Interested in an '81 or '07 ar5000?

[BCy2k]

I'm playing a gig tonight.
I'm drinking Jack Daniels.
I'm perfectly perfectly fine.

I've always been abnormal.

Thanx dudes.

Well in that case, knock 'em dead and break a leg and all that 

I just hope there's a way for you to get through this and keep your axes - I wouldn't be too hasty to sell them if at all possible. One the up side - you do have 2 AR5000s. If push comes to shove - I really think you owe it to yourself to do everything in your power to try and keep at least one of them.

I've been up against the wall financially before and I know what it's like to have to look an one's collection and make these difficult choices. I just think you may have alternatives that could be explored deeper.

Do what you need to do and know you have friends here who are rooting for a quick and complete recovery. My hope is your axe's will be waiting for you when your finances recover.

Big +1

 I've had better than 20/20 my whole life. Turned 42 and occasionally chord charts look like they are under water. NOT COOL!

Sounds familiar. I got my first pair of reading glasses 2 years ago.

[bobzilla]

I'm exploring every option I can think of.
Every.
I'm still hyper-ventilating over the expenses but...
I'm sure I can at least find some help in that regard.
By 7/9/08, I should have a finite overview of everything involved.
At that point, I will be able to more clearly come up with a plan of action.
When they ran the $30k by me, my heart dropped (as you can imagine.)
I'm too old for this crap.
If I wind up having to sell axes, as you know, I'd feel devastated and I'm actually mental when it comes to letting them go.
I have a much harder time than a normal person would/should, I guess.
But the truth is...
I'm attached to them in what some may consider an "inappropriate" way.
I mean... I love them and they're not humans.
Even now, typing this, I'm picturing packing an ar5000 and shipoping it off and I get short-circuited.
I can't truly grasp the act of letting it go.

I'd probably hand it off to my girlfriend Fishwife, with the address and say "Here, baby... you ship this axe to this address for me and...
when you're done, visit me in the mental ward."
Probably the only way I'd manage it.

Know what, to me, it's akin to taking your dog in to the Vet to be put to sleep.
bringing my dogs in, when they're old and need to be away from the pain and suffering is just the most troubling thing for me.
It kills me for quite some time when I've had to do it, but, you HAVE TO do it, for the sake of the animal.
Takes weeks for me to recover.
Feels the same here with letting these particular axes go.
At some point, it leaves your arms...
and it's never coming back and
it was part of you for so long.

This IS mental.
The axes ain't alive... or suffering,
yet, it feels the same to me...
The loss, the grieving, the letting go.
That stuff feels the same.

I have an idea...

bring me to the Vet.
That'd solve everything.
Sorry for the long post and...
my eyes are going, can't even continue to look at the screen.
I should be put down.
You guys can arm-wrestle over my axes, winner takes all.
Just please pay the Vet for the injection.

[JohnS]

Bob:

Real sorry to hear about your health problems. I know a little of what your going through. I've had glasses since 3rd grade. Can't see past my arm without them and for the last 3 years the near vision is getting bad.

Also, I have been fighting a deteriorating dental situation for 20 years. The dentist gave me a written estimate of $16k worth of work, back in April. I sold 2 prize pieces (GB12 and Artfield) within a week. That stunk! But, I knew going into the collection game that I'd have to sell guitars when serious stuff occurred. It's cool just to have owned and played these beauties, if only for a few years.

Sorry, I can't relate to watching TV on my head. Anyway, I wish you well in your quest to take care of your health.

BTW, I know Abby Normal and you've got a way to go before you're in his league.

[bobzilla]

Holy IBZ John... we're in sorta the same boat.
bet when you saw that $16k.... life flashed b4 your very eyes.. ay?
You can imagine the $30k then that I'm looking at.
The bills exceed the ills.. sorta.
best of luck with it.

Where you find that photo of my dad?

(Feldman was awesome.)

[bobzilla]

Am considering all offers. Decision shall/should be made by 7/9/08 so...
if anyone other than the offers received are interested...
drop me a line, it's now or never dudes.

[ChuckE99]

Dudes, I had ONE TOOTH done a few weeks ago (a root canal) and it maxxed out my dental benefits for the rest of the year. And I work for friggin' Microsoft, who has the best regular medical insurance on the planet. I can't believe our dental sucks so bad.

