How Many Guitars Is Too Many?

[leehop71]

Seriously, unless you are a 'collector' as a good friend of mine is, for me, it makes no sense to have more than you play. In other words if you have 12 guitars and only play 4, for me, that would be a waste, again outside of being a 'collector'. What I mean about collectors is someone like my friend who collects mostly vintage stuff.

Jack

[$ongWriter]

That's what that infinity sign if for...I always knew it had a use!!!!

[Dr. Overtones]

What is this toom-any you speak of?


But really, I think everyone should have as many guitars as they personally need. For example, when I'm done building my collection, I'll probably have a dread, an OM, and something like a Collings C10. One of everything, you know?

[Andromeda]

Originally Posted by jalbert

The most common answer appears to be n + 1, where n is how many guitars you currently own.

I like your math!

[garywj]

When the bank account is empty

[Bridgepin]

What...... to many guitars?...........I DREAD the thought

[justjes]

Originally Posted by nobo

Tricky one. I'd go with the n+1 answer!

I suppose it depends on your needs, what styles you play, your finances, etc.
...
If I had the finances and time to re-jig this, and the ability to sell off the I could rationlise this to:
1 nylon
1-2 bass guitars
2-3 electrics (1 single coil strat/tele type, 1 humbucker LP type, one maybe a jazzer/hollowbodied)
3-4 (or more...!) steel string acoustics (for different tunings and tonalities, different wood combinations, manufacturers)
1 baritone acoustic (still on my GAS list, though I'm presently using my Lowden as a baritone)
1 travel guitar (I presently have a Larrivee Parlour but would be keen to swap for a short- or regular-scale carbon bodied guitar)
...
That said, if you're just into steel string guitar, there's quite a good argument for just having one or two really nice guitars. But it takes a bit of journey and a bit of time (not to mention fun) to work out what that dream guitar (or several) is!

I'm of a similar mindset. My wife, on the other hand, has asked me how many guitars I plan to have. I've never been able to answer that. I don't want to have a huge collection of instruments, but I like playing them all. At the moment I have:
1 older nylon string (will never part with... It was my mom's)
1 nice sitka/mahogany dreadnought that I have a love/hate relationship with
1 12 fret OMS adirondack over brazilian that is amazing
1 older Martin 000 that will never go (again, my mom's)
1 Seagull dread that I am not afraid of the kids damaging
1 cheapie/beater electric (strat knock-off)
1 nice hollow-body electric
1 old parlor guitar that I keep meaning to figure out how to reset the neck on, I play it lap-style on occasion
1 banjo
1 mandolin

I'd like a baritone and a 12-string, a redwood/walnut jumbo, an octave mandolin, a bouzouki, a mandocello (depending on the day of the week) a telecaster, a weissenborn and a gypsy jazz guitar... and I really am starting to want a decent amp

Having said all that... I don't want to dedicate that much space to musical instruments :\

[MJScott]

My answer would have to be "one can never have too many guitars!" As to having the wife be the expert, I can only say that you need to just sneak them in and my experience is that she usually doesn't notice!-lol.

[pbankey]

My dream is to fill out a library of guitars similar to a library of books. Perhaps a section of my house or a wall that has them hanging side by side on a rack. Not everyone is constantly reading all the books on their library shelf, so I find the same with guitars. It's always good to remember your history with the hobby and I would feel proud knowing where I've been with them all and the memories could still be there for years to come. Maybe about 8 to 10 though for me.

[RP]

Originally Posted by unknown1

When your wife doesn't even nag you about getting a new one, then you've crossed the line

I think that having or not having a spouse qualifies the answer....

[oldrocker]

I have 3. I'm pretty sure you aren't supposed to have more than 4.

[Bryan T]

If I can't be bothered to keep them in fresh strings, then I think I have too many.

[Andromeda]

If your wife or husband hasn't left you yet then you don't have too many.

[MJScott]

Originally Posted by oldrocker

I have 3. I'm pretty sure you aren't supposed to have more than 4.

spouses or guitars?????

[410ben]

Quote from my wife:
"They all look the same to me...."

Yep, I'm always confusing my Taylor 410 with my American Special Telecaster.

Guitars for me are therapy. Right now, I have, uhh.... had a lot of therapy over the years.....

ben