Collecting guitars is overrated.
I fell into the trap of this collector mentality about 25 years ago. My old assistant Jenn penned a phrase. Whenever we got a new guitar she’d say ‘you boys and your Hot Wheels’…
For me it began in the early days of having a dream to possess all the instruments I ever wanted. This is back when I had a single electric, single acoustic, single drum machine, in a single apartment… and oh yeah, I was single!
But all this time later, I wish I’d have made a single guitar my own. Like f’ing SRV. Like BB. Jimi, Jimmy, Keith, Bruce, Bo Diddley, Alvin Lee, i’m just thinking off the top of my head, but there are more. Rory! ha.
Collecting things like cars and guitars, you gotta house ’em. You gotta care for them too. Keep them strung, tuned, in temperature controlled environments. But beyond all that, they become a little like jelly beans. All of them are good, but not one stands out.
I bet cars are this way too. Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld have hundreds of cars. They all need to be started, gassed, oiled, replacement gassed after 6 months, driven, stored… I mean if you’re rich enough I guess, but it still sounds like one major pain in the ass to me. I’d rather just go and enjoy a car show at the local park on any given Sunday. Even go to a dealer’s showroom and test drive it. That’s about how long you will enjoy one of your 100 cars.
Anyway, the signature you create by becoming one with your main axe, a tool, but one you have perfected… is meaningful!
And it’s like Jeff Porcaro used to say about all the new digital toys coming out one after the other… he’d pause with comedic timing and go “… so… got any tunes?”
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I started buying more guitars about 10 years ago. The first one I bought was a MIM Strat, that is really the only guitar I’m using so the rest are just like those cars you buy, and never drive. I still have my gold top that I got when I was 14 years old in 1971. I still love my gold top but just like me it’s gained weight over the years.……
I love killer vintage gear, but over time freed myself from any craving to hoard gear.
that said, I own about 15 stringed instruments, but they all serve a purpose, and I play them all. a partscaster tele, my #1, les paul studio (paid $500 new, US made), strat ultra, duesenberg, then,,, mando, banjo, 50’s Oahu lap steel ($250), a cheap classical, my sweet Taylor, a Reverend baritone. my basses are crucial: Ampeg scroll bass, 50’s Kay Howlin’ Wolf, and a fretless Pedulla (a gift!). my go-to whenever i learn something, even complex stuff, is a 40’s silvertone archtop, the top is literally particle board. i have had to glue this thing back together. I feel so connected to it, can’t explain. my great keyboard player friend picked it up in Charlotte off craigslist, and i’m pretty sure i forgot to give him the hundo he paid.
I could prob drop a few of these, but most feel necessary parts of my arsenal. esp when i get back to writing, vs. gigging.
amps,,, another topic. i restored over 90 vintage amps, mostly 60’s Ampeg fliptops and Fender Blackfaces, nice side business for about 6 years. still have a few, but I’m not in a band now, I perform solo, with a board mounted Friedman pre, straight into the board, and i LOVE it. still have a 80’s JCM800 combo, brownface Tremolux. the best sounding thing sits in my living room, a 40’s Bell and Howell project speaker cab I loaded with a retooled Hammond reverb chassis and a Alnico Blue. Heaven! oh i have another hammond chassis in a 50’s briefcase with an 8″ speaker, this thing is so rich, chewy, marvelous, all 3 watts of it.
sorry for the ramble. in summary I’d say: it’s ok to have a variety of instruments and amps if you use ’em! collecting for the sake of wall-hangers – naw, dog. collecting cars – def not!
