Swap Shop : Trading Gear

There comes a time in a guitarist’s life when he has to admit he has too much gear. For me, gear is work, so I have a thinly veiled excuse for having a bit too much stuff and wanting to try things out, even so……

A few weeks ago, I decided to have a sort out. This was mostly prompted by learning of a friend’s intention to sell his rather lovely blonde, 1983 American built Fender Telecaster, in the hope that I could acquire said guitar with a lot of horse trading and very little, if any, cash.

In my not-so-secret stash of gear destined for a new forever home I had effects pedals, and a rather pretty black Gretsch 5122 double cut, that I had never fully connected with. So much so that I’d even tried swapping the pickups out for an old set of authentic Gibson humbuckers that used to be on one of my bandmate’s guitars. It was better….but still wasn’t hitting the spot.

Gretsch 5122, with Les Paul pickups

The Telecaster owner however, had had a Gretsch, sold it, and had suffered some regret, so we agreed to swap for a trial. It became immediately apparent though that the Telecaster’s value somewhat outweighed the Gretsch, and as pedals were of no practical interest, I would be forced to part with a significant lump of cash…..

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I’m going to take a step back from the story for a moment, because as all this was happening, I had been simultaneously exploring other avenues of shifting my stuff. I have bought and sold on Ebay before, and I’d actually recommend it for the purchase of second hand gear, because it’s cheaper.

Guitar tone is a mixture of guitars, picks, strings, pedals, amps….the list is technically pretty long…suffice to say that you never really know how any bit of gear is going to interact and sound with all your other stuff…..so even the most well researched purchase, can sometimes backfire. The Gretsch being an example….anyway….

The thing I don’t like on Ebay is that there are scammers, whingers and fraudsters, (just like any other walk of life I suppose), but also the endless boxes, packing tape and trips to the post office (if you can find one) - and it can take ages to sell all your stuff.

I elected to try Rich Tone, a guitar shop / second hand dealer in Sheffield. I sent them a list of what I had, including pictures (and including the Gretsch) a statement of what I’d like from their store, (you get better prices if you want to part ex).

I’d seen two guitars I really liked the look of, and that my feeble, easily led mind had decided I could make use of, without splashing any cash. One was a mahogany Sigma traveller guitar, with Fishman pickups, and one was an electric Dangelico Premier Atlantic. Roughly speaking, the pedals = the Sigma, and the Gretsch = the Dangelico.

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For those of you who like such videos, here's a rather tasty demo of the Dangelico Premier Atlantic....

This being on the cards, I had to reluctantly let the Telecaster go. Great guitar, but even at the mates rates I was being offered, too much….and the owner didn’t want to buy the Gretsch outright, so, the deal was dead. Rich Tone it was then….or so I thought......

The following day, another friend learnt of my intention to sell the Gretsch and expressed interest. Did he want to buy it?......no…..he wanted to swap….for another Gretsch no less. 

I was cautious. Having been bitten by the Gretsch bug before, and thinking it was love bite which actually proved to be some kind of rare, exotic fever that virtually repelled the guitar away from my hands, I wasn’t convinced….

Gretsch Jet

My Gretsch, the 5122, is completely hollow. It’s big and curvy, and not at all like the guitars I tend to favour, solid bodies, offsets, and the like. The proposed swap was a Jet, similar in some ways to a Les Paul. Solid body, and still with a Bigsby tremolo which is about the only redeeming feature of the 5122.

Anyway - we swapped for a trial, and I’ve got on really well with it, so much so I’ve used it at both gigs this weekend. He loves his new acquisition too, so Swap Shop part one complete.

Sigma Traveller

Despite my obvious remorse at not getting my hands on the Dangelico, it was time to proceed with Swap Shop part two. The Sigma was ordered, has arrived, and got played this weekend too. The pedals went back in the box the Sigma came in, and I’ve got the money Rich Tone quoted me with no arguments or fuss. In your face, Ebay!

So. I have two new guitars, and love them both, result. I haven’t had to part with any additional cash, result. I’d recommend Rich Tone as a supplier, and would happily use them again, result. 

I'll report back on how these guitars fair over the coming weeks. Got a second hand guitar with a story? Let us know!