What is your end game in buying guitars?

[jtcnj]

Why do you buy more guitars?
We all have different reasons to make specific purchases.

I found the old forum looking for sources for good budget priced guitars when I first started seriously trying / learning to play 8 years ago.
Sometimes I get caught up in the NGD posts and GAS got the better of me. But, each purchase had a purpose.

I was never in this to collect gear, just looking for the best budget options in different style guitars and finding what suits me.
I have learned so much here, and it is a great group of folks too.

I'm a classic rock, early metal, blues rock / blues, and a little surf player.
I like to have a variety of types to play and have one or 2 (or 3) strats, teles, 3 LP, 1 SG, 2 Vee, 1 Explorer, 1 pointy Floyd super strat, 1 semi-hollow, 1 Jazzmaster style, and an acoustic. I don't have any specific guitars for drop or open tunings, or slide, but sometimes keep one or more in something other than standard for a while.
Different pickup types or combinations (single coil / HB / P90) as well as different flavors in the same type - PAF vs hotter /modern, etc. also play into the variety mix.

To the untrained eye - my wife says why do you need (well need is a different discussion) 2 or 3 of the same guitar? 3 LPs are mostly the same, yet different pickups make them - different. But they are the same in they are all 8.5lbs. or so max, have a rounded or fatter neck profile, TOM or wraparound hard tails, and no neck dive as experience has taught me what works best for me.

Many have come and gone along the way, as I now have a better understanding of what I like and what fits me best.
So, a lot of the puzzle pieces have fallen into place with most of the guitars I have as keepers.

Mostly I don't look for more if I am happy with what I have, the LPs for instance.
However, The right deal on the right guitar is still one the table; never say never (again).
If the AL 3200 weren't 10+ lbs I I might own one, though I prefer a rounded / not slim neck profile.

I'm on a buy / build the right 2 strats (SSS and HSS) thing right now.

What guides your purchase decisions?

[toomanycats]

[andrewsrea]

Finding a guitar that feels great, has a defined tone that I like, is reliable, is different than what I already have and takes my playing / song writing into a new direction. Finish, color and vibe are a distant second. Collectability, trendy, or popular isn't even on my radar.

The exception to the above rule would be two fairly redundant guitars I own, which were bought when I gigged and served as backups. I have a 1996 Fender American Standard Strat (Sunburst) and a 2016 Squire Affinity (Orange) which are very close (the Squire has a better neck). I have a few more redundant guitars to which I will eventually thin out.

[honyock]

It makes me feel happy

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[Partscaster]

i think a recognition that different pickups, in same or different guitars, often led to different sounding guitars has been behind most of my purchasing trends.
Without planning it, I built about 10 alder partscasters and some with other body-woods to house different pickup sets that I wanted to try. Same for a few LPs and several LP copies. I'd say Im happy with the variants enough that I only am willing to sell about 1/3 of them. 2/3rds of them I appreciate for their unique tone. They all play well. Plus a couple of teles for same reason.

[sabasgr68]

It´s good to know your motivations, John.

For me, it would be for having some different guitars and the inherent differences in sound.

This is still in the "Dreams Department", but my minimalist guitar collection would be:

Les Paul style guitar Single Cut - for example, Agile AL3200.

Les Paul style guitar Double Cut - for example, Agile AD3200 or Ibanez AR420.

Strat style - preferably in HSS configuration.

Tele style - ? - whatever it is the traditional configuration.

Hollow body - like a Casino or similar.

Acoustic Single Cut - nylon strings.

Acoustic/Electric Single Cut - steel strings.

This would be just to cover the shapes I like. I will probably sound the same with all

[SamIV]

Thought I was finished buying when I picked up a few PRS. But I keep buying more PRS.

[tonebender]

One day someone asked me why I had so many guitars (back when I had a lot). I told him because I have only one woman. Variety is the spice of life and not wanting to split all my worldly goods I decided it was cheaper to stray on my favorite guitar than my girl.

[LancerTheGreat]

No goal, I just like having the options, even if I only actually play one or two most of the time, it’s still nice to have basically a small guitar shop to browse and check out.

Have you seen Jay Leno’s garage? I don’t think he really has an end game or reason for having as many cars as he does other than he likes them and likes having them lol.

[Rollin Hand]

For me, do I like it? Do I want it? Is the price fair/great/TMC-in-a-pawnshop great?

I tend to try for no-brainers like the RG350DX I picked up recently.

I try to avoid regret too. Recently, I played an Ibanez UV70P that was just astounding, but I didn't buy it. I had just received a 7 for Christmas, and it was $1000. I should have grabbed it because it practically played itself.

That said, I have a separate savings acount for my hobby, and I try to be as responsible as possible. So, some will likely leave Stately Hand Manor in the coming months. I might even make a little money in the process.

[Morrison]

I dont have an end game.

I just like buying and trying new shit.


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[artandsoul]

I do believe im finally at the end of my guitar journeys after owning over 200+ guitars of every brand dam near made but a very few. Searching for that tone and that look etc was years and its been fun but im done and happy I am done lol! Years of repairs, buying , selling and modding I have settled on 4 different styles to cover any genera of music I would play .Im not a single coil guy so p90s and the fat single coil tele bridge are perfect for me.
The gas is oh so very hard to overcome but after playing so many diff guitars over the years I feel I am finally done done with guitars, but I still need a few pedals still gas there lol. These are cheapo crap guitars to some but there so good for me I do not need gibsons , fenders or other 500-1200.00 used guitars in my life. Seeing prices high as they are now I am glad I got steal of a deal prices on guitars and pickups when I saw them. I've got less than 650 in all 4 guitars with mods and id take these 4 over any used agile lp or used fender.

hadean tele p90 neck and fat pole bridge, sx callisto epi wiring and probucker alnico 2/3 pickups. harley benton all stock active pickups, harley benton gfs alnico 2 pickups.

