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Just wanting to get everyone's thoughts on a common dilemma that seems to be coming to a head for me: Use most of my resources to purchase one amazing guitar and try to make it versatile OR spread your cash to cover a few sonic territories?
I am mostly referencing electrics, both solid and semi-hollow.
Where do you stand?
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01-24-2012 01:09 PM
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I prefer to go with one great guitar. In the past, I have accumulated different guitars with the idea of "versatility;" this is generally practical only if one buys instruments that are not top flight (a situation that does not apply to some of us, of course). After many years of that approach I discovered that I play much better, and believe I sound better, if I get one really good guitar and play it exclusively. Here's my current squeeze (and likely to be my last one):
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I have one really nice semi hollow, my main guitar.
I have other guitars around that 1k (and some below) mark for different textures. But my most used guitar is my nicest and most expensive. I like having multiple guitars around...I buy the best I can afford...I don't have the money for a house full of top tier instruments, but I don't buy cheapos either...
However, now that I'm not really gigging and spending most of my time with my 2 month old, my acoustics are getting a lot more play...
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Got converted. In the beginning i bought a few cheap guitars that were all "good bang for the buck". I liked and still like them but they were all lacking something. I finally decided that i don't need another cheap guitar and started buying great instruments. And indeed - the gas for another guitar that covers the same sonic territory is gone in each case. I am sure i will never ever need another gypsy guitar, i will never need another travel guitar (got both from Luthiers), i don't need any other hollow body Rockn' roll guitar than my Gretsch G6120. If i'll have another guitar it'll be a jazz archtop that a luthier makes to my specifications. But presently i'm happy and worry, as i should (:-)), about my musical and playing skills.
Originally Posted by Rmcali2
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it's a question of intent. are you buying a buncha guitars to cover some idea of imaginary "bases" for the right gig? to me, that's the wrong path. buy an instrument because you bond with it and can't live without it. then play whatever you want on it.
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I have 3 $800 electrics - a Tele-type, a 335-type, and a single-pickup 175-type. I would rather have these three than one $2400 one. But that's just me. (I also have a Martin and a travel guitar.)
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Well, not all bases are imaginary. Originally Posted by Help!I'maRock!
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that's how i ended up with 12 guitars. Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
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Hey, me too...
I think it's not as much the bases that are imaginary as it is the need to cover them...
I probably could get by with about 5-6 guitars for my needs...but I like my 12.
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my problem with "covering the bases" is that many guitarists take that to mean they need a 335, a Les Paul, an SG, and an ES-175 because they "all sound different!" they could probably pick two of those and be perfectly happy. or the guys who have 8 strats and 4 teles with different pickup combinations. all that stuff just gets in the way. you only need the one or two that sound right for you. Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
Hey, me too...
I think it's not as much the bases that are imaginary as it is the need to cover them...
I probably could get by with about 5-6 guitars for my needs...but I like my 12.
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That I can agree with.
By the way, love the Hawk quote...
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I am very happy with my one and only wife, but as far as guitars go . . . I have a hard time being monogamous.
I have 5 electrics and each one is different from the other in body style, pick-ups and neck profile. Each one speaks to me in a different way and makes me play differently which I like. One guitar may get most of my attention for 6 months or so, but the others will get some time for the sake of inspiration. Only one of the 5 is under $1,500 in value and not made in America, however I've enjoyed making upgrades/modifications to that guitar while the others remain "original".Last edited by ESCC; 01-24-2012 at 03:42 PM.
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I am going for all super nice guitars!
One collings, 2 prs, a McInturff, 2 custom shop Fenders, a G&L, A godin nylon and a taylor steel-string. I think I am done now.
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I have a couple of really nice guitars, and a couple of lower end. I have a high end Fender USA Deluxe strat that I have had for years as my basic elctric blues guitar. I also got a Gretsch Chet Atkins that I got a great deal on about six years ago when I started playing some early 60s instrumentals
About 6 months ago, when I started playing again, I got a Paul Reed Smith Custom 24, to use as a humbucking blues sound.
Since I have gotten big into jazz I bought a Peerless Gigmaster Jazz, which has become my main guitar. It was only about $1100, but is a fantastic guitar both tone and playing wise.
I also have a early 90s Samick built Epi Joe Pass, with all upgraded electronics and hardware. I like the Peerless better.
I now kind of regret the PRS purchase, as it is not getting much use.
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For the OP, I'd say, "It depends on what you already have."
Also, if you're an experienced player and you have a good sense of what kind of "sound" you're looking for, AND you have the cash to do what you want (please don't buy guitars on credit!), then why not get something nice?!
