Guitars

[jazzkat]

I have quite serious GAS (Guitar Aquistion Syndrome).
Can't do links so here goes the list.
1. 1971 Dan Armstrong Plexi Guitar (1 pickup missing & needs attention).
2. Dan Armstrong Plexi Bass - re-issue.
3. Gibson Custom Shop Les Paul Custom 'flame' - (think Justin Hawkins of The Darkness) - Pearl & abalone 'flames' inlay up the fret board.
4/5/6. - 3x Fender Custom Shop Strats - ice blue metallic - copper & gold sparkle.
7. Fender Strat - Orange sparkle (humbucker in bridge position) - made in Mexico.
8. Dusenberg DTV 'Outlaw' (mock black crocodile skin top) - as played by Keith Richards.
9.PRS Custom 22 - 20th anniversary Artist pack - (Brazilian Rosewood etc).
10. PRS SC 245 - 57/08 Ltd edition.
11. Takamine small body acoustic (cheap from Thomann) does the trick.
12. Epiphone Korina Flying V bass Ltd edition. (Thomann)
13. Epiphone Korina Explora bass Ltd edition (Thomann)
Six Amps.
Still on hit list (will have them one day in the distant future)
1. Gibson ES 355
2. Gibson Les Paul Gold top
3. GIBSON Les Paul 59 re-issue
4. Fender telecaster (own spec)
5. Ibanez 20th anniversary Steve Vai Jem (plexi-glass)
6. Gretsch - White Falcon (double cut) re-issue
7. Gretsch - White Penguine re-issue
8. Gretsch - Duo Jet
9. Collings OM acoustic.
10. Santa Cruz OM acoustic.
11. Patrick James Eggle Om acoustic.
12. Another PRS
13. Another PRS
14. Another Gibson Les Paul Custom (in blck).

Please don't hate me too much - a lot of suffering went into the owning of these guitars - (drove a 12 year old car - live in a tiny terraced house - unwanted inheritance etc).
I don't earn a fortune & forego much to acquire them - I am also selling one to fund next bike.
Love the post/topic.

Nice list!
I like the way you have your future purchases mapped out too.......serious GAS

The 'problem' (as nice as it is to have such a problem) with owning multiple guitars is restringing the blooming things. Some of mine rarely get played, I get one out and think, hmmm could do with a restring. If I restring it, it would probably be sat there for another couple of months before getting it out again and then it'd probably need doing again
Strings aint cheap any more either!

 

[SteCenturion]

Nice list!
I like the way you have your future purchases mapped out too.......serious GAS

The 'problem' (as nice as it is to have such a problem) with owning multiple guitars is restringing the blooming things. Some of mine rarely get played, I get one out and think, hmmm could do with a restring. If I restring it, it would probably be sat there for another couple of months before getting it out again and then it'd probably need doing again
Strings aint cheap any more either!

See you got GAS too.
Better not be in same room at same time or there will be a severe case of GASIASS !!
I also made the schoolboy error of leaving 1 out - a Ltd edition Bullion Gold Gibson SG (missed the boat on that one due to cash/wallet/empty interface malfunction).
To be fair I could add 20 + to the list & not feel ashamed.
Regards strings - I buy a dozen sets at a time from Guitar shows & mix em up between Ernie Ball & D'Addario (skinny top/heavy bottom usually) & never less than 10's.
You can now get boxes of 25 sets from D'addario I think.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

GAS is dangerous, so I gave it up years ago. I have three workhorse strats, one workhorse Ibanez the rest are irrelevant on a day to day basis, in fact recently only one strat is being used. I think GAS for me was a symptom of not aquiring a 'player' guitar right away, and also of poor playing skills which somehow I felt could be cured by more expensive guitars instead of more practice. I no longe rlust after guitars, or bikes or anything really.

