The question of "I'm interested to know if people on here would consider buying rare soul and funk 45's as an investment?
Do you think price guides like Manships Price Guide, Tim Browns Guide, Funky Lexicon etc. will help maintain prices for years to come?"
Collecting any thing as an investment is a risk, just about every thing in life is a risk. An example would be Frank Wilson's "Do I love you indeed I do", the price would surely plummet if a tea chest full of em was discovered? Highly unlikely but demand and availability play the part. The next million dollar rule of thumb is that some thing is worth as much as some one else is willing to pay.
No price guide can ever maintain a price; it can only be used as a reference just as a car "book" price is used as and when but has little to no bearing on the price when selling your car or buying a car, reference only.
Bearsy's comment "When ever i buy a record i write off the money, i dont look at them as an investment i buy them because i want them, if they are still worth something when i decide to either sell or trade then i try to get the fairest price for them i can." Is spot on!!!
If ya wanna invest then there are better places to put your hard earned for an investment.
Music is as fragile as a heart beat and the flutter of a butterflies wing. I think you need to talk to your bank manager, unless the fooker is wearing 40" bags and a Fred Perry!!
The last place to ask about investing money is a fookin internet forum LOL where the likes of me get a chance to lard it up!! Lol.