How many guitars do you have, and do you need them all?

[joe2758]

1. My classical
2. My upgraded squire tele (texas special pickups, 4 way switch, tuners, barrel saddles, bone nut etc)
3. 2013 es175
4. gretsch Jim Dandy

I think that's reasonable

[AlainJazz]

1. My classical
2. My upgraded squire tele (texas special pickups, 4 way switch, tuners, barrel saddles, bone nut etc)
3. 2013 es175
4. gretsch Jim Dandy

I think that's reasonable

I love the Texas special pickups. They really sound great.

[campusfive]

I've gotten back up to 9.

Strictly speaking, I need these 4, meaning I have a gig or band I play in that requires one of them:
1932 Gibson L-5
1937 Gibson ES-150
2012 National Tricone Style 1
2002 John Levoi 12-fret Petite Bouche

At this point, I have 5 separate bands:
7-piece 1935-1947 Small Group Swing w/ two horns ("... the Campus Five")
6-piece with Clarinet and Vibes - all BG Sextet stuff ("...the Grand Slam Sextet")
5-piece Gypsy Jazz band ("Les Boulevardiers")
14 (or 15)-piece 1936-1945 Swing Big Band ("The Jonathan Stout Orchestra")
11-piece 1927-1935 Pre-Swing Big Band ("...the Rhythm Busters")

80% of my gigs are the Campus Five or the Orchestra, and both require acoustic rhythm guitar, acoustic chord solos, and Charlie Christian-style electric solos. The Grand Slam Sextet I only use the ES-150, even for rhythm. But the Rhythm Busters are sort of built to feature the National, and Les Boulevardiers clearly call for a selmer-style guitar. Sadly, I don't really get much sideman work, but when I do, it's usually either the L-5 or the ES-150 that goes with me.

What's left:
1932 Epiphone De Luxe
1935 Gibson L-12
2004 Eastman 805 non-cutaway
90's Washburn Frankenstein'd ES-150CC-style clone
1996 Les Paul Standard

The Eastman is on-loan to a friend, but I have been meaning to check up on it.

The Washburn is superfluous at this point, but it remains the only back up if my ES-150 were to be out of commission. I have toyed with selling it, but I'd have to replace the pickguard (it broke a couple years ago) because with a proper CC-style guard, it really captures to the look of an ES-150CC, and I don't think I'd get a decent price without it. That said, if I could get a DeArmond setup (a DeArmond, a separate pickguard with pots mounted, neck rod, etc.) installed on my L-12, I think that would be a great option, but that might cost most of what I could get for the Washburn.

The Les Paul rarely gets played, but I bought it new, and for what I could get for it, I'd never be willing to spring for another one. I could theoretically think about swapping it for a blonde/blackguard tele strung up with heavy flats because that might be more historically accurate, but meh....

The De Luxe and the L-12 don't really get taken to gigs much, at least not at the moment. I've really bonded to my L-5, and the neck/width/action etc are just so effortless, so it's hard to put it down. Of course, the De Luxe is a cannon, and the L-12 sounds so rich and full, but it's been hard to put the L-5 down.

[Peter C]

I knew a guy who, when he was feeling down, used to get out his whole collection of I don't know how many guitars and put them on stands, all facing him. This would apparently cheer him up no end. My case is somewhat the inverse: what can get me down is not having enough free time to play the mere 4 instruments currently in my possession, two of which have not seen the light of day for yonks.
If I could spend enough time on playing and composing, I could probably find use for 20 different guitars - who knows?, but I'd still do a helluva lot with just one good archtop, like my Ibanez PM2.

[DaveLeeNC]

Are you folks familiar with the formula n+1? Used to calculate the ideal number of guitars (or other desirable items) you actually need. n represents the number you have now.

The variation is s-1, where s represents the number that would cause your spouse to leave you!

FWIW, this is EXTREMELY common "phrasing (for lack of a better term) among cyclists (as in bicycles).

FWIW, I only own one bicycle (a mid 90's EL/OS steel Bianchi with 2014 Campy Chorus drivetrain), two guitars (1975 ES-175D and a decent classical guitar), and a Line6 HD500X modeler. Guess I am cheap :-)

dave

[Fred Archtop]

The variation is s-1, where s represents the number that would cause your spouse to leave you!

How would you consider in your formula a guy like me whose spouse contributes to buying guitars ?????

