#1934522 - 04/30/08 03:00 AM
Do you play ALL your guitars?
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RetiredSteve2
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Registered: 04/29/08
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I only have 4 guitars, comparing that with some of the folks here who have 20-30-40. I always thought guitars were meant to be played That the wood ages correcty the more they are played.
Do the collectors play their guitars to make sure they are aged correctly?
Steve
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#1934523 - 04/30/08 03:01 AM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: RetiredSteve2]
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Michael Patrick
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Registered: 04/18/07
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Loc: Madison, WI
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My rule is if it doesn't get played, it gets sold.
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#1934550 - 04/30/08 04:38 AM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: Rampdog]
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splitting hare
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I own 6 and they all get played - some more than others.
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#1934562 - 04/30/08 05:32 AM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: splitting hare]
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miroslav
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The whole "aging" of the wood really applies more toward acoustic guitars and less to electrics which are solid bodies and generally sealed with a good layer of poly-something.
An acoustic guitar has raw/exposed wood inside, so that wood will slowly dry out and squeeze the resins inside the grains...which ultimately has some effect on tone.
For an electric...I think aging affects the electronics a lot more dramatically than the wood.
Does playing actually change the wood…?...mmmm…again, maybe with an acoustic where the entire body is a sound-box intended to vibrate and that vibration may cause some of the resins to move (on a molecular level)…but there’s NO guarantee that aging and playing will improve the sound (it might just change it a bit).
You might have a nice sparkly sounding guitar when you first buy it…and 5 years later it could be rather dull-n-flat….
I know a lot of folks will claim that older guitars sound "better"...etc...but unless you scientifically document the sounds/tones of a guitar over the course of time...it's probably more about hype/vibe than reality.
Has anyone ever followed and documented/recorded the changes to a guitar over say...30 years...???
If you just say it's so and that you can hear and remember the difference from how your guitar sounded 30 years ago...
...chances are, it may be that over 30 years time your hearing has changed a lot more dramtically than the tone of the guitars! 
AFA as playing all the guitars...yup, I play all of mine in turn...some maybe more often than others.
_________________________
miroslav - miroslavmusic.com"Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
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#1934571 - 04/30/08 06:00 AM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: miroslav]
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Hardtail
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I play all 2 of mine.
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#1934625 - 04/30/08 07:14 AM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: Xplorer]
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Mudcat
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I have three electrics, one flattop and one bass. All get played (although not nearly as much as they should.  )
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#1934626 - 04/30/08 07:14 AM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: Michael Patrick]
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Greg B.
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My rule is if it doesn't get played, it gets sold.
Yep, same here.
_________________________
Avoid playing the amplifier at a volume setting high enough to produce a distorted sound through the speaker-Fender Guitar Course-1966 http://www.myspace.com/tentcityallstars1
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#1934632 - 04/30/08 07:22 AM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: Greg B.]
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Dr. Ellwood
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#1934634 - 04/30/08 07:24 AM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: Dr. Ellwood]
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MILLO
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Yes, although the Ibanez gets played the least--because of the Floyd, I usually keep it at home, and usually teach w/ the Carvin (hardtail).
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"Without music, life would be a mistake." --from 'Beyond Good and Evil', by Friedrich Nietzsche My MySpace Space
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#1934635 - 04/30/08 07:25 AM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: Greg B.]
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Michael Patrick
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My rule is if it doesn't get played, it gets sold. Yep, same here.
Which is why my SG is going to be going bye bye soon. It is always the last guitar to get picked up. I also realized it only made it onto one lone (and very buried) rhythm track on one song on our album. So it is hasta la bye bye for it...
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#1934641 - 04/30/08 07:31 AM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: Greg B.]
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miroslav
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My rule is if it doesn't get played, it gets sold. Yep, same here.
I'm curious...what kind of time frame do you guys go by?
I also will on occasion cycle out some unused gear...though I do find that with most audio/studio gear...you always lose out on those transactions...'cuz you either sell for a lot less than what you paid or your new item costs a lot more than the one you sold.
The last several months I unloaded 4 amps and 6 guitars...and I purchased 3 amps and 5 guitars. I ended up spending more than what I made on sales...but in the end, I did move things up a few notches in quality (IMO)...so I guess I'm ahead.
Now I do have some rack gear in my studio that gets only mild use...and sometimes it sits there for months without getting powered up (like preamps, comps and EQ’s)...but I would only sell them if I could also upgrade a few notches, otherwise, I leave them sit in the rack 'cuz I never know when I need just one more pre or comp...etc.
