What I've Discovered After Owning 105+ Guitars...

Sp8ctre said:
I listened to George, and I don't care for it much. I'd rather listen to Joe B. George is great at what he does though...
Click to expand...

I enjoy Joe a lot as a performer. I like his song "Stop!" in particular.

I am bored to death playing anything less than heavy rock.

This is about as "easy listening" as I can stand.

 
I should add my 2 cents after owning a few guitars and currently around 20.

I like a thinner neck, like Wizard Ibby or slim tapered 60s Gibby.

I like finished maple boards.

Apparently I am either clueless or just not that picky, I don't care whether board is maple, rosewood, ebony or Richlite. I just play it.

I am not really picky about guitars other than a nice neck. I enjoy many types. I can really get down with any of mine. I do like a nice wood top.

Almost never use single coil.

I like the volume conrrol outta the way as I tend to flail.

24 frets is really nice.

Past that I just play em. I want them to sound good and set them up as I like but can use any of mine live for any song we play.
 
My take on all of this has changed.

I was a working pro until 2019, and had been touring and gigging with the same partner
for literally decades. We were working in the folk circuit and playing festivals and coffee houses
and schools and gazebo concerts and like that. I used a couple of acoustics and an electric
bass to make my living. I used electrics only when we had a big stage and an easy load in AND
a short drive.
guitar family 06-21-18@100.jpg
My criteria for what I needed were pretty different from what I've read on this thread.
I had a collection of instruments and amps, even though I didn't need them and couldn't transport
them economically over the long distances we traveled. My collection was for fun.

Each of the instruments in the picture above (which is from 2018) was completely unique and had its own
voice, and that is what I wanted, and why I bought them. None of them (except the Black P-Bass) sounded like
anybody else's guitar. I liked that.

Left to right:
'06 Tele Deluxe replica with Fender "Wide Range" Humbuckers, modded with 500K CTS pots and good quality wiring.

'06 Epiphone Wilshire replica with Gibson 490R and Stew Mac's "Golden Age Overwound" bridge p'up and good wiring.

2015 Epiphone ES-339 with Ken Rose P-90 pickups

2012 Gibson SG special '70s tribute with (new at that time) Gibson blade sensor mini hums

2007 Gibson SG special faded, modded with Gibson '57 Classic and Classic plus pickups

1975 Mossman "Flint Hills" dreadnought with LR Baggs Lyric microphone inside

2018 Gibson J-45 AG with LR Baggs Element under saddle pickup

2006 Martin XC1T with Fishman Elipse blend pickup system inside

1997 ex-Squier Precision Bass, completely re-wired with good parts and expertly setup

1966 Fender Jazz bass, owned since 1972, played all those years with me... mostly stock but new Fender wiring

2009 Warmoth Fretless J-bass, handbuilt by me

>A lovely collection, each of them with its own mojo and feel. I confess to being a guitar slut, loving the one I'm with.
But I don't keep them if I can't use them, and I don't buy them unless they are interesting. And these are all interesting.
I played them all onstage at one time or another, or in studio. Each had songs its tone was useful for.
So each had a reason to be in the lineup. Of course I would say that.

>For amps I used mostly my Roland Cube Bass amp, which was very portable and got the job done and when
connected to the PA could sound huge. I had a Vox VT-30 which had the same virtues. Both of those are modeling amps
where I found a few settings I really liked and ignored the rest. I also came to love my Orange Micro Terror played through a
couple of home made cabs. That too could get the job done and be easily transported.
Orange tall rig@100.jpgOrange Med rig@100.jpg
I didn't use these amps onstage a lot, except for the little Roland bass amp, which I took
everywhere. These amps and the electric guitar collection was mostly to try and keep my music
fresh and inspired. Play the same circuit too long and you can feel stale etc. The Gibson SG special
is excellent medicine for that. And so's the P-90 Epiphone and that Tele Deluxe. Inspiring is the
word. None of these guitars were expensive when I bought them, and none of my amps were
either. Cost, portability and tone were the determining factor. I loved all their necks, including the
maple Telecaster neck, and the P-Bass neck. The Gibson SG neck is the fastest and most comfortable
guitar neck I've ever used. So's the Fender Jazz Bass, which is old home to me.

>But my lady love developed a tumor and my priorities changed. I retired from the band and took up
my new career as care giver. I sold off all my "vintage" instruments including my treasured 1936 Martin 0-17.
I got lots of money for that, and for the '66 Fender J-Bass and the 1975 Mossman dred. I sold the Wilshire
and the modded P-Bass and a ton of other belongings... I sold my house, I sold my boat, I sold guns and
sports equipment and anything anybody would buy. We gave away anything anybody would take, and
threw away stuff nobody wanted. We thought we might need the money later when things got really bad.

I pared everything down to these five:
guitars 5 out@100.jpg
I fostered my amps with musician friends, so I could come back and get 'em if possible. I also fostered the Fender Tele Deluxe
and the Epiphone ES-339, which I couldn't take with me but couldn't bear to part with. I have them back now.

