Rate Your Gear, Locally and Worldwide! [Archive]

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atomicmassunit

10-19-2008, 09:12 PM

Hey guys.

I've been doing a lot of reading about consumerism and overspending in America. A lot of what I've read has been very interesting, especially when you think about our endless GAS as musicians. In the past, a lot of American spending has been about keeping up with our neighbors, friends, family and community. With the internet and TV and the marketing and advertising that goes on there, our 'community' or people whose lifestyles we're trying to emulate has expanded. One of the things that I thought about was my own gear collection. Before the internet, I was buying whatever looked cool in the music catalogs, local shop, or what older, more affluent musicians were using. Now, my gear is world class, a lot of it what my heros are using or did use, or stuff I'd have never imagined I could own. I think for me, one of the motivating factors was looking at the gear of a lot of guys here and on BaM. I'm looking at my gear and realizing that I (a lowly music store employee and gigging musician) have the same stuff that guys who make 10x my income have. But still, the desire for more, for better. In my (non gear) life I'm making a conscious effort to be frugal, live below my means, save save save, doing without a lot of things my friends and family have, like cable, new clothes, shoes, cars, going out to eat. I'm trying to look at what I have and be grateful and happy, realizing that with gear, I'm comparing myself to a worldwide group of people, and not being very realistic about it...

So, here's poll on how we here at TGP rank our own gear versus others locally and worldwide.

michael.e

10-19-2008, 09:26 PM

Oh, I rate my gear as some of the best gear available worldwide.

But then,

I need more help than others........

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/M_E113123/GEAR/DSC09897.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/M_E113123/GEAR/DSC09898.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/M_E113123/GEAR/DSC09899.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/M_E113123/GEAR/DSC09902.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/M_E113123/GEAR/DSC09906.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/M_E113123/GEAR/DSC09903.jpg
But then, I am an overspending, fiscally abusive, gas hog feeding American pig....

Emee

jads57

10-19-2008, 09:29 PM

Ok where`s your Dumble hiding?

gkoelling

10-19-2008, 09:57 PM

How do you like the little Vox?

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/M_E113123/GEAR/DSC09902.jpg

Thanks

michael.e

10-19-2008, 10:06 PM

How do you like the little Vox?

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/M_E113123/GEAR/DSC09902.jpg

Thanks

Honestly, I LOVE this little amp!!

Numerous tones from this little box, I am only using the JMI during multi amp rehearsals. Otherwise, it is silent. The Vox gives me a TON of Voxy tones at great volumes, it records incredibly well....

Killer amp and an impressive product all around.

Emee

rhinocaster

10-19-2008, 10:12 PM

I had to go with the first option.

None of my gear choices have been limited by price. In every case, I've purchased the best gear for my style that I've come across. There may be better stuff out there than I'm playing, but I haven't found it yet.

If I do find something better, I'll buy it.

shredtrash

10-20-2008, 12:59 PM

I think I'm playing some of the best stuff in my town. There are some guys on TGP though that have me whipped! Some of you guys have some amazing stuff...and a lot of it!

DiazDude

10-20-2008, 01:05 PM

Had to go with the 1st choice. If only my skill could match the quality of my gear. :eek:

MuseCafeChris

10-20-2008, 01:08 PM

Third choice, as my personal rule is no more than $1K for any single piece of gear.

loudboy

10-20-2008, 01:09 PM

Best in terms of $, or in terms of sound?

One of my best-sounding and playing guitars is a partscaster Esquire, that I've got $200 into. It's w/in spitting distance of my real '57 Tele, in terms of sound, and is indistinguishable in feel.

I've also got a rig w/a Rat, JCM800 and 2x12 that will stand up to any rig I've heard for classic/blues rock tone.

BIGGERSTAFF

10-20-2008, 01:39 PM

There are some folks that have me beat quantitatively, but I'd put my gear up against most anything I've seen anywhere nearby.

dets1

10-20-2008, 02:21 PM

michael, is that a picture of englebert above the red marshall. just wondering. i mean, i don't have a problem if you're a closet humperdincker. :eek:

prsflame

10-20-2008, 03:24 PM

shngn7

10-20-2008, 03:50 PM

I have to go with the second choice. Most people, at least that I know or have come across, in my town have never even heard of Fulltone, Analogman, Keeley, etc.

