What's a "normal" number of guitars to own?

Re: What's a "normal" number of guitars to own?

blueman335 said:
And...the more you have, the less likely she'll be able to recognize a new one. Numbers can work to your advantage. Most women are going to see a 'black' guitar, and not know whether it's a Strat, Tele, LP, SG, 335, etc.
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Yea, poor women and their physiological inability to discern differences in guitars. I wonder if it's also a problem with other stringed instruments, like a first chair violinist randomly shows up with a cello under her chin...
 
Re: What's a "normal" number of guitars to own?

masta' c said:
I'm very fortunate. My wife is supportive in all the things that I do and I support her hobbies in return. So, as long as I exhibit a reasonable approach to purchasing gear, she makes it a point not to bug me too much about my oddball purchases. I also make it a point to keep her in the loop from time to time with what I'm thinking of getting, showing her pictures and asking her opinions on the color, style, etc., and that often gets her excited about a new purchase, too.

As I'm finishing up a couple project guitars that have sentimental value to me, I've been actively trying to clear out others. My goal is to get down to 4 primary electrics (2 fixed bridge, 2 tremolo) and then get an acoustic or classical down the road, maybe even a 7 string at some point, but I'm not in a hurry to acquire anything new right now.

It was mentioned earlier in the thread and may be sort of off-topic, but my wife and I also have "personal" accounts alongside our joint accounts for the "household". It does away with the nit-picking over smaller purchases and the day-to-day stuff and has worked out extremely well for 7+ years now. Any time there is a big change in goals (go on vacation, increase savings, etc) or monthly commitments (joining a gym, buying a car, changing insurance, etc.), we revise how much needs to go into the "household" checking account for monthly expenses and the "household" savings account for, well, savings. Since we're both honest and level-headed (neither one of us has a wicked gambling habit or secret meth addiction), it works out really well :)
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I have a similar situation including the personal slush funds. It is cool to talk with the wife about music and guitars. Even when I am doing a build she will make color suggestions.

blueman335 said:
And...the more you have, the less likely she'll be able to recognize a new one. Numbers can work to your advantage. Most women are going to see a 'black' guitar, and not know whether it's a Strat, Tele, LP, SG, 335, etc.
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Not my wife. We were 20 rows back at the Peter Frampton concert this summer and she asked me why his Les Paul had 3 pickups and mine only had 2. I have no need to try to hide what I buy or deceive her so it doesn't matter.
 
Re: What's a "normal" number of guitars to own?

blueman335 said:
And...the more you have, the less likely she'll be able to recognize a new one. Numbers can work to your advantage. Most women are going to see a 'black' guitar, and not know whether it's a Strat, Tele, LP, SG, 335, etc.
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When I was around the ten mark, my wife had seen one and said "is that new?", and actually it wasn't new, she just hadn't noticed it before. I'm well past the ten mark, and now she doesn't seem to notice even if a guitar is new. It was nicer when she noticed, tbh.
 
Re: What's a "normal" number of guitars to own?

I dreamed of becoming a guitar player as a boy... I never dreamed of getting married and deferring my life choices to some stranger.

I know little girls dream of being a bride... but being a groom never occurred to me. This thread should be titled, "How scared of your wife are you?"

Anyone that thinks that large guitar collections are crazy, foolish or an expression of hoarding obviously isn't a guitar player and should keep their opinions to themselves.

DreX's wife sounds like a REAL woman... he gets a brotastic high five for scoring her.

Of course... it's all about class level too right? A family that is struggling to pay their bills simply cannot have many possessions... not that they can't have stuff, it just works out that they don't have much.

My hat is off to all of the guitar players who struggle to put food on the table for their families, your sacrifice is noble and recognized. I hope that they have a sweet collection in their next life.
 
Re: What's a "normal" number of guitars to own?

"That old chestnut? I had that in college but don't use it much anymore." Works like a charm maestro.
 
Re: What's a "normal" number of guitars to own?

Stratman said:
78

But I am running out of room to keep them
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Cool!
I haven't counted but now maybe up to 15-20. Lots of Warmoth projects and all SD pickups. I've almost completed one Warmoth project for all major SD pups (I outfitted my first 3 Warmoth projects with the SD Zephs)....a few more to go.

The only Les Paul I own so far is the Peter Frampton signature guitar. Is there a Les Paul substantially different from the Frampton guitar? Always thinking of the Tom Scholz guitar but still not over the intentional dings and scratches and relic'ing.

I enjoy reading guitarists' views on an unending desire for more and different guitars. Good stuff!
 
