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  • This is my current "GO-TO GUITAR" Please show me yours?

Been thinking about starting this thread for quite some time after I got my first Fender Stratocaster in many years. (Prior to that I swore I'd never play Fender's again... :-[ Like I said, this was a long time ago and I was heavily into hard rock/metal guitars back then...)

Over the years I have been privileged enough to have acquired most of the guitars I've always dreamt of and then some... I traded one of these for a Gibson and US Fender Strat, thinking I'd keep what I liked (probably the Gibson) and sell off the rest -even both if we didn't gel...

To my surprise I ended up keeping the Strat and found something peculiar starting to transpire... Most of the time when the urge hit for a quick jam, the Strat would come out of the case! (Back then I had no less than 11 guitars -most of them very high-end examples each worth more than double what the US Strat was worth... Arguably also prettier and fancier guitars for the most part...) This specific guitar just felt right and the variety of tonal options it offered just begged me to keep coming back for more. I was actually caught out by the affinity I developed for this specific instrument and she single-handedly lead me to develop a fresh approach to guitars (and music) and what I'm looking for in them these days when considering a new acquisition... She doesn't have the most elaborate look. She goes against many of my previous self-imposed constraints in my approach to instruments but she has tone, feel and mojo that is undeniable albeit completely subjective...

She has an extremely thin finish that shows up any imperfection and accepting that has certainly been a positive departure for me. Her feel and quality of tone was so apparent that I took the leap and accepted her -warts & all. It was liberating... She has been my main "go to guitar" for some time and she's never failed to impress and inspire!

The point of the rant is that I thought it would be very interesting and potentially quite insightful to have an 'archive' in which I (we) can catalogue which guitar at any given period of our musical journey has been your main inspiration. Your go-to instrument. I'm not looking for "the best" or "the most expensive" or "the fanciest" or "the dream guitar". I'm looking for your current instrument that puts the smile on your face every time you take her for a spin, the one that inspires you to venture further down your musical path. I suspect as time passes and tastes change/mature that your favourite favourite will most probably also change with the times... I just thought that it could be great to have a record that you could page through in the years to come that shows what inspired you in the present and the past and showcases the progression you've gone through... I anticipate that it could bring back great memories and feelings down line -if you're as passionate about instruments as I am...

Lets see if you agree and this takes off?

Some ground rules:

1. You have to own more than 1 guitar of the same type (either electric or acoustic) at any given time. If you have 2 or more instruments in each category, you can post 1 of each. (Only if they're truly inspirational to you... Not just because you have more than one of a type...) Technically this thread is about "the one", however...
2. If you only have 1 guitar and its not just a temporary stepping stone to the next, in other words its the one because it's well ...the one, I suppose that also qualifies...
3. It has to be the one you're naturally drawn to pick up and play. (Price, fanciness etc. is irrelevant) It has to be the one that inspires you for all the right reasons and tickles your creativity on a more primal level...
4. The 'honeymoon' phase has to be well and truly over. No point in posting a new acquisition: The guitar needs to have proven itself for long enough.
5. This is the place to rant about your passion and love for your main axe!
6. If your main guitar is still the same in a years time and your passion for it is even stronger. Post new pics and tell us why!
7. This is NOT the spot for bashing guitars and brands! Here you express your love and appreciation for your guitar. That is it! All guitars and brands are welcome.


Please guys and girls: feel free to chip in with suggestions and recommendations but most importantly share your stories, photos and love for your main axe. Why is she 'the one' at this point in time? I don't care about aesthetics,exclusivity or monetary value. If she's worth 50 bucks and she inspires you, please share your passion with me (us) all the more!

I'll start by posting 'the one' that's dramatically changed my approach to guitars and has been my main inspiration for more than a year already... This Fender has totally blind-sided me and I'm thankful and all the better off for it...

Fender Standard USA Stratocaster '09 limited edition... :goodtimes:









    Here's a twofer, and possibly a threefer.

