Guitarist can be happy with 1 guitar if a few simple steps are taken. Stay off the internet forums, instead use time practicing 2... use money you would spend of guitars on lessons 3... keep practicing
That guitarist will never play any serious shows. Guitars are machines. They break down. If you get up in front of people on a stage with no backup guitar, you deserve what you have coming to you
George Benson There was a point when I had just one guitar, but I borrowed a electric guitar from my bass player as a back up, during shows, & I also borrowed his acoustic. So I only “owned” 1 guitar but had to have access to more guitars to be a functional gigging musician.
@@davecarsley8773 alot of player's in the 70s only played one guitar some are still playing the same instrument now. The back up was usually just that and hopefully would not be needed. These you tube kids with 20+guitars isn't about musical variety because you vent bond properly with so many instruments that's why your always hear them say "I wish I hadn't sold that guitar" If they spent time getting to know their instruments they wouldn't sell their best guitars because they have been caught hook line and sinker in the guitar marketing machine.
650Thunderbird your wrong just buy a piezo bridge on any electric guitar. so its possible to only use 1 guitar forever just upgrade the pickups and put an acoustic piezo
@@FreddyFuFu well thats a bit stupid and lazy aint it.. so many different tones... if you could use all tunings with all guitars you are mucb more versatile... and tuning takes like a minute.. nvm you probably did a joke
As a scientific aside, I think the type of folks who watch youtube videos about guitar gear (like myself) are going to be biased towards owning many guitars (which is why we are watching--"addicted to gear" after all). Those who are satisfied with a single guitar are not likely to be watching these types of videos because they already have the gear they want, and aren't itching for more. So in terms of settling your argument, using the comments section from your youtube channel is giving you a biased sample in favor of your side of the argument. ;-)
1 If you just play at home. 2 If you just play at home and also want an acoustic. 2 If you doing gigs because you need a backup guitar 2 If you are a studio guitar player and need to cover up a lot of sounds. 3 If you play gigs or in studio and want a acoustic too. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8+..... guitars is nothing else than pure luxury.
@@thomasdc2439 lol, I'm there. Next one will be a kit ES-335 Clapton clone like the one there for most of the discussion... this is going to be a fun project!
1 GOOD GUITAR IS ALL YOU NEED IF YOU JUST PLAY FOR YOUR OWN JOY AT HOME. IF YOU ARE A GIGGING MUSICIAN YOU NEED A BACKUP GUITAR THAT MAKES 2. HAVING A ACOUSTIC IS A DIFFERENT ANIMAL SO IF YOU WANT ONE YOU NEED 3. EVERYTHING ELSE IS UNNECESSARY IN MATTERS OF REALLY NEEDING SOMETHING.
Or possibly 1.5 guitars. I recall hearing that early in AC/DC’s tenure the brothers Young shared a telecaster as a back up in case the Gretch or SG had an issue. I hear you, I just like the story.
Possible! You can get everywhere with just one good guitar if you´re a hell of a player! Most people spent to much time looking for equipment instead of playing or writing a song!
I have 3 guitars..Roland Strat, MIM Strat and an Epiphone Sheraton. I had 4 other guitars that I seldom/never used, so I sold them. Very happy with the Roland Strat as I have a Roland GR-55 gtr synth which allows me any alternate tunings/tones/models I want. I used to go out with a 6 string electric, a 12 string electric and a bass gtr. Not any more..I use the Roland Strat as my main guitar and the MIM Strat for backup. Both are equipped with the GK-3 p/u. I'm good to go...
No. You can't get everywhere. You're not going to play the Tonight Show (or any serious show) without a backup. Guitars are machines. They break. You cannot be a serious gigging musician with one guitar. Two? Sure. That's possible.
@@davecarsley8773 I'm playing for more than 20 years and I've never broke a guitar. And I've never seen anyone breaking one. Ok … if you have a Gibson, then you should have a backup just in case you convert one of them to headless ;) :D. It might let you feel better to have a backup. But seriously the chance to need it is rather small ;).
That's an eternity for most with GAS. My last purchase was November 8, 2016 (a 2016 Les Paul Traditional in Honey Burst). I've purchased strings and that's it since then. Been playing instead of on websites looking at gear. I'm still a newbie player, been playing since May 2015.
I´M THINKING ABOUT THIS A LOT. I RATHER HAVE ONE VERY EXPENSIVE GOOD GUITAR THAN 5 OK GUITARS. ALSO I´M A GUY WHO DOSENT WANT TO HAVE A LOT OF ANYTHING... I DON´T KNOW WHY GUESS I´M THE OPPOSITE OF A COLLECTOR. BUT IF YOU ARE A GIGING MUSICIAN YOU NEED 3. 1 GUITAR AND 1 GUITAR AS BACKUP AND OF COURSE YOU ALSO NEED AN ACOUSTIC.
I used to think that was the way we all should think about it. Then I discovered that I actually enjoy really cheap guitars! I can get a lot of them, have a great time jamming out on a variety of platforms without the guilt of blowing a whole lot of money in the process.
Wouldn't you rather have "one very cheap Good Guitar" : Believe me, spending a great deal of money doesn't guarantee you will have a excellent guitar, just as not spending much doesn't mean you wont have a GREAT guitar. I am not talking thru my hat, as I own both.
@@stephenbowyer7269 I have the experience of spending the least amount of money and acquiring a guitar that is highly playable and enjoyable! Sometimes I spend three to four times as much on a guitar that isn't very playable and has workmanship/quality issues. When you order online, it's a crap shoot -- sometimes you win, and sometimes you don't. If the risk doesn't give me something playable straight out of the box, then I figure out how to set it up and make it better!!!
Now I got 9 guitars, acoustic and electric, gibsons, fenders, PRS's, yamahas... bot a couple years ago I bought a telecaster (sunburst American deluxe) and that guitar eclipsed all others for more than 3 years. I used to play it only in the neck position, I was completely in love with that sound. Finally I bought a Gibson Memphis 339, this Gibson turned everything into normal, it let me to re-discover why I bought each and every guitar I got.
Nothing prepares you better for an electric guitar than learning on an acoustic. Once you do get your first electric, you will find it so much easier to play because you learned on something that demands perfection and strong fingers.
Hi, you’ve found your unicorn. I play one and one only electric guitar. I’ve done this since 1997. There is a catch though, while the guitar is basically the same kind of guitar I’ve upgraded. I started out with an Epiphone Sheraton II and now have a Gibson ES335. I had a telecaster for 8 months and sold it. All I need is the 335, it does everything I ask of it and I’ve been happy for 20 years.
I started with an old yamaha couch guitar that i knew a few riffs on and it sat for 27 years doing nothing but a rare and occasional noodling... three years ago, i decided to actually take lessons and learn how to play guitar... that old classical just wouldn't do so i got a nice Alvarez acoustic............. then there was this Taylor 12 string that caught my ear........ and then the ESP electric......... AND then this American Special Strat came home with me........... now i'm looking at a Gretch. As i learned more technique, i realized that every guitar has a different sound or personality. They are like friends. :D
Yes, it's possible to be happy owning just one guitar. I've been playing the same Fender Telecaster for 35 years and I wouldn't play anything else. I don't even like the feel of another Tele, let alone a different kind of guitar. The only problem is, when you play live gigs you either need to play all songs in the same tuning, or learn to tune to alternative tunings really quickly. My friend keeps telling me to install an autotuner on it. No way! I'm not desecrating my beloved Tele by screwing some computer to it! 👎
This guy has got it figured out! Kudos to you! You don’t realize how much money you saved over the years. I got GAS in 2020 and it’s just now subsiding. I wasted probably $20,000 on guitars in the past 3 years or so. I should have done what you did!
@@Jake24378 Oh believe me, I’ve been stricken with GAS too, just not with guitars. I’d probably pass out if I tallied up the lifetime total I’ve spent on amps, pedals, gadgets like the iRig, software, mics $ stands, PA gear, interfaces, studio speakers, blah blah blah. 99% of which I didn’t need! 😂
WHEN I WAS 20 YEARS OLD. I PLAYED IN A BAND. REHEARSED 3-4 TIMES I WEEK. HAD A GIG EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS. WROTE SONGS. RECORDED. EVEN SCORED A RECORD DEAL. GOT A LITTLE RADIO PLAY AND HAND A FEW CONCERTS AS OPENER FOR BIG INTERNATIONAL ACTS LIKE BLONDIE... I ONLY HAD A GIBSON HOLLOWBODY AND SHARED A CHEAP BACKUP GUITAR WITH THE OTHER GUITARIST WHO PLAYED A STRATOCASTER. THE BACKUP GUITAR BELONGED TO THE SINGERS BROTHER. NOW I´M HITTING 40 AND NOW I HAVE 3 GIBSONS AND A FENDER. GONE THROUGH A LOT OF GEAR IN THE LAST TEN YEARS. BOUGHT AND SOLD SOME GUITARS.. I HARDLY WRITE, RECORD, OR HAVE A GIG ANYMORE :-( I THINK THAT SAYS IT ALL!
As long as you know what tone you want... yeah. I bought a '67 Fender Mustang in '96 at Fretware Guitars in Franklin OH. This guitar was my only for years. it's still my baby.
Easily! I´m into Gibsons, got a 335 and a LP custom. I almost just play the 335. LP is backup. Can cover up a lot of diverent dounds with it...On smaller club gigs I sometimes just bring my 335 with me. I know this guitar so I can rely on it. In Cause of a broken string, which hasn´t happend in years I would be able to restring and play again within 2 minuites... Enjoy playing become one with your instrument don´t waste you money looking for gear gear gear... Thats called a guitar collector not a guitar player.
Ernie Ball Music Man JP6 or similar will do it all, acoustic sound from Piezo pickup, then Crunchlab Humbuckers, etc. Fender MP Telecaster will also damn near do it all, not as good as EBMM JP
most jazz guitarists i know have just 1 guitar. a lot of them are amazingly incredible guitar players...indeed, most of them chanell their effort towards musical skills, same for most classical guitar players i know.
I own 12 guitars that are in storage for the past 4 years plus about 6 amps, gazzillions of effects pedals, mic's, mixers..you name I was a gear hoarder. Anyways about 4 years ago i moved overseas. I bought one really cheap nylon string guitar that is really nice to play. My experience is in that time my guitar playing has improved about 200% in 4 years, than the previous 30 years where I was distracted by gear and always thinking I could sound better if only I owned this, or that next guitar/amp/pedal. YES, it most definitely is possible to live with just one guitar...also as an example of a player who is world famous for playing just one guitar and getting a signature sound "Willy nelson"..theres probably others..maybe Brian May..sure they have other guitars but you get my point.. I think a lot of us focus too much on gear and not enough on actually playing. The nylon string has made my fingers stronger, I can stretch further and I have branched into classical music..something I never would have done if I just kept playing electric guitars..my 2 cents...real tone come from your fingers, not some pickup or circuitry.
I went for about 7 years playing one guitar....I don't know if that's long enough to fit the criteria here, and now I have a pretty decent collection, but at the time, which was years ago, I was only using that one. It was a 93 Gibson LP studio I got for my 15th birthday, which I still have today 20 years later. I guess I felt like I just didn't need another guitar, and really had no desire to get another. I could get pretty much any sound I was looking for out of the LP. That as well as the fact that in highschool, then college, and into my early - mid twenties, I didn't have the financial flexibility to be starting a guitar collection. So it was just that ol Gibson for me. So fast forward ten years, and I currently have 10 guitars. It is nice to have the tonal options, but for me, the problem with owning that many guitars, is that I don't have the same level of comfort and familiarity with any of guitars as I did my LP. and after playing one for awhile, I'll pick up another, and it's like I have to now "get used" to this other guitar now. And I have all my guitars set up with very similar parameters. When I was just playing the LP, I was so used the feel, and had it set up just right. It was great. With my guitars now, they each serve a different purpose. All that being said, I did play on just one guitar for many years
I own only 1 guitar. A Gibson J-45. It looks beautiful, it sounds beautiful, it plays beautifully. I do not play gigs, I do not have a band. I just play for my dog in my living room. I am content.
You're Right, Having multiple instruments let you tailor the sound according to your mood and the type of music you want to play at a particular period in time.Guitars are very dynamic instruments, even the same 2 guitars would sound slightly different so its the versatility that i would go for with having multiple instruments..
Facts. 1) The guitar is a tool for making music. 2) We all have only 1 pair of hands and only 1 guitar is played at a time. 3) Your intro gives the answer as all the electrics you play sound 99.5% the same and all the acoustics as well. So It's fine to have many tools at your disposal but you only need 1 to make music. Guitar companies do their best to make you think you need to fill in your guitar ownership checklist. But in the end, all it takes is to believe in your abilities and invest the time on your craft. This requires just a guitar that you like, nothing more.
Aris Papadopoulos I get your point. But as a player, different guitars inspire you in different ways due to the way they feel. And it's just more fun to have more guitars.
