Most expensive guitar you have ever played???

Jazzarian · #1 12-02-2007, 11:58 AM

Back in the late 1990s I visited the Mandolin Brothers. Right there in front of me were 3 original D'Angelico NYers from the 1950s, ranging in price from 25K to 50K each. Yes indeed, I played all 3 that day.

I briefly got a chance to play a Benedetto Cremona model, a prize of the store owner. Wow! I'd say that was the best archtop I've ever played. I'd imagine that very guitar is worth about 50 grand today.

Elsewhere, somewhere on 48th St, i've also played a few lesser Benedettos, and a Buscarino too. Loved them all.

Now here's the best archtop I've never played!

Monteleone Instruments

derek · #2 12-02-2007, 01:34 PM

I too have played D'As from the 50's, at Gruhns, along with vintage Martin, and Fenders. Guitar mecca.

I have played a couple different Benedettos, nice, but not my cup o'tea. Ribbecke, Campelone, Triggs, Anderson, and Holst are some of the boutique guitars I have been able to play. All very nice, and very expensive.

Frankly, I prefer my 175, and Tal Farlow Gibsons. They get the sound I am looking for, and though not cheap, I don't have to worry about taking out a gazillion $ insurance on them.

mr. beaumont · #3 12-02-2007, 04:42 PM

i played a tal farlow at the GC in villa parl IL last year. It was great, but I'd have to sell a kidney or something...

pete · #4 12-02-2007, 05:26 PM

Probably my own 1933 Gibson L7 with its D'Armond pickup. Expensive from a collector's perspective, anyway... it's not all that amazing an axe, really.

Honestly, I like my Agile MUCH better... and my simple, clean Taylor 314CE (pre Expression).

Every time I go into Elderly Instruments or GC, I head in to the high-end rooms and play whatever looks interesting. I always come away loving my own guitars all the more.

derek · #5 12-03-2007, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

i played a tal farlow at the GC in villa parl IL last year. It was great, but I'd have to sell a kidney or something...

Hehe. I got my 1991 Tal off Ebay this Summer for under $2000. It is a gem. They typically go used for around $2500. Not cheap, but not sell a kidney expensive either.

I sold a couple guitars to pay for it. I still have an Eastman archtop and PRS archtop to go. I am thinning out the herd.

mr. beaumont · #6 12-03-2007, 11:44 AM

sheesh! they wanted over 3K for the one i played...

maybe it made you play just like tal

Jazzarian · #7 12-03-2007, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by derek

I too have played D'As from the 50's, at Gruhns, along with vintage Martin, and Fenders. Guitar mecca.

I have played a couple different Benedettos, nice, but not my cup o'tea. Ribbecke, Campelone, Triggs, Anderson, and Holst are some of the boutique guitars I have been able to play. All very nice, and very expensive.

Frankly, I prefer my 175, and Tal Farlow Gibsons. They get the sound I am looking for, and though not cheap, I don't have to worry about taking out a gazillion $ insurance on them.

In theory, my homeowners insurance covers my Super V and rest of the gang. They didn't offer me a separate insurance rider for guitar coverage.

For some reason, I prefer my GB10 to my ES175.

Jazzarian · #8 12-03-2007, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pete

Probably my own 1933 Gibson L7 with its D'Armond pickup. Expensive from a collector's perspective, anyway... it's not all that amazing an axe, really.

Honestly, I like my Agile MUCH better... and my simple, clean Taylor 314CE (pre Expression).

Every time I go into Elderly Instruments or GC, I head in to the high-end rooms and play whatever looks interesting. I always come away loving my own guitars all the more.

Isn't Gibson making a reissue L7 cutaway? I like the light weight and lively top of the L7.

derek · #9 12-03-2007, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

sheesh! they wanted over 3K for the one i played...

maybe it made you play just like tal

Yikes! They are proud of it. I see probably 6 or more go on ebay each year. They usually start off wanting in the neighborhood of $3000 for them, but when they sell, it is usually between $2200-$2500.

I felt very fortunate to get mine for under $2000. Alas, the only benefit I have gotten from playing the Tal, is while I don't sound like much, I look good playing it!

kulzak · #10 12-18-2007, 08:41 AM

My own archtop of course, Steve Grimes Kula rose... It cannot be beat.

wizard3739 · #11 12-18-2007, 09:10 PM

The D'Angelico (1929 not cutaway) that I had many years ago had one of the best tones I have ever played but my Stroup Benedetto copy is the best I have ever played. I have played many different Gibsons and several Benedettos and all were very good instruments but my Stroup is still my personal favorite.

Webby · #12 11-20-2011, 07:13 AM

A 1959 Gretsch 6120, that thing played like a dream!!!

Tom Karol · #13 11-20-2011, 07:33 AM

I once played a beat up 1930's D'Angelico non-cutaway archtop acoustic in a little hole-in-the-wall music store (long gone) in Manchester, Vermont. It sounded great, but they wanted like tens of thousands of dollars for it.

I had a '59 Gretsch 6120. Bought it for $200 in 1968 and sold it for $200 in 1969! Sorry, I thought it was just OK. I do wish I still had it, so I could sell it now for $6k!

