"I wanted to write about the moment when your addictions no longer hide the truth from you. When your whole life breaks down. That's the moment when you have to somehow choose what your life is going to be about."
― Chuck Palahniuk
Guitars!
Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS) – it's a powerful force that some argue should be officially recognized in the DSM-5-TR Manual. Despite my initial resolve to skip Fender's new Stratocaster Ultra II series, I eventually gave in to GAS and picked up the HSS model in Sinister Red. This guitar features Fender's latest Noiseless pickups, with a Haymaker humbucker that packs a punch, delivering a bold, dynamic sound with a touch of aggression, perfect for rock and metal. I'm a big fan of the black anodized pickguard and the rolled fret edges. While the glow-in-the-dark side fret dots are a cool feature, I doubt I'll ever use them, as I'm not planning on hitting the stage again. I managed to snag a solid frequent buyer discount, though I'm sure it just feeds my addiction. Regardless, it's a gorgeous guitar, and I'm thankful to have one in my collection.
Freshly opened after waiting 24 hours for it to climatize ...
Most of you probably don't follow the guitar market like I do, but there was a huge sales boom during the pandemic. Naturally, it didn't last and many new purchasers gave up on learning to play and have since put their instruments for sale online, especially Reverb.com ― there are over 10,000 used Strats there right now. But they're also being resold via guitar shops and other online venues as well. Tens of thousands of near-mint used guitars selling at great prices.
It's definitely a buyer's market, so selling guitars from my collection isn't ideal at the moment. I do plan to sell at some point, and while I probably won't make a huge profit overall, a few of my guitars have seen a significant increase in value. When a model is discontinued, like my Lucerne Aqua Firemist EJ Signature Stratocaster, it usually commands a higher resale price. For now, though, the used market is completely saturated, so I just focus on keeping the guitars I don't play often well-maintained.
The lovely anodized pickguard ...
A nifty matching strap ...
Plugged in and ready to jam!
While I don’t always stick to it, I'm trying to follow the philosophy of selling a guitar I don't play very often before buying another new one. It helps me keep my collection focused and meaningful. Over time, I've sold a few instruments, and while it's not always easy to let go, it feels like a step toward refining what I own. By doing this, I avoid accumulating guitars that just gather dust and make space for new ones that I'm genuinely excited to play and add to my collection.
All images © 2024 Mike McDowell