I've had enough - gear trading stops here!

[Twinfan]

So, whatever PRS brings out at Winter NAMM this year will be of NO interest.

Nope!  I want to have money to spend on other things  :)

[Oli]

It's funny your should say that-- A friend of mine who has had quite a lot of gear too (Two Rock, Fender Twin, AC30, Lazy J, JCM800, Champ etc.) has also said that one of the best tones he's had was from a DSL... I think they're pretty good amps, especially for the money!

[Dmoney]

If this is true its only a matter of time before the US goes into recession then.

[Frank]

I think my trick is to only buy "holy grail" guitars now. I've got a mental list of about five guitars that I'd blow cash on. The rack system is sorted, maybe needs a new FX processor to replace the old Quadraverb but as far as I'm concerned I don't need anything else in the way of guitar gear. Which is handy as it gives me an excuse to buy synth modules instead.

[Philly Q]

So all those times you say "I need another Strat", you never actually buy one?

I never said I hadn't bought another strat. I just haven't sold any.

But you said your rig's stayed the same for 10 years - is that amps only then?

(Or oil....?)

[Frank]

Ah yes, "rig" in that sentence meant "amp rig". Ancient MIDI tube preamp, tiny bit of Quadraverb, Marshall power amp, sorted. And no pedals, I can't stand pedals.

Although thinking back, I did stick my old Rockman compressor in the rack a few years back. Other than that, everything stays the same.

[JDC]

Stop buying Paul Reed Smith guitars and buy some Paul Smith shirts instead ;)

[Philly Q]

Stop buying Paul Reed Smith guitars and buy some Paul Smith shirts instead ;)

Oh dear, oh dear....  :roll:  :P

[_tom_]

I gave up looking for the holy grail tone ages ago as well, I just get on with playing when I can be bothered now! Only thing I'm doing is rewiring all my guitars to 50s style because the pots are scratchy anyway and the 50s style sounds a bit better when rolling off the volume. Realised the other day I've had my Laney as my only amp for 5 and a half years now!

[hunter]

I went to see a guitar plater called Larry Miller last night, who was great by the way, and it's put into place the final piece of the gear puzzle I've been pondering over recently.  He played the whole night through a really straightforward rig:

* Stock early 90s Gibson '59 LP reissue
* Handful of 'regular' pedals - TubeScreamer, CryBaby wah etc
* Marshall Vintage Modern and DSL heads
* Marshall angled 4x12

Really simple, straight off the shelf stuff.  He sounded SUPERB.  Nice and bright and crunchy, the neck pickup on his LP had no flubbiness whatsover and the bridge was crisp without ripping my ears to shreds.  Clearly he's very good at setting up his gear to work for him and getting the best out of it.

This struck a real chord with me as I've had enough of constantly buying and selling guitar gear, and losing cash every time in the process.  What I've been doing is matching up guitars/pedals/amps (and I now have 3 dedicated rigs) and this seems to have removed the constant need to chase my all-in-one "holy grail" tone - which I'm now convinced doesn't exist.  This approach works great for me as I get the best out of certain combinations, and the different setups give me some variety in tone/feel and bring out different playing styles.

So I'm going to stick with what I've got and stop looking for things to buy  :roll:  I'm very fortunate in that I have some great gear, so I'll sell a couple of things I'm not using any more (empty Matamp 2x12 and PRS SE Custom 24) and just enjoy the great stuff that I have.

There, I've said it.  It will be done.

Can't beat a player who knows his shite and sports a Marshall.

[juansolo]

Pisstaking aside, I've hit this stage with cars (my personal money pit and obsession). I think I've just hit that perfect combination and have slimmed down their number to just the right amount. I honestly can't think of a single car I'd replace any of them for, they're just right for me and what I want them to do.

Still fancy a classic though...

...must resist!

[Twinfan]

I think it's something that comes to us all at some point.

The only thing I'd blow cash on would be an Emerald Green Modern Eagle stop tail, but I've been looking for one of them for 4-5 years and they're rarer than hens teeth.

Anyway, I'm off to play loud rock and roll through a PRS and a Bogner.....

[gwEm]

I know exactly what you mean Dave. Feel very similar myself.

In a way I've been lucky with my amp and cab purchases in that I stumbled on the exact sound I wanted relatively easily.

With pedals I've been through a few but now have a selection that work with my guitars.

And with guitars theres little out there that really makes me want to splash out in that way anymore.

[Andrew W]

I have to say this is resonating a lot with me too. I find I'm playing just my DGT into my Cornell Romany with occasionally a pedal or two for delay, extra oomph or whatever, and it's putting a smile on my face like I haven't experienced in years. I'm looking at my other guitars and thinking that some, maybe most, of them will probably have to go as I don't like having guitars as ornaments. I like all the guitars I own but the truth is I'm just not playing any of the rest of them now. And incidentally since it was Twinfan's PRS evangelism that made me first get a McCarty and from there the DGT this is ALL HIS FAULT. :)

[Dmoney]

I have a little bit of PRS GAS too. but mainly for a pretty bog standard looking CE 22 or 24. That said... I'm really liking my strat and don't feel a need. I almost debated parting ways with my Les Paul, but I've been through a lot with that gitter.