Does a better guitar force you to up your playing?

maxr

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I ask this because I recently got a good JF30-12, and I find I tend to 'cheat' and revert to my F-2512 when things get difficult. I think that's 'cos the JF30-12 sound is just so big and sustaining that I need to develop the skills to control it better. The F-2512 is less demanding (it's also lighter with a slimmer neck, but that's a different issue). What do you think, have you found this when you upgraded? Thanks, Max
 

davidbeinct

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Personally I think the guitar you sound best on is going to encourage you (me) to play more and get better, irrespective of its status as a “better” instrument or not. I think my GF30 is my best sounding guitar but some stuff I definitely play better on my short scale twelve fret 00.
 

West R Lee

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Absolutely. I've mentioned this several times on other forums and pages. Mine doesn't "force" me, but it entices me to try new tunings and new techniques........to learn new things. When you get so much more out of a guitar, it will sort of beckon you to try and get even better sound out of it.

West
 

Westerly Wood

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I had a Santa Cruz dread for several years, and it was great, huge, deep sound, and just sounded overall on a different level vs my 1971 Guild D25BR. It's not fair to compare the two. However, after a couple years of playing the SC, I reverted back to the BR as I preferred the woodiness of the all hog cheaper dread. The scalloped bracing on the SC was too much, too deep etc, and a lot of what I was trying to do got lost in the profundity. Now, I never felt I was beneath the SC or anything like that. But you eventually play the guitar that your ears like best.

I sold the SC to a Bluegrass "locally renowned" player, as he needed a "beater" for outside US tours, lol. When he played it, well, he took it to another level. The SC was a perfect fit for that guy...
 

West R Lee

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I had a Santa Cruz dread for several years, and it was great, huge, deep sound, and just sounded overall on a different level vs my 1971 Guild D25BR. It's not fair to compare the two. However, after a couple years of playing the SC, I reverted back to the BR as I preferred the woodiness of the all hog cheaper dread. The scalloped bracing on the SC was too much, too deep etc, and a lot of what I was trying to do got lost in the profundity. Now, I never felt I was beneath the SC or anything like that. But you eventually play the guitar that your ears like best.

I sold the SC to a Bluegrass "locally renowned" player, as he needed a "beater" for outside US tours, lol. When he played it, well, he took it to another level. The SC was a perfect fit for that guy...
You know Wood, it's funny you mention that. I owned a Santa Cruz D/PW dread for sometime, and though I did love the sound, that guitar was almost too delicate and too responsive. It's hard to describe unless you've owned one. I'm not knocking them at all, they are fabulous guitars, but they are so light, and have so much depth..........I was always afraid I was going to break mine. Light as a feather.

In the end, there was a member here who wanted that guitar more than I did. :)

West
 
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fronobulax

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I've played allegedly better basses and put them down and walked away.

I'd say that "better" should be defined in terms of how much playing it inspires you and encourages you and not someone else's sense of value.

If an instrument is not inspiring you then you should check things like the setup but it may be that you were swayed by the crowd when you got it and not your heart and soul.
 

Westerly Wood

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You know Wood, it's funny you mention that. I owned a Santa Cruz D/PW dread for sometime, and though I did love the sound, that guitar was almost too delicate and too responsive. It's hard to describe unless you've owned one. I'm not knocking them at all, they are fabulous guitars, but they are so light, and have so much depth..........I was always afraid I was going to break mine. Light as a feather.

In the end, there was a member here who wanted that guitar more than I did. :)

West
And West, the PWs have no truss rod, so I couldn't bring down the action without a neck reset which I didn't want to do. They design them to be like super light prewar Martin specs. And Richard Hoover totally achieved it, but I agree, feather light and resonant. I kind of still wish I had it actually. There are times when the BR is just too small wood sounding. :)
 

Neal

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I had a Santa Cruz dread for several years, and it was great, huge, deep sound, and just sounded overall on a different level vs my 1971 Guild D25BR. It's not fair to compare the two. However, after a couple years of playing the SC, I reverted back to the BR as I preferred the woodiness of the all hog cheaper dread. The scalloped bracing on the SC was too much, too deep etc, and a lot of what I was trying to do got lost in the profundity. Now, I never felt I was beneath the SC or anything like that. But you eventually play the guitar that your ears like best.

I sold the SC to a Bluegrass "locally renowned" player, as he needed a "beater" for outside US tours, lol. When he played it, well, he took it to another level. The SC was a perfect fit for that guy...

"Lost in the profundity".

Great song title!

When I want to really test my chops, I plug my guitar in and turn it up. Nowhere to hide.
 

West R Lee

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Yea, they really are fabulous guitars, just too light and if there is such a thing, too resonant for me. And I wouldn't expect most people to understand that, but you do. :)

West
 

Canard

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A new guitar always improves your own perception of your performance, sort of like a new relationship. ;)

There is the initial period of infatuation with it when you just can't keep your hands off it. It doesn't even have to be a great guitar (although it is better if it is); it just has to be good. You spend time with the instrument so, of course, your playing improves.
 

Bernie

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A better guitar will tell you you are improving by giving you more of the sound you want to hear. That's when you know you are spot on, and what you have to aim at every single time you'll play, I believe. Feel, steadiness, balance, coordination.., every thing counts.
And when you're there, not so good guitars will sound quite right, though they forgive pretty much less (!!). Strange. 😊
 

Westerly Wood

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A better guitar will tell you you are improving by giving you more of the sound you want to hear. That's when you know you are spot on, and what you have to aim at every single time you'll play, I believe. Feel, steadiness, balance, coordination.., every thing counts.
And when you're there, not so good guitars will sound quite right, though they forgive pretty much less (!!). Strange. 😊
While the BR is pretty unforgiving, it really could mostly care less who I am and what I decide to do on it. I think she honestly looks down on me a bit. Like roll eyes kind of thing.
 

Westerly Wood

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I beg to differ. I've heard you play, and no guitar would look down on you Wood.😁

West
I will admit my particular D25BR flatback is as solid as an old truck that runs and runs and nothing will stop it. And being 4 years my junior, I have no doubt it will outlive me.
 

HeyMikey

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A good setup allows you to up your playing. A better guitar just sounds better. 😁
What Cougar says about having a really good setup 100% allows me to play better. Having different guitars inspires me in that some things just sound better on a different guitar.

For example I bet most people would argue that my Orpheum SS hog is a “better” guitar than say my $700 A-50 rosewood flat top. However, some style of songs just sound and flow soooo much better on the darker and deeper sounding A-50, where others are better and inspire me to augment my playing on the cleaner and brighter Orpheum. So which is the “better” guitar?
 
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