Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Selling my own guitars

 WHEN PEOPLE ASK if Second String Music buys used instruments and equipment, we tread cautiously. We prefer to know the sellers and are careful about dealing in the used market. 

Last month we had a man we know well bring some of his guitars into the store to sell. We put several on consignment. I bought one, a beautiful Reverend Manta Ray HB. They aren't made anymore by Reverend and are incredible instruments. This one was built in 2014. But after a lot of thought, I've decided to sell it myself. I want it to be played and in a good home.

Selling your guitar because you need the money is a mistake. I did that in 2005 when I let the first electric guitar I ever bought go for a ridiculously low price. I was short on cash and I thought the money would help pay some bills. Had I really thought about it, I would have figured out a way to solve the money crunch. I kick myself for selling it.

When we opened Second String Music 11 years ago (GASP), I put three or four of my guitars on the floor because we needed inventory. I have no regrets about doing it. Just before that I traded two beautiful acoustic guitars for a hot tub, and that was a huge mistake. The hot tub stopped working after about a year. I miss those guitars. But such is life.

I'm contemplating selling a few other guitars that I rarely play. Basically it's just a thinning of the herd thing. I don't play out in bands that much anymore, and I have three amazing guitars to do band gigs with (my trusty American Strat, G&L Telecaster and Gretsch Broadkaster). I'm not letting those go. 

In general, be careful when you decide to sell stuff, especially if it has sentimental value. I'll never sell the first guitar I bought, and cheap 1984 Lotus acoustic. I learned how to play on it and it's traveled a million miles, and I still strum it every now and then.

Anyway, the Reverend is on sale in the shop. Come see us at Fifth and Maine!


Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Sorry for losing you, dog leash

SNOW AND ICE make walking our three dogs a challenge. I stroll every morning and they run like crazy. I make sure nobody else is around, and bring three leashes in case they start wandering off a little too far, or if somebody else comes into the area with a dog. 

Two days ago we were trudging through the snow on a beautiful winter morning. Genie, our English Shepherd, took off after a squirrel and I had to chase her down and put her on a leash. When we got home, I only had two purple leashes with me. The missing one was blue. Sheryl made the purple leashes a few years ago out of paracord and they are excellent dog leashes - they match the personality of our dogs perfectly. The blue leash is also made of rope.

I was bummed about it. Really, what's the big deal about losing a piece of rope? Nothing. At least I didn't lose the two Sheryl made. But it bugged me because I normally wrap the leashes around my arm to keep them ready. 

The dogs and I went back yesterday morning and retraced our steps. Surely it would stick out from the snow and be easy to spot. But no luck. There was a little bit of drifting so maybe it got covered. Or maybe somebody else found it and took it home. 

This morning, we again went along the same route. And lo and behold, there was the leash, the blue frozen rope clearly visible in the snow. How I missed it the day before is mystifying. 

It might seem silly and trivial, but I was really glad to find the leash. It doesn't matter that it came from the dollar store. The dogs are walked every morning, no matter the weather, and the leashes have been on every walk. They hang on the back porch and when I grab them, it's like a little piece of security is with me.

When you apologize to a dog leash for leaving it in the snow for two days, you are either nuts or you love your dogs. Or both. 

I'm just glad I have it back.