What drives us?

Excellent posts!

Are your parents actually preventing you from buying a new guitar or just wondering why you want a new one? If it's your money that you've saved, I couldn't see a parent telling you how to spend it.

Anyway, Geoo pretty much summed me up as well. I'm always starting and stopping new hobbies, but guitar has been and will be one of the few that doesn't go away. I enjoy it too much. As for wanting lots of gear, to be honest I'm not good enough yet to even justify the three guitars I have. It won't stop me, but there's no way I could explain myself. As Geoo said, part of it is to have the different guitars "just because". My parents never had money so I earned and worked for everything I've owned. I now make good money and have the money to blow on things I desire. Guitars aren't a bad way to spend it, IMO.

One saving grace for me is that my girlfriend dated an active guitarist before me, so she's already familiar with the GAS. Makes explaining a new purchase a lot easier. I've also already learned that she doesn't notice the small things like new pedals and such. :D

Jason

I have a bunch of different guitars:

-Ibanez PF60 western, my only steelstring accoustic guitar.
-Yamaha G55A classical, fragile and old, but rocks.
-Ortega R180 classical, new, handmade, far less fragile then the Yamaha, so I can drag it around town.
-Ibanez AFS75, my only jazzbox.
-Dean Avalanche ZoneH, my first electric, double-fat strat.
-Ibanez RG550, HSH superstratm, ultra high-output, floyd, needed a 2nd basic electric guitar to bring to my own appartment.
-Dean Egde09, my only bass-guitar.

The only two guitars I might not have 'needed' are the Ibanez RG550 and Ortega R180. But they weren't that expensive and I use them on a daily basis so it's money well spent to me. These guitars coupled with some moddelers and (multi)effects allow me to pretty much sound whatever I want to sound, within certain obvious limits ofcourse.

So think about what you want, what you need and how you can get that. It's something personal you'd have to decide for yourself.
As an artist I want to experience, experiment and create a multitude of sounds. Yes I could use a V-Amp or Pod or something else to imitate any kind of sound possible, but I want the pure, original tone. Not something fabricated or processed.

If you want the pure, original tone you put your guitar straight in your mixe/DI. Anything else, regardless of how it works, results in a fabricated and processed tone. You cannot sound like anything with a V-amp, but you can use digital devices to create NEW sounds instead of shooting for the 'Gibson LP+marshall JCM800' cliche-stuff sounds. Besides, the entire idea of an artist is that he/she uses whatever exists to create a physical representation of their visions. This, in the world of music, could result in you using a Fender Blackface tube amp, Roland JC120 solidstate amp or a Line6 Vetta digital amp, regardless of what you are after and how you want to archieve that. But the idea that you cannot use digital devices because it 'fabricates and processes' sound is rather odd if you ask me. Fabricating and processing sounds is a way to archieve your goal, not a goal on it's own which you need to stay clear from.

Just my opinion. as always. No animals were hurt in the process of creating this post.

Are your parents actually preventing you from buying a new guitar or just wondering why you want a new one? If it's your money that you've saved, I couldn't see a parent telling you how to spend it.
Nah, I'm 20 and have a full-time job. Mom just wonders why on earth I would need more. :P

Nah, I'm 20 and have a full-time job. Mom just wonders why on earth I would need more. :P

Ah, gotcha. Still, I think you have a very valid reason in that you want something with humbuckers.

Jason

well Crank, for your question,

My parents are trying to prevent me from buying a new guitar , so as a result, they asked me why I need one, and I'm trying to answer that question with eveyrone's help.

By the wya, I am very pleased with all these responses, and it's somehting real good to discuss.

As for the purchasing, the guitar would have been bought entirely with my money, even though it's my money, I would still need the permission, as I still live under my parents' roof.

For those who commenetd on my strat, I am not that excited about its tone, but it is a beautiful guitar that plays well with the perfect aciton and setup for me. I jsut think it's the right move for me to play something else. I will never get rid of that strat, I want to keep my first guitar forever. 8)

well Crank, for your question,

My parents are trying to prevent me from buying a new guitar , so as a result, they asked me why I need one, and I'm trying to answer that question with eveyrone's help.

I got confused in my response when Metaellihead responded I thought it was you. Sorry 'bout that.

