How rarely do you have to play a guitar before you sell it?

[UglyCasanova]

That's pretty much it.

I've got three guitars, but in the last few months I've only played two of them. It's a RS guitarworks '54 tele, a TC'72RI and a Warmoth strat, but I'm not sure if I'm a strat-person. My main problem with it is the "thin" neck and "big" frets. It's what Warmoth calls a "standard thin" with medium jumbo's installed. As you've probably figured out by now I like chunky D-shaped necks and vintage style frets. Oh, and I like 7.25-9.5 radius, the warmoth has a compound radius (10-16?). I don't know if it's the neck that makes me so uncertain of it, or it's the overall feel of the guitar. I mean, it sounds amazing, I'm just not feeling it (these days?). A new neck is going to set me back a few houndred dollars, which would suck if I ended up not liking the guitar despite having it replaced. It's a real pitty too, because she's a beauty...



Anyone else thought about letting a guitar go based on uncertainty/lack of playtime? Or have you done something else, like have it for weird tunings on lazy days?

[Uncle Grandfather]

I've got an arsenal of guitars that I usually purchased because of how well I bonded with the instrument. They each inspire me in their own way. I couldn't imagine getting rid of a single one, but than again I was happy with the instrument when I got it. I go years not playing a guitar because I've got others that have my interest at the time. But if your not happy with the neck, I'd just get a new neck or sell it cause you're not likely to want to play it anyways.

[Disarm D'arcy]

Pretty much what UG said. Some of my gear is not really used that much, but very inspirational nonetheless. When I have doubts about keeping some piece of gear around, I realize it's because that special bond was never quite there in the first place.

That's my 0.02.

[Tristan]

Those thoughts exactly.
Funny story though, I've had a bit the same with my custombuild Strat, never bonded with it, had it in the case for about two years without even playing it.
Then when my other guitars were out for a new setup I had to bring it for a recording session because it was the only one I had lying around, I ended up downtuning it and it sounded absolutely incredible on the recording so now I keep it around for those kinda moments.
Sometimes I still think about whether I should sell it though but yeah, it's a custombuild and it's a lefty too so I won't get much dough for it anyway.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that maybe each guitar serves it's own purpose, I dunno, I'm not that picky on neck shapes and fingerboard radius though, I know I do really hate the frets on the custombuild Strat (Dunlop 6105 I think) and I'd never get those again, well, I hate the frets on my ES335 too actually,
and the 24 3/4" scale length but that's another story.

[UglyCasanova]

Getting a new neck is out of the question, I think. A similar neck with my now wanted specs will run me about $600 after shipping/taxes/import duties.

I like the neck for playing solos/fast and doing bends, but that's really not how I approach the guitar. But as some of you have said, I could use it for those rare occasions were I feel like playing those sort of things, or if I want a guitar with a weird tuning that has perfect intonation for said tuning.
Or sell it and move on...?

[Uncle Grandfather]

Getting a new neck is out of the question, I think. A similar neck with my now wanted specs will run me about $600 after shipping/taxes/import duties.

I like the neck for playing solos/fast and doing bends, but that's really not how I approach the guitar. But as some of you have said, I could use it for those rare occasions were I feel like playing those sort of things, or if I want a guitar with a weird tuning that has perfect intonation for said tuning.
Or sell it and move on...?

The heart wants what the heart wants

[UglyCasanova]

But what if you're heartless?

[Uncle Grandfather]

But what if you're heartless?

then I guess the hands want what the fingers like

[Moose]

If it doesn't inspire you in any way at all, get it gone I'd say.


I was wondering for ages about selling my hollowbody, because it was only being used once every couple months. But I thought long and hard about it, and realised that even though I don't pick it up that often, when I do I play it for hours at a time and always find myself writing new stuff. Because it serves as a great intermittent inspiration, I've decided to keep it.



Soooo yeah. Same as everyone else I guess!

[weed_killer]

I'm a total minority here when it comes to this. If I realize I'm not using something enough to justify owning it, it's gone. Not immediately, but once that initial thought happens the days are numbered. I went from three electrics to one since the start of this year, simply because I feel that imposing certain limitations on myself can be rewarding in the long-term.

[UglyCasanova]

Ok. So, I've devised a plan. Thanks for the input (but, please keep the posts coming. Interesting reads!)

I'll try some alternative tunings and just have some fun with it for a couple of weeks. If I like the idea of having a dedicated guitar for a certain type of tuning I'll see if I can't get my local luthier to make the frets smaller/change the frets to some vintage size ones. If I don't like it, then it's gone.

[Uncle Grandfather]

Ok. So, I've devised a plan. Thanks for the input (but, please keep the posts coming. Interesting reads!)

I'll try some alternative tunings and just have some fun with it for a couple of weeks. If I like the idea of having a dedicated guitar for a certain type of tuning I'll see if I can't get my local luthier to make the frets smaller/change the frets to some vintage size ones. If I don't like it, then it's gone.

It's always a good idea to have a guitar set up for playing slide/bow work. Alternate tuning etc.

[backwardsvoyager]

For me personally if i'm not bonding with something and the money gained by selling it will allow me to afford something else that will be more inspiring and get used more then I sell it without a second thought.
If I had enough money to keep everything around then it might be a different story but because i'm generally good at letting stuff go I've been able to try a lot more stuff and work out what is good for me regarding guitars and everything else. I still own 4 electrics but 2 are used daily and the other two are worth less than $300 and have some kind of redeeming function that makes them selling them not worthwhile.

Your plan sounds good though, try a bunch of weird shit with it that you don't normally do and if it's still not feeling like anything special just sell it and buy another piece of gear you think you'll enjoy using more.
I have a peavey T-15 that just sits in some random tuning that I don't remember which is then downtuned by a half semitone so it sounds completely different. I found by doing that it wasn't competing with the other guitars, just becoming a different kind of instrument thats nice to use sometimes.

[The_Active_Conundrum]

I have guitars I haven't played in one, two and three years.

I keep them because they'd be really hard or expensive (or both) to replace. There may be one that doesn't Inspire me, but my father modded it over the years, it holds too much meaningless sentimental value.