Kinda had a problem figuring out where to post this rant but think this might be as good a place as any.
New Year's Resolution in October! STAY OFF OF eBay!
I've got to quit making a routine each morning of browsing the listings on eBay. It isn't good for my health!
There are two guitars that I want to own before that plant me out in a meadow somewhere. One of those guitars is a 1958 Gibson Les Paul Sunburst. The are the guitars that started it all.
Here is a set of pics of a 1988 reisue of the 1958 LP
http://cgi.ebay.com/1988-Gibson-1958...d=p3286.c0.m14
The other is not a classic. It is "just" a really good mid level acoustic guitar that to my ear has the playability and looks that just yank my chain! This is a Tacoma "Roadking". They are odd looking instruments with the sound hole in the upper left corner of the cutaway body. Tacoma makes another identical guitar called the "Chief" that sells new for quite a bit less than the "Roadking" with the major difference being the material used in construction. The "Chief" has a cedar top that produces a warm sound but the cedar is soft and wears faster and picks up dings and scratches. The "Roadking" is built from the same blueprints but has a Spruce top. It has a brighter sound than the "Chief".
I would really prefer a well loved used Roadking than a new one. As the wood in a new guitar ages, the sound becomes more pleasing and a good 40 year old acoustic (and electric for that matter) is worth much more than a new one of the same model. My dream acoustic is that "Roadking".
And here I am looking at eBay and there is this "Roadking" that sold for the unbelievable price of $331.99. $50 shipping! My train zipped by and didn't stop at my station! These guitars sold for $800 to $900 new. However, Fender has bought the company and the guitars are no longer available. At least not yet! Come on Fender....
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA:IT&ih=005