How many guitars do you need?

[Iron1]

Saw a similar conversation on another forum I frequent, and they delve into the whole "collection vs addiction" thing, which got me wondering. My amazing wife has pointed out more than once she thinks I'm more exciting about the hunt than the kill (searching for new gear vs actually owning it) and after talking myself out of buying another 7 string yesterday, I stumbled onto this other thread today.

Here are a few vids to get the topic rolling:

I've mitigated this by doing the flipping thing, where I hunt for either a smoking deal or a beater that needs some restoration, then I play if for a bit and sell it at a profit. This gives me more cash for more gear... well, maybe that doesn't mitigate so much as enable...

[Budda]

I definitely recognize that my latest buys are for good deals on stuff combined with feeling more in control of things by searching, making the transaction and getting the guitar.

The thing with owning more than 3 or 4 is upkeep (especially with a lot of use aka not mine ).

[Chris]

All of them.

[Iron1]

I definitely recognize that my latest buys are for good deals on stuff combined with feeling more in control of things by searching, making the transaction and getting the guitar.

The thing with owning more than 3 or 4 is upkeep (especially with a lot of use aka not mine ).

Yeah, I'm at the point where I may need to start buying bulk strings...

All of them.

At the rate you're going, that's achievable in 2021!

[jacksonplayer]

Fewer than I currently have.

Shipping guitars is such a fucking hassle, otherwise I'd have already sold several that just sit in their cases.

I've largely gotten away from the collector mentality. My problem is that I like to have a lot of different tones available for recording, even if I only use said tones once every few years. I may be starting to get away from that, too.

[Chris]

Shipping guitars is such a fucking hassle, otherwise I'd have already sold several that just sit in their cases.

This too, but if I'm being honest I overthink it. It's mostly the "hassle" of getting a box that the case fits in. I can't stand clutter around the house (shock and awe) so despite having a giant walk-up attic perfect for storing things like empty guitar shipping boxes, I never have one on hand.

[playstopause]

... I'm more exciting about the hunt than the kill (searching for new gear vs actually owning it)

Well, for me, that's really a part of it. Some guitars I bought I was less excited receiving and unpacking than finding it and buying it.

In my case, I just like have different flavours. I have 5 electric at the moment: two in standard E, one in Eb, one in drop C#, one in standard C. All different body woods, all different pickups.

[Naren]

One.

(I have more than that now, but technically 1 is all I need. Maybe in the future it might expand to 2 if I end up really implementing my 8 string into future songs, but for the most part, I really just need one 7 string and I'm good. Yes, I have more than that, but I don't "NEED" more than 1)

[thrashinbatman]

y = x+1, where x is the amount of guitars you have now


seriously, only enough to cover all the tonal bases you need. anything other that is just gravy. quite frankly, life is short and this is all you have, so if you want a guitar, get it. don't worry so much about it, as long as you're playing and paying the bills. i've crossed off most of my "bucket list" guitars and amps, and as a result my mindless scrolling of eBay and Reverb has slowed to almost zero. there are guitars and amps i know i will own at some point, because it's been years and I still GAS for them, but otherwise i'm not that interested in gear anymore.

[lespauled]

y = x+1, where x is the amount of guitars you have now


seriously, only enough to cover all the tonal bases you need. anything other that is just gravy. quite frankly, life is short and this is all you have, so if you want a guitar, get it. don't worry so much about it, as long as you're playing and paying the bills. i've crossed off most of my "bucket list" guitars and amps, and as a result my mindless scrolling of eBay and Reverb has slowed to almost zero. there are guitars and amps i know i will own at some point, because it's been years and I still GAS for them, but otherwise i'm not that interested in gear anymore.

Actually it's:

x = x + 1

or simplified:

x++

[mpexus]

Unless you play on a Cover band or play totally different styles of Music... in reality no one needs more than 1 or 2 Guitars. But wouldn't Life be so boring?