I understand where you are coming from, it's just odd for me to understand how your parents can dictate how you spend your own money. BUT, since you do need their permission, I'd try explaining to them the difference between single coils and humbuckers and that you would rather have that tone at this point. They'll either understand or they won't, but it's about the only way I can see. Regardless, good luck and I hope you get what you want.

Jason

LOL!

When I was younger, my parents told me if I wanted a BMX racing bike I would have to pay for it myself. NO problem, I was 14 at the time and I could be a CEO of a major company any day of the week! I ended up working for my best friend's father for the summer. Long story short, I got the money and bought a brand new shiny racing bike. Boy was I happy until…… my parents said they wouldn't take me to the races, NO problem, I'll take my private jet! So my other friend that got me into racing, his parents took us.

I raced 4 races and won all 4!! Happy me!!! The next day I forgot to check in (call my folks) and they grounded me and took away the bike that I bought! They were just WAITING for me to mess up!!!

Oh wait, what where you asking?

Oh, sorry bud, I know where you are coming from, but when your folks drill you like that, then they more than likely have ulterior motives and it might prove hard to convince them otherwise.

Turn around and ask them why they don't want you to get another axe. :idea:

I did that Tracker, and they said "well, you already have a working one, you should be humble and know when you reached your limit" in my mind I'm like "wtf?? I ONLY have one guitar"

As a little thing to laugh about, my dad starts telling me how "you shoul be glad I got you one, there are kids in other countries who wish they had 1 guitar string" and several minutes later he said "if you do good in school, I'll buy you as many guitars as you want to" I'm not a failure in school, I'm a B+ student, so it's nothing so important grade wise.

I hope this shows you a little of what I have to deal with :lol:

As an artist I want to experience, experiment and create a multitude of sounds. Yes I could use a V-Amp or Pod or something else to imitate any kind of sound possible, but I want the pure, original tone. Not something fabricated or processed.

If you want the pure, original tone you put your guitar straight in your mixe/DI. Anything else, regardless of how it works, results in a fabricated and processed tone. You cannot sound like anything with a V-amp, but you can use digital devices to create NEW sounds instead of shooting for the 'Gibson LP+marshall JCM800' cliche-stuff sounds. Besides, the entire idea of an artist is that he/she uses whatever exists to create a physical representation of their visions. This, in the world of music, could result in you using a Fender Blackface tube amp, Roland JC120 solidstate amp or a Line6 Vetta digital amp, regardless of what you are after and how you want to archieve that. But the idea that you cannot use digital devices because it 'fabricates and processes' sound is rather odd if you ask me. Fabricating and processing sounds is a way to archieve your goal, not a goal on it's own which you need to stay clear from.

Just my opinion. as always. No animals were hurt in the process of creating this post.

Thanks for your Opinion :) No Really. I always appreciate and respect your ideas and thoughts.

However.... I've had two solid state Amps, they're great but I LOVE my TUBE Amp. Yes my V-Amp can come close, however its not the real thing.

As well with my Strat. I love my LP but I also love my Strat in that I can't even begin to touch the tones of a strat with an LP and visa versa.

To me.. and its just me.. Its like in cooking or baking cookies. Yes one can and probably should for health reasons, use margarine.. but Butter always tastes better and everyone knows you used 'real' butter when they sample your creation.

Are you spending more time with the axe than with the family or homework?

If not, don't push the issue. You are what? 15 16? In a couple of years (save every penny) you will have any axe, amp and effects you want.

I learnt early in life to take a back seat in certain situations. Maybe this is one of them?

Maybe you should buy an effects pedal to give you the sound you want. Trust me, I can break out my effects pedal and you would think I have dual bucker and a marshall when in fact, I had a strat and tube amp!

Heck, a strat and effects pedal is even better! DigiTech makes some decent ones. I have the RP200A and it works pretty good.

Maybe you should consider that route? Plus, you can use headphones.

As a little thing to laugh about, my dad starts telling me how "you shoul be glad I got you one, there are kids in other countries who wish they had 1 guitar string" and several minutes later he said "if you do good in school, I'll buy you as many guitars as you want to" I'm not a failure in school, I'm a B+ student, so it's nothing so important grade wise.

