Can your skills stop you from enjoying a guitar to its full potential?

[mojocaster.com]

I wonder... for example, let's say you play $2K guitars, and enjoy them. Then one day, after gasing for one of those $4K guitars, you finally get one... and you're not overwhelmed. You keep thinking about the two $2K guitars you sold to acquire the $4K one, and you don't think that the difference between the two "classes" was worth $2K.

Could that be because as a player, you have not developed enough yet, that your skills do not "push" the guitar far enough and that its full array of qualities remained untapped in your hands?

Or maybe I'm just waiting for 1700hrs to come by so that I can go home :)

[fretnot]

I personally think the the cost should be left out of the equation. If Fender all of the sudden charged 4k for an American Standard Strat...it wouldn't all of the sudden become some monster player if it wasn't at 1200. A lot of the 4-5k guitars have a lot of bells and whistles, i.e. crazy woods, hand carved appointments, beautiful finishes, etc. Aesthetics, IMO, are not directly correlated to killer tone and playability. Good question though!

[BattleAngel]

I think you'll find that most of the people for whom this would be true, that they can get more out of a $4k+ guitar than you or I would, but they would also be able to get more out of a $2k guitar than you or I would and probably come to the same conclusion anyway!

[Zelmo]

You always 'rise' to the instrument (at least I do). Beyond that, I don't know how you define the 'full potential' of an instrument - or if there is one....

[Terry McInturff]

I suppose that my question is this....you have two guitars that you enjoy...and then you sell them! Why? Now, I think that I know the answer to this...GAS...but maybe its best to keep the dual guitars that you already enjoy, and put the mental energy saved into songwriting, practising,...making music????

Wow...with two guitars, you can have a bigger tonal palette...maybe keep one setup for slide, alternate tuning etc....reserve certain songs in the set for whichever guitar does that song best...

Maybe your dual guitars represent a better "toolbox" for you than would one higher-end guitar...........

Just my thoughts, nuttin' more!

[mojocaster.com]

Interesting thoughts Terry. I guess sometimes you sell two guitars that you like, but you're convinced that you're really gonna love the next one.

I did that w/ a Collings I-35. It was a beautiful guitar. Really beautiful. Everything that people said in terms of craftsmanship was there. But I couldn't help but think that as beautiful as it was, it was not as beautiful as the two guitars I sold.

The other issue at hand is that these guitars are difficult to find and therefore try.

For example, when I bought my first TCM, which was a stunning instrument, by the way, I did so sight unseen. I had never seen one in a store or in person. It so happens that I loved it, but it was a gamble.

And I wish I still had that guitar, but hey, the rent was due. http://img3.harmony-central.com/acapella/ubb/rolleyes.gif http://img3.harmony-central.com/acapella/ubb/facepalm.gif

[bc-cosmo]

Well, some of us just like the chase, and some love the object itself, I suppose--and really, what's so wrong with either of those?

As a player, though, I have to keep reminding myself of the great musicians who do a million incredible things with just one instrument. And often a simple one at that. That's when I put most of the toys away for awhile.

I don't think that a great instrument showcases our faults. More often, it's inspiring.

[Isaac W.]

Hendrix played an off the shelf Strat, no? And one of my favorite pics of Jimmie Page is him playing slide on a masonite Danelectro. Is there a point at which all of the requirements to make music are met and then from there on up it is embelishment and quality workmanship? He asked hopefully. ;)

[mojocaster.com]

I don't know, Isaac... I played one of your guitars tonight, and hot damn, that's some fine craftsmanship right there :)

[iamdavea]

I have several Strat type guitars that play really well, and actually make me a better player than I probably am. If there's a lick I'm trying for and not getting, it's MY fault, not the guitar's. A really good guitar player would feel right at home on what I own. So it's up to me to step up as a player: I have no excuses.

[Isaac W.]

Mojo, You are far too kind! Thank you. I'm so psyched you played it. It makes all the right noises?

[HHB]

yes. If I got into sking and bought skis that actual skiers used I wouldnt be able to feel the difference until I was at a certain level of skill. Having said that when it comes to music sometimes not knowing anything is a godsend

[xroads]

There is a misconception in your statement, IMHO: a more expensive guitar does not mean that it plays better or has a better tonal palette per se. Especially in the price regime above 2k.
Searching for the right guitar is like looking for a girl-friend: the super-model type might be very expensive, gorgeous to look at, and good to impress the crowd. However, it just does not feel right, and there is no fun involved. A good guitar makes a spiritual connection with the player.

