Philosophical question:

[GS1]

Would you rather have just one, nice Core line guitar, or perhaps an S2 along with an SE or two?

 

[CantankerousCarl]

Having way too many already, I am not sure I can answer this one without bias - but I don't know when to shut up either...

Since I don't gig regularly, I chose the one nice core - since they're just so damn nice.

But, if I played out at all, even occasionally, I would go for the S2 + SE combo. In fact, I'd take my S2 Mira and SE Zach Myers Semihollow - that combo would cover alot of ground.

 

[NomadMike]

Just need one, and it'd likely be the one that I have as it's good enough.
If I was playing out or touring I'd just add a spare S2 Mira and maybe an S2 Starla or SC.

 

[László]

I'd rather have one great guitar than several good ones. That's why I have only one PS acoustic instead of several acoustics.

There are instruments that speak to me so strongly that I don't want to play anything else.

 

[jfb]

I am going to debate on the variety side this time.

 

[gball]

I am going to debate on the variety side this time.

Gotta agree. I need to mix it up from time to time and get different sounds/feels. I've lived with just one guitar a few times and it doesn't work for me, even if the guitar is a great one.

 

[John Beef]

As a gigging musician, I'd take more than one guitar, even though I would have a better appreciation for one great one. I did a tour with my Core Custom 22 in 2007, 9 shows in 9 nights in 6 states. 3 of those shows I broke strings. To save room in the relatively small Astro Van I didn't bring a backup. The worst night was in Kansas City, when we got bumped to be the closing act on a Tuesday. When I broke a string during the 2nd song, despite the fact that I had JUST restrung before the show, about 8 of the 10 people who were still there so late, left while I stopped the show to put a new string on. Talk about a bummer. So, now I have a backup at all times, and wouldn't you know, I rarely break strings any more. It was just bad luck, or a bad batch of strings maybe.

 

[stratcpo]

One guitar would never do. I like all kinds of guitars and like to play different feeling/sounding guitars. I guess I'm hooked on them. ENJOY!!!

 

[ElrytNamrogo]

The worst night was in Kansas City, when we got bumped to be the closing act on a Tuesday. When I broke a string during the 2nd song, despite the fact that I had JUST restrung before the show, about 8 of the 10 people who were still there so late, left while I stopped the show to put a new string on. Talk about a bummer.

Just out of curiosity....where did you play in Kansas City?

 

[John Beef]

Just out of curiosity....where did you play in Kansas City?

Record Bar. We knew the Roman Numerals guys from playing with them here in Phoenix. It would have been better to play there Thurs-Fri-Sat, cool place. EDIT:L Also this was our old band Chief Beef.

 

[watelessness]

what problem are you trying to solve? i.e. can you cover all the sonic ground that you need on one guitar? do you need multiple guitars for alternate tunings or slide action?

 

[László]

what problem are you trying to solve? i.e. can you cover all the sonic ground that you need on one guitar? do you need multiple guitars for alternate tunings or slide action?

Really this is the key question.

 

[kingsleyd]

Would you rather have just one, nice Core line guitar, or perhaps an S2 along with an SE or two?

I think this frames the hypothetical in terms of money rather than in terms of music. I think it's a bit of a mistake to have money be the primary lens through which you view anything having to do with art. It also seems to imply that the more expensive guitar is necessarily the better one, which IME isn't necessarily true.

I like that most of the responses have reframed the issue in practical terms, though. :top:

Personally, my philosophy is like Mickey Rourke's character in Diner said: "I'll have one of everything on the right side of the menu." In the last 35 years there has only been one brief period of time during which I owned only one electric guitar. That one guitar, as it happens, was a 1989 PRS Custom, and my intention was definitely to own one really nice guitar instead of a few pretty-decent ones.

As nice as it was, I have to admit I complained about it all the time and switched out a bunch of stuff trying to get it right. I was never as happy with that guitar as I was with its predecessor, which was a PRS CE-2, at the time their "budget" model.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I was that guy with pretty much just one guitar ( my backup remained largely unplayed) for a decent amount of time.

Life was simpler, decisions easier to make, spent more time playing than auditioning tones, I formed an unbreakable bond with a guitar, and gained an intimate knowledge of it. It was a great experience and I know I could do it again.

