I am unable to expand get variety in my guitars

[SpinWheelz]

I am suffering from a very serious problem. I constantly suffer from GAS. But before you scoff of my problem - "big effin' deal, we all suffer from GAS, get in line, loser" - I must explain that my GAS is becoming very limited.

I am unable to enjoy a variety of guitars.

Here's why. After I picked up my LP Studio and started picking up the guitar again a bit more seriously, I started looking around to see what other guitars I can play around with. I have this obsessive syndrome with stuff I get into - it's the reason I have 8 mountain bikes and they all do something different. So anyway, guitars. Each weekend, I would take a short drive to Guitar Center and play around with their guitars. After a few weeks, some things became quite apparent to me:

• I'm not at all fond of Strats. I'd hungered for one for the longest time, so I played no fewer than a dozen different models, from Mexican ones to U.S. ones to those that sport SSH configs to artist signature ones, you name it. After all that hubbub, I've grown to realize that I'm simply not going to be happy with a Strat.
• Of the Telecasters that I tried, only two gave me wood, proverbially of course. One was the '72 Thinline with the ash body and pair of humbuckers. What a beautiful-playing neck. The second was the '72 Deluxe, again with the pair of humbuckers but with Les Paul-style controls and a Strat-type neck. So again, I'm back to humbuckers.
• I'm really quite fond of the SG, but perhaps only one model, which is - don't laugh - the Epiphone "School Of Rock" edition SG. All the others seemed to have this enormous tree-trunk-like necks that made playing difficult. Even the Gibson '61 Reissue model - while it sported a slimmer neck, it wasn't anywhere as slim as this Epiphone model. I may have to spring for this.

So, what am I left with? Zero ability to feel anything for single-coil guitars, and some weird propensity to continually gravitate towards humbucking guitars, and even then, it's with Les Paul-style controls. I don't like this. I took pride in being curious and being able to appreciate the merits of different forms. Yet, I'm unable to make something happen with guitars that don't "resemble" my Les Paul.

I want more GAS. Can you believe that.

[Phil47uk]

Originally Posted by SpinWheelz

I'm unable to make something happen with guitars that don't "resemble" my Les Paul.

Really depends what sort of music you are playing and that's the vital piece of information you didn't mention in your post.
For many only a Les paul will do, but for someone like myself, there are a stack of sounds I can get from say a Strat or a Tele that I just couldn't get from any Les Paul.
Same goes for rockabilly. You just won't beat a Gretsch 6120 with Dynasonic's.
For some gigs a nylong strung acoustic is called for. Others a steel strung acoustic.
If one just plays one genre of music, then I suppose you could get away with just one type of guitar, but I look at my guitars as a tool kit.
You'd never find a garage that only had spanners. Sometimes you need screwdrivers, and other times wrenches etc etc. They all have their part to play.

[SpinWheelz]

I am trying to learn to become better at playing blues-based music. Surely that's not limited to Les Pauls and/or humbuckers - just look at Muddy Waters, Clapton (the proper blues stuff, not all the other crap he's responsible for), SRV, etc.

[Phil47uk]

Originally Posted by SpinWheelz

I am trying to learn to become better at playing blues-based music. Surely that's not limited to Les Pauls and/or humbuckers - just look at Muddy Waters, Clapton (the proper blues stuff, not all the other crap he's responsible for), SRV, etc.

Of course not. It's not so much the guitar but the technique of the person using it.
It's like becoming used to driving one type of car. You have to work at it for a while before becoming one and feeling natural with it.
Also it's the guitar/amp combination too. What sounds good with one guitar has to be tweaked in order to get the best sounds out of another.

[jomo]

Sounds like you are in for a long ride my friend. I picked it back up a year ago after a decade without playing and I unleashed the GAS beast in me. I now can't stop "collecting" guitars. All the different tones, and necks, it's awesome to be able to grab the guitar that your in the mood to play and get after it. I was the same way with Strats by the way, never cared for them. One day I played a Custom Shop at GC that was owned by an employee, I played several others to try and get that out of my head and then I played the CS again and just couldn't leave the store without it. I have several nice Les Pauls and Teles but that damn Strat is my baby.
Good luck with all the Gas.

