Iron1
AmbassaDOOM of Red VVinter
Totally agree with all of these things... My wife is convinced I like hunting for gear more than actually playing, and I'm definitely better at the hunting.
What I've Discovered After Owning 105+ Guitars...
- Thread starter Sp8ctre
- Start date
RVA
Ambassador
Wonderful guitars! I suggest that you keep them all !Nice 'Pauls. I have about 40 guitars now and I'd like to pass most on, but I never seem to.
I agree with the art factor completely; however most of mine have been in their case since
around the time I bought them because I don't have a practical space to display them. Now I'm
really only into vocal so none get any action. It's hell ...keep ...not keep ...keep. Part of it's
that if I kicked it my family could cash in on them too. I don't think I could get to your
count because it seems the more I get the more nervous they make me to have. Not sure
why. Lol.
A while ago I did get what I had out (separately) for a family photo, which I thought
was pretty cool.
Here's some notables ..
Limited "Aged Pelham" Custom (probably never let this one go.)
Pelham Custom (will never let this one go.)
I love the solid painted iridescents
Historics
Hope I didn't derail - just trying to share some eye candy, on the topic.
So you're mostly sing now?
jtcnj
Ambassador of the Crossroad
Big part of the journey.
The biggest driver for me to buy different types has always been to find what suits me best.
That and just plain old GAS lust.
The wide availability of decent budget priced guitars has also allowed me to dive into becoming my own tech.
I'm better at working on them than playing them.
I have a variety for just that - variety of tones and types of music I like / want to play, and typical of those bands or music.
If I had to pick 1 (as of today) it would be an LP with 50's or rounded neck profile, 2 PAF HB, 1-11/16" nut width, 2 vol 2 tone, 8lbs or under.
2nd would be a similar SG, with minimal tendency for neck dive.
I strongly prefer hard tails, but a GOOD Floyd or strat type trem is in the mix too for the types of guitars that commonly have them.
I mostly have 1 of several types, except I'm up to 4 LP types now.
Still would like to try Vee, Explorer, and Firebird types.
I played @chilipeppermaniac's Jackson RR3 Rhoads V. Really I like that too.
I have a couple to move too.
The biggest driver for me to buy different types has always been to find what suits me best.
That and just plain old GAS lust.
The wide availability of decent budget priced guitars has also allowed me to dive into becoming my own tech.
I'm better at working on them than playing them.
I have a variety for just that - variety of tones and types of music I like / want to play, and typical of those bands or music.
If I had to pick 1 (as of today) it would be an LP with 50's or rounded neck profile, 2 PAF HB, 1-11/16" nut width, 2 vol 2 tone, 8lbs or under.
2nd would be a similar SG, with minimal tendency for neck dive.
I strongly prefer hard tails, but a GOOD Floyd or strat type trem is in the mix too for the types of guitars that commonly have them.
I mostly have 1 of several types, except I'm up to 4 LP types now.
Still would like to try Vee, Explorer, and Firebird types.
I played @chilipeppermaniac's Jackson RR3 Rhoads V. Really I like that too.
I have a couple to move too.
RVA
Ambassador
I see the point in all the statements in the OP and agree with most of then, EXCEPT lately I have been using my tone knob and not sure I will ever stop. I used to think it always made the amp sound like it had a blanket over it. However, with good pots and/or low value caps, it turns pickups that I considered to be a bit bright and edgy into warm and smooth delights.
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eSGEe
Ferengi Ambassador of Trade
I have "had" at least as many as Chris come and go here in Swamp o potamia --- they were usually and mostly damaged rejects or cast offs sold to me low and repaired.... polished set up and flipped .....I would hazard a guess in the 100-120 range over the 8 or 9 years I ve been doing this - -plus amps--- pedals -- and other addiction fodder..... it is a fun and profitable hobby if
1. you know what your buying
2. know the market values
3. can LET THEM GO ONCE YOU GET THEM !!! (which is a problem I am now dealing with)
Many years ago I wanted a Gibson couldnt afford it -- bought found and repaired some low end stuff -- sold it took that $ bought better stuff ...... so on and so fourth till now I have some decent to very nice stuff .... Ive flipped my one to a nice few pieces and now I dont want to get rid of them !! LOL!!
I have found out many things along the way --- and I agree with Chris on many things -- Also Yargnad is VERY correct on many of his points!