Carlo Guerrero if you think having multiple guitars is cool then it's cool, no one can argue. But experience and music history shows that creative inventions (like rock n roll) are more likely to happen by bridging limitations. Like having just one guitar to record a whole album. That's how the human brain works. Again, nothing wrong with collecting but creativity has nothing to do with ownership. Also, creative people (usually pros) who own lots of equipment and remain creative have a special level of commitment to their craft and they don't "have" to have the gear, it's just good to have around. 2c
Aris Papadopoulos very true. No one method should stand above others. I think a balance between the two is best. Some days it might be better to challenge your self by sticking to one guitar. Other days you might find it better to explore other types to find inspiration. I was just sharing my opinion in relation to yours.
I own only one bass but I can recognize that it has its limitations and sometimes you just want something fresh. It's fine if you can't afford multiple instruments (like me) but a bigger collection does have its advantages like variability in tone for different styles of music, you wouldn't use an SG or Les Paul to play a country song.
Pair the SG or LP with the right amp and you could chickenpick all the country you want. Practice and music language development is #1. People play metal with jazz guitars and jazz with Teles, think outside the box.
Had 1 guitar for the last year and so far perfectly content. It really forces you to focus on 1. Your technique and 2. Your customisation/setup of the instrument. Settled on a Les Paul with P90's and had to tweak the pickup magnets and wiring but with 50's wiring/output loading, you really can get the whole range of Les Paul and Fender tones by turning the knobs.
Up to about two weeks ago i only had one guitar for about 3 or 4 years. Its a SG that i love and bought cause im a huge Angus Young fan, hes my main inspiration on guitar. I used it for the whole of those 3 or 4 years and never thought about getting another. Two weeks ago i bought a strat cause it was a crazy good deal that was to good to miss. I love my SG and i will never sell but having two guitars is great because they feel different and i love different things about. the difference in tone and feel is something i love. Since owning this second guitar i have more motivation for guitar, its alot funner and my playing has improved and expanded. The strat has naturally brought out this funky groove feeling that i never had before. Although i could survive with just my SG i prefer having two guitars.
Jay millard Funny enough I do like AC/DC but the tone I liked was the Gretsch. It took me awhile to realize why my SG was not giving me the tone I want. Turns out it was the Filtertrons.
Gringo Green I actually realised that on all the records Malcolms guitar is much louder than Angus on all the rhythm parts. everyone reckons the secret to Angus's tone is his wireless and that but i reckon no one can get his tone because its actually Malcolms rig were mainly hear.
I love a bit of P90 cream on my Gibson 56r LP. It has a tone no other pup can replicate. I bought an Orange head cos I saw the guy who designed it say he made it to reproduce the tone from the first 5 DC albums & Never Mind The Bollocks by the Pistols & I thought 'yep, that's me sold!' lol.
Do NOT underestimate the difference between the 'Fender' and 'Gibson' scale lengths... there's almost a full inch difference in scale length plus a substantial difference in string spacing (especially down at the bridge), which does (or at least SHOULD) completely change the way 'you' react with the guitar, the string guages you use, the way you use techiques like hammer-ons/pull-offs, bends, etc... the list goes on. When *anyone* claims 'they're all the same' I reckon they must have 'cloth ears'. Whilst I don't think you NEED 87 guitars, anyone claiming that e.g. having *just* a strat/tele and a LP/SG (and probably, more like you, a even more obviously different trem equipped, SSS strat and a hardtail HH LP/SG) is 'not noticeable' is just kidding themselves - or has cloth ears Add an acoustic and, viola; you've got three guitars. The nice thing these days is that 'reasonable' guitars are cheap... so you can buy e.g. a $2-4K US Strat or LP and buy a $200 'backup' that will do that job well.... or (better, IMHO) backup your USA Strat with an Epiphone LP Jnr, or your Gibson USA LP Stuidio with a Squire Strat... it's all possible, usable and fun. On the Gretsch vibe though, if I was young and starting out again, I'd seriously buy a 51xx hollowbody Streamliner (in Black) with the Filtertrons and Bigsby, plus a Squire Strat and a LP clone (Epi, LP Jnr on sale, some other brand - MUST have set-neck, Mahogany body) of some sort. i COULD live with *just* those three (plus an acoustic... no name, solid spruce top cutaway with a pickup)... so four in total. I'd defy anyone to claim I was either ostentatious, untalented, not commited, etc; and most folk I know would see that a 'sensible' range for an even casual play-in-public but ameatuer muso, let alone someone 'serious' about doing it on an ongoing basis.
Hi, interesting question. Of course, one could do with just one guitar. On the other hand, beware of falling into excess. In the last 50years (I'm 65) I have been experimenting quite a lot. Buying, selling, trading... I came to the conclusion that although one could do with one guitar, it is best to have the choice between several. Even David Grissom's DGT, which is most versatile, cannot really replace several axes. And I'll explain why: I need to vary between different necks during one set, as my left hand gets tired or even can hurt while playing with one single profile over the whole performance. Changing necks is relaxing, refreshing and makes you play differently, better, while having a different grip and touch (glossy, satin, raw...). Also, the different string tension can help you at a moment when your tendons are under stress. So does the scale and different frets, depending on the need (bending, slide, jazzy, funky, etc). While considering different genres, here too, you might need to alternate between single coils, humbuckers, P90, Filtertrons and what have you. My ideal choice is a Les Paul, with a comfortable 50's neck, low to medium output humbuckers, for that "in your face" tone and power chords, weighing possibly in the 8 lbs area to save your back. A 335 type for mellow tones, harmonics, long sustained notes, jazzy phrases, I favor the 339 over the 335 for size reasons, the best being the Collings I35 Imo. A Tele, because it is unmatched for twang. With the right pickups, it can be quite versatile as well. A Strat for its quite unique quack and intermediate positions. As an option, one could consider a P90 equipped guitar as it adds a different flavor to the previous and a Gretsch for its very distinctive Filtertrons' tone. Personnally, I have equipped a Tele Custom model with a Splittable TV Jones in the back and a WideRange in the Front, plus a Bigsby. With this setup, two independent volumes and tone pots, I get the best of both worlds. So yeah: to cover it all one would ideally have 4 to 5 axes. \m/
Interessing topic.. I personnaly own a cheap acoustic (I mainly play electric) and own 5 electric guitars which I consider is the maximum acceptable for a guitarist. Beyond that, I believe it will be to time consuming and difficult to maintain them properly and to give each guitar a decent spin time to time. Through the years, my musical tastes evolved so did my musical needs. Through the years, when adquiring a new guitar, I always tried to get a guitar that will not overlap in style and sound with the ones I already owned. My first decent guitar was a Ibanez RG with HSH pickups and a floyd rose.. I was into Joe Satriani and other shredders. Later on, when I started to work and get my own money, I got a cool American Special Fender Stratocaster because I always loved the strat sound (I'm also a Dire Straits fan).. But my dream guitar was always a PRS custom 24, which one day I got second hand. Some years later, a friend of mine, lend me his telecaster to clean it up and change the strings but it took him forever to pass by and get his guitar back.. So I spend some quality time whith his telecaster at home and began to understood the telecaster. Some time later, I finally got one (I used to hate everything on the telecaster, sound, look). The last one was then a Gibson Les Paul loaded with P90s.. I didn't own any les Paul or P90 equiped guitar, so a Gibson les Paul P90 was the logical choice for the 5th guitar in the list. Today when I look back, I don't regret owning several guitars. Each one has it's own style as allowed me to discover new styles and sounds during this muical journey that is our life. If I would have sticked to my first RG HSH floyd rose equiped guitar, I don't think I would have expanded my tonal palette and musical influences and knownledge as much as though these axes I mentioned. One important thing though is to be carrefull to not be trapped to much in this hunt ;-) Cheers!
In the last 40 years I have owned only 1 guitar, a 1970s Yamaha classical given to me by a friend. That Yamaha traveled with me all over the USA, and to Germany, Switzerland, Israel, and France. I played folk style and that guitar was perfect for me. I liked the wide fretboard, the rich bass sound, and even the high tension nylon strings (which I preferred) were so much nicer on my fingers than steel strings. However, in the last 2 years I have accumulated at least a half dozen electric guitars looking for the right electric tone.
My first guitar was a Alvarez accoustic (I think its the Bob Wier signature) my dad bought it it the year I was born, gigged with it for years and had it as his backup for a long time afterwards. I didn't start playing until I was 18, he gave me that guitar. I'm so fortunate, its the best sounding guitar I could even imagine. Its beat to hell, the top is messed up from a full body pixkguard that got put on then ripped off, theres a line from a permanent marker on the head but I love absolutely everything about it. That being said, I bought a 93 mexi strat. Thats it. One accoustic one electric, the strat has the advantage of having a very wide range of tones. That being said. Basses are a different story. I'm constantly tempted by new ones.
I have 4 electrics, and 2 acoustics, 1 banjo, 1 Mandolin, 2 Harmonicas, 4 amplifiers, about 6 clip-on neck tuners, Hard cases for all, and a ton of old song books. #1 Ernie Ball Music Man JP #2 Gibson Firebird #3 Epiphone SG #4 Fender MP Telecaster Epiphone Hummingbird Martin DM Gretsch Banjo Gibson Mandolin Hohner Marine Band Harmonica Kustom Kasino PA Vox VT120+ B-52 Half Stack Krell Kma‑100 Mk‑2 Amplifier
Another side of my story. My guitar instructor has had a beat up G&L that's had the same strings so long that they are rusted between the nut and tuners. He doesn't know what all the knobs do. But he has a masters in music and is one of the most versatile, amazing guitarists I've ever heard.... bar none! Makes me wish I could forget about the "stuff" and spend my time and energy practicing. The guy can look at a piece of music and almost instantly play the song like it was recorded. Spins my brain!
I bought my first acoustic guitar in 1978, and that was my only guitar until 2000 when I bought my first electric guitar. I now have over 20 guitars, but I only play about 4 of them. The rest are really decorations at this point and I could do within them. I’d like to whittle it down to about eight, but the truth is I could get along with 3. One electric (probably my American Standard Stratocaster) one acoustic, and my acoustic 12 string.
I had one guitar Guild Starfire on stage from 1965 till 1986 suited everything. Started with a Fender Strat through it in the skip followed by a Marshall stack, also went in skip, bought a Vox AC30 used that from 1965 to 1986. Never had any had any trouble that amp or guitar, never let me down once. Also used a for that length of time a Binson Echo.
By now I have owned a tele copy (shit starter guitar), and still own a sg junior and a Ibanez roadstar, and a couple of pedals, but still haven't found the guitar-pedals-amp combination that suits my every need. The sg has really small frets and huge neck, which annoy me, but have a nice scale length, the ibanez has a really thin neck and tall frets, but there is something with the pickups that doesn't satisfy me enough. The differences between the two make me play differently, can't play legato as easily with the sg, but right hand feels better with the sg jr and the wraparound bridge. Point is, I guess we have to go through different stuff until we find combinations that suit us, maybe there's someone playing through a high gain marshall, but would be much more suited by a big muff and a clean amp
I'm pleased to hear one guitar and amp did everything you ever wanted it to and that you never broke a string or blew a fuse at a gig... miraculous, but wonderful. Next time you're tempted to send electronics to landfill though, please send it my way instead; especially the Strat :-)
I've been playing only 1 guitar for over a decade. A Washburn EC29. Started playing at age 14. I just turned 39. Used to be a collector of gear. Had just about every brand of guitar and gear and settled on 1 guitar, 1amp and 1 pedal board . I play actively in cover bard from classic rock to Latin folk. Finding your 1 true love is Like everything else: one person to love. 1 car, etc.
but you aren't playing the first guitar you ever got. That's the whole point. No one gets their first guitar and then never has an interest in purchasing another one
My Dad has owned only 1 acoustic guitar for over 40 years. He has played it all my life. He doesn't play very regularly, but once he learned to play the music he liked (in a basic way) he was happy. He plays to his grandchildren and at family occasions. Only since I learned has he started learning new songs again. His influence meant that I like quite a lot of older stuff that he has heard me play and asked for chord sheets.
I own 5 guitars right now, I am going to buy another one here soon. 1. Washburn WG 580 2. Gibson SG Special 3. Epiphone SG G-400 Pro 4. Epiphone Les Paul Studio 5. Squier Deluxe Stratocaster Amps 1. Create GX-30M 2. Vox Valvetronix VT20 3. Fender Mustang GT40
I love all of my guitars. Each one inspires me to play and feel a little differently. For me more is better. If I only had one it would be worn out in a hurry. lol
Back in '90 I bought an American Strat. It's the only electric guitar I had for many years. I played hundreds of gigs on it. Back in 2010 I traded it in for a couple of other types of guitars - Tele and SG. Since then I've had dozens of guitars - traded in again and again. I'm still at it - for me it's been a really fun journey exploring. I've learned to work on all types of guitars, found the common faults in design, how to coax sound of them, what works for me and what doesn't...........I love most all of them. Currently have a 335, Jazzmaster, and Tele. I find those three choices can get most anyting done I need. It would be hard for me to pick just one. Having said that I wouldn't need multiple versions of the same guitar - just one good example of each type.
I agree with Sam in that if you have the money, you're likely going to buy more than one. Too many varieties of sound and playability to settle for just one instrument.