[sabasgr68]

I do believe im finally at the end of my guitar journeys after owning over 200+ guitars of every brand dam near made but a very few. Searching for that tone and that look etc was years and its been fun but im done and happy I am done lol! Years of repairs, buying , selling and modding I have settled on 4 different styles to cover any genera of music I would play .Im not a single coil guy so p90s and the fat single coil tele bridge are perfect for me.
The gas is oh so very hard to overcome but after playing so many diff guitars over the years I feel I am finally done done with guitars, but I still need a few pedals still gas there lol. These are cheapo crap guitars to some but there so good for me I do not need gibsons , fenders or other 500-1200.00 used guitars in my life. Seeing prices high as they are now I am glad I got steal of a deal prices on guitars and pickups when I saw them. I've got less than 650 in all 4 guitars with mods and id take these 4 over any used agile lp or used fender.

hadean tele p90 neck and fat pole bridge, sx callisto epi wiring and probucker alnico 2/3 pickups. harley benton all stock active pickups, harley benton gfs alnico 2 pickups.

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Love the SX LP. Really. The color. The first fret block inlay. Love it.

[tlarson58]

I'm there, I think. I have a good tele and a 335-type humbucker guitar. They both have a role and each has a wide tonal pallet. I guess that I'd rather spend money on other gear (DAW, audio interface, a pedal or two, etc).



And my wife won't allow me to purchase more.

[andrewsrea]

I do believe im finally at the end of my guitar journeys after owning over 200+ guitars of every brand dam near made but a very few.

Be advised, every time I say with conviction "I am done," another piece of gear shows up.

[artandsoul]

Love the SX LP. Really. The color. The first fret block inlay. Love it.

Yeah i love the 1st block inlays on guitars as well, so many brands dont have the 1st block they look incomplete to me lol

[BatUtilityBelt]

No end game, really. Like it enough to buy it? Done. Otherwise, nope.

[uwmcscott]

For me the quest is almost as much fun as the acquisition. The people you meet ( including many of you here on this forum ), the guitars you find along the way, the interesting shops and places, etc. I suppose there's always that "barn find" dream of uncovering something ultra unique or rare stashed under someone's bed. I have no end game other than it's a very interesting past-time.

[Stoli]

Great question. I ordered a guitar from Rondo earlier this week. I told my wife I was going to buy a guitar. Her question was if I needed it. I said no but I wanted it. Once she found out the price she could care less. I guess I am like many of you that like the different shapes and sounds from the various guitars, pickups, etc. I do not plan to buy another one but probably will at some point. I have never gone down the rabbit hole with pedals, amps, etc. I am perfectly fine with a little Fender amp that most people call a practice amp but it has a good bit of modeling and effects emulations built in it with a footswitch and it is plenty loud for me. You can easily put in a twelve bar blues to loop and make your own jam track.

I guess I am like you all in that I do not mind the relatively inexpensive guitars that Rondo sells. I am not skilled enough for a $2,000 plus guitar to make that much difference for me.

[dbrian66]

My “end game” has changed as my guitar journey has progressed. Early on I wanted to have as many different budget versions of each type of guitar as could find. Strats with all the pickups configurations, Teles with all the pickup configurations, etc….

I had at one point close to 40 guitars. But lately I have been selling off the guitars that don’t get much play time and buying higher end versions of the ones I do play. So my new end game I think is to find the best versions (for me) of the guitars I like.

I think I’m under 30 guitars now, but my “keep forever” collection is down to 6 or 7. As far as electrics go, these 4 are keepers!

[Tonray's Ghost]

I have 2 goals:

1) to give me a range of tone : for this I have estimated I need a Strat (Maya Clone with Wilkonsons), a P90 guitar (LP clone with Wilkonson p90s), a Humbucker Solid Body Guitar (not purchased yet but leaning toward the SilverTone 1423), and a semi-hollow (leaning toward the Epiphone Riviera with mini Hums).

2) Since I hang my guitars in an alcove in the main living room, they need to complement the room, each other and look good. So I carefully select and match colors, shapes and positions. Very often I have not purchased guitars because they duplicate a color I already or plan to have. Aesthetics are important.

I do have the urge to buy many, many more guitars but resources being limited and space being even more limited stop me. But that is just Gas....truthfully I'm pretty happy just playing the Strat most of the time being a Blues, Swing oriented player.

[sabasgr68]

I suppose there's always that "barn find" dream of uncovering something ultra unique or rare stashed under someone's bed.

I also have that "barn find" or "sale yard find" dream... The thing is that I never go to a sale yard or anything LOL

[Tonray's Ghost]

I suppose there's always that "barn find" dream of uncovering something ultra unique or rare stashed under someone's bed.

I also have that "barn find" or "sale yard find"... The thing is that I never go to a sale yard or anything LOL

The only thing people sell in their yards around here is grilled meat. I do have a GAS for that too !

[sabasgr68]

I suppose there's always that "barn find" dream of uncovering something ultra unique or rare stashed under someone's bed.

I also have that "barn find" or "sale yard find"... The thing is that I never go to a sale yard or anything LOL

The only thing people sell in their yards around here is grilled meat. I do have a GAS for that too !

Well, that´s "a little bit" different, but I´d fall into that! A nice piece of grilled meat is always good to have!

[nomadh]

One day someone asked me why I had so many guitars (back when I had a lot). I told him because I have only one woman. Variety is the spice of life and not wanting to split all my worldly goods I decided it was cheaper to stray on my favorite guitar than my girl.

That was a similar concept for me too. I called it my harem. I think I'm over it but still have most as I'm a hoarder at heart.