Huge decision to make and need some help.

[Nintari]

Hi everyone! I've been a lurker for a long time, so I'm not technically new around here, but this is my first post so, I guess that makes me at least somewhat green, right?

Anyway, I'm absolutely horrible when it comes to pulling the trigger on expensive gear (and things in general, not just musical equipment). So much so that at times, I've questioned whether or not I suffer from OCD or some sort of childhood trauma. It's like, whenever the time comes to drop serious coin on anything, I almost break out in a cold sweat. My sleep suffers. I can't stop obsessing over it. Can't make up my mind. I feel pulled in two completely different directions (do I really need this? should I be spending this money on something more responsible? should I be spending it at all?)... that sort of thing.

Well, as you might have guessed, I'm currently ravaged by the aforementioned burden. You see, I have the money to finally get one of two lifeline dreams as far as musical gear goes... but only one. The two choices are: a new 50's Les Paul standard (have always wanted a Les Paul since my teens) and a new Silver Jubilee reissue half stack (same; have always wanted a quality Marshall half stack), OR a Martin D-28, which I've also badly wanted since my teens. Both amazing things in their own right, but both drastically different. And once I pull the trigger on one, the other is gone for a long, long time. Probably years of time.

So my dilemma is basically this: I'm worried that once I buy one of these things, I'm going to find out that I made the wrong choice and end up wishing I had made the other and get stuck with it. Not that I would dislike either. That's not it. But sometimes I'm more acoustic leaning and other times, I'm more into the electric side of things... and I don't know which side of that spectrum I'm going to find myself on in a month, three months or even a year from now.

Does anyone have any advice for me? Because as pathetic as it is, I really can't seem to make the decision on my own without having a mild anxiety attack lol. I need help. Probably more than a guitar forum on the internet can provide, but that's a topic for another day haha.

 

[Moby Dick]

Buy used and if you change your mind, you can recoup the money.

 

[northernbreed]

If that’s a huge decision for you, it may be time to recalibrate.

 

[HogmanA]

It seems to me that you can have it all. New Les Paul, used Martin and save for a Marshall like amp. Of all equipment, the badge on a guitar amp probably means the least, IMHO.

 

[spoony]

Let me be the first to "officially" welcome you to MLP. As you know, being a lurker and all, this forum is made up of a great bunch of guys and gals.


Can't offer anything up in the way of advice, that just gets me in trouble, but what I can say is you picked a great place to share your love for the guitar. All in all seems like you have a quality problem on your hands. While your at it, I hear cowbells are a great choice.

s

 

[TXOldRedRocker]

Do you have a really good amp and speaker already? Maybe the guitar to pair with your really good amp you already have. Don't have a good amp, then your new guitar won't sound very good. Disappointment.
So maybe the amp with the guitar(s) you have now. They'll sound much better than they have because of the new amp.

If none of that sounds reasonable, buy the acoustic and ignore the electric dilemma.

My 2 cents.

 

[Thundermtn]

Get both guitars, used.

The half stack amp is going to be WAY too loud to enjoy. Find a single 12" combo and enjoy it.

 

[Standard]

Do you play in a band in large venues? Or have a large amount of private property? If not, forget about a half stack. If you don't have a NEED for it, that will definitely be a regret.

I had a 2x12 that could shake a house to pieces. I now have a 1x12 and a 1x8, believe me for home use that's enough. And I understand wanting something but if you're afraid of buyers remorse before you even get it, when you find out you can't use it it will be 1000x worse

I would say look for used and get both guitars and then look for like a fender blues Jr, or whatever turns up on Craigslist, and a boost pedal.

 

[smk506]

What gear do you already have?

Are you talking about topping off a collection with a few dream pieces or are you just dipping your toes into nice stuff for the first time?

Do you already have a few killer combo amps to play at home?

 

[mikey]

Yeah, if drop the amp. Nothing wrong with liking the tone of an amp but not having it.

I recently purchased a positive grid spark amp and you sound like a person that should look into it.

It's around 250CAD and you can have your Marshall stack. I also open a blues deluxe give amp, and a vox solid state. I hate how lifeless solid state are but honestly this spark is unbelievable for the price.

I also purchased a new 60s standard this summer (50s neck is thick as hell) and can't believe how great the quality is of it. I'd recommend grabbing your Gibby and D28. I waited years (look how old my profile is) before jumping on a real Gibby and I have no regrets.

At first I thought how much money I spent, and how wasteful it was on a 'hobby' but then I realized I'm not getting any fucking younger and ive wanted one for years so I did it.

#1 buy the gibby that you want.
#2 buy the Martin you want.
#3 skip the Marshall stack unless you are a session man or gig for a living.

 

[Nintari]

Wow, that's a lot more replies than I anticipated. Thanks! I'll try to answer some of the questions as best I can.

Up until now, the only nice guitar I've owned was a 1996, American Standard Strat, which I still have. But the frets are worn down and as a result, the G string won't intonate for crap. Other than that, all I have is a cheap pawnshop acoustic guitar that I picked up back in, I think it was 2000 and that thing... well, it's basically only here because of sentimental reasons. As far as an amp goes, I USE to own a Fender Twin back in 2003, but I had to sell it off sometime in 2007 to pay bills because at the time, I was poor (fell on hard times due to an unexpected divorce) and was basically just trying to keep a roof over my head.

