A Few Solid Standbys Or A Larger, Cheaper Variety?

[CBA]

Yeah but for what like $5000?


C

[Mudfuzz]

Yeah but for what like $5000?


C

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1979-Ma ... 500wt_1245

[skullservant]

I've got two guitars, and two bases. I have two guitars because one is single coils and the other is humbuckers. It's really the same story for bass, but add an aluminum neck to the humbuckers. I haven't paid more than $500 for any of the instruments I own. I did pay more than that for the Kramer guitar, but it was sent back.

I think both my guitars are pretty solid even for being around $300. I think after a certain price point, I too would also start to get the fear of playing the instrument in fear of messing it up, etc. But its really all about playing comfort!

[MaxMaps]

I've got two guitars, and two bases. I have two guitars because one is single coils and the other is humbuckers. It's really the same story for bass, but add an aluminum neck to the humbuckers. I haven't paid more than $500 for any of the instruments I own. I did pay more than that for the Kramer guitar, but it was sent back.

I think both my guitars are pretty solid even for being around $300. I think after a certain price point, I too would also start to get the fear of playing the instrument in fear of messing it up, etc. But its really all about playing comfort!

+1

I am an at home musician so I really don't need multiples or back ups. However if I was playing out again I would rather go for something that is in the middle of the road. Good in terms of quality and dependability and not so expensive that I am going to die if it gets stolen.

That is why I am so sold on G&L. Even the cheeper models are ultra solid and if you really want to not pay new prices you can get the American ones for a reasonable amount. And they can cope and do a LOT of different sounds.

[CBA]

I don't know why it's so fucking agonizing for me. I just want to stick to my limit of two guitars and two basses, and even though one of both is a "backup", I'd like them to have different features and sounds.

Sooooooooooo...

I think I may end up:

Epiphone "Inspired By Lennon" Casino
Highway One Telecaster

Hofner Beatle Bass (Icon Series)
Squier Classic Vibe '51 P-Bass


I just don't think that I'll ever feel right with a brand new thousand dollar guitar. I looooooove the idea of being the original owner of a real piece of work, but at the same time, actually doing it has never worked out for me. I've had my moderately priced beaters for years, and those have been the most successful.

OK.

C

[Ghost Hip]

I think the only guitar I'd spend a lot of money on would be a solid Jazzmaster. Although I'd play it in a completely different way than my other guitars. I like the midrange guitars. Dependable, comfortable to play, they don't break easily... but they aren't perfect, so sometimes there's a battle on certain places of the neck that forces me to push and pull to get a note to sound just right. I like that. Where if I had a super nice guitar that is perfect... I could be more free to go between expressive and cleaner playing.

Currently though, I have four electrics. But it's very tempting to narrow it down to two or three. I sold my duo sonic because I felt silly having guitars that I like but don't love.

[Mike]

I have an even dozen stringed instruments now, and I am accumulating them at an alarming rate. I like high-quality instruments, but I really like inexpensive instruments. I am of the opinion that over the last 20 years, the quality of inexpensive instruments has taken a huge leap, while the quality of expensive instruments has leveled off or even dropped. A $3,000 instrument is not 10x better than a $300 instrument.

I like diversity. I have six electrics, three acoustics, and three basses. They all fill a certain niche, and I play them all. The most expensive is my 93 American Standard Strat (bought new), and the cheapest one that I bought new is my SX Furrian ($80).

I still have a few holes in my collection that I plan on eventually filling. I want a hollow body, a guitar with P90s, a nice acoustic, a lap steel, and... ermm... a banjo. Maybe a 12 string. And you can't forget a fretless bass.

Mike

[goroth]

As long as the instrument intonates ok, and the neck feels ok I'd go for a cheaper instrument rather than an expensive, then change out the hardware in the following order (letting a few months/years go between each investment): strap buttons (do on the day you buy to good locking straps), pickups, tuners, knobs and pickguard to make it look as rad as it now sounds, bridge, pots (by this stage the crap ones will do well being exchanged for CTS or similar high quality pots) and by this stage if you totally love it change the neck for a warmouth neck or something.

That's what I do. It spreads the expenditure out over time, and if they guitar isn't what you hoped for you either haven't wasted that much on it, or in the worst case you've got a bunch of good parts you can use on the next project. This way you can come a lot closer to your ultimate sound/instrument than spending a lot from the beginning. Plus I can't save money for shit, so this is the only way for me to buy decent instruments.

Most of the above mods you can do with little equipment and little knowledge or you can get your local music store to do em for cheaps.

Even on a crap guitar I hate scratches and dints, but I try tell myself that it's part of living with an instrument, and that it's a sign that I use them and thus should be worn proudly. But they still suck regardless of the price of the guitar.

[Officer Bukowski]

I've got what I consider to be two really nice guitars and those are an American Standard Tele and an SG Standard. I really love them and for a while I was afraid to scratch them or anything but now I don't care. It happens.

My band just picked up a Danelectro U1 for $1.50. That will be a fun guitar to mod/beat the shit out of.

[Ghost Hip]

My band just picked up a Danelectro U1 for $1.50. That will be a fun guitar to mod/beat the shit out of.

Damn.

[one bad monkey]

I started out with a number of cheap, beater instruments that I got for free or cheap and then modded and learned how to set up. I got a nice Warwick in 1997, and that was kind of the "rose" of the collection. At one point, it was up to about 12 various basses of price and pedigree.

Before I nabbed my Warwick endorsement, I took a hard look at what I had, what I was using to gig with, what I would use to gig with, and ended up selling everything and going down to 2.

At this point, I would rather have a couple (currently have 3) of high quality, dependable instruments that I completely trust to deliver. And with my rigorous gigging schedule, there is NO time for a finicky instrument.

[Mudfuzz]

I started out with a number of cheap, beater instruments that I got for free or cheap and then modded and learned how to set up. I got a nice Warwick in 1997, and that was kind of the "rose" of the collection. At one point, it was up to about 12 various basses of price and pedigree.

Before I nabbed my Warwick endorsement, I took a hard look at what I had, what I was using to gig with, what I would use to gig with, and ended up selling everything and going down to 2.

At this point, I would rather have a couple (currently have 3) of high quality, dependable instruments that I completely trust to deliver. And with my rigorous gigging schedule, there is NO time for a finicky instrument.

I can't help it I love weird quirky instruments that you would never gig with Pretty much for gigging I used a Ibanez I got in 93 intill I built my five string V bass which I am VERY happy with.

[Chankgeez]

And you can't forget a fretless bass.

Ooh, I forgot the fretless bass.

[sevenSHARPnine]

I'm certainly the former. I have my solid standbys and don't want anything else. None of them are $3500 pieces or anything, but they're good enough quality. I look at it as an investment; I don't want to spend any amount of money on something I don't intend to keep for a looooooong time/forever. Buy a decent guitar, get it set up well, and take care of it.

[behndy]

yah. i've never really been into having tons of different tones from different basses on hand. i like the pedals to be the wildly changing sound sculptors altering the basic (HAH) clean tone that i like a lot. and i never thought i wanted, or could tell the difference, with a nicer bass.

but when i got my Dingwall i got it. i love the thing. i'm SO much happier having one bass that i adore than 6 or so that i like a'ight. which is were i was at, and where i'm at now.