Question About Multiple Guitar Ownership

[Just Strum]

I noticed that there are a number of people here that are multiple guitar owners (including me). However, some have multiple same models and others have multiples but of different style and/or make. The ones with multiple LP's I can understand since I noticed that they are different models of LP's and different pup arrangements. There are those that own multiple Casino's, but from what I gather they all have the same pups, so I assume they all sound the same.

 

My three main guitars Dot (Humbucker/Semi hollow), Wildkat (P90/Semi Hollow), and Strat (HSS/solid) all have different pups and body style, so I get different tone/sounds from each. This arrangement is better for me because I easily get bored of a certain sound or feel of a guitar and I can switch guitars and start fresh. I had two solid body Humbuckers (G400 and ARC300) and will probably get another (shouldn't have sold the ARC300). My desire for a Casino is strong (thanks to this place), so eventually I'm sure I will have one.

 

So, when you have multiple guitars that are the same model, what is the reason for the purchase? Is it the color? The plan to do a mod? Just madly in love with a specific model? I'm not knocking it, because I would purchase another Dot if the right one came along.

[Ricochet]

So' date=' when you have multiple guitars that are the same model, what is the reason for the purchase? Is it the color? The plan to do a mod? Just madly in love with a specific model? I'm not knocking it, because I would purchase another Dot if the right one came along.

 

[/quote']

 

I love the LP-model. But there's 2 things going on for me.

One to find the quintessential LP tone....

And the other... is to find as much sonic variation within the LP-model as possible(different woods, pickups, bigsby or not etc.)

So between that, every LP-purchase is sort of a justified one...well that's what I keep telling myself anyway.

[TheX]

I've had 5 Epi LP's at the same time but now I have 1, the Elitist Goldtop. I found the one I really wanted and sold the rest. I don't want a P-90 in my LP so this was the perfect choice FOR ME.

 

I have multiples of some other guitars but those will be thinned as well.

[Gashole]

I don't have multiples really. I have an ASAT Classic and a Fender Tele, but the Tele has Seymor Duncan Classic '59's in it, so big difference there. (and big difference even before the mod) I have 2 P90 guitars, but ones solid body(SG) and ones semi hollow (Wildkat) and they definitely have different personalities. I've been trying to avoid multiples; I have space constraints and financial ones too. I need them all to be a little bit different to cover as many bases as possible. But if I had space and money I'd have a fleet of Les Pauls and SG's, I gaurantee it. Not least of all because you can play 6-10 or a hundred guitars of the same make and design, and there will be that one that is just *special!!*

[Just Strum]

I don't have multiples really. I have an ASAT Classic and a Fender Tele' date=' but the Tele has Seymor Duncan Classic '59's in it, so big difference there. (and big difference even before the mod) I have 2 P90 guitars, but ones solid body(SG) and ones semi hollow (Wildkat) and they definitely have different personalities. I've been trying to avoid multiples; I have space constraints and financial ones too. I need them all to be a little bit different to cover as many bases as possible. But if I had space and money I'd have a fleet of Les Pauls and SG's, I gaurantee it. Not least of all because you can play 6-10 or a hundred guitars of the same make and design, and there will be that one that is just *special!!*

 

 

 

 

 

[/quote']

 

Ha - let's not forget amps! Oh, and pedals.

 

I gave up golf for a cheaper hobby?

[Gashole]

 

Ha - let's not forget amps! Oh' date=' and pedals.

 

I gave up golf for a cheaper hobby?[/quote']

 

 

If I was a gigging musician again, multiple pedals would be a priority. Amps too. I have 2 Ampeg SJ12R as part of a stereo rig...well, I do and i don't now...think the power supply crapped out on one of them this weekend...had it Frankenstiened to power a Motion Sound speaker cab. I don't think it like it very much.

 

I never "got" golf. I *did* however manage to drunkely fall off of the tee off spot into a little deppression and severely sprain my ankle once. They told me that was the first time that had ever happened. Most golf injuries come from clubs and balls I'm told...I gave it up with other contact sports. I don't heal so fast anymore.

[Guitar Chico]

So, when you have multiple guitars that are the same model, what is the reason for the purchase? Is it the color? The plan to do a mod? Just madly in love with a specific model? I'm not knocking it, because I would purchase another Dot if the right one came along.

 

 

Personally I belive that it doesn't make any sense to own more than one of the same model. Now I get it if you a have a les paul standard and then get a junior (or something to the effect) but getting another of the same exact kind of guitar is wasting money IMHO. I guess if you were going to mod it would make sense but other than that I think its stupid.