[pcovers]

It is an interesting question, but a straw dog scenario nonetheless. Cost of the guitar, at that price point, is pretty irrelevant. I have guitars that have a wide gap between cost of one and cost of another. I do no play any better on the ones that cost more, and conversely, don't play worse or less inspired on the lower cost guitars. IT would be a misconception to think most guys here are buying $6k guitars to sound better than they do on their $2k guitars.

That being said, buying higher end guitars are often as much about the beauty of the particular guitar you are wanting as it is in any enhanced ability it may provide.

[rob2001]

If I understand the premise, would you be saying one could be "not good enough" to appreciate a great guitar? I suppose, but I still don't think the difference between 2K and 4K can be that great. A great player can find the right feel and sounds for 2K and under. IMO, beyond that it's fit, finish and the fine details that could make a guitar worth 2K more than another. Those things don't really affect the tone and feel. Then again, looking down at a great piece of art in your hands may inspire....

But I must say, my opinion probably doesn't mean much. I've never spent 2K, let alone 4K for a guitar, or any single piece of gear!

[Isaac W.]

One of the things that keeps me plugging along is the group of guys over on UG. There are quite a few amateur builders who put together guitars without anything like a proper shop or the finest materials. To watch a vid or listen to an MP3 of a homemade, not so perfect instrument, or something like a heavily modified Squier, and hear a killer tune is inspiring. Finding out they are jamming on a slab of plywood is enough to make me think that just about anything with 6 strings on it will find a home with a motivated player.
Along the lines of the supermodel analogy, though, how much is hair, makeup, tailored clothes and an artificially regulated diet? It also seems to me that for every guy on here who likes a skinny little thing in his fretting hand there is another who prefers it big and fat. ;)

[JeffreyET]

Please forgive me for what may be construed as self-promotion... but my website's testimonials page http://www.jetguitars.com/reviews is stuffed to overflowing with opinions on this issue. Most express the converse opinion, which is that a high-end guitar actually helps them to approach a higher level of playing.

[dead of night]

I feel that even a simple player can enjoy a guitar that's more expensive and has better tone. For example, playing a I to IV chord progression, if it sounds and feels better on the higher end guitar, will bring more joy to the basic guitarist.

[pcovers]

Even the seemingly simple term "higher end" likely has a different meaning to the person using it than it does to the person hearing it. Could most agree that a $100 guitar may not evoke the same level of interest and joy of playing as a $600 guitar (e.g., Reverend)? Probably most would agree in the higher end concept when comparing these differences. But then how many would agree that a "high end" $5k boutique guitar sounds and feels better than their $2k no frills boutique guitar. Probably not nearly as many many.

There are lots of examples of relatively less expensive (yet high quality) guitars that great players, and not so great players, rely on to reach ever higher levels of playing ability.

[willhutch]

To the OP. My opinion is "no".

The issue is getting a guitar that brings out YOUR full potential. Not whether or not you can bring out ITS full potential.

[Isaac W.]

Then again, looking down at a great piece of art in your hands may inspire....


Then there is the fellow who can't get his groove on unless his Tele looks like it was dragged from gig to gig, no? ;)

[mojocaster.com]

To the OP. My opinion is "no".

The issue is getting a guitar that brings out YOUR full potential. Not whether or not you can bring out ITS full potential.

that's a mighty fine point you make right there! :)

[changeling]

I have several Strat type guitars that play really well, and actually make me a better player than I probably am. If there's a lick I'm trying for and not getting, it's MY fault, not the guitar's. A really good guitar player would feel right at home on what I own. So it's up to me to step up as a player: I have no excuses.

post of the year.
r

[Paul Conway]

I've owned some crappy guitars and amps in my time. I've also owned some good stuff. For four years, I played a Reverend Slingshot almost exclusively. However, I've now settled on a Suhr Classic and I can honestly say that it facilitates my playing like none of my previous guitars. This isn't just the dynamics available on it, however - the wider fretboard (both ends) just makes life so much easier for me. I'm not aware of anyone else widening the butt-end on a strat-style neck, so that's me - sold.

