Which Do You Play, When Do You Play it and Why?

[hojo199]

Hi All:
We all have some rather dense, nice, indulgent, to die for guitar collections. Wives say, "Do you need them ALL?" And we just say, "YES."

And we do.

So, for me, every guitar has a purpose or two. There's the DV52: no pick up, no strap button, just hanging out pretty, waiting to sit on my couch with me, in my studio to record (because she has the best balance).

There's the D30 -- the "Dude," the big tone: it arrived with a crappy pick up, so it finds itself coming to all my gigs (even though the J45 has a BETTER pick up -- the D30 has BETTER tone -- and MOJO). Then there is the J30-12 -- well, it's a 12 string so it does 12 string things. (I shipped my Taylor 12 string to my dad's in Florida, so I would have a guitar there. The J30-12 just smiled.) The J30-12 finds its way into my car as well for gigs. I clip an ancient Lawerence pick up in the sound hole and let her rip. She also does records too -- as 12 strings are wont to do.

Hate to say it, but my beat, cracked, neck-been-reset Martin D28 (that I have had for decades) lives on the stand and finds herself in my lap a lot -- jealous as she is of the DV52.

The electrics I use when I have to (usually involves me getting paid) although the Gretsch gives all my guitars a run for their money at times.

So what do you all play and when and why?

Can't wait to read your answers;-)

 

[fronobulax]

Basses don't count, do they?

I play the Starfire when I am practicing/learning and can go electric. It has the lowest action and flatwounds.

I play the JS when I am channeling my inner Jack Bruce or John Paul Jones or just feeling guilty for neglecting it.

I confess I have not touched the B-4 since the B-50 arrived. I need to do an A/B and the put it on the market.

I play the B-50 when I can't practice with an amp and it is also my go to bass when I play out since I either need to be acoustic or am with people who are intimidated by electric instruments. The body size does make some things easier on the Starfire, though.

 

[yettoblaster]

I had been gigging my D4 at coffee house jazz ensemble jobs weekly, but recently went back to my Savoy for those, as the volume at some of the other venues (restaurants and such) was getting too much to get any acoustic sound from the D4, which had a magnetic soundhole pickup.

It had been an experiment at the low volume gigs, but the extra hassle of a volume pedal, extra wires, and sort of uneven response drove me back to just using an electric generally for all jobs.

So that leaves my X-150 for jazz gigs (I keep tele and strat "partsocasters" around for raunchy dance music night club gigs), and my D-40 for the glorius tone of couch noodling and back yard finger-pickin'.

I sold off the D4 (at a small profit even) to pay bills.

I also keep a cheap Ibanez AF-75 knock-around beater guitar (feels a lot like the Savoy) for practice/study on something I leave out without worry.

And a Carvin CL-450 nylon is at a friend's house on indefinite loan.

 

[Brad Little]

I play my Mark V for classical music, not too often these days as I've been in a mostly non-classical mode for a year or more. F-50 and AA alternately for swing rhythms, D-50 and F-40 for flatpicking rhythm, F-40 for fingerstyle. I alternate the 12s, although the 212 needs some sort of work because of some buzzing on a few octave strings and I find the 512 better for finger picking. I recently enrolled in Martin Taylor's Guitar Academy and will probably be using mostly the AA and the Godin (it's fingerstyle jazz for the most part).
Brad
PS Unfortunately the others tend to stay in their cases more often than not.

 

[West R Lee]

It depends on what I want to do. For just fingerstyle, it's a no brainer.....the DV72. But last week in Arlington, I took the D55. The D55 gives up just a tad to the DV72 for fingerpicking, but it's a great flatpicker and an outstanding compromise "best of both worlds" guitar. The DV73 has the sound of the DV72, but the action isn't quite as nice in my opinion.

West

 

[killdeer43]

It depends on what I want to do.
West

Exactly.
*When I want to sound my best and cover a broader range of tunes, styles of playing, it's the D50, hands down.
*The F112-6 is the best for grabbing and going and moving about the country without a care for accidental dings/dents, etc.
*The D4-12 (no brainer) is for songs that just sound better on a 12-string.
*Additionally, the Seagull lives in open G and the banjo is limited to times when Cindy is at least 2 miles away, give or take! :lol:

Joe

 

[learnintoplay62]

Although I'm still learning my gf25 is about as sweet a guitar as I could imagine. The sounds that come out of it truly amaze me. Still looking to sell my Dv6. I dropped the price to 600.00 any takers ? I just don't play it. See once I sell it I will be looking for a burst :wink:
Oh yeh, I am working on a Johnny Cash tune and have graduated to even using a capo.
I love playing but just not in a hurry to get any good at it

 

[Qvart]

I play whatever I want pretty much whenever I want. No justification for having so many other than I can. Although I don't really play my D35 inside. That's my only acoustic so it often ventures out to the porch with me. It's also the only one that travels with me (so I don't have to lug around an amp!).

I used to think I'd have some of them set up with different tunings, but now I have seven guitars and only two are tuned in something other than E (one in E-flat and one in D).

