Brian Griffin
New member
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
Absolutely not. A guitar is like woman, can't live with only one.
Absolutely not. A guitar is like woman, can't live with only one.
Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
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DreX
New member
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
No, he was saying that his technique is so superior that even if he only ever plays one guitar, someone could hand him a rusty old beater and he'd have no problem because, after all, he plays bass guitar and it has higher action than any beater. It doesn't work that way.
No, he was saying that his technique is so superior that even if he only ever plays one guitar, someone could hand him a rusty old beater and he'd have no problem because, after all, he plays bass guitar and it has higher action than any beater. It doesn't work that way.
Brian Griffin
New member
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
High end guitar today is not like high-end in the 70s or even 90s. For a fraction of a Gibson you can get a Les Paul copy with brand-name pickups and superb craftsmanship. The only one that makes a high-end guitar high end boils down to pretty much brand name and bragging right. You can also go the DIY route.
High end guitar today is not like high-end in the 70s or even 90s. For a fraction of a Gibson you can get a Les Paul copy with brand-name pickups and superb craftsmanship. The only one that makes a high-end guitar high end boils down to pretty much brand name and bragging right. You can also go the DIY route.
Brian Griffin
New member
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
Slash sounds like himself playing EVH gear cause he plays the notes he would play. If he plays Eruption note-to-note using Eddie's gear, applying the same exact whammy-bar tricks and all, and record it, you wouldn't be able to tell.
Slash sounds like himself playing EVH gear cause he plays the notes he would play. If he plays Eruption note-to-note using Eddie's gear, applying the same exact whammy-bar tricks and all, and record it, you wouldn't be able to tell.
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
Maybe your technique is just inferior to everyone else's. No inference necessary on that one. No need to slippery slope it; it's plain as day. You need to practice more and strengthen your hand. Is it a tendon thing you have a problem with? A PT would be able to help you with those small joint flexor/extensor issues.
It might be carpal tunnel. Watch out.
Maybe your technique is just inferior to everyone else's. No inference necessary on that one. No need to slippery slope it; it's plain as day. You need to practice more and strengthen your hand. Is it a tendon thing you have a problem with? A PT would be able to help you with those small joint flexor/extensor issues.
It might be carpal tunnel. Watch out.
Dr. Vegetable
New member
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
I'd be willing to bet that EVH could sound more like EVH playing Slash's rig than Slash could sound like EVH playing EVH's rig - tremolo or not.
I'd be willing to bet that EVH could sound more like EVH playing Slash's rig than Slash could sound like EVH playing EVH's rig - tremolo or not.
DreX
New member
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
The funny thing is that you accused me of "seeking argument" in another thread, and here you are doing your best to fan the flames.
The funny thing is that you accused me of "seeking argument" in another thread, and here you are doing your best to fan the flames.
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
yea, pretty much. It's like some crazy thought experiment; "will a person with nothing to gain and no real reason to continue the fight choose to walk away or jump on the bait?" I haven't even been trying or thinking very hard.
I'm starting to feel bad about it though. Would you calm down if I said You Win?
yea, pretty much. It's like some crazy thought experiment; "will a person with nothing to gain and no real reason to continue the fight choose to walk away or jump on the bait?" I haven't even been trying or thinking very hard.
I'm starting to feel bad about it though. Would you calm down if I said You Win?
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
"You Win" isn't enough. You're supposed to prostrate yourself before him.
"You Win" isn't enough. You're supposed to prostrate yourself before him.
Jocelyn
New member
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
A while back I started a thread very similar to this.
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?266738-How-many-Guitars-do-you-need
That friend of mine though he uses just that one electric guitar ( a very nice MIJ), easily switches between that and any guitar given to him. When he picked up my guitar he displayed the same skills with out any effort.
What I think is this, your skills is what matters, most. I admit I lack a lot of it. I dont think having just one guitar is going to limit what you play and what you can play, or your skills. I also know another guitarist not a friend but an acquaintance. Very talented and skilled. He switches between his strat/ tele and a 335 and he sounds good with them all. I believe it is up to you, if you feel the need heck go for it.
A while back I started a thread very similar to this.
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?266738-How-many-Guitars-do-you-need
That friend of mine though he uses just that one electric guitar ( a very nice MIJ), easily switches between that and any guitar given to him. When he picked up my guitar he displayed the same skills with out any effort.
What I think is this, your skills is what matters, most. I admit I lack a lot of it. I dont think having just one guitar is going to limit what you play and what you can play, or your skills. I also know another guitarist not a friend but an acquaintance. Very talented and skilled. He switches between his strat/ tele and a 335 and he sounds good with them all. I believe it is up to you, if you feel the need heck go for it.
aleclee
Major General GAS
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
I had trouble switching guitars back in the day. I sold a Strat partly because I couldn't get on with its string spacing.Over the past 5 years, I've been playing a goodly bit with a very narrow range of guitars. Over the last 18 months, I've played my Parker Fly almost exclusively. When I broke out my EBMM to prep for an event where I had concerns about the Parker being ill-received, I had no issues adjusting to the different nut, fretboard, and neck.
