A Few Solid Standbys Or A Larger, Cheaper Variety?

[CBA]

Hellllloooooo again.

Here's another item I've been pondering.


When it comes to owning guitars, are you the kind of person who likes to have one or two solid, dependable (and thus maybe more expensive) guitars that you've had for years and will have for years more?

Or are you the kind of person who likes to have five or six or more guitars that have been acquired at moderate to cheap prices, yet aren't the highest quality you can get, with the thought that you will most likely flip them within one or two years so you can try something else?


I know there are more than these two categories, but I'm just giving some examples.

I've been torn lately amongst some of my self-imposed limits. I play guitar and bass in two separate bands so I like to have one high-quality, dependable (even if expensive) guitar and bass and then a moderately priced back-up for each one. I've been thinking about it more because I really like my Hofner bass, but it's the cheaper version, and it does have some quality issues... but I love the sound. So I've been looking at basses, and I'm not sure if I should pick up a cheaper Squier P-Bass or an American Vintage P-Bass. I don't have a TON of cashe, but in this case, I definitely can afford to buy a new American P-Bass. I kinda feel like the American P-Bass is something I could nuture and keep for the rest of my bass playing years, whilst the Squier is cool, but might not last me as long as I'd like.

Anyway.

C

[Achtane]

Hmm...
I have multiple cheaper guitars, but with no intention of flipping them. Maybe trade one for a different version of the same model...
For me, $550 is the maximum I'd pay for a new or used guitar, barring the dream Electrical bass.
I don't think there's anything out there that I'd be willing to pay more for. I don't care about the value appreciating over time, limited editions or anything like that. I definitely have at least one "for life" bass but it's very cheaply made, a real beater; I'm still holding onto it no matter what. I can still pass something like that down should the time come.
Plus, I never really see guitars that come pre-fitted with the things I'd want on it, so all of that crap will have to be modded in anyway. My money limit would be different if anyone made things I'd be totally satisfied with right out of the box. Although it's true that some things can surprise you.
There's a limit to how cheaply-made of a guitar I'll put up with but I really enjoy modding things and if the cost can be kept down I'm happy having a platform to mess around with. Just not so cheap that I have any doubt about it staying in one piece.
Lots of playability issues can be fixed to my taste so I don't put a big emphasis on all-american super high quality construction, toanwoods and such. The key is in keeping the cost of mods and stuff as low as possible while still getting what ya want, so you end up satisfied without dropping so much money into it that you could have bought a generally superior instrument with the same money. I guess. I probably just wrote something kinda stupid.

Whatever man, I like having a few guitars.

[CBA]

That's all good advice/musings.

If I had more time and a place to do it, I'd get into mods for sure. Up until now, however, anything I've tried to mod or sand or polish has been a total failure.

And I get the part about guitars not having everything you want... check my Telemaster thread for something that will NEVER get made unless I make it.

That's why I think I've been happiest with my wanky Gibson Les Paul Faded Special... it's a slab of wood with two P-90s. But I also like the moderately "fancy" Epiphone Casino, which I used to have... just thinking about getting a slightly higher quality one i.e. the Lennon Inspired.

Same with bass... they don't really make a bass I'd like, but instead of going the mod route, I can get one that has close to everything, call it good, and not worry about fucking it up later.


C

[coldbrightsunlight]

I have one nice guitar (old MIJ jag), and I enjoy having it and don't really want another. Depends what you're looking for...

[greyscales]

I'm sort of inbetween. I got a used MIA strat for a great price on ebay and got a CP Jazzy in a trade for a tele I got on ebay. Then I have a heavily modified SX guitar and a Squier bass. At this point I don't feel the need to get another guitar unless I start gigging regularly and need one with different pickups or is a hollowbody.
So my advice would be to get a nice used guitar, maybe two, and an inexpensive backup.

[metalmariachi]

Solid standards, MIA, MIJ (’51 reissue & Jag bass) Fenders.
I’ve had cheaper guitars in the past, and they have all gone, traded for better stuff.
I’ve found you can find a good used American Standard or Highway One for a tad less than a new MIM.

[rfurtkamp]

I'm a solid standby type of guy, but they're price irrelevant.

Great deals get them in my door to try them out, and some stay, some don't. It's not about flipping them - they're a keeper or they're not.

My Mascis Jazzmaster will hang with any I've ever played except in looks. I hates, hates the color and pickguard. But I won't change a thing with how it sounds.

My Classic Player Jag, same except it looks nice.

And a couple others as well, I like having different toys that make me happy (as well as being able to leave a guitar on the couch so I can play while I watch movies or whatever).

These days it depends on what you mean by cheap as well - 300-500 will buy you a nice guitar in most cases, especially if you go used. Much more and you start getting into corksniffer stuff or you demand nitro finishes (and I hate those, will never again deal with having to wipe down a '64 Mustang's neck every set because it got sticky and tacky and ugly), etc.

Then again, I'm probably easy to please. Amps and effects, not so much.

[metalmariachi]

will never again deal with having to wipe down a '64 Mustang's neck every set because it got sticky and tacky and ugly)

I really love the new mat finishes on Fender necks they never feel like some one dripped syrup on them like the old nitro necks get some times.

MM

[CBA]

Considering all the advice to get a better price on a great used instrument, what if I could get one of these, new, for $950? It includes a case. Talking about the blonde one.



http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/fen ... ision-bass


C



p.s. A friend can get me discounts from a major retailer.

