risking losing a great les paul to get a vintage dream guitar...

[sicko]

so i'm in a position now where i've got two fantastic les paul's- both are truly of the highest calibre possible. i was never a les paul guy until i got these two in my hands. i still don't consider myself a full on les paul guy, seeing as it's my fender style guitars i reach for most- i'm just most comfortable on them.

anyways, onto the dilemma...

these two lp's i've got are worth a significant amount of money- enough that it'd be able to cover just about the full cost of a dream vintage guitar, an early 60's 335/345/355. thing is, i know both my lp's are absolutely top notch in every way and i'm unable to play the 3xx before committing, so only have the biased word of a dealer to go on. it's a huge gamble, but knowing i could get most (if not all) my money back is somewhat reassuring. what's not reassuring is knowing that the next owner of either one of my lp's most likely won't want to sell it back anytime soon if the 3xx doesn't work out.

i'll be left with one great les paul regardless, so am not overly worried, but still having some nerves... the thing is, the one lp has a great midrangey sound with a sweet top end while the other is fuller and more clear; they both poses aspects i wish the other had--hence it being difficult to pick one over the other--, but are as close to perfect as i've found (i prefer them to vintage bursts i've played, which they're meant to emulate).

what do i do?!

 

[uncajoey]

Don't even THINK about it. I've done similar things, and have regretted it.

 

[sicko]

Don't even THINK about it. I've done similar things, and have regretted it.

Yeah, I have, too- you'd think I would of learned from previous experiences-, but I keep thinking "this time it'll work out", being the romantic/fool I am.

 

[jlb32]

Don't mess with perfection. If you absolutely love the 2 LP's you currently own don't trade for the unknown. IMO find another route if you have to have this other LP.

 

[foxtrot]

So you'd be giving up one LP for the 3xx? Do you have a favorite between the two Les Pauls (even though you said it'd be hard to pick between the two, what does your gut say)? Any sentimental/emotional connections to either of them?

If you like one of them less, I might consider it...

You could also just save up and wait for another 3xx to come along. There will always be "another" at some point, and maybe it will be one you can play in person.

 

[sicko]

some "context":

 

[sicko]

So you'd be giving up one LP for the 3xx? Do you have a favorite between the two Les Pauls (even though you said it'd be hard to pick between the two, what does your gut say)? Any sentimental/emotional connections to either of them?

If you like one of them less, I might consider it...

You could also just save up and wait for another 3xx to come along. There will always be "another" at some point, and maybe it will be one you can play in person.

That's the thing, I absolutely cannot decide- it's a draw, I'm completely torn, it's really 50/50.

Each has traits I sometimes wish the other had, making them the perfect pair.

One has a slightly fatter neck (which I adore) and clearer sound, while the other has a very sweet midrangey sound and slightly faster neck. Both are top-tier. I thought the one with the fatter neck would be the clear winner as that's a big factor for me, but then I pick the other up and am back to square one, unable to decide.

 

[sicko]

Don't mess with perfection. If you absolutely love the 2 LP's you currently own don't trade for the unknown. IMO find another route if you have to have this other LP.

It's not an LP, it's a vintage 335 I'm looking at. The only other route would be for me to save up for like a year and a half, at which point the specific one I'm looking at would no doubt be gone.

 

[foxtrot]

That's the thing, I absolutely cannot decide- it's a draw, I'm completely torn, it's really 50/50.

Each has traits I sometimes wish the other had, making them the perfect pair.

One has a slightly fatter neck (which I adore) and clearer sound, while the other has a very sweet midrangey sound and slightly faster neck. Both are top-tier. I thought the one with the fatter neck would be the clear winner as that's a big factor for me, but then I pick the other up and am back to square one, unable to decide.

Then don't do it, keep both

Both of those are absolutely beautiful btw

 

[jlb32]

Your own comments should tell you all you need to know. If they are the perfect pair then why let one go? I've did it and regretted it. Will never do it again.

 

[SHERIFF]

Your Les Pauls will be vintage guitars if you keep them with you for a long time.

 

[easton55]

Whether you love each of the two you currently own or not, it still comes down to how big and how long the dream to own the 335. That will override the love no matter what, unless it's only been a short while that you've wanted it. Hope it works out for the best!

 

[cherrysunburst00]

I wrestled with a similar question: should I sell at least 2 fantastic Standards to fund an R9? Never can bring myself to do it--and if I didn't care for the R9's feel, I could recoup much of my investment. A vintage 335 may or may not be able to be resold at much of a loss. Especially risky if you can't try it first.

I would also caution you not to do it

 

[HardCore Troubadour]

Take a stand....you are a start guy anyhow.....Sell the LP's, get the 335.

Thank me later.....

 

[Bobby Mahogany]

If you could try the 3XX first, you would be able to make a "documented", "clear" decision.
You can't so it's a shot in the dark.
You wrote: "The perfect pair".
Many people have a few Les Paul's and they can't even come up with "a perfect pair".
You want to wage that in a crap shoot?
No go.

 

[rockinlespaul]

I'll echo what other's have said... Don't do it!

Anytime I've let one of my "keeper" Les Paul's go, it ended up being the next owners #1 guitar so no way of getting it back.

 

[6pack Jon]

I would only part with guitars I didn't bound with. Sounds like you like both of your LPs. I would keep them and save up for the 335. Things have a way of popping up later down the road.

 

[eporter66]

No way. You keep saying how perfect they are, why lose that for the unknown?

 

[Cjsinla]

If you have the option to get your money back for the 335 you don't need to sell one of the LP's first. Buy the 335 with credit, if you don't like it, return it. If you decide you do like it, only then do you need to decide which LP to sell.

 

[Texsunburst59]

Don't sell either of the LP's.

Get a loan to buy the 3XX guitar.

You WILL have regrets. The fact that you're not feeling or hearing the 3XX in person is a VERY bad idea.

The odds are you may not bond with the guitar , have to sell it to get your money back, and be out an LP that you REALLY liked.