[kac123]

Bob,

My heart is with you amigo!  Talk about being between a rock and a hard place.  Many Docs will work out a payment plan, so you might want to consider that.   I'm with Chuck, I had a root canal in January of this year, maxed out my benefits, and had to pay $1,500...and that's with similar benefits to Microsoft.  Yikes.  If there's a way any of us can work out a "custodial" arrangement where we "buy" your axes and sell them back to you at the same price later when you're back on your feet let us know.  Keep us posted...it just feels wrong sending you and "offer."   

[bobzilla]

K.....

man that was sooooooo nice of you. What you said made me feel good.
I contacted State University medical center at Stonybrook University, here by my home. Looking for options. I can't reach the proper folk there til mid-august. (I guess they're out for summer?)  Dunno... but that's the situation with that.
Stonybrook U. hospital is world-respected and it's only minutes from my home so...
that's that for now.


when the time comes, if I let them go, I have offers on 3 of my axes from apprx. 7 members right now and it's both heartbreaking and hope-giving at the dame time.
rock and a hard place for sure. I just spent near $600 on a guitar yesterday so... as you can see... I AM A TOTAL LUNATIC. JUST TOTAL.
I knew it "wrong" but... it's really a sickness I guess.
Funny...
that's my worst sickness... guitars, it overrides my health issues.
but, figured $600 was a drop in the bucket compared to what I'm looking at.
(How's that for faulty rationalization?)

If all I had to do was secure financing on this... it wouldn't be so bad.
it's just that when that is addition to my other finacial obligations, it becomes an insummountable hill to climb.
Hey... I actually couldn't pay it off in my lifetime!
That's not such a bad idea.
Borrow the funds,
get my health issues spruced up...
and...
die before I pay it back.
That actually works and sounds good to me.

[kac123]

You deserve the uplift my friend!  You give a lot to us folks here on ICW.  In fact you're even inspirational...to the point that last month I went out and bought the April 2007 back issue of 20th Century Guitar so I could have the article on your AR5000...talk about an affliction.  SO the thought of you selling that guitar is almost incomprehensible.  In any event, if you do sell please count me among those interested...

[bobzilla]

Thanx KAC, you don't know how much that means to me.

[sunil]

bobzilla, perhaps you don't want to do this, but could you post one or two pics of the guitars you are thinking of selling on this thread?

I know earlier you said that anyone could search the forum for pictures but you might get more offers if you slap them right here.

[bobzilla]

OK, if I find a moment, I will. I'm at work, where I have the only computer available to me, I don't own one.
Photos are in the "Let's see some updated groups shots" and the "what's in your collection thread. For now.

I believe today is 7/9/08, the day I said you'd have to get your offers in to me buy.
Thanx to those who have already submitted offers and I want you all to consider this post a response to all of you, at this point in time.

I cancelled my Dr.'s appointment scheduled for today because I am waiting til 2nd week in August for certain personnell to return to the State University medical center at Stonybrook University. Stonybrook is a potential money-saver for me if I can get in. That said.

I appreciate the offers on the '81 ar5000, the ar1200, the 2671 and the '07 ar5000 that I have received.
Circumstances dictate that I hold the axes until I speak with Stonybrook Staff.
It's in my best interest to do so and if this is unfortunate news for those of you who have submitted offers and were expecting a definite answer by today, I really sincerely apologize for not being in the best position to wrap this up for you guys today.
On a more positive note, it does allow time for folks to scrape their pennies together and for othewr folks who indicated interest but did not submit offers to do so.

That's the best I can do right now. I can only ask for your understanding on this matter, as it is more distressing to me than you could possibly imagine.
I really don't want to sell them, that's no secret.
If forced to, it will be one of the saddest days I've endured.
The only thing that would offset my own feelings would be the fact that I know my babies are in good hands and believe it or not, the happiness you will derive from owning them will make me happy as well. Well, I'll share your happiness, let's put it that way.
Thanx to all of you.

[allears]

Hi Bob:

I haven't been around a for about a year but looks like everybody is still rightfully carrying the torch for the amazing Ibanez guitars we've been blessed to have and play and appreciate.

Hope you can get the amount you deserve for your guitar to help defray your medical costs.

Very sorry to hear of your misfortunes and that your health and vision will improve or, at minimum, stabilize.

Sincerely,
Allears

[ibanezfreak1960]

Bob I hope everything works out. Sorry for the late response but I didn't see this thread till now!