When I was in high school I bought a Telecaster and It was my only guitar for a decade. I played a few other guitars in shops and that my friends owned, but the familiarity and tone of the thing let the guitar disappear and let me just concentrate on the music. Then, in the 90s, I had a chance to play a Parker Fly. It was weird and different but so easy to play and so versatile that I bought one that day. To this day I only own those two guitars and really don't feel any need to spend on anything else. Recently, I did a refresh of the old Tele with new pickups, new pots, a four-way switch, a refinish of the neck, and a redressing of the frets, but this was just an update on a familiar theme. Having said that, I am often on the lookout for the next pedal or amplifier or piece of software so I don't feel like I am stagnating.
As many as you want or better can afford, my Taylor is my go to, Les Paul when I play ZZ Top to AC/DC, telecaster if I'm in the mood for Tom Petty, Strat, Kramer. It's all in your taste, some songs just sound better on the right guitar. Thou a real god player can make any guitar sound fantastic.
I was very happy playing a martin 000x1ae for 7 years of my life without having any other guitar. It is still my go to guitar after all these years. I recently got a fender telecaster, but only because i was interested in playing more rock music. I have no desire to buy another acoustic any time soon if ever. Hope this helps!
I've been playing my stratocaster for maybe 8 years, something like that. I've had a single other electric guitar ; an epiphone. I really like the way my stratocaster feels and plays and have pretty much settled for it right then and there. I haven't been obsessing over tone for most of my time playing the guitar as I'm your typical bedroom guitarist. It came pretty late. I use a virtual amp now. I've been messing around a lot to find the setting I like, at no additional cost. I felt the need to make that single guitar more versatile and so I added a couple of humbuckers and also rewired to have a master treble-cut AND a master bass-cut knob. That way I can get pretty much all the tones I feel I need. Beside that I kind of got myself a volume pedal lately ; that's really useful for better dynamics control. However, I've got the bug now ! I've acquired a bass. I want a baritone guitar to tune a fourth below. And I also want one of those tiny 3/4 guitars to tune up a fourth. That would be my complete guitar family ; from the low to the top end of the spectrum ; mimicking the bass, cello, alto, & violin family. I feel I'll get some more buying ideas once I've got those two though. I need to be careful there, lol.
I have a friend who's been playing the same Strat since 1970. His only other guitar is a cheap Yamaha acoustic. For me I have 15 guitars currently so the answer for me is no, but there were many years when I got by with 2 electrics and an acoustic.
Yep... that's 'more than 1' dude. The question wasn't about 'how many' so much as 'just one'. I'm with the author, in that 'just one' won't cut it and; whilst I have 'more than two', it's entirely from a convenience point of view... but ONE would be so inconvenient as to be really, really annoying. IMHO.
It's like how a painter can have many different brushes and paints. Guitars are just a way of increasing the variance of our pallets as guitar players to get different sounds and improve our range. Also, it's impossible to be so into a hobby and read about it every day without lusting after new gear. Guitar stuff is just so cool! It's really expensive too... Maybe I should just take up painting instead. Now that I mention it, that seems cheaper :)
What about Brian May? Been using the Red Special for years. Fair enough he has copies of the same guitar but they're only for drop d and spare when playing live. He's been satisfied with that guitar for his whole life!
Just in the Queen years (Freddie) he used an Ovation Celebrity 12 string, an Ovation 6 string, a Telecaster for "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" not to mention ukes, banjoliles, harps and a classical guitar.
in my case it's bass guitars . i fell in love with the hofner ignition because it was affordable and lefty .great feel and vintage tone , fully hollow . then i went for an epiphone viola , semi-hollow , with much more sustain . both being short scale , i wanted a standard long scale bass and bought the fender squier jazz bass the only lefty offered by squire . then i got the epiphone eb-0 with a single pick-up (which was terribly microphonic)upgraded with a dimarzio dp120 pu , vast improvement !a muddy murky tone that i love . a friend asked "why are you buying so many bass guitars ? you only need one".i explained that it was the different tones that i was looking for...like jimi hendrix once said : " it's all about TONES". hollow body , semi-hollow , solid body , long scale , short scale all have different sounds or sonic colors as i call it .variety is the spice of life !
I think that if I was a master of the instrument then perhaps I could have just one because I wpuld only want to play and sound like myself. however I am a crap player who just loves everything about guitars so I have a nice little collection. I dont buy or pick up a guitar thinking that it is gping to just make me shred. I do so to experience everything that particular instrument has to offer
I started with one acoustic guitar some years ago. ..a simple Yamaha 340 but since have aquired 3 USA fenders all the 60th aneversary special addition 3 Gibsons and 2 Ibaneze guitars with a whole lot of other acoustic guitars. ..I believe any passionate guitar player would want an array of guitars and other gear
I had to make do with my first cheap Japanese Les Paul copy for 6 years before I could afford to up-grade to a Gibson model. Then I also got an acoustic several years later.
Friend of mine bought a Gibson 335 when he was 21. He still owns and plays it. BUT..He has had two amps after his Fender Twin got stolen. He was a great admirer of Larry Carlton and said it had enough rock in it for him too. He's a better player than me as I got addicted to hear and while I was tone chasing, he was just playing. Today, it shows. He's the guitarist I wish I could be. I think we're spoils by our role models and mentors. e.g. If we go to concerts peole can change guitar for each song and we think we'll if they need them, so do I. Swings and roundabouts.
As far as electrics concerned. You need 2 guitars! A main axe and a backup. Everything else is just bauberly. Spent your time playing them and don´t waste your time maintain them. If you got a Gibson and a Fender you should also be able to cover up everything. If not than it´s a lack of your skills not on your equipment. Simple as that.
For the first nine years that I've been playing, I only had one guitar, a Harmony flat top. I currently own four guitars. I focus more of my attention on finding material to play. Non playing collectors are a pet peeve because they collect (or hoard) instruments that are meant to be played ; an instrument that someone could be using.
I'm down to 5 and I can't seem to downsize anymore. I've got my Jazzmaster, Les Paul, My grandfathers acoustic, Ibanez semi-hollow and an Ibanez acoustic bass. I'm on a mission to own less. I'm tired of owning too much gear.
I have 4 good strats, 2 good basses, one el. baritone, an acoustic 12 str and two acoustic six strings and a mandoline. That´s what I´ve got left since I scaled down from around 35 guitars that had accumulated over the years. The guitars I have right now are all really good and the ones I won´t live without. Love them.
I used to own so many guitars. I was looking for what I liked. Now that I found the one I like, I don't feel a need for another. Although, I sometimes look at guitars and think I'd like one like that, the feeling passed when I play mine. It's just a cheap, Chinese import but I love the way looks, feels and sounds. It's my guitar.
Back in the days it was about having 1 guitar and beeing in a band. Today it‘s about having a lot of guitars and stuff and beeing on the internet. 🤔 Maybe thats why music gone downwards.
Nope. It was NEVER about having one guitar. All the guys from your favorite bands owned dozens. And for tens of thousands of us, it's still about owning a few guitars and being in a band... Go to your local pub on the weekend-- we're out there. We're not hard to find.
Dave Carsley Nope! If You wanted to do anything in public you most likley ended up in a band. Today people just upload a video. Also the amount of gear informations were limited. All You could do is buy some Magazins or went to a shop... today this stuff is endless, ebay, youtube, shop homepages... Some people spent more time looking after guitars instead of playing them. And most of our heros in our favourite bands became famous with owing just one or two guitars. Their collection came later with the millions they made.
I bought my first guitar in 1965--a Silvertone--and it was the only guitar I had purchased for 50 years. My brother gave me a Yamaha dreadnought for those non-amp times. Fast forward 50 years and I pondered what a Good guitar would be like. So I bought a Gretsch Semi-hollow--mix of the two. It didn't do all I wanted so I went through the cycle--strat, tele, Les, etc, etc, and in 18 months there were 15--I gave three away to new players. Feel and sound attract me to each and my favorite is usually the one I am playing at the time. I've often pondered which I would keep if I could only have one. I've yet to come up with the answer--except to say they one I am playing at the moment--until the next time. For some odd reason, my cheapest guitars are still my most played. Monoprice, Harley Benton, Wolf. But then again, I also have drums and a keyboard--so distraction is quite available--but enjoyment, never-ending. And that, my friend, is what it is all about for me. Loving to play music in any of its forms for my own entertainment. I started playing in the 60s and I am now I my sixties. Fitting. Rock On!
I started in '68 with a semihollow Crown made by Teisco, which I sold to buy a Gibson '63 SG. I sold that to buy a '71 ES-335. That was stolen and I replaced it with a '72 ES-335 which I modified with a coil split. I bought a beat up '65 Melody Maker for a backup, but I never use it. It might be nice to have an acoustic, but I'm quite happy with an ES-335. However, I am building low-Z pickups and designing a tube preamp with low-Z input.
we're all to addicted to gear. It's a cultural obsession with guitarists and bassist. It doesn't help with creativity or originality. Guitars are tools.
I rotate between a Gretsch 6120SHTTV, Sadowsky R1 and Alumisonic Custom Classic Alloy at church. I either use a Caparison Horus HGS or a 7-string fanfret at home, depending on the song I'm playing/learning. If bass counts as a guitar, I use my Bacchus DX4E at church. I also have a Lowden F25C acoustic, which I use for fingerstyle stuff. So basically it's impossible for me to have 1 guitar only, but I would be happy to have one "amp" only; it would be an AX8.
Just get 1 really good guitar and really learn to play it. You can get a lot of different sounds out it. That makes a real good guitar player! But on the other hand you ned a backup guitar. And every guitarist should own an acoustic. So i would say you need 3! I got 4 and I really start to switch around too much instead of just playing them.
Yes. I have owned only one guitar for the past seven years. It's a Carvin CL-450 and I play it both clean with the preamp set to a warm tone and through an overdrive with the preamp set to amplify the midtones. Back before the turn of the century I had several guitars: a Washburn Raven, a Peavy T-60, a Mosrite double neck, a Fender Telecaster, an Ibanez MC500 and a 1975 Les Paul Custom which was for a very long time my favorite. I also had a really bad Korean guitar that I used as a breadboard for experimenting with different preamp and effects circuits. I sold 'em all (except the Korean guitar, I gave that to my brother-in-law) and work with a pure acoustic classical guitar for the next 10 years and then traded up to the CL-450 and haven't looked back since.
I am a one guitar and one amp guy. I have had the same JCM 800 forever. I changed to a 2X12 Mesa cab about fifteen years ago. I played Ibanez "strat's" for years finding them troublesome as far as sound was concerned but very playable. After about twenty years ago I got an 81 Ibanez Artist with the push pull pot in the neck position and found it better overall for getting through the mix although not as beautiful when played alone. The Artist became my main guitar until a friend in another band in San Francisco had a stroke and had to sell off his equipment so I got his 78 Les Paul Standard. I love this guitar. It is both beautiful alone and cuts well. I have always been a one guitar kinda guy. I do keep one however for string breakage so now its the Gibson for main and Artist for backup. At first I found the Gibson neck to narrow but I got used to it pretty quick. Its not as fast as the Artist but is just so much richer tonewise that I really don't hardly play the artist much at all. I have always had an acoustic as well, generally going for the 000-15.
Ive been playing for 11 years and Ive only owned one guitar(besides a bass). Its a Vintage Hamer Custom that was given to me and its a versatile weapon. itll do it all. from metal, to rock, to jazz, to blues itll do it and sound great doing that. ive formed a strong bond with this guitar. it just fits into my hands perfectly and as for right now, I won't be buying any other guitar. No other guitar feels right that I've played so far. i mainly play blues
SHURE ALL OUR HEROS HAD A GOOD GUITAR PRETTY EARLY IN THEIR CAREER BUT THEY CARED ABOUT MAKING MUSIC IN THE FIRST PLACE!!! THEIR LINE OF GUITARS CAME WITH THE MILLIONS THEY MADE. EVERYTHING IS GOING IN THE WRON DIRECTION THESE DAYS. WE CARE ABOUT OWNING DIFFERENT GUITARS, AMPS AND COUNTLESS EFFECTS. THERE ARE MORE VARIATIONS OF ANY MODELL LIKE LES PAUL, A STRAT, NOW THEN IT HAD BEEN BACK THEN WHEN THEY MADE ALL THOSE LEGENDARY RECORDS. WE STILL LISTEN TODAY BECAUSE WE SPEND OUR TIME ON RUclips COMPARING GUITARS AND MINIMAL DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT INSTEAD OF JUST PLAYING IT AND CREATING NEW MUSIK. ON TOP OF THAT NEARLY EVERY GUITARIST IS PRIMALY KNOWN FOR ONE KIND OF A GUITAR OR A SOUND. tAKE: HENDRIX - STRAT SCOTTY MOORE - GIBSON HOLLOWBODY ANGUS YOUNG - SG SLASH - LES PAUL KEITH RICHARDS - TELE CUCK BERRY - 335... AND WE THINK WE NEED ALL OF THESE GUITARS BEFORE WE ARE EVEN READY TO START TRYING TO MAKE MUSIK...