So this bears a little on the content of this thread. What would you keep if you needed to cut down your collection?
>Vintage means nothing IMHO... these five newer instruments do anything I need done.
I sold my vintage instruments because I needed to turn them into money, and I don't miss them (much).
>Decorations are unimportant. Only the tone means anything IMHO.
>I got rid of my fretted basses, because I had become fond of playing the fretless, and had become comfortable on it.
>Comfort is crucial, and all of the five I took with me are blindfold comfortable to my hands.
>I don't believe I have strong preferences for neck shapes, like many guitar forum posts we see. I tried to play a Rickenbacker
325 like John Lennon used, and it was impossible. It felt terrible to me. I tried to play a Gretsch 6120 once and hated it
instantly. Maybe setup could cure that. I didn't care enough to want to find out.
>The guitars I have all make me happy when I look at them, and when I pick them up to play. Each of them has qualities
that just please me, and my music benefits. Each of them gets me to say, "What a great guitar" when I put them down.
Those are the ones I kept.
>I found that I really missed the blonde maple neck of the Fender Tele Deluxe, and her hum bucker sound.
I found that I really missed the slim semi hollow body of the little Epi ES-339, and the P-90 sound she produces.
So I was glad I had left them with dear friends and I retrieved them asap when my care giving duty was done.

I'm not touring any more or performing, and have recently endured prostate surgery, so the future is a question mark.
I don't really need a big collection of guitars, so I'm not buying any more. I'll play the ones I have, and maybe join
some local band called 'Cougar Bait" or "Beats Sittin' Home" *laughs

I dunno. There are a lot worse things to collect than guitars. Right now every day is a gift.
 
Last edited:
Col Mustard said:
My take on all of this has changed.

I was a working pro until 2019, and had been touring and gigging with the same partner
for literally decades. We were working in the folk circuit and playing festivals and coffee houses
and schools and gazebo concerts and like that. I used a couple of acoustics and an electric
bass to make my living. I used electrics only when we had a big stage and an easy load in AND
a short drive.
View attachment 77399
My criteria for what I needed were pretty different from what I've read on this thread.
I had a collection of instruments and amps, even though I didn't need them and couldn't transport
them economically over the long distances we traveled. My collection was for fun.

Each of the instruments in the picture above (which is from 2018) was completely unique and had its own
voice, and that is what I wanted, and why I bought them. None of them (except the Black P-Bass) sounded like
anybody else's guitar. I liked that.

Right to Left:
'06 Tele Deluxe replica with Fender "Wide Range" Humbuckers, modded with 500K CTS pots and good quality wiring.

'06 Epiphone Wilshire replica with Gibson 490R and Stew Mac's "Golden Age Overwound" bridge p'up and good wiring.

2015 Epiphone ES-339 with Ken Rose P-90 pickups

2012 Gibson SG special '70s tribute with (new at that time) Gibson blade sensor mini hums

2007 Gibson SG special faded, modded with Gibson '57 Classic and Classic plus pickups

1975 Mossman "Flint Hills" dreadnought with LR Baggs Lyric microphone inside

2018 Gibson J-45 AG with LR Baggs Element under saddle pickup

2006 Martin XC1T with Fishman Elipse blend pickup system inside

1997 ex-Squier Precision Bass, completely re-wired with good parts and expertly setup

1966 Fender Jazz bass, owned since 1972, played all those years with me... mostly stock but new Fender wiring

2009 Warmoth Fretless J-bass, handbuilt by me

>A lovely collection, each of them with its own mojo and feel. I confess to being a guitar slut, loving the one I'm with.
But I don't keep them if I can't use them, and I don't buy them unless they are interesting. And these are all interesting.
I played them all onstage at one time or another, or in studio. Each had songs its tone was useful for.
So each had a reason to be in the lineup. Of course I would say that.

>For amps I used mostly my Roland Cube Bass amp, which was very portable and got the job done and when
connected to the PA could sound huge. I had a Vox VT-30 which had the same virtues. Both of those are modeling amps
where I found a few settings I really liked and ignored the rest. I also came to love my Orange Micro Terror played through a
couple of home made cabs. That too could get the job done and be easily transported.
View attachment 77402View attachment 77403
I didn't use these amps onstage a lot, except for the little Roland bass amp, which I took
everywhere. These amps and the electric guitar collection was mostly to try and keep my music
fresh and inspired. Play the same circuit too long and you can feel stale etc. The Gibson SG special
is excellent medicine for that. And so's the P-90 Epiphone and that Tele Deluxe. Inspiring is the
word. None of these guitars were expensive when I bought them, and none of my amps were
either. Cost, portability and tone were the determining factor. I loved all their necks, including the
maple Telecaster neck, and the P-Bass neck. The Gibson SG neck is the fastest and most comfortable
guitar neck I've ever used. So's the Fender Jazz Bass, which is old home to me.