 

GC

[Ricochet]

Personally I belive that it doesn't make any sense to own more than one of the same model. Now I get it if you a have a les paul standard and then get a junior (or something to the effect) but getting another of the same exact kind of guitar is wasting money IMHO. I guess if you were going to mod it would make sense but other than that I think its stupid.

 

I dunno about that... I think between a Standard humbucker LP and say a Goldtop with P-90s and a Bigsby is a world of difference. 2 Different guitars in my book.

[Gashole]

 

I dunno about that... I think between a Standard humbucker LP and say a Goldtop with P-90s and a Bigsby is a world of difference. 2 Different guitars in my book.

 

 

 

No doubt. Drastically different. The degree of seperation is probably close to the aforementioned "standard vs a junior" though.

 

I crave a Gold Top P90 Paul w/ a Bigsby...Oh I crave one bad...

 

Do I try for a Gibson re issue though (and wait a helluva lot longer) or go Epi and have it before I'm trying to get social security? (social security payment post 2028=Blood from stone)

 

Can you get them stock w/ the Bigsby? Or is that something you have to take on yourself?

[Svet]

I find it odd that some might think that it is “stupid” to own multiple guitars of the same ilk. Especially since we all tend to agree that no two guitars are alike even though they may only be a production number apart. I would love to own several of my guitars in different colors just for the sake of change. For instance, the Eric Johnson Strat is just a phenomenal guitar. I have one in Cherry Red but I would love all colors of that one. The same goes for my Epiphone Byrdland, Broadway and Sheraton. As of right now I don't have redundant solid body guitars of different or the same color finish. I have four Les Pauls, four Strats and two Teles. Each one of those guitars uses a different set of pickups though they may share the same body shape. For instance of the four LP's I have the Gibson R9 uses BB 1&2's while the Elitist Tak Matsumoto uses BB 2 & 3's. The R6 has the P90's and the Epiphone Elitist Standard plus uses 50 sr and 60 st's. The latter is oft said to be Gibson’s own 490/498 combo. As such all of these guitars sound vastly different though they have the same Les Paul body shape. When it comes to my Strats we have the same type of variance. One has the Lace Sensors another uses Lip Stick PU's while the third has the Cobalt noiseless S1 system and the 4th uses EJ's designed set up. When purchasing guitars of the same body style I do try to have different color options to add to the uniqueness of each instrument. The closest I come to owning multiples of the same guitar in different colors right now is with my Jazz boxes. I have two Eastman guitars, the 810 ce and a 910 ce. Both guitars use the same electronics and follow the same form. The difference lies in the materials. The 910 uses wood binding and some other mostly aesthetic alternatives. I have one of each because they are wonderful instruments and if they were American made I would certainly not be able to afford them. I use a different set of strings on each to help differentiate them. The 910 has round wounds while I set up the 810 with flats. I would love a third in the natural or blonde. Eastman has the prettiest stripes!

Svet

[Guitar Chico]

 

I dunno about that... I think between a Standard humbucker LP and say a Goldtop with P-90s and a Bigsby is a world of difference. 2 Different guitars in my book.

 

Yes, exactly that's what I meant. I just used junior as an example. The goldtop is different from the standard as is the custom. I just meant that it would be wasteful to buy another standard.

 

GC

[Ricochet]

 

Yes' date=' exactly that's what I meant. I just used junior as an example. The goldtop is different from the standard as is the custom. I just meant that it would be wasteful to buy another standard.

[/quote']

 

Ah...read that all wrong! My bad!

[jcwillow777]

 

I crave a Gold Top P90 Paul w/ a Bigsby...Oh I crave one bad...

 

Can you get them stock w/ the Bigsby? Or is that something you have to take on yourself?

 

 

I wished you could. I have an Epi GT with P90s that I have been thinking about putting a Bigsby on. That or getting a black custom LP and putting a Bigsby on it.

 

 

Well said Svet, and I agree. I just can't afford to have multiples in different colors, but it would be nice. I don't wear the same color shirt every day, I like a little variety, I just can't afford the variety I like in guitars. Shirts are a lot cheaper.

[The_Sentry]

I noticed that there are a number of people here that are multiple guitar owners (including me). However' date=' some have multiple same models and others have multiples but of different style and/or make. The ones with multiple LP's I can understand since I noticed that they are different models of LP's and different pup arrangements. There are those that own multiple Casino's, but from what I gather they all have the same pups, so I assume they all sound the same.

