Too Much Gear: Consolidation Time!

[peacebone]

I totally agree with this thread.

I'm trying to get down to:

- one high quality solidbody electric
- one high quality hollowbody electric
- one high quality steel string acoustic

All I need is a great archtop and a sweet Martin to finish my collection!

[lpdeluxe]

It's still a struggle. I just made a trip up to St Louis. The friend I was visiting saw me admiring his Samick HJ 650 (L-5 CES copy) and decided to give it to me. So now I've got 11 instruments which is not the way I planned it.

On the other hand, it's cool to have a big box jazz guitar....

Perhaps I'll find a needy person and bestow it on them.

http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p...g?t=1242052897

[Squint]

Originally Posted by lpdeluxe

It's still a struggle. I just made a trip up to St Louis. The friend I was visiting saw me admiring his Samick HJ 650 (L-5 CES copy) and decided to give it to me. So now I've got 11 instruments which is not the way I planned it.

On the other hand, it's cool to have a big box jazz guitar....

Perhaps I'll find a needy person and bestow it on them.

http://i345.photobucket.com/albums/p...g?t=1242052897

Is that fingerboard ebony or rosewood?

[lpdeluxe]

It's rosewood...can't expect ebony on a freebie! Seriously, though, it's a well made, good sounding guitar will a lot of class. There are visible shortcuts on materials but not on finish. I'd actually buy one, if it came to that.

[NSJ]

Well, I got down to my specified goal of 2-3 guitars, just wound up selling the last 3. I won't miss them, even though they were good instruments.

But then I got weak and saw a 1974 Gibson Howard Roberts that was being sold locally, tried it out, realized it still sounded great even though it needs some serious work to fix the neck.

Even with the repair, it'll still be less than what it normally goes for on the open market, so I'm ok with that.

I'm also all right with getting another guitar, given that I've managed to get ride of (sell/trade) 9 guitars in the last year. I won't feel guilty having 3 guitars instead of 2, as I'll play all of them. I think the Howard Roberts, once it gets a proper repair, is something that I'll have for life, I really dig the sound---it has a oval sound hole, a middle and a treble tone control, and sounds really cool with BOTH of them rolled off. I think it'll be the guitar I can take outside the house on a regular basis to play around town with less worry about getting it dinged up.

The only other issue is, I have to remove the pickguard, as it was, for lack of better words, *toxic* (turtle shell material that caused the floating pickup to oxidize into a bluish color. I contacted Pickguardian Custom Pickguards and they said they can make another, but it'll be expensive ($200 or so). I have to think about if I want to put another pick guard on it or not.

Has anybody played an old Howard Roberts (Epi or Gibson--not the Fusion brands)?? I think it's a damn good guitar. And also very unique looking, too.

[Shadow of the Sun]

I never got into Gear Acquisition Syndrome simply because I'm too poor to afford it at the moment, being a student.

That said, when I do manage to afford an electric instrument, I'm thinking of getting one that is almost completely standard (except for the fact that it'll need a Bigsby. I love Bigsby's)

As to pedals, I'm just going to completely sidestep the issue by making my pedals on pretty solid breadboards so that I can completely customise them to fit my taste.

[bagheera]

I think the only musisians that have the GAS problem are guitarists.
I never saw a violinist with 30 violins ore a pianist with 30 piano's.

My collection exists out of 8 guitars, 4 amps( 2 good ones , 2 other practice amps )

But my grandfather always helps me with my new stuff.

[Banksia]

In fairness to ourselves, though, guitars are fairly cheap. I have 12 now but my total spend is still less than my mother's 1 piano!

[lpdeluxe]

Originally Posted by NSJ

Has anybody played an old Howard Roberts (Epi or Gibson--not the Fusion brands)?? I think it's a damn good guitar. And also very unique looking, too.

Those are beautiful guitars. I'd be tempted to forgo the pickguard, unless you need it to rest your hand on. I think guitars look better without 'em -- and I don't need the support.

[RAQ]

Originally Posted by bagheera

I think the only musisians that have the GAS problem are guitarists.
I never saw a violinist with 30 violins ore a pianist with 30 piano's.

The guitar is really a variety of different instruments from the acoustic classical guitar to the Stratocaster - with a whole range of tones and sounds to go with them ... a 17" archtop with a floating pickup is really a different guitar from a Telecaster solid body. I'm not so sure I can understand those who have 5 or 6 Les Paul's in different colours, but experimenting with the full range of guitar sounds makes a sort of sense to me. The danger seems to be if the habit of collecting a) replaces leaning to play any one of them and b) if you deny yourself a good quality instrument by spreading your funds across a number of low budget copies.

[RAQ]

Originally Posted by Shadow of the Sun

I never got into Gear Acquisition Syndrome simply because I'm too poor to afford it at the moment, being a student ...

I don't think anyone (especially on this forum) is boasting about the number of guitars they have, or the cost, and I'm sure that you are not suggesting that - but it seems at least some of us have realised we've built up a collection, and now is the time to begin thinking about whether they are all justified.

When I was a kid I was not encouraged to take up music (as a player), in fact I was actively discouraged - eventually, when I little spare cash eventually came my way, I began making up for lost time; but one guitar at the age of 20 would have been worth more to me than 10 at the age of 60. My sister said to me recently 'you're spending like there's no tomorrow' (not quite true); and my reply to her was 'there comes a time in life when actually there is no tomorrow'. If you're a youngerster with a guitar, good for you. Keep it by you and play it all your life, and you'll probably find you'll play a few more before you're done. Me - I'm just trying to make up for lost itme while I've still got the use of my fingers.

[Shadow of the Sun]

I must make apologies!

There was no intention of accusation in my post; simply statement of fact.

I do not blame you for having more guitars or gear than I, and I must express extreme apologies to anyone who thinks I did.

The internet is too impersonal a medium, I'm afraid.

[RAQ]

Originally Posted by Shadow of the Sun

I must make apologies!

There was no intention of accusation in my post; simply statement of fact.

I do not blame you for having more guitars or gear than I, and I must express extreme apologies to anyone who thinks I did.

The internet is too impersonal a medium, I'm afraid.

No no - quite the opposite - no apologies ... I began to think that it's OK for those of us with more years behind us than we care to count to start going on about the guitars we've got, or bought, without realising we might be in a fortunate position. We start thinking about do I need another, when others are still thinking about their first. I was kind of appologising to you. You're right though, the internet brings lot sof people together in a situation just right for misunderstandings.

[lpdeluxe]

One of the common themes in this thread is the need to reduce the number...and here I am, with 11.

My only excuse is, that I play bass, and Dobro, and acoustic and electric guitar, and one instrument simply won't do.

[mangotango]

Actually, having said that about pianists, my Theory Teacher has a baby grand in his dining room...and another (as well as a top-of-the-line electronic keyboard) in his home studio. Now I admit to having too many guitars, but to my mind, two Steinways outdoes my 11 guitars every time.

[lpdeluxe]

The manager of the local music store plays keyboards...and he has every flavor-of-the-month from the last ten years, anyway. He complains that he needs to sell 'em off, but, unlike guitars, last month's hot new keyboard is today's trash.

[TieDyedDevil]

"Digital" (when used to describe any kind of electronics or musical gear) is just a short way of writing "no resale value"...