Excellent point Adrian I think these dickheads have lost sight about what a guitar is for, that is creating music not collecting them like 'matchbox dinkies'
I have a 2001 73 reissue mex strat l sold all my guitars (Squier and Epiphone)and two amps (crate and fender ) for it- has Dimarzio Vintage Outputs- sold my parlor Yamaha acoustic too- only for about a year have l had one guitar- but it's still rare- and l love my one guitar more than all the others- (7)
THERE IS A GUY CALLED SLASH WHO RECORDED A WHOLE ALBUM CALLED APPETITE FOR DISTRUCTION ON A FAKE GIBSON LES PAUL STANDARD 59. NOW I`M SURE HE HAS OVER 100 LES PAULS BUT DID HE EVER RECORDED SOMETHING THAT GOOD AGAIN?
It was not just one guitar. He used a 1960 SG on My Michelle, and is also credited for playing acoustic guitar on the album. So no, that legend is fake.
The only other guitar Slash used on Appetite that made the final mix, Clink says, was a borrowed Gibson SG - the same one that ended up through the van windshield - which can be heard on the dark, drug-laced tune "My Michelle." Clink says the SG "was going to be the sound of the record," and that guitar, a horned model favored by rock greats such as AC/DC's Angus Young, "would have been, if Alan had not brought that Les Paul in." SO HE DID NOT EVEN HAD ONE GUITAR WHEN THEY STARTED RECORDING HE TRADED IT FOR SMACK!!! YOU´RE RIGHT 2 GUITARS BY COINCIDENCE!!!............
I digress. I had a Gibson ES-335. But after I got a Godin DS-1 which is a high end Les Paul copy, I find I can replicate some of the tones from a Gibson ES-335. Since the DS-1 is sleek and more comfortable to hold and play and to me can certainly come close to a 335's tones, I sold my Gibson ES-335. And I only have one acoustic guitar in my collection.
gear is something "former young guys" get into when their bank accounts exceed their passion for music (about middle age). It is a void filler, a passion simulacrum to get you through with something you would pretty much abandon if you weren't buying something shiny and pretty. Also it is not accident that group think comes into things like this, with the "gear nuts" all falling in love with and tracking down the same set of pieces in a "this is what everyone likes so i will like it" chase for certain les pauls, strats etc. Chasing tone replaces the love of music- what made the guitar gods so great 40-50 years ago is they were limited, they overcame those limitations (and not, of course, by accident; those limitations are what is desired as the perfect tone/gear today. I always loved the expression "LESS EBAY AND MORE MEL BAY", but for many, with low interest rates on credit cards and cash back/travel points aplenty, those days are long gone.
If you're a recovering GAS-a-holic, then OK, I get the fervour; but the venom is a little over the top and - at least in my case - w-a-y off base. YOUR view is so extremely pointy it would seem to indicate you've made a decision in 1970 and will continue to flog it to death, regardless of the facts; e.g. "...those limitations are what is desired as the perfect tone/gear today." Uh-uh... survey says "no". Else... you're saying nobody wants a JEM, or an EVH, PRS, Fly... the list goes on? No one wants a Suhr, a Jag, a Mustang or Melody Maker? Charvel, Steinberger headless, nor banjos, mandolins, or uke's? I'm so sorry the folks at the home mock your Mosrite copy (and they shouldn't) but don't try to 'expose' my 'issues' before coming to terms with your own; or better still, just chill dude :-)
I would like to have only one guitar, but I am gigging player and a backup guitar is a must have. So I have 2 electrics and 2 acoustics. Someday when the gigs stop, I may just keep my #1 guitar ...a Gretsch hollowbody...and part with the rest.
Vivek Dahal Yeah, but what if you have 8, and you’re attached to them all? All my guitars have their own story to tell. If you’re happy with just one, and truly love it, that’s great, and very special. I tried it for 10 years with my Gibson Les Paul, Limited Edition, but something was missing, so that’s when I got a really nice expensive Stratocaster. That just started the Domino effect as I call it, so now I own 8, and I love each one of them!
so yea, i think it’s possible but it comes with time. it takes trying different things to know what works with you and what you can get the most with. to me, my ultimate utility guitar would have to have a tremolo, a piezo for acoustic sounds, and pickups that sound great in humbucker and coil split sounds. i’ve modded two guitars over the years, a 70s lawsuit LP and a PRS SE custom 24 to those specs with upgraded pickups and graphtech ghost systems. i could definitely do with just one though but sentimentally i would never part with them. with the processing power in modelers today it’s possible to get the best of acoustic and electric sounds at the same time. now i did that on guitars that are more affordable but i think off the rack, the best guitars to pick if you only had one that covers the most tones are the PRS P24 and a JP15. that being said i do have a few more guitars in the fender family but if i had to get the job done on one guitar only i could.
If you aint good on a 335 you won´t be good on a SG or a Les Paul, Strat, Tele... either! If you aint good on a SG you won´t be good on a 335 or a Les Paul, Strat, Tele...either! If you aint good on a Les Paul you won´t be good on a 335 or a SG, Strat, Tele... either! If you aint good on a Strat you won´t be good on a 335 or a SG, Les Paul, Tele... either! If you aint good on a Tele you won´t be good on a Strat or a 335, SG, Les Paul... either! Simple as that
Over the Years I tested them all. Since 15 Years I own and play only my 1968 SG junior. It is the best Guitar for me. Super light, super look and feel, super tone. And I have a Parlor Acoustic. That's it.
I have been using my epiphone les paul studio custom shop wine red since I was a beginner. I do own a 77 D-28 martin dreadnaught, a lx1-e with a fishman pickup in it, a fender fa-100 cheapo, and a squier jag vintage modified. That said I only go back to that first guitar. everything else doesn't play the same. It has been through like 7 setups and techs and has all of the positives from each of those people.
I had a Maton acoustic/electric cutaway for 15 years until I added an early 80s model, nicely set up Squier strat. Ten further years passed and I bought some Squier parts of various years, scalloped the neck and put in big pots to make my own Blackmore special just a year ago. This year I've bought 2 more - a PRS Mark Tremonti special and then a beautifully set up used Schecter Tele style guitar. So I had one acoustic/electric for 15 years, added a strat 10 years later and since then added 3 more guitars in the past 12 months. All sound and feel different and I love them all. Having said that, I've only spent a total of $2500 over those 26 years. * Minimum of one decent acoustic and one well set up electric needed IMO and get more if you can once you reach retirement age and have time to play more
I play 3...A Fender American Strat, a 1991 Gibson Explorer with Seth Lover pickups and a Michael Kelly Les Paul copy. The reason I hold on to a guitar is because I find music in it. I borrowed a copy of Telecasters from a friend of mine a few years ago and I never wrote an original composition on them. I don’t know what it is, but the Telecasters and I just don’t seem to jive. I can write a song every time I pick up my Strat (whether or not it’s a GOOD song may be a different discussion). My Les Paul copy is used almost as an acoustic because I keep it by my bed, but I find quality riffs on it from time to time. The Gibson Explorer can sonically sit between songs written on the Strat and the Les Paul body due to the Seymour-Duncan Seth Lover pickups. I also find that I wrote a lot of music on it. I’m gearing up for the acquisition of a Gretsch Pro Jet in the near future. If I had to pick one to play forever...I think the Strat would be it. It just scratches me where I itch. Oh...and a Vox AC-30 amplifier!
What you are looking for is a unicorn guitar player. I also would be beyond shocked if someone truly came forward who has been playing 5+ years and only plays one guitar.
I own one guitar ...I bought the cheapest guitar in the store for 150.00 because that was all the money I had... It's an Epiphone DR100WR..I've been playing it for 5 years and absolutely love it....I love RHYTHM and my guitar Is loud and boisterous and does exactly what I want...If my economic circumstances ever change..I might buy another one but right now I'm very happy playing 2 hours a day.....
Shit. If Slash walked into a Gun Store in Nashville with an Ibanez, and caused some confusion, Im sure you could at least slip out the back with something.
got a strat. had it for 4 years had a few others but sold them as i only played the strat. have played lots of guitars but i never have owned any other. its an extension of me. i know it inside and out. its been modded, almost nothing is original, and its gone through many pickups to get the sound i want. when playing i know everything about it and i dont even have to think about it. 3 weeks ago i finally gave in and got an acoustic, and a beautiful semi hollow. at the end of the day, ive played lots and often, but are they are my mates and are usually to jam. ive been close to getting others many a time but ive only given in now due to two beautiful tings from friends being sold that ive played and fallen in love. the important thing is that the guitar gives me whatever i want, due to having beautiful amps and great pedals. its a very minimalistic thing and i recommend everyone to just play one guitar for a month, no others. you will find you understand the guitar, and start to learn how to get tones and sounds you would usually use another guitar for. you may discover the guitar isnt versatile but majority are more versatile than you think
I think I could be. Over the years, I've owned quite a few guitars but theres only one that I still own and always keep going back to. I compare all other guitars to it that I play and I don't think I could ever sell it. My Gibson SG Standard. I've owned it for about 6 years or so now. However, I own 3 guitars currently. One of them being my first ever guitar, a Squier Strat that I just couldnt get rid of as A) No one would really want it/buy it and B) it's really sentimental to me. The other is a cheap Squier Mustang I got not long ago for a backup/fun guitar. I don't really mind if it gets dinked or stickers placed over it. Over the years, I've played Fender Strats, owned a Fender Tele, a Squier Jaguar and recently an Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro and I've just ended up preferring my SG. I'm not making a case that it's the best guitar in the world and that all others suck, it's just *my* guitar and I just don't think I'd be happier with any other guitar. So if it came down to it, I think I could probably only have the SG and be happy. I'd be bummed about my first Strat as it's just a relic and sentimental, but thats about it. It's not perfect, if I could design a guitar, there are a couple things I'd add or change i.e I'd probably want to install some coil taps and probably sand down the sticky neck, block inlays and a thinner neck, but it's just *my* guitar.
If there was no internet, I could live with only one guitar. The internet makes me guitar crazy.
QUESTION: How many guitars are necessary to make guitarist happy? 10? 50? 100?
no...
ANSWER: "One more guitar"
@ Ba Ye: haha - yes the formula is x +1 , "x" being the number you already have
Best answer on here lol.
It's the same in the wrist watch community. ;-)
formula for buying guitars
G+1=
G being the number of guitars you currently own
+Guideaux Pelagos OMG it's so true. I love watches..what is it between guitars and watches..
Guitarist can be happy with 1 guitar if a few simple steps are taken.
Stay off the internet forums, instead use time practicing
2... use money you would spend of guitars on lessons
3... keep practicing
That guitarist will never play any serious shows. Guitars are machines. They break down. If you get up in front of people on a stage with no backup guitar, you deserve what you have coming to you
My playing improved when I stripped back to one guitar and one amp with no effects
George Benson There was a point when I had just one guitar, but I borrowed a electric guitar from my bass player as a back up, during shows, & I also borrowed his acoustic. So I only “owned” 1 guitar but had to have access to more guitars to be a functional gigging musician.
@@davecarsley8773 alot of player's in the 70s only played one guitar some are still playing the same instrument now.
The back up was usually just that and hopefully would not be needed.
These you tube kids with 20+guitars isn't about musical variety because you vent bond properly with so many instruments that's why your always hear them say "I wish I hadn't sold that guitar"
If they spent time getting to know their instruments they wouldn't sell their best guitars because they have been caught hook line and sinker in the guitar marketing machine.
an u can add stuff to your guitar like a pickup bridge or something like….
Goes back to the old saying...... Always fear the man with one gun, for he sure knows how to use it.
Not possible, you need at least one electric and an acoustic, minimum.
650Thunderbird semi hollow sorted
650Thunderbird your wrong just buy a piezo bridge on any electric guitar. so its possible to only use 1 guitar forever just upgrade the pickups and put an acoustic piezo
650Thunderbird 1986 Kramer ferrington. "electric shaped" acoustic electric
...For each tuning
Benjamin Sanders yes I use it in series and in parellal and coil tapped with blending
I have one guitar....For every tuning
Exactly what I am going for. I have an E, Eb and DADGAD electric guitar. Next one will be open D with big strings for slide and then a drop-D one.
frederic Pinsonnault lmao he was making a joke damn
@@FreddyFuFu well thats a bit stupid and lazy aint it.. so many different tones... if you could use all tunings with all guitars you are mucb more versatile... and tuning takes like a minute.. nvm you probably did a joke
Same with me! E Standard, E Standard minus two cents on the G string, E Standard minus three cents on the E string…… 😂😅
As a scientific aside, I think the type of folks who watch youtube videos about guitar gear (like myself) are going to be biased towards owning many guitars (which is why we are watching--"addicted to gear" after all). Those who are satisfied with a single guitar are not likely to be watching these types of videos because they already have the gear they want, and aren't itching for more. So in terms of settling your argument, using the comments section from your youtube channel is giving you a biased sample in favor of your side of the argument. ;-)
1 If you just play at home.
2 If you just play at home and also want an acoustic.
2 If you doing gigs because you need a backup guitar
2 If you are a studio guitar player and need to cover up a lot of sounds.
3 If you play gigs or in studio and want a acoustic too.
4, 5, 6, 7, 8+..... guitars is nothing else than pure luxury.
