Beyond tone

robgilmo

I bought a Tele because they are way way better than Strats.
I bought a Gold Top because they are way way better than Strats, but not quite as good as Teles.

digitalscream

I bought an N4 because of the practicality of the neck joint (it was only afterwards that I became a Nuno fan).

I bought all my Jaden Rose guitars because they fit my hands like no other guitar ever has.

In fact...tone is the last thing I consider when buying a guitar. For me, it's all about how it feels and whether I can make it do what I want...tone is what I use pedals and an amp for.

Z28

I'd say playability is just as important as tone. 
Otherwise, looks can be important to some, if it looks nice it surely makes you want to pick it up and play it. 
With vintage guitars I'd say the history and all the small details about them can surely also play a big role in making you want to have one. Plus, if some vintage guitars could talk... 

octatonic

Playability first, then tone, then looks, for me.

tony99

robgilmo said:

I bought a Tele because they are way way better than Strats.
I bought a Gold Top because they are way way better than Strats, but not quite as good as Teles.

I have a gold top. I have a strat.

Guess what I'm on the look out for.?.?.?.?

Cranky

monquixote said:

octatonic said:

Tone is a myth.

I've met him.

So now I'd kinda like to see a "Wolf Tone" line of guitars.  Probably be a little more popular on the other side of the Irish Sea, but the marketing (and educational) possibilities alone make it seem worthwhile.

robgilmo

tony99 said:

robgilmo said:

I bought a Tele because they are way way better than Strats.
I bought a Gold Top because they are way way better than Strats, but not quite as good as Teles.

I have a gold top. I have a strat.

Guess what I'm on the look out for.?.?.?.?

A Tele! You know it makes sense!

Neil

Looks first, obviously. 

A close runner up is playability.

Tone is whatever you play through - amps/pedals . 

Teetonetal

Always on looks for me.

As long as the guitar is in the right area then feel and tone are easy to change with simple setup or pickups.

Dominic

If I bought a Suhr or Charvel Guthrie Govan model it won't be because I want to look like him .
He might be an incredible guitarist but he reminds me of Catweazle.

Reverend

I wanted an SG eay back when because of Iommi but found I preferred Les Pauls. Bought a BC Rich Warlock because i was a death metal kid. Bought an Ibanez Destroyer 2 because of Maiden. The V because of god (in his schenker phase). 

Pabcrane

tony99 said:

robgilmo said:

I bought a Tele because they are way way better than Strats.
I bought a Gold Top because they are way way better than Strats, but not quite as good as Teles.

I have a gold top. I have a strat.

Guess what I'm on the look out for.?.?.?.?

A Rickenbacker!

Lestratcaster

I got my Gibson Les Paul Junior In 2007 (the Billie Joe Armstrong signature) as I’m a big Green Day fan love white guitars. Knew nothing about P90 pickups or wrap around bridges. Slowly realised its a kinda one trick pony, straight up rock n roll!

Flanging_Fred

I bought my Hello Kitty strat and Spongebob guitars to give my band mates a good chuckle and to entertain my young daughters. 

The look on the bassists face when I pulled the Hello Kitty out of a gig bag for the first time was worth the money alone.

Blueingreen

Tone is not a major consideration for me when buying guitars.  Apart from when I was starting out with cheap budget guitars, I've bought good quality mainstream guitars, either in the Fender or Gibson camp (not necessary F or G) and I'm always confident they'll sound just fine.  There's the option of pickup changes or modding the electrics for fine tuning, but I've hardly ever done that.

Playability and good looks matter far more, not because good tone isn't important but because on a good quality mainstream guitar you can pretty much take it for granted.

Cranky

Flanging_Fred said:

I bought my Hello Kitty strat and Spongebob guitars to give my band mates a good chuckle and to entertain my young daughters. 

The look on the bassists face when I pulled the Hello Kitty out of a gig bag for the first time was worth the money alone.

My kinda guy!

Keefy

Looks have often put me off guitars that might have sounded and played fantastic, but once a guitar has passed the ‘good looks’ test, my criteria for buying are that (1) it sounds so good that I don’t want to put it down, and (2) any playability issues are easily fixable. Works for me,