How Many Guitars Are “Too Many”?
Recently I posted this picture of Joe Bonamassa with a “portion” of his guitar collection as a part of my review of his Phoenix concert.
Joe Bonamassa and his Guitars
I LOVE THAT PICTURE!
I use it as the desktop background on my computer as well as a constant reminder of how “few” guitars I actually own!
The truth be known, I own 9 guitars. They are:
- Fender Squier Strat
- Alvarez Yairi Acoustic
- Taylor 414-CE Limited Edition
- Rogue Acoustic Resonator
- Schecter C-1 E/A Quilt Top
- Traveler EG-1 Travel Guitar
- Gibson Les Paul Standard
- Taylor Solidbody – Deluxe Walnut
- Gibson CS-356 w/Bigsby Custom Shop
OK…now let’s look closer at this list. The first 2 are really my daughters. They are in her room and she’s the one who plays them (the most). So that really means I have 7 guitars. And since the Traveler guitar is only played a few weeks a year (when I travel) I really can’t count that one either. So I guess I have 6 guitars. The Rogue Resonator was an impulse purchase when MusiciansFriend.com blew them out for $99 bucks on one of their “Stupid Deals of the Day” and it’s really more of a decoration on a stand in our living room (with it’s shiny cones) so to be honest…I really have 5 guitars.
But wait… I almost forgot… I re-tuned the Schecter to “Open E” a few months ago when I thought I wanted to play slide… an idea never really took off so the Schecter is hardly being played at all right now and the Gibson is a Custom Shop that I’d hate to see get damaged so when it comes down to it… I ONLY HAVE THREE GUITARS (that I actually play).
I keep telling myself (and my wife) that I still need all of them because they all sound different. Some of my other favorite excuses are:
- They are all going up in value and we would lose money if we sold them.
- There is a unique guitar for each “genre of blues” that I play.
- Different kinds of wood sound different.
- This is not a “new” guitar, it’s used.
- I am not going to keep this one very long.
- I could not pass this deal up!
- I need a guitar in every color.
My wife says it’s a sickness and she is right.
It’s called GAS. Not the kind of GAS sickness you get after 2 tacos and a bean enchilada…but G.A.S. as an acronym that stands for Guitar Acquisition Syndrome.
Please understand that the acronym G.A.S. is not my creation. “G.A.S.” was coined by Walter Becker in his 1996 Guitar Player article when he wrote that “G.A.S.” was “Guitar Acquisition Syndrome” [CLICK HERE TO READ THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE].
Guitar Acquisition Syndrome (also known as Gear Acquisition Syndrome, both abbreviated to G.A.S.) is used to describe an uncontrollable urge to acquire and accumulate multiple guitars. G.A.S. should not be confused with collecting and G.A.S. is similar in many ways to very mild obsessive compulsive disorder, hence the sickness my wife believes I have.
Even when financial means are not available, the G.A.S. sufferer will do anything to procure the instrument. Be careful around these folks. G.A.S. has been known to highly contagious and spreads quickly. -Squidoo.com
I must be fair to my readers (and myself) and add that I do not keep every guitar I buy. I have sold dozens of guitars over the past few years that were bought as a result of G.A.S. (and I miss them all).
In the midst of this craziness, I find myself on eBay every day looking for the guitar that I can’t live without. I know it’s out there and I will find it!
love joe. and love guitars. but somewhere a kid is mowing yards trying to save up $100.00 bucks to buy one guitar….
joe, you should be ashamed. lol.
I only have 2….so vote for the cold stares-
http://battle.ambassadorsofrock.com/thecoldstares/
Sounds like: Pixies meet Muddy Waters meets Black Sabbath meets Son House meets P.J. Harvey… LOVE IT! -GuitarDaddy
If the significant other telling you that you buy/own too many guitars has 3/4 of their clothing rack full of clothes they don’t wear- bought mostly for the sheer joy of buying them- Then roll your eyes and use one of those guitars to write them a song about hypocrisy.
LOL!!!
greetings. i too have the same problem… myself i own 8 guitars..
gibson les paul studio
fender usa strat
ibanez reb beach voyager
charvel san dima usa
floyd rose discovery
godin lg usa/canada
peavey predator plus
martin travel guitar
mesa boogie dual recitifer head w/ boogie 2×12 cab
there is no way i can justify in having all these guitars, since i am not in a band…i would love to be in a band but i have other responsibilites that take up the majority of my time. as far as selling any of these guitars, which would probably make since, since i do not play the fender, ibanez, gibson and charvel that much, would cause me too much grief. the one big problem i have is finding space to store them. the funny thing i find myself on ebay or guitar center checking out used gear everyday…..i found a peavey usa wolfgang standard on ebay that went for $600 and i so wish i grabbed it but i guess its for the best. if anyone wants to make an offer on any of my gear feel free to respond, maybe i could part with something since my girlfriend and i are looking to buy a house.. i doubt it though. lol
Peace
Hi Ed! Wow… great gear you have – tell me about your fender usa strat…?? -GuitarDaddy
@ed
oh, i forgot about my charvel soloist japan model….amazing guitar with 24 frets and scalloped neck heal for easy access to upper frets.
hi guitar dad…i am pretty sure it is a fender fat strat…it has a maple neck, humbucker in the bridge, and two single coils. its like a tobacco finish…..i know it is a usa model.