I don't know a single REAL session (studio) guitarist who would get work with only two guitars. He'd be laughed out of any professional studio.
or 8+ if you just a guitar geek who spends more time on gear reviews than on making music :D.
@@thomasdc2439 lol, I'm there. Next one will be a kit ES-335 Clapton clone like the one there for most of the discussion... this is going to be a fun project!
@@davecarsley8773 So, how many people are studio session players, compared to all the REST of us?
One guitar? That's crazy talk!
David Beckum haha true
I have only one electric and one amp cause I can't afford another one
Rayvin but do you want a new guitar? Because then you fall under the multiple guitars criteria.
Yea I want a new one
The one I have is fine it's just I want to try out new ones but yea
1 GOOD GUITAR IS ALL YOU NEED IF YOU JUST PLAY FOR YOUR OWN JOY AT HOME.
IF YOU ARE A GIGGING MUSICIAN YOU NEED A BACKUP GUITAR THAT MAKES 2.
HAVING A ACOUSTIC IS A DIFFERENT ANIMAL SO IF YOU WANT ONE YOU NEED 3.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS UNNECESSARY IN MATTERS OF REALLY NEEDING SOMETHING.
Or possibly 1.5 guitars. I recall hearing that early in AC/DC’s tenure the brothers Young shared a telecaster as a back up in case the Gretch or SG had an issue. I hear you, I just like the story.
Possible! You can get everywhere with just one good guitar if you´re a hell of a player! Most people spent to much time looking for equipment instead of playing or writing a song!
I have 3 guitars..Roland Strat, MIM Strat and an Epiphone Sheraton. I had 4 other guitars that I seldom/never used, so I sold them. Very happy with the Roland Strat as I have a Roland GR-55 gtr synth which allows me any alternate tunings/tones/models I want. I used to go out with a 6 string electric, a 12 string electric and a bass gtr. Not any more..I use the Roland Strat as my main guitar and the MIM Strat for backup. Both are equipped with the GK-3 p/u. I'm good to go...
No. You can't get everywhere. You're not going to play the Tonight Show (or any serious show) without a backup. Guitars are machines. They break. You cannot be a serious gigging musician with one guitar.
Two? Sure. That's possible.
@@davecarsley8773 I'm playing for more than 20 years and I've never broke a guitar. And I've never seen anyone breaking one. Ok … if you have a Gibson, then you should have a backup just in case you convert one of them to headless ;) :D.
It might let you feel better to have a backup. But seriously the chance to need it is rather small ;).
@@davecarsley8773 the tonight show probably has backline instruments. But the performances are probably dubbed so it may not matter.
I only need one, I don't have GAS...I haven't bought any gear since late 2016. My goal this year is working on my playing.
:-) since late 2016? Thats not very long
That's an eternity for most with GAS. My last purchase was November 8, 2016 (a 2016 Les Paul Traditional in Honey Burst). I've purchased strings and that's it since then. Been playing instead of on websites looking at gear. I'm still a newbie player, been playing since May 2015.
@@sn95_mustang_garage you're still looking at websites with gear. You're watching videos like this rather than playing.
I´M THINKING ABOUT THIS A LOT. I RATHER HAVE ONE VERY EXPENSIVE GOOD GUITAR THAN 5 OK GUITARS. ALSO I´M A GUY WHO DOSENT WANT TO HAVE A LOT OF ANYTHING... I DON´T KNOW WHY GUESS I´M THE OPPOSITE OF A COLLECTOR.
BUT IF YOU ARE A GIGING MUSICIAN YOU NEED 3.
1 GUITAR AND 1 GUITAR AS BACKUP AND OF COURSE YOU ALSO NEED AN ACOUSTIC.
I used to think that was the way we all should think about it. Then I discovered that I actually enjoy really cheap guitars! I can get a lot of them, have a great time jamming out on a variety of platforms without the guilt of blowing a whole lot of money in the process.
Wouldn't you rather have "one very cheap Good Guitar" : Believe me, spending a great deal of money doesn't guarantee you will have a excellent guitar, just as not spending much doesn't mean you wont have a GREAT guitar. I am not talking thru my hat, as I own both.
@@stephenbowyer7269 I have the experience of spending the least amount of money and acquiring a guitar that is highly playable and enjoyable! Sometimes I spend three to four times as much on a guitar that isn't very playable and has workmanship/quality issues. When you order online, it's a crap shoot -- sometimes you win, and sometimes you don't. If the risk doesn't give me something playable straight out of the box, then I figure out how to set it up and make it better!!!
Well you sure as fuck have a caps lock
Now I got 9 guitars, acoustic and electric, gibsons, fenders, PRS's, yamahas... bot a couple years ago I bought a telecaster (sunburst American deluxe) and that guitar eclipsed all others for more than 3 years. I used to play it only in the neck position, I was completely in love with that sound. Finally I bought a Gibson Memphis 339, this Gibson turned everything into normal, it let me to re-discover why I bought each and every guitar I got.
I only have one guitar (nylon string), reason: I am to poor to buy another :) and I usually use the money to buy strings
Nothing prepares you better for an electric guitar than learning on an acoustic. Once you do get your first electric, you will find it so much easier to play because you learned on something that demands perfection and strong fingers.
Hi, you’ve found your unicorn. I play one and one only electric guitar. I’ve done this since 1997. There is a catch though, while the guitar is basically the same kind of guitar I’ve upgraded. I started out with an Epiphone Sheraton II and now have a Gibson ES335. I had a telecaster for 8 months and sold it. All I need is the 335, it does everything I ask of it and I’ve been happy for 20 years.
I started with an old yamaha couch guitar that i knew a few riffs on and it sat for 27 years doing nothing but a rare and occasional noodling... three years ago, i decided to actually take lessons and learn how to play guitar... that old classical just wouldn't do so i got a nice Alvarez acoustic............. then there was this Taylor 12 string that caught my ear........ and then the ESP electric......... AND then this American Special Strat came home with me........... now i'm looking at a Gretch. As i learned more technique, i realized that every guitar has a different sound or personality. They are like friends. :D
I only have two Amps tho.... hmmmmm
Yes, it's possible to be happy owning just one guitar. I've been playing the same Fender Telecaster for 35 years and I wouldn't play anything else. I don't even like the feel of another Tele, let alone a different kind of guitar. The only problem is, when you play live gigs you either need to play all songs in the same tuning, or learn to tune to alternative tunings really quickly. My friend keeps telling me to install an autotuner on it. No way! I'm not desecrating my beloved Tele by screwing some computer to it! 👎
Try a drop tune pedal
This guy has got it figured out! Kudos to you! You don’t realize how much money you saved over the years. I got GAS in 2020 and it’s just now subsiding. I wasted probably $20,000 on guitars in the past 3 years or so. I should have done what you did!
@@Jake24378 Oh believe me, I’ve been stricken with GAS too, just not with guitars. I’d probably pass out if I tallied up the lifetime total I’ve spent on amps, pedals, gadgets like the iRig, software, mics $ stands, PA gear, interfaces, studio speakers, blah blah blah. 99% of which I didn’t need! 😂
WHEN I WAS 20 YEARS OLD. I PLAYED IN A BAND. REHEARSED 3-4 TIMES I WEEK. HAD A GIG EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS. WROTE SONGS. RECORDED. EVEN SCORED A RECORD DEAL. GOT A LITTLE RADIO PLAY AND HAND A FEW CONCERTS AS OPENER FOR BIG INTERNATIONAL ACTS LIKE BLONDIE...
I ONLY HAD A GIBSON HOLLOWBODY AND SHARED A CHEAP BACKUP GUITAR WITH THE OTHER GUITARIST WHO PLAYED A STRATOCASTER. THE BACKUP GUITAR BELONGED TO THE SINGERS BROTHER.
NOW I´M HITTING 40 AND NOW I HAVE 3 GIBSONS AND A FENDER. GONE THROUGH A LOT OF GEAR IN THE LAST TEN YEARS. BOUGHT AND SOLD SOME GUITARS.. I HARDLY WRITE, RECORD, OR HAVE A GIG ANYMORE :-(
I THINK THAT SAYS IT ALL!
As long as you know what tone you want... yeah. I bought a '67 Fender Mustang in '96 at Fretware Guitars in Franklin OH. This guitar was my only for years. it's still my baby.
Easily! I´m into Gibsons, got a 335 and a LP custom. I almost just play the 335. LP is backup. Can cover up a lot of diverent dounds with it...On smaller club gigs I sometimes just bring my 335 with me. I know this guitar so I can rely on it. In Cause of a broken string, which hasn´t happend in years I would be able to restring and play again within 2 minuites...
Enjoy playing become one with your instrument don´t waste you money looking for gear gear gear... Thats called a guitar collector not a guitar player.
Yeah I don't need more than I have. 3. 1 acoustic and 2 electrics. I could sell my other electric without missing it.
Great video
I would be happy with a great guitar. Still haven't found the one I can settle on, though, so I have more than 10 :).
Ernie Ball Music Man JP6 or similar will do it all, acoustic sound from Piezo pickup, then Crunchlab Humbuckers, etc. Fender MP Telecaster will also damn near do it all, not as good as EBMM JP
parker fly might get close.
most jazz guitarists i know have just 1 guitar. a lot of them are amazingly incredible guitar players...indeed, most of them chanell their effort towards musical skills, same for most classical guitar players i know.
I own 12 guitars that are in storage for the past 4 years plus about 6 amps, gazzillions of effects pedals, mic's, mixers..you name I was a gear hoarder. Anyways about 4 years ago i moved overseas. I bought one really cheap nylon string guitar that is really nice to play. My experience is in that time my guitar playing has improved about 200% in 4 years, than the previous 30 years where I was distracted by gear and always thinking I could sound better if only I owned this, or that next guitar/amp/pedal. YES, it most definitely is possible to live with just one guitar...also as an example of a player who is world famous for playing just one guitar and getting a signature sound "Willy nelson"..theres probably others..maybe Brian May..sure they have other guitars but you get my point.. I think a lot of us focus too much on gear and not enough on actually playing. The nylon string has made my fingers stronger, I can stretch further and I have branched into classical music..something I never would have done if I just kept playing electric guitars..my 2 cents...real tone come from your fingers, not some pickup or circuitry.
I went for about 7 years playing one guitar....I don't know if that's long enough to fit the criteria here, and now I have a pretty decent collection, but at the time, which was years ago, I was only using that one. It was a 93 Gibson LP studio I got for my 15th birthday, which I still have today 20 years later. I guess I felt like I just didn't need another guitar, and really had no desire to get another. I could get pretty much any sound I was looking for out of the LP. That as well as the fact that in highschool, then college, and into my early - mid twenties, I didn't have the financial flexibility to be starting a guitar collection. So it was just that ol Gibson for me. So fast forward ten years, and I currently have 10 guitars. It is nice to have the tonal options, but for me, the problem with owning that many guitars, is that I don't have the same level of comfort and familiarity with any of guitars as I did my LP. and after playing one for awhile, I'll pick up another, and it's like I have to now "get used" to this other guitar now. And I have all my guitars set up with very similar parameters. When I was just playing the LP, I was so used the feel, and had it set up just right. It was great. With my guitars now, they each serve a different purpose. All that being said, I did play on just one guitar for many years
I own only 1 guitar. A Gibson J-45. It looks beautiful, it sounds beautiful, it plays beautifully. I do not play gigs, I do not have a band. I just play for my dog in my living room. I am content.
You're Right, Having multiple instruments let you tailor the sound according to your mood and the type of music you want to play at a particular period in time.Guitars are very dynamic instruments, even the same 2 guitars would sound slightly different so its the versatility that i would go for with having multiple instruments..
Facts. 1) The guitar is a tool for making music. 2) We all have only 1 pair of hands and only 1 guitar is played at a time. 3) Your intro gives the answer as all the electrics you play sound 99.5% the same and all the acoustics as well.
So It's fine to have many tools at your disposal but you only need 1 to make music.
Guitar companies do their best to make you think you need to fill in your guitar ownership checklist.
But in the end, all it takes is to believe in your abilities and invest the time on your craft. This requires just a guitar that you like, nothing more.
Aris Papadopoulos I get your point. But as a player, different guitars inspire you in different ways due to the way they feel. And it's just more fun to have more guitars.
Carlo Guerrero if you think having multiple guitars is cool then it's cool, no one can argue. But experience and music history shows that creative inventions (like rock n roll) are more likely to happen by bridging limitations. Like having just one guitar to record a whole album. That's how the human brain works.
Again, nothing wrong with collecting but creativity has nothing to do with ownership.
Also, creative people (usually pros) who own lots of equipment and remain creative have a special level of commitment to their craft and they don't "have" to have the gear, it's just good to have around. 2c
Aris Papadopoulos very true. No one method should stand above others. I think a balance between the two is best. Some days it might be better to challenge your self by sticking to one guitar. Other days you might find it better to explore other types to find inspiration. I was just sharing my opinion in relation to yours.
