Reinhard
I spoke to Nick about this a while back. It is nice to have a bunch of cool guitars and I have been fortunate enough to have owned all the models I lusted after growing up. Recently I sold my tele and strat. Iconic guitars, but I wasn't playing either of them.
Looking at the rest of my guitars, I could honestly say if I randomly picked one of them and sold the rest I would still be fine. There would me more space, less strings to buy ? and that one guitar would get the hell played out of it. Of late I have thought of putting them all on gumtree and keeping the one that does not sell, kind of "Last man standing". Same goes for amps, but for some reason I can justify owning more than one, even though replacing tubes can get expensive.
There was a guy on the LPF who had an obscene collection of guitars and when he sold it all off all that remained was an ES-345, an old Tele and a Marshall halfstack. The simplicity of that just seems so appealing. Anyone else get the urge to sell it all and have that 1 or 2 keepers? I am aware many may already have that 1 or 2 keepers and that's it, but for those with 5+ guitars, do you sometimes get the urge just to scale things down?
flatfourfan
At the peak of my collection, I had 7 guitars. I scaled back to 3. With one of them being one that I made in High School and will probably become wall art as I can't think of selling it and it's uncomfortable to play for a long time.
I've widdled my guitars down into the following groups.
1) everyday player - guitar that will do pretty much anything - Ibanez Artist 300
2) wall art - the above mentioned guitar that I made - BC Rich warlock copy
3) The shredder - amazing neck, very fast - Hamer Explorer
4) Still looking around for that perfect acoustic though.
I have no real need for a few added to the collection. I may move one or two around and replace them, but I doubt I'll have more than 4. (hopefully)
BluJu
I agree with you that when I look at my wall of many guitars I can pick out one that I would be perfectly happy with on it's own.
Unfortunately that one changes from week to week or month to month. Thus 10 (or so) guitars. ?
flatfourfan
I dunno if I could just have one/ two.
In the past yes, when I was just into metal, now that I like som folk, rock, metal etc. There isn't that one guitar that'll do the lot.
nick
I definately see the attraction of a single go to guitar. Amp wise I think you could get away with two, a home/small gig amp, and a larger one for bigger venues.
My only issue is picking which guitar to be the one, as I've swopped from les paul, to strat, to hollowbody, to les paul to telecaster.. Hoping the tele is it.
In your instance you seem to gravitate towards old faithful, the R9. I would say sell the others and get a better go to guitar, but bar vintage gear.. whats better than an R9!
Wizard
Reinhard wrote:
Looking at the rest of my guitars, I could honestly say if I randomly picked one of them and sold the rest I would still be fine.
There would me more space, less strings to buy ? and that one guitar would get the hell played out of it.
And ... in your case ... you'd have a LOT of extra money.
AlanRatcliffe
Constantly! But I think it depends on what you are doing with them. As I mentioned recently, in my early '20s I scaled down from a high of 27 to a single one and kept it that way for 15 years. If I were only gigging, I'd probably scale back down to two (or three, counting bass) again.
However, with recording I really like having a variety of different sounds, although I'll probably never go above eight again.
Another thing is if you have the GAS affliction, there is no real cure. So chances are good that even if you sell 'em all off in a fit of austerity now, at some point you'll start replacing them again (or trying to, if they are really good ones - which I gather they are) and then you'll kick yourself for the ones that you let get away (and doubly so for any collectables).
guidothepimmp
I'm in that dilemma.. Need to unload some but don't know which ones..
And no FFF, not the jackson >☹
?
Nitebob
All my guitars are 'got to have's' (okay three of them)
1) Acoustic six string Cort (gotta have one)...on guitarstand by the door, for easy access. Play at least 20 minutes everyday.
2) SX strat...(gotta have one)...gig bag in kitchen, gets used at least weekly
3) Ibanez 12 String acoustic (gotta have at least one in your life)....hardcase behind the bedroom door
4) Blonde SX strat (stripped and currently having an identity crisis, doesn';t know how it wants to look) Various kitchen cupboards...
5) Crafter SAT Hybrid. (Novelty guitar) Great, and understated. From time to time I throw out an ad in the Junkmail for it, most times I'm glad I never got a call. My first proper guitar. Featuring an underbridge pick up as well as a P90 neck pick up for electric tones. Reason why I put it up for sale is usually that I already have two acoustics and a electric....what's the use...
shaunf
Never been much of a collector myself. I think at my peak, the most guitars I've owned at one time was 5, including a Bass.
