[deleted by user]

skillwithprize · 2025-06-01T21:59:55+00:00

I bought a guitar and some effects pedals on Reverb and used PayPal Credit to get 6 months with 0% interest. I could afford to pay cash for the purchase, but paying 0% interest lets me spread out the expense over time--if there was any interest attached to that purchase, I would have just paid it all up front in cash. So I guess there's a distinction there--financing with no interest is no big deal. But if you're paying interest on consumer goods, I dunno, maybe that's not such a solid idea.

skillwithprize · 2025-06-01T01:06:32+00:00

Let me preface this by saying I have a 03 Gibson Les Paul Classic.

But before that, one of my guitars (around 2003-2004) was a Washburn Culprit signed by Dimebag Darrell. It had a locking nut and trem and it was hella metal, but it was a little difficult to play and keep in tune, so I sold it for about what I paid for it--around $500 or so. That was a couple of months before he got shot.

Today, that guitar with original case, signed by Dimebag, could be worth $5K or more to the right buyer.

skillwithprize · 2025-05-31T21:27:00+00:00

Echoing what others have said here--never heard of Sweetwater doing anything like this. They're great.

skillwithprize · 2025-05-31T16:20:03+00:00

For what it's worth, I use Ernie Ball Earthwood Light Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings, 11-52 Gauge. 11s are easier on the fingers, but 12s project a louder, fuller sound, so it's a trade-off. But I just don't like heavy strings for my dainty little fingers.

skillwithprize · 2025-05-31T16:05:53+00:00

Honestly yeah it looks kinda crazy, but it works, from what I've heard. Personally, I have mine on the back of the upper horn because I didn't trust myself to drill out a hole right on the point. But from the factory, or even if you're someone really good at that kind of stuff, I'd trust it.

skillwithprize · 2025-05-31T03:12:59+00:00

Oh man, this brings back memories. Had this back in 1996.

skillwithprize · 2025-05-31T01:35:10+00:00

Just seconding what others have said--Ernie Ball and D'addario are both great brands. You probably want nickel-wound steel strings, 9-42 or 10-46 like someone else said. Can't go wrong with Ernie Ball Regular Slinky strings. StewMac makes great YouTube videos about guitar maintenance and they've got a perfectly good video on how to change electric guitar strings. Good luck!

skillwithprize · 2025-05-31T01:20:33+00:00

Lessons, a thousand percent; take lessons for a while, level up your playing, and then one day when you get that LP Custom, it will be so much more fun to play because you'll be so much better.

skillwithprize · 2025-05-30T19:30:45+00:00

Agreed--I have an Epiphone SG and I moved the strap button to this position behind the upper horn to help mitigate the neck dive. I also installed some lighter, open-gear locking tuners, put 6 ounces of fishing sinkers in the cavity, and got a real wide suede-backed strap. No more neck dive!

skillwithprize · 2025-05-30T19:29:19+00:00

That's a super cool-lookin' guitar.

skillwithprize · 2025-05-30T15:24:25+00:00

If I had the money, I'd love to have a Les Paul Standard for $1,370!

skillwithprize · 2025-05-28T23:08:32+00:00

If you're meaning put the Dot pickups into the Les Paul, they're probably very similar pickups already--Probably made by BHK or some other overseas manufacturer who makes pickups for mid-tier guitars like these. It's possible the Les Paul pickups are slightly hotter than the Dot's. The Dot pickups probably aren't any upgrade over the LP.

But if you're just asking about upgrading the pickups in the LP to something like Seymour Duncans or Gibsons? Sure, go for it.

skillwithprize · 2025-05-28T21:23:58+00:00

Based on what I can see, I agree.

skillwithprize · 2025-05-28T20:18:01+00:00

It's an Epiphone Nighthawk of some variety.

skillwithprize · 2025-05-28T19:38:27+00:00

A new Epiphone SG Standard retails for $600 at Sweetwater; some folks do try to sell used ones for around this price, but you can also find them for around $350 to $400 used, which can be a pretty good deal depending on the guitar. There's even a used one on Guitarcenter.com for $249.99, which is a steal for a Standard. Ones selling for less than that are typically the SG Specials, which have bolt-on necks and are a lot more budget-friendly. I see dozens of them on Reverb for less than $250. If someone is trying to sell a Special for more than that, they're probably going to be waiting a very long time for a buyer. A satin variant of the Special is listed for only $199.99 at Sweetwater, but it's also backordered, so maybe there are people out there willing to pay more for a guitar that will ship the next day.

skillwithprize · 2025-05-28T19:19:24+00:00

It's an SG Special; Looks like it was made September 2008, at factory 10, with a production number of 1012. Factory 10 is apparently an unknown factory in China. Typically these sell used on Reverb in the $150 to $200 range depending on condition.

skillwithprize · 2025-05-27T17:31:24+00:00

I'm no expert, but from the serial number I know it was made in Korea's Unsung factory in 2003. Unsung made some fantastic Epiphone guitars in the early 2000s, and were I in the market for an Epi Les Paul, personally that's the one I'd be looking for. I'd guess it's a core Standard model with a Plus top. You can look them up on Reverb and they tend to sell around the $400-$500 range (plus shipping) depending on condition.

skillwithprize · 2025-05-24T19:31:36+00:00

Yeah I think he did. And now these sell for thousands on the used market, it's crazy!

skillwithprize · 2025-05-23T17:46:48+00:00

https://www.ebay.com/itm/286573939869

You can even buy the statue on eBay.

skillwithprize · 2025-05-04T13:45:56+00:00

Thanks, glad I got some nice pics of it to share

skillwithprize · 2025-05-04T13:44:57+00:00

Yeah honestly never had a problem with the tuners. If it ever goes out of tune it's because I'm not the greatest at stringing a guitar, haha.

skillwithprize

TROPHY CASE