I own only one bass but I can recognize that it has its limitations and sometimes you just want something fresh. It's fine if you can't afford multiple instruments (like me) but a bigger collection does have its advantages like variability in tone for different styles of music, you wouldn't use an SG or Les Paul to play a country song.
Pair the SG or LP with the right amp and you could chickenpick all the country you want. Practice and music language development is #1. People play metal with jazz guitars and jazz with Teles, think outside the box.
Had 1 guitar for the last year and so far perfectly content. It really forces you to focus on 1. Your technique and 2. Your customisation/setup of the instrument. Settled on a Les Paul with P90's and had to tweak the pickup magnets and wiring but with 50's wiring/output loading, you really can get the whole range of Les Paul and Fender tones by turning the knobs.
Up to about two weeks ago i only had one guitar for about 3 or 4 years. Its a SG that i love and bought cause im a huge Angus Young fan, hes my main inspiration on guitar. I used it for the whole of those 3 or 4 years and never thought about getting another. Two weeks ago i bought a strat cause it was a crazy good deal that was to good to miss. I love my SG and i will never sell but having two guitars is great because they feel different and i love different things about. the difference in tone and feel is something i love. Since owning this second guitar i have more motivation for guitar, its alot funner and my playing has improved and expanded. The strat has naturally brought out this funky groove feeling that i never had before. Although i could survive with just my SG i prefer having two guitars.
Jay millard
Funny enough I do like AC/DC but the tone I liked was the Gretsch. It took me awhile to realize why my SG was not giving me the tone I want. Turns out it was the Filtertrons.
Gringo Green I actually realised that on all the records Malcolms guitar is much louder than Angus on all the rhythm parts. everyone reckons the secret to Angus's tone is his wireless and that but i reckon no one can get his tone because its actually Malcolms rig were mainly hear.
Jay millard
Yeah, its the Filtertron pickup in the Gretsch. That and a P 90 are my favorite pickips. Its much louder than a PAF with a weaker signal.
I love a bit of P90 cream on my Gibson 56r LP. It has a tone no other pup can replicate. I bought an Orange head cos I saw the guy who designed it say he made it to reproduce the tone from the first 5 DC albums & Never Mind The Bollocks by the Pistols & I thought 'yep, that's me sold!' lol.
Do NOT underestimate the difference between the 'Fender' and 'Gibson' scale lengths... there's almost a full inch difference in scale length plus a substantial difference in string spacing (especially down at the bridge), which does (or at least SHOULD) completely change the way 'you' react with the guitar, the string guages you use, the way you use techiques like hammer-ons/pull-offs, bends, etc... the list goes on. When *anyone* claims 'they're all the same' I reckon they must have 'cloth ears'. Whilst I don't think you NEED 87 guitars, anyone claiming that e.g. having *just* a strat/tele and a LP/SG (and probably, more like you, a even more obviously different trem equipped, SSS strat and a hardtail HH LP/SG) is 'not noticeable' is just kidding themselves - or has cloth ears Add an acoustic and, viola; you've got three guitars. The nice thing these days is that 'reasonable' guitars are cheap... so you can buy e.g. a $2-4K US Strat or LP and buy a $200 'backup' that will do that job well.... or (better, IMHO) backup your USA Strat with an Epiphone LP Jnr, or your Gibson USA LP Stuidio with a Squire Strat... it's all possible, usable and fun.
On the Gretsch vibe though, if I was young and starting out again, I'd seriously buy a 51xx hollowbody Streamliner (in Black) with the Filtertrons and Bigsby, plus a Squire Strat and a LP clone (Epi, LP Jnr on sale, some other brand - MUST have set-neck, Mahogany body) of some sort. i COULD live with *just* those three (plus an acoustic... no name, solid spruce top cutaway with a pickup)... so four in total. I'd defy anyone to claim I was either ostentatious, untalented, not commited, etc; and most folk I know would see that a 'sensible' range for an even casual play-in-public but ameatuer muso, let alone someone 'serious' about doing it on an ongoing basis.
Hi, interesting question. Of course, one could do with just one guitar.
On the other hand, beware of falling into excess. In the last
50years (I'm 65) I have been experimenting quite a lot. Buying, selling,
trading... I came to the conclusion that although one could do with one
guitar, it is best to have the choice between several. Even David
Grissom's DGT, which is most versatile, cannot really replace several
axes. And I'll explain why: I need to vary between different necks
during one set, as my left hand gets tired or even can hurt while
playing with one single profile over the whole performance. Changing
necks is relaxing, refreshing and makes you play differently, better,
while having a different grip and touch (glossy, satin, raw...). Also,
the different string tension can help you at a moment when your tendons
are under stress. So does the scale and different frets, depending on
the need (bending, slide, jazzy, funky, etc). While considering
different genres, here too, you might need to alternate between single
coils, humbuckers, P90, Filtertrons and what have you. My ideal choice
is a Les Paul, with a comfortable 50's neck, low to medium output
humbuckers, for that "in your face" tone and power chords, weighing
possibly in the 8 lbs area to save your back. A 335 type for mellow
tones, harmonics, long sustained notes, jazzy phrases, I favor the 339
over the 335 for size reasons, the best being the Collings I35 Imo. A
Tele, because it is unmatched for twang. With the right pickups, it can
be quite versatile as well. A Strat for its quite unique quack and
intermediate positions. As an option, one could consider a P90 equipped
guitar as it adds a different flavor to the previous and a Gretsch for
its very distinctive Filtertrons' tone. Personnally, I have equipped a
Tele Custom model with a Splittable TV Jones in the back and a WideRange
in the Front, plus a Bigsby. With this setup, two independent volumes
and tone pots, I get the best of both worlds. So yeah: to cover it all
one would ideally have 4 to 5 axes. \m/
Interessing topic.. I personnaly own a cheap acoustic (I mainly play electric) and own 5 electric guitars which I consider is the maximum acceptable for a guitarist. Beyond that, I believe it will be to time consuming and difficult to maintain them properly and to give each guitar a decent spin time to time.
Through the years, my musical tastes evolved so did my musical needs. Through the years, when adquiring a new guitar, I always tried to get a guitar that will not overlap in style and sound with the ones I already owned. My first decent guitar was a Ibanez RG with HSH pickups and a floyd rose.. I was into Joe Satriani and other shredders. Later on, when I started to work and get my own money, I got a cool American Special Fender Stratocaster because I always loved the strat sound (I'm also a Dire Straits fan).. But my dream guitar was always a PRS custom 24, which one day I got second hand. Some years later, a friend of mine, lend me his telecaster to clean it up and change the strings but it took him forever to pass by and get his guitar back.. So I spend some quality time whith his telecaster at home and began to understood the telecaster. Some time later, I finally got one (I used to hate everything on the telecaster, sound, look). The last one was then a Gibson Les Paul loaded with P90s.. I didn't own any les Paul or P90 equiped guitar, so a Gibson les Paul P90 was the logical choice for the 5th guitar in the list.
Today when I look back, I don't regret owning several guitars. Each one has it's own style as allowed me to discover new styles and sounds during this muical journey that is our life. If I would have sticked to my first RG HSH floyd rose equiped guitar, I don't think I would have expanded my tonal palette and musical influences and knownledge as much as though these axes I mentioned.
One important thing though is to be carrefull to not be trapped to much in this hunt ;-) Cheers!
In the last 40 years I have owned only 1 guitar, a 1970s Yamaha classical given to me by a friend. That Yamaha traveled with me all over the USA, and to Germany, Switzerland, Israel, and France. I played folk style and that guitar was perfect for me. I liked the wide fretboard, the rich bass sound, and even the high tension nylon strings (which I preferred) were so much nicer on my fingers than steel strings. However, in the last 2 years I have accumulated at least a half dozen electric guitars looking for the right electric tone.
I have 18 guitars- 16 electric, 2 acoustic. I am afflicted with GAS but I LOVE it!!! ;)
My first guitar was a Alvarez accoustic (I think its the Bob Wier signature) my dad bought it it the year I was born, gigged with it for years and had it as his backup for a long time afterwards. I didn't start playing until I was 18, he gave me that guitar. I'm so fortunate, its the best sounding guitar I could even imagine. Its beat to hell, the top is messed up from a full body pixkguard that got put on then ripped off, theres a line from a permanent marker on the head but I love absolutely everything about it. That being said, I bought a 93 mexi strat. Thats it. One accoustic one electric, the strat has the advantage of having a very wide range of tones. That being said. Basses are a different story. I'm constantly tempted by new ones.
This should be a 4 second video.
It should be him saying "No!".
I have 4 electrics, and 2 acoustics, 1 banjo, 1 Mandolin, 2 Harmonicas, 4 amplifiers, about 6 clip-on neck tuners, Hard cases for all, and a ton of old song books.
#1 Ernie Ball Music Man JP
#2 Gibson Firebird
#3 Epiphone SG
#4 Fender MP Telecaster
Epiphone Hummingbird
Martin DM
Gretsch Banjo
Gibson Mandolin
Hohner Marine Band Harmonica
Kustom Kasino PA
Vox VT120+
B-52 Half Stack
Krell Kma‑100 Mk‑2 Amplifier
Another side of my story. My guitar instructor has had a beat up G&L that's had the same strings so long that they are rusted between the nut and tuners. He doesn't know what all the knobs do. But he has a masters in music and is one of the most versatile, amazing guitarists I've ever heard.... bar none! Makes me wish I could forget about the "stuff" and spend my time and energy practicing. The guy can look at a piece of music and almost instantly play the song like it was recorded. Spins my brain!
Yes, I wish I had the willpower to focus only on playing too!
That’s what I am trying to do now. Similar story. I saw someone that only have 1 guitar and he can MAKE MUSIC, real music. I was inspired!
I bought my first acoustic guitar in 1978, and that was my only guitar until 2000 when I bought my first electric guitar. I now have over 20 guitars, but I only play about 4 of them. The rest are really decorations at this point and I could do within them. I’d like to whittle it down to about eight, but the truth is I could get along with 3. One electric (probably my American Standard Stratocaster) one acoustic, and my acoustic 12 string.
I had one guitar Guild Starfire on stage from 1965 till 1986 suited everything.
Started with a Fender Strat through it in the skip followed by a Marshall stack, also went in skip, bought a Vox AC30 used that from 1965 to 1986. Never had any had any trouble that amp or guitar, never let me down once. Also used a for that length of time a Binson Echo.
By now I have owned a tele copy (shit starter guitar), and still own a sg junior and a Ibanez roadstar, and a couple of pedals, but still haven't found the guitar-pedals-amp combination that suits my every need. The sg has really small frets and huge neck, which annoy me, but have a nice scale length, the ibanez has a really thin neck and tall frets, but there is something with the pickups that doesn't satisfy me enough. The differences between the two make me play differently, can't play legato as easily with the sg, but right hand feels better with the sg jr and the wraparound bridge.
Point is, I guess we have to go through different stuff until we find combinations that suit us, maybe there's someone playing through a high gain marshall, but would be much more suited by a big muff and a clean amp
I'm pleased to hear one guitar and amp did everything you ever wanted it to and that you never broke a string or blew a fuse at a gig... miraculous, but wonderful. Next time you're tempted to send electronics to landfill though, please send it my way instead; especially the Strat :-)
Yes I will send any too you. But I did break plenty of strings.
I've been playing only 1 guitar for over a decade. A Washburn EC29. Started playing at age 14. I just turned 39. Used to be a collector of gear. Had just about every brand of guitar and gear and settled on 1 guitar, 1amp and 1 pedal board . I play actively in cover bard from classic rock to Latin folk. Finding your 1 true love is Like everything else: one person to love. 1 car, etc.
but you aren't playing the first guitar you ever got. That's the whole point. No one gets their first guitar and then never has an interest in purchasing another one
Yes you can. A big collection does not make you a big musician. Just you've got gear like a Rockstar does not make you one.
My Dad has owned only 1 acoustic guitar for over 40 years. He has played it all my life. He doesn't play very regularly, but once he learned to play the music he liked (in a basic way) he was happy. He plays to his grandchildren and at family occasions. Only since I learned has he started learning new songs again. His influence meant that I like quite a lot of older stuff that he has heard me play and asked for chord sheets.
No way. Lost count at 60.
I own 5 guitars right now, I am going to buy another one here soon.
1. Washburn WG 580
2. Gibson SG Special
3. Epiphone SG G-400 Pro
4. Epiphone Les Paul Studio
5. Squier Deluxe Stratocaster
Amps
1. Create GX-30M
2. Vox Valvetronix VT20
3. Fender Mustang GT40
I love all of my guitars. Each one inspires me to play and feel a little differently. For me more is better. If I only had one it would be worn out in a hurry. lol
Back in '90 I bought an American Strat. It's the only electric guitar I had for many years. I played hundreds of gigs on it. Back in 2010 I traded it in for a couple of other types of guitars - Tele and SG. Since then I've had dozens of guitars - traded in again and again. I'm still at it - for me it's been a really fun journey exploring. I've learned to work on all types of guitars, found the common faults in design, how to coax sound of them, what works for me and what doesn't...........I love most all of them. Currently have a 335, Jazzmaster, and Tele. I find those three choices can get most anyting done I need. It would be hard for me to pick just one. Having said that I wouldn't need multiple versions of the same guitar - just one good example of each type.
