-
I have two perfectly good guitars. They are very different from each other and serve different and complementary functions. I'm getting another guitar within the next few months as part of a business deal to revive Soloway guitars. I was part of the design and decision process and it's been very satisfying. But the truth is that there are a lot if things happening in the bigger picture of society and life (as opposed to MY life) that I find really disturbing and beyond my control. So I look for things that distract me. I haven't done any drugs or alcohol in 32 years. I haven't smoked a cigarette in over 28 years. I've been happily married for 28 years and I don't womanize. We eat absurdly clean and healthy and I cook most of our food. That doesn't leave much room for distraction so I look for guitars, amplifiers, and even microphones and guitar parts that I really don't need and can't really afford. And that's the truth. I've spent countless hours recording lately and I really like what I'm achieving and that's absolute proof that I really don't need another guitar. I can't even think of what I'd do with another guitar but it hasn't stopped me from looking every day. Buying a new guitar won't change anything. Time to spend that time and energy in more useful ways and just accept the things I cannot change.
-
02-23-2022 05:27 PM
-
You only live once and if buying another guitar will scratch some kind of itch, why not? (assuming that buying another guitar will not cause any financial problem)
Being true to one (or two) guitars means being untrue to all the rest.
-
As long as you play it enough for it to be an active and actively aging guitar, you are a player and it's a player's tool. You know the truth.
-
I can so relate to your thinking Jim. Real world stuff here. Guitars are so fascinating. Lately, thinking about them is an escape as much as it is musical curiosity.
-
G. A. S.
-
I think that a lot of guitarists would rather have guitars than money.
-
-
Whew! I read your thread title and felt for one awful moment you were going to blow it for all of us (guitar addicts). My list of rationalizations grows longer by the day, but the cold hard truth is, I just like it. I find it is creatively stimulating, but I've run out of space. For the nonce I've switched to pedals, which are less expensive (although...) and take up less space.
What the heck. Do what your inner self needs you to do. You have my Blessing. Not that it's needed mind you. It's just implicit in the syndrome.
-
I hear you, Jim. I just bought a digital piano to try to retrace my steps into musicianship and to avoid getting absorbed into the parts of the outside world that I can't stand to think about anymore. I figure that getting back onto the keys will both distract me and broaden me. Can't be too bad an idea, IMHO.
Last edited by lammie200; 02-23-2022 at 08:58 PM.
-
How many guitars do you need ? Just one more
-
The only thing i can say on the subject... if you want to buy a guitar, buy it!
Reasons can vary, but it's always a pleasurable experience, even if you end up selling it. I even enjoy just looking at guitars..
-
I feel your pain, Jim ...
OK, now tell us more about the new Soloway project! You keep dangling that out there -- give us the goods!
-
Well, yesterday I received a Godin Kingpin 2 p90s. Why did I do that? I already have one with humbuckers. I don't really need it, unless fun can be confused with need. Maybe I just need to be confused. Guitar addiction is very strange, but I've been having lots of fun with it for 60 years. If you want a guitar, get it, and enjoy.
-
It started with an idea from a friend and Single 15" owner. He really wanted to bring the company back with a few changes. Everything (other than me) is based in North Carolina and like when I did this for all those years it's very much a team effort. We're starting with a 14" body based on the original Single 15" but scaled down a bit in size (but increased in depth to 2"). The basic model will have a 25.5" scale length and unlike the guitars we built, different scale lengths and widths will be done with Warmoth-style conversion necks rather than having a different pocket and bridge position for each scale length and string spacing. The one exception to that will be a 24" scale length. That will require the bridge to be repositioned and should be available in about 8 months. I'm not sure I'm really supposed to do this yet but here are the first photos of the Prototype #, both on it's own and with the last guitar we ever built before I officially shut it down. (And there's no finish on the prototype. We just wanted to have one strung up and running so we could test all of the tolerances and positions. Hopefully it will be here in a couple weeks and I can do some recording and video with it)
Originally Posted by marcwhy
I feel your pain, Jim ...
OK, now tell us more about the new Soloway project! You keep dangling that out there -- give us the goods!
-
Money=problems Originally Posted by rpjazzguitar
guitars =happy
it’s simple math
-
I've run out of room for more guitars. Faced with this I'm doing what any reasonable person would do. I'm remodeling a closet to make more room.
-
Oh, man - this is amazing, and great news! Originally Posted by Jim Soloway
It started with an idea from a friend and Single 15" owner. He really wanted to bring the company back with a few changes. Everything (other than me) is based in North Carolina and like when I did this for all those years it's very much a team effort. We're starting with a 14" body based on the original Single 15" but scaled down a bit in size (but increased in depth to 2"). The basic model will have a 25.5" scale length and unlike the guitars we built, different scale lengths and widths will be done with Warmoth-style conversion necks rather than having a different pocket and bridge position for each scale length and string spacing. The one exception to that will be a 24" scale length. That will require the bridge to be repositioned and should be available in about 8 months. I'm not sure I'm really supposed to do this yet but here are the first photos of the Prototype #, both on it's own and with the last guitar we ever built before I officially shut it down. (And there's no finish on the prototype. We just wanted to have one strung up and running so we could test all of the tolerances and positions. Hopefully it will be here in a couple weeks and I can do some recording and video with it)
[Funny: NC has a lot of luthiers and amp builders, too!]
Please put out the word when you're up and running!
-
Maybe you just like guitars? Originally Posted by Jim Soloway
-
Well if the world is going to hell in a handcart why not fill your handcart with guitars?
-
welcome to the Jim Soloway first world problem club.
step on in, everybody, have a brownie and a glass of water.
two brownies for me, please.
and all the best to you, Jim.
-
Buying guitars endlessly is a disease that guitarists struggle with.
I justify this by the fact that there are a lot of instruments on the market and the life is short.
It can also be the search for the perfect guitar.
-
There was a thread on one of my other forums a year or 2 back, about a study (?!) that had shown that buying guitars is healthy, prolongs your life. Probably the DelCamp forum, maybe the AGF.
I guess for some that might be all the pretext they need ^^
-
I like that study! Originally Posted by RJVB
Seriously, though, I would certainly argue that "playing music" is healthy and can prolong our (cognitive) lives, so if a new guitar is fun and helps us keep playing, then buy another!
-
And therein lies the problem for me. A new guitar doesn't make me play more. I play every day, new guitar or no new guitar. And two guitars cover everything I need to play everything I want to play: one that I can keep in a lowered tuning and one that I can keep at standard pitch. Add more guitars and I don't play more. I just put away one that I'm already paying and replace it with something else. If I really want to play more, I'd do much better just not spending so much time looking at other guitars. Originally Posted by marcwhy
I like that study!
Seriously, though, I would certainly argue that "playing music" is healthy and can prolong our (cognitive) lives, so if a new guitar is fun and helps us keep playing, then buy another!
-
+1 Originally Posted by Jim Soloway
I currently have 8 guitars.
There are days and weeks when I only play one guitar and don't touch others.
There are days when I start to set up these guitars - I regulate the neck, bridges, and polish the frets.
There is no end to it - wasting time picking instead of playing.
Best
Kris
Reply With Quote
Denny Diaz (Steely Dan) interview with Rick Beato
Today, 03:11 PM in The Players