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Hey All,

I got this idea from a previous post! Which musical instrument/gear purchase INCREASED in value, or you can't LIVE without? Mine:

1.) My '65 Stratocaster got stolen while I was on the road. I walked into the local guitar shop, and saw a '63 Strat on the bench, with the finish sanded off --- Bare wood. I played it, and liked it a lot. Cost? $200. Amazingly versatile guitar! I insure it for $20,000 and play it every day.

2.) As described in a previous post, I went to a garage sale. The poor old lady had just lost her husband, who was a TV/Movie soundman. I bought a Sennheiser K2-U shotgun condenser microphone for $5.00! I still use it for vocals, acoustic guitar, and drum overheads. GREAT microphone!

3.) Although I paid $3800 for my Soundcraft 1-S board in around 1980, I still use it (daily!). It's got the most incredible mic preamps and EQ in it you've ever heard. Priceless to me... The first "Eurhythmics" album was recorded on the same board (and the same TASCAM 8-track that I used for years).

4.) Also not an increase in value, but to me it's one of the best pieces of gear I've ever purchased: An Alesis Masterlink. It's got a hard drive in it that holds TONS of music, can record way above CD quality, and has software for compression, EQ, you name it! I master all my music on it. And, it's got a built-in CD burner. Fantastic!

That's it for now --- I'd love to hear your stories!

Ern

My right arm; a Fernandes MIJ strat copy from the early 80's with a Brazilian rosewood slab neck that's to die for. Bought: $100; current value: $850. 1965 Fender Super Reverb 4X10; as far as I'm concerned, priceless, but an all-original example can be had for about $3k, IF you can find one. I also have a '69 model that I bought for $200 during the hair metal days, goes for about $800, now.Oh and my Gauge ECM87 was...a promotional gift that I still use every single day.

Martin HD-28 & ProTools. Couldn't live without either of these!

Bought my 1960 Selmer Mark VI alto sax from a high school student trying to raise some spending money for her freshman year of college. It had been relaquered, a huge no-no... it's basically the same as painting a violin. Bought it for $1,000 cash. worth around $6k now but I'd never sell it. Like Mojo's guitar for him, my sax is a natural extension of my body.

Paulie

One of my least valuable pieces of music gear, but also my favorite and most played...a $40 baritone uke! You can bring it anywhere and who cares if it gets lost or broken. Also more portable than a guitar.

mojobone wrote:My right arm.

Glad yours works, Mojo! Mine is almost useless... How could I have played (for 30 years) keyboards, left-hand bass, sing lead vocals, and mix the PA all at the same time --- But I can't finger pick? It isn't that I'm not ambidextrous. I just can't DO it, and I've tried for years! And even using a pick, I just can't pick as fast as most guitarists. Bizarre!

Oh, I've got one of those "free" Gauge 87 microphones, too. Nice mic! I still like my $5.00 Sennheiser K2-U better, though (for my voice).

Cheers,

Ern

Paulie wrote:Bought my 1960 Selmer Mark VI alto sax from a high school student trying to raise some spending money for her freshman year of college. It had been relaquered, a huge no-no... it's basically the same as painting a violin. Bought it for $1,000 cash. worth around $6k now but I'd never sell it. Like Mojo's guitar for him, my sax is a natural extension of my body.

Paulie

Oh yeah... I forgot my alto sax! It was the same deal as the "Gauge" microphone guys. They bought 100's of microphones from China, tested them all out, and sent 95% of them back!

Such was the deal when I lived in the Bay Area for a couple of years. A guy was doing the same thing with saxophones built in China. I bought an "Ella" alto sax out out the guy's car for, I believe, $350 brand new. I'm not a big sax player, but I've played many "student models" over the years, and this sax KILLS any other cheap saxophone... I have no idea what its value is, but to me it's worth a lot more than I paid for it! A sweet horn.

Ern

My Eko Ranger VI acoustic guitar

Rescued it from a skip almost 30 yrs ago. Every song I ever wrote has been written with it.

Lanikai Baritone Uke.
I got one about 4 years ago.
It goes anyware and is fun and easy to play.
I play finger style and this thing sings.

Fender Elite Strat - it feels like everything about it was custom-made for me, and the S1 switch gives me so many options.
Pro Tools - I use it every day and absolutely love it.