So what are your thoughts on what makes a guitar collector

musicman100

I'm just interested in what your thoughts are on the difference between someone who calls themselves a guitar collector n someone who has a lot of guitars but doesn't consider themselves a collector?

The reason I ask is because I have an ongoing argument with my father about this topic.
He refuses to accept that he/we are guitar collectors. 

Surfmonkey77

wrong thread buddy unless you are selling the collection?!

olafgarten

I'd say a collector is someone who has the guitars just for the sake of owning them and doesn't intend to play them. 

Winny_Pooh

If you buy many guitars based on originality and scarcity you are likely to be a collector. If you just have a lot of guitars then you're a hoarder or Harryseven.

Voxman

Define 'a lot of guitars'?

musicman100

Voxman said:

Define 'a lot of guitars'?

Recently got rid of about 20 cheaper stuff in a cull we had.

Now left with 35 higher end stuff n a few with sentimental value.

Bucket

The line is quite blurred as far as I'm concerned... I know people who are players but have accumulated lots of stuff, which is what I think of myself as, but I suppose a collector would have some notable "pieces" that are valuable, or an interest in a specific type of guitar which they have a lot of examples of... or both. Whether or not you're a passionate player as well doesn't really come into it. Plenty are.

grungebob

I sold a fender artist series guitar to a guy recently who only buys fender artist guitars, he doesn't play guitar, that's a collector. 

I buy guitars for reasons  ranging from sonic diversity to "I just like it", but I can't and do play guitar so I think that makes me a player not a collector. 

HarrySeven

Winny_Pooh said:

If you buy many guitars based on originality and scarcity you are likely to be a collector. If you just have a lot of guitars then you're a hoarder or Harryseven.

Indeed. It's an interesting one.

I'm not hugely interested in traditional notions of " originality and scarcity" or "notable "pieces" that are valuable" (in the sense of high-end/vintage Gibson, Fender, Gretsch, PRS, etc) - and while I can certainly appreciate them - and do own a few - I'm much more likely to be fired up by something left-field and quirky - eg. Stepp DG-1's, SynthAxe, Bond Electraglides and the like.

Of the 150+ guitars I own, probably something like only 20% would fit into the former category, although I'd definitely class myself as a collector - I do seek out unusual/interesting guitars/guitar-related technology - just not necessarily the "usual suspects"

Moe_Zambeek

musicman100 said:

Voxman said:

Define 'a lot of guitars'?

Recently got rid of about 20 cheaper stuff in a cull we had.

Now left with 35 higher end stuff n a few with sentimental value.

How many of those do you actively use for songwriting / gigging / recording? Are you both professional or semi-pro musicians? How many of them are duplicates or similar?

Id say that many constituted a collection regardless, and iirc lots of yours are Gretsches; from your posts here I would certainly classify you as a collector. 

i don't think there's anything wrong with that, though. It's not the worst hobby a person could have.

Based on Harry's posts I'd classify him as a collector of the weird and unusual...with hoarder tendencies going by the shed shots

guitars4you

I suppose many factors come in to play - You can collect stamps but you'll never use them - Same can be said for many bottles of wine

Part of been a collector is having a passion and knowledge for such 'objects' - whatever the collection is and wanting to add to the collection something you currently don't have - Wanting the finest examples

But surely any collection you have to be passionate about it - be it a player or not - admire them for whatever attributes that they offer and bring to you - And to a large degree the collecting should reflect you as a person and your personality - No use been a rock n roll 50's fan and collecting Floyd Rose based guitars

WezV

When you end up with duplicates of the same style you are becoming a collector

Sassafras

All I know is that collectors push prices far higher than mere players, such as myself, are willing to pay.
I can't help thinking of collectors as being slightly smug, selfish bastards.
Not @HarrySeven obviously, he's doing us all a favour by ridding the world of ugly, undesirable "guitars" .
I usually feel quite uncomfortable around huge collections.

richardhomer

I own 8 instruments. Each has a musical 'purpose'. One is a vintage classic from Gibson's golden era. With the exception of a couple, the rest are fairly high-end.

I don't consider myself a collector. I suspect a non-player - and certainly my ex-wife- would view it differently.

As long as you can afford it, without straining your family budget, I'm not sure it matters....

guitars4you

guitars4you said:

I suppose many factors come in to play - You can collect stamps but you'll never use them - Same can be said for many bottles of wine

Part of been a collector is having a passion and knowledge for such 'objects' - whatever the collection is and wanting to add to the collection something you currently don't have - Wanting the finest examples

But surely any collection you have to be passionate about it - be it a player or not - admire them for whatever attributes that they offer and bring to you - And to a large degree the collecting should reflect you as a person and your personality - No use been a rock n roll 50's fan and collecting Floyd Rose based guitars

I suppose some one like Rory Gallagher saw the guitars as a tool to do the job and many players would think like wise - I dare say with Joe Bonamassa there is a bit of both within his thinking as a player and as a collector

I can see so many facets to this - are you a player first or a collector first - But if you have 1 or a 100 there must be some passion about why you have purchased it in the first place and still own it today 

step_hent

The lines are definitely blurred, but I'd say a collector is deliberately acquisitive - they are usually actively looking to add to the collection and often with a particular goal (guitars of an era or particular characteristics).

A player may get regular bouts of GAS but it probably tends to be less structured or themed and more just 'ooh shiny thing' (which is my problem really).

Philly_Q

Winny_Pooh said:

If you buy many guitars based on originality and scarcity you are likely to be a collector. If you just have a lot of guitars then you're a hoarder or Harryseven.

I'm mostly a hoarder but within my hoard there are a few guitars which I'd regard as a collection because I deliberately set out to buy them with matching finishes.  I didn't pay over the odds for them, though, so it wasn't a case of I must have these, money no object.

meltedbuzzbox

WezV said:

When you end up with duplicates of the same style you are becoming a collector

What if you end up with guitars that all sound different, is that not a form of collection?

Jalapeno

Perspective </spelling nazi>

IvisonGuitars

In my view, a serious guitar collector buys and pays a premium for 100% original, near mint examples of guitars they want to own. They may play them but the onus is on the piece being 100% original and an investment of sorts.

The rest of us buy guitars to play or because we like the look & sound of them and we are not worried that the bottom rear cavity screw might be from a '58 on a '55 guitar. Collectors are in my experience.

Everyone else are guitar players with a very heathy habit/addiction to acquiring more instruments!

Moe_Zambeek

I find myself uncomfortable with more than 4, because I'm really a serial monogamist with guitars, I tend to have a favourite for whatever band I'm in.