Why do you have several guitars?

[livemusic]

If you have several acoustic guitars, why? If you have several of the same brand, why? What is your return? Because they sound different, because different sounds inspire you to write, because they look good... why?

And... is guitar playing just a hobby to you or do you also derive some income from it?

 

[fronobulax]

I love jumping into threads with answers but they are based in basses and not the instrument implied by the topic.

Avocational bassist. I currently play at/for church once in a while and back up Mrs. Fro. when needed.

The JS-II was my first real bass and there is a strong emotional attachment towards keeping it.

Turns out my first bass should have been a Starfire and thus my second.

I got tired of following Mrs. Fro. and lugging an amp around so I bought the B4.

I got tired of not being heard and upgraded to the B-50.

For me, the B4 and B-50 sound about the same except that the B-50 moves a lot more air. I really have no justification for keeping both and the B4 is supposed to go on the market, although you know how that goes.

Other than the emotional connection there is no practical justification for having both the JS and the SF. They do produce significantly different sounds but I almost never choose the JS's sound over the SF's.

The SF and the B-50 can be justified since one can be used acoustically and the former is much easier to play, based on size.

Everything is Guild because the neck and scale length are for all practical purposes identical and I do not adjust well to a longer scale length.

Better hope Grot doesn't answer :wink:

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

I have several guitars.
I don't need several guitars but they all serve a need for me.

 

[dapmdave]

If you have several acoustic guitars, why?

I like guitars, and so I have collected a few. Call it a hobby. Maybe an investment.

If you have several of the same brand, why? What is your return?

The only guitars of which I have more than one are Guilds. 'nuff said, right?

Because they sound different, because different sounds inspire you to write, because they look good... why?

Because they sound different, because different sounds inspire me, because they look good...

And... is guitar playing just a hobby to you or do you also derive some income from it?

It's a hobby. I derive a lot of pleasure from it. Rarely any sort of income.

Dave

 

[Ridgemont]

If you have several acoustic guitars, why? If you have several of the same brand, why? What is your return? Because they sound different, because different sounds inspire you to write, because they look good... why?

And... is guitar playing just a hobby to you or do you also derive some income from it?

The biggest factor is tone and what you want for that specific situation. My arsenal of song is pretty diverse and some guitars work better for different songs from different genres. For example, I love playing the blues on little mahogany guitars. But when I was asked to play some fingerstyle stuff for my brother-in-law's wedding, I chose a rosewood guitar for a full sound with a greater vocal range. If I were to play songs that required heavy strumming and projection, I would choose a D25. Whether all the same brand of different brands, each guitar has its own character and personality. You appreciate the strengths in each.

 

[lonesome picker]

I have several guitars....


...because I CAN.

So here.........

 

[frettedstrings]

I own two Guild Acoustic Guitars, a '75 D-35 and a '67 F212. Beside the fact that the D-35 is a 6 string and the F212 is a 12 string, I do use each guitar for certain sounds. Sometimes it is simply because I want a fuller sound or a less full sound. I like to play a lot of Celtic Style Music: English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, etc. For Sea Shanty Style Songs, my F212 (or in the past, a 12 String Guitar has been the guitar of choice), but for soft ballad style songs (i.e. Danny Boy; Loch Lomond), I choose to use a 6 string (which now is my D-35). Both of these guitars have a Mahogany back and sides and a spruce top, but the F212 is a Jumbo Style Guild and the D-35 is a Dreadnaught. I must say, that these are my first two Guild Guitars after playing several laminated top brands previously. I am hooked. I don't know if I will add another acoustic to my fold, soon or not, but I believe when I do, it will definitely be another Guild. I am a hobbyist, at best, even though I have been playing the acooustic guitar for 30 years or so. I enjoy playing a couple times per month at two local coffee houses that raise money for charity.

 

[Bing k]

What? huh? I'm supposed to have valid reasons for all these guitars. hummmmm :?

 

[chazmo]

Something about acoustic guitars really appeals to me. I seek out the ones that really speak to me. I'm probably an average level player, but I do know what I like when I hear it or feel it... That's fundamentally what brought me to Guild. That and fascination with the brand itself.

I think I've gone off the deep end a bit in recent years hoarding them, and my "collection" is dwindling. It's been a-barely-break-even-to-losing proposition financially. I'm not in it for that game anyway. I think I'm going to whittle it down from 13 to around 6 or 7, with only one or two 6-strings in the mix. I generally only reach for the 12ers when I have the time; the 6ers languish.