[telefan2]

I have had over 50 good guitars in the last 6 years ( i sound like Mojo) all top guitars , TAG, PRS, Collings, Fender Masterbuilt, Chris Geaorge Custom, Santa Cruz, Martin, ... you get the picture? I do believe if i was a better player than i am, i would enjoy the guitars more and play them and concentrate on music than looking for the next guitar that will make me play better? I have had all of the ones i want and have been left with a few i regret i let go, but it has focused me on becoming on becoming a better player. When i learn something new that sounds good, the buzz is so good and it doesnt cost me £2/3000 into the bargain. If you find something you connect with, KEEP IT and PLAY IT! your soul and your finances ( not to mention your wife) will thank you for it!!
Me? Chris George telecaster.:AOK

[Kingbeegtrs]

You have to learn to accept some guitars for what they are. I have a Danelectro that I LOVE to play. The action sucks, the setup sucks, it's noisy, but I love to play it. I don't even try to make it better because I've accepted that it is a cheap guitar.

[Bryan T]

In my experience, a better instrument pulls more from the player. Price doesn't really figure into it.

I have an acoustic guitar that has transformed how I approach the guitar. It has made me rethink what I do with my right hand and how I voice things on the neck. The more time I spend with it, the more it asks of me. Great, great instrument.

[Tomo]

I wonder... for example, let's say you play $2K guitars, and enjoy them. Then one day, after gasing for one of those $4K guitars, you finally get one... and you're not overwhelmed. You keep thinking about the two $2K guitars you sold to acquire the $4K one, and you don't think that the difference between the two "classes" was worth $2K.

Could that be because as a player, you have not developed enough yet, that your skills do not "push" the guitar far enough and that its full array of qualities remained untapped in your hands?

Or maybe I'm just waiting for 1700hrs to come by so that I can go home :)

Maybe you can save 2K for your guitar education.. which will make you very happy as a good player who can enjoy playing music... more than just buying stuff...

Tomo

[anyone]

I wonder... for example, let's say you play $2K guitars, and enjoy them. Then one day, after gasing for one of those $4K guitars, you finally get one... and you're not overwhelmed. You keep thinking about the two $2K guitars you sold to acquire the $4K one, and you don't think that the difference between the two "classes" was worth $2K.

Could that be because as a player, you have not developed enough yet, that your skills do not "push" the guitar far enough and that its full array of qualities remained untapped in your hands?

Or maybe I'm just waiting for 1700hrs to come by so that I can go home :)

File under: "If you have to ask..."

[splatt]

There is a misconception in your statement, IMHO: a more expensive guitar does not mean that it plays better or has a better tonal palette per se. Especially in the price regime above 2k.
i almost, kinda agree, though i think you meant
to say "realm", not "regime".

Searching for the right guitar is like looking for a girl-friend: the super-model type might be very expensive, gorgeous to look at, and good to impress the crowd. However, it just does not feel right, and there is no fun involved.
well, i think you're entertaining your own little misconception, there;
i married a supermodel, 36 years ago.....
she's gorgeous, not that expensive, and i don't give a hoot what "impresses the crowd".
we raised 2 boys who are now men,
we're still married, and, we're still happy.

so?
i'd say your analogy is a bit..... flimsy.

:facepalm
:D


dt / spltrcl

[Kingbeegtrs]

Maybe you can save 2K for your guitar education.. which will make you very happy as a good player who can enjoy playing music... more than just buying stuff...

Tomo

nice!

Off topic, but I knew a guy who had a Ferrari (forgot which model) and it was ALWAYS in the shop. He sold it for about $200K and bought a Mercedes E55 for $100K...and swore up and down that it was twice the car for half the price.

Probably the same with guitars. I've never had a $4K guitar, so I wouldn't know. I don't even pick one up if it costs that much.

[telefan2]

I think the point made that if you spend some of the money you pay for expensive guitars on guitar lessons it should make you a better player and the guitar you play becomes less relevant although no getting away from good guitars are better!!
There is another thread showing my Chris George guitars on the part of the forum including my new one !! Talk about contradicting yourself?