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

How would you consider in your formula a guy like me whose spouse contributes to buying guitars ?????

Wha?? Now we have to use imaginary numbers? Math is hard!

[ESCC]

I told meself to stop at 50. Anyday now...

Jabberwocky, stop at 50 guitars or 50 years old?

[ESCC]

9 guitars and 4 amps.

2 archtops I play regularly, 1 semi-hollow and 3 sold-bodies not as often, 1 flattop even less often, 1 classical and 1 flattop never.

In my opinion I don't need more than 1 guitar, however 4 guitars I could easily rationalize. Yes there are a number of guitars I am gassing over, but my mantra for the last 3 years has been - an old guitar must leave before a new guitar enters. Since each guitar I have is different from the others, and the ones I'm gassing over are different still, I think that mantra might be unnecessarily rigid(?).

The other option, as I've been doing for the past three years, I can live vicariously through my fellow forum members and enjoy your wonderful purchases, L-4s, L-5s, Wesmos, 275s, GB10s, Sweet 16s, very fulfilling as of late.

[lammie200]

I have a tendency to think of my guitars as me. If I stop feeling like they aren't as tailored for me as a guitar should be I let them go. For example, my Dano 12 string is a cheapo but I really bonded with it so I changed the pups and wiring to raise its level just a bit. However, when I found some parts for a Jazzmaster cheap, I went ahead and built a 12 string out of them. Since I started from scratch with that one it became much more me when it was finished than the Dano. Hence I am ready to part with the Dano.

[citizenk74]

Wha?? Now we have to use imaginary numbers? Math is hard!

I know it strains credulity, but I too benefit from such a situation. Very nearly all of the guitars and amps and associated gear that I have and have had has been purchased with the full co-operation and frequent active encouragement on the part of Mrs.k. Case in point: my ES-175, acquired in 2006. Just days before I had been informed that my services were no longer required at my day job. We were in the big town to get supplies, and we stopped in a music store so I could pick up some strings. Well, I selected a couple of packs of D'Addario flats, and was looking at a Joe Pass method book when my infinitely better half said "come and look at this". There on the wall was a 55th Anniversary Edition Es-175 all-natural, all-curly maple veneer with a nice hand-filling mahogany neck sporting a price tag that might as well have been on the moon. "You want it"? "Yeah. but...". So the alert young man who knows one when he sees one has it down and in my hands in one smooth move. I plug it in and run through "Girl from Ipanema" and "Desafinado". I walk out of the store twice, being talked back in by the Missus, who is insistent. I go to the head gazook and say "What's your absolute rock-bottom out-the-door on this?" thinking he'd say something that the wife could see was out of the question but the number he quoted was just a tad over half of what the tag said. I said I would need a strap, straplocks, and a good cable. Pick 'em out! He said. We walked out with the stuff, and never looked back. The ES-175 has a lot of gigging time on it, and remains one of my favorites. Paying for it took awhile, but I eventually landed another day job and found plenty of opportunities to play the new guitar and everything was jake.
I'm a very blessed man.

[lammie200]

My wife and kids encourage me as well. I think that they would actually be disappointed if I only had a couple. However, they can see a limit. But I do as well and I am not a very extravagant individual anyway.

[Bluedawg]

My wife has been an enabler in the past ... we even bought a nice Gretsch Power Jet last year while together ... it was a great deal for a Japanese made Gretsch

She didn't have a problem with my Campellone purchase last year either

But I'm definitely nearing my limit ... and she is encouraging me to sell some stuff .... part of the issue is now that my tastes have turned to archtops the prices are significantly higher

[bmw2002]

My wife has been an enabler in the past ... we even bought a nice Gretsch Power Jet last year while together ... it was a great deal for a Japanese made Gretsch

She didn't have a problem with my Campellone purchase last year either

But I'm definitely nearing my limit ... and she is encouraging me to sell some stuff .... part of the issue is now that my tastes have turned to archtops the prices are significantly higher

My wife also encourages a certain number of guitar acquisitions -- although I think she has a hidden agenda, i.e., she has a Bergdorf Goodman card and she's not afraid to use it. Ever priced Celine handbags or Manolo Blahnik shoes??

Seriously, I own two guitars: a 1974 Fender Stratocaster that's been in the family since new, and a Collings I-35 Deluxe that I bought on this Forum last year on my 60th birthday. I have a smaller-bodied Campellone on order from Mark that's hopefully going to be delivered in July, at which point the Strat and/or the Collings will likely go.

