If you had to choose one guitar, what would it be?

**rio** · 03-31-2017, 02:56 AM

I am sure this has been done before and probably more than once. But I haven't seen it recently so I a wondering with the current crop of forumites, if you had to choose one guitar what would you choose? Money is no object. If is a guitar you currently have then mention that - the only stipulation is that it can't be a guitar that someone else famous has owned (so, for example a 19xx L5 is ok, a Wes model L5 is ok but Wes Montgomery's L5 is not up for grabs...unless you already own it I guess). I am pretty satisfied with my '70 L5 and it is a lifetime guitar for me - I am tempted to say I would choose one from around there or maybe earlier that is in mint condition or maybe a newer Wes model but my choice will be to keep the somewhat neat up L5 I have. This is not a desert island thing - there is electricity and you can play with others and do gigs but if you had to choose one, what would it be? This is partly because I am curious about different tastes and what people would choose - versatility vs. focused use, workhorses vs. museum pieces, small shop luthiers or production models, satisfaction with a current guitar vs. chasing the dragon specific preferences between well known guitars like the es175 and L5, pickup choices and whatnot, and also just because I am hoping to maybe see some oddball choices and learn about some obscure guitars.

I hope no one minds since this is a common guitar forum thing

Paul

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**ramsa** · 03-31-2017, 03:17 AM

2012 Gibson Les Paul Studio Deluxe in Ice Tea Burst, and 50's neck. (I own it.)
Hard to find much fault with it, other than being non-acoustic.
The more I play it, the more respect I have to give it. It is a fine instrument.

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**ramsa** · 03-31-2017, 03:22 AM

Originally Posted by ramsa

2012 Gibson Les Paul Studio Deluxe in Ice Tea Burst, and 50's neck. (I own it.)
Hard to find much fault with it, other than being non-acoustic.
The more I play it, the more respect I have to give it. It is a fine instrument.

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**rio** · 03-31-2017, 03:55 AM

I love iced tea bursts.

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**TOMMO** · 03-31-2017, 05:07 AM

My '82 Gibson ES 335 Dot or any good ES 335:

**helios** · 03-31-2017, 05:33 AM

The holy grail:

**Naquat** · 03-31-2017, 05:59 AM

Wow, two nice examples !

I like Les Paul's but they don't like me. I wear my guitar high, never could do anything near the Jimmy Page groin guitar thing, so a Les Paul tends to dig into my ribs too much. I really love the look of your 335 Dot Tommo !

Funny, but for an electric jazz type guitar I guess I haven't played enough different guitars or rather many that grabbed me to where I really wanted a specific instrument although I'd say one of my fav sounds is Joe Pass' guitar on Intercontinental. Not in recent years but when I was much younger I owned 330, 335, 175, 1962 Strat, 1972 Strat, late 60's early 70's Les Paul Deluxe, etc. but very few guitars I regretting selling because I liked them so much. I like the sound of the Ibanez PM2 vids I've heard, and am looking for one hoping it will sound somewhat the same as there are none around to play so I'll have to risk an internet purchase as a 175 may not be to comfortable for me because of the depth or the cost.

For an acoustic I used to own a Lowden 022C but as it aged it got a bit too "boomy" for me. It's tough to pick just one because I've heard some smaller Lowden's , Santa Cruz, Collings, and Martins that were great.

For a std rock type electric guitar my Frankenstein Tele covers a LOT of ground. Custom Ash body routed for a Rick pup in the bridge and Gibson Hum at the neck, Mann Fender Tremolo, and a super Squier Tele/Cabronita neck that plays like butter. Perfect, no but pretty cool none the less as I can go from a Byrds/Beatles/Petty sound to a warm Cream or Jazzy tone on the same guitar.

Great question. I never really thought of the only "one" guitar thing.

Hey Tommo. I read once that there are certain years for the Gibson ES335 where the center block goes only from the bridge back towards the strap hook and the area from the neck to the bridge is entirely hollow. Any info on those?

Again....love that Dot...I'm all about plain wood and binding no bling....just not my thing.

I guess I failed the "one" guitar question. I don't know maybe a small body Benedetto or Sadowsky if I had to choose just one.

**TOMMO** · 03-31-2017, 06:13 AM

Originally Posted by Naquat

Hey Tommo. I read once that there are certain years for the Gibson ES335 where the center block goes only from the bridge back towards the strap hook and the area from the neck to the bridge is entirely hollow. Any info on those?

Hi Naquat. The type of center block that you mention would appear on 335s in the early seventies - at least for some time.

**boatheelmusic** · 03-31-2017, 06:13 AM

If I had to choose one guitar it would be my ES-175 and my tele.......

**Philco** · 03-31-2017, 07:22 AM

This one!

**ramsa** · 03-31-2017, 08:33 AM

The 335 Dot reminds me of my Vantage 670N in natural.
Love the Gibson ES models...

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**mad dog** · 03-31-2017, 08:36 AM

Very tough choice. Of the guitars I have, it would be my partcaster tele with P-90s. Can do most anything, has a sound and feel I'd rather not be without.
MD

**SierraTango** · 03-31-2017, 09:50 AM

I adore my 1990 Benedetto Cremona built by Bob. She is my companion, my working instrument that I will never part with. I gig out with her regularly, in fact have two performances this weekend. This is my lifetime instrument.
It would also miss my 98 Dupont MC 30.

**nopedals** · 03-31-2017, 10:14 AM

Circa 1959 L5CT "Gobel." All of the pickup options (including "none") are attractive.

**Max405** · 03-31-2017, 10:34 AM

Now, without a doubt..
My Johnny.
JD

**mr. beaumont** · 03-31-2017, 10:55 AM

I'm boring, but if I could only have one, it'd be my tele. I could play in almost any situation, anywhere with that thing.

**TKO** · 03-31-2017, 11:09 AM

A tele of some sorts, I think. I have one and another one is coming, so I might be a bit biased. But for what I like they pretty much fill almost every gap. The one thing they don't do is the hollowbody thing.. which I've been eyeing more and more lately.

**Max405** · 03-31-2017, 11:13 AM

Jeff,

If you had to choose one guitar, what would it be?-what-your-dogs-sleeping-position-says-about-him-6-jpg

Zzzzz....

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 03-31-2017, 11:54 AM

A Tele.

EDIT: sorry wrong thread. I thought this was "what one weapon to smack zombies with" thread.

**vinlander** · 03-31-2017, 11:55 AM

Against all odds and because I can't really play rock and metal on my Tal it would be that be Frank Caster...
but only at gun point however, because my Bop machine ain't go anywhere

**Stringswinger** · 03-31-2017, 11:59 AM

If you had to choose one guitar, what would it be?-quote-i-don-t-know-guitar-player-has-only-one-guitar-they-re-never-happy-one-les-jpg

**MilesPG** · 03-31-2017, 12:03 PM

A Nachocaster Nachoguitars

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**lammie200** · 03-31-2017, 12:16 PM

I don't like the question, but it would be either my Strat or Tele. Both are partscasters that I have worked hard on to get to my preferred specs. Both are string through hardtails. If it were today it would be my Strat. Light alder body, roasted maple one piece USACG neck, noiseless Lace Holy Grail pups with S1 switching. I am still working on my Tele. I am changing out the body to lighter one piece ash and the neck to something from USACG with the standard 25.5" scale length. Right now it is at 25" and I am finding that to be a bit tight. Neither one are relic'd, btw. The Strat is black and the Tele will be black pore filled natural.