The Holy Grail?

[MrDB]

I guess for most of us the Holy Grail begins with one of the higher end models of the more mass produced makers. Martin/Taylor/Gibson/Lowden/Yairi/Maton/Yamaha etc.

Then moves from there to the smaller batch makers Collings/SCGC/Boucher/Froggy/Huss&Dalton etc

Then finally to the handmade luthiers Merrill/Ryan/Thompson/Greven/Olson etc

I own a 40 series Martin. It's a wonderful guitar. Admittedly I've never played or even seen a Collings, or SCGC, or any of the hand made luthier brands.

So Holy Grail is usually confined to what you can see/play/hear.

[rstaight]

The Holy Grail for me is a Gibson Dove. I have longed for one since I was 14 or 15 years old.

I am retiring the end of March. Maybe I can convince my wife to allow me to by myself a retirement gift. Then I would be set for acoustic guitars.

[Robin, Wales]

The holy grail would have been the cup of a carpenter. Mass produced and probably purchased from the equivalent of the local hardware store. Just a standard cheap household item.

So my holy grail guitars are my two cheap second hand, mass produced, plywood boxes from the Godin brands. I love those guitars, they are total workhorse instruments. Just the sort of thing that would have been leaning against the wall to be picked up for a sing along at the end of the last supper!

[s2y]

Why do guitar/bass forums spend so much time shaming people for enjoying gear so much? There are some phenomenal builders out there who make guitars that sound great and play so easily that conventional limits seem to vanish. I feel zero shame for owning gear that exceeds my ability.

[Zissou Intern]

Our various philosophical responses. Did I miss any?

1. There is no such thing as a Grail, as it is in your skillset and musicianship, not your instrument.

2. There is no such thing as a Grail. It does not, and in fact, cannot exist.

3. I own my Grail.

4. I own a variety of Grails.

5. I found my Grail(s) but don't own it/them.

6. Grail today, gone tomorrow.

[TBman]

I finally figured out that I actually have two "Holy Grail" guitars that I seek - and actually it's tone, not a specific brand.

The first is the tone of nylon:



The second is steel string with a lot of sustain (and reverb too)



So I'm there. I have both types and it's up to me to practice and make them sound their best.

[Guitars44me]

Originally Posted by Mandobart

To me there isn't one single end-all, be-all guitar because one guitar can't be an archtop AND a flattop AND a resonator AND a 12 string AND a 6 string AND a dread AND a 000.....

I crave the variety that can only come with multiple guitars. Any single guitar, no matter how great the tone, playability, fit and finish can't do everything I want to do.

Or Lap Slide, either!

Good point

Paul

[fazool]

I have two. One rare one is actually for sale right now....its passed through a couple AGF members already. Its almost a one-of-a-kind but I recognize the photos.

Problem is that the seller is asking $6K when these usually go for $4K. Its been for sale for a year, so unlikely to ever happen

[raysachs]

I don’t think there’s a single Holy Grail guitar that could never be equaled or bettered by some other guitar in existence.

BUT…

I DO believe there is/are guitar(s) that are great enough to just stop caring about what might be better and we just stop looking. I believe I’ve found those guitars for my wants / needs. I have two wooden Martins, one mahogany, one rosewood, and one carbon fiber guitar. I arrived at these after trying / owning a number of other guitars and figuring out what I really like. I also have a nice Strat, and that’s been all the electric guitar I’ve wanted for the past 45 years.

They’re all the guitars I want and they’re good enough that I’m done chasing “better”. “Better” may be out there, but these are so close to perfect for my playing and sound preferences that I’m just not interested in chasing “better”. If I found better, it wouldn’t be better ENOUGH to be worth all the time, money, and mental energy I’d spend looking for it / them. At this point, I’d rather put my time and energy into just playing and not comparing instruments. As they say, comparison is the death of joy, or at least terminal comparison is. A certain amount of comparison is needed to figure out what you really like. But beyond that, it becomes counterproductive.

So, maybe “holy grail” doesn’t exist, but holy grail-ish certainly does and I believe I’m there.

-Ray

[Lillis]

Originally Posted by rstaight

The Holy Grail for me is a Gibson Dove. I have longed for one since I was 14 or 15 years old.

I am retiring the end of March. Maybe I can convince my wife to allow me to by myself a retirement gift. Then I would be set for acoustic guitars.

I hope that pans out for you! As a recent first time Gibson owner I must admit they are special. At least mine are to me anyway.

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by L20A

The Holy Grail to me doesn't exist.
Why?

There are way too many Holy Grail Guitars out there to ever be able to choose "The One".

Many of us think they have found our Holy Grail only to later find another guitar that is better or just more desirable.

So do you believe that there is a Holy Grail for you that will never be equaled?

I've got a good start. A late 2009 serial # and this is early 2024.

The comfort, tone and responsiveness are honestly as great as any of many tried. Same for how versatile. It sparked selling others after I got it.

[TennesseeWalker]

somogyi andamento









should have bought it years ago when it was for sale - - - cheap

[Jamolay]

I am sure that is an amazing guitar, and the woodwork is impeccable, but way too busy for me. I find it ugly to the eye.

[s2y]

Originally Posted by Jamolay

I am sure that is an amazing guitar, and the woodwork is impeccable, but way too busy for me. I find it ugly to the eye.

Plus, I've read that those Yamaha acoustics sound just as good.

[doctone]

I will have found my holy grail when my my ears and fingers agree. The instrument is just a tool to achieve this.