I'm not A/B/C/D/E'ing my guitars anymore

[Prof_Stack]

Good thoughts stated.

I have 6 guitars now. I keep one in the den and another in the bedroom, both on stands. Each day I play both of them and after a day or three put one in its case in the closet and bring out another.

Each guitar gets loved and sings out in response in its best voice.

[1Charlie]

I am attempting to downsize, so the A/B ritual is a necessary evil in the winnowing of a collection to better fit my guitar needs in my retirement years.

The problem arises when you only have good stuff left. It makes the A/B process more painful and less definitive. One day, it is A in the "sell" pile. Next day, it is B.

I have decided on the following guidelines:

1. No matter how great it sounds, if the guitar does not "fit" (right nut size, right neck shape, right scale length), it has to go.

2. If it fits, but sounds too much like another guitar that is clearly superior, it has to go.

3. If you have five variations on the same theme (spruce/mahogany for me), then pick the two you like best and the rest have to go.

4. If you do not routinely play the guitar, it has to go, no matter how cool it is.

My goal is to be down from 14 guitars currently to five guitars this time next year.

- A spruce/rosewood square-shouldered dread
- A spruce/mahogany slope-shouldered jumbo
- A 14-fret spruce/mahogany 00 or 000
- A 12-fret all-mahogany 00
- A fully-carved spruce/maple archtop

[oldwasichu]

I'm getting deeper into the alphabet these days. Still a fun process though. Since retiring at the end of August, I can finally use them all more frequently. It's taken a long, long time to get to this point. One day, we plan to leave Illinois for good and split time between Alabama and Wyoming. Managing the humidity or lack thereof will likely prompt me to thin the herd a bit. But, until such time...

[bufflehead]

Originally Posted by roylor4

All 4 of my acoustics sound, feel and play differently. Each has their own strengths. I like it that way.

Same here. But I enjoy experiencing how each guitar articulates a piece of music differently. The Beatles medley sounds better on one guitar while the Christmas carols are a better fit on another.

[DukeX]

Yes, celebrate guitar diversity.

That's why I have four very different acoustics.

[rpguitar]

Originally Posted by 1Charlie

I have decided on the following guidelines:

I wish this forum had a "Like" button, because I would click it. From 14 down to 5, you have it easy... I'm hoping to reduce to a similar ratio, but starting with 3x as many. I like your guidelines though!

This being said, I may end up keeping all the great ones, even if they show redundancy or if one is clearly the best. I have some very average guitars and even good-but-mundane ones that are easily part of the future sale lot.

The solid carved acoustic archtops in my stable are a challenge. I have acoustic L-5 models from 1928, 1947, and 1972 plus a 1947 Super 400. Choosing which to forfeit is kind of like deciding which of Charlie's Angels to kick out of bed. I mean, we all have our preferences, but why would one do that?!

[zhunter]

Originally Posted by 1Charlie

I am attempting to downsize, so the A/B ritual is a necessary evil in the winnowing of a collection to better fit my guitar needs in my retirement years.

The problem arises when you only have good stuff left. It makes the A/B process more painful and less definitive. One day, it is A in the "sell" pile. Next day, it is B.

I have decided on the following guidelines:

1. No matter how great it sounds, if the guitar does not "fit" (right nut size, right neck shape, right scale length), it has to go.

2. If it fits, but sounds too much like another guitar that is clearly superior, it has to go.

3. If you have five variations on the same theme (spruce/mahogany for me), then pick the two you like best and the rest have to go.

4. If you do not routinely play the guitar, it has to go, no matter how cool it is.

If they are close enough to A/B, they are probably close enough it doesn't matter. And results are subject to whim and mood for the day.

hunter

[L20A]

Comparing guitars is very natural.
We seek to find the best sounding guitars that we can afford.

I have bought and sold over 12 guitars over the years.
I have 2 that have been keepers sense 1981.

The others were good guitars but I always found one that I liked more.
So if you don't want to keep buying and selling, don't A/B.
"Love the one you're with."

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by PorkPieGuy

I don't think it's a bad idea to A/B any instrument; however, I think that your mindset needs to be to focus on the strengths of each guitar as opposed to their negatives and to recognize that each guitar serves a specific purpose.

Bingo...we have a winner! At least in my book.
I play whichever one suits a song best to my own ears.

[Cams]

I keep different guitars in different rooms on wall hangers. I play the one in the room that I'm in. I have two gigging guitars and it depends if it's solo or band. Solo I use one, band I use another. There's one I don't love and three I do. It's a work in progress.

[Lesbark Wagmore]

Originally Posted by Haasome

. . . it’s fun to make music; and it’s not fun to play notes analyzing what we think we’re hearing.

I like this.

[jpd]

Gaaaaah! If it fits, play it

[Pura Vida]

I used to A/B a lot more, when I was still trying to figure out what I liked and didn't like. Well, it seems I determined that I like more than I don't, as my guitar collection has grown over the years. Today, I usually play two guitars in a sitting, and occasionally, I'll A/B them with the same song when I make the switch (depends on the guitars I'm playing).