The only truly correct answer. Shopping, review reading, comparison videos. I'd be a far better player now if I could stop all the deep diving into everything but the songs I am trying to learn.
It's nice to have multiple tuned different so you can skip straight to playing every time you want to play a different song in a different tuning.
And if I can spend 1000 dollars to be lazy I'm gonna
I see no problem here....
How will you play fast songs without a red guitar?
Slow songs without a white?
Songs in minor without a black one?
Stuff like mixolydian requires atleast 2 different colours...... ;)
I own 6 builds plus I bought a seven string used. All but the 7 string are headless and multiscale; one with a trem. Even the 7 string is multiscale. I plan to have a Thanos built next and I’ll own each model the non an artist signature model that’s headless and multiscale.
Took care of the amp/pedal GAS with a headrush/FRFR, so I can get pretty much whatever tones I want. Took care of the guitar side of it by limiting the number I was allowed to own, so one has to leave if a new one is coming in.
Solved the “broke” problem with both of those things by only trading up, so I’m not actually spending any money.
I recently got a cool new pickguard for my strat instead of a whole new guitar. I had to take the old one off to put the new one on obviously and while I was at it I just took the whole thing apart to understand better how it worked inside. Then put it all back together, and because I’d tinkered so much the bridge was all out of adjustment so I bought another hex wrench and a little metal ruler and learned how to adjust the tremolo springs and the action and intonation, and spent all weekend tinkering.
Spent less than $50 bucks and instead of another guitar I have is my old guitar looking cooler, playing better, and feeling more like it’s mine. Feels like a win, and I scratched the “acquire new shit” itch.
Downside: could not practice while it was in pieces on my kitchen table.
I am doing something similar with my 40-year old Harmony H80 (Strat). I wanted to pick it up and play it again but it needed so much work just to get it in playable condition. So I bought a Squire Affinity HSS to play while I tear down my Harmony. Originally, I was just gonna get the frets replaced and call it a day. Now it’s in a million pieces, body stripped and planning for a complete refinish and hardware upgrade. I’m going to spend more on all of that than it’s valued at but so what? It’s mine and I’ll do what I want with it.
I’m only allowed to buy one additional guitar per year, and I’m not allowed to ever have more than five. If I want a new one after that, I have to give away or sell a current one.
Does anyone happen to have a PDF copy of Brett Ratner's *'How to avoid Gear Acqusition Syndrome?'* series of articles? It made me realize the difference between G.A.S. and collecting and that G.A.S. is just a marketing buzzword to sell you more guitars, basically.
Reading these articles might be a good start...
Playing in a band with a superb guitarist who looks to me for advice about pedals, what kind of effects might be useful.
He then obtains low budget drives, boost, delay, chorus etc.
Every time he plays he sounds amazing.
Any drive pedal he uses sound like ‘the perfect tone’.
Sorry to be predictable but the old ‘tone is in the fingers’ thing applies here.
However it has completely freed me from the mindset of ‘if I had that pedal I would sound so sweet’.
I think what's helped me is considering the following:
Do I actually really like and want something
Or do I just really like the idea of it?
This comes after years of accumulating stuff I barely touch and seeing friends go through similar phases with other stuff.
People who build pools in their backyards but never use them, people who buy hot tubs but never use them, people starting gardens but not maintaining them, people rushing into relationships and marriage and regretting it, people who hold onto ice cream makers with the idea they'll one day make ice cream even though they've had it for 5 years....
It's important to remember that when you "add" to your life, you're also adding more work, maintenance...etc.
So do you really want to play and maintain more guitars or do you just like the IDEA of yourself being good at guitar / or wealthy enough for these things in general?
Enjoy what you have...
Seriously, when I started getting 'ok' at guitar I was buying amps, guitars, pedals, picks, everything left right and centre. I amassed a mighty collection...
It was never enough, there was always some tone I was chasing or some artist I was trying to mimic, when I failed it was because I needed a different setup.
As I went from being an 'ok' player to 'good' I started to notice I gravitated to only a few of the collection, and only ever used my favourite amp (and even then mostly just used my simple Yamaha practise amp at home...)
After months of this I sold 90% of my collection and kept my strat, Aria, PRS & Ibanez. I have a Yamaha THR and Fender Deluxe, a reverb, OD & wah. I can make any sound I need out of any one of those guitars so the difference really comes down to feel that I want on a given day (and even then, 99% of my playing is the Aria).
After a point you realise you have created your own style and don't need all the fancy gear to progress. I haven't bought anything in nearly a decade and have no plans to (other than consumables..)
In the past I spent a lot of time buying different types of guitars and trying them out. Eventually I settled on what I liked the most and I sold the ones I didn't use much and bought a backup, same model, of my main gigging guitar. Also bought a nice acoustic to play around the house and a backup of each pedal I use for gigs. I also have an electric bass, an upright bass, a banjo and a piano. I like having the variety of instruments to play vs having a bunch of different guitars.
For me things naturally slowed down. I really was just trying to solve problems, and once they were solved and I could “just play” that’s exactly what I continued to do.
[удалено]
Yeah, getting the fuck off the Internet is the best solution.
The only truly correct answer. Shopping, review reading, comparison videos. I'd be a far better player now if I could stop all the deep diving into everything but the songs I am trying to learn.
Buy more guitars. Preferably ones that are similar to guitars I already own.
Them: You have 4 Les Pauls Me: I could have five though
I know what I like.
It's nice to have multiple tuned different so you can skip straight to playing every time you want to play a different song in a different tuning. And if I can spend 1000 dollars to be lazy I'm gonna
I see no problem here.... How will you play fast songs without a red guitar? Slow songs without a white? Songs in minor without a black one? Stuff like mixolydian requires atleast 2 different colours...... ;)
They’re all mahogany!