If this post appears more than once, it’s because the poster is an old man. 😀. A few technological hurdles to crawl under as of late. About 25 years ago, I had the idea to start accumulating guitars. I was fuel by a rare find at a garage sale in Columbus, Ohio. I found a 1929 000-18 and they wanted $5.00. I was persistent to the point of agitation but they refused to accept anything more. Soon after picked up a 67 Tele and the race was on. Unfortunately medical expenses superseded collecting and both had to disappear into the arms of another. Currently I have a 76 Martin D35, a ‘93 George Lowden and a custom made piece from Joel Stehr out of Spokane. That instrument consistently blows the other 2away in the studio, regardless of the mic, number of mics, location and position of the mic. Hands down, an amazing instrument. I also picked up a “Frankenstein” for almost nothing. It’s a ‘64 Tele body with spare parts from god knows what. The funny thing is, it more than serves my purpose. That being said looking for a decent Tele ‘77 or older. Must be blonde or butterscotch. 🫣
Judas, have you experienced Gill’s collection? If not and you would like and are in Nashvegas, (I know, lots of conditions) I would certainly put that together for you. Not that you need me to do that but I am certain he would welcome a visit. It’s truly something to behold and then curse the man’s very existence. I jest. Ever get that twinge of irritation when you realize all the painfully nasty mouth breathers on this planet have all the good stuff? Gill restores a sense that, with only a couple missteps, god generally plays fair.
The obligatory Rock On Brother!
Jude i am around collector cars all the time , although I don’t have a collection like Jerry or Jay , I take care of a high school friends of mine that has a collection of over 75 , lots of makes and models, but mostly he has Oldsmobile Muscle cara from the 60’s and 70’s, i do all the detailing , polishing , paint correction, waxing and ceramic coatings.
I myself have 3 cars , why only 3 , because it’s just the right amount, I do feel guilty not using them any of them more but my kids come first and there will ge time to enjoy them more when they go to college, my reasoning fir only 3 also is because I have 3 boys God willing , each will get a car from me when I leave God’s green earth eventually. YES cars need care and up keep , and sitting even in a climate controlled facility is not good , cars are meant to be driven and enjoyed . I do this as much as possible in my free time , go to a few cruise nights each year and 1 or 2 major events with them. Besides the joy these csrs gave brought me over the years , it’s even more enjoyable to see how others react when seeing them and are blown away , especially kids . I own a 1 of 2 1985 Oldsmobile FE3-X concept cars, , both are 1 offs , and the nickname the cars were given to the were Darth Vader by the GM Engineering. The car is actually pretty famous in car circles , and Revell Models came out to my home and took measurements and pictures and in 2017 released a model of my car. Revell gave me a couple of cases of the models of my car and when the car has been at a major show I’ll bring some models , because there always is some kids that absolutely love Vader , and I’ll let them sit in the car and when they get out and finish talking to me and taking pics , I’ll give them a model of the car and they go nuts, I just love seeing the look on their faces .
Cars are constant work , your never done , owning 1 or 100’s like Leno , cars are a passion for me , making them look like new , and a finish like glass well it’s gratifying and i really enjoy when I’m working on a car .
In car circles I’m known as one of the best at doing what I do , and it’s not my main line of work .
Guitars same , hiw many can you own really , I’m no professional like you , just a player , I have a bunch of acoustics and a few electrics, play them when I can , but when we have a group of people over it never fails people start picking up guitars and playing and we have a great fun time all.playing and singing , and now my son Cole has picked up and been playing and practices every day , told him whatever one’s he likes is his ,
Yep understand having more than you need , care and upkeep, etc, but there is a happy medium, I think I’m there
On a completely different note, check out Lee Sklars you tube channel .post No 1785 .!
ah, preparing for you kids when you leave god’s green earth is it’s own thread, isn’t it? i wonder how many of us do this??
Wisdom with age. As we get older we learn what is really important and valued (not valuable). And anything I accumulate, my kids will have to dispose of.
So true, probably won’t know the value
Great stuff Jude. Do you still have the guitar you use in the “Baby It’s Tonight” video? Just curioud.
I always heard Jerry Garcia used only two different guitars, “Tiger” and “Wolf”. After doing some research, turns out they were his main one’s, but there were others too. Interesting site dedicated to his guitars for anyone interested.
https://jerrygarcia.com/guitars/
Yup, it can be Very expensive as well.
I wish I would have kept all the ones I had throughout the yrs since my first axe in 66”.
I can’t even remember what happened to half of them.
Must’ve been the Tequila … Ha!
How many do you have Jude, May I ask?
