The next time you think about buying an expensive guitar

[Ovation1]

Originally Posted by Duh

The next time you think about buying an expensive guitar watch this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kib4VkkynEw

That’s not a guitar..

[Bax Burgess]

The kid is great/fabulous/all that. I may as well be inspired by him when I'm buying an expensive guitar. Appreciate the tip, Duh.

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by Ovation1

That’s not a guitar..

Best post of the night.

[Duh]

Originally Posted by SprintBob

This kind of thread can be viewed as an OP wanting to make a serious point or just having some fun. Keep it nice folks without getting your feathers ruffled one way or the other.

Thanks SprintBob for getting the point. I meant it for humor, but the thread can be interpreted in a variety of ways so I enjoyed the responses from people who took it seriously.

[Duh]

Originally Posted by edward993

Age-old saw.

There may be a few of those who actually believe that higher-dollar gear translates to better sound, but I've truly not met many over the decades.

Let's ignore for a moment those who are new to playing who often succumb to the allure of "better" gear. Barring them, every player I've ever met who knows how to play even just "decently well" knows its all about their chops, and not the instrument. That's the reality I've come across over and over again.

So those who acquire "expensive" guitars (relative term for everyone, we all agree) are shamed and just deluding themselves when a talented kid comes around to blow us into the weeds with mad skills? No! We buy the "nicer" guitars because they feel good, sound good, and overall they touch something inside us that make us want to play! Intangibles, but very real.

FWIW, I've come across more than one really talented kid over the yeeeaaars. I don't want to diminish their talent one iota: they work hard at it, and many can sound great. But guess what I've learned over these decades: they work hard and sound great because they are kids who by definition do not have adult lives, replete with adult responsibilities, all of which make going to the woodshed a tougher thing for us who have a day job but equal passion for music.

Rock on, kids! It's awesome! Now keep playing if you re so inclined to do so. Truly good musicianship is a marathon, not a 100m dash. And variety, not just one song played uber-well to impress those pesky adults who think their pricey guit is worth it.

Let's face it: there is room to laud the kid with mad skills while simultaneously enjoying the nice gear many of us took years to acquire and --dare I say-- feel we've earned

Edward

Thoughtful response.

[Duh]

Originally Posted by Charmed Life Picks

I hate that kid.

My favorite response. Just plain funny.

[gitarro]

I am afraid that you have misunderstood me.

No one doubts the superior skill of that musician who is not only better than me but he is better at the ukulele than 99 per cent of the members of agf are on guitar.

I am highlighting that great skill by the musician is a totally different quality than the tone of the Instrument itself. The same musician should sound better on a better instrument just as the same world class 100 meter sprinter can run faster with better shoes or the same world class cyclist can cycle faster with a lighter and more aerodynamic bicycle and apparel.

Is that more understandable to you?

Originally Posted by BT55

For all of you complaining about the tone of his 4 string or all of the hours he’s practiced I challenge you to post your own Tommy Emmanuel inspired version of Classical Gas with your best guitar so we can listen to a side by side comparison.

[gitarro]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=i4sU0zXbLlM

Here is Classical Gas played on a ukulele But by a different musician. This arrangrment is more melodic and Less virtuosic. On the other hand if you separate the skill of the musician from the instruments inherent tone, The Ukulele that is used on this video seems to sound better.

[fazool]

Good players can sound good on mediocre instruments.

They can sound even better on fantastic instruments.

That's why incredible and famous musicians don't play Walmart guitars.

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by gitarro

On the other hand if you separate the skill of the musician from the instruments inherent tone, The Ukulele that is used on this video seems to sound better.

You really can't make an accurate assessment of the tone of two instruments recorded in different rooms, using different microphones, going into different preamps, going into different recording systems. There are too many variables that are going to greatly change what you're hearing in those YouTube videos compared to the actual sound of those instruments.

[RobKay]

Some of the least talented players usually have the most expensive instruments

[Watt]

Originally Posted by RobKay

Some of the least talented players usually have the most expensive instruments

You have determined this how? And even if it were true, why would it matter? I can assure you that many of the most talented players, such as Julian Lage and Richard Smith, have some very expensive instruments. Not because the instruments make them better players, but because they enjoy how they feel, sound, look, etc. And, in that sense, they are not really any different from than your average putter.

[fngrpck]

Originally Posted by RobKay

Some of the least talented players usually have the most expensive instruments

h


Another symptom, another illness, Guitar Envy Syndrome...GES for short.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by RobKay

Some of the least talented players usually have the most expensive instruments

Well (except for abuse) just like dogs, they do not care who their human is

[raysachs]

Originally Posted by RobKay

Some of the least talented players usually have the most expensive instruments

In that case, I should be playing a $20,000 custom build instead of my $2000 off the rack!