Members d03nut Posted March 31, 2007 Members Posted March 31, 2007 I'm always wondering what would "happen" to my playing "habits" if I owned more guitars than my current roster of two acoustics. How would I "schedule" which got played? Would I eventually lose interest in some and slowly revert to my old "monogamous" ways? I think I would play more often (and probably longer) since I could then match my every mood with the "appropriate" choice of guitar, whereas right now I sometimes "give up" too prematurely. Really, it's all about the surroundings and circumstances for me. Like when I don't want to make a lot of noise, or when I need a more comfortable guitar, etc. having a lot of choices must surely help. I imagine one for every occasion: On the sofa
Members kwakatak Posted March 31, 2007 Members Posted March 31, 2007 I'm always wondering what would "happen" to my playing "habits" if I owned more guitars than my current roster of two acoustics. How would I "schedule" which got played? Would I eventually lose interest in some and slowly revert to my old "monogamous" ways? I think I would play more often (and probably longer) since I could then match my every mood with the "appropriate" choice of guitar, whereas right now I sometimes "give up" too prematurely. Really, it's all about the surroundings and circumstances for me. Like when I don't want to make a lot of noise, or when I need a more comfortable guitar, etc. having a lot of choices must surely help. I imagine one for every occasion: On the sofa
Members Hudman Posted March 31, 2007 Members Posted March 31, 2007 I'm always wondering what would "happen" to my playing "habits" if I owned more guitars than my current roster of two acoustics. How would I "schedule" which got played? Would I eventually lose interest in some and slowly revert to my old "monogamous" ways? I think I would play more often (and probably longer) since I could then match my every mood with the "appropriate" choice of guitar, whereas right now I sometimes "give up" too prematurely. Really, it's all about the surroundings and circumstances for me. Like when I don't want to make a lot of noise, or when I need a more comfortable guitar, etc. having a lot of choices must surely help. I imagine one for every occasion: On the sofa
Members recordingtrack1 Posted March 31, 2007 Members Posted March 31, 2007 Hey D03, I'm kind of manic about it. Usually I can't make up my mind and I go through 4 or 5 each night. Also back and forth between acoustic and electric until one of them strikes me right. It's weird. Some days I pick up a guitar and it may feel kind of cold and even unpleasant in my hands. I almost immediately put it down and grab another. I might come back to that guitar a little later and it can feel totally different. I usually play several in one setting, then on the other hand I might go for days and play nothing but one of my acoustics, My Alvarez MD 80, in particular, when I'm just jamming around the house. However, when I play out some place, I always play my Taylor Jumbo because it sounds amazing plugged in. RT1:)
Members Cripes Posted March 31, 2007 Members Posted March 31, 2007 I like a lot of guitars but that has little to do with my playing. A fairly recent study of myself, by myself in a controlled environment and oblivious state of mind, has revealed that I am largely monogamous. One guitar is in standard tuning/pitch, while one is for experimenting with other tunings. I don't play in other tunings much. A year ago I had 7 guitars. One got a lot of play time. So, I divested myself of - sold/traded/donated - all of them and picked up two. I do not anticipate going up. I'm adapting to the guitar I play most and get my greener grass and box-busting needs from the other when that side of me calls.
Members carguy Posted March 31, 2007 Members Posted March 31, 2007 Sounds like you want somebody to tell you that you must have more than one guitar. Well...... I have three acoustics and three electrics. I'm still not sure that they are enough (even though my wife is certain that they are).
Members DonK Posted March 31, 2007 Members Posted March 31, 2007 I'm not very systematic. I always have a few guitars that are sort of my "go-to's", and the rest get played when the urge strikes. Over the past year my Eric Johnson Strat has become my go-to electric. I play my LP Studio a good bit too; obviously a very different sound, great for plug in and play thick tones. All my other electrics sit in various nooks and crannies and tend to get played when I get an impulse; the exception is my Gretsch, which has some specific uses (jazzier and twangier stuff). Acoustic is a little more complicated. My D-41 gets a lot of play, but so does my Aria AD-80. For fingerstyle, I turn to my Taylor, though that may change when the Johnson arrives (I really like short scale guitars for fingerstyle). The Taylor has electronics, though, so it gets the nod whenever I need those. I play my Gallagher for acoustic jams with friends; it's LOUD!. I freely admit to being a collector of sorts as well as a player. I could easily get by with a lot less than I have.
Members MBWendel Posted March 31, 2007 Members Posted March 31, 2007 I agree with you, Donut. I think that certain instruments match certain styles, tunings or moods. I prefer an OM for some things. I prefer a parlor for other things. I like the small jumbos for more of the modern "new age" stuff. A resonator for slide. Dreads for everything. Then throw in a Banjo and a Mandolin. I definitely like options and more instruments are, generally, better than fewer. YMMV. Oh, well.