    My 2009 Tokai LS150 is the guitar I play 90% of the time. It's just exactly what I want in a guitar. My 1983 LP looks a lot cooler - definitely a unique LP, but the Tokai beats it in a variety of ways: It's not so darned heavy - I can hang it around my neck for hours on end. It's much more resonant - a lightweight piece of African Mahogany for a back makes it sing acoustically which is very satisfying. The Gibson also has typical '70s/ '80s super-low frets, which makes bending tricky. The Tokai neck is much fatter than the Gibson's. It feels almost like an acoustic guitar neck. Makes it super comfortable to play. I love my Gibson, but the Tokai just ticks every subconscious box every time I'm reaching for a guitar.

    I've said before, Les Pauls are not versatile. They are not comfortable per se. But for some people like me, there's a Les Paul shaped hole that needs to be filled and no other guitar design can do it.

    So why a twofer? Cos I know damn well that Renesong's strat is like a glove made just for his hands. He often says he hated strats until someone put this one in his paws and then he had to have it. It's an MIJ which has an incredible rock sound and an amazing neck. This is definitely his go-to guitar par excellence.

    I can't say whether Jack's MIJ Fender bass is his go to. But I know he loves it.

      Thanks, Singe!

      This is exactly the kind of post I was hoping for! Comparing your own guitars back-to-back is fine to explain why you prefer a certain axe over the other/rest!

      More pics of your LS150, please!

      (Looking forward to Renesongs and Jack's posts as well.)
        Well my go to guitar almost 90% of the time is, my cheapie.
        this baby popped up on gumtree oneday, went to checked, and i could not put it down, it needed alot of cleaning, but it kicked ass. havent played much of my other guitars since.

        The Sanox, date unknown, somewhere between 1978 - 1985.
        Bolt on.
        24.75'' scale length
        neck:maple/mahogany neck
        body: maple/mahogany in center, and ash on sides
        brazilian rosewood fretboard
        Tuners i still want to replace with better ones.
        graphtech nut
        Dimarzio PAF Joe neck
        Dimarzio Air norton bridge(i think)

        small switched wired to spit humbucker coils, and 1 to split phase.
        i can go from fender to gibson with a flick of a switch, and i can almost emulate any sound i want in a live situation






        note the pics is still with the old pickups
          Goddamnit! Got so much work to do... but... procrastinate a little more I must!!

          Up until very recently my go-to guitar is my black '97 MIA Fender Hendrix Voodoo Strat. I bought it new in '98 and it's travelled halfway round the world with me and I love it more than anything, perhaps more than life itself... well, maybe not my life, but someone else's most definitely (just TRY take her from me!!!!!). Since I bought that Strat, I've had a Gibson, a Tele, a few other odds and ends, and none of them could complete with the playability, tone, and outright spank that black Strat.

          Over the years it's taken a bit of a beating, so in the interests of preserving for posterity and keeping her in pretty decent condition, I looked to buy another Voodoo Strat to take some of the strain. There were some nice ones up on Ebay, but every time I thought I was in the bidding I'd get pipped at the final post by frantic counter-bidding in the auction... I realised that perhaps the chances of me getting another Voodoo Strat were slim given that since I saw mine in the shop all those years ago they've become quite sort after items.

          So I did what any other rational Strat-lunatic would do and pulled the trigger on a Custom Shop Strat instead. But that didn't assuage my Voodoo angst, and I continued to comb Ebay for decent looking Voodoos... obsessed, maybe, but I KNOW how good these guitars are! Don't get me wrong, the Custom Shop is a lovely guitar, and after I got it it definitely became my main player for a while... the problem was the sheer amount of fun I'd get from playing the Voodoo.

          Well I found one, sunburst, rosewood fretboard. It now has a 3-ply black-white-black pickguard on it, and I installed a no-load tone pot and hooked the bridge pickup up to it like the Custom Shop has. My black Strat will get the same mod at some stage. So my black Strat is still my "number 1", even though she's enjoying a graceful semi-retirement. Since I got that new Voodoo Strat, I sold my Gibson and my Tele... they just weren't getting any air-time at all. All I want is Strats, in general, and Voodoo Strats, specifically.

          My suburst Voodoo Strat is now my go-to guitar.

          (L to R: Black #1, new sunburst #2 and the Custom Shop blonde #4)



          If you want to know where white #3 is, it's on Ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/160820710353?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_338wt_83

          I'm hoping no one snaps it up before I have a chance to round up some bucks.
            My go to guitar is my R9
            It just feels like coming home and that helps if nerves are involved too ? You know your way around it and thats comforting.



              hmmm... this one always busts me..

              being an avid guitar fan (not great player), I went through heaps of guitars. In my gigging days m go-to was a washburn nuno siggy, and then in a moment of madnes I sold it.

