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The first step is to realize what you want to achieve. Is your goal to become a better guitar player or a guy that has a lot of gear? Unless you are 15 and you have all the time in the world, eventually you will have to choose from one of these two options. Let me explain why.
During the past 3 years I spent a lot of time researching, buying and selling instruments. As a result now I have 8 but I'm planning to downsize to 3 or maximum 4.
Here are the reasons:
1. Maintenance - I take care of my guitars, which means:
- Polishing
- Set ups
- String changing
That takes a lot of time that you could spend actually playing.
2. Distraction - having variety is not always a good thing. I tend to mess around more than actually learning new things. "That sounded cool, let's try it with a telecaster! Hmmm, maybe a PRS will suit that riff better. You know what, this song is for a strat, let's grab it and play. Shit, the strat needs set up, let me do it". Yes, I'm having fun, but it's not productive. And honestly speaking, I'm becoming more and more bored of messing around and comparing incomparable things (guitars, amps, pedals).
Distraction takes a lot of time that you could spend actually learning something new.
3. Re-learning - I tend to play one guitar for a couple of days and then switch to another one. Maybe it's just me, but I need time to adjust to the new neck and therefore I have to practice the same things again.
Re-learning takes some time that you could spend learning something new.
4. Buying the gear. That's not as easy as it sounds. Usually you spend time:
- Researching and reading specifications, reviews and forum posts
- Listening to youtube demos
- Browsing the classifieds here, on Reverb and ebay
- Talking to the seller
- Sometimes meeting the seller and trying out whatever that you are buying
Guess what you can do instead of all the activities, mentioned above? That's right, playing.
5. The silver bullet. I always thought that there is one magical instrument that will play itself when I grab it and I will instantly become a better guitar player. Well, that thing doesn't exist. Yes, I do play a bit better on my Power Jet and Stripped 58. But I have a feeling that I could have been much better if I have focused during all those years and practiced more. Even with a Squire.
I bought a used tuner on Saturday night because I need one for my workshop. I felt bad for spending £50 tbh, even though it’s the first tuner I’ve owned in over a year (I sold everything to fund the business).
I still look at gear daily and it’s a healthy thing to do. Good for the soul and mind to stay stimulated. But would i “invest” (I hate that word in relation to gear)? No, I wouldn’t invest in gear. I buy it if I need it. Hopefully soon I’ll be able to buy something because I want it and not feel guilty in the process.
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Goldeneraguitars
I think there must be thousands of bedroom guitarists who don't realise they would be much happier spending their time and money getting a band together than obsessing about guitars and pedals.
It's become a disease among (mostly, but not exclusively) guitarists. Obsession over largely irrelevant differences in tone for no reason other than because it's somehow become accepted that you "need" different guitars for different sounds...
You don't see a classical violinist with a dozen different violins. "But they all sound basically the same" - yes they do, to a non-violinist. So do electric guitars to a non-guitarist.
Sorry, bit of a pet peeve I know .
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Its also easy to confuse GAS with being inspired I think. Good players, their enthusiasm and tones are infectious, not just the new gear. For this reason I'm glad there are also bad demos of great kit, to show that having that new thing may not be the answer.
"Do more with less"
Feedback
Everything else is just fluff or leading edge.
Amps - space and sound bases, having two does what I want.
Pedals - only keep whats on the board and really only one slot that gets changed so thats limited.
Guitars, it's covering different a few sounds & feels/responses to me. If there was room and money I'd have more but not more of the same things.
Having different guitars isn't a hindrance to playing, totally the opposite for me. Different styles come out of the differences. I've done the one guitar plus backup thing while touring. Just very dull. Too much variety out there to be missing out on it all.
Seriously: If you value it, take/fetch it yourself
It's worth me just adding that:
1. I'm 36 and I don't have or want to have children. Personal choice.
2. I have an ok car, and I don't desire to either have one on hire/whatever to upgrade for the extortionate amount it already costs to drive anyway. My friends spent thousands on Japanese imported cars to only have them become fairly worthless over a few years, unlike guitars.
3. I will buy a house, and I'm saving, but I'm in no rush. My rented place is extremely nice! To be honest, part of me wants to sack it off and move abroad or travel for a few years.
Hence, I'm lucky to be able to get guitars etc, but I want to stop now.
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Goldeneraguitars
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein