Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

[dominus]

Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

Figure out what sound you're looking for, and then figure out what you need to get there. If you don't need a ton of different sounds, you don't need a ton of guitars.

That said, stick with the middle-priced stuff and find the one that works for you. And then settle on two or three of those.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

If you're a player that plays a lot of different genres, there's little chance you'll be able to cover it all with one guitar.

I don't actually agree with that view as such.

If you are operating in one genre and record an album you need to do everything possible to make the different songs on the album not to sound alike. The small difference you get from different guitars suitable for the same genre, when combined with other diversifications within the genre, can give you a real edge here.

Or the other way rounds if you just use the "best guitar for your genre" you are setting yourself up to the "well another one of those" reaction.

 

[jimijames]

Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

I mean, I understand why you might want as many guitars as possible, because the variety is exciting.

But, I'm gravitating more and more towards just having a single, do-everything guitar. I mean, a good esquire IMO will get very good sounds, clean and dirty, and everywhere in between.

Really, I prefer to get different colors from stopboxes, and just have a guitar that can get me in the ballpark.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

I've never been seriously tempted by the idea. I've owned some pretty high-quality guitars, and I own one now, but I like the variety too much. Even if I found a guitar that was essentially perfect for everything, I'd still want multiples of them with different pickups.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

I don't actually agree with that view as such.

If you are operating in one genre and record an album you need to do everything possible to make the different songs on the album not to sound alike. The small difference you get from different guitars suitable for the same genre, when combined with other diversifications within the genre, can give you a real edge here.

Or the other way rounds if you just use the "best guitar for your genre" you are setting yourself up to the "well another one of those" reaction.

I think I'm missing something in translation here. I didn't mention anything against having different guitars for one particular genre, I was addressing the players that do a lot of different kinds of music. I'd like to think I can cover a lot with my tele, but realistically, the low mid girth is missing that folks who play hard rock or metal, for instance, would look for (yes, pedal stacking will give me some more girth, but it's not a facsimile). I think there are certain aspects of music where having multiple instruments is advantageous and limiting to one instrument isn't realistic unless you're very particular about having a signature on your compositions.

I get what you're saying, which is that having different instruments for one genre can create different depth, especially in a recording scenario and I'll agree to that. I think for general songwriting and performing, you don't really need multiple flavors. Look at a proficient musician such as "wah wah". He has proven he gets by just fine with a strat. Recording in a studio with a P90 guitar or humbucker guitar for some contrast is a good idea, but not a necessity. Some of us like the comfort of getting to know one instrument inside and out and learning to use that instead of simply switching to something else because it's different.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

I think I'm missing something in translation here. I didn't mention anything against having different guitars for one particular genre, I was addressing the players that do a lot of different kinds of music. I'd like to think I can cover a lot with my tele, but realistically, the low mid girth is missing that folks who play hard rock or metal, for instance, would look for (yes, pedal stacking will give me some more girth, but it's not a facsimile). I think there are certain aspects of music where having multiple instruments is advantageous and limiting to one instrument isn't realistic unless you're very particular about having a signature on your compositions.

I get what you're saying, which is that having different instruments for one genre can create different depth, especially in a recording scenario and I'll agree to that. I think for general songwriting and performing, you don't really need multiple flavors. Look at a proficient musician such as "wah wah". He has proven he gets by just fine with a strat. Recording in a studio with a P90 guitar or humbucker guitar for some contrast is a good idea, but not a necessity. Some of us like the comfort of getting to know one instrument inside and out and learning to use that instead of simply switching to something else because it's different.

FWIW I do that with photography lenses. At least the ones that talk to me.

 

[Scott_F]

Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

I have turned into a collector it seems. That one high end guitar from 13 years ago became several. They adorn my shop wall. They make me smile when looked upon like the fine art they are.

Some guys collect vintage cars and such. To each their own.

Different weeks I find myself wanting to play different ones. But normally I'll play them all into whatever new amp I'm building.

There are a lot of low end and middle ones I regret selling. But none so much I go out and re-acquire.


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[Liko]

Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

I have been tempted, in fact I currently am being tempted, to try to do it all with one guitar. I'm currently saving my pennies for a Warmoth HSH Strat build with P-Rails and a bunch of wiring tricks, to give me a single axe that can theoretically replicate any pickup combination you could get with a Strat, Tele or LP. The price tag is in the $1300 range, $1600 if I want to upgrade to a flame maple neck over normal quartersawn.

However, I go into this project knowing the resulting guitar will never sound exactly like anything except what it is; an HSH Strat with P-Rails. So, I see the value in keeping my SC Strat (now both of them, one with traditional SCs and one with gold Lace Sensors) and my Epi LP (though it needs a pickup upgrade desperately), and I plan to do so if for no other reason than to be able to say that I own a Strat and an LP.

Just like guns, be mindful of the man who only has one guitar; he probably knows how to play it.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

One guitar luthier built to you exact specification, or many different mass-production guitars?

I had a guitar built to my specs about ten years ago. It cost me a bundle. It's a really cool guitar but, to be honest, it's not even among the top five guitars on my depth chart today. Some of the features I put on it don't matter so much to me and some of my more recent acquisitions suit my tastes better. Unless you have some very specific wants that are driven by things that bug you about other guitars you've played and have a well-formed vision of what the custom guitar is supposed to be, I'd recommend not commissioning a custom build.

Right now, my depth chart has a couple of Parkers at the top. Following that are my MusicMan and some of my PRS. The custom guitar falls in before some of my other PRS guitars. At this point you're wondering why I keep guitars that I don't play all that much. I do that because I don't expect my preferences to remain constant. Those three categories (Parker, MM, PRS) cover the bases well enough that if (when?) my tastes change again, it'll probably be back towards one of the other ones. I've found great examples of each type of instrument so I hold on to 'em for when the mood strikes me again.