Feliz Navidad 🎄🎶
my collection went from around 90 to about 30 now… and dwindling. I plan on having a Les Paul, Strat, Tele, Byrdland, SG, 3 or 4 acoustics, 2 basses and a couple of oddballs like 12 string, sitar guitar etc.
Ahhh you giving up on banjo? Don’t see you listing one of those in your arsenal
I don’t own a large collection. There are two that I would absolutely keep: a ‘78 Les Paul Standard that I received for Christmas that year, the same year my father passed, and my Guild D-25. I think about thinning the herd but every time I pick them up to see if I want to sell it I find the reason that I bought it in the first place. I will leave the wife a list of inventory and what to ask (and what to accept) in the event of my demise.
I’ve always wanted to collect guitars… but I have no clue how to play em! 🤷🏻♂️
Collectors are better off not knowing how to play. They can capitalize off the investment without the heartstrings.
I can’t say I suffer from collection habits but I think you’ll appreciate what I have collected. My first guitar I still have. Bought off a rotating metal rack next to the 5 cent scoops at Thrifty’s.(That was a hint to its vintage) A Decca, single pickup, plywood body, 3/4 scale, sunburst , meticulously hand crafted $19.95 musical instrument. My other wonderfully unique bit of rolling history- 1973 VW Thing. Joe Bonamassa has neither.
Please post a photo? My first real guitar was a Stella. Loved that thing!
Hmmm, I have 3 “classic” cars and have been wondering, as I enter those “classic” years myself, what am I to do with them. They sit in a climate controlled area and occasionally need the TLC that you spoke of. Other than that, They are mostly there to remember the “old days”. Time to move on.
Cars are such a great investment, but I guess you have to factor in how much per year it costs to keep them over how many years. I go on vintage car sites all the time dream shopping, but just owning this ’70 Ford pickup has shown me what a chore it is.
But when the electromagnetic pulse puffs, You will be the only one driving around. If you have some gas. 🙂
and you know that’s why i bought mine in the first place haha… tho i have no idea where i’d go.
I like that sentiment. Maybe an extra for when you’re doing a gig and something breaks 🙂
Tools of the trade. What’s necessary should be kept. All else should go. IMNSHO
Being left handed I have kept pretty much every left handed guitar I have purchased. Somewhere around 30 or so.. Today I dug out a white Les Paul Custom and it will get new strings and a set up tomorrow. Then the neighbors will get to hear it roar. Some of my guitars haven’t been out of their case in a while but when they do come out it’s like getting a new guitar again.
Like American Pickers, your type is fun to watch. I loved that show. My OCD has to do with death I think. Like they won’t let the U-haul in…
I own a french “Lag” which was my first,
( good story behind it but too long for here) and has been played by alot of people, stolen, returned and a little battered about and just for that I won’t part with it. I also own a Zemaitis GZA 2800 jumbo which I am at one with…beautiful to play. That’s it for acoustic. One tele copy, one strat copy & a cheap bass. My car ( ? ) will be stuck together with duct tape soon. It still gets me from A to B …well more like A to A# but it goes.
I can say tho that if circumstances had been different my wall to wall guitars, keyboard & more would look pretty good in my palace.
As for cars, check out a programme called CAR SOS ( British) . A budget of around $25.000 is spent on restoring classic cars for owners who, for health reasons are unable to and it’s done in secret ! Makes me cry & smile every time.
Oh that sounds good i’ll be looking into it. Zemaitis btw I’ve never owned but they make those metal front guitars don’t they? Ron Wood played one maybe?
Yes the silver badge . They have serial nos too for ID. The inlay on mine is abalone shell & Mother of Pearl. Ron Wood plays one yes! and my birthday buddy Keith Richards
(explains alot) has played one early on. Dhani Harrison plays George’s, I think on the concert for George vid you can see it and Eric Clapton had a 12 string made when Tiny Zemaitis was making them.
They were only made as an acoustic so I had an LR Baggs pickup put into mine as a semi.
Oops *Tony .Zemaitis
Less is more.
Don’t forget Ted Nugent’s fave: The Gibson Byrdland.
ah yes. I’d love to hear others too. Btw my Byrdland is one of my favorite guitars. I keep flatwounds on it.