Remember, "nice" guitars can range from $2000 - over $20,000, so there are many options.
Now, if you're 20, just getting into jazz, and are living in a studio apartment, I'd say, "Get a $300 Ibanez and practice!"
Marc
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Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
fix'd to enable me buying an Artcore. Originally Posted by marcwhy
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GAS is a difficult condition
I have sort of ended up with 5 medium-ish priced guitars
2 Taylors,
1 strat,
an epiphone les paul &
Peerless monarch
All are nice enough guitars in their own ways, but I sort of wish I could start again with a clean sheet and maybe get a Gibson es 339 for its size mainly, and a martin acoustic.
I suppose the problems are:
Musical tastes change (blues to jazz), there is so much choice but mainly I don’t fancy getting divorced!
I think it’s important to have that one instrument that you just cant put down
The search continues!
John
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A very timely thread, as I am struggling with that same concept at present. I have a nylon string, one steel flat top, a Gitanes Maccaferri, a G&L Legacy S500 and a Godin Flat Five, plus various low cost amps and pedals.
All the above were bought new except for the Flat Five, which I bought off e-bay at a quarter its retail price (~£1300 before it was withdrawn). The "new" guitars were all around the £500 mark when purchased, putting them in the lower mid-range of guitars. However, I find myself playing the Flat Five the most and in recent years have invested in replacement pickups and customised the electrics to produce a unique guitar which is something more personal than the others.
My New Year resolution was to reduce my instruments to the minimum for my purposes. As purely a hobbyist (i.e. not a performer) my aims are to
enjoy playing and to improve as a player. The first of these aims explains the proliferation of guitars, but as lpdeluxe suggested I don't think it helps improve my playing to hop between several instruments.
Hence my strategy is to sell virtually all the above (and the other gizmos) except for the Gitane and replace them with one (or two !) instruments from the next rung up. By restricting myself to half the number of instruments (of higher quality), I hope to spend more time on each of them and achieve my goal of improving my playing.
I estimate I can raise about £2500 if I sell everything, which could give me enough for, say, a pretty good thinline semi (e.g. Yamaha SA2200 or Godin Montreal) plus a good electro-classical (maybe a Godin Multiac).
I realize that if I restricted myself to just the semi, I could aim for a more expensive instrument, such as a 335. However, I read many reviews which suggest that some lower cost instruments (e.g. the Yamaha, the Ibanez AS103 or Peerless equivalents) sound better and appear to be of higher quality. Hence I am reluctant to truly commit myself to "one amazing guitar".
This post is more like therapy than a plea for help, although feel free to comment, offer guidance or advice.
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I have 4 guitars that I use.
- small pignose electric with built in amp, to keep at work.
- backpacker for park playing
- j45
- strat
GAS-a Loar 300 or a G100
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Good guitar for good money -this is the key.
I use: Ibanez As-200/1982/, Tele style Santander upgraded,D'Aspiranta arch-top upgraded,Frameworks-hand made nylon strings travel-gig guitar.
All are different and I love all of them.:-)
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i can only play one, feel like i'm cheating if i swap around..also for me, i struggle to switch to different postures that respective guitars require. wake up the next day with all kinds muscle ache...
i've always tried to find one guitar that does it all. that guitar doesnt exist (i've spent a fortune trying to find it, then modding it (if i can just get it to do this,,,,,))
i've now settled on a vintage 335 style guitar....end of
....well.............maybe......though i was looking at a Benedetto Benny earlier, if i can just wire it so that......
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It depends on how wide your sonic territory is. My classical and archtop guitars are not going to cut it for my rock needs. My rock guitars will not do it for my classical needs. You get the idea. Originally Posted by Rmcali2
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+1 Originally Posted by Tom Karol
If I was starting over:
1st a 335 or something similar from Heritage or Ibanez or Epiphone
2nd a Fender Jazz Bass
3rd a Fender Tele
4th a 175 type, I'd get that new Eastman 403CE
Including the used market and MIM fenders, I think I could get that done for 2k
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Yeah thats what I did/do ...... mind you I'm 55Now, if you're 20, just getting into jazz, and are living in a studio apartment, I'd say, "Get a $300 Ibanez and practice!"
the practicing is cool tho
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I do play other genres gig/studio wise (not rock), so I have tried to consolidate to 4-5 basic guitar types, all electric: a 335, an LP, a Tele, a Strat, and a few good archtops. In all cases, I have saved my money and tried to get the best I can afford so as not to play the 'if only' game...I think having the best instrument you can safely afford, the one that really speaks to you in whatever voice it offers, is a good policy.
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