What guides your guitar collecting? (If you collect...)

byudzai · #1 10-19-2019, 11:52 PM

I'm compulsive about certain things. When I was into guns, I had to have one of each kind. It wasn't gratuitous collecting, where I just wanted MORE MORE MORE -- one day I had enough and I stopped. One of each kind.

I don't collect acoustic guitars for their sound. I have a beat up old Martin D28 whose sound I like. Something else drives me. I had to have a "Supreme Art Guitar" so i got a Taylor PS. I needed a guitar with crazy cocobolo so I got a Breedlove masterclass. I needed a koa guitar. Needed an SJ200. Needed a wood veneer and a plain blue weave carbon fiber guitar. Needed a Cole Clark because of their strange woods and build.

None of it makes sense, but every day I look at these guitars on my walls and they make me happy. I think it's about the compulsion to have a global ownership of a topic much more than it is about guitars as instruments.

I'm guessing everyone has their own reason for collecting, and I'm guessing most revolve around playability/sound, but I'm curious how broad the range of reasons is.

maxtheaxe · #2 10-20-2019, 12:29 AM

I shudder to think what my guitar 'collection', such as it is, would look like if money were no object, and I've actually been slowly "thinning the herd". I think it's kinda like some people who collect art or antiques; in terms of investment it's pretty hard to go wrong if one spends a bit of thought and time and research on it, but buys only what one actually likes.

The art, or the guitar, or whatever it is that does it for you, is still a thing you can hang on the wall and enjoy, or take it out and play it and share it, as opposed to accumulating bearer bonds or stocks or real estate, etc., that simply represent adding more zeros in front of the decimal on one's books. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, in and of itself, but acquisitiveness for it's own sake skews shallow and joyless to me.

I'd rather play the guitar, or look at the painting, or use the 100 year old Stickley dresser to store my skivvies, and derive joy from the thing itself, knowing that if and when I need to convert it to liquid asset, it will be there for me.

Blind Dog · #3 10-20-2019, 12:34 AM

I don't collect -- I'm just moody.

gitarro · #4 10-20-2019, 01:00 AM

What drives me in buying a guitar is it offers tone at a level that my ears find to be superior to almost any other guitars. My ideal range of guitars is 3 guitars of this elite level of tonal quality but that offers very different types of tone - scratching different musical itches, as it were.

So far I have had some world class guitars pass through my hands but I have always ended up either finding them too expensive to keep or looking for new tones and selling them on. I hope with the current guitars I own that I will find them so satisfactory from the bang for buck and quality of tone perspectives that I have no more interest in checking out other guitars!

Aplayer710 · #5 10-20-2019, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by byudzai

I'm compulsive about certain things. When I was into guns, I had to have one of each kind. It wasn't gratuitous collecting, where I just wanted MORE MORE MORE -- one day I had enough and I stopped. One of each kind.

I don't collect acoustic guitars for their sound. I have a beat up old Martin D28 whose sound I like. Something else drives me. I had to have a "Supreme Art Guitar" so i got a Taylor PS. I needed a guitar with crazy cocobolo so I got a Breedlove masterclass. I needed a koa guitar. Needed an SJ200. Needed a wood veneer and a plain blue weave carbon fiber guitar. Needed a Cole Clark because of their strange woods and build.

None of it makes sense, but every day I look at these guitars on my walls and they make me happy. I think it's about the compulsion to have a global ownership of a topic much more than it is about guitars as instruments.

I'm guessing everyone has their own reason for collecting, and I'm guessing most revolve around playability/sound, but I'm curious how broad the range of reasons is.

I pick guitars based on playability and sound. How is feels in my hands and if I feel a connection with the instrument. You know it's the right one when you play it. Also, my mood depends on which one I want to play.

Puerto Player · #6 10-20-2019, 04:16 AM

Tone and more tone and long as it's structurally sound, and it has to be a cutaway.

s2y · #7 10-20-2019, 05:19 AM

Some guys hoard guitars. Some guys collect to be the envy of their peers. Some guys collect guitars because it's their passion.

I legitimately enjoy guitar and bass as much as I did when I was 15. The same goes with guitar based music. I used to be the guy that could play most genres and have an arsenal of tones to do well in most environments. Unfortunately I'm now considered a collector because my local scene is pretty dead. I also have a family and an intense job that has never been a traditional Monday through Friday 9 to 5. I still practice with the hope of getting back out there some day.