[dennistruckdriver]

Easy: Buy the ones you like, and don't buy the ones you don't like.

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by SpinWheelz

I am trying to learn to become better at playing blues-based music. Surely that's not limited to Les Pauls and/or humbuckers - just look at Muddy Waters, Clapton (the proper blues stuff, not all the other crap he's responsible for), SRV, etc.

No, blues are not limited by gear choice, rather, blues are limited by the soul. Blues can be played on VERY expensive guitars:



or the blues can be played on cheap-ass guitars:

[JasonC]

Yea yea, the feel is important but I think it's more important for you to learn to adapt (good advice for life in general).

Also you did mention you can't seem to live without humbuckers... I felt that way too awhile back, but lately they're just sounding a bit muddy to me. Personally, I can't really relax and play seriously in a music store. Maybe you need to just take the plunge and buy a Strat to have at home. You really need to get out of your comfort zone or your music is going to be just as predictable as your taste in guitars.

[v8ko]

Your choices will expand as you play more guitars. I GAs for guitars all the time but in reality theres just some guitars youll love because the way they sound and some for the way they look. Personally I dont care what they look like but the feel and tone.

Dont give up on those SGs with the fat necks I have one and didnt play it much because of the neck but the tone was great so I didnt sell it, now two years later its my number one and I dont even think twice about the neck. Actually I love the neck lol.

Like JOMO said sometimes your mood will take you to the tele or LP whatever the case theres great guitars out there.

BTW you either need one versatile amp or a couple different ones to enjoys each guitar to its potential. I use different size strings and picks depending on the guitar.

[SpinWheelz]

Having a seemingly unnatural fondness for humbuckers is quite a bit different from "can't seem to live without humbuckers" - I don't think I ever said it that way. In any case, I'm going to keep on experimenting. I honestly think that part of the reason I may not have been finding much joy with some of these Teles and Strats is because they're in such awful shape in the guitar store. I mean, it's a bit tough to try and settle in for a few minutes to give a guitar a proper run with the neck is sticky like someone just ate an In N' Out Animal burger with fries then wiped their hands on that guitar, when the strings are all rusted through, when the strings are set so high that I can actually hear them pick up the BBC.

I think I need a find a proper guitar shop to spend time in. Not my local Guitar Center, where on any given Sunday, I'll hear four different versions of Sweet Child O' Mine from four different kids within 15 minutes. Kill me now.

[dennistruckdriver]

Originally Posted by SpinWheelz

.....on any given Sunday, I'll hear four different versions of Sweet Child O' Mine from four different kids within 15 minutes. Kill me now.

I swear last Sunday at the local GC, there was a big kid with Down's or something similar (not picking on him, just telling you what I saw!) with an 'Elvis' jacket on, strumming noisily and endlessly on a badly out-of-tune Epiphone Les Paul.

[v8ko]

Originally Posted by SpinWheelz

Having a seemingly unnatural fondness for humbuckers is quite a bit different from "can't seem to live without humbuckers" - I don't think I ever said it that way. In any case, I'm going to keep on experimenting. I honestly think that part of the reason I may not have been finding much joy with some of these Teles and Strats is because they're in such awful shape in the guitar store. I mean, it's a bit tough to try and settle in for a few minutes to give a guitar a proper run with the neck is sticky like someone just ate an In N' Out Animal burger with fries then wiped their hands on that guitar, when the strings are all rusted through, when the strings are set so high that I can actually hear them pick up the BBC.

I think I need a find a proper guitar shop to spend time in. Not my local Guitar Center, where on any given Sunday, I'll hear four different versions of Sweet Child O' Mine from four different kids within 15 minutes. Kill me now.

I have an American Fender Deluxe with a maple top and an H/H setup. The humbuckers are Fender Enforcers...man they are awesome for ANY type of music.

[StrangerNY]

Originally Posted by dennistruckdriver

Easy: Buy the ones you like, and don't buy the ones you don't like.

OR

Buy the ones you like and keep them, and buy the ones you don't like and send them to me!

But seriously...

Keep trying different stuff. The right guitars will come to you.

