Guitar advice - what would you do?

RetiredGreyFox · 14 Aug 2011 at 21:24

This is quite a serious decision and equal to selling my kids.
Three of my guitars would be welcome in anybody's collection: Gibson Les Paul Standard, 1979 American Fender Stratocaster and a genuine 70s Yamaha SG2000.
Several weeks ago I bought a new guitar that is easily the best guitar I've had in 41 years, it looks great, plays great and sounds great.
I feel as though it was made for me and I can't stop picking it up.
At a gig last week I broke a string and had to get my Les Paul out to finish the set and it felt like I was playing a copy

The thing is that the only guitar good enough to stand next to my new one on stage is to have the same guitar but perhaps in an alternate colour.

So what would you do because the rule in my house is 1 guitar in, 1 guitar out?
Would you hold onto 'name' guitars or would you go for something nobody has heard of because it's the best thing you've ever played?
This is really bugging me.

jackthezipper · 14 Aug 2011 at 21:56

Get the one you like. It's all about sound, not how it looks. Keep your two fav's out of the named ones and ditch the least used/admired.

Or hide it in the garage

RetiredGreyFox · 14 Aug 2011 at 22:06

jackthezipper said:
Get the one you like. It's all about sound, not how it looks. Keep your two fav's out of the named ones and ditch the least used/admired.

Or hide it in the garage

That's the problem - I look at all 3 with the same admiration and I don't have a favourite.
Hiding isn't an option because I would have to find £1100 to finance the new guitar which could easily be financed with the sale of the Yamaha SG2000.
Somebody sold one on Ebay for £2995 the other month.

DJ_Martin · 14 Aug 2011 at 22:08

So the 'name' guitars will give you more money than you will spend on the other one AND not sound as good as this other one. For me it would be an easy decision, depends if the guitars have sentimental value.

Cybermyk · 14 Aug 2011 at 22:46

Will the new guitar play as well in 30 years time?

LOAM · 14 Aug 2011 at 22:48

Mount it on a wall if your retiring it, never sell it. It has part of your soul in it.

RetiredGreyFox · 14 Aug 2011 at 22:56

Cybermyk said:
Will the new guitar play as well in 30 years time?

I'll be 83

If I'm lucky I've got another 7 years of gigging and so whatever I have now will last.
However I am feeling pain everywhere after every gig now.

Jono · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:07

If you want to hide it, I'll gladly take care of it for you

I could pay you in coal and mud, but I don't think you're that hungry.

Cybermyk · 14 Aug 2011 at 23:12

Fender was still gigging at 81 mate.

You'll just have to do less gyrating

Dazzy · 15 Aug 2011 at 00:21

You can never have too many guitars!

What is the new guitar and is it really that much better?! I would at least wait a few months to see how you feel about it when the newness has worn off.

Lindo · 15 Aug 2011 at 06:57

Why put rules on yourself and how many guitars you have? I'd say keep them all. It'd be nice for your kids/grand-kids to see them when the sound of rock 'n roll is all but a distant memory to the young generation...

RetiredGreyFox · 15 Aug 2011 at 07:22

Lindo said:
Why put rules on yourself and how many guitars you have? I'd say keep them all. It'd be nice for your kids/grand-kids to see them when the sound of rock 'n roll is all but a distant memory to the young generation...

I have around 10 guitars but the three mentioned are the main ones.
Some are stored in the attic but Mrs Dimple would know if I was spending another £1100 on a guitar and even though she lets me have anything I want she would'nt be pleased if I bought something else in without another one going.

Dazzy said:
What is the new guitar and is it really that much better?! I would at least wait a few months to see how you feel about it when the newness has worn off.

The guitar is a Tyler Variax JTV-59 and before we start on the electronics it's the best guitar I've ever played in 41 years of gigging.
Like I said. the shape, feel and playability is top notch.
When you press a magic button the electronics turn it into any guitar you want and any tuning you want and loads of punters comment on it when I gig.

p0ss3s3d · 15 Aug 2011 at 19:30

Wow, thats interesting!! Are they really that good these new ones? Is yours the USA one?... I played the old one with the ash body (700?) and wasn't that impressed, it sounded okay but not quite as resonant or natural as a nice Gibson/Fender et al...