I've figured out what I want and like from a guitar, and I'm happy with that. No need for a lot of versatility, and no real need to own a whole bunch of guitars. Having said that, I do have (currently suppressed) GAS for 3 additional guitars
1.) a white Les Paul Custom
2.) an LP shaped, all mahogany single P90 pickup guitar like a Rist Workhorse, or an old Gibson LP Junior
3.) A Tele of some form. I'll know the one when I meet her.
flatfourfan
guidothepimmp wrote:
I'm in that dilemma.. Need to unload some but don't know which ones..
And no FFF, not the jackson >☹
?
i'm over the jackson fad. I want a hardtail.
Nicholas-L
singemonkey wrote:
Agreed hahahaha
giggsy
I got to 18, sold them all to buy two (plus kept a bass). Have since added two more due to dreaded GAS... but can honestly say that I dont miss having a wall full of guitars apart from the obvious visual appeal
Norman86
i only want 3 myself...
a strat...
a tele...
a prs holowbody ii...
and i would die a happy man ?
so i see the appeal in a small number of guitars and not hundreds like some!
Nicholas-L
The thought of getting just one guitar to do all I need not quite want it to do has been in the back of my mind, but then I think to myself I spend a while looking for these guitars specifically. If it works for you then go for it. Just wont happen for me haha
ZarK
I've already started cutting my collection... Why? I quit my band and I'm on my way to start doing my professional pilot's licenses. My life has certainly taken a refreshing detour!
I've also been privileged enough to have owned all the guitars I've dreamt of owning and more... A fact that has certainly made it easier for me to make the initial decision and it also helped me decide which I should keep. (The Gas has been gone for quite some time...) The ones I kept are the ones that inspire me through their playability and the tones they produce. Guitars I'm not afraid to pick up and enjoy. Guitars that inspire for all the right reasons...
My life is already in storage and I've moved to the West Coast, after which I'll be moving to the East Coast around January. I prefer to travel light... I had 14 guitars and have already cut the collection to 4... Didn't like the idea of having them unattended in storage for 2 years+ and when I start flying professionally, I'll probably be positioned anywhere from Namibia to Afghanistan... Sold some awesome guitars and only kept a Fender Strat, an Ibanez, a PRS semi-hollow and a Yamaha nylon. The PRS must still go as 2 electrics is my limit and then I'm done. (Might invest in a decent 5-string bass at some stage, but no need at present.) Loved the collection when I still had the time but I'm not the type to keep stuff that don't get used often enough. I'm a player, not a collector. The guitars I kept are the ones I naturally gravitate to most often and all the gear I sold is replaceable - if I ever wanted to...
On the plus side all the gear I sold contributed to finance almost 1/3 of my flying licences... Bargain! ?
Hope you find some usable food for thought in my rambling! :-[
Big-G
I've never thought about scaling down my guitar collection for the purpose of just having a favourite, but more for the necessity of freeing up cash!
Over the past 20 years, I've owned around 20 basses (plus an acoustic and LP), and for the past 5 years, I've had only 2. One fretted 5 string, and a fretless. At the height of my collecting, I had seven basses at the same time, and every one of them offered something different whether in tone or playability, or fretless or acoustic bass, they were all diffierent and unique, and all pretty high end (albeit some of them were previously owned). Out of those 20 basses, there are probably 6 (plus my current one) that I wish I'd kept.
The reason I sold most of them was to fund some photography equipment (something to bring home a small packet of bacon when not musicing). I'm now considering selling my photography gear to fund some studio and bass gear again, but I think the wife may disown me if I do?
So, to say that I'd considered hemming back my collection to one or two workable guitars (basses) is true, but not for the reasons most people do. If someone said to me, I'll give you back those 6 basses you used to love (and foolishly sold), in return for ALL you photography gear, well, I know what I'd do!
Cheers
G!
DaFiz
Gotta have an electric guitar for rocking. Gotta have the dreadnought for the acoustic stuff. Gotta have the old concord to carry on the bike and going to braais.
Nope I need three guitars at least. :-\
Nicholas-L
DaFiz wrote:
Gotta have an electric guitar for rocking. Gotta have the dreadnought for the acoustic stuff. Gotta have the old concord to carry on the bike and going to braais.
Nope I need three guitars at least. :-\
In that case I need one for each type of tuning I would be able to make use of ?
