Gear Advice You Wish You Could Have Given Yourself

[zizyphus]

Well gents, lets hear it

What gear advice do you wish you would have given yourself back years ago (or months ago, or last week, whatever)

It can be anything from "don't get sucked into the brand names / ad copy hype" to "save up to get what you want, instead of buying lots of junk", or "a transparent boost is just a volume pedal," or "DON'T SELL THAT EPIPHONE IT'S BETTER THAN YOU UNDERSTAND RIGHT NOW" ( that last one might be my own example lol)

One thing I'd definitely stress to myself, if I could go back and acquire gear with the knowledge I have now, is that "since you mod the shit out of everything anyway, just make sure your purchases have good bones, and go from there." Also, "the marketing department is not your friend".

 

[GuitarStv]

There's no shortcut. When you can play the piece of music better your tone will improve much more than when you buy extra crap. Took me embarrassingly long to really figure that one out.

 

[gsammo79]

A hotter pup isnt necessarily a better pup.

 

[pskorz]

There's no shortcut. When you can play the piece of music better your tone will improve much more than when you buy extra crap. Took me embarrassingly long to really figure that one out.

Absolutely. I’ve heard really good players sound fantastic doing SRV on a Les Paul/marshall rig. And guys with all the “right” equipment just not nail it.

 

[pskorz]

Oh yeah, and I should give my current self the same advice: quit shopping for gear and spend that time practicing!

 

[CipherArcher]

When I 14 I sold my guitar because I wanted to build a mini bike. "Don't ever sell your Gibson Les Paul kid! Have someone lock it up in a vault if that's what it takes!" It was a late 50's Standard.

Also, get a drive pedal!

 

[Blille]

“Instead of selling a pedal, put it in a box, wrap it and open it six months later”

 

[Aceman]

Above all...that Pink BC Rich NJ Warlock, 1986?....buy that and hold on to it. Get: That Blue Jackson 1988 in Tallahassee. Buy That Pink Vandenberg too.

That Yamaha Pacifica - Don't get rid of it. Buy your old Peavey Classic back.

Buy two more Diaz Tremodillos and three Klons.

Don't let that Hamster eat your Studio Pro.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

I think everyone should start out with the best gear possible, so that they know from the beginning what the real problem is.

Ha, my first thought was "save up your money while you live at home and buy the PRS CE24 now. It'll save you TONS of money and aggravation over the next 25 years."

 

[ICTGoober]

Don't sell the Rickenbacker 4001.
Don't sell the Ampeg V6-B.
Don't sell the Ibanez Lee Ritenour.
Don't sell the Robin Medley.
Don't sell the Dean E'Lite.
Don't sell the cherryburst Ibanez Artist.
Don't sell the '59 Les Paul, Jr.
Don't sell the '52 Telecaster.
Don't sell the Marshall double stack.
Don't sell the fretless Jazz Bass.
You get the idea....

 

[LLL]

Well gents, lets hear it

What gear advice do you wish you would have given yourself back years ago (or months ago, or last week, whatever)

Almost 4 decades ago:

"Learn to build it yourself."

(I eventually took this advice and have been happy since the very early 2Ks)

 

[Clint 55]

Bb made me get a 2k foot bass and I'm setting it 2 months later.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Buy the '59 Les Paul immediately - do NOT let your fiancee talk you into spending that $4K on a Celica instead.

 

[beaubrummels]

Save your money. Get the right tool for the job.

 

[Mincer]

Don't sell that Gibson to help the gf (at the time) pay for guitar repairs.

 

[Empty Pockets]

"Nobody on the Duncan forum understands how to actually sound good they're just nerds who obsess about numbers and specs"

 

[JamesPaul]

Buy a JSX at the first opportunity instead of buying a Triple XXX.

 

[justFred]

Stick with the keyboards. Don’t get into guitar, there is a whole heap of weird tone obsession going down wit dat thang…

 

[alex1fly]

Stop selling your stuff to try other stuff, bro.

Get a couple versatile amps instead of trying 15 pickups in a single guitar through a crappy amp, bro.

Start with a Tele and an SG instead of a Strat, bro.

 

[Liam1963]

Invest the time in understanding how your instrument works, so you can perform your own maintenance. Whether it's an apprenticeship with a qualified luthier/guitar technician, or on-line research, invest the time....