Have they changed the electronics? Sounds very interesting!!!!! I'll be in the music shop this weekend

RetiredGreyFox · 15 Aug 2011 at 19:52

p0ss3s3d said:
Wow, thats interesting!! Are they really that good these new ones? Is yours the USA one?... I played the old one with the ash body (700?) and wasn't that impressed, it sounded okay but not quite as resonant or natural as a nice Gibson/Fender et al...

Have they changed the electronics? Sounds very interesting!!!!! I'll be in the music shop this weekend

James Tyler has got a mega history of making excellent guitars and so he got together with Line 6 to improve their electronics and to make a marriage in heaven.
The guitar itself with its own humbuckers is excellent but as soon as you press the magic buttons it transforms into any major guitar sound you want.
It really is the best guitar thay I have played and I've had a few and tried a few thousand.
Mine looks and feels like a Gibson Les Paul but plays a lot better - http://tylervariax.co.uk/variax_std_jtv59.html (I have the Cherry Sunburst one)
Do not compare it to a Variax 700, I had the 300 for a while but sold it on to my bass player.
Tyler has also improved the electronics and the battery pack is way better.
The alternate tunings knob is awesome, for instance I've just been playing along to a track that is tuned to D - no problem for the Tyler and then the next track was Drop D tuning - no problem.
I also have Variax Workbench so in my presets I have Db, D, Eb, F, F# & D tunings so that I can't get caught out by bands who tune differently.
To be honest both my bands tune to Eb which is what I'm tuned to so the knob gets me back in normal tuning.

The chances of you finding one in a shop is very remote and I was the luckiest man in the world when mine became available.
Honestly, this is the first time I've been really excited about a guitar in 41 years.

Cybermyk · 15 Aug 2011 at 20:15

I can't blame you for going with a Variax. My 300 was a little rough out of the box but some TLC it is now very playable. I can only imagine that the top of the range made in Japan models will be comparable to the rest of the best.

I still wouldn't sell the SG though. Maybe the Gibson or the Fender

RetiredGreyFox · 15 Aug 2011 at 20:47

Cybermyk said:
I can't blame you for going with a Variax. My 300 was a little rough out of the box but some TLC it is now very playable. I can only imagine that the top of the range made in Japan models will be comparable to the rest of the best.

I still wouldn't sell the SG though. Maybe the Gibson or the Fender

The Strat was bought by my wife as an engagement present but she has given the go ahead for me to sell it.
The SG has got a little bit of history and I will need permission to sell it.
Around 2001 I needed a decent humbucker guitar and my ex duo partner sold me his Yamaha SG2000 for £400 on the proviso that if I got rid of it he could have it back for the same price, so I've got to ask him even though he is loaded.
The Gibson Les Paul can also go because last week I broke a string halfway through the first spot and I had to use the Les Paul for the remainder of the spot and it was awful compared to the Tyler.

semi-pro waster · 15 Aug 2011 at 21:37

Maybe I'm just not entering into the spirit of this but you've said you've got around 10 guitars - why are those three the only ones on the block? Why not just get rid of one you don't care about? Or is it because those are the ones that could pay for the new guitar?

ginger_pat · 15 Aug 2011 at 22:21

When I listen to a guitar I don't look at what guitar is being played as quite frankly it makes no difference, if you have found an instrument that is perfect for you stick with it regardless of what you think other people will think. At the end of the day if you rip out some amazing riffs with an awesome sound who cares what it looks like

Nitefly · 15 Aug 2011 at 22:39

I'd give me your SG2000. For free.

RetiredGreyFox · 15 Aug 2011 at 22:41

semi-pro waster said:
Maybe I'm just not entering into the spirit of this but you've said you've got around 10 guitars - why are those three the only ones on the block? Why not just get rid of one you don't care about? Or is it because those are the ones that could pay for the new guitar?

yes