 

My three main guitars Dot (Humbucker/Semi hollow), Wildkat (P90/Semi Hollow), and Strat (HSS/solid) all have different pups and body style, so I get different tone/sounds from each. This arrangement is better for me because I easily get bored of a certain sound or feel of a guitar and I can switch guitars and start fresh. I had two solid body Humbuckers (G400 and ARC300) and will probably get another (shouldn't have sold the ARC300). My desire for a Casino is strong (thanks to this place), so eventually I'm sure I will have one.

 

So, when you have multiple guitars that are the same model, what is the reason for the purchase? Is it the color? The plan to do a mod? Just madly in love with a specific model? I'm not knocking it, because I would purchase another Dot if the right one came along.

 

[/quote']

 

This is a good question. For me part of it was "well, it just happened that way" in conjunction with what was available in a left-handed model.

 

For years I owned a MiJ strat and that was my only electric. I bought a second Strat (HWY 1 Deluxe) and for a while I had aftermarket pups in it. That was just a case of really loving the Strat and its versatility, and finding a model which just really spoke to me in terms of tone, and playability. Eventually, I ended up dumping the aftermarket pups, going back to the Alcino III's, and swapped out the white hardware for black. On the MiJ I went with Vintage '68's, which ironically push that guitar more into the realm of a tele sound. Strats are great guitars, very versatile, and you can pretty much do "whatever" with them. I may end up getting a set of EMG's for the HWY 1, and both are just awesome guitars. (I will plead guilty to not playing them as much since getting into my Gibson and Epiphones, but that's another story.)

 

Earlier this year I also acquired a Gibson LP Studio. It was the first model I got from that brand. I really like that guitar, but I also wanted at first a backup....so I started looking into Epiphone. I got the Custom online. That started off a whole other kick. At that point I wasn't planning on another Epiphone short of finding some sort of hard rock/metal/upgrade it whenever I want and not worry sort of guitar (I was looking for a Special II at the time) when I bought my flametop used.

 

At this point I now have 2 strat models and 3 les paul models. That's probably a bit in the overkill department, but they're both flagship models for the 2 major manufacturers in the US. There's a reason for this.

 

But what can I say? I'm still working towards upgrading them for specific needs. The Flame Top is my travel guitar, ie, when I hit the road (which is frequently) or I'm playing in a user-unfriendly area, I don't have any qualms about taking that guitar. The Custom has sort of been the "upgrade and play" guitar, and right now it's probably my favorite because even though I'm not completely sold on the whole buy one online phenomenom, I just love the looks, and the neck profile on that guitar. The Gibson is the Gibson. Great guitar, but I often times leave it in the case. I'd like to see what happens if I just let it set for a year or two, but I still use it for recording exclusively. Tone-wise I don't have any other guitar that can compete with it. I just tend to leave it be since it is a great guitar, perfect. No upgrades required or desired.

 

I can see the disadvantages in terms of not having enough variety, but at the same time it's also a blessing because I can have different sounding guitars which fill specific roles, and I don't have to mentally re-adjust physically whenever I go between models.

 

At this point it's just more of a case of GAS upgrades for the Custom, and the Standard gets the hand-me-downs. The Epiphones have been a lot of fun in terms of the upgrade department and working on them. And for me that's part of the investment....leftie models, available in the style which I like, and I can play with them on more than one level and not worry about it. (I do know that no, there's no way in hell I'd sit there and drill out a body off a 2-3000 dollar guitar.)

[ef_in_fla]

I bought a Tele today, just because I have never had one. Plus it already had some sweet pickup mods and the price was right.....yeah, justify, justify! lol

 

Now I have 3 LPs, 3 strats, 3 shredders, a seven string, and a tele. Time to start shopping for an acoustic.

[snookelputz]

I don't think you can plan guitar ownership. You can try, of course, and sometimes it may seem to go the way you want; but I usually wind up with some oddball guitar in the backseat even when all "The Plan" was walk in, buy some strings, and walk out. Every guitar eventually loses its first love, you know. We always die, but the guitar, ah...the guitar passes to a new owner, and it may be that THIS one is not as nice as the last. I believe that's why older guitars sound so sweet when they sing the blues. It's not the wood aging, it's the guitar - witnessing, testifying to life.

[Ron G]

JS, I've often wondered about owners of multiple guitars, too - especially the ones who have multiples of the same model. Since I've never been a collector of anything, I really can't identify with that mindset. It would be strange having all that stuff mostly sitting around not being used. Your "collection" makes a lot of sense to me, each guitar being significantly different from the other. I have but one electric guitar, a Dot Studio with Mean 90s. My next will be some sort of Strat-thing, for that very unique sound.

