…to sell off gear.
Yesterday, I sold “Rusty,” my Gibson ES-333. I hadn’t played Rusty much for the last several months, and even though I used him on a recording recently, I just didn’t feel that attached. It was a bit of a sad occasion, but I’m looking forward to replacing him with something else. Besides, testing new models from SAINT Guitars will be absolutely awesome!!!
Guitar Gear 
I hear ya’ on getting rid of an old workhorse. It’s tough, but unless your rich, I believe its best to trade up. Especially if you’re not bonding with that axe anymore. I’ve bought and sold two Tom Anderson’s which I just didnt bond with – I forced myself to play my Tom Anderson Classic for a year just because it was such a high quality instrument and sounded so good…..but…..I hated playing it. It one of those intangible things that I couldnt put my finger on. Did you ever play one of those guitars that just felt tight, and never comfortable? That was it. The neck felt like a baseball bat. I traded it off on a PRS soapbar which I instantly loved. My Tom Anderson Cobra (another beautifully made and sounding guitar) I also traded. I was continually rolling the high E string off the edge of the neck…it drove me nuts. I traded it for a DGT.
Funny you mention your PRS Soapbar. When I got my SE Soapbar, that was when I really stopped playing the ES-333. Mind you though, I loved the sound I could get out of Rusty, and playing that guitar was a dream, but as you said, there was just something missing when I played it that I just couldn’t put my finger on. I just didn’t feel the kind of visceral satisfaction that I got from Pearl, my white Strat, and my Soapbar (I call him “Sharkie”). I’m sure you know what I mean: a deep-seated feeling like everything in the world is absolutely right type of feeling. I get that from Pearl and Sharkie. I rarely got that from Rusty.
You made the right move. And tastes to change over time. In the 80s no one could have pryed me from my mesa boogie amps. In the 90s I got a jones for the old Fender sound and never looked back….for now, at least. Theres some pretty cool hand wired amps out there- we really are living in pretty good times guitar gear wise –this will probably be known as the golden era guitar builders and of boutique amp design. So many guitars…so little time. Sometimes when practice hits a plateau, nothing gets the juices reinvigorated like a new piece.
I’m still gathering clams to get a Vicky Double Deluxe. Ever since I played one of those, I knew I had to have it.
You can’t loose on anything from Mark Baier. The attention to detail at Victoria is unparalleled.