At a crossroads

[Tycobb73]

I have 10 guitars, 3 accoustics, 6 electrics, and a godin a6 ultra. I also play keys. I'm working on a solo show where i play guitar and keys and sing.

I tried getting my electrics to sound good solo, but they just don't. I could play them clean with chorus, but with all those effects. So what's the point. I was hoping a little distortion would sound good.

Has anyone else downsized their electrics? I'm a metal head but love all forms of music and playing solo or duo shows is what's appealing to me now. It's just weird to me. I never even owned an acoustic up until a year ago. Now with keeping up on keys, accoustic, and vocals i just don't play electric much anymore.

So what say you? Can i make the electrics work? Anyone gone through this?

[guitar george]

My recommendation is to sell as much equipment and guitars as you can, to still continue playing keyboard and electric and acoustic guitars, and then use the money to pay down your credit card debt. You are probably paying a usurious rate of around 19% interest, or more, on that debt.

[BluesBelly]

I have always found that simple is best.
I was in your spot I would start from ground Zero looking for the sound I want for your new performance.
If you have existing gear that meets your specs and will be useful use that.
Purge the rest and fill in the spaces with new equipment that you need.
Don’t charge anymore on your Credit card than you can pay off in three monthly payments.
It seems that about every 10 years or so our tastes and interests change a bit.
It’s important to realize that life is short and change is inevitable.
Rise with the tide and roll with the flow.

Good Luck,
Blues

[rc3797]

As long as you aren’t the type to regret things that have any sentimental value to you, a gear purge with a clear end goal in mind can be a really exciting and refreshing thing. I’ve been in your spot before, and it might seem a little daunting at first, but once you’ve paired down to exactly what you feel you need to get the sounds and inspiration that will put you in a new/better creative headspace, it’s a great feeling. Plus, you’ll be able to pass on the things you aren’t using to someone who might get the same inspiration from them that you’re after, yourself. Good luck!

[Lillis]

I’m going to jump on the sell the electrics bandwagon. You could really buy a couple of beautiful acoustics for that money. Just make sure you narrow it down to your best choices.

[MrDB]

Keep a couple sell the rest. You never know a few years from now you might be back into electrics/band stuff.

[Chipotle]

Why don't you think the electrics sound good? I use one for my solo act all the time. Works quite well for various styles, including some jazzy numbers (nice and smooth reverb) and some country-ish songs that need a little twang (a bit of distortion for grit and a bit of slap-back delay). It's a case of the right "tool" for the job to get the sound you want.

Even if electric in your current show doesn't work for you, I wouldn't sell them all. Keep two or three you can play different styles on. You may change your mind down the road, or end up joining another group or doing a recording project that needs them.

[Tycobb73]

Originally Posted by Chipotle

Why don't you think the electrics sound good? I use one for my solo act all the time. Works quite well for various styles, including some jazzy numbers (nice and smooth reverb) and some country-ish songs that need a little twang (a bit of distortion for grit and a bit of slap-back delay). It's a case of the right "tool" for the job to get the sound you want.

Even if electric in your current show doesn't work for you, I wouldn't sell them all. Keep two or three you can play different styles on. You may change your mind down the road, or end up joining another group or doing a recording project that needs them.

I'm keeping my strat I had painted in a color my daughter picked out, taos turquoise, and my 66 starfire. The starfire has my favorite electric sound and is my wife's favorite looking guitar.

What is your signal chain like on the electric? I got it to sound good with a clean signal and chorus but that sound doesn't differ too much from an acoustic sound.

[tippy5]

Keep the MIM strat.
Sell the SG's, G&L and the A3 magnet PU 8502 (bright and harsh) USA tele.

Then you will be down a new musical road and past the crossroads.

[egordon99]

I love the clean sound of my Tele in the middle position with a little slap back from my Carbon Copy (into pretty much any tube amp) I solo fingerpick a lot of tunes with that setup and is a nice compliment to my acoustics.

[Tycobb73]

Originally Posted by tippy5

Keep the MIM strat.
Sell the SG's, G&L and the A3 magnet PU 8502 (bright and harsh) USA tele.

Then you will be down a new musical road and past the crossroads.

The g and l is gone. I have a mini hum starfire that I'm going to keep.

[Shredmaster007]

I sold all of my electrics (custom 22, mia tele and strat) and gear to just focus on songs - chords and singing. Much easier to do with an acoustic, no distractions fiddling with knobs and such. I was a pretty good lead player, but was thinking outside of posting YouTube videos, who wants to hear some guy soloing to backing tracks (if you're not playing with a band?) My hearing is a bit more protected now since I would have a tendency to turn up amp. Might try another mia strat down the road though...

[DCCougar]

I took it down to two electrics, and I barely play them, focusing more on acoustic 12-strings.... and keys. I'm not playing out though, so as they say, your mileage may vary.

[Goat Mick]

I just picked up a Gretsch G2420 and I’m going to work it into my solo shows to add a bit more sizzle to my songs that are a bit more rock flavored and to break up my sound during the show. Rather than hauling around my big tube amp I’m going to play though a Joyo AC Tone pedal into my normal system. I’m a fan of keeping things as simple as possible.

[Meursault]

As you’re at the crossroads you could try selling your soul for the right sound.