What Is It About Better Gear

[AngryHatter]

Why are we inspired MORE by better gear?

Forgetting the penis measuring for a minute - a measure of wealth is silly as it is a relative thing.

But why does "better" translate into more play time, more writing, more jamming?
Do writers, when gifted a Mont Blanc automatically write better pieces? Are they inspired to write more just because of better gear?

In that case, statistics say if I play more I get better, and one of the pieces I write may actually be good.

Is the phenomena limited? Or does it continue? A $25,000 guitar just makes you play that much better than a $10,000 and that much again of a $500 model?

I've seen a particular "luthier" in Vietnam that makes incredibly figured guitars for very reasonable prices - his shipping is the high point in his pricing.
They are cheap pieces of shit, but if a kid who knows no better plays more and longer is it better? Has it graduated into the realm of useful?

Perspective is a bitch. And I have a shitload of 1st world issues.

I'll still rail about pictures and no clips, but jeez - I gotta calm down, eh?

 

[Soul Tramp]

I've seen a particular "luthier" in Vietnam that makes incredibly figured guitars for very reasonable prices - his shipping is the high point in his pricing.

Who? Where? I'm spending the month of March in VN, and would love to visit such a luthier.

 

[hecube]

Inspiration comes from many places. Some get their kicks from cheap 60s guitars, others from guitars that cost upwards of 6000 dollars...

 

[parts]

I have heard..
Music comes out better on a stolen guitar..
or close..

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Less friction means more motion. It's pretty comprehensible.

 

[Skintaster]

"Better" is sort of subjective. My favorite current guitar is a cheap ESP LTD that just sounds and plays great.

But when you have a piece of gear that seems nice to you, it just inspires you to spend more time playing it. For me, it's not about how expensive a particular guitar is, it's how well it feels, and how good it sounds to me.

 

[Kamen_Kaiju]

My Epi inspires me to play it more then my Gibson. That neck feels like a comfortable pair of boots. Wrapping my hand around that neck feels like coming home.


...can't put a price tag on that.

Some people only want to drive Porsches,...other folks are just glad to be driving anything.


In a dark room they all feel and sound alike anyway. Feels like a guitar, looks like a guitar, sounds like a guitar,.....it's a guitar.









that being said, I still want a mid 70's LP.

 

[Meatwad]

I got this Santa Cruz thing - it's almost 4 grand new. (I got it for a LOT less than that used)

I got this for 4 hundred new - Recording King.

Is it made as well as the Santa Cruz - hell no.
Does it feel as good as the Santa Cruz - hell no.
Does it sound as good as the Santa Cruz - well..........
It's just different, and for some things, it's brighter tone may sound better.

But it's 10% of the cost. It can't sound that good, can it?

 

[SixAngryStrings]

My Baja Tele is a phenomenal instrument, well built, sounds amazing and plays like a dream... Yadda, yadda... It's changed my POV on the Mexican built Fenders for sure... Am I in any rush to buy another Mexican made guitar? No. Because I prefer to keep my money in the States when possible... Am I more inspired by my Gibson that cost four times as much? No, a great guitar is a great guitar, better gear makes you play and sound better, or at least make it easier to play and possibly sound better. But I find it hard to imagine one being inspired to play more, simply by the aesthetic values of a musical instrument, let alone it's price tag.

 

[Meatwad]

My Baja Tele is a phenomenal instrument, well built, sounds amazing and plays like a dream... Yadda, yadda... It's changed my POV on the Mexican built Fenders for sure... Am I in any rush to buy another Mexican made guitar? No. Because I prefer to keep my money in the States when possible... Am I more inspired by my Gibson that cost four times as much? No, a great guitar is a great guitar, better gear makes you play and sound better, or at least make it easier to play and possibly sound better. But I find it hard to imagine one being inspired to play more, simply by the aesthetic values of a musical instrument, let alone it's price tag.

I had a Baja Tele - it was a great guitar. I really regret letting that one go.

 

[AngryHatter]

Who? Where? I'm spending the month of March in VN, and would love to visit such a luthier.

Eagle Inlay Solidwood Mahogany 6 Strings Electric Guitar 1512 | eBay
They are not good guitars by any means. That was my point.
Eagle Inlay Solid Ashwood 6 Strings Electric Guitar 1677 | eBay
High Quality Abalone White MOP Inlay Solidwood Mahogany Electric Guitar 1702 | eBay

 

[MineGoesTo11]

There's a certain point where the quality of the instrument gives way to more ornamentation, or true to vintage spec, or some other fussy bs that involves picking fly sh!t out of pepper.

 

[slapshot]

Why are we inspired MORE by better gear?

better is relative

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

But I find it hard to imagine one being inspired to play more, simply by the aesthetic values of a musical instrument, let alone it's price tag.

Of course. But things like taking the time to get a good neck carve, or good, clear pickups, cost money, too. And they can be inspiring, especially if they're on a new guitar and your old one was deficient in this or that area.

 

[Soul Tramp]

Eagle Inlay Solidwood Mahogany 6 Strings Electric Guitar 1512 | eBay
They are not good guitars by any means. That was my point.
Eagle Inlay Solid Ashwood 6 Strings Electric Guitar 1677 | eBay
High Quality Abalone White MOP Inlay Solidwood Mahogany Electric Guitar 1702 | eBay

Damn, are those ugly!

He's probably in the musical instrument district in Saigon. I'll only be in Saigon for a day and not sure I'll have to to visit that area. But I'd love to.

I'm going to look around Hue, Da Nang, and Hoi An, where I'll have more time.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[Jody]

I think its in the hands,and mind of the player,,not the price tag ,or name on the headstock....
For example....
Im reminded of one Eddie Van Halen that bought a second hand,kicked back guitar body,and neck that was in reject piles at Wayne Charvels small factory....
He paid $160 for it total ......
That guitar ended up becoming one of the most iconic guitars in Rock....if not music entirely.....
This same guitar was also recorded for the solo of ”Beat It” on Micheal Jacksons ” Thriller”....The highest grossing album in music history......

Gear dont make the player.....Its the player themselves .....

 

[SWeAT hOg]

I think its in the hands,and mind of the player,,not the price tag ,or name on the headstock....
For example....
Im reminded of one Eddie Van Halen that bought a second hand,kicked back guitar body,and neck that was in reject piles at Wayne Charvels small factory....
He paid $160 for it total ......
That guitar ended up becoming one of the most iconic guitars in Rock....if not music entirely.....
This same guitar was also recorded for the solo of ”Beat It” on Micheal Jacksons ” Thriller”....The highest grossing album in music history......
Gear dont make the player.....Its the player themselves .....

Not to mention the RI of that 'cheap' EVH guitar sells for around $25 000. Is that quality or hype?

 

[rxbandit]

Because you can't buy practice so gear is the closest alternative

 

[Ed B]

Boys and toys. It's that simple.

 

[BigDipper15]

It just insipires me to be a better player. That's it for me. I feel I need to live up to the instrument. The gear is still way better than I am as a player though. If I had just a Squire and an Epi I don't know if I would be as insipired to play them. Did I mention I was also insane?