While I have had issues in the past, at this point, playing an unfamiliar guitar is like driving an unfamiliar car. I might have to search for the switch is to turn on the headlights and the seat might not adjust the way I'd like but I can drive safely to my destination. At the end of the day, I get back to my familiar car and I'm more comfortable.
I had trouble switching guitars back in the day. I sold a Strat partly because I couldn't get on with its string spacing.Over the past 5 years, I've been playing a goodly bit with a very narrow range of guitars. Over the last 18 months, I've played my Parker Fly almost exclusively. When I broke out my EBMM to prep for an event where I had concerns about the Parker being ill-received, I had no issues adjusting to the different nut, fretboard, and neck.
While I have had issues in the past, at this point, playing an unfamiliar guitar is like driving an unfamiliar car. I might have to search for the switch is to turn on the headlights and the seat might not adjust the way I'd like but I can drive safely to my destination. At the end of the day, I get back to my familiar car and I'm more comfortable.
wishUwerehere
New member
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
I'm late to the party it looks like, but I'll throw in my two cents as someone who, for a long time, has owned only one moderately-priced guitar at a time.
I would say it depends on how wide a range of music you play, how much modification you want to do, and how quickly you move between genres/sounds that you want to get out of your guitar. If you like and actively play a bunch of different genres and styles, multiple guitars will be more conducive. And by a bunch, I mean like if you're playing country, classic rock, funk, blues, and metal all on a regular basis, you'll be better off with a few guitars each suited to one or two of those genres, rather than one super guitar that has been modded to a massive extent to get all of those sounds, since you'll drive yourself crazy trying to find the right combination of mods to suit each of those.
If you're into modifying a guitar and you don't play a ton of different styles, or you move between them slowly enough that modification won't get super expensive all at once, one well-built guitar is fine. That's kind of the road I went...I have a PRS SE Custom. I love that thing, it's got great sustain for how light it is, and when I needed some different tones, I did some modifications. It's not what I would consider a high-end guitar, since it's only about a $600 guitar or so. A good low-end-of-the-high-end guitar will give you a solid, well-built foundation for you to build your tones off of without breaking the bank or making you reluctant to open it up.
For me, the ultimate example would be the Les Paul Studio (I'm gunning for an Epiphone in the near future to do some work on, but the Gibson is the same idea). It's a no-frills, no-extra-gimmicks, but still-well-crafted guitar that gives you a platform to start from. Between that and my PRS, I should be able to nail all the tones I need. A buddy of mine has around a dozen guitars, but he really only plays like three of them. I'll never be that guy.
Just my thoughts.
I'm late to the party it looks like, but I'll throw in my two cents as someone who, for a long time, has owned only one moderately-priced guitar at a time.
I would say it depends on how wide a range of music you play, how much modification you want to do, and how quickly you move between genres/sounds that you want to get out of your guitar. If you like and actively play a bunch of different genres and styles, multiple guitars will be more conducive. And by a bunch, I mean like if you're playing country, classic rock, funk, blues, and metal all on a regular basis, you'll be better off with a few guitars each suited to one or two of those genres, rather than one super guitar that has been modded to a massive extent to get all of those sounds, since you'll drive yourself crazy trying to find the right combination of mods to suit each of those.
If you're into modifying a guitar and you don't play a ton of different styles, or you move between them slowly enough that modification won't get super expensive all at once, one well-built guitar is fine. That's kind of the road I went...I have a PRS SE Custom. I love that thing, it's got great sustain for how light it is, and when I needed some different tones, I did some modifications. It's not what I would consider a high-end guitar, since it's only about a $600 guitar or so. A good low-end-of-the-high-end guitar will give you a solid, well-built foundation for you to build your tones off of without breaking the bank or making you reluctant to open it up.
For me, the ultimate example would be the Les Paul Studio (I'm gunning for an Epiphone in the near future to do some work on, but the Gibson is the same idea). It's a no-frills, no-extra-gimmicks, but still-well-crafted guitar that gives you a platform to start from. Between that and my PRS, I should be able to nail all the tones I need. A buddy of mine has around a dozen guitars, but he really only plays like three of them. I'll never be that guy.
Just my thoughts.
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
Now this I agree with. String gauge means little to me except dem 3 shtep bennz, but nut width really throws me off sometimes. I've got big, doughy fingertips so skinny nut widths make it difficult to get in the groove when I'm hitting two strings. I'm destined to not play a mandolin very well.
