Thinking about going down to one guitar. What would you do?

[J Moose]

Re: Thinking about going down to one guitar. What would you do?

Son, Hendrix was constantly buying guitars (most from Manny's in New York). He had many Strats (rosewood and maple), along with several V's, a couple SG Customs, a LP Custom, a 335, a Gretsch, etc. He played these guitars live & in the studio. While he played Strats the most often, he had no loyalty to them.

BB has gone thru many guitars himself, from an ES-5, Tele, 335, 345, 355, and many Lucilles. He settled on the 335 design, but he's gone thru dozens of them.

Don't use these guys as examples of "connecting with one guitar." Blows your whole theory. Makes the flowery, romantic vision of 'one man-one guitar' look like the BS it is. You can have one guitar for years & still sound like crap. Odds are if you have a collection, you know more about them, and can do more with them. It's a big world out there, why impose artificial limits?

That's all BS though.

Jimi must've thought that any & every strat was as good as any other strat to some degree...

Why else would he smash 'em to bits and set 'em on fire?!

Collections are only good if all the guitars are different... if I had 20 strats or 20 les pauls... 20 jacksons... 20 guitars that were basically the same thing...

That's not really a "working" collection.

IMO that's nothing but wall art.

Divide them into different things... different tunings... pickups... bridge systems & overall construction... and THAT'S a TRUE collection.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Thinking about going down to one guitar. What would you do?

Jimi must've thought that any & every strat was as good as any other strat to some degree...

Why else would he smash 'em to bits and set 'em on fire?!

Collections are only good if all the guitars are different... if I had 20 strats or 20 les pauls... 20 jacksons... 20 guitars that were basically the same thing...

That's not really a "working" collection.

IMO that's nothing but wall art.

Divide them into different things... different tunings... pickups... bridge systems & overall construction... and THAT'S a TRUE collection.

Jimi wrecked a few guitars in his early days, as a gimmick to get his name out there, but stopped that before long. He said "I don't want to be a clown anymore" referring to his wilder antics vs focusing on playing.

As far as collections only being "good if all the guitars are different"; it's really up to the individual collector on what he wants, and not meeting anyone else's arbitrary definitions. Is there some international rules society that sets standards for collections? I read once that Ritchie Blackmore had a collection of over 50 Strats. I guess you can tell him that's not a "true collection" and he needs to start over.

 

[guitarded]

Re: Thinking about going down to one guitar. What would you do?

I can honestly say I miss and regret every guitar I have let go over the years. So I no longer let any go. The case pile to the ceiling, but I don't care.

I currently have 4 guitars, one which is an acoustic that I recently purchased. I don't play them all enough but I want to get back into playing more. I'm thinking about just having one electric for now, so I can focus more on my playing. Problem is, I think I want to sell them all, and get a really good quality guitar that I would be happy with. One of my 3 electrics is my first electric guitar (Cort Strat copy), which while it has some sentimental value, is the cheapest of the bunch and might need some work done to it. The other 2 are my Epi's (G400 and LP) and I feel like I can let them go for something else.

What would you do in my situation? Should I sell the 2 Epi's for a new axe and keep the cheapie for sentimential value. Or should I consider using the Cort as my only axe?

I should also add that money is not so much the issue here, it's that I am running out of space to put all the guitars. Also, I think I am possibly bored with my guitars that I have(is that possible?).

 

[blueman335]

Re: Thinking about going down to one guitar. What would you do?

Blueman, Thank you soo much for setting the record straight!! I see now that I not only MUST keep all my herd, I need to get more!!!!
Bless you !!!! Blesssss you!!!

You know, you only live once, and most of us have paid our dues for many years. Why not have some guitars. Every one of them won't get exactly the same amount of attention, but so what. Not like they'll pout or develop personality disorders. If you're in the mood for this one, or that, it's there. Are you going to wait 20 or 30 years to indulge yourself a little; by then you'll have arthritis or your hearing will be gone. How can you play guitar in a wheelchair, Mr. Spendthrift?

We're Americans for God sake. We're consumers! Our economy, our way of life, is based on consumption. We weren't put on this planet to be frugal and live like monks (if that was our intended purpose, we'd have been born somewhere else). No, we buy things, we keep the wheels of the economy moving. The entire world looks up to us. They imitate us. What kind of role models would we be if stopped spending? We've slowed down our spending & the world stumbled. Do you want the entire world's economy to collapse because your old lady is nagging you to get rid of a guitar or two, or you have some sort of Puritanical guilt that says you shouldn't enjoy yourself? I say stand up to your destiny, your patriotic obligation as an American citizen, and march into a music store, point to a guitar on the wall, and say: "I'll take that one sir, and wrap it in red, white, and blue!"

"Oh say can you see, by the dawn's early light..."

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Thinking about going down to one guitar. What would you do?

You know, you only live once, and most of us have paid our dues for many years. Why not have some guitars. Every one of them won't get exactly the same amount of attention, but so what. Not like they'll pout or develop personality disorders. If you're in the mood for this one, or that, it's there. Are you going to wait 20 or 30 years to indulge yourself a little; by then you'll have arthritis or your hearing will be gone. How can you play guitar in a wheelchair, Mr. Spendthrift?

