Gear re-evaluation... possible clearout

giggsy

For some reason last night I decided that I might sell all my guitars, except one or two, and start again from scratch... I dont know what brought it on but the seed has been planted in my mind and it is spreading roots.

This is what I have currently - plus an Ibanez Art120 and a 1974/75 Hondo II EG502 - I'll probably only keep the white Cort and the Beatle bass (and a project SG which I should be getting midweek).

Then, with the funds raised I'll probably look at getting an Epiphone Nighthawk (which I have been after for a while) a Fender tele and then possibly Jaguar or Firehawk, or even an Epiphone Dot. Basically scaling down but with better quality gear.

Any thoughts?

Jayhell

What is the black archtop?

Gearhead

Very good idea Giggs, it's time. You've got the feel and looks and balance of all those models figured out, now you want to sound good. Busy with a similar move me'self, though a bit futher into it ?

DonovanB

What are the 2 on the bottom left?

giggsy

Gearhead wrote: Very good idea Giggs, it's time. You've got the feel and looks and balance of all those models figured out, now you want to sound good. Busy with a similar move me'self, though a bit futher into it ?

Yeah, think its time too - just came out of nowhere though ???

Donovan Banks wrote: What are the 2 on the bottom left?

Extreme left is a homemade jobbie, the other is gone - was an SX SR-1 IIRC

Jayhell wrote: What is the black archtop?

Bugger - just saw that pic has the wrong archtop up - that one was an Aria which is sold, the one I have now is ver similar, a Harley Benton imported from Germany, but I added a white 'racing stripe' down the middle, ala the dude from Blink 182 (it can be removed though)

Here's my post in the Your Gear section with more info on the guitars http://www.guitarforum.co.za/your-gear/the-wall-of-sound/

DonovanB

You can't post a class photo without names underneath,,, :?

I'm curious about the V and the explorer too.

giggsy

Donovan Banks wrote: You can't post a class photo without names underneath,,, :?

I'm curious about the V and the explorer too.

Okay, okay ?
From the top to bottom, left to right:
* A Wesley San Diego – imported it from the UK
* Harley Benton HBT16 – imported it from Germany, the lightest of all my guitars. And after 8 months in a box, when it got to me it was almost still in tune
* Axl Badwater Eldorado – bought it from wwbw.com in the States, EMG designed pickups
* Digital camo strat – think it was a Sanchez that I bought for R250, stripped and painted it and replaced all the hardware
* Samick Les Paul type – started stripping it to repaint but liked the look, recently changed the pickups to some old Epiphone ones I had lying around
* Cort EVL Z4 – I struggle to put this guitar down
* Grant Les Paul – restored guitar from the 1960s/early 70s
* SX – bought from a forummer, can’t remember the model – love the pickup configuration
* Legacy SG – never heard of them, but nice set neck guitar
* Aria T50 – everyone needs a hollowbody
* Wesley Dominator – imported it from the UK
* Refinished V – Kramer neck, not sure what body, repainted and new hardware
* De Rosa Beatle bass – bought online from the States at the end of last year
* On the stands are a handmade Firebird and an SX SR1 which I am selling

ezietsman

Sell them all (except the Beatles bass) and get a premium guitar and a good amp. That would be my advice. You can get a killer rig that way.

AlanRatcliffe

Basically scaling down but with better quality gear.

I'm always in favour of this. It's cool having lots of guitars, but IMO you must have one really good quality workhorse. Cut back to that and a few you really use, then start gradually replacing your main guitars with good quality versions in the same vein and you'll soon end up with a core of three or four really good guitars. The nature of GAS means that you'll likely still always have a couple of cheapies around, filling up those empty wall hangers anyway - and if any of those really strike a chord (sorry...), you can do something similar and replace that with a high quality version, expanding your core collection. ?

Tokai-SA

Giggsy

You've currently got Wolves, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton, QPR, Aston Villa, Stoke City, and Wigan.
What you need is Man United & Man City, with a touch of Real Madrid and Barcelona.

?