Now this I agree with. String gauge means little to me except dem 3 shtep bennz, but nut width really throws me off sometimes. I've got big, doughy fingertips so skinny nut widths make it difficult to get in the groove when I'm hitting two strings. I'm destined to not play a mandolin very well.
jon the art guy
Nerdy Nerd
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
I had my sights set on the Epiphone Nighthawk because of the crazy switching that thing has. I also think it's muay suave...
Luckily SD makes a slant humbucker for it too! It's one of the reasons I joined the forums, actually.
I had my sights set on the Epiphone Nighthawk because of the crazy switching that thing has. I also think it's muay suave...
Luckily SD makes a slant humbucker for it too! It's one of the reasons I joined the forums, actually.
TimmyPage
New member
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
I come from a different circle of musicians, mostly jazz players. Most jazz guitarists I know (and the ones I listen to) treat their instrument as if it were a saxophone, or a drum kit, or a trumpet: they invest the money to have one custom made, one that feels and sounds the way that best represents their voice.
Through most of my jazz career I used a hollowbody guitar made of cherry, with a mahogany neck and a single P90 in the neck. The guitar had this massive baseball bat neck that felt absolutely at home in my relatively giant, spindly fingers. No matter whether I was playing trad gigs, modern gigs, samba, dixieland, even a few pop gigs, that single guitar served me, and I could rely on it. All of my fellow jazzers ended up having custom made instruments made for them as well, all drastically different from one another, but the universal idea was 'this is MY guitar, I might own others but this one is the representation of me.' I think that's a really cool idea.
Versatility is much more about what is in YOUR fingers than what your instrument is made of. My perfect idea of an instrument is a semi-hollow with two humbuckers, but I'm still searching for one with the right feel (I've found plenty with the right look and sound). I'm willing to drop money on it because I know, within myself, that I'm the sort of player that only requires one good instrument with a small handful of sounds.
That's not saying that that idea might switch in a few years either. If you take that route, you'll probably end up with 5-6 really nice, high end instruments down the road that really fit you. Slash may have a full room of Les Pauls, but they are all set up like his, they all sound like his, functionally he only really has one 'guitar' because he knows his sound so well.
Disclaimer: This is my side of things, based on my experience, might not be right for you, might not be right for anyone else in this thread.
I come from a different circle of musicians, mostly jazz players. Most jazz guitarists I know (and the ones I listen to) treat their instrument as if it were a saxophone, or a drum kit, or a trumpet: they invest the money to have one custom made, one that feels and sounds the way that best represents their voice.
Through most of my jazz career I used a hollowbody guitar made of cherry, with a mahogany neck and a single P90 in the neck. The guitar had this massive baseball bat neck that felt absolutely at home in my relatively giant, spindly fingers. No matter whether I was playing trad gigs, modern gigs, samba, dixieland, even a few pop gigs, that single guitar served me, and I could rely on it. All of my fellow jazzers ended up having custom made instruments made for them as well, all drastically different from one another, but the universal idea was 'this is MY guitar, I might own others but this one is the representation of me.' I think that's a really cool idea.
Versatility is much more about what is in YOUR fingers than what your instrument is made of. My perfect idea of an instrument is a semi-hollow with two humbuckers, but I'm still searching for one with the right feel (I've found plenty with the right look and sound). I'm willing to drop money on it because I know, within myself, that I'm the sort of player that only requires one good instrument with a small handful of sounds.
That's not saying that that idea might switch in a few years either. If you take that route, you'll probably end up with 5-6 really nice, high end instruments down the road that really fit you. Slash may have a full room of Les Pauls, but they are all set up like his, they all sound like his, functionally he only really has one 'guitar' because he knows his sound so well.
Disclaimer: This is my side of things, based on my experience, might not be right for you, might not be right for anyone else in this thread.