_________________________
miroslav - miroslavmusic.com"Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
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#1934651 - 04/30/08 07:46 AM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: miroslav]
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Michael Patrick
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Registered: 04/18/07
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My rule is if it doesn't get played, it gets sold. Yep, same here. I'm curious...what kind of time frame do you guys go by? I also will on occasion cycle out some unused gear...though I do find that with most audio/studio gear...you always lose out on those transactions...'cuz you either sell for a lot less than what you paid or your new item costs a lot more than the one you sold. The last several months I unloaded 4 amps and 6 guitars...and I purchased 3 amps and 5 guitars. I ended up spending more than what I made on sales...but in the end, I did move things up a few notches in quality (IMO)...so I guess I'm ahead. Now I do have some rack gear in my studio that gets only gets mild use...and sometimes it sits there for months without getting powered up (like preamps, comps and EQ’s)...but I would only sell them if I could also upgrade a few notches, otherwise, I leave them sit in the rack 'cuz I never know when I need just one more pre or comp...etc.
Basically when I realize I haven't used a piece of gear lately, and don't anticipate a need for it in the near future. For example, I have a tweed Deluxe clone that I don't use often, but it sounds great and I used it on some key tracks on our CD. It isn't loud enough to use live with the band, but I'll definitely use it for recording. So it stays.
The SG, on the other hand, didn't even hardly get used on the disc, and it doesn't have a unique enough sound or anything that would make me want to keep it.
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#1934652 - 04/30/08 07:46 AM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: miroslav]
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Greg B.
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Registered: 12/28/04
Posts: 1373
Loc: Tulsa Oklahoma
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My rule is if it doesn't get played, it gets sold. Yep, same here. I'm curious...what kind of time frame do you guys go by? I also will on occasion cycle out some unused gear...though I do find that with most audio/studio gear...you always lose out on those transactions...'cuz you either sell for a lot less than what you paid or your new item costs a lot more than the one you sold. The last several months I unloaded 4 amps and 6 guitars...and I purchased 3 amps and 5 guitars. I ended up spending more than what I made on sales...but in the end, I did move things up a few notches in quality (IMO)...so I guess I'm ahead. Now I do have some rack gear in my studio that gets only gets mild use...and sometimes it sits there for months without getting powered up (like preamps, comps and EQ’s)...but I would only sell them if I could also upgrade a few notches, otherwise, I leave them sit in the rack 'cuz I never know when I need just one more pre or comp...etc.
I've got a Strat, a Tele, a P90 equipped Reverend, and a humbucker equipped Reverend on the way. So as far as diversity, I've got most bases covered. I typically rotate them about every other time we play and keep fresh strings on them all. I used to take a couple each time we practiced, but have quit doing that recently, just take one now. When we play out, I'll bring two, tho, just in case something happens. I have been recently figuring out certain songs that different guitars sound better on, so I may start bringing 2 or 3 each time we play and practice.
I recently sold a Charvel for a few of reasons.
1)I had traded for it and I knew that I would make a few bucks on it (I had very little in it)
2) I remembered that I don't care for a Floyd Rose 
3) I just never played it (See #2)
4) It helped finance my new Reverend. Definitely an upgrade! 
I am selling my Epi LP to my singer for a few reasons:
1) He has been buggin the sh*t out of me to buy since I've been playing with him.
2) Again, I'll make a few bucks on it, while making him a good deal too.
3) I'm upgrading to another Reverend and this will help finance it.
When I get the other Reverend, I will be down to "keepers", so selling guitars will be over for me. Now, buying, on the other hand, won't ever be over!   
Edited by Greg B. (04/30/08 10:12 AM)
_________________________
Avoid playing the amplifier at a volume setting high enough to produce a distorted sound through the speaker-Fender Guitar Course-1966 http://www.myspace.com/tentcityallstars1
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#1934740 - 04/30/08 10:06 AM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: Strategery]
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Danzilla
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I play all of my basses regularly. For electrics, I do play the ES335 relatively often; the Guild Starfire sometimes; the Hamer Duotone rather often; and rarely touch the BC Rich STIII. Recently I do grab the PRS SE semi-hollow, due to it's newness and it's in an easy-access gigbag. My main acoustic guitar, an Alvarez, I play regularly. Don't play the Washburn acoustic much anymore. Hardly touch the Kaman Matrix, because it's trapped behind other stuff and I don't use it live.
I do wish I had more time to play them all, though.
