So what do you do when you realize you have enough guitars???

[Blingdogg]

I realized I have enough, and I don't know what to do now lol. Let me explain:

Up until last year I owned one guitar. Now, in 2009 I'm the proud owner of 6 (they're listed in my sig), which I try to play regularly. But for playing 1 hour per day, maybe a bit longer on the weekends, I feel like I don't have time to play even the ones I have now, much less if I bought a Les Paul and SG, two guitars I've wanted for some time.

So I decided that for just a hobby, 6 guitars is enough, so that I can keep them in regular rotation.

But now I just feel......empty. lol I dunno if that's the word, but I feel like I got nothing to do now. I love playing guitar, and I'm a guitarist not a collector, but with no more guitars to GAS over or save up for, it's like I'm bored with playing the ones I got. Either bored, or I spend too much time thinking about "Should I play the Strat today, or the Tele, or the..." Sometimes I think about that, or tweaking my tones, more than I actually play.

What I'm trying to say is have any of you gone through this phase, when you got all the gear you need, and realize your interest in playing is kinda low compared to before? What have you done to fix that? Do you think this is a sign of being more of a GAS-addict/thrill of the hunt person rather than a guitarist?

 

[waxnsteel]

I'll let you know if it ever happens.

 

[Tidewater Custom Shop]

A 6 pack is my holding point (although I have 7 now). I've found it's good to move to amps and effects... and quality upgrades for the guitars I have now. Tone experimentation is my latest GAS.

 

[steven.rogers]

Whatever you do, just stay away from the Emporium.

 

[Elmer]

I've got 11 guitars now and I'm about to pare 'em back to maybe 3-4. Like yourself, I've found that there just isn't enough time to play that many. I feel that if I'm not playing them there's no point in owning them - unless they are serious collectibles, which none of mine are.

 

[soldano16]

I've known for the longest time I only need one, and one more as a backup.

 

[wutnot]

Yes I agree with lakehaus. If you feel a void with completing your guitar quest, move on to amps and effects to hone your tone and sound.

 

[Boris Bubbanov]

I let you know; I'm not there yet.

I do wonder, when I find one I really don't recognize.

 

[DrumBob]

Uh, that's never happened and I doubt it ever will.

 

[Pietro]

You know when you put an obnoxious message in your signature that you are currently experiencing no GAS... preferably in red.

 

[klatuu]

I have 6 and the only thing stopping me from expanding is lack of bread.......

 

[Thwap]

Take up golf.

 

[Flyin' Brian]

I like to play, not collect (though I certainly don't have a problem with collecting), so when any of them sits unplayed for any length of time, I really don't want it.

 

[gkoelling]

I've hit a plateau before and stopped buying for a few years. I was real proud of myself and without realizing it I sold almost everything off and started all over again.

GAS can be sneaky......be careful.

 

[Bluedawg]

I am at the point where I need to sell some .....

or trade a few good ones for something really special.

 

[Pantalooj]

I'm a rank amatuer too. I have 4 guitars ... 3 electric and 1 acoustic. I've got one amp, a PODxt, a Fulltone Clyde and a Zendrive. They all get some play time. But I've had much less play time for a few years 'cos of the arrival of the little people in my house. Yet, I have been at my most acquisitive during the last 18 months. Maybe I've put more energy into hunting for gear to try to fill the musical space left by the drastic reduction in playing time. Maybe I've used the time wisely to set myself up for music playing to come. Am I on shaky ground

I dunno ... I too know full well that I've got more than enough gear to make music with. Still enjoy reading about it though. No plans to buy anything ... except maybe a really nice analog delay/echo pedal.

I can tell you from very recent experience (lunchtime today) that the prospect of playing with other people (rather than at home, with a jam track, or my looper pedal) is enough to put a big smile on my face and get me all fired up about playing ... so off I go to the rehearsal studios tonight to play with a mate and a recent guitar acquaintance of his. If you don't play with others right now, I highly recommend it ... so much fun.

Now ... which guitar should I take?

 

[beNsteR]

16 and counting..
many of them i can't imagine being without...
and still GASing for more!:NUTS

i don't know if being in a semi-pro (heading towards pro) band that requires multiple guitars for multiples tones helps qualify some of it..

 

[Dr. Tweedbucket]

I realized I have enough, and I don't know what to do now lol. Let me explain:

Up until last year I owned one guitar. Now, in 2009 I'm the proud owner of 6 (they're listed in my sig), which I try to play regularly. But for playing 1 hour per day, maybe a bit longer on the weekends, I feel like I don't have time to play even the ones I have now, much less if I bought a Les Paul and SG, two guitars I've wanted for some time.

So I decided that for just a hobby, 6 guitars is enough, so that I can keep them in regular rotation.

But now I just feel......empty. lol I dunno if that's the word, but I feel like I got nothing to do now. I love playing guitar, and I'm a guitarist not a collector, but with no more guitars to GAS over or save up for, it's like I'm bored with playing the ones I got. Either bored, or I spend too much time thinking about "Should I play the Strat today, or the Tele, or the..." Sometimes I think about that, or tweaking my tones, more than I actually play.

What I'm trying to say is have any of you gone through this phase, when you got all the gear you need, and realize your interest in playing is kinda low compared to before? What have you done to fix that? Do you think this is a sign of being more of a GAS-addict/thrill of the hunt person rather than a guitarist?

When you have 6 and feel empty, the answer is, you need 12

You can thank me later. :RoCkIn

 

[aleclee]

But now I just feel......empty. lol I dunno if that's the word, but I feel like I got nothing to do now. I love playing guitar, and I'm a guitarist not a collector, but with no more guitars to GAS over or save up for, it's like I'm bored with playing the ones I got. Either bored, or I spend too much time thinking about "Should I play the Strat today, or the Tele, or the..." Sometimes I think about that, or tweaking my tones, more than I actually play.

Why not just roll with the GAS? You probably have a couple guitars that aren't totally keepers. Sell 'em off to make room for new ones and just rotate out when you get bored.

 

[DogEarDave]

I understand your predicament completely. OK, six is your limit. BUT, do you have the right six? Isn't there one that you like less than the others? Or one that doesn't really fill a unique niche within your collection?

Now that you've established a collection, you need to refine it. You can maintain an equilibrium at six (tell yourself that you must sell one in order to buy one), but replace the weakest member of the herd with a stronger one. By doing this, you then create a new weakest member that needs to be replaced, etc. etc.

This will work until you can't bring yourself to get rid of any of the ones that you have. I can't provide advice from that point forward, because I'm not there yet.