[Lee]

Actually it's:

x = x + 1

or simplified:

x++

Ackchyually, the people of the internet normally call it n+1. No cool kids say '++'.

[scole]

Always room for one more. My thoughts are generally the same as what's already been mentioned. I have about 9 or 10 guitars at the moment but life *IS* short. If you can financially swing it, then there are worse habits to have. I recently traded in one guitar that I've been meaning to get rid of. It took this long because I hate people and didn't want to deal with local sellers or listing and shipping it.

There's still a few guitars I'm seeking- some realistic, others not so much. It's still fun to look because you never know what's out there. About a month or two someone locally was selling a blue Ibanez RBM10 for $200 and I missed it by a matter of hours.

[Megametal7]

You can never have enough, its addiction only difference is its distractive to your bank acc.

[Iron1]

For what I do musically, my answer is 5: 2-6 strings, 2-7 strings and a bass. Since I try to do the dual guitars thing on my songs, and haven’t mastered the whole “you don’t need a 6-string if you have a 7-string” thing. That’s what I need.

I could probably get by with just 1 guitar and a bass but that would just get in the way of creativity.

That’s what I tell myself at least. And the fact I’ve lived way more years than I have left so strum em while ya can...

[Lozek]

I stopped collecting a few years back and consolidated down to four really great guitars that I couldn't live without and one with sentimental value (first guitar that my parents bought me). To make sure I can immediately pick something up and play what I need to, I have two in E (one with heavier strings for rhythm, one with light strings for lead), one in D standard and one in C standard, that's everything that I 'need'.

I'm considering getting some more to keep in Germany so I don't have to fly them and I have a GAS list too, but I mentally put prices on it that I won't consider if it's above.

[Hellion]

Chris is right. how can I ever figure out what I like if I don't try EVERYTHING

I'm not a 7 string guy so probably just 1. one really fucking good guitar. having more is just a convenience thing with having to change to heavier strings when I play a lower tuning. It's a great excuse to grab something else I like the look of.

[DonBot]

What do I need? at least one 6 string and one 7. Maybe two 6 strings. A fixed bridge and a floating trem.

[lespauled]

Ackchyually, the people of the internet normally call it n+1. No cool kids say '++'.

Never said I was cool . I'm a programmer. :p

[RevDrucifer]

I'm with Chris, all of them.

I love guitars and don't feel bad about having some that don't get played as often as others. For a while I was rotating use quite a bit, mainly because they were all in different tunings, but after Fractal's update to the AxeFX III pitch block, I've been using 2 guitars for everything from drop B to E standard.

Really, I've got 11 guitars and 3 basses. Out of those 14 I've only bought half of them, the rest were given to me as gifts from my wife, friends and family (and an ex). I cold never get rid of them just for that alone. I actually am going to sell a bass as I really don't need two 5-strings, but the proceeds will probably go to a guitar.

Guitars are fucking awesome. Like, almost all of them. They all make me play differently and that alone is enough reason to want one of everything. I'm always happiest when I write something that takes me somewhere new and the quickest way to do that is to pick up a guitar that plays/sounds entirely differently than my main ones.

[pjr]

This thread would pop up the same day my wife hits me with, "Wow...you have a lot of guitars..."

[dahla]

No cool kids say '++'.

Mesa mark II C++ owners disagree.

[Iron1]

This thread would pop up the same day my wife hits me with, "Wow...you have a lot of guitars..."

[Lee]

Mesa mark II C++ owners disagree.

They can go fuck themselves. I only care what Mark ii C# owners think.

[spilla]

How long is a piece of string?

Touring and or recording can really pump the numbers. For at home, one for each tuning you play in at least. I dont mind dropping/raising a half step but for a full step down/up i'd want a separate guitar. A humbucker wiht coil split can do the duty of a singlecoil but i'd prefer to have have a singlcoil for that purpose. Also i need at least one hardtail and a tremolo. I'd also like to have an acoustic, bass and hollowbody.