I have sold 207 of my 213 stringed instruments. Thought I was going to keep just 41, but just couldn't make those final decisions. The ones I kept include 4 I have willed to good friends, three of which are members here, and 12 my two boys want.

Good news is, I have raised the funds I need to make a significant donation to the New Orleans Habitat project and enough to complete the wing (music-complete with studio, instruments and performance center/stage) at a youth center I'm working with in Lexington.

I'm rehabbing one of my B-3's and a 147RV to either put in the center for use in live performances or to ship to New Orleans.


The time is right. My hand condition forces less work on stringed instruments, and no one needs 300 plus stringed instruments, 2 B-3's, a C-3, and M-100, plus 15 other keyboards. Plus vibes, accordion(s) and lots more.

Of course, this week-end I saw a Godin A6 and thought it was something I HAD to have.

Instrument withdrawal is a BITCH!

Russ (RIA-Recovering Instument Addict) Lay

Off to a studio session in Louisville

Boy that has to be hard.....selling off your collection..

. Even on a small scale..there are things I refuse to sell...mostly emotional attachment

Hi Russ, I will pray for you that you do not regret letting some of this collection go.
But the bottom line is, the proceeds are going to a good cause and you feel good about it, and that is the most important thing.
Gee! I wish I lived a lot closer to you to see some of those wonderful instruments and possibly play that B3. Only problem is that I would have to adopt a new way of talking over there lol
Hope your hand heals soon.
See Ya!!

Ray

Thanks, folks. You know, after the "big unload" I feel pretty good. I kept all of the sentimental pieces and some of the key ones for specific music.

I had lots of dupes. For instance, I had 23 L-5's. I kept 2: the old, worn one I play all the time and a 1971 that is perfect and built by one of the best Gibson builders.

Same with Strats and Tele's. I kept 2 each and liquidated about 40.

Sale of the L-5's generated over $190,000.00 and the Strats and Tele's netted over $270,000.00.

The others were "one-offs"...things I bought just because I thought they were neat at the time.

I can tell you that the most valuable piece sold for $277,000.00. I won't miss it.

Hey, I have over 100 pieces left (still trying to cut down the number to 41). That STILL stands as a formidable collection, in most eyes, particularly when you look at what's left (Howard Roberts, 53 ES 295, Birdland, Barney Kessel, 175, 335, 345, 355's, Flying V, Les Paul's, My very first Strat (now worth $29,000.00), D'Angelicos, pre-CBS Jazz and P basses and lots others).

The end of my string instrument playing days is near, and I am feeling that I've been very stingy and self-centered to just let them sit around.


Just today, I decided to donate a cherry C-3 and a 147. It has the bass/percussion upgrade, so I'll give one to the Habitat project and one to the local center, where we are starting a music co-op for inner city kids.

That means I'll still have my B-3 at the club where I use it 8 or so jobs a month, and the C at the center, where I'll be forming performance groups of youngsters of different ages.

JAZZ-U is the name of the program. Because of where it is, we'll be concentrating on funk influenced jazz.


I feel GOOD about this.

We also sold the King Air, but that was just because we weren't using it. That effort funded a hospital upgrade in my home town from my family.

Still got the Cessna 180 and the gyro copter, though!

STILL enough toys!


Russ (big-OLD Kid) Lay

While it must have been a hard decision to make initially you know how much benefit the money will provide to the charities you support. That must be a great feeling.

I have been here in Los Angeles for 23 years ... still sound the same lol. Some things never change.

Folks, it has been called to my attention that the collection was 313, not 212....old fingers!

I STILL have over 100 pieces, although I'm trying to cut down to about 41.

Russ (gear head) Lay

Russ-
i used to have a Gibson Challenger III. It had an LP styled mahogany body with 3 single coil pickups and a 5 way switch like a strat. It indeed sounded like a strat but looked like an LP! Now I am finding out they are rare as they were only produced one year (1984) . Do you have one?

That looks great Sparky. I have never seen that model before. Is it a 5 way pickup select like a strat or a 3 way?

BTW, Nigel, with all the "shifting and selling", the 1964 Guild and Super Champ are still hear, with your name taped to them.

It will be my honor to pass them on to you!


Russ