[metalmariachi]

Nice bass and the price isn’t bad.
Defiantly a serious working machine.
Some might find the 1 ¾ inch nut a bit wide, but I have small hands and I can switch from my Jazz to my P with no adjustment problems.
If I hadn’t scored the 50th anniversary last year I consider getting one of those myself.
The bridge and pickup covers are extra candy.

MM

[Mudfuzz]

Hellllloooooo again.

Here's another item I've been pondering.


When it comes to owning guitars, are you the kind of person who likes to have one or two solid, dependable (and thus maybe more expensive) guitars that you've had for years and will have for years more?

Or are you the kind of person who likes to have five or six or more guitars that have been acquired at moderate to cheap prices, yet aren't the highest quality you can get, with the thought that you will most likely flip them within one or two years so you can try something else?


I know there are more than these two categories, but I'm just giving some examples.

I've been torn lately amongst some of my self-imposed limits. I play guitar and bass in two separate bands so I like to have one high-quality, dependable (even if expensive) guitar and bass and then a moderately priced back-up for each one. I've been thinking about it more because I really like my Hofner bass, but it's the cheaper version, and it does have some quality issues... but I love the sound. So I've been looking at basses, and I'm not sure if I should pick up a cheaper Squier P-Bass or an American Vintage P-Bass. I don't have a TON of cashe, but in this case, I definitely can afford to buy a new American P-Bass. I kinda feel like the American P-Bass is something I could nuture and keep for the rest of my bass playing years, whilst the Squier is cool, but might not last me as long as I'd like.

Anyway.

C

I just really like instruments.. I have something one 20 basses,guitars and things.. a good chunk are ones I built of put together from parts.. think though I that I am going to go through what I have and ask myself what I really need and use

[MEC]

Considering all the advice to get a better price on a great used instrument, what if I could get one of these, new, for $950? It includes a case. Talking about the blonde one.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/fen ... ision-bass
C
p.s. A friend can get me discounts from a major retailer.

If I was going to spend that much on a bass it would be one like this: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/gl-asat-electric-bass-guitar

Who knows it might even rid you of your Tele GAS.

[rfurtkamp]

I really love the new mat finishes on Fender necks they never feel like some one dripped syrup on them like the old nitro necks get some times.

Yea, it's one area that things have improved dramatically, both nitro and poly aren't as sticky as they used to be. And thank god they discovered tint that wasn't flame orange in the last couple years as well.

Considering all the advice to get a better price on a great used instrument, what if I could get one of these, new, for $950? It includes a case. Talking about the blonde one.

You could do a lot worse, I bet you'd probably be happy and if not there are a lot more toys in the sea.

What I've learned in 20 years or so of playing is that price buys you more consistency - you rarely get a total clunker, especially these days, but basically any of the major manufacturers, providing you don't go for the bottom of the barrel of their lines, don't make instruments that suck. In an era of CNC stuff and better QA, it's just not throwing the dice like it was. If you go a few hundred bucks over the 'can get something nice' amount, who cares in six months to be honest? If you're happy with the instrument, you're happy with the instrument.

I've had sticker shock on some things I"ve bought in the past, and for the ones that stayed, guitar or otherwise, all I can say is the happiness the item brings me overrides the memory of the cost.

[CBA]

I have this thing that I go through every so often where I get really set on buying a super-solid guitar for like $1000. I'm uuuuuusually disappointed because:

A) I'm too afraid to play it because I might scratch it. Or something.
B) I can't really tell the difference in quality/sound between a moderately priced and expensive guitar.
C) I don't really need something that super solid.


The expensive (and yes, I keep saying "expensive", but I'm just using that in place of "lifetime high quality near-perfect instrument") guitars that I've had... Gibson J-160E, Epiphone Elitist Casino, and American Standard Telecaster... I've gotten them and then usually feel quite disappointed in them. The J-160E sounded pretty bad for $1,700 or so; the Tele had some flaws to it that annoyed me for its price (this one I did play in the shop a few times before buying it); the Casino was a solid instrument but then I nicked the headstock on the ceiling (low overhead in practice space) and was SOOOOOOO PISSED OFF.

So knowing my somewhat obsessive personality regarding beautiful THINGS, it's probably a better choice for me not to get that American Vintage '57 P-Bass, even if I can get 30% off the price new. So I just need to defeat the current feeling and move on.

I'm really happy with my $300 Hofner bass... that thing is so cool. It slipped off my strap the other day and landed face-first on the concrete floor... knocked one of the pickups loose... but I didn't really care. Because of the price? I don't know.

And my Gibson Les Paul Faded Special I've had for four years or so... and it gets beat up and tossed around and the finish is wearing off... but when I pick that up, THAT feels like it's ME... like it's so familiar.

I guess you really do find guitars that are special... ones that are seemingly made for you, and, no matter what the cost, the damn thing just feels right. I'd probably be making a mistake if I bought the '57 P-Bass, even though I can afford it without too much trouble.

I doooooooo want to get another Casino, though.

C

[Mudfuzz]

I have this thing that I go through every so often where I get really set on buying a super-solid guitar for like $1000. I'm uuuuuusually disappointed because:

A) I'm too afraid to play it because I might scratch it. Or something.
B) I can't really tell the difference in quality/sound between a moderately priced and expensive guitar.
C) I don't really need something that super solid.


I doooooooo want to get another Casino, though.

Get a vintage one, it will already have scratches and be solid to not.