[Dave Klausner]

well, i think you're entertaining your own little misconception, there;
i married a supermodel, 36 years ago.....
she's gorgeous, not that expensive, and i don't give a hoot what "impresses the crowd".
we raised 2 boys who are now men,
we're still married, and, we're still happy.
dt / spltrcl

And she can cook!

[Dave Klausner]

A tale of 2 boutiques...

A friend of mine once referred to a guitar as a "user interface for the soul." It's where the rubber meets the road in expressing yourself. Last year, I got my first "boutique" guitar - a Koll. While it didn't make me a better player by picking it up, it has improved my ability to express myself. That's partly because it is so responsive that it was worth me putting the effort into some nuances of playing that wouldn't translate on my other (very good) guitars, and partly because the tone is so inspiring, I'm playing and practicing more. It was worth every penny to me, even though there was nothing "wrong" with my other guitars.

About 2 years ago, I bought a really nice boutique amp. I had heard great clips on the web, and got to see a few great players perform with it and was impressed. I tried one out in a store, liked it, and bought it. It didn't make me play better. I do use it on occasion in the studio when I want a certain sound, but I don't play it all that much, preferring to stick with the amp I've used for 25 years. It too, was worth every penny to me, but largely because it ended my search for amplifiers, and I'm now content with what I have. That amp may have more than paid for itself through the savings of not buying other amps.

The Koll, on the other hand, has me wondering "if that guitar is so cool, what would a Myka be like, or a...." It may turn out to be a very expensive guitar indeed!

[Kingbeegtrs]

There's a lot to be said for that. If you put on a pair of jeans and they make you FEEL cool, you're going to go around feeling cool...and people will see you and say "hey, that guy looks confident". Confidence is 50% of the battle. I see many confident players out perform less-confident/more talented players all the time. Of course nothing beats talent+confidence.

I guess what I'm saying is that if a guitar can make you feel a certain way then it is doing its job. If it makes you want to practice 4 hours a day it is doing its job.

Different strokes for different folks.

[splatt]

And she can cook!
no doubt, sir..... no doubt!
:dude

dt / spltrcl

[Lex Luthier]

I find if a guitar sounds good to me, set up the way I like, and does what I need it to do, that is what really matters to me (IMO).

[Irreverent]

I wonder... for example, let's say you play $2K guitars, and enjoy them. Then one day, after gasing for one of those $4K guitars, you finally get one... and you're not overwhelmed. You keep thinking about the two $2K guitars you sold to acquire the $4K one, and you don't think that the difference between the two "classes" was worth $2K.

Could that be because as a player, you have not developed enough yet, that your skills do not "push" the guitar far enough and that its full array of qualities remained untapped in your hands?

Or maybe I'm just waiting for 1700hrs to come by so that I can go home :)


No.

[xroads]

i almost, kinda agree, though i think you meant
to say "realm", not "regime".


well, i think you're entertaining your own little misconception, there;
i married a supermodel, 36 years ago.....
she's gorgeous, not that expensive, and i don't give a hoot what "impresses the crowd".
we raised 2 boys who are now men,
we're still married, and, we're still happy.

so?
i'd say your analogy is a bit..... flimsy.

:facepalm
:D


dt / spltrcl


I must have missed something when I typed; this should have been my message:

Searching for the right guitar is like looking for a girl-friend: the super-model type might be very expensive, gorgeous to look at, and good to impress the crowd. However, IF it just does not feel right, there is no fun involved.


Of course, supermodels have the right to be happily married!

[73171]

nope....I can't play worth a ^%$&! and I love every guitar I can get my hands on!

[dr.morton]

You'll get wonderful instruments for a lot less then 1000$ which can hold their ground with any boutique stuff. Even some cheap guitars can be pimped into great instruments (a new nut, proper setup etc.).
Maybe they'll lack some bells and whistles but in the right hands they'll make you cry.

Everything else is in your mind and ego or helps you to express yourself a little bit better. We all could run around in bags (or even naked) but prefer to chose our clothes with care (sometimes) to reflect a bit of our personality. Guitars work in a similar way.

[Pasteur]

Can your skills stop you from enjoying a guitar to its full potential?

