skills he always believed in me while my mind was racing a mile a minute exploring different musical ideas.

When I moved back from Florida I came with guitars. We had an impromtu jam session with a brother-in law an uncle and a few cousins. I gave my inlaw a Washburn Falcon it was great but I never fully embraced the hard D neck. He still has that guitar 35 years later and breaks it out for Impromtu jams.

I used to have this Samick KR-9640

kr.jpg

I
It wasn't getting that much use as I shifted my attention more towards classic rock and jazz. I'd still bring it along to back dock jams with coworkers at the restaurant I worked at. There was a kid 18 yrs old and a dishwasher. He drooled every time I opened the case. He practically wet himself when I let him play it. He didn't have the money and I didn't need the guitar. So I gave it to him. Three months later he pulled a no call no show never to be seen again.