I've reached that point in my life where I want fewer and fewer things -- to me one top-shelf guitar (or camera, or watch, etc.) is what I'm shooting for.

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

For no good reason, I've been hankering after a bigger amp, like a 2x12 combo. There's a Peavey Stereo Chorus 400 (their take on the JC-120) for sale locally. It's a boat anchor. I can already hear my wife "I guess your roadie will hump that for you ... (long long pause) ... ..."

[Gilpy]

I think I have about 15, plus a bass, a mandolin and a charrango. I gig a lot and perform and record in a bunch of musical styles. So I have one of every type of guitar, acoustic and electric, and I use them all.

Sometimes I'll think about getting rid of one, and then a gig or project will turn up that calls for that instrument. There have been a few periods in my life when I wasn't so busy musically, and then I only had a few guitars.

Since I love playing the guitar, I also love guitars. They make me happy. Sometimes I get them all out at once and have a little guitar party. (!)

[OldGuitarPlayer]

I only have two. I have one Korean made Telecaster copy (my avatar) made by Vantek(Vantage) and an old Japan made Yamaki copy of a dread style acoustic guitar. I play through a Fender Deluxe 90 solid state amp. Yes, I need them both.

[Skip Ellis]

1 gigging Tele
1 Tele finished and for sale
1 Tele in the pipeline - may or may not sell
2001 Martin OM18v - never sell
Cordoba GK Studio - couch guitar

G&K MB200 head with various reverbs
12" SICA speaker in open backed cabinet - 350 watts
10" Seismic Audio speaker in home brew Stealth 10 cabinet - 150 watts

Evans Eighty 12" combo amp

These do everything that I need to do.

[AlohaJoe]

Many, and yes.

[MaxTwang]

Me? Just the one guitar and one amp. Really, just one.




(Anyone buying it?)

[yebdox]

Need? 1 archtop, 1 strat, 1 Les Paul, 1 nylon string, 1 steel string.

Have? 3 archtops (L5, Sadowsky JH, GB10), 4 strats, 1 Tele, 2 Les Pauls, 1 335, 3 nylon strings (Tak, Godin, Yamaha SN), 2 steel strings (Gibson and Martin), one Jarrett (LP like) with synth pickups, one modified Steinberger Spirit, one Supro lap steel. They are like children and can never be separated, only modified into maturity. Still to get - a decent 175, a Martin (or similar) OM size acoustic, a resonator, a 12 string and some kind of baritone. Maybe a different 335. and a Tele custom (bound body with RW neck.) And maybe a Maccaferri copy of some kind. And a prettier LP.

Thank God I don't have to quit yet. But I probably spend 90% of my time on the Sadowsky, the L5, a strat or a Les Paul. And at times, nylon string for days. Thankful that I have some options

[Thumpalumpacus]

I've got three right now -- a late 80s Yamaha FG-450SA (Martin copy dread, my #1), an 04 SG Special Faded, and and virtually-new Ibanez AS93 (335 copy).

I need four more to be bought in the next year to work my goals -- a 12-string acoustic, a Strat, an Epi Joe Pass Emperor, and a good five-string bass.

[Thumpalumpacus]

I have too many guitars and basses too and want to get down to four (hollow, solid, acoustic, nylon) and a bass. It's a waste to me, and almost feel like going down to just one.

I go through phases of acoustic-only -- of my 35 years on the instrument, I've spent about thirteen playing (and owning) one steel-string flat-top (three separate periods). It's a great way for me to get back in touch, literally, with the instrument, forcing me to focus on fingers and not accoutrements like amps or pedals.

Such times also saved me from the fate of being a poodle-haired shredhead .

[Thumpalumpacus]

For no good reason, I've been hankering after a bigger amp, like a 2x12 combo. There's a Peavey Stereo Chorus 400 (their take on the JC-120) for sale locally. It's a boat anchor. I can already hear my wife "I guess your roadie will hump that for you ... (long long pause) ... ..."

Yeah, I had one of those in the stable some years ago. Even as a strapping 30-year-old lad, the damned thing stayed put. Moving it on level flooring I still felt like Sisyphus. But golly, the swirl!

[Jazz_175]

I feel somehow reassured by what Scofield says in his Premier Guitar Interview

"I keep buying new guitars but I never actually use them. I play them in my basement".