My Annual Lottery Ticket

I don't play the lottery.  Somebody bought me some tickets once for Christmas, and that's the only time I've ever held any in my hot little hands.  But once a year I partake in my version of the lottery.  The Premier Guitar Mystery Stocking.  This year, like last, the buy-in was $40.

I think I've mentioned in the past that the very first year they held this, I got a pedal along with the general box.  Ever since, all I've gotten has been the general box.  This year was no different.  But, since so many folks always get the box and then complain about it not being worth it, I always like to talk about what was in it.

This year, the box was about like the last couple.  When adding it up, it indeed had more than $40 worth of stuff in it.  Which is the only thing they promise.  And, yes, that's more than $40 worth of stuff using street price on the stuff and not MSRP.  Because nobody actually pays MSRP.  So here's what I got.

A Gibson beanie hat.  Retail price is $20.  This was the big thing in the box (sorta).  I don't really wear beanies, and this one doesn't make me want to start.  It's black with the Gibson logo patch-thing on it.  It has a small bill on it.  On the rare occasion that I do wear a beanie-type hat, I'm not looking for it to have a bill.  Call me old.  Or odd.  Or whatever.  But I have a beanie that I bought 20+ years ago that I still wear when I need one.  I like it, and it's finally broken in just right.  Seriously, since I only wear it a couple of times a year here in TX, it's finally getting broken in good.  And it doesn't have a brim of any sort.  My wife said she'd wear it though, so I guess that means it'll get used.

Then there was  Fender headstock tuner.  Retail price is $15.  It's not the kind that I like, but the one that I got in the box last year (that I really like) needs a new battery, so it's kind of timely.  So score on the tuner.

The other big item was a D'Addario strap.  Retail price is $20.  I've gotten a strap every year, and this is the first one that isn't going to immediately get tossed into the give-away box.  It's colorful.  I like it.  I've got a nice leather strap (or two) that I really like, but I've always carried a cheap strap for a backup.  I think this is going to be the new backup strap.

Last thing was a EMG Active Pickup lanyard.  This looks like a guitar show giveaway item, so I'm going to say no cash value on this one.  The only place I use a lanyard is at work.  I have a 50th Anniversary Stratocaster lanyard that I have used for 15 or so years.  This isn't one that I'm going to use.  It'll go in the give away box with the one the D'Addario one I got last year.

So this year's basic box, which is what I believe I got, had a value of $55.  Once again, PG was right.  It was worth more than the purchase price.  Also, once again, it wasn't $40 worth of stuff that I actually wanted or will even use.  But, I like the fun of trying to get one for the chance that I might actually get something really cool.  For me, this is my annual lottery ticket purchase.  Or raffle ticket.  Or whatever you want to call it.  But I think it's fun.  And they even got them out earlier this year. 

All in all, I think PG did a good job with it this year.  So, until next year's box...