We're Americans for God sake. We're consumers! Our economy, our way of life, is based on consumption. We weren't put on this planet to be frugal and live like monks (if that was our intended purpose, we'd have been born somewhere else). No, we buy things, we keep the wheels of the economy moving. The entire world looks up to us. They imitate us. What kind of role models would we be if stopped spending? We've slowed down our spending & the world stumbled. Do you want the entire world's economy to collapse because your old lady is nagging you to get rid of a guitar or two, or you have some sort of Puritanical guilt that says you shouldn't enjoy yourself? I say stand up to your destiny, your patriotic obligation as an American citizen, and march into a music store, point to a guitar on the wall, and say: "I'll take that one sir, and wrap it in red, white, and blue!"

"Oh say can you see, by the dawn's early light..."

This is awesome. Gibson should put it on their home page.
:friday:

 

[blueman335]

Re: Thinking about going down to one guitar. What would you do?

This is awesome. Gibson should put it on their home page.

I can picture Al Bundy making this pronouncement in his living room.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Thinking about going down to one guitar. What would you do?

You know, you only live once, and most of us have paid our dues for many years. Why not have some guitars. Every one of them won't get exactly the same amount of attention, but so what. Not like they'll pout or develop personality disorders. If you're in the mood for this one, or that, it's there. Are you going to wait 20 or 30 years to indulge yourself a little; by then you'll have arthritis or your hearing will be gone. How can you play guitar in a wheelchair, Mr. Spendthrift?

We're Americans for God sake. We're consumers! Our economy, our way of life, is based on consumption. We weren't put on this planet to be frugal and live like monks (if that was our intended purpose, we'd have been born somewhere else). No, we buy things, we keep the wheels of the economy moving. The entire world looks up to us. They imitate us. What kind of role models would we be if stopped spending? We've slowed down our spending & the world stumbled. Do you want the entire world's economy to collapse because your old lady is nagging you to get rid of a guitar or two, or you have some sort of Puritanical guilt that says you shouldn't enjoy yourself? I say stand up to your destiny, your patriotic obligation as an American citizen, and march into a music store, point to a guitar on the wall, and say: "I'll take that one sir, and wrap it in red, white, and blue!"

"Oh say can you see, by the dawn's early light..."

Brother, this is one of the best things Ive read in years!! Im standing and holding my right hand over my heart and my left hand is reaching for my wallet!

Glory GLory hallelujah!

 

[wntbtw]

Re: Thinking about going down to one guitar. What would you do?

Brother, this is one of the best things Ive read in years!! Im standing and holding my right hand over my heart and my left hand is reaching for my wallet!

Glory GLory hallelujah!

Yeah I agree--nice post 'Blueman335'.

 

[StratTom]

Re: Thinking about going down to one guitar. What would you do?

Wow! I had no idea this thread would turn out like this! :laugh2:

I'm really torn because right now all my guitars have humbuckers and I feel like I want to have a single coil/P90 guitar and a humbucker guitar. If I could have one guitar that could "do it all" that would be the guitar I would get, but then I feel like I would still want another at some point. Thanks for all the comments guys!

 

[blueman335]

Re: Thinking about going down to one guitar. What would you do?

Wow! I had no idea this thread would turn out like this! :laugh2:

I'm really torn because right now all my guitars have humbuckers and I feel like I want to have a single coil/P90 guitar and a humbucker guitar. If I could have one guitar that could "do it all" that would be the guitar I would get, but then I feel like I would still want another at some point. Thanks for all the comments guys!

I apologize if I steered this thread off course a bit. I got carried away; it's a subject near & dear to me. Think of life as one long beer commercial...go for the gusto!

I was an "all HB" guy myself for years, and wanted more variety and more control over my tones. Retro-fitted HB-sized P-90's is a great idea, and I applaud all the manufacturers who've put them in the market. Now anyone can get that raw, open, cutting P-90 sound. And twin magnets open the door to tone blends that aren't possible with HB's. Life is good.

I'd highly recommend that you get HB-sized P-90 or two. At the very least, one in the neck. I started this way with Phat Cats, and once I got the mags sorted out, realized I could reshape the bridge sound too & really add some balls. If you think about it, HB's are usually at their best in the bridge position where more output & warmth is required, & P-90's shine in the neck where clarity, definition, & cut are needed. Why have so many HB's in the neck slot, where a dull, muddy sound is a common problem?

A great idea for players with several guitars is:
- one with twin HB's,
- another with two HB-sized P-90's,
- and a third with a HB bridge/HB-sized P-90 neck.
Lots more options and tones than three HB guitars, especially with guitars 2 & 3 if you add a push-pull to link the PU's in series.

Yeah, technically you could get by with one guitar if you had to, and you could eat pork & beans out of a can for the next 10 years too, but do you really want to do either? Forget the "one guitar that can do it all" that does lots of genres 'okay', and have a few that can do a genre or two great.

 

[SinNombre]

Re: Thinking about going down to one guitar. What would you do?