I wouldn't say that my skills (or lack thereof...) stop me from enjoying a truly good guitar to its full potential. I've really enjoyed the good guitars I have bought and kept over the years and I believe that a good-sounding guitar with great playability helps me as a player.

However, I do believe that my modest skills prevent me from fully using these guitars to their full potential. When my former guitar teacher played one of my guitars, he was able to take full advantage of what these guitars had to offer. And it's not just the guitar: he was also able to dial great tones on my amp, tones that I had trouble getting on my own. He not only had great chops, but also the experience and the ears to make the most out of the equipment he was using.

So yes, I do believe that skills, patience and hard work all contribute in extracting the best out of your gear.

[getbent]

rule 1: don't use rent money to buy guitars. If you are a hobbyist, use hobby allocated money for your hobby.

rule 2: a good playing and sounding guitar can range from 300 to ∞ ... that guitar will probably present some limits regardless of its price, but the great limitation will be presented in playing skill. The sure thing value is in the object as it can be purchased from 'known good' vendors and will have a market track record. As an individual musician our track records are unknown (unless, of course, our track records are known) and so, one can decrease the biggest and most limitations through practicing and getting better... but that process is by no means a guarantee.

I'd bet that if we could graph 'gratification'.... buying a new guitar gives immediate and exhilarating satisfaction which dissipates quickly when we realize it has done very little for our playing where practice offers slow and painful progress which one may not really even notice unless they keep notes and recordings of their playing and realize how much better they sound after much work.

dedication to working at playing requires commitment and the disregard of instant gratification.

Moral of the story: It is gonna take 10K hours to get that hunk of wood to sound really good regardless of who makes it.

[Luke]

How often do you see top end guitars being used by upcoming artists?

Most people play assembly line instruments. It boggles my mind that the vintage strats sell for so much today when the objective at the time of manufacture no different than cost cutting thoughts of Walmart or Home Depot today.

If you cannot get it done in 2009 with a $2,000 guitar (new or used) you need to get down to a $1,000 guitar and some lessons.

[phantasm]

Sometimes a $50 beater can have more soul than a $4K museum piece.

[Alistair6]

i think this question is better pointed at amps. Although I do agree with what has been said and truly feel inspired when certain axes are in my hands and make me play better.

Amp wise though i think its definately the case. I got my hand on a fuchs ODS a while back, sounded great and my buddies who are much better players than me made her sing.. but she wasnt right for me. Im more of a rythym guitar player and found that it brought out the worst in my playing. the touch sensitivity of it was not condusive to my playing style at the time and it made me sound terrible.

I truly beleive I would find the same thing with a dumble, two rock etc.. they are very articulate amps and very note and touch sensitive which for me doesnt work. At some point when i stop playing rock they might work out but im certainly not at that point right now.. so i know to stay away from them and focus my search on amps that are a little more forgiving

[Tone Disciple]

To the OP. My opinion is "no".

The issue is getting a guitar that brings out YOUR full potential. Not whether or not you can bring out ITS full potential.

Great comment and the true point of all tone quests. Unfortunately I do not think I bring out the true potential in any of my gear, but a lot of it does inspire my true potential!

[Kingbeegtrs]

How often do you see top end guitars being used by upcoming artists?

Most people play assembly line instruments. It boggles my mind that the vintage strats sell for so much today when the objective at the time of manufacture no different than cost cutting thoughts of Walmart or Home Depot today.

If you cannot get it done in 2009 with a $2,000 guitar (new or used) you need to get down to a $1,000 guitar and some lessons.

A Telecaster in 1952 was $125 or more. I'm no economist, but I think that $125 then was a lot more than $2K now.

[Mark C]

Can your skills stop you from enjoying a guitar to its full potential?

I wouldn't say that my skills (or lack thereof...) stop me from enjoying a truly good guitar to its full potential. I've really enjoyed the good guitars I have bought and kept over the years and I believe that a good-sounding guitar with great playability helps me as a player.

However, I do believe that my modest skills prevent me from fully using these guitars to their full potential. When my former guitar teacher played one of my guitars, he was able to take full advantage of what these guitars had to offer. And it's not just the guitar: he was also able to dial great tones on my amp, tones that I had trouble getting on my own. He not only had great chops, but also the experience and the ears to make the most out of the equipment he was using.