I agree with Sam in that if you have the money, you're likely going to buy more than one. Too many varieties of sound and playability to settle for just one instrument.
When I was in high school I bought a Telecaster and It was my only guitar for a decade. I played a few other guitars in shops and that my friends owned, but the familiarity and tone of the thing let the guitar disappear and let me just concentrate on the music. Then, in the 90s, I had a chance to play a Parker Fly. It was weird and different but so easy to play and so versatile that I bought one that day. To this day I only own those two guitars and really don't feel any need to spend on anything else.
Recently, I did a refresh of the old Tele with new pickups, new pots, a four-way switch, a refinish of the neck, and a redressing of the frets, but this was just an update on a familiar theme. Having said that, I am often on the lookout for the next pedal or amplifier or piece of software so I don't feel like I am stagnating.
As many as you want or better can afford, my Taylor is my go to, Les Paul when I play ZZ Top to AC/DC, telecaster if I'm in the mood for Tom Petty, Strat, Kramer. It's all in your taste, some songs just sound better on the right guitar. Thou a real god player can make any guitar sound fantastic.
I was very happy playing a martin 000x1ae for 7 years of my life without having any other guitar. It is still my go to guitar after all these years. I recently got a fender telecaster, but only because i was interested in playing more rock music. I have no desire to buy another acoustic any time soon if ever. Hope this helps!
I've been playing my stratocaster for maybe 8 years, something like that. I've had a single other electric guitar ; an epiphone. I really like the way my stratocaster feels and plays and have pretty much settled for it right then and there.
I haven't been obsessing over tone for most of my time playing the guitar as I'm your typical bedroom guitarist. It came pretty late. I use a virtual amp now. I've been messing around a lot to find the setting I like, at no additional cost. I felt the need to make that single guitar more versatile and so I added a couple of humbuckers and also rewired to have a master treble-cut AND a master bass-cut knob. That way I can get pretty much all the tones I feel I need. Beside that I kind of got myself a volume pedal lately ; that's really useful for better dynamics control.
However, I've got the bug now !
I've acquired a bass. I want a baritone guitar to tune a fourth below. And I also want one of those tiny 3/4 guitars to tune up a fourth.
That would be my complete guitar family ; from the low to the top end of the spectrum ; mimicking the bass, cello, alto, & violin family.
I feel I'll get some more buying ideas once I've got those two though. I need to be careful there, lol.
I have a friend who's been playing the same Strat since 1970. His only other guitar is a cheap Yamaha acoustic. For me I have 15 guitars currently so the answer for me is no, but there were many years when I got by with 2 electrics and an acoustic.
Yep... that's 'more than 1' dude. The question wasn't about 'how many' so much as 'just one'. I'm with the author, in that 'just one' won't cut it and; whilst I have 'more than two', it's entirely from a convenience point of view... but ONE would be so inconvenient as to be really, really annoying. IMHO.
It's like how a painter can have many different brushes and paints. Guitars are just a way of increasing the variance of our pallets as guitar players to get different sounds and improve our range. Also, it's impossible to be so into a hobby and read about it every day without lusting after new gear. Guitar stuff is just so cool!
It's really expensive too... Maybe I should just take up painting instead. Now that I mention it, that seems cheaper :)
What about Brian May? Been using the Red Special for years. Fair enough he has copies of the same guitar but they're only for drop d and spare when playing live. He's been satisfied with that guitar for his whole life!
Sure, but I guarantee to you he has many more in his personal collection.
Co Ah definitely, he played a strat in some fender anniversary
Brian also totes a 12 string from time to time. Watch him on the video from Wembly Stadium.
Just in the Queen years (Freddie) he used an Ovation Celebrity 12 string, an Ovation 6 string, a Telecaster for "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" not to mention ukes, banjoliles, harps and a classical guitar.
and on some of the earlier gigs, he had a Les Paul as a backup guitar, I can't remember where I saw it or read it though
in my case it's bass guitars . i fell in love with the hofner ignition because it was affordable and lefty .great feel and vintage tone , fully hollow . then i went for an epiphone viola , semi-hollow , with much more sustain . both being short scale , i wanted a standard long scale bass and bought the fender squier jazz bass the only lefty offered by squire . then i got the epiphone eb-0 with a single pick-up (which was terribly microphonic)upgraded with a dimarzio dp120 pu , vast improvement !a muddy murky tone that i love . a friend asked "why are you buying so many bass guitars ? you only need one".i explained that it was the different tones that i was looking for...like jimi hendrix once said : " it's all about TONES". hollow body , semi-hollow , solid body , long scale , short scale all have different sounds or sonic colors as i call it .variety is the spice of life !
I think that if I was a master of the instrument then perhaps I could have just one because I wpuld only want to play and sound like myself. however I am a crap player who just loves everything about guitars so I have a nice little collection. I dont buy or pick up a guitar thinking that it is gping to just make me shred. I do so to experience everything that particular instrument has to offer
I started with one acoustic guitar some years ago. ..a simple Yamaha 340 but since have aquired 3 USA fenders all the 60th aneversary special addition 3 Gibsons and 2 Ibaneze guitars with a whole lot of other acoustic guitars. ..I believe any passionate guitar player would want an array of guitars and other gear
Few is better, one is almost unheard of unless they're poor or broke.
I had to make do with my first cheap Japanese Les Paul copy for 6 years before I could afford to up-grade to a Gibson model. Then I also got an acoustic several years later.
poor and broke are the same thing
If your poor you'll own nothing of re-sale value, you can own stuff of great value but still be broke (for now)
I'm broke and I only have one guitar and amp I've been upgrading it with new strings and shit though
im broke and i have 2 1 electric and 1 acoustic but i have done nothing to them
Friend of mine bought a Gibson 335 when he was 21. He still owns and plays it. BUT..He has had two amps after his Fender Twin got stolen. He was a great admirer of Larry Carlton and said it had enough rock in it for him too. He's a better player than me as I got addicted to hear and while I was tone chasing, he was just playing. Today, it shows. He's the guitarist I wish I could be. I think we're spoils by our role models and mentors. e.g. If we go to concerts peole can change guitar for each song and we think we'll if they need them, so do I. Swings and roundabouts.
As far as electrics concerned. You need 2 guitars! A main axe and a backup.
Everything else is just bauberly. Spent your time playing them and don´t waste your time maintain them. If you got a Gibson and a Fender you should also be able to cover up everything. If not than it´s a lack of your skills not on your equipment.
Simple as that.
I've never actually used the backup guitar before though 😆
Really arrogant, aren't you?
Fabio Gasperini I think he‘s right. The trough is the trough hurts
For the first nine years that I've been playing, I only had one guitar, a Harmony flat top. I currently own four guitars. I focus more of my attention on finding material to play. Non playing collectors are a pet peeve because they collect (or hoard) instruments that are meant to be played ; an instrument that someone could be using.
I'm down to 5 and I can't seem to downsize anymore. I've got my Jazzmaster, Les Paul, My grandfathers acoustic, Ibanez semi-hollow and an Ibanez acoustic bass. I'm on a mission to own less. I'm tired of owning too much gear.
3dgun
Me too, I’m really sick of gear.
12x12surface I’m help you out by graciously taking it off your hands. Someone must shoulder this burden.
I have 4 good strats, 2 good basses, one el. baritone, an acoustic 12 str and two acoustic six strings and a mandoline. That´s what I´ve got left since I scaled down from around 35 guitars that had accumulated over the years. The guitars I have right now are all really good and the ones I won´t live without. Love them.
If you have money to buy a guitar lucky you, buy more. If you don't have money then your stuck with just one or few thats all simple.
I used to own so many guitars. I was looking for what I liked. Now that I found the one I like, I don't feel a need for another. Although, I sometimes look at guitars and think I'd like one like that, the feeling passed when I play mine. It's just a cheap, Chinese import but I love the way looks, feels and sounds. It's my guitar.
Back in the days it was about having 1 guitar and beeing in a band. Today it‘s about having a lot of guitars and stuff and beeing on the internet. 🤔 Maybe thats why music gone downwards.
Nope. It was NEVER about having one guitar. All the guys from your favorite bands owned dozens. And for tens of thousands of us, it's still about owning a few guitars and being in a band... Go to your local pub on the weekend-- we're out there. We're not hard to find.
Dave Carsley Nope! If You wanted to do anything in public you most likley ended up in a band. Today people just upload a video. Also the amount of gear informations were limited. All You could do is buy some Magazins or went to a shop... today this stuff is endless, ebay, youtube, shop homepages...
Some people spent more time looking after guitars instead of playing them.
And most of our heros in our favourite bands became famous with owing just one or two guitars. Their collection came later with the millions they made.
I bought my first guitar in 1965--a Silvertone--and it was the only guitar I had purchased for 50 years. My brother gave me a Yamaha dreadnought for those non-amp times. Fast forward 50 years and I pondered what a Good guitar would be like. So I bought a Gretsch Semi-hollow--mix of the two. It didn't do all I wanted so I went through the cycle--strat, tele, Les, etc, etc, and in 18 months there were 15--I gave three away to new players. Feel and sound attract me to each and my favorite is usually the one I am playing at the time. I've often pondered which I would keep if I could only have one. I've yet to come up with the answer--except to say they one I am playing at the moment--until the next time. For some odd reason, my cheapest guitars are still my most played. Monoprice, Harley Benton, Wolf. But then again, I also have drums and a keyboard--so distraction is quite available--but enjoyment, never-ending. And that, my friend, is what it is all about for me. Loving to play music in any of its forms for my own entertainment. I started playing in the 60s and I am now I my sixties. Fitting. Rock On!
i think WILLIE NELSON still plays his original guitar
Trigger is his old nylon classical electric from Martin. I'm sure he has a few more at home.
No just the one
I started in '68 with a semihollow Crown made by Teisco, which I sold to buy a Gibson '63 SG. I sold that to buy a '71 ES-335. That was stolen and I replaced it with a '72 ES-335 which I modified with a coil split. I bought a beat up '65 Melody Maker for a backup, but I never use it. It might be nice to have an acoustic, but I'm quite happy with an ES-335. However, I am building low-Z pickups and designing a tube preamp with low-Z input.
we're all to addicted to gear. It's a cultural obsession with guitarists and bassist. It doesn't help with creativity or originality. Guitars are tools.
Like a hammer, saw, screwdriver?
guitars inspire people to create
not exactly like a hammer, saw, screwdriver
that would be picks or strings
guitars are more like pro power tools
Oh sure. I can have a 12 string acoustic and shred like Joe Satriani with it. I just have to change my picks or strings. You must be new at this.
I rotate between a Gretsch 6120SHTTV, Sadowsky R1 and Alumisonic Custom Classic Alloy at church. I either use a Caparison Horus HGS or a 7-string fanfret at home, depending on the song I'm playing/learning. If bass counts as a guitar, I use my Bacchus DX4E at church. I also have a Lowden F25C acoustic, which I use for fingerstyle stuff.
So basically it's impossible for me to have 1 guitar only, but I would be happy to have one "amp" only; it would be an AX8.
Just get 1 really good guitar and really learn to play it.
You can get a lot of different sounds out it. That makes a real good guitar player!
But on the other hand you ned a backup guitar. And every guitarist should own an acoustic. So i would say you need 3! I got 4 and I really start to switch around too much instead of just playing them.
Yes. I have owned only one guitar for the past seven years. It's a Carvin CL-450 and I play it both clean with the preamp set to a warm tone and through an overdrive with the preamp set to amplify the midtones.
Back before the turn of the century I had several guitars: a Washburn Raven, a Peavy T-60, a Mosrite double neck, a Fender Telecaster, an Ibanez MC500 and a 1975 Les Paul Custom which was for a very long time my favorite. I also had a really bad Korean guitar that I used as a breadboard for experimenting with different preamp and effects circuits. I sold 'em all (except the Korean guitar, I gave that to my brother-in-law) and work with a pure acoustic classical guitar for the next 10 years and then traded up to the CL-450 and haven't looked back since.
impossible. i have 4 electric, 1 accoustic and a bass.
Same numbers, but the other way round. I have four basses, one acoustic and one electric guitar.
I am a one guitar and one amp guy. I have had the same JCM 800 forever. I changed to a 2X12 Mesa cab about fifteen years ago. I played Ibanez "strat's" for years finding them troublesome as far as sound was concerned but very playable. After about twenty years ago I got an 81 Ibanez Artist with the push pull pot in the neck position and found it better overall for getting through the mix although not as beautiful when played alone. The Artist became my main guitar until a friend in another band in San Francisco had a stroke and had to sell off his equipment so I got his 78 Les Paul Standard. I love this guitar. It is both beautiful alone and cuts well. I have always been a one guitar kinda guy. I do keep one however for string breakage so now its the Gibson for main and Artist for backup. At first I found the Gibson neck to narrow but I got used to it pretty quick. Its not as fast as the Artist but is just so much richer tonewise that I really don't hardly play the artist much at all. I have always had an acoustic as well, generally going for the 000-15.
