Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

[Gearjoneser]

I'm writing some new material with new bandmates, getting ready to launch a new band, and out of all my guitars, I'm picking the ones I plan on using.

As a player, I tend to worry less about midline guitars, but I'm finding that my favorite Les Paul is the one I've sworn away from using, for fear of damaging a $4000 Les Paul. In addition to that one, I just use $800 US Strats. I'm afraid of causing fretware and dings on my 35th Anniversary 89 Gibson LP Custom Black Beauty. It's always been kept mint in a safe. However, it's the best guitar I'll ever own in my lifetime, and I'm thinking of throwing caution to the wind and just making it my number one.

This Custom is just blowing my mind.....it's the best LP I've ever laid hands on......but it's a mint collectible and more like a $4000 investment. It's hard to believe, but I swiped this off a guy for $1300 5 years ago.

I realize I'll be gigging with some pricey stuff, and in the past I usually didn't roll out the goodies, but I figure you only live once......might as well do it in style.
The music style is similar to Black Crowes, Robert Plant, Floyd, and Doors.

Here's the rig I plan to use, if I decide to go with the black Custom, instead of my Goldtop LP.

Custom 5/57 Classic middle and neck (gold covers)

Chubtone 69 reverse stagger.

Custom/59 A5 hybrid/Chubtone 63

94 Bogner Ecstasy (white chassis original)

Martin D-28

Johnson Resonator

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

I can't say until the Duo Jet gets here (a $2300 guitar new, maybe $1200 or so used), but I'm not sure it'll supplant my Gem (a $1000 guitar) as my favorite. It might though!

Sure to be the most collectible guitar I own is the Designer Series Tele, of which there are 250. But that's not my favorite - although I might play best on it. And it might sound the best... Still not my favorite though.

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

Oh and you should use the Goldtop, and your Strats. Save the black beauty.

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

I was having the same issue with my Les Paul when I first got it. I ended up pretty much strictly playing my strat because it wasn't nearly as nice looking to me as my LP and wasnt nearly as expensive. I was also afraid of wearing down the frets, dings and other damage, etc. People poked fun at me knowing I would never play my LP and just basically opened the case to look at it... Many people said "what is the point of owning the guitar if you aren't going to play it?" Sooner or later I came to the realization that they were right and that guitars are meant to be played and that it would be a total waste to just let the guitar sit. Besides whats a few dings gonna hurt when people pay big money for guitars that are naturally and or artificially reliced? Everytime I worry about dings and other normal wear and tear it helps to remind myself of that.

 

[3'scompany]

Re: Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

I say use what ever you are comfortable playing and want to use. If you're afraid of messing up that LP Custom you probably won't play as well on it as you could on your others because of fear that you might damage it in the process.

However, I will say this. I'm not sure what your normal opinions are on the matter, but if you continue to put that thing in a safe and not utilize it like it was meant to be used you have no right to complain about collectors grabbing up gear and thus causing skyrocketing prices of collectable gear.

The bottom line is that you have to decide whether you want to be a collector or a musician when it comes to THIS particular piece of gear. Or you can try and balance both roles, but that gets harder. Nothing wrong with going either route though. Its your gear so you need to do what will make you happy because you have to live with that guitar. Nobody else does.

But me? I'd play it. I don't like the idea of guitars sitting around and not being used. I love my PRS Artist Package Cu22 as much now as I did when it was pristine. And it has enough damage now (all superficial) to make it worth probably $1500-1700 which is about half of what they sell for new, maybe even less now with the prices GC is charging for them. One thing that is good to remember is that guitars, at their core, are just tools of the trade.

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

That's one luxury I have with my LP, I don't ding it, but wearing off the super thin nitro gets me all excited. The best part of my week is realizing I "relic'ed" my LP just a little more.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

Many people said "what is the point of owning the guitar if you aren't going to play it?" Sooner or later I came to the realization that they were right and that guitars are meant to be played and that it would be a total waste to just let the guitar sit. Besides whats a few dings gonna hurt when people pay big money for guitars that are naturally and or artificially reliced? Everytime I worry about dings and other normal wear and tear it helps to remind myself of that.

That may be the best point of the thread. I figure I sought out these instruments, and will only be on this planet for X amount of years. What's the harm in using them like a hammer and saw? The only people that will cringe over a ding on that guitar are picky buyers.....at my family's estate sale when I die! LOL I'm never selling that LP or Bogner....ever. Others might be a revolving door, but not those 2.

 

[BigAlTheBird]

Re: Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

I'm careful with the stuff I know I'm gonna sell. When I thought I was selling the Melody Maker, I stopped playing (because I was already wearing off the finish where my arm goes). But now that I'm not selling it, I'm playing it like crazy.

The thing is, the only guitars I can still realistically see selling are the MM and the Duo Jet. And I doubt I'll ever get rid of the Duo Jet. I'm pretty sentimental when it comes to guitars.