>But my lady love developed a tumor and my priorities changed. I retired from the band and took up
my new career as care giver. I sold off all my "vintage" instruments including my treasured 1936 Martin 0-17.
I got lots of money for that, and for the '66 Fender J-Bass and the 1975 Mossman dred. I sold the Wilshire
and the modded P-Bass and a ton of other belongings... I sold my house, I sold my boat, I sold guns and
sports equipment and anything anybody would buy. We gave away anything anybody would take, and
threw away stuff nobody wanted. We thought we might need the money later when things got really bad.

I pared everything down to these five:
View attachment 77404
I fostered my amps with musician friends, so I could come back and get 'em if possible. I also fostered the Fender Tele Deluxe
and the Epiphone ES-339, which I couldn't take with me but couldn't bear to part with. I have them back now.

So this bears a little on the content of this thread. What would you keep if you needed to cut down your collection?
>Vintage means nothing IMHO... these five newer instruments do anything I need done.
I sold my vintage instruments because I needed to turn them into money, and I don't miss them (much).
>Decorations are unimportant. Only the tone means anything IMHO.
>I got rid of my fretted basses, because I had become fond of playing the fretless, and had become comfortable on it.
>Comfort is crucial, and all of the five I took with me are blindfold comfortable to my hands.
>I don't believe I have strong preferences for neck shapes, like many guitar forum posts we see. I tried to play a Rickenbacker
325 like John Lennon used, and it was impossible. It felt terrible to me. I tried to play a Gretsch 6120 once and hated it
instantly. Maybe setup could cure that. I didn't care enough to want to find out.
>The guitars I have all make me happy when I look at them, and when I pick them up to play. Each of them has qualities
that just please me, and my music benefits. Each of them gets me to say, "What a great guitar" when I put them down.
Those are the ones I kept.
>I found that I really missed the blonde maple neck of the Fender Tele Deluxe, and her hum bucker sound.
I found that I really missed the slim semi hollow body of the little Epi ES-339, and the P-90 sound she produces.
So I was glad I had left them with dear friends and I retrieved them asap when my care giving duty was done.

I'm not touring any more or performing, and have recently endured prostate surgery, so the future is a question mark.
I don't really need a big collection of guitars, so I'm not buying any more. I'll play the ones I have, and maybe join
some local band called 'Cougar Bait" or "Beats Sittin' Home" *laughs

I dunno. There are a lot worse things to collect than guitars. Right now every day is a gift.
Click to expand...

Wow! Much respect to you for taking care of loved ones above all else.

It's nice to hear that people were able foster some of your most cherished items and get them back to you.

Great post!
 
Yargnad said:
I agree with most everything you mentioned aside from 24 frets. Always seems nice in theory, but it ruins the neck pickup tone. I got my first 24 fret guitar probably about 12 years ago and I love, the look, the materials, the construction, and the feel, but the sound of the neck pickup just didn't do anything for me for some reason. I came across it on some forum that 24 frets forces the neck pickup into a less musical position, away from the antinode.

Since the neck pickup is my favorite position that's kind of a deal breaker for me. I almost never play any of my 24 fret guitars because of it. The only exception is the new Charvel SoCal because it feels so good and the Fluence pickups don't seem to be as negatively affected by this.

II don't remember which forum that original post was on, but here is Sweetwater's take on it.

Click to expand...
I get that.
Again, I am not overly picky and very rarely play neck pickup. When i do it sounds decent enough to me. I never really AB my guitars to compare. Possibly I am too simple but I set em how I like and go. I like the extra frets for really reaching up there. 21 fret Strat neck is lameo to me.
 
What I've discovered...

I'm earning a full time living with just a Les Paul.

20211211_114929.jpg

I have a Yellow Stratocaster as a live back-up, or when performing "tremolo songs" like Bon Jovi's 'Livin' On Prayer.'

20210320_195041.jpg

I have a DoubleNeck for Stairway to Heaven and Hotel California, or for studio work for hire when a 12 string is requested.

FB_IMG_1608577040504.jpg

Anything beyond that is superfluous gear and totally unnecessary for me to earn my living.

Playing everyday and becoming a better musician is more important than buying gear.

Everything I buy now has to be in direct support of these principles.
 
Last edited:
Yargnad said:
That's my sentiment for the most part. A great guitar is far more important to me since that is the thing that I'm actually putting my hands on and touching 99% of the time. Plus as a strictly living room player anymore, I rarely even plug in at all and I've got a 59 Deluxe which a lot of people consider a holy grail amp.
Click to expand...

I only play at home for enjoyment and I couldn't stand to plug in to a crappy sounding amp no matter how nice the guitar is.

I also always plug in and never play acoustically on my electrics. I don't own an acoustic...
 
Sp8ctre said:
I only play at home for enjoyment and I couldn't stand to plug in to a crappy sounding amp no matter how nice the guitar is.

I also always plug in and never play acoustically on my electrics. I don't own an acoustic...
Click to expand...

I'm with you. I don't understand the concept of playing an electric guitar unplugged/acoustically.
 
I played unplugged only early on - for almost 2 years or so - more for skill drills, chord changes, etc.
Then when I started using the amp regularly I suddenly had to learn about muting unwanted string ring outs.
 
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