That being said... I was semi-approched with my dream guitar by its present owner last week that would've required me to sell everything to make it happen, and I couldn't do it. Choices are fun.

 

[veinbuster]

I've always been in the buy the best ONE you can afford camp.
Early 70s: a used bass that I worked with
76: a classical for something different
81: a steel string
86: a scratch and dent tele
....variety came over time and I'm ok with that.
I hate buying something I know I'm going to want to replace with something better.

 

[Bill SAS 513]

Never just one bass, although I respect those that are known to have that special bond with just one instrument...see Sergio's quote. I love having a spare, and an extra tuned 1/2 step down on stage...ok, and maybe an extra fret-less for that, too. I enjoy showing off my toys and talking about them. And I guess the same goes for my PRS guitars at home too...recently had a chance to pick up a Mushok Bari cheap, and did so...everybody needs a Bari...right!?!? VARIETY gets my vote! Having read Sergio's other quote (again with this Sergio guy) about his dream guitar, I would not trade my collection for a dream guitar either. Good way to judge ...just gotta work more OT to afford it!!

 

[László]

We're all very different!

I sold my Core #1 (a truly terrific guitar) to get my Artist Relations dream guitar in just the past couple of weeks.

In fact, I'd do it again, and I'd have sold my other Core one if necessary. And if I could only play the dream guitar for a while, I'd be fine with that. It's just a killer axe, and there's no reason I couldn't play any style on it, even though most folks would think it was rather specialized, being a Singlecut, no coil splits, etc.

It was a good choice -- for me.

YMMV, all that.

I think this frames the hypothetical in terms of money rather than in terms of music..

Well, of course! The assumption implicit in the thread is allocation of resources.

You're right that more expensive doesn't necessarily equate to better; however as a man with any number of very expensive guitars (I saw pics of your stable!), you've certainly invested heavily in them for a reason, namely, to have great instruments. Sometimes that works, and sometimes it doesn't, but clearly you are firmly in the "spend more to get the good stuff" camp.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I sold my #1 (a truly terrific guitar) to get my dream guitar in just the past couple of weeks. In fact, I'd do it again, and I'd have sold my other one if necessary. And if I could only play the dream guitar for a while, I'd be fine with that. It's just a killer axe, and there's no reason I couldn't play any style on it, even though most folks would think it was rather specialized.

It was a good choice -- for me.

Ha! Your #1 is a moving target! and I would dare say that your "Dream" guitar may be one also. How many PRS have you bought, sold, and declared the supremacy of?

I admire Les' ability to let go of things he's no longer using as much to fund a new adventure, especially since he's an "old person" who are a notorious bunch for sticking to proven commodities rather than seeking out new things... I think it's one reason why you seem so young at heart, and I admire that in him.

That's the problem with having only one... Tastes change, you change, your needs change, and if they don't? You're probably dead or at the very least stagnant. When I was rocking that one guitar for 20 years I was in a rut and grew to dislike guitar a bit, even though my CE was a very versatile guitar, having something else to pick up here and there has brought more joy to the creative side of my passion.

 

[László]

Ha! Your #1 is a moving target! and I would dare say that your "Dream" guitar may be one also. How many PRS have you bought, sold, and declared the supremacy of? .

Oh I completely agree! I may change my mind, and my needs may change as well.

But the question wasn't "would you rather have one nice permanent..." guitar, unchanging and forever forsaking all others.

If my needs/wants change down the road, I'll make whatever move I think will suit them. They keep making more guitars, you know.

Heck, Paul's probably happy I'm so wishy-washy!

It's just a question of resource allocation preferences. And I'd rather put all my eggs in one "nicest I can find" basket than spread 'em into several lesser baskets. Just the way my mind works, and not necessarily the way I think others should operate their lives. I'm not trying to persuade anyone to do what I do.

I think this way about things other than guitars, too.

Incidentally, I did rock my '65 SG Special from the day my brother gave it to me in 1967 until 1991. So I can be consistent when I want to be.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

It's just a question of resource allocation preferences.

Yeah.. I guess I went off on a tangent there, sorry.