My collection is totally geared to my tone and desired neck specs. On more than a few occasions, guys have taken shots at my stuff. Dumb specs, they wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole. The first time I took a nice Bob Thompson DN to a jam I got a "nice Martin clone." Here's the thing. He was being very sarcastic. Regardless, I'm happy with my guitars and will continue to play them until my hands quit.

Get what you want. Collecting as an investment is a poor chose with a looming boomer sell off. They take up too much space and cost too much money to sit on a rack.

The Bard Rocks · #8 10-20-2019, 06:05 AM

Collecting implies knowing what you want ahead of time, having an object, then pursuing it. I don't think I have really done that.

One attribute that that attracts me which is is a bit unusual is getting somewhat unusual woods or combinations thereof. Obviously, it is not the only thing. Size, shape, tone and whether or not I envision these things filling a gap that i will make use of. Playability always seems to satisfy me, so that is not much of an issue.

I have often discovered my guitars are less specialized than I thought they'd be when I bought them; they can cover more bases than I expected. Which is good, but it also renders some of them less needed, meaning I could sell 2 or 3 and have my music covered. Only I like them too much.

C-ville Brent · #9 10-20-2019, 07:01 AM

I think a key point is: they make you happy. I have lots of acoustic and electric guitars, mostly not overly expensive, but all unique. If it's not hurting anyone - do what makes you happy.

Mooh · #10 10-20-2019, 07:04 AM

Not a collector per se, but I feel a need for different tones, so my collection (for lack of a better word) reflects a variety.

RP · #11 10-20-2019, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blind Dog

I don't collect -- I'm just moody.

Quote:

Originally Posted by C-ville Brent

I think a key point is: they make you happy. I have lots of acoustic and electric guitars, mostly not overly expensive, but all unique. If it's not hurting anyone - do what makes you happy.

Makes sense. I don't play out much and never for pay so basically I purchase and play guitars to give me pleasure. I don't look to them to make me happy but to add a dimension to my existing happiness. I've owned lots of Taylors because of their playability, tone and appearance. I also liked supporting Taylor as a company. I live in a smallish cabin in the woods that I partially heat with wood so maintaining proper humidity is temperature are a challenge. On Friday I sold my last two wooden guitars (both Taylors) and so for the first time ever, I own only carbon fiber acoustics. My Rainsongs and Emerald differ markedly in respect to their ergonomics and tone, and I can leave all of them out on their stands without worry. I prefer the tone of larger bodied guitars but purchased a Rainsong parlor as a travel guitar that would fit into the trunk (or "boot" as our UK brothers and sisters say) of my Mazda MX5. I also prefer my acoustics without electronics (as are my Rainsongs), but I do enjoy playing my Emerald X20 through my Fishman acoustic amp on occasion...

KalamazooGuy · #12 10-20-2019, 07:14 AM

The best of each tone wood but currently having good enough is where I reside.

rstaight · #13 10-20-2019, 07:27 AM

Of the guitars I own no 2 are alike. Or there is a story behind it.

But to buy just to collect, no. I enjoy going to a music store and picking something up. I may like what I'm playing but if I have one similar I put it down.

I have only 1 guitar that I want. A Gibson Dove, always wanted one. When the time is right I will have one. That will be the last acoustic I buy.

Mobile1 · #14 10-20-2019, 07:28 AM

I love blinged out guitars, but they have to sound and play great too. My collection of acoustic guitars is finished at 12 guitars.

beatcomber · #15 10-20-2019, 07:46 AM

My priorities include:

• It must visually appealing to me. I insist on vintage/classic/old school aesthetics, and I prefer very little adornment. That is why I was instantly attracted to the Martin 000-15SM.

• It has to have a compelling tone. If I am not emotionally moved by the instrument's tone, I will have little incentive to play it.

• It has to play well up and down the neck. I am not fussy about neck profiles (I got on fine with a Gibson F-25 Folksinger's 2" nut and flat neck), but the instrument has to have excellent playability. I am instantly turned off by guitars that rattle or are uncomfortable to play above the 5th fret.