I'm selling a guitar...

[rmbittner]

I don't know if any folks here would be interested or not, but I'm currently selling one of my guitars on eBay and thought I'd at least mention it. It's a 2004 Gretsch Country Classic II, Custom Edition. It's a great instrument, but it hardly gets played. I'd love to see it find a good home.
Unfortunately, my sale is only open to US bidders. But if you're interested, just do an eBay search for "Gretsch Country Classic II (2004)" and it should pop up. My eBay name is very similar to my name here. And the auction ends this weekend.
And if you're trying to picture what this looks like, it's based on the model played by George Harrison when the Beatles appeared on the "Ed Sullivan Show."
Thanks!
Bob

 

[lucky695]

first tobacco now guitars... are you selling everything off?

 

[rmbittner]

lucky:
HA! I guess it sounds like that, huh?
Don't worry: If I'm able to sell this one, I'll still have 14 electrics in my collection (along with 3 acoustics and 3 basses). This is the last one I can imagine myself parting with -- and I wouldn't even be selling this one if things weren't a bit tight for us at the moment.
Bob

 

[thehappypiper]

I've never played a Gretsch, which is odd considering how many guitars I have played over the years. Back home I have a Les Paul, an alder-bodied Pacifica 312H and a S&P steel string. They are all very nice guitars, but in China I picked up a Rodrigues classical guitar, handmade in Spain, which has a complexity & expressiveness of tone I have found impossible to recreate with an electric instrument. It has given my playing a new lease of life, forcing me to rework my chordal and melodic structures to adequately serve its voice.

I wish you success in your sale.

 

[papipeguy]

Beautiful axe. I have 30 guitars at the moment but if I were to get another this would be on the list. The only guitar I ever sold was a 1968 Tennessean. I kick myself every day for letting that one go. Good luck with your sale; the price seems right.

BTW, the guitar in my avatar is a 200 Fender Roadhouse Strat.

 

[rmbittner]

papipeguy:
Well, since I'm definitely a Beatles fan, the Tennessean is on my list! I'd love to hold onto the Country Classic, but things are a little tight at the moment and it's the one guitar I have that just doesn't get played. It really is versatile, but it just doesn't seem to fit well with the kind of pop/rock I focus on. But if it doesn't sell -- and I've had it on eBay before, with no luck -- I'll keep her around. (I do love a Strat, though! At one point, I had five, but I'm down to three now.)
@thehappypiper -- Gretsches can be love/hate guitars. They really do have more quirks than any other guitar I've played. But I also think they're incorrectly labeled now as "rockabilly" or "Beatles tribute band" instruments, when they're actually pretty versatile. I also have a Duo Jet, and my bandmates are constantly telling me how much they love the sound of that one. But you do have to be willing to just accept and embrace what they deliver, which is something quite different from, say, a Gibson, a Fender, or a PRS. (They're probably more like a Rickenbacker in that regard.)
I don't play classical guitar, but I've heard nothing but praise for the Rodrigues.
Bob

 

[ghost]

Well, I tried searching it out on eBay but I couldn't find your listing. Oh well. I didn't mind looking at about 80 other Gretsch guitars while I searched. I like looking at guitars just as much as pipes, maybe more. (Heresy!)
Good luck on the sale!

 

[rmbittner]

ghost: Don't know how you missed it. I gave the actual title for the listing. Type in "Gretsch Country Classic II (2004)" and mine will be the only listing that pops up.
Auction ends tomorrow at 8AM (ET).
Here's one of the photos associated with the listing:

Bob

 

[ghost]

Yeah, it's strange. No matter what I try nothing comes up. I don't think being in Canada should make a difference since I was checking US only listings.

 

[rmbittner]

ghost:
Ah. . .
Since I won't ship internationally, that may be restricting what you can see.
Sorry for any confusion!
Bob

 

[grouchydog]

That's a sweet axe! Wish I could help you out. I've been jonesing for a Greatsch for years, but I have no music budget left. Someday...

 

[ithelouniverse]

Not only do I play and love guitars in general, but I sold them for years, and I can say that in my opinion, Gretsch products are some of the most consistent out there. From the entry level budget models to the high end stuff like this one here, they are all quality products. I love everything with their name on it! I keep waiting for their arrangement with fender to give fender a few lessons in quality control. I love fender too but they could learn a lot from Gretsch...

 

[latbomber]

Nice guitar and good luck with the sale! I've always wanted a gretsch white falcon. Since we are on the topic of guitars, here is my #1: 2008 Eric Johnson strat with a copper pickguard I made myself!

 

[papipeguy]

Nice job with that pick guard, lat.

I bought this last summer. It's a fairly large body and plays very well.

 

[rmbittner]

Cool instruments, guys!
Just to update: I SOLD the Country Classic! Finally. Of course, that means, I'm always going to be looking to replace her in the future. . .
@ithelouniverse: I actually think Fender's got a better handle on QC than Gibson does. That said, my two Japanese-made Strats are noticeably better built than my American Strat. But I do love them all!
Bob

 

[papipeguy]

Congrats on selling the Gretsch.

My wife calls this part of the basement "The Lumberyard".

 

[ghost]

I'm up to 14 guitars myself, including two I built myself and two I have sitting on my workbench in pieces as I Frankenstein them. Honestly, I intend to purge myself of over half of them. The (self-inflicted) stress over maintaining all of them is getting to me. Plus, I know I'll always collect more in the future. I'd rather just focus on composing music going forward, if I can help it.
I only have one electric and one bass that I would term "expensive". I'm a compulsive modder, so I tend to look for repair and rescue jobs. Just like pipes...

 

[papipeguy]

I hear you, ghost. I'm getting to a point in life that I should consider culling that herd but, to me, it's like selling children. Just can't seem to let go. So I figure that if our daughter has about 35 kids, each can have an instrument.

 

[ithelouniverse]

Fender blows Gibsom out of the water... And on a customer service/ sales relations note I can say for sure I've had a few rough times with Gibson. For all my guitar friends, you guys should check out Tom Anderson Guitars. They're probably my favorite brand. I want one so bad I can taste it!
I'd love hear what my fellow guitar playing pipers think of them if you check them out...
RMBittner: if you're looking to fill a gap in a guitar collection and have already owned or played one of everything I especially recommend a Tom Anderson, the more other brands you've tried the more you'll be able to tell how top shelf a Tom is...