 

[SteCenturion]

GAS is dangerous, so I gave it up years ago. I have three workhorse strats, one workhorse Ibanez the rest are irrelevant on a day to day basis, in fact recently only one strat is being used. I think GAS for me was a symptom of not aquiring a 'player' guitar right away, and also of poor playing skills which somehow I felt could be cured by more expensive guitars instead of more practice. I no longe rlust after guitars, or bikes or anything really.

I do believe there is something in that !
My guitar playing is fairly rudimentary & dictated by lack of practice time in turn also dictated by work/family time.
If ever I spot/play a battered old Strat/Les Paul that I fall in love with - I might self enforce a cull.
In the meantime I remain POSESSED

 

[SteCenturion]

I also forgot No14.
My 2TEK Telecaster (2TEK bridge - Gretsch toaster type pickups) MAD Custom paint job.

 

[SteCenturion]

I've got

Admira Sevilla classical (favourite)
Ibanez acoustic (2nd favourite)
Lakeland 12 string (would be better used as a cricket bat)
Gordon Smith GS1 (lovely, but i can't get a decent sound out of an electric guitar)
Yamaha Guitarlele (cute but never played)

all strung left hand, which really annoys other guitar players.

Sold my Gordon Smith GS2 around 2 years back - it was lovely & made in Manchester - makes me want it back.

 

[SteCenturion]

I have a Tanglewood TW45 NSB electro acoustic. The neck is fairly slight which suits my stumpy fingers. I also have an Esteve 6PS classical guitar, fairly cheap, but a lovely warm, rich sound.

Now, I have a problem..... My Christmas bonus will buy me either a Tanglewood 12 string OR a Garmin 800/810.

I already have two guitars, but no Garmin. What to do.....?

Go with you're heart brother.

 

[SteCenturion]

Pls pls me.
Please stay away from argos - save just a few extra £ and go to your local music store or somewhere like Thomann.de online (based in Germany but outstanding customer service & quite cheap).
Have a butchers at Yamaha - Guild - Takamine - Sigma - Crafter.
To be honest most guitars of £150 plus nowadays are 10x better than they were a decade ago.

Ok, so I have found a guitar tutor, had my first lesson the other day and am going to see him monthly just to make sure I'm not getting any bad habits with my technique etc (in the first lesson he did notice I'd restinged the Les Paul the wrong way on the B & E strings, which I knew I'd done but not going to bother changing until I restring it again). Also that I'd put my guitar strap on the wrong way around. Like duh!
Also many thanks to @Slim for the link to Justins site, I have started going through the beginners course and he is very good. Rocksmith is okay but I think I need something more structured. So I think I should be covered if I utilise all 3 (tutor, Justin & Rocksmith).

I have also decided that I hate the Westfield B220 electro acoustic that I have. It doesn't feel very nice to play and I have trouble playing chords on it. The Les Paul Special II is much nicer and I don't have as much trouble.
I know they say you should try out the guitars first, but does anyone have any recs for a beginners acoustic? I'm thinking of getting rid of the Westfield for another one. There is a music shop in town but when I went in to get some strings for the Les Paul there wasn't a very big selection of acoustics.
There is a Squier by Fender acoustic in Argos (http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5403420.htm), I think Fender are a good make but that does seem a bit cheap for a decent guitar?

 

[Dave 123]

Go with you're heart brother.

I did.....
Garmin.

 

[London Female]

GAS is dangerous, so I gave it up years ago. I have three workhorse strats, one workhorse Ibanez the rest are irrelevant on a day to day basis, in fact recently only one strat is being used. I think GAS for me was a symptom of not aquiring a 'player' guitar right away, and also of poor playing skills which somehow I felt could be cured by more expensive guitars instead of more practice. I no longe rlust after guitars, or bikes or anything really.

Crikey, you are not dead yet.

 

[Plax]

Wow @SteCenturion you have serious GAS issues!

I now have;
Yamaha C40 classical
Epiphone Les Paul Special II electric
Yamaha F310 acoustic
Westfield B220 electro acoustic

I don't like the Westfield so it is currently for sale.