My $0.02, FWIW, IMHO, etc.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

this is really a loaded question and one only you can decide. I too have the same struggle. I have numerous guitars and think all the time that I should thin the herd. I think I should unload em all and get one, or even unload them and keep one that I have. I think this when Im being real about my abilities.

Now, In your case.. Some things I would ask myself, since you did mention you've learned to play many things on on setup.

Do you need sounds that are not avail from one guitar? Example: you have a les paul, but play alot of country stuff that you would benefit from a Tele. Or strat single coil tone.
With coil tapping, you can get close.. I know lots of guys that do covers and can cover alot of ground with one guitar. Most crowds recognize the song if played properly whether you have a single coil or not

Can you be satisfied with one guitar? I like variety, but keep telling myself that LOTS of great players have one (or so) main guitars and cover all bases. SRV, EVH's frankie and so on.

Try to decide what you need, what you want and whether one guitar can get you there. If so, try to decide what or why your current guitar cant. And then decide where to go from there.. If you can get it all in one, and your current axe is lacking, then get the one that trips your trigger.

Id like to get a custom made of something, but one guitar could probably get me only 80-90%. Thats why I havent gone that route. Im still working on "my sound" so I cant pinpoint my exact needs

 

[chewpac]

Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

fwiw, most of my guitars are middle of the road in price and fancy-ness. i like it that way. i'd love a sick PRS, but i would be a little more hesitant to bring it to practice/gigs. i like to use (not abuse) my stuff, but things happen. i tend to find myself gravitating toward 2 of the 5 electrics that i own most often, but the others scratch their respective itches too well for me to want to get rid of them in favor of anything else. i feel less guilty about modding a mid priced axe, anyway, and I know myself pretty well. I can't leave well enough alone.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

Also, if you have a very expensive guitar, you tend to start treating it with kid gloves, even to the point of it becoming a case queen.

"Case queen", never heard that one. I like it.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

I think the idea is a sound one and one to strive for. For a "THE ONE" guitar principle to work, you'd have to narrow your field of influences a little and attempt to hone what it is those various sounds need in a guitar...then narrow down further and achieve an even tighter focus on your style. There will be a point where your skills at a particular genre become top-notch and your gear will economize itself to it's bare essentials; especially if you're gigging.

Having said that, I don't think there's a reason to think a guitar needs to be a one-off to achieve perfection in a guitar-driven music genre. MIDI excluded, a guitar already comes pretty well fitted for it's use, off the shelf. I also don't think there's a reason to spend a mint on it at all.

But...I also wouldn't want a THE ONE guitar either. They're pretty things.

 

[jacksontrader]

Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

I'm a bit of a collector of mid level guitars, lol, I have about 30 of them, they are all different sounding and I like different things about each one. Priorities will answer your question, not people on a forum. Good luck.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

I just noticed another thing. The expensive guitars I own are all very specialized, not universal.

What is a high-end universal guitar, anyway? A mahogany, carved maple top, HSS Suhr?

 

[VanDerchuck]

Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

I'm doing it. Not a major high end guitar. I'm selling my tele and my Les Paul and I think in going with my new SG. At least for the next ten years.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

When I get coil tappers in my SG I'll see how Swiss Army Knife it becomes for me.

 

[DreX]

Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

What exactly is wrong with your mid range guitars? What's the deficiency?

I really hope it's specific problems that have to do with playability and tone, and not the fact that it's not made in America.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

I've had 9 different electric guitars in the 7.5 years I've been playing, from terrible and not so terrible Pacific Rim imports, mid-range American built, high end American production, and even a custom piece from the 70's. I've come to the conclusion that cheaper guitars are just not for me. The only Asian made guitars I've ever enjoyed were Japanese made. All of the Indonesian, Chinese, Korean, and like guitars I've owned or played had a feeling that I would describe as toy-like. They looked like real guitars, but they don't feel/play like them.

I used to think that I could have one guitar that could do it all, but it doesn't work. They become jacks of all trades but masters of none. I currently own three HSH strat-type guitars, and as much as I want them to do the Strat thing, for all of the wiring options they have they just won't do it. So I'll be converting my MIJ Fender back to a SSS (or maybe HSS) when I get my custom build later this year.

So I guess the conclusion I've come to is to just have a bunch of high end guitars. Since I don't like low and mid range guitars and one guitar doesn't do it for me, I don't see much of an option.

 

[voggin]

Re: Every been tempted to just settle for one high-end guitar?

I had one electric for many years, a strat that I still have that I bought new in 1993. Now I have two more, a 339 and a Les Paul, both of which I bought used over the last 3 years or so. there have been a few "in and out" guitars in between, but I think these three are keepers.

It's hard to say, really, and there are different views of what's high end or low end. I consider a used $1500 lp standard "high end". On TGP, they'd laugh me off the island. On the Agile forum, they'd call me a corksniffer.

I still have a couple of guitars I would like to own, but the ones I have cover sufficient territory that I can be patient and find that perfect combination of great deal/great guitar that my cheap nature needs.

Phil, I'm like you, I always think I should have a tele, but I've never found the one for me (now I've f***ing jinxed myself, and tomorrow I'll walk into a shop and find the bastard).

I'd also like a jazz box some day, like a used Ibanez Joe Pass from the 80s or a George Benson. Used 175s are just stupid expensive.

Where was I going with this? Sorry, sitting here in Canada celebrating the Quebec election results. Maybe too much.