I have a modest collection of mainly mid to low value guitars. I used to play pretty regularly in a covers band, but we're not particularly active these days, with only 2 or 3 gigs a year, which typically come from people approaching us, rather than us hustling for them.
Lately have the urge to purge... I have a few guitars that I definitely want to keep; My Aria semi that is effectively my engagement ring, my Fender Tele & Strat (both Mexican but good guitars that I've grown to love and do the job well), my cheap-as-chips Chinese JA90 knock-off Thinline Tele with a bigsby, and my Faith Venus acoustic. Between the 5 of them, they can do everything I need for the band or solo.
I'm tempted to just get rid of the rest that are rarely played, not necessarily to then buy yet another guitar (which is what I'd normally do) , but just to declutter my guitar life, if that makes sense.... I guess I'm just over the GAS/Arms Race thing.
So... I'm almost ready to hit the FS forum/Gumtree/Facebook with my other guitars but wanted to ask; Has anyone been through the same? Did you go through with it? Did you regret it, or not?
Keen to hear what other folks experiences are.
Cheers
Keith
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Very happy with the two guitars I've got.
I had the notion once that I wanted one good electric and one good acoustic.
I flogged the excess and most of my pedals.
I know have more stuff than I had at the time of the purge (typical!) But with the exception of one very tatty electric and a few cheapo pedals, the stuff I've accumulated since has been good quality stuff I use and want to keep.
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I just sold 3 of my fave but rarely played, and most of my pedals and spare pickups. Feels good, especially on the wallet.
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/61134/sarge/p1
I've sold a lot of guitars over the years but I still have way, way too much stuff.
I'm not feeling too much GAS these days - it's become more a case of occasionally seeing something which looks interesting, rather than having a permanent "want list".
So I do see myself getting rid of some guitars and although it won't be anywhere near a purge, I know from past experience that once I start selling I tend to carry on - sometimes to the extent that I sell things I never really intended to and end up scratching my head afterwards. But on the whole it feels good to get rid of stuff and I rarely regret it.
The problem is getting motivated. I've always sold through eBay but I'm a bit disenchanted with it, so I'm considering other options too.
I've sold 8 or 9 guitars over the last few months, half of them Gibsons. I now have my old MIJ Tokai LP and a pair of Pacifica's, a purple 611 and a heavily butchered 510v....and I rarely play the Tokai as it wrecks my shoulder(sounds monstrous though!!).
Play more and better without all the extra distraction of wondering which guitar to use for what. If I can't get it done on those guitars, more kit isn't gonna help. Did the same to my pedal board. Tuner, wah, od, booster and a delay.
Honestly, the audience don't give a shit, they just see and hear a guitar.
But!!! Remember the market is flooded, you won't get top dollar and if you aren't sure about something keep it as realistically it doesn't really cost anything to keep a guitar.
They will be better guitars.
They will get more play time.
You will bond with them.
(Some of you are wondering why you have never bonded with your 27th best guitar. Let's chat about that sometime and then figure it out).
Of course there will be a couple of people reading this who have 20 guitars available that earns them their living producing the right sound for any situation. They know that I am not talking to them in this post.
My band, Red For Dissent