Guitars RULE!
I have been playing for 20 years and get a couple of guitars each year.
So my total right now is 28
Jealous!!! -GuitarDaddy
I have serious G.A.S. I’m considering a clean sweep and just settling with a few. I have
Rickenbacker 360/12V64
Gretsch 6122 Country Gentleman
Gretsch 6119 Tennessean
Epiphone Casino
“Rocky” Strat
(Btw, if you can’t tell, I’m George Harrison in a Beatles tribute band)
Little Martin Acoustic/Electric
Alverez A/E
Noname Hollowbody
Epiphone Dot Studio
Rosewood Tele
MIM Tele
Hofner Contemporary Club 6-string
Epiphone EJ160e
Dean Vendetta
Steinberger Spirit
Hofner Ct Bass
Rickenbacker 4001 bass
Vox AC30VR
Fender Rumble 75
Peavey Classic 50
Peavey Classic 20
Epiphone Accu-bass
Cort Dreadnaught
as well as various keyboards…
I recently quit being a ‘George’ recently and am wondering whether or not to sell the gear. I could really use the money. Unsure what to do.
Holy GAS ATTACK! Where do you keep all of these? Do you have a picture of yourself with all of these together? That’s worth a post and a new topic about “Looking for the reader with the most GAS…” Love it!! -GuitarDaddy
I just bought #11 today on Ebay. I now have:
1. 1946 Gibson LG-2
2. Taylor 210e (2006)
3. Baby Taylor Mahogany
4. Taylor 714ce-LTD (Madagascar Rosewood back and sides)
5. Taylor T5 custom
6. Taylor NS24ce
7. Taylor 354ce 12-string
8. Republic Clarksdale Special resonator tricone
9. RainSong Black Ice graphite guitar
10. Gold Tone GT500 banjitar
11. Taylor 2010 fall limited edition 12-fret all Koa
Yes, it has caused a great deal of conflict with my dear wife. I am retired and joined a band a few months ago. Music is now my life and I’ve been uploading covers to YouTube for the past two years. I like to use all my guitars in my videos and I pride myself in playing them all.
But I know that this compulsion that I have will not stop. I always say, “This will be the last one” but it never is. Yes I am running out of room to store my instruments and this just causes more conflict.
I’m beginning to think this is nothing to laugh about or even joke about
I most certainly have G.A.S…
After 20+ years of playing with only 2 guitars (cheapies), I finally realized that now in my more financially stable days, I can make up for lost time and finally get guitars some guitars that I always wanted.
1. 1986 Fender MIJ Squier strat – First guitar
2. 1987 Sigma Martin DM-18 – Second guitar (everyone should have at least 1 electric and one acoustic… right?)
Then a few years ago I decided to try out a Gibson (never could afford them in my younger years) So I go and just dip my toe in and got a used:
3. 2008 Gibson Les Paul Studio
4. 2010 Hofner Icon Series Violin bass
5. 2011 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro
6. 2011 Gibson Midtown Custom
7. 2012 Gretsch G5120
8. 1998 Gretsch G6122-jr
9. 1957 Gibson CF-100E my first (and only) real “vintage” guitar
10. 2008 Gibson Songwriter deluxe EC Ovankrol
11. 2006 Fender US Jazz Bass
Unfortunately (or fortunately) there are plenty of others that I am GAS’ing for…
Gretsch Duo Jet
A better Strat
Rickenbacker 400x bass
Certainly I need a Telecaster… right?
Gibson ES-335 would be awesome.
then I will be done…
Oh wait.. I want a Gretsch White/Black Falcon as well. Oh Shit… I need help.
LOL! You’ve got the disease… and you’ve got it BAD! Welcome to the club, we all have G.A.S. here! -GuitarDaddy
Seagull performer mini jumbo 6 string acoustic
Seagull coastline s12. 12 string acoustic
Godin freeway classic. Electric
My godin redline hb is going to my 9 year old who wants to learn
I do suffer from gas only to have a Rickenbacker 4003 , status s2 classic .fender usa jazz bass ,hohner jack bass .a red wood thro,neck and a musicman sub bass i will keep taking the tablets
Same thing here… played for many years with an Ibanez RG and a Dean EVO. Then I could afford a Yamaha but my band split and I stopped for a few years. Now with a more financially comfotable situation, I got myself two Ibanez Artcores… then I got rid of them and all my cheapies and switched for a Fender ’51, a Fender Tele Thinline ’69 reissue, a Grectsh Doublejet and an Epiphone Casino Goldtop… and already have a Gibson Les Pal in my mind and looking for a Fender JA-90 Tele… GAS anyone?@The Gabbo