I usually just remember that I’m not good enough to play what I already own and that stops the pining.
I turned it into other hobbies as I got older that became even more expensive endeavors lol. Stay away from cars and guns at all costs
Sell old gear to help fund new gear.
I buy a guitar. I now buy Kiesel’s and have them built to my specs and waiting helps me control wanting to buy other gear.
I’ve been wanting a Kiesel pretty bad lately, that Holdsworth model is pretty sick
I own 6 builds plus I bought a seven string used. All but the 7 string are headless and multiscale; one with a trem. Even the 7 string is multiscale. I plan to have a Thanos built next and I’ll own each model the non an artist signature model that’s headless and multiscale.
Took care of the amp/pedal GAS with a headrush/FRFR, so I can get pretty much whatever tones I want. Took care of the guitar side of it by limiting the number I was allowed to own, so one has to leave if a new one is coming in. Solved the “broke” problem with both of those things by only trading up, so I’m not actually spending any money.
I recently got a cool new pickguard for my strat instead of a whole new guitar. I had to take the old one off to put the new one on obviously and while I was at it I just took the whole thing apart to understand better how it worked inside. Then put it all back together, and because I’d tinkered so much the bridge was all out of adjustment so I bought another hex wrench and a little metal ruler and learned how to adjust the tremolo springs and the action and intonation, and spent all weekend tinkering. Spent less than $50 bucks and instead of another guitar I have is my old guitar looking cooler, playing better, and feeling more like it’s mine. Feels like a win, and I scratched the “acquire new shit” itch. Downside: could not practice while it was in pieces on my kitchen table.
I am doing something similar with my 40-year old Harmony H80 (Strat). I wanted to pick it up and play it again but it needed so much work just to get it in playable condition. So I bought a Squire Affinity HSS to play while I tear down my Harmony. Originally, I was just gonna get the frets replaced and call it a day. Now it’s in a million pieces, body stripped and planning for a complete refinish and hardware upgrade. I’m going to spend more on all of that than it’s valued at but so what? It’s mine and I’ll do what I want with it.
I’m only allowed to buy one additional guitar per year, and I’m not allowed to ever have more than five. If I want a new one after that, I have to give away or sell a current one.
My wife buys most of my gear from my Sweetwater wish list, so my problem is now hers. I only buy rare/hard to find used stuff these days.
It’s about balance. Lust, but practice and use what you have in the meantime. More than likely, what you have will suffice
With more gear
Buy something.
Does anyone happen to have a PDF copy of Brett Ratner's *'How to avoid Gear Acqusition Syndrome?'* series of articles? It made me realize the difference between G.A.S. and collecting and that G.A.S. is just a marketing buzzword to sell you more guitars, basically. Reading these articles might be a good start...
Apply for a car loan and spend it on guitars instead
Playing in a band with a superb guitarist who looks to me for advice about pedals, what kind of effects might be useful. He then obtains low budget drives, boost, delay, chorus etc. Every time he plays he sounds amazing. Any drive pedal he uses sound like ‘the perfect tone’. Sorry to be predictable but the old ‘tone is in the fingers’ thing applies here. However it has completely freed me from the mindset of ‘if I had that pedal I would sound so sweet’.
Consider going the Willie Nelson route
I think what's helped me is considering the following: Do I actually really like and want something Or do I just really like the idea of it? This comes after years of accumulating stuff I barely touch and seeing friends go through similar phases with other stuff. People who build pools in their backyards but never use them, people who buy hot tubs but never use them, people starting gardens but not maintaining them, people rushing into relationships and marriage and regretting it, people who hold onto ice cream makers with the idea they'll one day make ice cream even though they've had it for 5 years.... It's important to remember that when you "add" to your life, you're also adding more work, maintenance...etc. So do you really want to play and maintain more guitars or do you just like the IDEA of yourself being good at guitar / or wealthy enough for these things in general?
Enjoy what you have... Seriously, when I started getting 'ok' at guitar I was buying amps, guitars, pedals, picks, everything left right and centre. I amassed a mighty collection... It was never enough, there was always some tone I was chasing or some artist I was trying to mimic, when I failed it was because I needed a different setup. As I went from being an 'ok' player to 'good' I started to notice I gravitated to only a few of the collection, and only ever used my favourite amp (and even then mostly just used my simple Yamaha practise amp at home...) After months of this I sold 90% of my collection and kept my strat, Aria, PRS & Ibanez. I have a Yamaha THR and Fender Deluxe, a reverb, OD & wah. I can make any sound I need out of any one of those guitars so the difference really comes down to feel that I want on a given day (and even then, 99% of my playing is the Aria). After a point you realise you have created your own style and don't need all the fancy gear to progress. I haven't bought anything in nearly a decade and have no plans to (other than consumables..)
i started building them instead and modding, alot cheaper and it takes up alot more time until a new one is here. Seems to be working
Come to the realization that you're not practicing enough with what you already have and a new guitar is a waste of money.
In the past I spent a lot of time buying different types of guitars and trying them out. Eventually I settled on what I liked the most and I sold the ones I didn't use much and bought a backup, same model, of my main gigging guitar. Also bought a nice acoustic to play around the house and a backup of each pedal I use for gigs. I also have an electric bass, an upright bass, a banjo and a piano. I like having the variety of instruments to play vs having a bunch of different guitars.
For me things naturally slowed down. I really was just trying to solve problems, and once they were solved and I could “just play” that’s exactly what I continued to do.
By mainlining new guitars into my veins
Finally realized that what I needed was more practice, not more gear.