So yes, I do believe that skills, patience and hard work all contribute in extracting the best out of your gear.

Nail, meet hammer! Nice post.

[studiodunn]

a properly constructed and set up guitar of any price range should challenge any skill level.
I've yet to play a $5k guitar that sounded any better in my hands than something I've built myself. Too me, after buying, trying and building many, many guitars - a proper set up with minimal upgrades will turn most dogs into players, barring them being poorly built.

[phoenix 7]

Yeah, higher price doesn't necessarily mean better guitar. Or to put it another way, better guitar FOR YOU. In other words, a $4000 ax isn't necessarily "better" than a $2000 one.

On the other hand, I think that it's true that a limited skill set can prevent a player from fully appreciating all a guitar has to offer.

[pcovers]

A Telecaster in 1952 was $125 or more. I'm no economist, but I think that $125 then was a lot more than $2K now.

In 2008, $125.00 from 1952 is worth:


$1,013.67 using the CPI
$1,574.93 using the Unskilled Wage Rate

(CPI in any year is the cost in that year of a bundle of goods and services purchased by a typical urban consumer compared to the cost of that bundle of goods and services in a base period. The Unskilled Wage Rate is good way to determine the relative cost of something in terms of the amount of work it would take to produce, or the relative time it would take to earn its cost. It can also be useful in comparing different wages over time. The unskilled wage is a more consistent measure than the average wage for making comparisons over time.)

[mojocaster.com]

Maybe you can save 2K for your guitar education.. which will make you very happy as a good player who can enjoy playing music... more than just buying stuff...

Tomo


With all due respect, I don't see how the two are mutually exclusive. :)

I attended the music conservatory for 10 years and learnt more theory than I will ever need. I have been trying to forget it ever since - or more to the point, I have been trying to stop it from getting in the way. I don't want to play a note because that mode calls for it. I want to play it because it means something to me. The relation between what that note means in that mode and the reason why I would choose it to express a certain feeling is real, but shouldn't be as prevalent in the note choice as I may force it to be.

One day I'd like to take a guitar lesson. As my playing clearly indicates, I never have. I took piano, clarinet and sax lessons for those 10 years, and the experience was not satisfactory, so the guitar was a way to rebel - imagine that! - against that experience.

As a complete aside, I have a ton of respect for you, your pedagogical abilities and your playing.

[mojocaster.com]

Sometimes a $50 beater can have more soul than a $4K museum piece.


sure, and sometimes a smokin' hot woman may also think that I am far better looking than Clooney and Pitt ever will - but she has to be either severely blind or completely blasted on some large amounts of illegal substances ;)

[Tone Disciple]

sure, and sometimes a smokin' hot woman may also think that I am far better looking than Clooney and Pitt ever will -

:rotflmao

Better than Clooney or Pitt would think you look?! Better edit that one quick Mojo!

Not that there is anything wrong with that -

[Tomo]

With all due respect, I don't see how the two are mutually exclusive. :)

I attended the music conservatory for 10 years and learnt more theory than I will ever need. I have been trying to forget it ever since - or more to the point, I have been trying to stop it from getting in the way. I don't want to play a note because that mode calls for it. I want to play it because it means something to me. The relation between what that note means in that mode and the reason why I would choose it to express a certain feeling is real, but shouldn't be as prevalent in the note choice as I may force it to be.

One day I'd like to take a guitar lesson. As my playing clearly indicates, I never have. I took piano, clarinet and sax lessons for those 10 years, and the experience was not satisfactory, so the guitar was a way to rebel - imagine that! - against that experience.

As a complete aside, I have a ton of respect for you, your pedagogical abilities and your playing.

It's not about price of guitar... I am not into theory stuff (I know it.. but I like to teach other way to get around...). I wish people would learn more foundation.. how to produce tone, timing.. blues guitar ... singing quality...

Then you pick your guitar... you can enjoy it more... you can control more..
No need to keep buying and selling... unless that you would enjoy doing that.

Not about how long... If you (not you) are self-taught.. maybe one hour guitar lesson could change the way you think about your guitar (how to play?) or about past 10 years of playing.

I would like to see any possible .. positive side of playing guitar and
enrich your life by playing guitar. That's all.