I have found I can FEEL a good guitar before I plug it in -- my last used guitar purchase was made without even plugging it in .... (and its an electric)
the FLIPPER is very different from the collector -- and in such many guitars that have come and gone were viewed for their profit potential not beauty or playability or tone ----but in the Ferengi Profit Chase.....I stumble on some "odd ball" and often UNPOPULAR instruments that really PLAY AMAZING ... and have also learned a LOT!
Ive also learned (with a little help from a friend
) I can take most any cheap low ender and make it a wonderful playable guitar.....
100.00 used Squire Jazz bass
Can become a GORGEOUS fretless beauty ......with a little elbow grease and time
1. you know what your buying
2. know the market values
3. can LET THEM GO ONCE YOU GET THEM !!! (which is a problem I am now dealing with)
Many years ago I wanted a Gibson couldnt afford it -- bought found and repaired some low end stuff -- sold it took that $ bought better stuff ...... so on and so fourth till now I have some decent to very nice stuff .... Ive flipped my one to a nice few pieces and now I dont want to get rid of them !! LOL!!
I have found out many things along the way --- and I agree with Chris on many things -- Also Yargnad is VERY correct on many of his points!
I have found I can FEEL a good guitar before I plug it in -- my last used guitar purchase was made without even plugging it in .... (and its an electric)
the FLIPPER is very different from the collector -- and in such many guitars that have come and gone were viewed for their profit potential not beauty or playability or tone ----but in the Ferengi Profit Chase.....I stumble on some "odd ball" and often UNPOPULAR instruments that really PLAY AMAZING ... and have also learned a LOT!
Ive also learned (with a little help from a friend
) I can take most any cheap low ender and make it a wonderful playable guitar.....100.00 used Squire Jazz bass
Can become a GORGEOUS fretless beauty ......with a little elbow grease and time
RVA
Ambassador
A 7th grade "Ha Ha" to you Sir!Yep, I am a knob-rider. Can't stop touching it myself.....
You know, I find this comment most intriguing - "I'd rather have a great amp over a great guitar."
On the one, extreme end, I've played through some of the most expensive and sought after amplifiers...a Dumble Overdrive Special owned by a local studio. On the other hand, I've played through much lesser amps.
At our school band's rehearsal Saturday, I played through a $1,700 Mesa Fillmore. Courtesy of our musical friend @Don O
At our show, I played through a 1999 Marshall MG50 without a pedalboard, via my 2021 Gibson Les Paul 50's Standard.
My wife, who recorded some video, and who is not a musician, said "your guitar sounded much better through your tiny amp."
Several of my session colleagues also attended and remarked on how clean my cleans were and how big and fat the Overdrive Tone was through the little knock-around solid state.
My question to myself is, how can I produce a broad expanse of tones live with the minimum amount of equipment on the stage floor???
The first thing I look at with an amp is gain production and EQ influence. I want (but seldom find it) great, immense and organic gain production. Additionally, I want really spacious EQ control over my entire sonic spectrum.
Onboard reverb is a huge plus to me. I really like the controlability of the digital reverb on the DSL40C and CR, but a good, bagged spring tank is also great.
So, as far as a "great amp" being some kind of "key" to one's tone, I would have to say that I'm just not seeing this in the live shows.
In fact, most players out here in the clubs are running a Headrush or a GT-1000 direct into the PA and have tons of FX with a simple pedalboard.
Listen to this tone without an amp:
True, some amps sound better than others, but I've seen no tangible evidence of the price tag or rarity of an amp having any correlation to its sonic quality.
For a home player, I seriously doubt you can beat a Kemper with an extension cabinet.
You may feel better or have more pride in showing people your JCM800 2204 or JVM410C, but I can guarantee you the Kemper is far more versatile and you do not need a 34" pedalboard to make them sound good. (And I am not at all a Kemper fan. I'm only stating cold facts)
A "good" amp is really the one that checks your boxes. It's not pricetag, or the name tag.
For so many years, I've played through a complex arrangement of pedals. Currently, my live rig consists of a 50 watt tube Marshall, hot rodded beyond any description, and a giant board (a full 34") that uses around 75 feet of cables and patches to connect to on large stages.
Now, I'm rethinking that archaic approach, although I'm not ready to jump on the modeling bandwagon.
