Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

1. Constantly tweak the truss rod/action - Early on, I used to leave the truss rod cover off so that I could tweak it nearly every DAY if I felt like it, but it's a vicious cycle. I finally broke down and got pro setups for most of my main guitars and learned to play almost any setup by training my hands. Even if I can get the setup to 90+% by myself, it's worth every penny if someone better than me can get it to 95-100%.

2. My intent is to stop constantly buying new guitars or cycling through my current guitars - I already can't make up my mind which one to play. Buying another one wouldn't make me more creative; only more indecisive. I intentionally limit myself to 2 electrics per song project when recording now (acoustic is the 3rd guitar if used). I tend to play those guitars exclusively for a week or two to become more connected with them before recording. Having said all this, I've currently got my radar out for an Alpine White Les Paul Custom (Randy Rhoads style) and ESP Horizon..... because I'm a weakling.....

3. Store guitars in the case - I like to look at them, daily. I keep almost my entire arsenal in the den (and a few stragglers in the home office), because I don't want them to be subject to temp/humidity flux in my unfinished basement. The gf is not amused by so many guitars in one room (too Wayne's World?)......but it's my house.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

OMG, it is SO fun! I bought a badly warped Aria hollowbody and a set of strings for $15 in 1987, got it playable, then reduced it to pieces that Friday. I still have the headstock.
Bought a badly warped acoustic at a Goodwill for $10 around 1990. Used it for writing, then in 1996 taped an old Tiesco pickup on the face, used it for one song, then dropped it and stomped it to toothpicks.
Totally carthartic. Hell, I think I need to start shopping for a badly-warped guitar for under $20...

A buddy of mine did that with an old plywood "SG". For another friend's documentary that he did of their band, for a communications class final in college.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

I no longer put .009s on all of them anymore.. My short scales get .10s. (big whoop I know)
I recently discovered the joy of down tuning my acoustics! half step down made a big diff, esp on the 12 string.
Im still pretty anal about taking care of them, but no longer baby them to a fault.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

1.
2. My intent is to stop constantly buying new guitars or cycling through my current guitars - I already can't make up my mind which one to play. Buying another one wouldn't make me more creative; only more indecisive. I intentionally limit myself to 2 electrics per song project when recording now (acoustic is the 3rd guitar if used). I tend to play those guitars exclusively for a week or two to become more connected with them before recording. Having said all this, I've currently got my radar out for an Alpine White Les Paul Custom (Randy Rhoads style) and ESP Horizon..... because I'm a weakling

Sounds like a good way to break......
I agree here.. Dont need any more and keep telling myself I need to sell some. But.. I want one of the new Charvel DKs and I want a blueberry burst LP...

 

[Mincer]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

No more halfstacks (although I have a nice Marshall JCM 2000 TSL 100 head right next to me). I don't play without hearing protection. And I try to get all of my gear from the car to the stage in one trip.

 

[jmh151]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

I no longer hang them on my walls for display- sure it's really cool to see 12 guitars hanging on your wall, until you realize weather changes affect them more, necks warp and need adjustment, dust and grime builds up, and you need to do setups on them all. Now they all stay protected in their cases or gig bags.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

Oh yeah...

Went down to 9s. I already have enough nerve damage and tendon issues in my hands. No more "tough guy" for me.

 

[dave74]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

take them to my local music-store "techs"

 

[BartOfDarkness]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

1: Setting up my guitars myself: I just don't enjoy it like I used to, and I have an awesome tech
2: Having my guitar setup to be difficult to play: I got caught up in a lot of internet BS when I was a teenager that thin strings sound s*** and high action gave you better tone. I got sick of fighting with my guitars a couple of years ago, so now my guitars have low action with 9-46 strings and I've never been happier with how my guitars sound and play.
3: Stacking the cases of my main two guitars: This just became a pain in the a** overtime and I'd end up grabbing whichever guitar was in the top case until I got sick of playing it. Now I have a stand that fits the two cases and all my beater guitars that I don't keep in a case.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

A buddy of mine did that with an old plywood "SG". For another friend's documentary that he did of their band, for a communications class final in college.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

Seriously, it is so fun I remember it vividly and it was 30 years ago. I forgot to mention, my brother ran around picking up all the hardware. I used and/or sold every single piece. Nothing wasted, snout to tail!

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

3) Go bottom-feeder cheap with my gear.

For the same reasons I just stated. Look, I've got a Affinity Strat I bought used for peanuts in 2010 that I liked a lot. Right now it needs a new nut, its frets are shot and the electronics are noisy and failing.
So as fun as it was for a while, it's now become a hassle. I don't wanna sell it because it's so cheap I'll get nothing, and it's a pretty guitar actually, but IMO it's pointless to invest on it because it needs a lot done and I don't have any spare parts for it. And I certainly don't want anything with the word "project" on my to-do list.

So I think my next guitar purchases will all be over a certain pricepoint that guarantees a good life, without falling to pieces.

Just venting out a bit, as well as trying to get an idea regarding how you deal with your gear and your priority changes during your years.