I was happy with one guitar for over 2 decades, then I got happier.
Ive been playing for 11 years and Ive only owned one guitar(besides a bass). Its a Vintage Hamer Custom that was given to me and its a versatile weapon. itll do it all. from metal, to rock, to jazz, to blues itll do it and sound great doing that. ive formed a strong bond with this guitar. it just fits into my hands perfectly and as for right now, I won't be buying any other guitar. No other guitar feels right that I've played so far. i mainly play blues
SHURE ALL OUR HEROS HAD A GOOD GUITAR PRETTY EARLY IN THEIR CAREER BUT THEY CARED ABOUT MAKING MUSIC IN THE FIRST PLACE!!! THEIR LINE OF GUITARS CAME WITH THE MILLIONS THEY MADE.
EVERYTHING IS GOING IN THE WRON DIRECTION THESE DAYS. WE CARE ABOUT OWNING DIFFERENT GUITARS, AMPS AND COUNTLESS EFFECTS. THERE ARE MORE VARIATIONS OF ANY MODELL LIKE LES PAUL, A STRAT, NOW THEN IT HAD BEEN BACK THEN WHEN THEY MADE ALL THOSE LEGENDARY RECORDS. WE STILL LISTEN TODAY BECAUSE WE SPEND OUR TIME ON RUclips COMPARING GUITARS AND MINIMAL DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT INSTEAD OF JUST PLAYING IT AND CREATING NEW MUSIK.
ON TOP OF THAT NEARLY EVERY GUITARIST IS PRIMALY KNOWN FOR ONE KIND OF A GUITAR OR A SOUND.
tAKE:
HENDRIX - STRAT
SCOTTY MOORE - GIBSON HOLLOWBODY
ANGUS YOUNG - SG
SLASH - LES PAUL
KEITH RICHARDS - TELE
CUCK BERRY - 335...
AND WE THINK WE NEED ALL OF THESE GUITARS BEFORE WE ARE EVEN READY TO START TRYING TO MAKE MUSIK...
Excellent point Adrian I think these dickheads have lost sight about what a guitar is for, that is creating music not collecting them like 'matchbox dinkies'
I have a 2001 73 reissue mex strat l sold all my guitars (Squier and Epiphone)and two amps (crate and fender ) for it- has Dimarzio
Vintage Outputs- sold my parlor Yamaha acoustic too- only for about a year have l had one guitar- but it's still rare- and l love my one guitar more than all the others- (7)
THERE IS A GUY CALLED SLASH WHO RECORDED A WHOLE ALBUM CALLED APPETITE FOR DISTRUCTION ON A FAKE GIBSON LES PAUL STANDARD 59. NOW I`M SURE HE HAS OVER 100 LES PAULS BUT DID HE EVER RECORDED SOMETHING THAT GOOD AGAIN?
Mzzy1979 His guitar was built by a highly skilled luthier so his les Paul replica was better made than a standard gibson off their production line.
Callum Hastie yes but it was 1 guitar!
NO
It was not just one guitar. He used a 1960 SG on My Michelle, and is also credited for playing acoustic guitar on the album.
So no, that legend is fake.
The only other guitar Slash used on Appetite that made the final
mix, Clink says, was a borrowed Gibson SG - the same one that ended up
through the van windshield - which can be heard on the dark, drug-laced
tune "My Michelle." Clink says the SG "was going to be the sound of the
record," and that guitar, a horned model favored by rock greats such as
AC/DC's Angus Young, "would have been, if Alan had not brought that Les
Paul in."
SO HE DID NOT EVEN HAD ONE GUITAR WHEN THEY STARTED RECORDING HE TRADED
IT FOR SMACK!!! YOU´RE RIGHT 2 GUITARS BY COINCIDENCE!!!............
I digress. I had a Gibson ES-335. But after I got a Godin DS-1 which is a high end Les Paul copy, I find I can replicate some of the tones from a Gibson ES-335. Since the DS-1 is sleek and more comfortable to hold and play and to me can certainly come close to a 335's tones, I sold my Gibson ES-335. And I only have one acoustic guitar in my collection.
gear is something "former young guys" get into when their bank accounts exceed their passion for music (about middle age). It is a void filler, a passion simulacrum to get you through with something you would pretty much abandon if you weren't buying something shiny and pretty. Also it is not accident that group think comes into things like this, with the "gear nuts" all falling in love with and tracking down the same set of pieces in a "this is what everyone likes so i will like it" chase for certain les pauls, strats etc. Chasing tone replaces the love of music- what made the guitar gods so great 40-50 years ago is they were limited, they overcame those limitations (and not, of course, by accident; those limitations are what is desired as the perfect tone/gear today. I always loved the expression "LESS EBAY AND MORE MEL BAY", but for many, with low interest rates on credit cards and cash back/travel points aplenty, those days are long gone.
If you're a recovering GAS-a-holic, then OK, I get the fervour; but the venom is a little over the top and - at least in my case - w-a-y off base. YOUR view is so extremely pointy it would seem to indicate you've made a decision in 1970 and will continue to flog it to death, regardless of the facts; e.g. "...those limitations are what is desired as the perfect tone/gear today." Uh-uh... survey says "no". Else... you're saying nobody wants a JEM, or an EVH, PRS, Fly... the list goes on? No one wants a Suhr, a Jag, a Mustang or Melody Maker? Charvel, Steinberger headless, nor banjos, mandolins, or uke's?
I'm so sorry the folks at the home mock your Mosrite copy (and they shouldn't) but don't try to 'expose' my 'issues' before coming to terms with your own; or better still, just chill dude :-)
pied a' terre I hear you. I am playing more and obsessing about gear less. I don't like pedals so that helps lol
I would like to have only one guitar, but I am gigging player and a backup guitar is a must have. So I have 2 electrics and 2 acoustics. Someday when the gigs stop, I may just keep my #1 guitar ...a Gretsch hollowbody...and part with the rest.
You should be attached to a guitar emotionally and love it . Nothing can then tempt you not even better guitars
Vivek Dahal Yeah, but what if you have 8, and you’re attached to them all? All my guitars have their own story to tell. If you’re happy with just one, and truly love it, that’s great, and very special. I tried it for 10 years with my Gibson Les Paul, Limited Edition, but something was missing, so that’s when I got a really nice expensive Stratocaster. That just started the Domino effect as I call it, so now I own 8, and I love each one of them!
so yea, i think it’s possible but it comes with time. it takes trying different things to know what works with you and what you can get the most with. to me, my ultimate utility guitar would have to have a tremolo, a piezo for acoustic sounds, and pickups that sound great in humbucker and coil split sounds. i’ve modded two guitars over the years, a 70s lawsuit LP and a PRS SE custom 24 to those specs with upgraded pickups and graphtech ghost systems. i could definitely do with just one though but sentimentally i would never part with them. with the processing power in modelers today it’s possible to get the best of acoustic and electric sounds at the same time. now i did that on guitars that are more affordable but i think off the rack, the best guitars to pick if you only had one that covers the most tones are the PRS P24 and a JP15. that being said i do have a few more guitars in the fender family but if i had to get the job done on one guitar only i could.
If you aint good on a 335 you won´t be good on a SG or a Les Paul, Strat, Tele... either!
If you aint good on a SG you won´t be good on a 335 or a Les Paul, Strat, Tele...either!
If you aint good on a Les Paul you won´t be good on a 335 or a SG, Strat, Tele... either!
If you aint good on a Strat you won´t be good on a 335 or a SG, Les Paul, Tele... either!
If you aint good on a Tele you won´t be good on a Strat or a 335, SG, Les Paul... either!
Simple as that
LOL..true, but you can absolutely stink on all of them...and still love every one of them.
Over the Years I tested them all. Since 15 Years I own and play only my 1968 SG junior. It is the best Guitar for me. Super light, super look and feel, super tone. And I have a Parlor Acoustic. That's it.
I prefer to have one metal guitar, one clean guitar and one acoustic guitar.
I have been using my epiphone les paul studio custom shop wine red since I was a beginner. I do own a 77 D-28 martin dreadnaught, a lx1-e with a fishman pickup in it, a fender fa-100 cheapo, and a squier jag vintage modified. That said I only go back to that first guitar. everything else doesn't play the same. It has been through like 7 setups and techs and has all of the positives from each of those people.
"Lots of people own just one guitar." -Yeah, there are a lots of weirdos out there.
I had a Maton acoustic/electric cutaway for 15 years until I added an early 80s model, nicely set up Squier strat. Ten further years passed and I bought some Squier parts of various years, scalloped the neck and put in big pots to make my own Blackmore special just a year ago. This year I've bought 2 more - a PRS Mark Tremonti special and then a beautifully set up used Schecter Tele style guitar.
So I had one acoustic/electric for 15 years, added a strat 10 years later and since then added 3 more guitars in the past 12 months. All sound and feel different and I love them all. Having said that, I've only spent a total of $2500 over those 26 years.
* Minimum of one decent acoustic and one well set up electric needed IMO and get more if you can once you reach retirement age and have time to play more
Owning one guitar is like owning one screwdriver.
I play 3...A Fender American Strat, a 1991 Gibson Explorer with Seth Lover pickups and a Michael Kelly Les Paul copy.
The reason I hold on to a guitar is because I find music in it. I borrowed a copy of Telecasters from a friend of mine a few years ago and I never wrote an original composition on them. I don’t know what it is, but the Telecasters and I just don’t seem to jive. I can write a song every time I pick up my Strat (whether or not it’s a GOOD song may be a different discussion). My Les Paul copy is used almost as an acoustic because I keep it by my bed, but I find quality riffs on it from time to time. The Gibson Explorer can sonically sit between songs written on the Strat and the Les Paul body due to the Seymour-Duncan Seth Lover pickups. I also find that I wrote a lot of music on it.
I’m gearing up for the acquisition of a Gretsch Pro Jet in the near future.
If I had to pick one to play forever...I think the Strat would be it. It just scratches me where I itch. Oh...and a Vox AC-30 amplifier!
What you are looking for is a unicorn guitar player. I also would be beyond shocked if someone truly came forward who has been playing 5+ years and only plays one guitar.
I own one guitar ...I bought the cheapest guitar in the store for 150.00 because that was all the money I had...
It's an Epiphone DR100WR..I've been playing it for 5 years and absolutely love it....I love RHYTHM and my guitar
Is loud and boisterous and does exactly what I want...If my economic circumstances ever change..I might buy another one but
right now I'm very happy playing 2 hours a day.....
GUITARS and GUN'S , Just one isn't gonna cut it.
Swords and Knives qualify too...
Nobody ever robbed a gun shop with a guitar
Shit. If Slash walked into a Gun Store in Nashville with an Ibanez, and caused some confusion, Im sure you could at least slip out the back with something.
I know the feeling.
My Friend plays a Yamaha RGX612s about 30 Years. His first good Guitar. It works for him.
got a strat. had it for 4 years had a few others but sold them as i only played the strat. have played lots of guitars but i never have owned any other. its an extension of me. i know it inside and out. its been modded, almost nothing is original, and its gone through many pickups to get the sound i want. when playing i know everything about it and i dont even have to think about it. 3 weeks ago i finally gave in and got an acoustic, and a beautiful semi hollow. at the end of the day, ive played lots and often, but are they are my mates and are usually to jam. ive been close to getting others many a time but ive only given in now due to two beautiful tings from friends being sold that ive played and fallen in love.
the important thing is that the guitar gives me whatever i want, due to having beautiful amps and great pedals. its a very minimalistic thing and i recommend everyone to just play one guitar for a month, no others. you will find you understand the guitar, and start to learn how to get tones and sounds you would usually use another guitar for. you may discover the guitar isnt versatile but majority are more versatile than you think
I think I could be. Over the years, I've owned quite a few guitars but theres only one that I still own and always keep going back to. I compare all other guitars to it that I play and I don't think I could ever sell it. My Gibson SG Standard. I've owned it for about 6 years or so now. However, I own 3 guitars currently. One of them being my first ever guitar, a Squier Strat that I just couldnt get rid of as A) No one would really want it/buy it and B) it's really sentimental to me. The other is a cheap Squier Mustang I got not long ago for a backup/fun guitar. I don't really mind if it gets dinked or stickers placed over it.
Over the years, I've played Fender Strats, owned a Fender Tele, a Squier Jaguar and recently an Epiphone Les Paul Custom Pro and I've just ended up preferring my SG. I'm not making a case that it's the best guitar in the world and that all others suck, it's just *my* guitar and I just don't think I'd be happier with any other guitar. So if it came down to it, I think I could probably only have the SG and be happy. I'd be bummed about my first Strat as it's just a relic and sentimental, but thats about it. It's not perfect, if I could design a guitar, there are a couple things I'd add or change i.e I'd probably want to install some coil taps and probably sand down the sticky neck, block inlays and a thinner neck, but it's just *my* guitar.