Why more than one electric?

[The Growler]

Originally Posted by imwjl

Thanks.

I think it pretty much leaves me done buying guitars for life.

That says a lot!

[ewalling]

One thing that's interesting about this discussion is that, in the main, the electrics that people seem to be drooling over are stock Fender and Gibson models rather than boutique and/or handcrafted instruments. I do not think the Martin/Gibson/Taylor acoustic equivalents of these guitars would generate quite so much enthusiasm.

[tc rocker]

I have 7 different electric guitars and basses. They're all different tones with different pickups. I have a les paul with humbuckers . An SG with P90's. A fender strat. A Ricky 12 string. A fender 5 string " p" bass. A pedulla 5 fretless. A Ricky 8 string bass. And getting a custom acoustic made for me.
Like my dad used to hound me " You can only play one at a time ". But they all sound different...
Ya wouldn't use just a putter on a golf course?????

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by ewalling

One thing that's interesting about this discussion is that, in the main, the electrics that people seem to be drooling over are stock Fender and Gibson models rather than boutique and/or handcrafted instruments. I do not think the Martin/Gibson/Taylor acoustic equivalents of these guitars would generate quite so much enthusiasm.

My thoughts or insights here are on the construction type. Many great electrics are simple in their construction compared to others. I think of owning bolt on Fenders, a carved hollow, and semi-hollow. Once at quality pickups, fretwork, good setup, and good dimensions they are generally great instruments. Then add how much the amp counts for a great experience with electric guitars.

The D-28 and others sure get a lot of discussion and passion.

[alnico5]

*See companion thread- Why more than one golf club?

[WannabeWillie]

Originally Posted by Slow mo bro

I know this is a forum for acoustics but we have quite a few crossovers. Do the electric crowd over here accumulate as many electrics as acoustics? If so why. I understand maybe a Strat, Les Paul, maybe a PRS....but don't they pretty much produce all the same sound? Does the sound more depend on the pedals you have?

I have more electric guitars than acoustics at the moment.

The two guitars I play the most are both "Partscasters," i.e. home-assembled, Telecaster shaped objects that I put together from parts and finished the bodies on. They both use the same parts matrix. The only difference is body color -I did the first one in three-tone sunburst, the second in a light stain with clear poly on it. Theoretically, they're as exactly the same as I could make them, but they don't sound the same. Close, yes.. Similar, yes... But the same? Nope.

I don't normally use pedals, either. I use some directional Planet Waves cables that provide a hint of compression on the signal going in to the amp, and a little reverb on the amp, and that's about it.

I pick them with the bare thumb, index, and middle finger of my picking hand. All four of them -my two Tele Shaped Object clones, my G&L Legacy, and my Epiphone Dot Studio all sound different when played through the same amp at the same amp EQ settings.

[DesolationAngel]

Originally Posted by ewalling

One thing that's interesting about this discussion is that, in the main, the electrics that people seem to be drooling over are stock Fender and Gibson models rather than boutique and/or handcrafted instruments. I do not think the Martin/Gibson/Taylor acoustic equivalents of these guitars would generate quite so much enthusiasm.

I think one of the big differences is that if you say 'D-28', you pretty much mean a rosewood/spruce dread (with some construction variances here and there). If you say 'Strat'... well, which Strat? There are 182 models of Strat currently showing on the Fender website. There are 100 Les Paul models showing on Gibson. In contrast there are 11 'active' D-28's on the Martin website. So I think 'stock' is a more slippery concept in the electric world.

I think another thing, for me, is that difference between a stock acoustic and a 'boutique' acoustic is bigger than the difference between similar electrics. I just got a Gibson LP Jr Special. I hemmed and hawed between that and a Collings 290. They both look very similar but the Collings is $3k the Gibson is a little over $1k. Is the Collings nicer? Gosh, yes. Is it two grand nicer? To me? Gosh, I don't believe it is. I could invest a couple hundred bucks and put the Lollar P-90's in my Gibson (same as the Collings) and it would be even closer and still be less than half the price of the Collings.

Have I ever seen 'boutique' electrics worth drooling over? Heck yes. I'm still haunted by the stunning $7k Sugi that I played in Germany last year... I love Fano guitars... Nash... Keith Holland makes exquisite Strat and Tele style instruments in Los Gatos, CA, at very good prices too. There are many great boutique electric makers.

[Don W]

Many people have asked me "Why do you need more than one guitar?" My answer is "I don't "need" them...I want them". There is nothing more beautiful than a shiney new guitar...electric or acoustic...I love guitars and guitar music too.

[rrgguitarman]

Originally Posted by Don W

Many people have asked me "Why do you need more than one guitar?" My answer is "I don't "need" them...I want them". There is nothing more beautiful than a shiney new guitar...electric or acoustic...I love guitars and guitar music too.

That really sums it all up.

[sausgirl]

WHY MORE THAN ONE ELECTRIC? I guess one could ask,why more than one acoustic?
Nuff said,
Jan

[HillTone]

Originally Posted by Gypsyblue

To me, acoustic guitars sound more alike than electric guitars.

My Taylor 710B is a dreadnaught and my Taylor 512 is more of an OM but really, they sound more similar than my Stratocaster and my ES335 do.

I have four acoustic guitars and almost a dozen electric guitars if I include my lap steels.

And quite a few Fender and Gibson amps from the 50's and 60's. Each one has its own sound, as do the different speakers in each of them.

I just love guitars and guitar music... ...whether electric or acoustic.

What he said.

[Vognell]

Strat type
Tele type
Les Paul Type
335 Type.

Just trying to have a makeshift set.

Gibson Corvus just to be weird.

[rrgguitarman]

Originally Posted by Vognell

Strat type
Tele type
Les Paul Type
335 Type.

Just trying to have a makeshift set.

Gibson Corvus just to be weird.

Since you put it that way, you have to include the Jaguar.

[Texsunburst59]

I became REALLY obsexed with guitars about 7 yrs. ago. I had just stopped gigging after 28 yrs., and I needed some hobby to fill the void left by not playing anymore.

I became a pawnshop *hore , and decided my new hobby would be to find ANY and ALL electric, acoustic, and basses I could find for dirt cheap.

It's taken me years to find all the right local buyers and sellers,and to get to know all the pawnshops owners and mgrs.

It's finally started to pay dividend the last few years. I now get called or texted from some pawnshops with guitars that will be coming out on the floor.

A few of the shops let me go to the back of the store and look through all the stuff that's getting ready to be put out on the floor.

I've bought stuff from most of the ones that alert me to deals, so the keep me in the loop on all their guitars.

I am now up to 40 electric and acoustic guitars, and 2 basses.

This is why I have more than 1 electric. I've scored all of these electrics and acoustics in the last 4 months.


($825) '08 Gibson Vintage Sunburst LP Standard plus w/OHSC

($270) '03 Taylor 515-CE Jumbo Custom w/ ES1 & OHSC

($180) '78 Hamer Black Crowned and Bound Sunburst

($675) '00 Gibson SG Midnight Burst Supreme Custom w/ OHSC

($500) '11 Fender Blonde 60th Annv. Tele w/OHSC (Traded for '75 Strat)

(Trade) '75 Fender Mocha Strat w/ 70's Fender Case

($625) '12 Fender Candy Cola Am. Standard w/ Tweed case & $500 upgrades

($646) '05 Taylor 414-CE L10 Fall Limited w/ ES1 & OHSC

($400) '05 Larrivee D-03R w/ Fishman Matrix Infinity & Flight case

[The Growler]

^^^^ Wow. Quite a score on that Taylor jumbo.

I'd have jumped all over that. Congrats!