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A friend and I believe that it can, but for different reasons. I'll quickly outline the story to better understand where we're both coming from. He considers himself a "long time player", because we both got lessons at the age of eleven. He forgets that I started learning six years before that. And since I have no real social obligations anymore, I tend to hang out on my computer all day generally studying techniques and styles, along with about three to four hours practice a day. He believes that he only needs to see the technique once or see the tab once before he's ready to practice it for about fifteen minutes, then he's "mastered it". I wish I had comparison clips for you, but he keeps forgetting to record them for me.
So then, my reasoning:
I tend to buy guitars now based on the genres I associate them with. If they meet with the genre I want to learn, I buy it. For example, a HSH Ibanez is for metal, a SSS Strat is for blues and cleans, a LP type is for rockin' and buttery lead work. I take a very basic view on guitars-for-genres because it simplifies things for me. I can easily translate these skills onto other guitars, but generally I get the sounds I want from my basic views. When I have the sound, I get to practising. Then, obviously, I improve.
His reasoning:
He believes that the more gear he has and the better the quality of it (i.e. how much it's worth or how much it cost), the better his sound will be. The better the sound, the more he can get away with. For example, speedy, accurate lead work can be sloppy so long as there's enough distortion to hide it. Chord work can be sloppy so long as there's a good amount of reverb (which I don't quite understand), and cleans can be sloppy so long as there's a large use of effects like chorus, flange, delay etc etc.
So to me, having more gear made me a better player, even if it was an unnecessary expense. I suppose if I didn't have such particular standards about tone in different genres, I could learn them all on one guitar. To me, it's about being inspired to learn the different styles by the instrument used. So I suppose it's equal parts image and tonal ability of the instrument. A flawed perception, but ultimately effective.
What are your thoughts and opinions?
So then, my reasoning:
I tend to buy guitars now based on the genres I associate them with. If they meet with the genre I want to learn, I buy it. For example, a HSH Ibanez is for metal, a SSS Strat is for blues and cleans, a LP type is for rockin' and buttery lead work. I take a very basic view on guitars-for-genres because it simplifies things for me. I can easily translate these skills onto other guitars, but generally I get the sounds I want from my basic views. When I have the sound, I get to practising. Then, obviously, I improve.
His reasoning:
He believes that the more gear he has and the better the quality of it (i.e. how much it's worth or how much it cost), the better his sound will be. The better the sound, the more he can get away with. For example, speedy, accurate lead work can be sloppy so long as there's enough distortion to hide it. Chord work can be sloppy so long as there's a good amount of reverb (which I don't quite understand), and cleans can be sloppy so long as there's a large use of effects like chorus, flange, delay etc etc.
So to me, having more gear made me a better player, even if it was an unnecessary expense. I suppose if I didn't have such particular standards about tone in different genres, I could learn them all on one guitar. To me, it's about being inspired to learn the different styles by the instrument used. So I suppose it's equal parts image and tonal ability of the instrument. A flawed perception, but ultimately effective.
What are your thoughts and opinions?
Originally Posted by Fork Man
You could buy an Indy car and practice, and you'll do better in the race than if you were to use a tractor :idk: I get what you mean, though. Taking the "one right tool" approach isn't exactly cost effective, nor is it totally necessary. But the results are what I wanted. Also, I probably should've used better wording. I'm interested to hear other people's stories :thu:
I could buy an Indy car, but I won't win the race. Sure, you want gear that inspires, but like the old saw says: "A poor workman blames his tools." EG
[FONT=Tahoma]Either you have the talent, the drive, ambition, motivation and opportunity to practice and play or you don't.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Tahoma]I believe gear hording to be a dissorder/sickness which hinders us from bettering our guitar playing abilities.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Tahoma]I am very sickly.[/FONT]
![Elessar [Sly]](/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/398i915F132E7FE3A90D/image-dimensions/128x72/image-coordinates/45%2C1%2C274%2C206?v=mpbl-1 "Elessar [Sly]"){kind=avatar}
This thought had occurred to myself and other musical friends. But we kept it to ourselves in case we were just being dicks. But... The more gear he gets, the more it looks that way. The last time we "jammed" together (read: I played, he watched), I was using four guitars (Ibanez RG, Washburn KC, oddball with Les Paul tones and a CV sounding Squier Strat), with a 4040 multi-effects and a Kustom 2x12" amp. Naturally, I changed guitars and effects depending on what I was jamming. When he eventually did play, he used one guitar (his most expensive: Ibanez RGA32, HH active pickups) and a Laney 4x12" cab with Laney head. No effects, just huge amounts of distortion and reverb, no matter what the vibe. Needless to say, regardless of the vibe it sounded awful. With regard to our amps... Sure, his is most certainly better than mine. But we're bedroom rockers for the most part. And when I play gigs, I use an even smaller amp.
I don't agree with your friend. Having more and better gear will more than likely show up one's weaknesses, than mask them. The only benefit I can see is superficial; people will assume one knows what one's doing based upon the quality and quantity of his gear, but I've known people with lots more than I have, who can barely string together a 30 second pentatonic solo.
Eh, no reason to put that much thought into it. Some people are really inspired by having or acquiring more and better gear - nicer guitars, big amps, a huge effects board - and likely play better as a result. Others, myself included, are just fine practicing 'naked'. How somebody else chooses to play is no skin off my nose - I just do what inspires me. 
Eh, no reason to put that much thought into it. Some people are really inspired by having or acquiring more and better gear - nicer guitars, big amps, a huge effects board - and likely play better as a result. Others, myself included, are just fine practicing 'naked'. How somebody else chooses to play is no skin off my nose - I just do what inspires me.
Good post, bro. Very understanding :thu:
I suppose to anyone that's familiar with my posts, it's fairly obvious that I over-think everything... It's a combination of nothing better to do and that reality at face value makes no sense to me :lol:
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