Jahn

10-20-2008, 04:02 PM

I picked the "on par" pick - but then, Local for me is NYC so I guess I ain't hurtin'.

8Painting

10-20-2008, 04:06 PM

Oh, I rate my gear as some of the best gear available worldwide.
But then, I am an overspending, fiscally abusive, gas hog feeding American pig....

Emee

I wanna know 2 things.

What band are you in?

How are the acoustics of a room that appears to be 6x6?

Gigbag

10-20-2008, 04:40 PM

I just buy and keep what works for me, and that I can afford.

I have no single piece of gear that cost more than $1,500. I still use gear I bought 25 years ago (some), and most of my gear is at least 10 years old.

stratman89

10-20-2008, 08:24 PM

While I took the second choice with my gear being better than most in town, the more time I spend on TGP I may be changing it to the first choice. :worried

cody_scu

10-20-2008, 08:31 PM

I own nice stuff, mostly boutique, but I don't really care if it's "on par" with what others have. I play what I like, and what works for *me*. I have scaled back, and sold off alot, and I'm down to a few choice guitars/amps.

+1

If I don't use, I move it on. I loved my Maz Jr., but I only liked it with my strat, so it had to go.

Cody

Dana-L

10-20-2008, 08:46 PM

I've got the best gear in town and I always will. Even if I have to move.

;)

-Dana

darth_vader

10-20-2008, 08:47 PM

I play a range of Chinese/Korean/Mexican guitars through a shiny new Chinese AC30. Call it whatever you want, but I've never had any complaints about my tone. In fact, I get complimented regularly on my sound.

Josh O

10-20-2008, 08:54 PM

+1

If I don't use, I move it on. I loved my Maz Jr., but I only liked it with my strat, so it had to go.

Cody

Same here. I've been through quite a bit of mainstream and boutique gear and I'm down to one electric, one acoustic, one amp, a couple of pedals and my Axe-FX.

shane88

10-20-2008, 09:15 PM

TieDyedDevil

10-20-2008, 09:19 PM

We have top-notch builders and some incredible musicians. I won't name them for fear of leaving out someone who really deserves a mention.

We also have a *lot* of musicians. Maybe it's just the places I hang out or the company I keep (I am not a full-time musician, BTW) but it seems like one out of every ten or so people I meet makes music of some kind.

And because there are a lot of people making music, there are a lot of venues for them to play at. Everything from the open mics where you can get your 15 minutes a week no matter what your skill level, all the way up to multiple venues that'll accommodate touring acts having draws anywhere from 500 to 20,000 or so.

Portland hosts annual jazz and blues festivals as well as a pop festival known as Music Fest NW (which replaces the NXNW festival of former years).

And with all that, I'm *certain* that I'm overlooking other burgeoning scenes.

What I'm trying to get at is this: I don't know how I'd *begin* to compare my gear with that owned by other musicians on a local level, let alone globally. From my point of view, I have nice gear. Very nice, in fact. None of it's vintage or unotainable, although two of my guitars are one-offs. I've spent a fair amount of time and effort finding gear that supports my own musical vision, playing style and budget. I'm happy with it.

I can't even guess at where my modest collection would "rate" locally. I know for damned sure that it's neither at the top nor the bottom of the list. Beyond that, I just don't have a clue. I've met incredibly talented players whose entire rigs cost less than one of my guitars, players who own one guitar worth more than all my MI gear combined, and collectors whose holdings are valued at some ridiculous multiple of my net worth.

I'm almost inclined to answer that my gear "... is on par with most local players, nice stuff but nothing outrageously expensive", but I know that's a matter of perspective. If there are thousands (or more likely tens of thousands) of players with $300 guitars and amps, and a few guys with $30,000 to $300,000 pieces, where do guys like me fit in? Somewhere in between: not "on par with most local players", but not "the best gear in my town" either. At least not if you consider value to correlate with quality...

Which brings me back to having carefully chosen gear that makes me happy to play. Honestly I wouldn't swap my gear for anything else I've played, even some very expensive and/or rare pieces. In that sense, I *might* have the best gear in the world. But you might not feel the same way...

devinb

10-21-2008, 09:21 AM

I picked "on par" too. Nothing I own is expensive by any real standard, people pay as much or more for crap all the time...

