Is it possible to have too many guitars?

[ratherdashing]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

There's definitely nothing wrong with being a collector. You can spend your money however you wish.

It's kind of funny though to see collectors trip over themselves to justify their collection. "This one's chambered and this one's just weight relieved, so obviously the tone is different, and I need both those tones for the Youtube video of me playing Mr. Brownstone." And so forth.

You don't have to do that. All you have to say is "I collect guitars because they're cool." There's nothing wrong with that, in and of itself.

I guess if you're living in a van down by the river and you have 36 guitars, you maaaaay have a problem, but again, it's your life.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

At some point, you have to ask yourself whether you're a guitar player, or a guitar collector.

Why? I could be one or other, neither or both at the same time. It really doesn't matter...

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

There's definitely nothing wrong with being a collector. You can spend your money however you wish.

It's kind of funny though to see collectors trip over themselves to justify their collection. "This one's chambered and this one's just weight relieved, so obviously the tone is different, and I need both those tones for the Youtube video of me playing Mr. Brownstone." And so forth.

You don't have to do that. All you have to say is "I collect guitars because they're cool." There's nothing wrong with that, in and of itself.

I guess if you're living in a van down by the river and you have 36 guitars, you maaaaay have a problem, but again, it's your life.

LMAO!!!! I can see Chris Farley right now...

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

Why? I could be one or other, neither or both at the same time. It really doesn't matter...

No, you really need to sit down and think about the direction your life is taking, son.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

No, you really need to sit down and think about the direction your life is taking, son.

Awwwww, Dad!

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

Why? I could be one or other, neither or both at the same time. It really doesn't matter...

Yeah, true; a person can certainly be both, but it's pretty rare to be both in equal balance.

Guys like Joe Bonamassa are extremely rare: elite player + elite collector.

 

[Jermo3178]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

The only time you can have too many guitars, is when you can't justify getting another one..

 

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

Ah!

Duplication would mean identical. A different finish qualifies for a free pass, hence my 20+ limit.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

The only time you can have too many guitars, is when you can't get your goddamned door open.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

I guess if you're living in a van down by the river and you have 36 guitars, you maaaaay have a problem, but again, it's your life.

I think most of us secretly want to live in a van down by the river.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

Yeah, true; a person can certainly be both, but it's pretty rare to be both in equal balance.

Guys like Joe Bonamassa are extremely rare: elite player + elite collector.

I'd agree that it's unlikely to strike that equal balance; my wild stab in the dark would suggest that only occurs by accident, or by a lot of conscious effort. My point really is that I don't think it's of any importance, except to the chattering classes (which in this instance may be us here at SDUGF).

The point on JB interests me though, but primarily for the use of the word "elite". Why is that word necessary? Is collecting or playing subject to such categorisation? How would that apply to me for instance? It's reasonably well known on here that I have quite a few guitars of a variety of styles. Purchase value-wise, they range anywhere between £280.00 to £2,300.00 (somewhat more than I could buy the same things in the US FWIW). Do 25 guitars in that value range consitute any less of a collection than what Joe Bonamassa has - in their intrinsic value and from historical importance perspective, probably not, but I don't think that makes it any less "a collection". My standard of playing (competent, but not fit to use in a band setting) certainly doesn't get me anywhere near what JB (or half the guys on here)'s standard. Again, I'm still a player, just not one that's going to attract an admiring audience.

Ultimately though, I don't feel a need to break any of this down in these terms. I have guitars, I play them; end of discussion if you will.

Back to the OP though, "is it possible to have too many guitars?" - I guess it is, but the only one who has any responsiblity for saying that is the one who thinks they owns too many guitars. It's then their issue to make a decision on whether they wishes to do anything about that.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

If you're a player and you have duplicate instruments that you never have a need to play and they don't provide any unique tones needed, perhaps yes.

If you are a collector and you have guitars that are neither going up in value and/or you can't find a buyer for, perhaps yes.

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

I have four more but these fellows get 99.9% of the action. So you could say that I own too many. A nylon string and a semi-hollow electric are the only additions that I'd really like to have.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

There's definitely nothing wrong with being a collector. You can spend your money however you wish.

It's kind of funny though to see collectors trip over themselves to justify their collection. "This one's chambered and this one's just weight relieved, so obviously the tone is different, and I need both those tones for the Youtube video of me playing Mr. Brownstone." And so forth.

I haven't laughed so hard at a comment in a while, thanks!

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

I think I finally have hit a point in my life where less is better on a lot of things.

I am selling off at least 4 guitars and I will only be replacing it with 1 for now.

I am trying to simplify, I am finding that really it suits me well.

That sums me up lately.

Being pretty much a blues rock and old school hard rock/punk rock sorta guy, with the infrequent venture as a sideman to an electric folk band guy, I find that my two Teles and two Hamer Specials pretty much cover that. If I can't get the sound I need from those, then I'm the problem.

I used to have 13 guitars. A move overseas is what cut that collection down to size, but I'm quite happy with it, and I feel like more would be beyond what my playing needs require.

It's a great question, Stratman. I look at it from a needs' perspective, but the collector perspective may lead to a much different answer. Ultimately, I think what Crusty said early about being honest with one's self is the key.

 

[jtougas]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

It's only a danger when you go into brainlock trying to figure out which one you want to play...

 

[DreX]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

It's kind of funny though to see collectors trip over themselves to justify their collection. "This one's chambered and this one's just weight relieved, so obviously the tone is different, and I need both those tones for the Youtube video of me playing Mr. Brownstone." And so forth.

Being on a pickup forum, I'd expect this to be the sort of place where members appreciate subtle differences more often than not. At the moment I have two Strats that are nearly identical, one with Ant I Texas Hots and another with Ant II Surfers, otherwise all the same, have custom controls but those are the same too. The only difference between the two is that one has magnets that are a little weaker that the other, A2 or degaussed A5 versus full strength A5. To me the difference is loud and clear. It's sort of temporary anyway, I don't know how long either guitar will have either pickup for, but there are many ahead of them on the chopping block.

I don't really think a lot of people collect with the intention of profiting, but rather it's good to have an exit strategy so if you have to liquidate for some reason the damage won't be so bad. That also means you have to keep the guitars bone stock, or be prepared to return them to stock condition, and that's no fun.

 

[CTN]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

I can understand collecting things like stamps or coins or random things that have no real use anymore but do have an incredible amount of historical significance and therefore historical value.

But things like instruments... man, those things should be played, not just looked at....well, as long as they're in good enough condition to be played, at any rate.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

I'm not into duplication. I would never have 10 nearly identical Strats or LPs, for example, or any other groups of clones for the same purpose. I don't see the point.

I think it's safe to say that every piece of wood is unique. I'd be surprised if anyone who owns 10 of the same model doesn't know or appreciate that. So much for justifying GAS - somehow it's never difficult.

 

[Vengeance]

Re: Is it possible to have too many guitars?

at 30+ I don't care. I'll sell some maybe and then I'll buy some more.

I love them all!