I Bought A $72,000 Guitar On Credit And Became Afraid To Touch It

The Vesper-9 Private Stock Hollowbody is a $72,000 guitar. I bought it on credit because I wanted to know whether an instrument that expensive still feels like something you can play.

It does not, at least not for me.

The guitar itself is excellent. The wood is beautiful. The hardware is clean. The neck feels great. Plugged into a small amp, it sounds bright, warm, and clear. I have no serious complaint about the instrument as an instrument.

The problem is owning it.

The other problem is that I now owe money on it. A lot of money. The guitar sounds great, but the payment exists even when the guitar is back in the case.

I wiped my hands before touching it. I checked the humidity twice. I put the case on a table because the floor suddenly felt irresponsible. I played for about six minutes, then stopped because I noticed a fingerprint near the bridge.

That is not joy. That is custody.

I tried to relax and play something simple. The guitar made everything sound better, which should have been the point. Instead I kept thinking about what would happen if I bumped it into a chair, dropped a pick into the case, or had to explain a scratch to someone with a very calm voice.

A cheaper guitar can sit on a stand and wait for you. This guitar turns the room into a place where you are being careful. I did not feel inspired. I felt supervised by my own purchase.

Would I recommend it? If you are a serious musician, collector, or person who can spend $72,000 without borrowing it, yes. It is a great guitar. For me, it was too expensive to enjoy.

I am keeping it for now because returning it requires a phone call, and I am not ready to explain that the guitar is perfect and I am the issue.