Jake Hanlon · #14 11-20-2011, 08:24 AM

I got to play a Manzer guitar once for about 5 minutes. I'm sure it was in the 20k range or something like that. This was years ago back before I could appreciate such an instrument.

hot ford coupe · #15 11-20-2011, 09:23 AM

The most expensive guitar I played was at Gruhn's. It was a D'Aquisto New Yorker owned by Mel Bay priced at $74,000 balloons. It's still at Gruhn's but has been reduced in price. Now the most expensive guitar I was ever in a room with was also at Gruhn's. He brought out Mother Maybell Carter's 1928 L5 and played it for me. That thing was LOUD. The price on that was a whopping $500,000 clams! I wouldn't dare touch it for fear that it would slide out of my hands.

Dark Star · #16 11-20-2011, 10:31 AM

I played a '59 Les Paul Standard at the Dallas guitar show some years back. It was probably listed at $250K at that time.

Chip · #17 11-20-2011, 11:24 AM

Hi All,

In the late 60's, my little college band (patterened after "The Lettermen") was asked to be the warm-up act for the "Fifth Dimension". At the time , I was playing an Epi Sorrento.

I was blown away by their guitarist, a large black man who not only played a beautiful Gibby Super 400, but doubled on flute.( Remember the intro to "Aquarius" ?) In fact, it was amazing what they got out of a Fender-Rhodes (Bones Howe ?), bass, guitar and drums !

Anyway, while backstage, I commented to the guy what a beautiful guitar he had, and he just handed it to me - "here, give it a try!" Imagine this little,5'4" college sophomore slobbering all over while playing a few chords on a Super 400 -the guitar must have been down to my knees - but what a gorgeous piece ! I never got his name..... Does anyone know?

Chip Holland

cosmic gumbo · #18 11-20-2011, 01:24 PM

Anyone ever try out a Goldcaster? It's only $1,000,000.

paynow · #19 11-20-2011, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo

Anyone ever try out a Goldcaster? It's only $1,000,000.

I thought you were kidding: Goldcaster Gold Guitar - First Real Gold Guitar

Soco · #20 11-20-2011, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paynow

I thought you were kidding: Goldcaster Gold Guitar - First Real Gold Guitar

I guess it would be a good investment, gold is really sought after these days.
The most expensive guitar I tried was a 1959 Les Paul, this one was priced at 150K(sometimes they go for double)

GodinFan · #21 11-20-2011, 02:32 PM

D'Angelico Excel from about '43.

Earl · #22 11-20-2011, 02:33 PM

Back in the 70's Ron Anthony was playing at a spaghetti house in Huntington Beach, CA. He mhad a beautiful blonde D'Angelico guitar.
I was talking to him while he was on break and to my surprise he invited me to play it. This is probably the most expensive instrument I've played.
Needless to say, fantastic action and tone!!

hot ford coupe · #23 11-20-2011, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earl

Back in the 70's Ron Anthony was playing at a spaghetti house in Huntington Beach, CA. He mhad a beautiful blonde D'Angelico guitar.
I was talking to him while he was on break and to my surprise he invited me to play it. This is probably the most expensive instrument I've played.
Needless to say, fantastic action and tone!!

You got to play that guitar?? If you go on YouTube and search for Ron, there are a couple of vids with him playing it. Tha's a really nice instrument.

hot ford coupe · #24 11-20-2011, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo

Anyone ever try out a Goldcaster? It's only $1,000,000.

That's funny. I have two of those. I bought them from a guy under the Brooklyn Bridge which he tried to sell me also. He said they fell off the back of a truck.

Greco · #25 11-20-2011, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hot ford coupe

That's funny. I have two of those. I bought them from a guy under the Brooklyn Bridge which he tried to sell me also. He said they fell off the back of a truck.

How much was he asking for the bridge?

monk · #26 11-20-2011, 07:33 PM

2 D'Anglicos from the 40s
3 Benedetto's from the 80s
1 1953 Fender Telecaster
1 1957 Gibson Les Paul
One of Chet Atkins Gibson Country Gentlemans
Jerry Reed's funky old Baldwin classic with the squared-off cutaway
1 early 50s Gibson Super 400
1 194? Selmer petit bouche

Once, after a concert with Jimmy Raney, Gene Bertoncini stuck his D'Aquisto in my hands. When I played a chord and said "Wow!' he smiled and said "It does feel good, doesn't it?".

jtizzle · #27 11-20-2011, 08:05 PM

Tried out a Gibson ES175 the other day, it was pretty beat up and they had it up for 2600, fuck that. Looking forward to the Sadowsky Jim Hall model though

Jazzpunk · #28 11-20-2011, 09:20 PM

Nothing crazy. Probably the custom Ribbecke archtop that my old teacher played. Gorgeous instrument but out of my price league for sure!

hot ford coupe · #29 11-20-2011, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greco

How much was he asking for the bridge?

He wanted $98 bucks but I had him down to $65 buck when I decided it wasn't worth it. BTW, one of the real gold guitars seems to be peeling a bit. I think I see pressed wood under the real gold.

AlohaJoe · #30 11-21-2011, 12:52 AM

In the course of my search for a nice gypsy guitar I had a chance to play a '40s Selmer much like Django's. They're rare, so the price was in the 30k range but I hated it. The neck was huge and the bodies on those were all laminate, so you had to really pound on it to get the sound and that required waaay high action. It was a real hand-killer, but I'm glad I got the chance to play it. Django must have been able to crush rocks!