Amps are a different bag. I'll have owned 50 by the time I'm 40 (not quite Joneser status, but I can try).

 

[GuitarGuy503]

Re: Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

You don't even have to decide on a main player(s). Play whatever guitar that feels right to you at the time or whatever guitar you think would sound the best for a specific song. Theres no reason to limit yourself when you don't have to. You only live once. Live everyday as if it were your last because your not guaranteed a tomorrow. Have fun with all the gear you got while you can.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

You don't even have to decide on a main player(s). Play whatever guitar that feels right to you at the time or whatever guitar you think would sound the best for a specific song. Theres no reason to limit yourself when you don't have to.

Up until now, I kept the black beauty in the closet, while using these 2.
I'm perfectly happy with these, but the black beauty just has something magical about it. I know people are thinking "poor guy, it must suck" I dunno, I like all my guitars, so in reality, I probably will do a revolving door with them.

The Gold has a Custom, honeyflame has a Brobucker, and Black has a C-5.

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

I haven't read anyone else's responses yet, but I say go for it if it's your favourite to play. When I buy a guitar I don't think what it's price tag will be, I play the hell out of it and love every moment doing so, and I would if I had a guitar in that price range. It's not a china plate or Gold Necklace, it's a GUITAR, it's meant to be PLAYED. Besides, in 20 years time it'll get 4K even if it is worn a bit. There's 60s Jags that are worn as hell fetching well over $2,000.

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

The point for me is Joe, that if the guitar feels that good you should play it. You'll need to have all your creative juices flowing for your songwriting and if that guitar inspires...
I don't think I'll ever be in the position to own such an instrument, but I reckon they were built to be played. I'm no collector so I would want to use, and show off, the best I've got.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

While I agree that guitars are meant to be played and none should be locked away in their cases, I have to pose these questions to you.

What happens if either your XTC or your LP gets stolen?
What are you going to do if your XTC has a meltdown?
Will Bogner rebuild it to that spec if it does?
What happens if you break the headstock on the LP? So much for worth if that happens.
Are they both insured for their full value? Are insured to gig with? A lot of insurance companies will not insure instruments or amps that are gigged with.

This is just an example but I'm sure you get the idea.

The Reverend Billy F. Gibbons has stated many times that Pearly is his best and #1 guitar but he refuses to tour w/ her anymore. It's not because she's irreplaceable. He could buy another 59 LP. It's because she's special to him and he couldn't bare the thought of losing her.

 

[Axl H]

Re: Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

Well, both my Strat and Charvel have a equal place in my heart. I have finally found a guitar that matches the Charvel And I gig with both of them. They are my favorite axes so of course I wanna use them

 

[Hoss]

Re: Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

That may be the best point of the thread. I figure I sought out these instruments, and will only be on this planet for X amount of years. What's the harm in using them like a hammer and saw? The only people that will cringe over a ding on that guitar are picky buyers.....at my family's estate sale when I die! LOL I'm never selling that LP or Bogner....ever. Others might be a revolving door, but not those 2.

you answered your own question...if you're never selling them...i say ROCK EM' HARD!!! :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

you answered your own question...if you're never selling them...i say ROCK EM' HARD!!! :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

Another succinct post from the Hoss stable!! +1, I'm with you on this one Bro!

 

[Aceman]

Re: Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

Best is a subjective thing. Best Looking? Best feeling? Best tone? Best tone for what sound? No such thing as an overall best. Just like pups!

 

[Aceman]

Re: Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

I'm thinking of throwing caution to the wind and just making it my number one.

but it's a mint collectible and more like a $4000 investment.

Regarding the first statement: LET IT ROCK! That pony needs to run!!!!!!!

As for the second: Is it an investment or an instrument? Pick one. Right now. If you said investment, put it away, lock it up and STF up. Done. Oh yes - and if that is the case, you are tragic. If it's an instrument, then PLAY IT LIKE YOU MEAN IT! Or I'll give you 1500 for it right now and someone who will play it can own it.

Stop being a gear ho or I'll pimp slap you!

 

[metlking]

Re: Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

You can't take it with you! Sure, I have several guitars that honestly I'll never/or hardly ever play, and for various reasons. But I couldn't leave the best playing/sounding one out of my collection in the closet! Forget about the current value and play it! I don't think you'll hurt it's value. People pay extra for relics, make this one authentic! The beat up guitars are the best playing ones, thats why they're beat up. The first ding is the hardest, once you get beyond that it gets easier, I'm sure you know what I mean! Besides, I can see the MOJO in that Black Beauty from here! It would be a shame not to let it out. Of course I might feel different if it was my guitar and I had spent $4000 on it, which you actually didn't right?

If it's the best, it'll bring out the best in you......

 

[cream123]

Re: Should your best guitar be your main guitar?

my number one isn't the one that sounds the best...it's the one with the best neck. But, consequently, that guitar also sounds the best.