Jayhell

Are the any pics of the archtop, I am in dire need of a good cheap one.
:-[

singemonkey

Yeah. I've been feeling for a long time that you should flog most of this and buy probably just one top-tier guitar.

One or two, I'd keep myself, and you may want to keep some for sentimental reasons or because it just feels good.

But I'd say this: forget the Epiphone Nighthawk. Get a mid-90's Gibson Nighthawk or Blueshawk that will cost about R8,000 to R10,000. Less if you're lucky. When you get used to a pro quality guitar, you won't want to go back. I mean, rather than going for two or three mid-tier guitars, get one really good one. Pro quality guitars start at around R8K. Less if they're unpopular models like a Jackson Soloist or something (and the Nighthawk is a less popular Gibson - although its popularity is surging). But those kinds of guitars, barring rare individual budget guitars, just feel really different in a way that enhances the pleasure of playing guitar.

giggsy

singemonkey wrote: Yeah. I've been feeling for a long time that you should flog most of this and buy probably just one top-tier guitar.

My problem though is that I am not a top-tier guitarist :-[ Far from it. Not even pushing mid-tier. Thats why I originally sold the Gibson SG that I had and replaced it with an Epiphone SG and a Squier tele (then it all just snowballed and I ended up with 18 guitars at one point...). But yeah, I get what you, Alan and Tokai are saying (apart from City, that's a flashy Gibson Robot hat no-one will want in a few years time 8)) I just dont feel 'worthy' of a pro quality axe...

DonovanB

So make a plan and get jamming out there.

Once you start playing regular gigs, you feel much better about buying better gear,

singemonkey

Pro quality gear is not as rare as it once was. If not you, in all likelihood someone else will use it for playing at home. What it does do is make you feel good when you play, so you play more often. In fact, becoming "worthy" of the guitar can be a good incentive to improve and drive you to achieving your playing goals - even if they're modest ones.

MikeM

Once you have been spoilt with a great quality instrument, there is no going back sadly ?

AlanRatcliffe

singemonkey wrote: Pro quality gear is not as rare as it once was. If not you, in all likelihood someone else will use it for playing at home. What it does do is make you feel good when you play, so you play more often. In fact, becoming "worthy" of the guitar can be a good incentive to improve and drive you to achieving your playing goals - even if they're modest ones.

+1000 ?

Kalcium

Giggsy wrote: I just dont feel 'worthy' of a pro quality axe...

I'd say feeling 'worthy' of gear is more a case of "I don't feel im good enough to justify spending R30 000 on guitar gear" ....but if you're gonna spend R30 000 on guitar gear you may as well make it 2 good guitars and a good amp...(assuming you're not much of a pedal guy...)
But I think what you're saying is you're considering making a R30 000 collection into an R8000 collection in which case I think its ok to have 1 or 2 mid range guitars with the promise that you will upgrade once you feel you are good enough, but in that case rather than adding another R3000 guitar to the collection it'll be a case of sell a R4000 guitar and add an R8000 guitar or something to that effect, which is what I would do if I didn't feel worthy of that much gear...but if you're gonna have R15000 of gear then theres no reason why you should feel unworthy of a pro quality axe cause the money invested is the same...

flatfourfan

As for buying pro gear, there is nothing wrong with the huge selection of gear that floats around between high end stuff and middle range stuff.

My advice, flog everything that you haven't played in the last week.

singemonkey

flatfourfan wrote: As for buying pro gear, there is nothing wrong with the huge selection of gear that floats around between high end stuff and middle range stuff.

This is why I used the term "pro" not "high-end." A lot of pro gear - gear that a pro would happily use without modifications (at least for the first show - we know guitarists have to mod ?) and could take the pace and deliver the tone - is not actually that expensive. An MIJ Strat can rock a stadium just as well as a custom shop strat. I don't just mean it'll pass. I mean it's actually got the workmanship and electronics that are almost identical to the classic era Fenders that are so renowned today.

And there are plenty of other, similar examples - like my buddy's red Charvel that he picked for change because who wants to be seen with a red Charvel? Certainly back in 2002 or so when he got it.