This is my first post here and hope I can add some useful input now and then.

If someone really wants to have one guitar for space reasons, (boat, RV etc.) or travel reasons or just simplicity and still wants to have a range of tones, he could get an Epi LP Ultra ll. With the chambering and using the neck pu one can get a tone approximating a 335. With the bridge or bridge/neck pu one can get most of the tone of a solid LP. And with the Nanomag single coil blended with the humbuckers one can get a tone close to a Strat. I don’t know if it can sound close to a Tele because I have never owned one. And I don’t believe this guitar with its “acoustic” pickup sounds much like an acoustic guitar.

This guitar might not be right for purists who have decided on one tone but we’re talking about one guitar with a range of tones. It has a much wider range than using p-rails, fat-strats or VG Strats. They are made in Korea and the one I got a few months ago is very well finished, even the pu pockets which are finished with poly, not black paint like my Dot. There are demos at the Epi site and You-Tube.

End of answer/commercial. I have learned a lot from this forum and the pickup forum since I got back into guitar a while back. Have enjoyed the banter since it is mostly not mindless banter.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Thinking about going down to one guitar. What would you do?

I'm intrigued by the Nanomag; I wish Epiphone would put it in more models. What about an LP Ultra with two P-rails? Lots of PU's to choose from.

Still, cutting down to one guitar sends chills down my spine.

 

[Kosh Naranek]

Re: Thinking about going down to one guitar. What would you do?

If I started thinking about going down to one guitar, I'd see a shrink.

With that said, and being the confessed made-in-USA snob that I am, I might hang on to that first electric I ever got, but sell off the rest of them entry level guitars, and get a few really nice ones, whatever my budget would allow.

Of course, maybe that's why I'd never think of going down to one guitar. I've sold or traded away my 80's Washburn and Nady guitars and other dogs, and the ones I have now are so nice I couldn't part with any of them.

 

[SinNombre]

Re: Thinking about going down to one guitar. What would you do?

I'm intrigued by the Nanomag; I wish Epiphone would put it in more models.

Like you I have never been able to bond with Fender guitars so I like that I can get the chime and airyness of a Strat with a Gibson (Epi) guitar. I wonder what the Nanomag would sound like in a 330/Casino.

Still, cutting down to one guitar sends chills down my spine.

I believe in having at least two guitars, for backup during mods, repairs, or in case someone drops by that could jam. And yes variety is great.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Thinking about going down to one guitar. What would you do?

Like you I have never been able to bond with Fender guitars so I like that I can get the chime and airyness of a Strat with a Gibson (Epi) guitar. I wonder what the Nanomag would sound like in a 330/Casino.

I believe in having at least two guitars, for backup during mods, repairs, or in case someone drops by that could jam. And yes variety is great.

Welcome aboard. You're a blues player? And San Diego, what a beautiful place to live.

 

[StratTom]

Re: Thinking about going down to one guitar. What would you do?

No need to apologize Blueman. I think part of my problem, that I stated in the begining of this discussion, is that I might be getting bored with some of my current guitars. When I pick up that Cort Strat copy of mine for example, I feel like I want to be playing a quality guitar, be it a Fender or other Strat copy. I've thought about replacing the neck, other pickups, but then not much of the guitar is left but the body. More I think about it, this guitar has paid its dues as the starter guitar that it was for me. I'm older now, and while I might not be as skilled as I wish I would be, I still think I owe it to myself to have some quality guitars.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Thinking about going down to one guitar. What would you do?

Not a particularly big fan of Epiphone, but will add that I definitely agree a guitar like an G-400 SG has the potential to sound great with new pickups.
I actually don't mind the stock pups for clean tones and mild over drive to be truthful, it was only with high gain riffing (old Metallica) that they just didn't cut it for clarity and tightness.

That's the thing with stock Asian HB's, just don't have the clarity, depth, and definition of a good American, European, or Australian HB. They gotta go. The weakest thing on any Chinese/Korean import is usually the stock PU's. Granted the wood isn't the high-end stuff, but with a PU upgrade, you can get some very nice sounds from a mid-price Asian. Put a 498T/490R pair in a G-400, swap some pots & magnets, and you can make it sing, on a par with many Gibson SG's. You can do that for several hundred dollars total (guitar & PU's, especially if you can get them used); hard to beat the bang for the buck.

I get a perverse satisfaction in taking one of my upgraded Epi's to a gig or jam, and having the best-sounding guitar there. Baffles the other guys. But their guitars usually aren't set up right, and no one's dialed in the PU's to the wood, with pots & magnets. They assumed that if they paid a lot in a music store, they'd automatically be hailed when they walked on stage. But if your PU's are an inch under the strings, it doesn't matter how much that guitar cost, it needs a set up.

 

[SinNombre]

Re: Thinking about going down to one guitar. What would you do?

Welcome aboard. You're a blues player?

Thanks, yes, an aspiring blues player and as much classic rock as I can manage with blues riffs. The "Bluesman" quote is not mine, it's from an old song I heard on the radio recently. BTW, "Oh well part two" was one of my favorite "songs" in the 60's.