Nothing Matters, and What if it Did: What your guitar says about you. (Page 1 of 2)

Hey David..  my thought is it really doesn't say much..  its the person's talent that speaks volumes..  someone can have an inexpensive guitar and make it sound like a million bucks cause they can play..  I'm not saying a top of the line Gibson or Martin, Taylor, etc won't make a difference sound wise and action wise though  - it will.  I, too always check out what guitar folks choose to buy..   Twenty guitars in 2 years..  wow.  Currently I have 8 guitars..  the Martin HD28 is my fave.  But I have a Godin, lower end  Art & Lutherie acoustic electric.  It is quite nice too.  Cedar with a cut away..  it has a nice brilliant sound..  good luck.
Deb

Debrap,
I must clarify and correct. Let me say less than ten guitars in two years. (I am on coffee this am!) and I do buy and sell so my current inventory is three. Sorry I had a bowl of high-fructose hyberbole for breakfast.
David

Hey Zurf..  I love worn guitars too..  one of my favorite artists plays a Gibson J45.. totally worn from use.  Still sounds great of course. 
Deb

But you know, Trigger actually does have a good bit to say about Willie now that I think on it a bit...

If only that beat up guitar could talk,   the stories.

badeye   

Zurf!!! Where did you get Willie's guitar??

I'm almost embarrassed to say how many guitars I've owned...... It's very close to (if not over) 50 with 22 being the most at one time.  I don't have any good music stores close by so if I wanted to try a model, I'd buy one (used usually) online and play it for a few months and either put it away as a keeper or resale it. There aren't many brands/models that I haven't tried at one point or another (that I had interest in)...  A few of the brands that have visited are takamini, ibanez, epiphone, garrison, indiana, ensenada, morgan monroe, Alvarez, Yairi (S & K models), Art & lutherie, Seagull, Simon & Patrick, Norman, Gibson, Eastman, martin, taylor, and even a Sitka/EIR Santa Cruz dread.... Probably left out a few but you get the drift.... Now I'm not rich and am not naming off all these guitars to boast... But just to say where I'm coming from... 

Here's my take on what I've learned after owning all these. Remember, this is only my opinion and is based on what fit's me and my style of play. I'm sure others will disagree and that's cool

- Money doesn't buy tone
- Solid woods (back and sides) are overrated
- Solid tops almost always sound better
- The best bang for the buck is found in the sub $1000 category
- Made in China should no longer be a bad omen ( though they should be shopped carefully)
- Bracing of the top has more to do with the tone than the woods used (don't get too hung up on Eir vs Hog vs BRW vs Tas Blk )
- Some of the best values are coming out of Canada
- Playability will effect your tone much more than you would think
- Guitars should be bought based on tone first with playability a close second
- Cosmetics shouldn't be a real factor when shopping (Though it does help )
- Guitars with voiced tops will almost always sound better than production guitars with precut bracing
- Neck joints don't affect the tone as much as some like to believe
- Strings and picks play a huge role in the tone of any guitar!! 

I could keep going but I'll stop there   Like I said these are only my views.....

After all this experimenting my favorite guitars are Yairi's (Kazuo Yairi) from the early 70's to early-mid 80's, Second place goes to the Showcase line from S&P, and third would be Taylor.

Currently I own 8.    Five are Yairi's, 2 are older S&P Pro models and the other is a newer S&P Showcase.  I'm seriously considering selling my S&P's and becoming a straight up Yairi man Don't be surprised to see a few pop up in the classifieds this weekend

I have no idea what my guitars say about me..... 95% of my music is laid back and chilled though    

Sorry if I missed the point and carried on a bit -Chris

Guitarpix,
thanks for the observations. I agree with many but will make a note of yours as I continue my journey through and around guitars. I buy and sell often trying to cull the good (in my opinion) from the bad. I derive much joy from this.
David

Guitarpix,
Point #2, "solid woods (back and sides) are overated", is particularly refreshing to me as I've battled this one. I currenly own two all-lam guitars and one all-solid (or maybe the back is laminate, some debate on this).

The first/best advice I've ever received is to seek a solid-top. Sometimes I have actually heeded this advice and sometime not (SOMETIMES, but not always, at my own auditory peril).

I think a "Guitar Buyer's" book is in your future. You could help millions of future players avoid hours , months, years of frustration.
David

Thanks Guitarpix!

Sorry Pix,
I cannot agree about solid wood guitars being overrated. I have played some very nice laminates and still own a couple but to me there is a natural wood tone missing from laminates. I love solid wood back , sides and tops. I am not saying you have to break the bank on a solid wood guitar. I don't care if they are America, Chinese or elsewhere. Solid wood guitars are where it's at!!!!!!!!!!!