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
I have to say getting one High end guitar can make all the difference. The attention to detail, sustain, the feeling you get when you hold it, makes all the difference. I have owned everything form peavey, Gibson, Ibanez, Jackson, Charvel, esp, and more. Some were as much as 800.00 and some as little as 125.00, pretty average range. I started playing at 13, and Im older than I want to be right now =P What tends to happen with affordable guitars, is they start breaking down, tremolos rust, tuning gets wacky, lacks sustain and depth, volume knobs scratch, pickups need replacing on most. You always wonder in the back of your head, will that nice guitar change everything.? 4 years ago I said forget it, its time to buy something nice. I tried all kinds of guitars without price being an option, well 4000.00 was my limit. I ended up getting a caparison TAT and have not looked back. I did not even get to play this guitar before purchasing, I had only seen stuff online. I read some reviews about the bridge pickup being too bright, so I had a bare knuckle warpig installed in it. When I received the guitar, I could not tell what changed instantly. It sounded great, and felt good, but it would be a year before it clicked. As time as gone on, I have found the tone is insane when compared to other guitars. The range of sounds I can get is astounding, the expressiveness of the notes is breath taking. Other guitars now seem dead and lifeless to me. I can get so much more expression and emotion out of this guitar, compared to any other. I think it also becomes a relationship, too many and your just sleeping around. You never get intimate or close enough to truly know the soul. When you keep reaching for that one guitar, you are getting involved. She starts talking and becomes an extension of yourself. Its really quite amazing, there is no better way I can explain it. My advice is, buy that one guitar, it will make the biggest difference in your playing. Don't be a guitar whore, =P
I have to say getting one High end guitar can make all the difference. The attention to detail, sustain, the feeling you get when you hold it, makes all the difference. I have owned everything form peavey, Gibson, Ibanez, Jackson, Charvel, esp, and more. Some were as much as 800.00 and some as little as 125.00, pretty average range. I started playing at 13, and Im older than I want to be right now =P What tends to happen with affordable guitars, is they start breaking down, tremolos rust, tuning gets wacky, lacks sustain and depth, volume knobs scratch, pickups need replacing on most. You always wonder in the back of your head, will that nice guitar change everything.? 4 years ago I said forget it, its time to buy something nice. I tried all kinds of guitars without price being an option, well 4000.00 was my limit. I ended up getting a caparison TAT and have not looked back. I did not even get to play this guitar before purchasing, I had only seen stuff online. I read some reviews about the bridge pickup being too bright, so I had a bare knuckle warpig installed in it. When I received the guitar, I could not tell what changed instantly. It sounded great, and felt good, but it would be a year before it clicked. As time as gone on, I have found the tone is insane when compared to other guitars. The range of sounds I can get is astounding, the expressiveness of the notes is breath taking. Other guitars now seem dead and lifeless to me. I can get so much more expression and emotion out of this guitar, compared to any other. I think it also becomes a relationship, too many and your just sleeping around. You never get intimate or close enough to truly know the soul. When you keep reaching for that one guitar, you are getting involved. She starts talking and becomes an extension of yourself. Its really quite amazing, there is no better way I can explain it. My advice is, buy that one guitar, it will make the biggest difference in your playing. Don't be a guitar whore, =P
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
For me the non-negotiable electrics are tele and les paul. I've tried strats and a semi hollow--335-style, but I always come back to tele and lp, and mods to each don't get the tone of the other very well. The Fano fano alto de facto comes pretty close, and if I could have just one electric, that would probably be it.
For me the non-negotiable electrics are tele and les paul. I've tried strats and a semi hollow--335-style, but I always come back to tele and lp, and mods to each don't get the tone of the other very well. The Fano fano alto de facto comes pretty close, and if I could have just one electric, that would probably be it.
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DreX
New member
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
My cheap guitars have only been Epis and Fender products, so I can't speak to other affordable brands, but I think what really happens is that you learned how to treat a guitar properly through your experience with the cheap guitars, and that it was you who changed, not the guitar. An example of that is fret wear, new players always murder the first four or five frets because they haven't learned how much pressure to apply to the strings. My brother and I saved for and bought MIA Fenders when we were young thinking they were a must have since that all the pros ever used, and we did trash them in every manner you said you trashed your cheapos. Except for the pickups, how did you destroy the pickups? Did you poor beer on your guitar?
My cheap guitars have only been Epis and Fender products, so I can't speak to other affordable brands, but I think what really happens is that you learned how to treat a guitar properly through your experience with the cheap guitars, and that it was you who changed, not the guitar. An example of that is fret wear, new players always murder the first four or five frets because they haven't learned how much pressure to apply to the strings. My brother and I saved for and bought MIA Fenders when we were young thinking they were a must have since that all the pros ever used, and we did trash them in every manner you said you trashed your cheapos. Except for the pickups, how did you destroy the pickups? Did you poor beer on your guitar?
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
In my experience, one guitar did not lead to big differences in my playing, practicing and playing a lot does. Again, it's not the number of guitars, it's what you do with them. You may do best with familiarity, others do better with variety. One size does not fit all. Thanks for the testimonial.
'Guitar whores' are good for the economy, and those funds in turn go into more guitar developments and options.
In my experience, one guitar did not lead to big differences in my playing, practicing and playing a lot does. Again, it's not the number of guitars, it's what you do with them. You may do best with familiarity, others do better with variety. One size does not fit all. Thanks for the testimonial.
'Guitar whores' are good for the economy, and those funds in turn go into more guitar developments and options.
vinta9e
New member
Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?
But they are bad for the industry who's now more than ever interested in making toys.
But they are bad for the industry who's now more than ever interested in making toys.