But now, with me (finally) back on my feet, I'm ready to pick up where I left off... but I only have those two guitars and a crappy 15W, Squier practice amp... and there's not much point in owning a Les Paul if that's the only amp you're going to use. At least in my opinion.

Also, like Mikey said, I'm not a spring chicken anymore either. I'm thankfully healthy right now, but who knows when that's going to change. That's partly why I want the Silver Jubilee. Not necessarily because I NEED it, but because I can get it and it's a bucket-list sort of thing. Plus, if I get back into a band again, having something with that much balls would be reassuring. Because, unless I'm mistaken, Marshall's only selling a 100/50W and a 20/5W Jubilee, correct? I wouldn't want to get something that expensive and have trouble getting over a hard-hitting drummer.

 

[KStopper65]

Wow, that's a lot more replies than I anticipated. Thanks! I'll try to answer some of the questions as best I can.

Up until now, the only nice guitar I've owned was a 1996, American Standard Strat, which I still have. But the frets are worn down and as a result, the G string won't intonate for crap. Other than that, all I have is a cheap pawnshop acoustic guitar that I picked up back in, I think it was 2000 and that thing... well, it's basically only here because of sentimental reasons. As far as an amp goes, I USE to own a Fender Twin back in 2003, but I had to sell it off sometime in 2007 to pay bills because at the time, I was poor (fell on hard times due to an unexpected divorce) and was basically just trying to keep a roof over my head.

But now, with me (finally) back on my feet, I'm ready to pick up where I left off... but I only have those two guitars and a crappy 15W, Squier practice amp... and there's not much point in owning a Les Paul if that's the only amp you're going to use. At least in my opinion.

Also, like Mikey said, I'm not a spring chicken anymore either. I'm thankfully healthy right now, but who knows when that's going to change. That's partly why I want the Silver Jubilee. Not necessarily because I NEED it, but because I can get it and it's a bucket-list sort of thing. Plus, if I get back into a band again, having something with that much balls would be reassuring. Because, unless I'm mistaken, Marshall's only selling a 100/50W and a 20/5W Jubilee, correct? I wouldn't want to get something that expensive and have trouble getting over a hard-hitting drummer.

Sorry to hear that.
IMHO if you look in the right places, you can fit all 3 things into your budget.
A 20W Jubilee should be loud enough to play with a drummer.
Look for a used 50s Standard, it shouldn't cost you more than $2000

 

[JMP]

Buy used guitars. Do not get the half stack.

 

[Roxy13]

Look for a smaller used, good amp. A nice used 50s Gibson LP. And get the frets taken care of on your strat.

Then start saving for the Martin next.

 

[Moby Dick]

Look for a used Les Paul with the features you want in the $1600 range.
Buy a used Marshall dsl40c.
You should be able to get both in good condition for around $2000.

 

[TXOldRedRocker]

Wow, that's a lot more replies than I anticipated. Thanks! I'll try to answer some of the questions as best I can.

Up until now, the only nice guitar I've owned was a 1996, American Standard Strat, which I still have. But the frets are worn down and as a result, the G string won't intonate for crap. Other than that, all I have is a cheap pawnshop acoustic guitar that I picked up back in, I think it was 2000 and that thing... well, it's basically only here because of sentimental reasons. As far as an amp goes, I USE to own a Fender Twin back in 2003, but I had to sell it off sometime in 2007 to pay bills because at the time, I was poor (fell on hard times due to an unexpected divorce) and was basically just trying to keep a roof over my head.

But now, with me (finally) back on my feet, I'm ready to pick up where I left off... but I only have those two guitars and a crappy 15W, Squier practice amp... and there's not much point in owning a Les Paul if that's the only amp you're going to use. At least in my opinion.

Also, like Mikey said, I'm not a spring chicken anymore either. I'm thankfully healthy right now, but who knows when that's going to change. That's partly why I want the Silver Jubilee. Not necessarily because I NEED it, but because I can get it and it's a bucket-list sort of thing. Plus, if I get back into a band again, having something with that much balls would be reassuring. Because, unless I'm mistaken, Marshall's only selling a 100/50W and a 20/5W Jubilee, correct? I wouldn't want to get something that expensive and have trouble getting over a hard-hitting drummer.

Glad life is better than before.
The Jubilee comes in a combo with speaker out jacks. Used Gibson in excellent condition. A Jubilee combo now. A cabinet later for when you join a band. May not look as cool as a head on top of a cabinet, but a means to an end.

 

[afjungemann]

The herd seems to agree (as do I) that you shouldn’t get the half stack. Half stacks are fun for sure but man, a jubilee is going to rip your face off before it gets to its sweet spot. The studio series jubilee with a 212 is going to handle any band situation and will be much easier to use at home. And it will still rip your face off.

also as the rest have mentioned, the used market is the best way to try out gear. Should be able to move a piece for what you paid or little loss.

 

[mikey]

Yeah.. those amps are strong. You won't be able to get the tone you want (breakup) without literally destroying the windows in your home.

 

[Duane_the_tub]

If playing out is only a somewhat distant possibility for the future, get the acoustic. A good Martin is a lifetime treasure that you can just pick up and play anytime.

 

[gibsonofabitch]

if you really want those items (lp + amp or martin) just work out which do you WANT first? These are commonly available so finding a good example shouldnt be hard. It alleviates the pressure of making the decision and removes the "did i make the right choice" doubts.