One guitar or two? UPDATED: I decided

[taylorman22]

Originally asked about buying two guitars with the $2000-2200 budget or buy one? Was thinking a J-15 and a Martin MMV.

UPDATE: Ok, I think I’ve made a decision. I drove about 90 minutes today to a couple different Guitar Centers so i could play some J-45’s. It’s been 3-4 years since I played one. Nobody had a J-15.first played a 2017 J-45 Limited (clearance for $2350).. Really like it. Warm mellow sound. Played a D-18, D-28, and MMV after it and for the first time, I could really hear a huge difference. The Martins were louder and had more resonance and sustain, but sounded hollow...lacking the mids. Boomy bass and bright treble, but lacking mids. Sounded like my Taylor, only more bass.

Next, went to another GC and played a 2017 J-45 Standard and a 2016 Hummingbird. The J-45 was brighter than the limited and didn’t have the warmth of the limited, but sounded great. Admittedly, it did have dead strings on it, but I didnt have time to wait for them to change them. The Hummingbird probably sounded the best. It was loud and just had more of everything. However, it had newer strings and is a full dread body.

Long story short, I think I’ve decided to buy one good guitar and make sure it’s the right one. I really don’t need three. Really thinking about that J-45. Gotta 1) like the sound 2) like the feel, and 3) like the look. All three with the J-45, but not crazy about the look of the hummingbird. FWIW, the J-45 is on clearance for $1707 and the Hummingbird for $1699.

So

[ChrisE]

I did not read your post; I only read the title.

The answer is 2.

Just kidding. The answer is always "Get a D-18."

[Methos1979]

More is better and it's always nice to have extras. Though I've never played on personally I did see and hear a J-15 recently at an open mic and was really impressed with it's tone. Since you know the MMV's tone well and it get's you close to what you want that would seem the way to go. It's nice to have a little variety.

[Athens]

"8 kids" !?!?!?

When do you have time to play any guitars?

[madhat]

I like the idea of a D18 (dont rule out the 000-18) or J45.

Have fun!

madhat.

[smurph1]

Originally Posted by ChrisE

I did not read your post; I only read the title.

The answer is 2.

Just kidding. The answer is always "Get a D-18."

Yup..^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^This.

[JayBee1404]

Only two???

[Tone Gopher]

Originally Posted by taylorman22

I have 8 kids now and realistically, I'm not gonna be in a place to financially save up for another high end guitar.

Realistically, you are lucky to have one guitar. Realistically, you have already committed your income to your family.

[valleyguy]

The HD28 is a marvelous guitar. Better to have one good guitar than 2 less-good guitars, IMHO.

[Gordon Currie]

Tough question.

I would ask - is there a good reason for YOU to have 3 guitars? Do you know for a fact that you need all three to adequately cover the styles you want to play?

Are you a player? OR a collector? Or some of both?

In my teens I dreamed of having scores of guitars lining the walls. Once I started down that path, I found that I did not play most of the guitars. Although I once thought I wanted a blues guitar, an acoustic jazz guitar, a bluegrass guitar, a finger picking guitar, an open tuned guitar etc. I found that I'd rather incorporate styles than reproduce them 'faithfully' and I want to do as much as possible on one instrument.

I found for myself that I am a player foremost, and have little interest in switching between guitars. These days I own 'backup' guitars rather than 'different' guitars.

[taylorman22]

Originally Posted by Gordon Currie

Tough question.

I would ask - is there a good reason for YOU to have 3 guitars? Do you know for a fact that you need all three to adequately cover the styles you want to play?

Are you a player? OR a collector? Or some of both?

In my teens I dreamed of having scores of guitars lining the walls. Once I started down that path, I found that I did not play most of the guitars. Although I once thought I wanted a blues guitar, an acoustic jazz guitar, a bluegrass guitar, a finger picking guitar, an open tuned guitar etc. I found that I'd rather incorporate styles than reproduce them 'faithfully' and I want to do as much as possible on one instrument.

I found for myself that I am a player foremost, and have little interest in switching between guitars. These days I own 'backup' guitars rather than 'different' guitars.

Good questions. I've only had one guitar for a long time, but I'm wanting to add some variety. I could see myself using a couple different guitars based on which one I feel like playing that day I am needing a second guitar tho that I can keep in my office during the week and use for the small group times. That's what I was thinking about using the MMV for. It's a nice, full, loud guitar that would work great unplugged. The Taylor works great with a band because it cuts, but the Martin and/or Gibson would be nice acoustically and during the week, but could use them on Sundays too.

Also, depending on what we're doing for service too, if we're using a full team, I'd lean more towards the Taylor, for the reason stated above, but if just using acoustic and some singers, a guitar that is a little more full might be nice. So, I don't NEED 3 guitars, but I really could use at least two, so looking to buy at least one right now.

[taylorman22]

Originally Posted by Tone Gopher

Realistically, you are lucky to have one guitar. Realistically, you have already committed your income to your family.

LOL! Yes, I am blessed to have what I do. I have to be very strategic with it tho because I don't have funds to add to it. It's not often I have 2k to spend on a guitar, so I need to find a good deal and buy something that, if taken care of, I could get the majority of my money back out of it to buy something different.

[grinningbanjo53]

You can get a new martin d-18, 000-18, d-28 etc if you talk to the right dealers.

[Jabberwocky]

Errr, 8 kids?

I vote for a vasectomy...

PS Hope you have a sense of ribald humour. I apologise if you take offence. But it is not a bad suggestion. Now, stop popping those blue pills.

[Goodallboy]

Rather than just throw out guitar models, my advice has worked for me.

My goal has always been to own a great guitar, not a few good ones. I approached it like buying a home. Usually young couples start modestly and build up. I traded Martins, Gibsons, Goodalls and others on my way to owning a great instrument.

Sure, like with a home purchase, I had to be able to afford to step up in quality but it was far easier than if I had owned 10 mediocre guitars.

So today, I can walk in and play all the Froggy's, Goodalls, and Collings I wish to try and know that I have a "better" guitar at home. That's what I worked toward.