The Eclectic Electric Blog

more from the linked in comment list

Group: Vintage Guitars / Collecting and Investing
Discussion: I’m a Guitar Investment Skeptic
Bruce, at least the burgeoning vintage guitar prices are only affecting a minute section of the world’s population . . . those who have the money to buy them.
That same continual overpricing is ramant in the real estate world and that DOES impact on a large proportion of the world’s population. We had to sell my Mom’s ramshackle home to place her in aged care. The government sets a bond that MUST be paid or else a penalty interest rate of 8% PA charged fortnightly applies until you DO pay the bond. They set the value of the home and it’s very difficult to appeal that valuation. Mom’s home was valued at $416,000. They passed the laws that brought this unbelievable situation into being because aged care facilities were underfunded in the extreme. Now they’re rolling in dough and lighting cigars with $50 notes! The whole aged care industry is now totally reliant on house prices remaining astronomically high. State governments will continue to increase unimproved property values on which sale prices are based because if the families of the aged can’t self-fund the industry the government will have to do it.
The mean spirited way in which they went about brow-beating us into falling into line with this has left me so embittered that if I’m the last of my line to kick the bucket and I have any assets left, I’d rather leave it to the animal shelter than to any aged care facility.

right on!!! I’m big into animal rights!

Bruce Diamond • My wife works in a health care facility in NY state. Jim. you are so right. It’s a damn shame the way the ‘old age machine’ runs.. . THEY WILL STEEL EVERY PENNY YOU”VE GOT IF YOU LET THEM. and what’s worse is, IF the state comes in for whatever reason , depending on your state of emotional health, They can and will also take over your entire estate. . My mother was a good role model . She spent a good deal of her life saying ‘ The lawyers ain’t getting it and the Hospitals ain’t either. When she did get very ill a few years back, instead of holding desperately onto life by bizarrely expensive life support that we ALL have to pay for, , she simply saw it as ‘This is her time’ . She checked herself into a hospice and found out that human angels truly do exist. They work in hospices . IF you have no regrets , you won’t; feel the need to hang on so tightly to the material life we most often believe is where happiness is found, . . I was lucky to have such a role model . I sell, play and repair guitars. [ and basses mando's fiddles etc] I followed my passions., not the money trail,. . Sorry , didn’t mean to get so far from the fun of us all determining the world’s guitar sorrows$. . In the end , it’s just stuff. Invest in your inner peace.. Playing the guitars IS a far better way to find it then investing in them,

from a recent discussion on linked in

Bruce Diamond • Thank you Jim. . I have used the ‘emperors new clothes’ in my writings [ and ramblings ] on numerousness occasions..This includes articles I’ve written [ and had printed in Vintage Guitar magazine] .As some of you know I have been a dealer [ Diamond strings.com ] for a Loooong time now. . I am constantly amazed at how some guitars are worth so much. I understand ‘supply an demand’ as much as the next guy. And I do not think that my word is the last word. , So , sure, some instruments are priced at seemingly very high prices . Especially IF you are the one who has it,. [ I can say I'm guilty of this to an extent myself.] The only difference being , I feel that what it’s worth to you personally is what it is worth to you ONLY. I can guarantee you that most if not all dealers have personal guitars not for sale yet. . Some for investments and some because they ,like so many, personally love them. Does this mean they are not price-able. ? yeah sure..lol. Nope . IF someone wanted to pay me enough I can guarantee that literally every instrument I have DOES have a price on it. It may not be a realistic price [ few are these days] but ……Here is where it does effect the market, IF a dealer advertises them accorded to the ‘said recent market’ is , which I believe is WAY out of wack with the world’s economy , it will then create a false sense of what others perceive their similar guitars are worth. . This IS a buyers market like it or not. Even so, that doesn’t'; guarantee that it is the time to buy. After all, the Emporer does still have clothes .But It was he that was sold the false bill of goods in the first place.,

Diamond strings.com is on Facebook!!!

hi folks,  bruce diamond here.

My sincere apologies for not keeping up on the ’ blog’   here.   Once  I discovered facebook  I became an instant addict.   Diamond Strings.com  is the page  you may want to go to  .Trust me ..  lots of fun posts  , TONS  of kewl photos  usually posted   on ‘Kewl guitar  Tuesday’  [  KGT]  is on vacation   till the fall though..  STILL…  GO  to Facebook and become a fan.   the photos alone   are  well worth it.

Bruce

1983? DAION 555 Headhunter Honeyburst (SOLD)

A cool rare one, Daion’s were made in the Hatsumoku factory and represent the very best Japan offered in the 80′s [ the best period]. Three cutaway body is well balanced. Beautiful honeyburst finish over the highly flamed tiger maple is to die for.  Strong humbuckers,  low action. The diamondstrings Pro-Shop recently dressed the frets to feel and play like new. A previous owner had a custom matching brass pickguard made for it . This can now be an option as Diamond strings has filled the small screwholes and touched them up to match the body color.  They are almost invisible [pickguard is included in the hardshell case].  These have been climbing in price steadily for a while now;  see why! Excellent condition with new hardcase. $1250.

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1966 Hagstrom I Black

In beautiful condition with plush lined soft shell case, $750

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1966 HAGSTROM I KENT Blue

Vintage! Wooden body covered by plastic top [with swimming pool radio grill that is strictly ornamental!!] vinyl back. No rips, tears or shrinkage. Two pickups, low action and the fastest neck ever. original Hagstrom case. EX, $850

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2001 Guild Dearmond M75 T champagne/silver sparkle

2001 Guild Dearmond M75 T champagne/silver sparkle
Very much like a Guild Bluesbird, with a bigsby style and in a totally cool silver sparkle finish.$495

2001 Dearmond M75T silver sparkle, same as above but perfect conditon ,$550

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2002 Dearmond S-73 XII Greenburst

Yikes, what a cool XII. Solid body with set neck. 1/78th nut. In like new condition. and in Greenburst! Plays like a dream with very low action; sounds clean and full like a great XII should. Why were these great Dearmonds discontinued.? Perhaps they were just too good for the money. Folks have found out that the newer ones fender has been offering lately ain’t great. . Try it and you’ll see what we mean. W/GB $675

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http://www.theimaginaryband.com/bobjanneckbenefitNY.jpg

benefit poster

benefit poster