[Nic]

IMHO. I think guitar playing and guitar collecting are two different hobbies that overlap each other. I congratulate Svet, and others, on their ability to put together amazing collections. At the same time, I don't think a guitarist needs more than just a few guitars to pretty much cover anything he/she wants to accomplish.

 

I'm trying to get myself down from five guitars to just two, and the second one is just a back-up. I can play just one guitar for months and never get bored with it, mainly because I'm mostly concerned with what I'm playing. And there's only one tone I want, and I pretty much found it.

 

However, as I noted, I see where it would be fun to amass the perfect collection of guitars that cover every nuance of sound and appearance.

[Nic]

Ron G:

 

I agree. One semi-hollow and one strat should cover it all.

[Just Strum]

My main three weren't by design, it sort of worked out that way. I had the Dot for a while and went through a few guitars before buying the Strat. The Wilkat was sort of an accidental purchase. Someone on another forum mentioned he was looking at a Wildkat, so not knowing anything about them I came across a used one for $250. I wasn't in the market for a guitar, however I had some interest in P90's that so many people were talking about.

 

The three, along with an acoustic provide me with enough choices in sound.

[custer]

My budget won't allow for multiples of the same guitar so my aim is to have several guitars of different types.

I just bought a Dot and have my eye on a Elitist Sheridan. I would also someday like to get a Casino, GT LP W/bigbsy,

and an Elitist Les Paul.

[The_Sentry]

My main three weren't by design' date=' it sort of worked out that way. I had the Dot for a while and went through a few guitars before buying the Strat. The Wilkat was sort of an accidental purchase. Someone on another forum mentioned he was looking at a Wildkat, so not knowing anything about them I came across a used one for $250. I wasn't in the market for a guitar, however I had some interest in P90's that so many people were talking about.

 

The three, along with an acoustic provide me with enough choices in sound.[/quote']

 

This is my issue. I didn't PLAN on having multiple versions of the same model. It just sort of...happened.

 

GAS is a bit more difficult for me, and up until this year? Eh, it wasn't something that I had to really deal with much. Most of the time, as a leftie, I'd go into a store, note the walls stacked with beautiful guitars, and then shrug it off.

 

Online purchasing and searching has changed that. (Man, I have to stay away from Craigslist!) It's kind of hard when I see a leftie model, because for years...that stuff just wasn't available.

 

But now that I'm up to seven (including an acoustic and a bass)....in truth, I don't have any more room for more guitars. I think if it's a question of GAS, I'm just going to have to find other ways to deal with it, including finalizing upgrades on my Epi's (my strats are for the most part...done. And the only thing I will do to that Gibson is put a new pickguard on it...) and when there's nothing left to upgrade as far as the guitars go, I may look into building/restoring amplifiers something since I have access to those sorts of components.

 

But sure...I could probably end up with 5 different flavors of strats and 12 different flavors of Les Pauls and not blink an eye about it. But...eh, I don't even play the guitars I have NOW every day. Usually I end up noodling on maybe 3 at the most on any given day.

 

(and nah, don't NEED this stuff. But, it's nice to have. Ah well...)

[ef_in_fla]

I think it has a lot to do with your situation. I've worked hard for 30 non-stop years so for me to drop a couple or three hundred on a new guitar-bargain isn't that big a deal. They hold their resale value very well, especially if you know how to sell and you take care of them, so I'd rather have 3-4 nice guitars sitting around then a grand in the bank. If I ever need that grand, I can turn them in to money. Right now I only have three I absolutely would not sell. The rest could go and I wouldn't lose any sleep because there's plenty more nice ones out there.

[Dave]

My 3 LPs are very different from each other. The Gibby LP Studio has the stock 490R/498T pups, the Epi LP custom Flametop has SD Pearlies, and the Goldtop has the stock P90s. Each also have different personalities due to wood and finish differences, as well. So they are not purchases that cloned their older bothers. They are unique instruments with very similar action and playability.

 

My Strat is another whole different world of sound.

 

I tend to look for something a little different in each purchase. Right now, I am GASsing for a Mexican Tele. That will be another different sound there that I don't currently have.

[Charles Obscure]

I like to have different guitars for their unique sounds. The only model I have two of is G400. Apart from looks, they differ in the fact that one has three pups (my first G400), while the other has two pups. I bought the second one planning on using it as the workhorse guitar, and for modding. It would be cheaper to replace two pups instead of three.