As those of you who know me or know of me, via this blog and/or in real life or elsewhere, you know I am one of those people who seeks treasures from the past. …Whatever they may be… If they exist and they may need saving from the hands of the time or as I like to call it, “The Big Green Metal Recycling Bin;” i.e. the garbage can, I love rescuing them. I love cultural memorabilia. Thus, as you probably know, in my off time, as one of my main distractions, I like to hit up flea markets, thrift stores, antique shops, and the like.
 
Okay, with that out of the way…
 
A long time ago now, eBay changed the world marketplace. No longer was it a buyer’s market with people trying to sell their old stuff via newspaper ads. …Where the buyers would show up promising to pay the listed prices but then they would say they only could/would only pay you much-much less. If you had to sell it, you had to sell it, and take bottom dollar. But, eBay changed all of that. It became a seller’s market.
 
And, of course, many online sites have risen to prominence since that early era. Even the thrift store-based companies like Goodwill have a site (or two) selling objects.
 
I’m not really a big fan of their site, however. Since its inception, a few years ago, I purchased a couple of things from them but, they took a very long time to ship it, and, at least in the case of one of the items, what they said worked, did not work, and good luck trying to communicate with them, as they do not respond. Equal, into The Big Green Metal Recycling Bin it went.
 
Every now and then though, I do check out their site, just to see what, if anything, is going on. I did that yesterday. I was looking around at their guitars and what popped up amazed me. It was a Rickenbacker 450/12 electric 12-Sting guitar in its original case. What amazed me about this was a couple of things. First of all, why would someone donate such a rare eclectic guitar to the Goodwill. I’m guessing the original owner probably died and his family did not know its value. Second, the guitar is so-so clean. Obviously, not played too much.
 
Backstory: That model was my first GOOD electric guitar that I got when I was fourteen years old. Exact same color, natural, or Maple Glow, as Rickenbacker titles it.
 
I purchased that guitar new at Guitar Villa on Santa Monica Blvd., just off of Vine. Well, actually my mother bought it for me. We went in there and laid down the cash, $185.00.
 
Now, that guitar went away somewhere many-many years ago. I actually forget who I sold it to or traded it to or???

Who knows??? Maybe the guitar Goodwill is selling is actually the guitar I once owned???
 
When I discussed this situation with my lady, she asked if I wanted her to buy it for me. Answer, “Sure if it was $185.00, like I paid for it NEW back in ‘73.” The price today, as asked by Goodwill Industries, $3,999.99.  
 
Now, this guitar is a relatively rare piece of instrumentation. And yes, it looks to be in great condition. But, this model is not one of Rickenbacker’s better offerings. I love Rickenbackers. They have a great sound. Especially their electric twelve strings. They’ve been made famous by bands like The Byrds and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. I own one. And, have owned several over the years.
 
Checking, the current market value, the price Goodwill is asking for that guitar is on the high side. I guess that’s why you can find good deals (sometimes) and not so good deals on their sites, as the people who are doing the selling are not really versed in the marketplace.
 
I was thinking to post a photo of the guitar that’s being offered from Goodwill’s website in this blog but then I realized I would have to go and dig out a photo of me holding the same model of that guitar from way back in the way back when, just to prove my point. Who knows where that photo is???
 
Anyway, this is just one of those things that causes you to flashback to a different, younger, more believing time in your life. At least that’s what it did for me. Every now and then these situations come at you, and you can never know or expect when they will arrive. But, they are fun and interesting don’t you think? …Being sent down memory lane. Remembering a time when everything was possible.
 
But, I guess the big lesson in all of this is, if there is one at all, “Prices Go Up.” And, if you’re not willing to pay the price of today, you can never go back and pay the price of yesterday.