I think it's because I'm pissed off at just having had to rearrange my entire room in order to fit in a second guitar rack, but I'm starting to wonder what the point is in me having so many guitars. As a lifelong gear hoarder who lives by the mantra "he who dies with the most guitars wins", this is troubling me.
This isn't the first time I've thought of it though. I currently have:
Blackmachine B6
MJT Strat
Ibanez RG550XH (30 frets)
Gibson Flying V (with Firebird pickups)
Raygun Relics LP Junior
Squier Jazzmaster
Tokai PR100
Taylor 114ce acoustic
Ibanez SR1205 bass
Currently I also have my dad's old MIJ Tele here, it's been on a sort of long-term loan to me since March.
So I actually have eight electrics here. Of those, the only two that get played with any regularity are the Blackmachine and the Strat. I do play the Tele on occasion, and I love Teles, but this one isn't my favourite. Other than that, the Flying V gets the next most use - every time I plug it in, I marvel at the sound and the playability. It's like an old glove.
The Junior and the 30-fret Ibanez are both great fun, for very different reasons, and neither were expensive, but I keep feeling like I don't use them enough any more to justify them staying, I just don't find them particularly useful. The Tokai is harder - it was my main guitar for a long time, it plays like a dream and I played all but one of my recently broken-up band's gigs with it, but since getting the Blackmachine I've only plugged it in once or twice. I loved it, but I don't know if it should stay... and the Jazzmaster is even harder, because that was my 18th birthday present from my parents and I feel as though they'd be offended if I were to get rid of it. But I've always found it a hard guitar to get the best from, and it sits gathering dust.
On top of all of this, I need the money for other gear purchases - I need to buy a Kemper, and there are other things I want as well - a new bass, my own Tele, and a lovely old Gibson that my dad sold to a mate a few years ago, which I've enquired about. Plus many more. All told, I feel like I've been kidding myself somewhat by saying I really need all these guitars, and I really do think it might be time to thin the herd.
I don't really know what the point is in posting this, but I guess I'd appreciate some of your perspectives on this situation.
- "I'm going to write a very stiff letter. A VERY stiff letter. On cardboard."
Comments
Keep your "top 3" from what you have, sell the rest. Buy other stuff you like. There is zero point to owning an unused guitar, imho.
Maybe keep the V, it's relatively unique.
Keep the acoustic.
Keep the bass until you replace it.
Everything else can go and can be replaced if you later really miss it.
"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
I was going to say you should talk to your folks about the Jazzmaster/18th Birthday prezzie. They might appreciate being involved in your decision making.
But I echo ICBM's thoughts above, as a guitar that challenges you might help you become a better guitarist. It's easy to pick up the "go to" guitar and crank out the same old tunes, but the Jazzmaster is crying out for mastering.
For reference I have two (well three) very different guitars. Not for me is a rack of similar guitars. I got rid of my first guitar (an SG) a few months ago and no regrets. It can be done. Just make sure your expectations are realistic when setting prices.
There's no way the Strat would be going.
And @fandango - there's no way I'd do anything with the JM without consulting my parents first.
HarrySeven - Intangible Asset Appraiser & Wrecker of Civilisation. Searching for weird guitars - so you don't have to.
Forum feedback thread. | G&B interview #1 & #2 | https://www.instagram.com/_harry_seven_/
Once you start rationalising the others it's a slippery slope to keeping them all.
I've just had that sort of clear-out too, and I don't really miss the ones that have gone now, even though I struggled with selling some of them at the time.
"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
I now have only 1 guitar, i use three pedals and i have 1 amp (well technically i have three, but two are for sale!). I found that getting rid of the excess has made me a better player, a more constructive and efficient writer and i'm having a lot more fun playing rather than looking at gear!
The three that I am definitely keeping, which will not change, are the BM, the Strat and the V.
I think cutting back makes a lot of sense, if you have the viewpoint that anything non rare can essentially be replaced almost like for like at a later time. You might even get a better example next time
I'd keep the BM, Strat and V, and put the JM in a cupboard. Obviously keep a bass and an acoustic, and sell the rest. You'll probably come back to the JM at some point. They're not easy guitars to play, but it's really good to have something that pushes you in a different direction from your main instrument(s), particularly for recording.