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How Many Guitars Do You "Need" ?


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While I dont often post YouTube videos, this one may help you decide the above question... ( and maybe curb / rethink that Guitar.Aquisition.Syndrome )

(confession time; I have 4 and thinking thats probably enough.... except I really like..)😉

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2 hours ago, NeilES335 said:

While I dont often post YouTube videos, this one may help you decide the above question... ( and maybe curb / rethink that Guitar.Aquisition.Syndrome )

(confession time; I have 4 and thinking thats probably enough.... except I really like..)😉

Thanks for posting.  Keeping in mind Keith's slogan is "helping you get the most music with the least gear", he did make some very interesting points.  Most such videos encourage us to get one each from the familiar food groups: Strat, Tele, Les Paul, 335, etc.

Keith, on the other hand, made some valid points for not doing so.  There is one  point that I think he made that is undeniable.  With one guitar one becomes forced to  "Knowing the guitar inside and out".  I am so guilty of not doing this.  Probably the one guitar that I have owned that I learned the best was my Les Paul.  And I sol;d it. 

Another  one was, "When shopping for guitars we are not practicing guitar".  But...............have you seen the new Martin SC-13E?!?!  Gotta go!🤔😁😉

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on a recent Instagram video Joe Bonamassa said he has 425 (approx.) guitars.  (and about as many amps)

in California he has 12 "bursts"

Nashville home has 4 "bursts"

NYC home has 1 "burst"

that's a lot of coin tied up in Les Paul Bursts (some 1958 , mostly 1959 and a few 1960's )

I should video done around May6 2020.

He does have a rating system he uses  for all his guitars, he said on the super mint he has those in storage and won't play them on the road 

Edited by Eracer_Team-DougH
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Thanks for posting this!  Some very interesting points in that video.

Lately, I have been thinking about 'lightening the load' so to speak.  I believe I will put some serious thought into this.... 

I have a Yamaha nylon string that rarely gets played and I've considered letting it go. Its a great guitar, just not my 'go-to'.

For electrics I'd have a harder time deciding.  With one each of Les Paul, Strat, and Tele, I feel like I'm still learning what each can really do.

 

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@K9kaos  So true, and we haven't even touched how a discussion of pedals can further "amplify" what we can really do with each..."so little time, so many to play"!

I'm an acoustic "gatherer" and have sold my nylon for the reasons you are considering.  I have two acoustics on the market (but a really low ball market right now) and I occasionally re-tune and play for an exercise moment.  Wow, I think, why would I sell such a guitar...I must be crazy?!  OBTW: My wife has an immediate answer to that last question. 🤣

Edited by Plantsman13
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I'm trying to stay with the "basic food groups". A six string acoustic, for the campfires; a 12 string acoustic for the folk songs and Gordon Lightfoot; and a six string electric which covers the blues and rock. I have been strictly adhering to the rule, "One guitar in means one leaves", of course that may all change with a lottery win.

Henk

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@Oldjock   Why do we always seem to relegate our six string acoustic to a “campfire” scenario when a vintage Martin is such a treasured instrument?  🤣   I can’t image Vince Gill sitting around a roaring fire in the woods with one of his many treasured vintage guitars.

No insult intended, just a wondering aloud moment.  
Bryan

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20 hours ago, Eracer_Team-DougH said:

on a recent Instagram video Joe Bonamassa said he has 425 (approx.) guitars.  (and about as many amps)

in California he has 12 "bursts"

Nashville home has 4 "bursts"

NYC home has 1 "burst"

that's a lot of coin tied up in Les Paul Bursts (some 1958 , mostly 1959 and a few 1960's )

No accounting for collection addiction...

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21 hours ago, Eracer_Team-DougH said:

on a recent Instagram video Joe Bonamassa said he has 425 (approx.) guitars.  (and about as many amps)

in California he has 12 "bursts"

Nashville home has 4 "bursts"

NYC home has 1 "burst"

On his Blues Cruise last year JB has a one hour session with Norm of Norman's Rare Guitars.  Joe has sold guitars through there, probably most notably his prototype signature Les Paul.

Joe talked about the collection and a lot of the ones he played on stage during his two shows. He spent quite a bit of time talking about his (not sure what year) Gibson Flying V "Amos".  With all the Les Pauls Joe owns it seems he has a real soft spot in his heart for Amos.  On the stage with him and Norm JB  had two of those bursts, one of which was a '59.   Norm valued it at about $425,000.

As you said Doug, he has quite a collection of those old Les Pauls.  They're not all worth 400K but valuable.  And he has a lot of old Strats, Teles and 335s.  To put a pencil to his collection and try and add up would make one pause.

But JB plays them.  He's not afraid to take them on the road (and on the ocean) and up on stage.  They are not in a glass case.

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Meh, every one has an opinion on this and every one has line where people on the other side are collectors/non-players/posers/clowns/etc./etc..