Members d03nut Posted March 31, 2007 Author Members Posted March 31, 2007 One or two or ten guitars, it's still a hard habit to break....And I like it that way.... See now I'm in the mood for some chinese...still haven't played a Blueridge...
Members Queequeg Posted March 31, 2007 Members Posted March 31, 2007 when I pick up a guitar different tunes, specific to that instrument are conjured up.sometimes I'll just grab one I havent played for a while because I will then be reminded of tunes I haven't played lately. each one seems to have its own repertoire of favorites.
Members Berkleo Posted March 31, 2007 Members Posted March 31, 2007 I imagine one for every occasion: On the sofa
Members guit30 Posted March 31, 2007 Members Posted March 31, 2007 I've always liked having one guitar, when I was younger, 2, 1 electric and 1 acoustic. Jim:wave:
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted March 31, 2007 Members Posted March 31, 2007 Standard DADGAD Drop D Open C How freakin' lazy is that! Not lazy...PRACTICAL! Each of my guitars are strung for the particular tuning that it's kept in, or has other "purposes"...thus, I have a reason for every one of my guitars... Standard tuned 6-string - Guild JF-4 #1 Standard tuned 12-string - Taylor 355 Standard tuned electric - MIJ Telecaster Open-G 12-string - Guild F212XL #1 Open-D/DADGAD 12-string - Guild F212XL #2 Nashville tuned 12-string - no-name (Hondo II?) Japanese Guild 112 knock-off Open C/African-tuned 6-string - Guild JF-4 #2 Beater 6-string for camping/loaning to drunk friends to jam with - Yamaha FG-160 Jazz guitar - '56 Gibson J-200 Baritone buitar - '54 J-200 Guitars than NEVER go to gigs or are handled by others - '64 Tele, "Banner" Gibson J-45, The Hall Danolectro Collection And then there's my basses, mandos, banjos, balalaika, domra, ukes, dulcimer, bouzouki, etc...
Members brahmz118 Posted March 31, 2007 Members Posted March 31, 2007 I think that my guitar rotation is determined more by my listening habits than my mood. Sometimes I choose what I listen to, but sometimes I just happen to see a YouTube video, or I hear a soundclip from someone on this forum, or I shuffle to a particular mp3 on my iPod, and suddenly I'm in the mood for that kind of guitar. I have a lot of music featuring 6-string, 12-string, and classical guitars (lots of Kottke and Towner), so my RainSong, Emerald, and La Patrie get a lot of playing time. I don't own too many recordings which feature a steel-bodied reso, so my National gets played the least. But whenever I do hear some sweet slide playing, I can't grab the National fast enough.
Members JasmineTea Posted April 1, 2007 Members Posted April 1, 2007 In the arms of a lover - does not apply. unless headphones are involvedMan, and I thought I was wierd. My 000-1 Martin gets 99.994% of my playing time, the rest goes to my tele. I own aprox 17 stringed instruments. Why? I don't really know. I guess just because it's the one that hits the spot. I spent most of last summer playing my dread though. Headphone-wearing-lovers aside.
Members kwakatak Posted April 1, 2007 Members Posted April 1, 2007 Man, and I thought I was wierd. What's weird about it? She doesn't like when I play when there's other things that need to be done. Isn't that how marriage is supposed to be?
Members JasmineTea Posted April 1, 2007 Members Posted April 1, 2007 Making love while wearing headphones? C'mon...
Members kwakatak Posted April 1, 2007 Members Posted April 1, 2007 Making love while wearing headphones? C'mon... I gotta go back and look because I don't think I said that.
Members exhaust_49 Posted April 1, 2007 Members Posted April 1, 2007 I have one acoustic and one electric guitar. My acoustic is my #1 guitar. Anything I play on it sounds good, fingerpicking, strumming with a pick, anything. Right now I'm trying to keep myself away from my strat. I find that because my strat has a different nut spacing than my acoustic, when I rotate playing both guitars, my playing suffers because I have to get used to the different nut spacing. The only other guitar I might think of getting is a nice nylon string. Why needs an amp anyway?
Members JasmineTea Posted April 1, 2007 Members Posted April 1, 2007 I gotta go back and look because I don't think I said that. Woops. My fault. I'll need to read a little more carefully...
Members missedmyexit Posted April 2, 2007 Members Posted April 2, 2007 I now have 4 guitars, My electric probably gets played the least since It requires me plugging into the amp. I thought when I bought the Martin my Epi PR5 wouldn't get any love at all. But to my suprize my laziness has worked it into a decent rotation. The Epi is hanging on the wall and the Martin in it's case when I'm not playing. So unless I'm going to be playing for awhile I don't spend the time pulling it out of the case. Just grab the one right on the wall. Also having two acoustics, I've been playing around with alternate tunings more myself.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.