That said, I think the tones available to me are "on par" with those on my favorite records.

The local engineer I work with told me Sunday that the guitar tones on one of my songs is his favorite that he's ever worked on (it was actually not recorded by him, but in a session in Chicago, he mixed it though). The guitar was a Legacy, the amp the Hammerhead...on the used market, they can be had every day of the week for $800 a piece or less. The engineer will have at least one album up for a Grammy this year.

Dave Orban

10-21-2008, 09:46 AM

I'd put my gig rig up against anyones...

Now, I just have to learn how to actually play it, and everything will be hunky dory...

michael.e

10-21-2008, 10:40 AM

I wanna know 2 things.

What band are you in?

How are the acoustics of a room that appears to be 6x6?

Please explain the spirit of your questioning. You are coming off a bit aggro.

What if I am a home player... It makes me what??

The space is not 6x6 and that wooden back door resonates with amps at high volumes fantastically actually. I have a friend in particular that bought my old Jubilee say that he could not get the amp to get "that sound" that we got in my music room. My old BM AC30 also never sounded better than in that room. As of late, I keep volumes down anyway due to neighbors restrictions [rightly so].

I really hope the hint of sarcasm that I was detecting in your post was not the case... I cannot understand why it would bother you so much.

I find myself in the fortunate position of being a steward of these fine examples of early amps and high end amps. They will not be mine forever and I am doing my part to respect them and keep them healthy in my tenure.

2 things that annoy me is people ownin piles of stuff they don't use and cashed up "born again" players with new hi end gear that they can't play
it's been about 7 years since i bought any gear..... i'm happy with what i've got + most of you would call it midrange
This says much more about you, than it does these "born again" players. I am sorry you feel that way, too much of this crap in the world already.

Emee

michael.e

10-21-2008, 10:48 AM

michael, is that a picture of englebert above the red marshall. just wondering. i mean, i don't have a problem if you're a closet humperdincker. :eek:

Well, while I am a closet humperdinker anyway, that is a thread for the Pub....:D

The picture is the jacket for a 45 record single that a friend brought back as a gift for me from Japan. It resembles what I strive to be like in my own life....
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/M_E113123/HPIM0934-1.jpg

Emee

stratotonedude

10-21-2008, 10:54 AM

I have the real shit.

Randaddy

10-21-2008, 11:20 AM

2 things that annoy me is people ownin piles of stuff they don't use and cashed up "born again" players with new hi end gear that they can't play
it's been about 7 years since i bought any gear..... i'm happy with what i've got + most of you would call it midrange

So what you're saying is that you are angry that some people make more money than you do, and that they choose to spend it on music gear.

8Painting

10-21-2008, 12:03 PM

Please explain the spirit of your questioning. You are coming off a bit aggro.

What if I am a home player... It makes me what??

The space is not 6x6 and that wooden back door resonates with amps at high volumes fantastically actually. I have a friend in particular that bought my old Jubilee say that he could not get the amp to get "that sound" that we got in my music room. My old BM AC30 also never sounded better than in that room. As of late, I keep volumes down anyway due to neighbors restrictions [rightly so].

I really hope the hint of sarcasm that I was detecting in your post was not the case... I cannot understand why it would bother you so much.

Emee

Sorry if i was sarcarstic prior, its just frustrating for me to see something like that that doesnt get used. Must be my own personality type issue. I'm the type of guy who'd drive a bunch of high end cars to their limits, knowing that i could always fix something if it broke rather than rubbing them with a diaper in a garage, and firing them up once and awhile and driving them around the block.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter whos got what, but it is pretty cool youve got all that stuff, just get out and play it loud at least! Haha

michael.e

10-21-2008, 12:12 PM

I am in two different recording/gigging projects and I am building a third. They ALL get used and turned up. I drag my 1/2 stack around and turn up my 50 watters to at least 5/8 to 3/4 the way up in the old school punk project.

That fact makes me no more viable a steward of these fine amps than if I was a home studio noodler. I am not in to that elitist crap.

kurtsstuff

10-21-2008, 12:19 PM

I have some pretty cool stuff that works for me...Could give a rats ass about "who has what"...If it floats your boat then..it's all good!

michael.e

10-21-2008, 12:23 PM

I have some pretty cool stuff that works for me...Could give a rats ass about "who has what"...If it floats your boat then..it's all good!

