So, after years of saving up for gear, trading and selling stuff, purchasing equipment that was plain awesome or bad and lots of time spent on the internet that would have been better invested in actual playing I finally arrived somewhat at a point where I have all I need. Sure, G.A.S. is always there and temptation to upgrade or trade is always lingering somewhere in the back of my head, but in the last 6 months I got rid of all my guitars I didn't need or haven't used. Now I'm down to 10 stringed instruments, 5 electrics, 2 basses, 2 acoustics and one western guitar.
Now those would be my first electric, a cheap Silvertone Paul Stanley signature I will never sell purely out of sentimental value, a custom built Strat I got for my 18th birthday, a Gibson LP Studio I got in a trade, a Jackson Elite Randy Rhoads that was a steal, an Ibanez Soundgear bass I got in a trade and use for recording, my granddads 1962 Framus Hollywood that's been restored and will be back in my hands soon, his Höfner Violin Bass that'll see my luthier next, two cheap acoustics I got as a gift from friends that wanted to learn guitar but gave up along the way and a Samick Western with a piezo pickup I got for another birthday.
I owned a 93 Jackson Fusion that was a great guitar but got no play time, a 2010 Jackson DK2M that was played a lot but had some build flaws I couldn't gel with, a very cool japanese Jackson SLSMG that I bought purely out of an old desire of wanting to own one back in the day cause the guitar player from This or the Apocalypse had one, a Stagg SG copy I got as a youngster cause I was a total Angus Young fan (store owner overcharged me on the guitar, the quality was soo bad it should have ended up as fire wood, sold it for 100 bucks including a hardcase to a total beginner and don't feel bad, at least he'll get the money back if he ever sells the case) and an Ibanez RG 350MZ that was very comfortable to play but sounded like cr@p. I also got an old beat up Kramer Pacer Imperial as a gift from a friend, restoring the guitar would have been lots of money so I salvaged the hardware and sold it to a guy who is collecting old Kramers to put them back to former glory.
So after all I'm down to 3 electrics that I'm fond of (4 if you count in the Framus I'll get back soon, gonna open up a thread once I get my hands on her). My custom Strat, my LP Studio and my Randy Rhoads.
The Strat was a love/hate relationship for the longest time. Back when dad comissioned her I was a pure metalhead, all into pointy guitars, active pickups, floyd rose bridges and all that jive. Dad said the only thing I may decide on is what pickup configuration I want. So of course I said HSS so I could play mah metal. The luthier talked me out of the Floyd because he said it would be a hassle. I'm glad he did. After all I was only playing for 2 years and had no experience with gear whatsoever. Dad specified a maple neck and the strat shape because he knew you could always swap pickguards. I'm glad he did, because I finally love everything about the instrument. My initial hassle was that the Duesenberg Humbucker the luthier put in wasn't evil sounding enough and although the guitar felt like pure heaven to play I tried out loads of humbuckers in there over the years to be dissapointed every time, the guitar is bright and has very little low end, so for metal applications it never seemed to work. Eventually I gave up on trying to turn her into a metal machine and tried a SSS configuration. I went with 3 EMG SAs (cause I can't live with the hum) and the SPC middle boost. Surprise, surprise. The SAs in conjunction with the SPC dimed gave me the metal sound I was looking for all the years. Sure, you still have a bit more twang than with a humbucker but surprisingly suddenly the instrument had all the thickness I was looking for and couldn't find. Now that I don't play as much metal anymore and settled on lots of blues and rock I'm probably gonna throw in a DiMarzio Area set. Wish BKP would offer noiseless single coils but oh well. You can't have it all, right?
Next up the Gibson LP Studio. This was a trade. And the guitar looks beat up and ugly, mostly because the original owner attacked the finish with sandpaper to make her look reliced I guess. On the backside you have a huge spot where you see the bare wood. And she's a plain jane, black satin finish. But oh the sound, the feel and playability. Gave the RG350MZ away and an ENGL particle board 412 with V60s, got the Studio, 150 bucks and the Gibson case. Never looked back. She came with EMGs the guy put in there, a 81/60 set. Got a 57/66 as a replacement to try out and whilst it's a lot better than the previous combination I'm gonna order a Mule set or go with a Riff Raff/Mule combo since again I play more blues and laid back styles these days. Action is also ridiculously low after a fret job.
And finally my Jackson Randy Rhoads Elite FSR. This one gets the least playing time at the moment and I have contemplated on selling her a few times, but seeing how this is the only instrument dedicated for all the Metallica, Megadeth, Sylosis and Revocation songs I play here and there I'm set on keeping her. I got her for 500 bucks and still have no clue why my local music shop was selling her for that price. I think new they retailed at around 1400 bucks. Last series to come out of Japan before Jackson moved to Mexico/Indonesia. Quartersawn maple neckthrough, ebony fretboard, alder wings, stainless steel frets, OFR. Action is as low as it gets and bends never fret out. Feels smooth as glass. Gonna treat her to the 57/66 set I have in the LP right now. As said, she's my dedicated guitar for all things heavy.
So this has been a wall of text, me sharing some of my stories with guitars I had and now have as my ultimate keepers. I'd love to hear some of your stories, how many guitars have you sold/bought/traded? On which ones did you settle and why? Do you have any you never play but can't get rid of? Did you sell any and regretted it afterwards? Do tell!
Cheers
