The symbol of rebellion is now up for grabs. If art investment is not your scene, how about investing in a vintage guitar? Yes, for guitar fanatics, the string instrument is no more just their most prized possession, but also a smart investment option.

Meet Zomb, for example. When this front man of Mumbai-based band Metakix bought his Jackson KV-2 (special edition) in the US, it cost him over Rs 1lakh, along with ‘‘you-must-be-off-your-mind’’ jeers from friends and family.

Amongst his collection of guitars, this priced beauty commands attention. ‘‘I hardly play my Jackson; it is purely for investment purpose. Besides, it’s such a beauty,’’ he says. The guitar has a silver swirl finish. The entire guitar is a single piece of the finest wood and has no joints anywhere.

Studio engineer Fali Damania, whose sound studio Over The Top is located in Bandra, owns a vintage Gibson Les Paul guitar. He bought it in Pune for Rs 30,000 (original cost is Rs 2 lakhs). ‘‘The guitar was really old and after a lot of negotiation, I got the price slashed,’’ says Damania. And for this ex-band member of Acquired Funk Syndrome, a couple of lakhs spent on more guitars is worth the investment.

Kolkata-based Sumitro Dasgupta, CEO of a software manufacturing company, agrees. As a child, he always wanted to buy a 1956 Fender Stratocaster guitar. His dream came true recently when he bought it at a whopping Rs 1.5 lakh. Not just this, he also got 10 other Fender vintage guitars ranging from Rs 25,000 to Rs 70,000. ‘‘I can’t play the guitar to save my life. I bought my guitar because I wanted to invest some money and what could be better than investing in a musical instrument?’’ he asks.

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