I'm getting quite frustrated at the moment. I've probably been learning for nearly a month now and don't feel like I'm getting very far. I've memorised D, A, E, Am, Dm and Em but D in particular is winding me up. I just can't get it right. Usually have a finger getting in the way on another string etc. I have also tried playing one of Justin's beginner songs (I thought I'd buy the beginners song book as a way of contributing to the sites honour system) and I'm just shoot at switching between chords. I try to practice the chords everyday but still can't get the D chord down (Dm is even worse with the stretching!). I am going to be stuck on these cords for ever at the rate I'm going.
It'll get to the point where I can tell you every single chord but not be able to play them.
It has given me an immense respect for those people that can not only play, but sing at the same time.

 

[jazzkat]

See you got GAS too.
Better not be in same room at same time or there will be a severe case of GASIASS !!
I also made the schoolboy error of leaving 1 out - a Ltd edition Bullion Gold Gibson SG (missed the boat on that one due to cash/wallet/empty interface malfunction).
To be fair I could add 20 + to the list & not feel ashamed.
Regards strings - I buy a dozen sets at a time from Guitar shows & mix em up between Ernie Ball & D'Addario (skinny top/heavy bottom usually) & never less than 10's.
You can now get boxes of 25 sets from D'addario I think.

To be honest I'm going through a gasless stage at the moment. I'm happy with my guitars, I'm no collector, all with the exception of one, get used at gigs and they all have different sounds. I could do with another, more portable amp but I'm happy with my lot at the moment - much to the delight of Mrs Jazzkat!

 

[SteCenturion]

Wow @SteCenturion you have serious GAS issues!

I now have;
Yamaha C40 classical
Epiphone Les Paul Special II electric
Yamaha F310 acoustic
Westfield B220 electro acoustic

I don't like the Westfield so it is currently for sale.

I'm getting quite frustrated at the moment. I've probably been learning for nearly a month now and don't feel like I'm getting very far. I've memorised D, A, E, Am, Dm and Em but D in particular is winding me up. I just can't get it right. Usually have a finger getting in the way on another string etc. I have also tried playing one of Justin's beginner songs (I thought I'd buy the beginners song book as a way of contributing to the sites honour system) and I'm just s*** at switching between chords. I try to practice the chords everyday but still can't get the D chord down (Dm is even worse with the stretching!). I am going to be stuck on these cords for ever at the rate I'm going.
It'll get to the point where I can tell you every single chord but not be able to play them.
It has given me an immense respect for those people that can not only play, but sing at the same time.

I sympathise totally with your chord troubles - the only thing I can say is practice x infinitum.
You will find at some point that the shapes are more minor adjustments than you 1st thought & fall more easily to hand (forgive the pun).
It is one of the hardest things I ever began to learn - but very satisfying when you hit a great chord perfectly for the 1st time in a hundred tries.
I had to go through 3 tutors - No3 being perfect for me - he understood my weird thought processes & adjusted to me.
I could never have learned alone as I need to be pointed out the things I do wrong.
Not a 'natural musician' at all & will never be.
If you find the right tutor stick with him/her & if funds allow have a lesson a week instead of per month & your progression will gather pace.
Most importantly - don't get put off by those who can play a hundred notes a second or who own expensive guitars - I have watched 12 year olds play faster with cheap copy guitars than I can but I just do my own thing.
As for singing while playing - well that's patting your head & rubbing your tummy stuff - I will do one or the other but never both.
Good luck & keep the faith.

 

[Linford]

A couple of mine
an 80's Westone Pantera Axe on the right, and a Crafter acoustic on the left. I struggle to find the time to pick them up, but have had them both about 20 years now.

 

[Saluki]

The other half got so fed up with me having an electric guitar and playing cool stuff while he had his accoustic (plus the one John at Church gave him) and went out and bought - second hand from our guitar instructor - an Epiphone Les Paul in a rather fetching red colour.
Its rather nice but, IMO, not as nice as my Strat.