Re: What's a "normal" number of guitars to own?

I have in the mid thirties I think. But I built at least half of those.

My wife knows about them and bought me my favorite. She bought me my 1964 Gibson Melody Maker. From my days as a gear flipper, I actually have made my collection income neutral to in the black, which is nice.
 
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Re: What's a "normal" number of guitars to own?

Well...whatever the consensus is on the proper number determined...JUST...ONE...MORE!!!
 
Re: What's a "normal" number of guitars to own?

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This is my family photo. Four Strats, One Les Paul, and a 4 string cigar box guitar (not pictured), that my older brother made me. I built the black one and the red one. I also have two tube amps. My wife is awesome, and doesn't get upset about the size of the collection. I am gassing for a Tele with a B-bender, but it will have to wait. I think I'm at the point where one more purchase might cause an issue. When I get one I will build it, that much I know.
 
Re: What's a "normal" number of guitars to own?

I don't know, guys. Every woman I've dated has been able to differentiate between shapes.

YMMV and all that jazz.
 
Re: What's a "normal" number of guitars to own?

Gibson 1964 said:
I have in the mid thirties I think. But I built at least half of those.

My wife knows about them and bought me my favorite. She bought me my 1964 Gibson Melody Maker. From my days as a gear flipper, I actually have made my collection income neutral to in the black, which is nice.
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I grew up with a guy, and we were good friends and just lost touch over time. He's married to a woman I work with now. She bought him a Fender 52 Tele AVRI butterscotch black guard for Christmas last year. I was like she is the greatest wife ever!! Then my wife's niece bought her husband a low mileage mint black Buick Grand National Regal. I think she now wears the crown. Both of them and your wife are definitely keepers.
 
Re: What's a "normal" number of guitars to own?

mojosman said:
I grew up with a guy, and we were good friends and just lost touch over time. He's married to a woman I work with now. She bought him a Fender 52 Tele AVRI butterscotch black guard for Christmas last year. I was like she is the greatest wife ever!! Then my wife's niece bought her husband a low mileage mint black Buick Grand National Regal. I think she now wears the crown. Both of them and your wife are definitely keepers.
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My wife bought me my SG (before we were married), Fender Excelsior, Roland GR33, many pedals and cases. No Buick yet.
 
Re: What's a "normal" number of guitars to own?

jimzucco said:
So I have my eye on a Les Paul Ok... Serious GAS. Problem is, my wife says "how many guitars do you need?!" ... I happen to have two guitars BTW.. A very nice fender strat and an epiphone acoustic. So I had this idea that I would ask all my good fellow guitar players here on the forum
... Is it not reasonable for me to pick up an epiphone Les Paul that I'm in love with? For a Guitar enthusiast, is it not appropriate, even modest, to have a strat, an acoustic, a Les Paul, and a nice tube amp (which I also have)?

Also, just too seal the deal, I wanted to see what sort of collections you all have.

I intend on showing this to my wife to show her that I'm being perfectly reasonable =) also, we're far from broke... I don't wanna buy a Gibson here.... I'm talking epiphone.

Thanks,

Jim
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Two guitars was the number I had when started out 20 something years ago. IT IS very reasonable to add to your collection, regardless of the number. Guitars in this case is not unlike handbags or shoes for women. Why is it not a problem for them to have a wardrobe with shoes and LV bags lining up ready for every different occasion? You might want to bring this up to your wife.

I currently have 9 electrics, 1 acoustic (rarely played), 1 bass (almost never played), 1 combo amp, 8 stopmboxes (only 2 in active duty), 6 rack processors (many of which are for decorative purposes) yet I am constantly in a buying mode.
 
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Re: What's a "normal" number of guitars to own?

jimzucco said:
Amazing answer. I appreciat everyone's input. This is exactly what I was trying to put into words, I just lack the eloquence I suppose. Guitars are enjoyable in their own rite... Exactly. And it's not that she was giving me a hard time necessarily, she honestly couldn't figure out why I'd need another guitar.
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Yup. Guitars are like pussies. The more the merrier.
 
Re: What's a "normal" number of guitars to own?

80's metal is good at sneaking guitars home.

My wife wouldn't notice, no way.
 
Re: What's a "normal" number of guitars to own?

i think 3 guitars are enough. 1 mahogany, one alder or maple bodied and 1 in between.
1 set neck, one bolt on, one neck thru
one fixed bridge. one vintage tremolo, one floyd rose bridge.
one ebony, one brazilian roseewood, one maple fingerboard.
thats it
 
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