PS, maybe I wanted to say.... person can work on guitar playing before or after purchasing the guitar. More fun!

Thanks for reading my notes.

Tomo

[Lucidology]

Have you heard TGP's own Chuck D play a Squire yet ...?

[splatt]

many of us, here, play both expensive & cheap instruments.
for example:
both tomo and i,
love some pricey boutique instruments..... and,
some cheapassed '60's & '70's fender mustangs.
i also have some killing, really cheaply made instruments.....
which couldn't be more perfect than they are, for certain musical vibes & thangs.

and, i gotta say:
A)
i have some guitarplaying friends who don't "get"
why i love certain of my "expensiver" guitars,
but do "get" why i dig some of my "cheaper" instruments.

and,

B)
i have some guitarplaying friends who don't "get"
why i love certain of my "cheaper" guitars,
but do "get" why i dig some of my "expensiver" instruments.

the most accomplished players i know
---(group C, ok?)---
seem to just dig what they dig,
regardless of price or provenance (or, fore-knowledge of either).

the less accomplished, less active players often seem to fall into group A,
unless they're collectors, too;
many of the working-"pro" players seem to hang out in group B.

none of this has any meaning, of course;
these observations are my own, to date,
could be completely wrong and/or biased,
and are certainly not ---in any way--- rigorously "scientific".

dt / spltrcl

[daddyo]

I'd feel self conscious playing a fine, expensive guitar - as if this guitar should be in the hands of some accomplished player but it's stuck with me.

[splatt]

I'd feel self conscious playing a fine, expensive guitar - as if this guitar should be in the hands of some accomplished player but it's stuck with me.

i only feel this way when the instrument ain't, somehow,
begging me to abuse it.
certain cosmetic details, for example, can really put me off.
esp. if the instrument is really white-white.
i can't seem to play white guitars too well,
unless they're waaaaaay scratched, dented & burnt.

dt / spltrcl

[Thor]

I'd feel self conscious playing a fine, expensive guitar - as if this guitar should be in the hands of some accomplished player but it's stuck with me.


I know what you are saying, and trust me, none of my guitars are going to record a hit song nor entertain 1000's of people from the stage, but they are well taken care of, used on a regular basis, inspire me to further my abilities, and never fail to bring a smile to my face. There are far worse fates for an insturment than being in the loving care of a mediocre player.

Like DT so eloquently stated - just "dig what you dig" and enjoy!

-Edward

[wstsidela]

Quit thinking and just play :D

[marooned]

I think alot of us buy more expensive guitars thinking it'll make us play better, which to an extent it can, but when you are in the 2-4K league the differences get smaller and smaller compared to jumping from the lower divisions to the 2K+ premier league.
At these price ranges you know you are getting the best woods and hardware....you pay more for premium/rare woods......pickups,bridges,tuners etc will all be top class.

What a 4K guitar will not do is cover up your shortcomings as a player....if your vibrato is tight and nervous sounding whilst playing a Fender standard tele, it'll still sound the same if you play say a Lentz. If you bend out of tune a more expensive guitar will not make you suddenly in tune.

[aaron1433]

good instruments cost money. We ought to be able to get the job done on anything, but at the same time, I want to own an instrument made by someone as excited about building it, as I'll be about playing it.

[eugewong]

Personally, I think that you have to be at a certain level to appreciate (and hence, exploit) the qualities of a hi-end guitar.

A beginner, and even most intermediate players, is going to play no better on a Squire than he will on a boutique piece. He'll definitely be able to tell that one guitar is 'better' and sounds nicer than the other, but the skill limitations are on the player at that point.

An advanced player, if confident and not hung up on gear, will smoke anything you put in his hands. However, it's more likely that he'll play better/smoother/enjoy himself more with the hi-end guitar. The hi-end guitar does not limit the abilities of the player. (As opposed to, and arguably, the Squire.)

On a personal note, it took me about 8 years to build up the gumption to purchase my dream guitar. There were a variety of factors leading to waiting 8 years, but the most important one to me, what that I felt 'good enough' to own and play that guitar.

In a nutshell, for me, the question is 'Are my skills worth at least $3k, to play this $4k guitar?'

But of course, is the next guy is happy to play cowboy chords on his $$$$-les-caster, then all power to him!

m 2c