Another aspect of the amplifier is simple amplification. Do you want a hot, dry Angus Young tone, or something more expansive, like David Gilmour???
I played a JTM30 for many years. It was loud and produced overdrive. Then, I 'graduated' to a JCM800 2204. No reverb. Great amps if you want to sound like AC/DC. Then, I began to add pedals to create more warmth and depth, ultimately arriving at the state of my current pedalboard.
There certainly isn't anything wrong with declaring one amp better than another. But most often, this is done to reflect the investment and has little, if anything to do with functionality.
We still evaluate our brethern on whether or not they are using tubes as a measure of their worthiness for praise.
When I listen to songs, I hear things that really intrigue me. On the one hand, though not a Knofpler or Single coil fan, I really liked his tone on Sultans of Swing. I also liked Gilmour's tone on the song "On The Turning Away."
To me, being able to Reigate some of those tones in front of a live audience, appeals to me. Doing it without a monster pedalboard intrigues me.
We all have those acquaintances (even here) who declare a piece of equipment "good" only by virtue of its pricetag or its rarity. I'm not impressed by those personalities. It's ironic that in the underworld of L.A. session players, I never encounter this sort of predisposed prejudice for or against a certain product, based on its pricetag or the nameplate.
So, a better amp, or a more versatile amp???
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Totally agree with all of these things... My wife is convinced I like hunting for gear more than actually playing, and I'm definitely better at the hunting.
I often invite students to come and "test" their rigs by playing along with our instructor band. It's a fast test of gear suitability and tone. The live band mix doesn't lie, neither is it impressed by your pricetag....
Kerry Brown
Ambassador of the Great Northern Bar Jams
What I've learned after playing no where near 105 guitars.
I pretty much find something good in almost every guitar I've tried.
I love guitars.
I love playing guitars.
To get the best out of a guitar you have to adjust the knobs.
My favourite guitar has one pickup wired straight to the jack with no knobs.
What I've learned after playing a half dozen basses.
I think I like playing bass more than I like playing guitars and I love playing guitars.
I pretty much find something good in almost every guitar I've tried.
I love guitars.
I love playing guitars.
To get the best out of a guitar you have to adjust the knobs.
My favourite guitar has one pickup wired straight to the jack with no knobs.
What I've learned after playing a half dozen basses.
I think I like playing bass more than I like playing guitars and I love playing guitars.
I wanted to add this.
A student came to me with an amp problem. He had a '65 Deluxe Reverb 1x12 Re-issue with a crackle sound and volume loss. I found he had a bad speaker.
In my box of parts, I recalled having an extra Vintage 30 that was taken out of a client's amp and he didn't want it, so I put it in the student's amp.
He was floored by how different his amp sounded.
Then I gave him one of my old DOD FX-90 delays and made some marks on the knobs to give him a starting point, then sent him home.
Our next meeting, he was more excited than usual and he reported "not being able to stop playing his guitar because of how good it sounded."
I definitely think that the right (or wrong) speaker can make or break your tone, but also moving into the realms of a little delay or chorus, really open up your sound into something dramatic and different.
A student came to me with an amp problem. He had a '65 Deluxe Reverb 1x12 Re-issue with a crackle sound and volume loss. I found he had a bad speaker.
In my box of parts, I recalled having an extra Vintage 30 that was taken out of a client's amp and he didn't want it, so I put it in the student's amp.
He was floored by how different his amp sounded.
Then I gave him one of my old DOD FX-90 delays and made some marks on the knobs to give him a starting point, then sent him home.
Our next meeting, he was more excited than usual and he reported "not being able to stop playing his guitar because of how good it sounded."
I definitely think that the right (or wrong) speaker can make or break your tone, but also moving into the realms of a little delay or chorus, really open up your sound into something dramatic and different.
Session 5
Ambassador of Strings & Wings
I like the Blue one….
Get rid of them radio casters and replace with V’s. You know you want V
The V would look out of place in that lineup
eSGEe
Ferengi Ambassador of Trade
your wife is a genious! (also a saint for putting up with you
)
These are not mutually exclusive.
As for the price/quality comparison…
I don’t think either @Sp8ctre or myself equated “better” with price. I think a great sounding amp, for its genre, is my little 1973 Fender Champ.
Not inferred at all, but since the pricetag/builder is most often mentioned, I thought it worth referring too.
Gotcha!
OP
Sp8ctre
Ambassador of Steel