Guitars you've always liked playing but never bought.

[Stevepage]

So this thread is about what the topic says. Guitars you always say you want, but never buy.

One of those for me is the Gibson Explorer. A very old friend of mine has lent me his Gibson Gothic Explorer for a couple of days and I've fallen in love with it all over again. He bought it years ago and ever since he bought it, I've always loved its tone and look. Now I've had plenty of chances to buy one but, I've never actually gone through with it.


So as it stands, Gothic Explorer (in D Standard) into a JVM on the OD2 red, sounds awesome for metal.

Post yours!

[Twinfan]

I've always really liked Goldtop Les Pauls, but I've never bought one and don't plan to.

A '53 wraptail with P90s would be awesome:

[gwEm]

just off the top of my head:

bc rich gunslinger
telecaster
dommenget mastercaster (mattias jabs sig strat)
explorer 90/pro
sg junior
RD artist

[Philly Q]

I don't want to get into "money no object" vintage GAS territory, so I'll keep it generic:

Les Pauls - love the sound and look but can't get on with the weight or the bulk of the body.
Yamaha SG2000 - likewise!
Explorers and 335s - cool guitars but simply too large when you're not much bigger than Angus Young....
Flying Vs - as above really, but I've separated them because I have owned a few (and would still like to own a '58-style at some point)
Relic Tele or Strat - always thinking about buying one, but not sure I'll ever pull the trigger!

Edit: how could I forget -

BC Rich Mockingbird - always loved the shape, but never had an opportunity to try one (at any price point).  I just don't know enough abut the BC Rich brand to risk a blind purchase.

[Antag]

Over the years there have been many individual guitars that I loved but passed up the chance to buy - the Fender custom shop set neck strat circa 1991-4 springs to mind.

The one guitar that I've always looked at in its various forms but never actually bought is the ESP Horizon.  From the H-S models of the late 80s up to the current 2H model I've always liked them but could never quite bring myself to buy one.

[MDV]

The only ones I can think of that I've wanted to own, if not buy, that I never have are

- ESP or gibson explorer. I've had several explorers but never the ESP of metal titan 80s-hetfield or the definative article. never actually run into an ESP explorer in person and the quality gibson ones I've worked on and played dont exactly encourage a purchase. I just like the look.

- Jackson warrior. I dont like stealths or xiphoses, but theres something about the warrior that does it for me. I've always refrained by the 'better things to spend my money on' reasoning.

Guitars I've liked playing but never bought...short list. A cheaper version of that guy from slipknots ibanez, with the huge trem shaped but fixed bridge comes to mind. I really enjoyed playing that, but never bought it. Couple of strats, but not many, one old mex tele, much to my surprise and dont tell roo!

[gwEm]

just off the top of my head:

bc rich gunslinger

really liked afghan's and the wild finishes. i looked at a few but decided against it in the end. this goes for any superstrat - kamer nightswans are cool too!

telecaster

its all about the look - i really enjoy the sound and playability

dommenget mastercaster (mattias jabs sig strat)

the guy in MJ guitars was a real c0ck and i didn't want to leave him any money

explorer 90/pro

i'm a tall guy, and these might look a bit small on me

sg junior

don't know why i never got one - probably as i already have a double p90 sg that i'm satisfied with

RD artist

i think these look really dope, but for some reason i've never felt the need to splash the cash

i'm keep looking at the ibanez fireman - but its just too expensive

[MisterMuncher]

A Charvel Surfcaster. Never could bring myself to drop the coin on one, even though every single one I've had in my hand has been an absolute cannon.

[WhiteRam]

Gibson Byrdland

Gibson Trini Lopez

Gibson Herb Ellis 165

BC Rich USA Mockingbird

Fender Robin Trower Strat

WR  :)

[blue]

two of the best guitars i ever played, and i actually played them both on the same day, were a USA BC Rich Warlock and an Ibanez Jem.  magnificent guitars.  the Jem practically played itself!  to this day i wish i'd been able to afford the Warlock.  they may look a bit silly, but i do think that was the best sounding, best playing guitar i've ever come across. 

[gordiji]

gibbo explorer. i remember going into rushworth&draper every time i went to town as a wee lad in the late 70's
                         just to look at this beautiful cream and gold creation and wishing the tooth fairy would bring it to
                         me.think it was about 600quid.
                         by the time i could afford it i'd lost the desire. this was before locking trems and the myriad of
                         makes that came online in the 80's and was very impressive.god knows what a young lad would
                         have thought 20 yrs earlier when they came out

[AndyR]

Interesting how many folks are saying "Explorer". If I hadn't bought one a few years back, that's exactly what I'd have been saying too. I lusted after that shape for, ooh, must be nearly 30 years... (hardly ever touch the thing, of course... :roll:, but I'm soo glad I have it...)

I have a guitar that I kinda "like" but have never played that much - a V.

I'm determined not to give in to V-lust though, it was always the Explorer for me. Thinking about getting a V really is a "hmmm... seem to have everything I wanted  :?, what else can I GAS over now??!"

Of guitars I have actually played but didn't buy:

A Gibson Les Paul (that I didn't buy on the day I bought the Explorer) - that was just creamy yummy... but a sizable amount more than I've ever spent on a guitar. I've since acquired a lovely Japanese Love Rock at less than half the price this gibbo was, but it's not quite as nice as I remember that gibbo... funnily enough, all other Les Pauls I've ever tried have always left me wondering what the fuss was really about, but that one was rather nice...

A Fender Roadworn 50s tele (blonde, obviously). I've played a couple and they do kinda kick the teles I own into a c--ked-hat... but I'm rather fond of the teles I own, none of them are leaving, and I can't really justify another at the moment (especially as I seem to have acquired two Roadworn strats while my mind was wandering aimlessly...)

[tekbow]

SG's always liked playing thm but will probably never buy one. i go through periods of liking them and not liking them.

Played through a couple of parker flies back when they just came out, loved them, but don't think i could spend the money on it. i think i'd feel like a bit of a poser playing one. also hence why my PRS stays at home

[HTH AMPS]

For me it would have to be:

* Flying Vee
* Ricky 360
* Gretsch White Falcon double cut

[38thBeatle]

For me it would be a Les Paul and maybe a Ric bass and a Jazz Bass. Possibly also a Ric 360 but purely for the look.