Thanks for saying that. I was on the fence about hanging onto a First Act body/Squire neck p.o.s.caster I have that plays and sounds decent. Now I'm going to part it out for sure.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

1. Constantly tweak the truss rod/action - Early on, I used to leave the truss rod cover off so that I could tweak it nearly every DAY if I felt like it, but it's a vicious cycle. I finally broke down and got pro setups for most of my main guitars and learned to play almost any setup by training my hands. Even if I can get the setup to 90+% by myself, it's worth every penny if someone better than me can get it to 95-100%.

2. My intent is to stop constantly buying new guitars or cycling through my current guitars - I already can't make up my mind which one to play. Buying another one wouldn't make me more creative; only more indecisive. I intentionally limit myself to 2 electrics per song project when recording now (acoustic is the 3rd guitar if used). I tend to play those guitars exclusively for a week or two to become more connected with them before recording. Having said all this, I've currently got my radar out for an Alpine White Les Paul Custom (Randy Rhoads style) and ESP Horizon..... because I'm a weakling.....

3. Store guitars in the case - I like to look at them, daily. I keep almost my entire arsenal in the den (and a few stragglers in the home office), because I don't want them to be subject to temp/humidity flux in my unfinished basement. The gf is not amused by so many guitars in one room (too Wayne's World?)......but it's my house.

Same here for 1&2, right down to the gas for a white LP Custom ala Randy Rhoads. I'm the opposite on #3 though, I used to leave them out, but it seems like every time I pick one up the pots and/or switches are bad, so now they sit in their cases

 

[dotsdad]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

OMG, it is SO fun! I bought a badly warped Aria hollowbody and a set of strings for $15 in 1987, got it playable, then reduced it to pieces that Friday. I still have the headstock.
Bought a badly warped acoustic at a Goodwill for $10 around 1990. Used it for writing, then in 1996 taped an old Tiesco pickup on the face, used it for one song, then dropped it and stomped it to toothpicks.
Totally carthartic. Hell, I think I need to start shopping for a badly-warped guitar for under $20...

it sounds like you would enjoy Diegos worn out Squier

 

[Ascension]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

1- Swap pickups as soon as I get a guitar. Not saying I don't swap pickups at times but try to buy a guitar that has a unique voice and keep it that way. Examples are my PRS Custom 24 still has the HFS/VB + the 5 way rotary in it. My 1990 Carvin X220C still has the M22SD in the bridge and the M22N in the neck. Both those guitars have a unique voice that works for certain things so kept them as they were intended to be.
2- Never EVER leave my guitars out on a stand. They get cleaned and put in the case after every gig no exceptions. Tired of fighting dirty pots and jacks + necks moving round!
3- Don't buy and sell guitars as much. Regret selling to many to buy that next newest greater thing only to find I liked what I had better. When I find something that I like I keep it.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

1: Setting up my guitars myself: I just don't enjoy it like I used to, and I have an awesome tech
2: Having my guitar setup to be difficult to play: I got caught up in a lot of internet BS when I was a teenager that thin strings sound s*** and high action gave you better tone. I got sick of fighting with my guitars a couple of years ago, so now my guitars have low action with 9-46 strings and I've never been happier with how my guitars sound and play.
3: Stacking the cases of my main two guitars: This just became a pain in the a** overtime and I'd end up grabbing whichever guitar was in the top case until I got sick of playing it. Now I have a stand that fits the two cases and all my beater guitars that I don't keep in a case.

Setting up doesn't bother me, even with eight guitars around at any given time it's not like I ever have to tweak more than yearly, and it never takes over twenty minutes at worst of I have to mess with floating the trem or something... Unless you do your own fretwork or something, which I do not. What does bother me is the hassle of dropping off a guitar with a tech, and not having it for a few weeks.

Hear you on heavy strings, I mostly just don't get it. Especially "offset people" who insist upon using terrible 13+ gauge Daddarrio Chromes and such... Uggh. The ease of playing and greater natural compression from lighter strings feels and sounds better to me most of the time.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

I also don't leave my guitars in the car anymore between gigs. Ever. So many musician friends had their gear stolen that way.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

I also don't leave my guitars in the car anymore between gigs. Ever. So many musician friends had their gear stolen that way.

Plus a great way toward a cracked finish, or worse. Hot cars aren't fun places for guitars.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

it sounds like you would enjoy Diegos worn out Squier

Absolutely! But only if he will sell it to me for $20...

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

I also don't leave my guitars in the car anymore between gigs. Ever. So many musician friends had their gear stolen that way.

In summer here it would be like throwing your guitar in the oven.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Things you used to do with your guitars you won't do anymore?

Oh yeah...

Went down to 9s. I already have enough nerve damage and tendon issues in my hands. No more "tough guy" for me.

8's and 9's are awesome! Sure its slightly less sustain and low end or what have you, but not all that much and its so much easier on the guitars and your fingers like you said. Ive developed such a light touch as a result, but that is a good thing as well...