 

[West R Lee]

Several reasons I guess. Because I can?....yes, I guess that's part of it. To experiment with sound, tone, etc., because I enjoy the Westerly heritage. As in investment as they'll (Westerlys) will never be built again. I've never made a penny with them, and never will......except for the time Jeff's wife put a dollar in my guitar case so that I could say I'd played professionally. More than anything, a deep, heart felt appreciation for them......and I only collect Westerly built Guild guitars.

West

 

[frettedstrings]

Chaz,

You most definitely cannot give up the acoustics that you've already named ! :shock:


fretted

 

[chazmo]

Hey, thanks fretted, but I think it's time. My most awesome '71 F-50R is now in frosty's hands, and the '67 ("Cap") is likely to be sold soon too. We'll see.

 

[chazmo]

Several reasons I guess. Because I can?....yes, I guess that's part of it. [ ... ]

I forgot to mention this, and I think it's a very important point to make (thanks, West). When I was younger, I couldn't afford to do this. And now, with my kids getting closer to college (hopefully) age, I am once again unable to afford it to the level I've taken it. I don't look at these guitars as investments (though some might)... As such, even though I derive a lot of joy from having them and talking about them with folks on LTG and elsewhere, they are clearly a luxury for me, and cannot be justified in the current context of my life.

I firmly believe that having multiple guitars is something that you should be able to afford with discretionary funds and not go into hock over.

 

[livemusic]

....and I only collect Westerly built Guild guitars.

How do you know if a guitar was built there? Certain years or what?

 

[fused]

If you have several acoustic guitars, why?

Because I NEED them! They all have personalities. We have a home studio and its cool to have access to all of those personalities.

If you have several of the same brand, why?

Because I like the brand? No dups on models, just makes.

And... is guitar playing just a hobby to you or do you also derive some income from it?

It started off as a hobby, became a profession, and intentionally is back to being a very cool hobby again. Playing semi-pro took something away from music for me.
Now, I am just fused... Nothing more, nothing less... A very happy fused

 

[walrus]

What Chazmo said goes for me too - I have had multiple guitars in the past, now I have just one acoustic and one electric. Perhaps when the kids are on their own I will get into having more than that again. But other life issues take precedence right now, and for the foreseeable future.

walrus

 

[fronobulax]

....and I only collect Westerly built Guild guitars.

How do you know if a guitar was built there? Certain years or what?

You know because you have obsessed over Guilds for years :wink:

Generally the year or the label will tell you. From the beginning, American made Guilds have been made in NYC, Hoboken, Westerly, Corona, Tacoma and New Hartford.

Westerly years are approximately 1970-2005 plus or minus about 5 years on either end because I am not looking up the exact dates.

The label often has the place of manufacture although not always and sometimes labels were used during or after move.

You probably want a copy of the Guild Guitar Book, although you should wait until the reprint - expected in March 2011, appears in stores again.

 

[mbaker824]

If you have several acoustic guitars, why? If you have several of the same brand, why? What is your return? Because they sound different, because different sounds inspire you to write, because they look good... why?

And... is guitar playing just a hobby to you or do you also derive some income from it?

I have several guitars because each has something different to offer, in terms of both tone and look. More importantly, though, I just love guitars; to me they're works of art and I enjoy owning and playing them. At present I don't own more than one of a particular brand (see my signature for the list), but that will probably change. When I first started playing, back in the late 60s, I could barely afford one guitar, and now that I can afford to own a collection, I do. I've never earned a dime from playing guitar; it's strictly a hobby for me, at least for now...

Mark

 

[dklsplace]

Similar to the question my wife asked when we first got married......why do you "need" more than one guitar? My response.....why do you need more than one pair of shoes? Down to the basics, the reasons are the same. Different guitars to achieve different results based on the usage.

I own a number of Guilds, no two of the same line. Also own a few other brands which also fit/fill other niches that aren't covered by my Guilds. Made a living with them for several years, but now play as a volunteer at church.

 

[Yoko Oh No]

Why do I have several guitars....simple....because each is a chick magnet that attracts a different type of women:

Let's put it this way:

Les Paul.....GINGER
Rickenbacker.....MARYANN
Guild....Mrs. Howell
Jazz Bass....the Professor

I'm saving to buy one of those double neck Gibsons....YEAH BABY!!!