              I went years trying to find a guitar that gave me as much joy to play.

              Then a felow forumite sold me his..



              Charvel M2, great great player. I have a fw guits from the same stable but these Charvies have the best damned feeling necks ever, and I cant help but bust outsome Crazy Train when playing this guitar.

              Not the most versatile, I know, but its the one that makes me feel like a rock star. The one that if she gets dings,well, it just adds to the mojo... Theone that when the amp is cranked, gives me that raunchy rock tone i love...

              Not the prettiest, but definitely the funnest.

              There is another one... but, she does still fall into the honeymoon phase... so will come back after 3 months to see, but its almost a no brainer.
                I bought this from Alan about a year ago. Initially I did not get much chance to play it, since just about all of my playing is done on an acoustic. A couple of months back we found a vocalist and a drummer, so we've been getting together again for practices, and I'm obviously using the "Ratocaster" ?
                I must say, there was a bit of a learning curve with it. Initially I struggled. It took me some time to figure out what I was doing wrong with it. My other Start is strung with '12s and has a higher action. So, on the Rat, I was using far too much pressure on the strings and "bending" them slightly out of tune :-[ :-[ It actually took some time to adjust my technique to get this sorted out :-\

                So, even though when I'm playing live I have to use my acoustic, when I'm home and I reach for a guitar, this is the one. I love it. And I'm getting to use it more now in a band setting. I can't imagine letting it go, very comfortable and super light.



                I'm using this image as my desk top ?

                  Les Paul shaped hole, yep. Got this one about a year ago now, I've basically not touched my other LP even though I put P90s in it.

                    very easy

                    my 78 tele custom.



                    the tele custom is the most verstaile instrument you can imagine. It gives you everything you need.


                    and my 50ties something gibby l 48



                    it is just the sound that I like. have had a lot of acoustic guitars but this one gives me the sound that I like, epecially when it comes to blues
                    People love it or hate it. I love it


                    zark: really nice strat.
                      guidothepimmp wrote: hmmm... this one always busts me..

                      being an avid guitar fan (not great player), I went through heaps of guitars. In my gigging days m go-to was a washburn nuno siggy, and then in a moment of madnes I sold it.

                      I went years trying to find a guitar that gave me as much joy to play.

                      Then a felow forumite sold me his..



                      Charvel M2, great great player. I have a fw guits from the same stable but these Charvies have the best damned feeling necks ever, and I cant help but bust outsome Crazy Train when playing this guitar.

                      Not the most versatile, I know, but its the one that makes me feel like a rock star. The one that if she gets dings,well, it just adds to the mojo... Theone that when the amp is cranked, gives me that raunchy rock tone i love...

                      Not the prettiest, but definitely the funnest.

                      There is another one... but, she does still fall into the honeymoon phase... so will come back after 3 months to see, but its almost a no brainer.
                      Wow I'm so glad you're enjoying this! ? ? It really is great to play. Its looking stunning, definitely in the most worthy hands!
                      What Duncan did you put in there?
                        Hey Julian, Cheers mate!

                        Yeh I had her refretted with 6100's stainless steels and the SD is a JB. It is tapped with a push/pull..

                        I have the original J90C pup... stowed away... love those pups..

                        Oiled the trem and its working perfectly... love it!
                          This 2006 American Series:




                          My Les Paul usage has become more and more rare and it's used live only once to every 4 or 5 outings for the Strat. It's not the prettiest but it just sings so beautifully that it's become very hard to not reach for it almost every time I play.

                          The Les Paul sounds great for heavier stuff and if I'm honest I am more comfortable with the slim 60's neck. I can't play it for more than 30 minutes without getting a sore back though. Basically I just think "my sound" is strat-based (for now).
                            These days I have two go-tos: My home-made Strat and my Carvin Nylon.

                            The Strat is basically a Strat, but tweaked just the way I like 'em. Most notable features are the piezo saddles, fat flame neck with a pao ferro fingerboard and stainless frets and the middle switch position is all three pups on.


