How long?

fretfinder

It can take me a couple of months to decide if a guitar is a keeper. Then the longer I keep it the more difficult it is to sell on. I’ve got a PRS McCarty that I virtually never play, but I’ve had it a dozen years or so and can’t bring myself to sell it. Conversely I’ve bought some guitars and decided on the same day I’ve got them home that they’ve got to go. I only ever buy second hand stuff so the financial pain of flipping gear is minimal. 

dogload

I once owned a Gibson Explorer 2 for less than an afternoon. 

Back in the mid-90's I went into town with the intention of buying a guitar and in one particular (long-gone) shop it came down to the choice between the Explorer and a very nice Epiphone Casino (80's Japanese). I'd always fancied an Explorer so as they were similar prices... 

... Got home, tried it standing up and on catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror (!), realised it just wasn't for me and went back to the shop and swapped it for the Casino!

west

Has this been going on .....

stimpsonslostson

All this makes me feel better about the fact that I'm putting my Reverend up for sale after 10days.
I don't know what it is, but I just haven't clicked with it- the realisation came last night when I DIDN'T pick it up, I grabbed my trusty Tele deluxe & it felt "right". 

5redlights

A day, possibly 2. Was a classic series 50s telecaster. Realised that as a 'main' guitar, it was too limited. Don't get me wrong, it's a lovely thing, but it just didn't cover enough bases. Got a Classic Series 72 deluxe instead, fitted p90s, and was an instant hit. Not going anywhere.  

DB1

I've only recently (last two and a half years) starting taking the guitar seriously, and wanted to make up for lost time, so I must have got through about 70 or so guitars in that time, from Peavey to PRS and from Godin to Gibson. It stands to reason that a few haven't lasted long! I have terrible bouts of indecision (or do I? I can't make my mind up) and if I try a couple of guitars and take one with me, then I want the other one when I get home.

I tried (and bought) a nice R9 50th Anniversary at Sound Affects premier and HAD to have it, it was that nice. Got it home and didn't take to it. I've brought a few home which have been on eBay the next day (no flippage, just a realisation that they weren't anything special).

Some I really try and bond with - I must have got through at least ten Terada Gretsches, and kept them for a while, because I really wanted to love them, but I found myself not playing them, so in the end, they went. Great guitars, but I don't think that Gretsches are for me. I bought a Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin, liked it instantly and still have it. Bought a Kingpin 2, and hated it straight away.

I'm in two minds about some of them, and my feelings change about them from day to day - I suppose when 'not picking them up' becomes the norm, that's the time to get rid. I sold a couple of things too early and regret the sales - one was a 1991 ES-335 and the other was a Godin Montreal Premier Supreme. I suppose the fact that it's name sounds like a tin of dog food didn't help, but a lovely guitar.

The one that I instantly bonded with is the Gibson CS Pat Martino that I mentioned on here a week or so ago. It's just right for me. Often though, they take a while to grow into, so to speak. 

ESBlonde

I tend to know if I'll get on with a guitar in just a few seconds, knowing it is a keeper? I've learned to be patient and give it months. I don't even attempt the final setup for a few weeks so I can assess what is best for me/it, although a rough action and truss rod adjustment with intonation happens at first string change.

Garthy

stimpsonslostson said:

We all know the story- you buy a new guitar, it's the best thing ever. The honeymoon period where everything is new and exciting. Then you settle down & learn to live with the guitar on a day to day basis. 

How long does it take you to "bond" with a guitar & know it's a keeper?
Conversely, what's the shortest period you've gone from "love" to "for sale"? 

I bonded with my Jackson Dinky within seconds of holding it, I've never bonded with the Les Paul and would have sold it the afternoon I bought it if I could be bothered.

baldy

I am 6 months into the ownership of my newest guitar, Yamaha 611 HFM, which I really liked within minutes of first playing it, but have just decided to move it on.
Not the guitars fault as it is lovely to play, great quality & tonally very versatile, but a change in my playing technique has prompted this.
My old Yamaha RGX on the other hand has become my favourite due to this technique change.
I played a Charvel for 20 minutes in a store today & was very surprised how much I liked it.
So much so that it is now mine.
Who knows what the next 6 months will bring 

 

Nunogilberto

I find that I need to gig a guitar a few times/practice with it/generally just use that one guitar for a little while to really get to grips with it. This way, I’ve ended up bonding with a guitar that may have seemed underwhelming after 10 mins sat with it initially.

Schnozz

I've had 50 guitars and I now know what neck profiles I like, but when I didn't, I could sell/trade things within a month.

I'd say 3-6 months now and it's usually because I like to keep my collection down to just 4 instruments.