Ones that got away?

[rickS]

Following MM's reminiscence of letting Bukka White's Duolian 'get away' (in the '34 Duolian thread), I wonder how many among us have also let slip a great instrument?
My main regret (to my everlasting shame ) is turning down the offer of a straight swap of a very clean roundneck tricone for my crapola-refinished first Duolian, for no better reason than that I didn't care for a 12-fret neck! I can only plead youthful ignorance, it was 30+ years ago, & I were a mere lad - who else out there? C'mon, own up!..

[martinw]

Well it didn't exactly get away as I couldn't afford it, but i do remember Ivor Mairants Music Shop in London having one of Django Reinhardt's guitars for sale including letters of provenance etc etc for £800. It was '82 and at that time I would have struggled to find £8 let alone £800. I've never played that sort of music but did know enough about the man even then to realise that what was in the window was a real, beautiful piece of music history. And hell, yes, I would have loved to have bought it!
Have a slideful weekend, y'all.

M

[Deleted]

This is not in the same league as Bukker White or Django but it still niggles me.
I had a Harmony Sovereign for years and as my only instrument had nothing to compare it with. The truss rod was broken so it had a high action and with 13 gauge strings I used it for slide blues. However I had always thought of it as a second rate instrument, although it did have plenty of volume and I now appreciate a fabulous tone. I sold it for £40 and bought a Fender Gemini 2, before I found out that Fenders are not known for quality acoustic guitars. Big mistake. The Fender was sold on very quickly.

Now I cannot find a wooden bodied slide blues instrument that sounds as anywhere near as good as that old Harmony. I passed by Andy's Guitar shop recently and there was a Harmony Sovereign for £400! 'Solid high quality tone woods, back a single piece of S.American mahogany, rich tone.' I should have kept it. I really should have kept it.