I hope this shows you a little of what I have to deal with :lol:

:D :D
Nice story. Sounds like standard parent stuff! In a few years you'll be doing your own version of that and thinking "Geez, I'm starting to sound like Dad!" :wink:

Here's another (slightly related) story.

I was staying with my uncle and aunt. One day I noticed that my entire tube of toothpaste had been squeezed into the sink. :(

I confronted my cousin (4 at the time).

Chris: Did you squeeze all my toothpaste out?! :evil:

Mark: Yes.

Chris: WHY!!

Mark (looking me straight in the eye): Because I wanted to.

Kind of took the wind out of my sails. :D What could I say to that? A budding George Washington in the honesty department.

I have 4 guitars and I bought them all "because I wanted to".

But I do recommend quoting the artistic reasons suggested above, plus the examples about shoes and so on. Good luck. :D

Cheers, Chris

Dagwood: Oh, I have nothing against tubes whatsoever, and chances are that I might eventually use them myself. Only a fool would believe a $99 V-amp sounds exactly like one of the modeled tube amps, and if you desperately want that specific sound your best bet would be a tube amp. The reasons I myself went with the V-amp are:

-Much cheaper. I'm a student and the price of beer is as high as oil.
-Easier to record. I live in a 11m2 "appartment" and a raging tubeamp wont make me many friends.
-Versatility. I'm in the beginner phase where I don't have one specific sound but use a huge variety of different sounds.
-It allows for sounds tube amps generally can't give you.

Now maybe you have just a bit more money, can easily record or don't need to do so, have found your sound and don't like the sterile sounds coming from the V-amp. I was just ranting against the 'as an artist I don't use a V-amp/pod comment' which is a perfectly acceprable opinion with which I just happen to disagree. :lol:

Darn, dragged it into digital vs. tube again, sorry folks!

I did that Tracker, and they said "well, you already have a working one, you should be humble and know when you reached your limit" in my mind I'm like "wtf?? I ONLY have one guitar"

As a little thing to laugh about, my dad starts telling me how "you shoul be glad I got you one, there are kids in other countries who wish they had 1 guitar string" and several minutes later he said "if you do good in school, I'll buy you as many guitars as you want to" I'm not a failure in school, I'm a B+ student, so it's nothing so important grade wise.

I hope this shows you a little of what I have to deal with :lol:

Not trying to be an online psychologist here. LOL But from a parents point of view... Just give as much respect as you can and take some of the parenting in stride.

I cannot tell you how many times, as a dad, I have contradicted myself or forgotten what I had originally said. Its very tough being a parent, and I am young enough to remember that its very tough being a teen. Just hang in there and as Tracker said, keep in mind that in a few years it is all up to you and whatever decisions you wanna make.

Good luck

Geoo

I have eight guitars....every one of them does a different job...

Acoustics...

Encore EA-225, the first guitar I got...strung with 9's
Avalanche 12-string...I wanted a fuller, janglier sound....
Yamaha acoustic...bought this one because the Encore didn't have a cut-away neck...
The "mystery guitar" I bought of Nick...beautiful looks AND tone, kind of made the Yamaha redundant...so the Yamaha is now strung with 11's and tuned to open G...the mystery guitar is strung with 9's...

Electrics...

Squier Strat...the first electric I bought....
Squier Tele...I wanted a second guitar to set up for slide....
Epi Les Paul...too good a deal to turn down....

The Epi and the Tele are wearing 9's, I get a completely different sound from them....the Epi has a little more bite and sustain, but the tele has a good chunky sound for riffs and sounds great clean...the Strat is set up for slide, strung with 11's...

And I also have a freshman bass...

Can I justify having all these guitars? Well....yes...I had to justify each purchase to the Mrs at the time of buying, but each guitar does a different job, after months of experimentation, I can get roughly the sound I want from each different guitar.... I keep a note of p/u positions, settings etc...

What I've got is OPTIONS!!!!!!

:D :D :D

Vic

...I'm a student and the price of beer is as high as oil.
-Easier to record.
Darn, dragged it into digital vs. tube again, sorry folks!

Awww my Danish Friend! Wish we were closer, I'd buy ya a few beers.

No worries!! :)