For the first time in a long time, I am thinking of selling some. Mainly considering selling the Alvarez & Washburn, to get one really good acoustic. Possibly even unload the BC Rich, if I can get a decent amount for it. Depends on whether or not I use it in our upcoming recording sessions. If I don't it might go.
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#1934805 - 04/30/08 11:11 AM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: Danzilla]
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RobRose
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Registered: 02/16/08
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Put simply, yes! I find that, even with 10 or so guitars, I don't have a lot of overlap in guitar styles (except I have 2 Les Paul-type guitars, but with very different pickup configs -- one for blues, one for heavy rock), and each one lets me play a little differently.
As many have said, if something sits in a case for too long, that's a sign it has to go...
Edited by RobRose (04/30/08 11:11 AM)
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LP, CS-336, TA DropTop T, ASAT Cstm, Ravelle Cstm, Cstm Shop Strat, Reverend Charger290 & Parris Models, Custom Variax, Godin Freeway, Martin DC16RGTE, Schecter Bass
Mesa Lonestar, Carr Vincent amps
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#1934917 - 04/30/08 01:34 PM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: Michael Patrick]
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GuitarPlayerFL
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My rule is if it doesn't get played, it gets sold.
You would sell your children?! 
_________________________
A great Jazz/Chord Melody Master (my former instructor http://www.robertconti.comLP/Strat/Tele/PV/Wolfgang/POD/JTM 45 Keys: RD700SX/XP-10/Karma (FKA GuitarPlayerSoCal) "I Love L.A." - Randy Newman
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#1934918 - 04/30/08 01:35 PM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: Kramer Ferrington III.]
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Rampdog
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It's funny, when I first saw RetiredSteve popup, he reminded me of somebody else. Yeah, same here.
Could it be??? Naaaa... but then again... Hmmmmm 
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What Key Do I Play In? I Play In The Key Of "Fun"!!!
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#1934928 - 04/30/08 01:44 PM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: Rhino Madness]
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miroslav
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Naaaaa....they're just getting broken in about then.
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miroslav - miroslavmusic.com"Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important."
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#1934932 - 04/30/08 01:49 PM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: RetiredSteve2]
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GuitarPlayerFL
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I play all...maybe not recently...except:
BC Rich Mockingbird needs a complete overhaul including bridge before it can be played again.
Am. Std. Tele needs new neck.
Kramer Pacer Deluxe needs overhaul; original neck is broken needs to be repaired and electronics need to be overhauled. The perfect guitar for Hair Metal!
I've only sold a couple of guitars ever...a 1970(?) Stratocaster (awful quality) and an early 70s Gibson Les Paul Custom (another POS in the quality department).
_________________________
A great Jazz/Chord Melody Master (my former instructor http://www.robertconti.comLP/Strat/Tele/PV/Wolfgang/POD/JTM 45 Keys: RD700SX/XP-10/Karma (FKA GuitarPlayerSoCal) "I Love L.A." - Randy Newman
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#1934967 - 04/30/08 02:51 PM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: miroslav]
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Justus A. Picker
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Does playing actually change the wood…?...mmmm…again, maybe with an acoustic where the entire body is a sound-box intended to vibrate and that vibration may cause some of the resins to move (on a molecular level)…but there’s NO guarantee that aging and playing will improve the sound (it might just change it a bit). You might have a nice sparkly sounding guitar when you first buy it…and 5 years later it could be rather dull-n-flat…. I know a lot of folks will claim that older guitars sound "better"...etc...but unless you scientifically document the sounds/tones of a guitar over the course of time...it's probably more about hype/vibe than reality. Has anyone ever followed and documented/recorded the changes to a guitar over say...30 years...??? If you just say it's so and that you can hear and remember the difference from how your guitar sounded 30 years ago... ...chances are, it may be that over 30 years time your hearing has changed a lot more dramtically than the tone of the guitars!
There are some luthiers measuring the frequency response changes in acoustic guitars as they get "played in" over time. The theory I remember is that the vibrations from playing loosen the material (pectin? I forget...) inside the wood cells which allow the top to vibrate more freely. There was a looooong series of post on usenet some years back by some luthiers involved in these studies. There was a consensus that there are measurable frequency response changes. Whether or not that is a good or bad thing is of course up to the listener.
Oh, I play all my guitars too....
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#1935099 - 04/30/08 08:30 PM
Re: Do you play ALL your guitars?
[Re: Justus A. Picker]
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Kramer Ferrington III.
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About that ageing wood...
What about player experience? I would suspect that after 25 years of playing the same guitar you'd become very good indeed at getting the best possible tone out of it?
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