                            Note: the S1 switch is gone and the knobs are now small ebony dome knobs. I might still add a Hexpander board to add 13-pin too.

                            The Carvin gets as much playtime as the Strat these days. Basically a through neck semi-solid with 13-pin output for modelling and synth:

                            This one is nice and light, has humbuckers and jumbo frets...it's a cool lazy mans guitar.

                              Nice thread. Nice strats. Designed in '54 and still probably the most versatile electric out there. Love the grain on the Ratocaster. The Charvel looks like a rock machine of note. Reinhard's R9 must be pretty amazing to upstage his other great guitars ? But I've held it, lighter than my Tokai and with a super-comfortable neck - so I can imagine. I want that L48, dagnabit.
                                Awesome response, guys! Many thanks. ?

                                I'm really enjoying seeing such a diverse variety of your favourite guitars! Thanks for sharing the one's that inspire you most at this moment... Just proves again that there is no such thing as a 'better' guitar or brand. Everyone has their own preference at a certain point in time and I assume, gauging by my own approach to- and affinity for my own instruments, that the reasons and motivation why you're singling out certain guitars has to be for very personal reasons. (For the most part, at least?) To me it feels like being offered the opportunity to read a page out of someone's private diary... (A guitarist's diary!) Insightful and sincerely appreciated and enjoyed!

                                I've read all the replies and taken time to look at each of your guitars, trying to imagine what inspires your connection with each instrument, taking into account the information you've shared... Very cool! I wanted to reply to each post because I really dig and appreciate each of the guitars you've put forward thus far but I think its more important that the pictures and personal stories you're sharing take centre stage... (I'll probably respond a little later anyway, though... ? )

                                As far as possible I'd like us to consciously attempt to limit postings to 'the one'. (I'm not pointing a finger at anyone who's already posted, promise.) If its two instruments that's on complete opposite sides of the spectrum and inspire equally but for very different reasons, that's fine. Reason being that it's easy for some of us to post group pics of many 'favourites' as have been done in other threads already. I don't want this thread to become a place to show off the collection, rather a place to share with us the instrument you have an extra special connection with. (In a years time it may be the same or a completely different guitar... Who knows?) I'd like to challenge members that have a bit of a collection going to put some thought into it -if you don't already know off the bat which inspires you most... ? For most of us I imagine it should be easy to point out your favourite favourite... ?

                                Thanks for sharing... Keep the pics and stories coming! :goodtimes:
                                  I suppose my story will be quite boring for all you Electric Guitar Heads.

                                  My GO-TO guitar for about 16 years had been an old Yamaha early 70's Nylon model G-230. This guitar spent many hours in front of TV, in the bathroom while the kids bathed, in the LAPA etc etc. In fact it was the only guitar I had, but gave me huge inspiration.

                                  About three years ago and mainly in order to play at TJ's my GO-TO guitar was an Acoustic Takamine FPR325SRCA which was a top of the range model circa 1994. It was a long and hard struggle learning how to play an acoustic after the Nylon. A great guitar but not much inspiration.

                                  This year I acquired a Takamine EG522C and I play it every minute I can, I am sure if the wife took pictures, there would be this huge grin on my face.
                                  I am so comfortable with a Nylon and especially this guitar. It feels like velvet and my fingers just seem to find places on the fretboard I didn't know were there ?




                                  Last week me my brother and I played at family function and both Taks were in use and as you can see I played the Nylon, didn't give him a chance with the Nylon

                                    singemonkey wrote: Nice thread. Nice strats. Designed in '54 and still probably the most versatile electric out there. Love the grain on the Ratocaster. The Charvel looks like a rock machine of note. Reinhard's R9 must be pretty amazing to upstage his other great guitars ? But I've held it, lighter than my Tokai and with a super-comfortable neck - so I can imagine. I want that L48, dagnabit.
                                    Lol I think because I have had it for close to ten years it feels like an old pair of jeans. Was it really lighter than the Tokai?
                                    Ditto on the L48, that is one great looking guitar.
                                    A lot of strats in this thread, for some reason I just never bonded with mine. ☹
                                      I'm impressed by the fact that many of us (so far) seem to prefer a less-fancy model out of the collection as their go-to guitar... (OK, some of these less-fancy models are still really upmarket instruments, but its all relative, I suppose?)