blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...
+1. Too many times people get online recommendations to to spend thousands on a guitar and for most people that's not feasible, ever. They've got bills to pay, a family to support, and can't mess up their finances for a high-end instrument. It's not worth it when it causes marital problems or means you have to drive around in an old, unreliable car. Some people are in a position where they can dump a lot of money into a guitar, that's great but that's not the average guy, especially in this lingering economy.
There's a number of big blues players (with albums who tour) that use mid-price import guitars. I don't think a set-neck Epi is going to 'hold anyone back.' A good set-up and upgraded PU's and it'll sound and play very well. I've seen a few excellent players pick up an entry level guitar in a music store and play amazing things on it. No doubt, a $2,000 or $3,000 guitar is better instrument, but the problem is justifying that jump in cost. The term 'point of diminishing returns' comes into play. There's been threads here in the past where it's been said that a Gibson sounds 10 or 15% better than an Epi of the same model. Spend $500 on a new Epi LP or $2,000 more for a 10% better tone. That's tough for a blue collar man with a family.
An expensive guitar doesn't make you a better player, practicing does. There's plenty of mediocre players with mid-price imports, and there's plenty of them with high-end American-made guitars too. Neither group sounds very good, the difference being in what they spent in order to be able to make mediocre music. Regardless of what the headstock says, you better be able to do something with it when you get on stage. Brand names mean nothing to an audience that wants to be entertained. What good players have is talent, and that's not something you can get with a credit card. Music is in the hands and head. Impress people with your playing, not with what you spent.
I like it. It's always nice to hear people share that sentiment instead of being gear snobs. Especially on the interwebs.
+1. Too many times people get online recommendations to to spend thousands on a guitar and for most people that's not feasible, ever. They've got bills to pay, a family to support, and can't mess up their finances for a high-end instrument. It's not worth it when it causes marital problems or means you have to drive around in an old, unreliable car. Some people are in a position where they can dump a lot of money into a guitar, that's great but that's not the average guy, especially in this lingering economy.
There's a number of big blues players (with albums who tour) that use mid-price import guitars. I don't think a set-neck Epi is going to 'hold anyone back.' A good set-up and upgraded PU's and it'll sound and play very well. I've seen a few excellent players pick up an entry level guitar in a music store and play amazing things on it. No doubt, a $2,000 or $3,000 guitar is better instrument, but the problem is justifying that jump in cost. The term 'point of diminishing returns' comes into play. There's been threads here in the past where it's been said that a Gibson sounds 10 or 15% better than an Epi of the same model. Spend $500 on a new Epi LP or $2,000 more for a 10% better tone. That's tough for a blue collar man with a family.
An expensive guitar doesn't make you a better player, practicing does. There's plenty of mediocre players with mid-price imports, and there's plenty of them with high-end American-made guitars too. Neither group sounds very good, the difference being in what they spent in order to be able to make mediocre music. Regardless of what the headstock says, you better be able to do something with it when you get on stage. Brand names mean nothing to an audience that wants to be entertained. What good players have is talent, and that's not something you can get with a credit card. Music is in the hands and head. Impress people with your playing, not with what you spent.