I think I'm pretty close to the right number with 7 electrics (Strat, Tele, 2 Gibson Les Pauls, Gibson ES-135, Epi SG and Flying V and 4 acoustics (two suitable for campfires).  I would like a P90 equipped guitar and nicer Tele than the one I have but doubt I'll have many more guitars.  I hardly ever pick up an acoustic but regularly play most of the electrics except the Strat.  The SG is in my office and I pick up to to do skills drills without plugging in.  All the rest get played though the LP's get the most action.

At that I'm probably on the wrong side of some peoples lines.

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10 hours ago, Plantsman13 said:

@Oldjock   Why do we always seem to relegate our six string acoustic to a “campfire” scenario when a vintage Martin is such a treasured instrument?  🤣   I can’t image Vince Gill sitting around a roaring fire in the woods with one of his many treasured vintage guitars.

No insult intended, just a wondering aloud moment.  
Bryan

My campfire guitar is an old Seagull beater. I would never consider taking a Martin on a camping trip.

Henk

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I had watched this video the other day just after having bought my seventh guitar, as well as having, two amps. Even worse, I only started my guitar journey about three years ago. I told myself I would not buy another without good reason. As I recall (wasn't that long ago) , I told myself the same thing after each guitar. This time I mean it. I think!

I do enjoy each guitar for different reasons and cycle through each on a regular basis. Each has its own voice and purpose. I have the usual suspects: Tele, Strat, Les Paul, Gretsch for electric along with a Seagull, Martin, and Fender for acoustic. It may be that I'm trying to find myself or going through a mid-life crisis. Being 51, it is probably the latter. As I venture further along, I may decide to part with a few.

The perspective, of finding the one or two guitars to connect with and learn inside and out, makes sense. At some point, I hope to find my own voice musically and go from there.

So, does trading up count? If it is the same color and style, will anyone notice?

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This video really resonates with me and I already have three acoustic, three electric guitars; and a telecaster style guitar from the local luthier on order. I hope it ends here. That will be my seventh guitar in 13 years and I'd really like an ES-335 style guitar as well... 🥵

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Interesting discussion just in time for tonights Live Lesson of "Pedals, Cables & Gear, OH MY!" 

It would be interesting for Steve K, who has (I think) 5 or 6 guitars (all different) on which one he'd choose if he could have only ONE.

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I recall Steve saying on a Live Lesson a  few years ago, if stranded on an island and could only have one guitar....it would be his nylon from years ago.  

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If you want it and can afford it why not get it?

When I could afford a 1966 GTO I didn't want one.  Now I want one and cannot afford one.

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16 guitars, 10 amps.  I'm pathetic.......

 

Greg

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I was always taught the rule of thumb is ... just one more.

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On 1/15/2021 at 8:57 PM, gotto said:

16 guitars, 10 amps.  I'm pathetic.......

 

Greg

Noting pathetic about a guy doing something he loves. Rock on!

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I am surprised that this would even be a question among musicians! 🙃

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Over the years I have had about 25 guitars. Sure, you can try one out in the shop but I found that living with one for a year really helped me understand what I did or didn't like about a particular guitar, plus, I was free to do proper set ups, swap out nuts and strings and so on.

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On 1/16/2021 at 11:35 AM, tjmeyers said:

I was always taught the rule of thumb is ... just one more.

I don't mind telling you guys I am sorely disappointed in you!  😡   All this time, almost a year, and no one has posted this!

Einstein.jpg.7785c9b662ce649c800dc722890023ec.jpg

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Well here it is going on a year from when I started this thread.. I still have the 4 guitars I had then. One of them, ( a 1968 Ovation),I've owned for 51 years:-! It doesn't get played a lot but sounds better than ever. I rotate the others, but lately I play my ES335 the most. A new one? The g.a.s. isn't very strong at the moment... unless... maybe you're talking about a Benedetto custom made to order jazz guitar...;-)   (with eye watering 5 figure $$$ price tag) 

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@NeilES335  So tell us about how you would customize “your” Benedetto guitar if the guitar fairy left an all expenses paid gift card under your pillow?

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14 hours ago, Plantsman13 said:

@NeilES335  So tell us about how you would customize “your” Benedetto guitar if the guitar fairy left an all expenses paid gift card under your pillow?

All Benedetto Guitars are "custom made" to order, in a sense,  although they do occasionally  have a few  "professional series" guitars in stock vs the very high end totally made to order "flagship " series. The Pro series has a laminated top for greater resistance to feedback and is designed for discerning players or gigging musicians. The "flagship" series is a totally solid wood top guitar, in several models. (ranging in price from $12,000 to $40,000 USD. The absolute finest of materials, and superb workmanship, every one is a work of art. 

Personally I'd be quite happy with a Pro series model. I think I might have some mop inlay work on the ebony  tailpiece and or headstock, a custom nameplate truss rod cover, and possibly some small custom mop inlay fret markets, as these are made without fret markers except the 12th fret and side dots. The hardware is already gold and tuners with ebony buttons so there's not really that much to do to the existing models.  They start at about $6500. USD Thats about $10k for me, plus delivery. hmm...  

https://benedettoguitars.com/guitars/professional-series/bravo-deluxe™/

https://benedettoguitars.com/

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