I once had a '72 Olympic White Strat with a lacquered maple neck. Hated it. I had the neck stripped, tried everything, still hated it. I got rid of it and played nothing but rosewood for years. About 3 years ago I was at GC and I tried a Squire '51 Modified with a maple neck. It was amazing, even for a low-end guitar. I tried out about 7 of them and bought the best of the lot.

Since then I've bought a Tele and traded for a Mexi Strat with maple necks. I love them all. It took me a long time to acquire a feel for maple, but now they're just as important to what I play as rosewood or ebony.

Sooner or later, you're going to find a guitar outside of what you like now that'll really ring your bell. Just keep playing all of them.

- D

[Tweed Cab]

Originally Posted by Phil47uk

Of course not. It's not so much the guitar but the technique of the person using it.
It's like becoming used to driving one type of car. You have to work at it for a while before becoming one and feeling natural with it.
Also it's the guitar/amp combination too. What sounds good with one guitar has to be tweaked in order to get the best sounds out of another.

A+ Guitar/Amp combination so true! Rule #1 with every new guitar purchase you must follow with a new amp purchase... That keeps you broke so you stay home and practice your technique.

[captcoolaid]

I am not a strat man at all, but my bro gave me a body ans a friend gave a reworked pre cbs lefty neck. W as just gonna use it till i got somethin else. put together and oh my GOD it rocked, it is pretty much the only strat i have ever liked. Maybe try building one.

[st.bede]

Originally Posted by SpinWheelz

Having a seemingly unnatural fondness for humbuckers is quite a bit different from "can't seem to live without humbuckers" - I don't think I ever said it that way. In any case, I'm going to keep on experimenting. I honestly think that part of the reason I may not have been finding much joy with some of these Teles and Strats is because they're in such awful shape in the guitar store. I mean, it's a bit tough to try and settle in for a few minutes to give a guitar a proper run with the neck is sticky like someone just ate an In N' Out Animal burger with fries then wiped their hands on that guitar, when the strings are all rusted through, when the strings are set so high that I can actually hear them pick up the BBC.

I think I need a find a proper guitar shop to spend time in. Not my local Guitar Center, where on any given Sunday, I'll hear four different versions of Sweet Child O' Mine from four different kids within 15 minutes. Kill me now.

that is crazy....

you should befriend a GC employee and have them do a fast setup for you...

also, talk to the maneger...and tell him that you are an OC kind of buyer (you do have 8 different mountain bikes) but, you have a hard time getting into a guitar because of the "bad" setup and that it is hard to have the space to really check them out....

they probably have a room where you can close the door or, at least get out of the main area. They will treat you better if they think you are a more serious type of player or that you will spend some "real" money....

knowing their mind set, about people bopping through GC like it is a mall store, will help you talk your way into respect.

[SpinWheelz]

Well, here's the thing - Guitar Center is a lot like these bike shops I frequent. You got these numbskull employees there - mostly kids who are in it for the employee discount to feed their habit - and they're not entirely interested in gaining a loyal (possibly frequent) customer. The manager's not much better - each time I ask him a question, getting an answer out of him is like a massive chore.

Contrast this with the mom & pop shop I went to in Pittsburgh (I'm from NYC), where I picked up my Les Paul. I walked in, the owner came right up to me and asked me what he could show me. Then proceeded to encourage me to play a few different guitars even I went in there specifically for the LP. He took every guitar off the wall, handed each one to me, and each guitar was in great condition. I mean, here's a guy who properly cares about making a sale and clearly has a passion for this stuff. Not some imbecile employee punching in to get x% discount on all the killer gear he could ever want.

God, I'm a demanding SOB.

[st.bede]

Originally Posted by SpinWheelz

Well, here's the thing - Guitar Center is a lot like these bike shops I frequent. You got these numbskull employees there - mostly kids who are in it for the employee discount to feed their habit - and they're not entirely interested in gaining a loyal (possibly frequent) customer. The manager's not much better - each time I ask him a question, getting an answer out of him is like a massive chore.

that manger is doing a great dis-service to GC...I would voice an complaint to the higher ups...there is a person in charge of the internet communications at GC web page...you can find him here in an old post to...send him an email...