Ahhh...bachelorhood! :lol:

 

[killdeer43]

Oh yeh, I am working on a Johnny Cash tune D

Call me curious....which JC tune?

Joe

 

[GardMan]

Each of my dreads has a unique voice, and each has its own "repertoire" of tunes:

My old D-35 is usually tuned to open C (CGCGCE)... for just one song: Dougie MacClean's "Caledonia." Every couple of months, I'll bring it to standard, just to play it more.

My D-25 lives in DADGAD... for a bunch of Stan Roger's tunes I play. I don't think it has been to standard tuning for a year or more...

I use my G-37 for a simple fingerstyle of Brian Boru's March (an old Irish tune) I play, for Tecumseh valley (VanZandt), as well as for fingerpicking a bunch of other Stan Rogers tunes I "sing"...

The D-44 and 46 are used primarily for fingerpicking... folk ballads, Bill Staines tunes, Lighfoot, John Denver, etc...

I use the 55 for tunes where I want the richness and/or deep bass: City of New Orleans (Steve Goodman), Leader of the Band (Dan Fogelberg), and a couple others...

The D-50 is my primary went I want to strum cowboy tunes... Sounds a bit fuller than the 46 when strummed, but has a bit more "twang" to it's sound than the 55... but it also sounds great when fingerpicked....

Of course, there are no "rules." I play them each every week (the 44,46, and 50 are getting the most play time right now). Sometimes, Ill play the same song on a couple Guilds, just to appreciate their different tones.
Dave

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

I try to rotate my guitars.
I take a different one with me to my weekly jam.
I have 3, 6 string Dreds that get rotated but I also take the round neck resonator once in a while.
The 12 string stays back home because it just doesn't work out for many of our jam songs.
I also play my wife's 6 string about once a month because she isn't playing these days.

Some nights, I get several of them out to do an A/B with them.
It's funny though because I like a different one each time.

I'm blessed with some very nice guitars.

 

[learnintoplay62]

Well thanks for asking Joe. The last album he did( American V ) is one of my all time favorites . The first tune, Help me , It tells a tale of how he finally relies that with out God's help he will keep stumbling over himself again and again. I was trying to play it my way then my teacher ( who figured it out in probably 2 min )showed me how to use a capo. It sounds better but I have had little time to practice lately so it's slow going.
Hows about you. What are you working on ?

 

[killdeer43]

What are you working on ?

Everything and nothing.
I have about 172,312 songs that live between my ears and I just let 'em out at random now and then to see how the old rolodex is working.

I really enjoy JCash's last recordings, especially enjoy his voice and his guitar with no one else around the mic.

Capos are extremely useful so keep working with it. You'll discover all kinds of wonderful sounds! :wink:

Later,
Joe

 

[dapmdave]

I do a lot of recording, with regular jamming with friends.

When recording, the different guitars have their strong points. The F-212 is, well... isn't that obvious? Lush and silky.
I use the D-25 and the Martin D-35 for flat-picking and strumming. I think they have nicely contrasting qualities.

When I go to jam I bring the Gibson (except for Arlington :shock: ) because it has a great-sounding LR Baggs built in. None of my other acoustics have pickups.

The Pilot is my only bass, so if I need a bass it's going to be the Pilot.

If I want to be electric, it's the new custom tele. But I usually stay on acoustic.

Dave

 

[playsvintageguilds]

Lately it's been my '67 D40.
Really enjoy a great sounding/playable old guitar.

 

[evenkeel]

The D-60 is sitting in storage in Florida, very lonely. Next week we head home so I'll get to put her back into the rotation. The Morgan Monroe is also in storage but will go on the chopping block when I get back.

The D-35 I tend to use for open tuning stuff. D, G, DADDAD, DADGAD.
The Martin is the guitar that tends to go out to open mics. It has that nice Martin rumble, sounds great amped.
The J45 stays in standard tuning. Very nice for finger picking, but also has a nice sparkle when strummed. Great contrast to the Martin and Guild. I plan on installing a K&K so it can hit the open mic trail.
The parlor is in need of some TLC which will happen when we get to Fla.

Veer alert... I've been thinking about putting a K&K in the D-60 and selling the Martin. Thin the herd, still have a rosewood dread and a guitar to take out. Bit leary of taking the D-60 into the bar scene. :?: :? :?:

 

[Scratch]

The D-40 gets most of my time these days...

 

[hojo199]

I play whatever I want pretty much whenever I want. No justification for having so many other than I can. :lol:

Yeah, I agree with that!

 

[adorshki]

D-25's easiest for bareback fingerpickin' and therefore the most versatile.
D-40's actually gettin' the most attention this last year, just tryin' to put hours on it, sounds crisper than the '25.
F65ce, what can I say, it's m-m-m-maple!
Normally work out at least 2 for 1/2 hr to an hour each, 2-3 times a month. "Just for love", but look for jams where possible.

 

[avagadro]

I go through phases where I play a dobro or a classical for a while then move on to something else but I always respond to playing a hollow or semi hollow guitar. I really like the broad array of tones that can be had.