That said brother.... Your Bogner rig is ILL!!!!!!

:bow

Emee

Scott Auld

10-21-2008, 12:35 PM

Now, I just have to learn how to actually play it,

Yeah, right....

Deacon

10-21-2008, 12:43 PM

None of the categories totally fits where my gear would stack up.

I guess the closest would be the "I have the best gear in my town" answer, but I know of a few guys who arguably have "better" (i.e. more pricey) gear than I have. I also know that the gear I use is higher end or at least as high end as many successful touring guitarists (see below).

All in all, though, I'm way beyond happy w/ the gear I have. The quality is far above anything a mook like me would ever really use to its fullest extent.

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l306/bluzgitr/DBR_Guitars20080925.jpg

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l306/bluzgitr/Z28_front.jpg

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l306/bluzgitr/FuchsGibsonHistorics004a.jpg

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l306/bluzgitr/DSCN0108_062a.jpg

shane88

10-21-2008, 07:08 PM

So what you're saying is that you are angry that some people make more money than you do, and that they choose to spend it on music gear.
i'm sayin i don't like waste :crazyguy

i think i said this b4 ... if you don't play 'em, give 'em to someone who will
donate some instruments to a school or something
it's sad that you'd judge your worth on how much you earn or own

Dotneck

10-21-2008, 07:31 PM

None of the categories totally fits where my gear would stack up.

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l306/bluzgitr/DBR_Guitars20080925.jpg

I started reading this post...and saw the first picture and thought..."this looks like Doug's gear...then I looked at the header and started to laff 'cause I was right!

Dotneck

10-21-2008, 07:36 PM

I voted #2

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/2862959136_0e8529d0b8_o.jpg

Dotneck

10-21-2008, 07:37 PM

ii think i said this b4 ... if you don't play 'em, give 'em to someone who will
donate some instruments to a school or something

So do you approve of my rig? This is the one in the back room of my shop....

:huh

michael.e

10-21-2008, 09:07 PM

i'm sayin i don't like waste :crazyguy

i think i said this b4 ... if you don't play 'em, give 'em to someone who will
donate some instruments to a school or something
it's sad that you'd judge your worth on how much you earn or own

Couple things......

Define "waste"

Why is your "waste", my "waste" [or anybody elses]

You are totally missing the point about judging worth, or do you just not want to see it.

"Ahh, such a beautiful day! Pity I feel so full of aggro...."
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y175/M_E113123/goodvibeManor.jpg

Emee

rhinocaster

10-21-2008, 09:50 PM

Envy breeds contempt.

halorealm7

10-21-2008, 09:55 PM

Ahahaha!! My God I'm dying here. JV Strat/5 watt tube amp/5 pedals= Playin 30 years and still don't know shit-only audience is my dogs and even they leave after a couple minutes. The way I got it figured, it wouldn't do me a lot of good to buy anything nice. I won't lie, I am envious of those who can play and have really nice stuff. I think looking, gassing and getting over it is probably the best thing for me.

Peeb

10-21-2008, 09:57 PM

My stuff is inexpensive, but not "cheap".

michael.e

10-21-2008, 10:20 PM

halorealm7

10-21-2008, 10:40 PM

You sir, are my new hero...

PLEASE teach me how to get over it...

I can never make it that far..

Emee

Perhaps my situation is different than yours. My wallet says no, my credit card says no, my bank says no. Eventually you learn to just go with the flow.
Kinda like the old B.O.A song goes: I ain't sayin' whats right or wrong, I'm just sayin' how it is.

shane88

10-22-2008, 02:20 AM

I got a weird pm b4 from a member who thinks my comments are condescending.
That wasn't my intention. Since I don't know any of you personally, I could hardly be talking of specific people.

Deacon

10-22-2008, 09:17 AM

You know me too well. :)

BTW ... that acoustic on the far right of pic is my Martin D18-GE. OMG what an amazing guitar. It kills all those great acoustics I tried out at Fat Sound when we got together. :dude

I started reading this post...and saw the first picture and thought..."this looks like Doug's gear...then I looked at the header and started to laff 'cause I was right!