Miroslav, are you a billionaire or something? Can you write me into your will? I will take great care of those!
I am the most frugal, deal hunting fucker when it comes to audio gear (and anything else for that matter).
I'm not a tight wad...but I will hunt for the best deals, and haggle and research something good and long before I drop some coin.
If I was a billionaire...I would just buy stuff without considering any of that.
TBH...many of the guitars were bought used...on eBay...and again, always looking for the deal.
Like last year I picked up two Hagstrom Northen Series Swedes (one Swede and one Super Swede). The Northen is Hagstrom's most recent iteration of their reissued Swedes, made in Czechoslovakia, unlike the other reissues which are made in China.
They have better pickups, better switches, and better overall attention to detail.
Anyway...MSRP on them is like $1600-$1800 I think...authorized dealers sell them new for about $1000-$1200 street...used they go for like $800-$900 form the dealers.
I picked up both of mine on eBay for about $350 each...from one of those re-sellers who buy used guitars and refurbs in bulk.
Anyway...the guy didn't know what he had...he probably thought they were just Chinese Swedes, and priced them like that. Probably didn't even know there was a "Northen" version.
I grabbed both.
The Northen Swede I've been playing endlessly...the pickups on them are Lundgren Design (look up Lundgren pickups, their stock pups go for like $160 each). It sounds absolutely fantastic, and plays great.
The 4 vintage Hags I have go for whatever the market is at any time...but they've been selling around $700-$900 in good condition, and holding their price (maybe going up a bit). I've not lost any money on them.
So that's how most of my guitars and other audio has been acquired...though I've bought new stuff too many times...but always looking for the deals....and sometimes, you gotta just say "fuck it" and release the buck, even if it's on the expensive side...'cuz we only live once.
I've had a fairly good budget for audio gear over the years because I don't really indulge in any other eccentricities...I have no dependents...and I make a decent wage at my day gig. Not to mention, my studio addiction goes back many, many years...and shit just piles up over time.
Not trying to just brag...but I also don't deny that my studio is quite done up and an involved studio setup. It's been my lifetime hobby and pleasure.
Oh...I'll think about the will...