Show your Rig

I have 3 guitars in total.

my dad had asked my wife if I would like a guitar stand built for my birthday and asked for how many guitars it should hold - she said three, not knowing at the time that one of them was currently for sale - I dont like to let shit I'm not using stick around, call it minimalism, I just think of it as funding for my next fun toy. he then tells her that he's already built it and it fits 4 guitars (why the fuck did he ask?)
so now I have this nice handbuilt-with-love stand, and it takes up so much awkward space, and even after selling a guitar, buying a new one, i still only have 3 out of 4 slots filled - I don't want anymore guitars, i barely play the ones I have.

the three guitars I have are about as different as can be, a basic squier tele, an ibanez 27" 8 string death metal machine, and a multiscale 6 string bass guitar.
 
gtfields13 said:
So - genuine question here - for those of you with multiple versions of a guitar (say strat or tele). Are these variations in the electronics (i.e. different pickup and wiring sets) and variations on the necks? I totally get having different electronics and maybe string sets so that you can get different voicing out of the guitar, but if you know what neck shape you like, do you stick with that or do you find different shapes suit different styles of playing. I am just trying to convince myself to get good enough to play something that I will share publicly on the guitar I have (TBH, the squier and bass in my studio belong to children off at college) before worrying about adding to the kit, but I could see ultimately having a strat, a tele (I do love twang in the right song), and an LP just for the difference in sound.
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I’ll answer because I do have a few strats, though I’m not someone with a bunch of the same guitar.
Part of it is definitely the electronics. I have 3 strats currently, but plans to build 2 more in the next year.
Of the 3 that currently exist, one is a factory model, and two I built. one of the two that I built is a replica of Eddie Van Halen’s frankenstrat that I made when I was in middle school and first getting into making my own gear.

Fender Strathomemade sonic blue Strathomemade frankenstrat
Neck profile medium Cmedium Cslim C
Fretboardmaplerosewoodmaple
Fretsmedium nickeljumbo nickeljumbo stainless
PickupsSSSH_HH_S
WiringVVT; 10-way switching plus some other weird modsVT; 3 way switchingV; 2-way switching via push/pull
Bridgevintage style 6-point tremolo hardtailFloyd Rose

Do I need more strats than that? Probably not, but the ones I plan on building are genuinely things I’d use differently from what I already have. More than anything else though, I just really enjoy building them.

I also dabble a lot in weird tunings and stuff, being a huge fan of Joni Mitchell, Sonic youth, and others… having multiple to keep in weird setups for different tunings is nice.
I don’t think I’d ever want two Strats that have the same specs as each other though. I like weird wiring combinations and gimmicky tech like stereo outputs, sustainer pickups, and midi/hex outputs far too much to tread the same ground twice.
 
gtfields13 said:
So - genuine question here - for those of you with multiple versions of a guitar (say strat or tele). Are these variations in the electronics (i.e. different pickup and wiring sets) and variations on the necks? I totally get having different electronics and maybe string sets so that you can get different voicing out of the guitar, but if you know what neck shape you like, do you stick with that or do you find different shapes suit different styles of playing. I am just trying to convince myself to get good enough to play something that I will share publicly on the guitar I have (TBH, the squier and bass in my studio belong to children off at college) before worrying about adding to the kit, but I could see ultimately having a strat, a tele (I do love twang in the right song), and an LP just for the difference in sound.
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But you can get so many different colors! Jokes aside, I don’t own multiple of the same exact instrument but I definitely gravitate towards similar specs: 25.5” scale, maple or ebony fretboard, single coils. But each guitar has a different tone or feel and often I have felt some sort of connection with it in the store (although I did buy some of my guitars online, sight unseen: the ones I didn’t bond with have been sold). So I totally get buying two of the same if they feel or play differently, although I personally may refrain from doing so.
 
Erik S said:
Next you’re gonna tell me it does’t make sense to have 100 overdrives. 🙄
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don't tell @MichaelW
images
 
giovanni said:
But you can get so many different colors! Jokes aside, I don’t own multiple of the same exact instrument but I definitely gravitate towards similar specs: 25.5” scale, maple or ebony fretboard, single coils. But each guitar has a different tone or feel and often I have felt some sort of connection with it in the store (although I did buy some of my guitars online, sight unseen: the ones I didn’t bond with have been sold). So I totally get buying two of the same if they feel or play differently, although I personally may refrain from doing so.
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I'm in he same boat. I rotate 4 Gibson guitars, all the same scale length, one with P90s and the others with humbuckers. while the 3 humbucker guitars can be EQ'd to sound the same in a mix, it's the way they feel and play that's very different and I don't think people consider that enough. The attack, sustain and fret access is really different on them all and brings something different in my playing that makes them all valid for me.
 
My interest in guitars is pretty broad beyond just playing them. I like to see how they are put together and how the parts of them work. Like the differences between a FR style trem and a fender 6 point.

If I find a guitar that make me feel inspired whether it is in how it plays, sounds or is built I tend to buy it. I like to get things that are in some way different than what I already have.

I try to always buy used and low and if I don't like them I resell them. I think over the long term I have actually made a little money doing this, probably would have made more had I invested it tho.

I have most of my guitars setup differently in some way. Different strings, action or tuning. I have always wanted to build guitars and I consider it kind of like research.

All that being said if I were to keep only this guitar https://www.cortguitars.com/dp/g300-pro/ I wouldn't miss the others all that much.
 
gtfields13 said:
So - genuine question here - for those of you with multiple versions of a guitar (say strat or tele). Are these variations in the electronics (i.e. different pickup and wiring sets) and variations on the necks? I totally get having different electronics and maybe string sets so that you can get different voicing out of the guitar, but if you know what neck shape you like, do you stick with that or do you find different shapes suit different styles of playing. I am just trying to convince myself to get good enough to play something that I will share publicly on the guitar I have (TBH, the squier and bass in my studio belong to children off at college) before worrying about adding to the kit, but I could see ultimately having a strat, a tele (I do love twang in the right song), and an LP just for the difference in sound.
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I guess I'll jump in here since I'm probably the biggest offender here of both @Harry Klippton and @Guardians of the analog 's sensibilities. :p

All the strats in my pic except one are parts casters that I built. All the Tele's are also. They are all "M-Line" guitars. (My homegrown brand).
I love building guitars and I love taking cheap guitars and making them play and sound better than they have a right to.
I have yet to tackle building a set neck guitar but @swelchy 's Gold top project is kicking off the FOMO pretty hard in me hahah.

But FOR ME I like have multiples of the same guitar because each one is different. They have different pickups or wiring schema's.
And the joy for me is in the journey of putting them all together and dialing them into my admittedly picky specs and being inspired to play and make music with them.

It's kind of like having a TS808, GS808, Clark Gainster, Boss SD-1, Lovepedal Eternity drive. From one perspective they're all YATS.
But from another perspective they each sound a little different, push my amp a little differently, etc.
Oh and I'm sure I have way over 100 overdrives by now.....:ROFLMAO:

Tbh, the only reason I've stopped building is because I'm out of room. I still have plenty of idea's floating around in my head.

Some folks have like a bazillion Tascam Portastudios...... :p
 
I'm in the same boat re: multiple guitars that are seemingly the same. I have two strats - a nice one and a cheapo. They are set up in different ways with different pickups and both feel great to play. But I'm much less worried about something happening to one of them over the other.

I'd like to find a cheap version of my Gibson SG but none of the Epiphones have the vibe that mine does. I came across Precision Guitar Kits and I'd like to build a JR with a maple neck and single hum cancelling P90. I think that'd make a great companion to my SG.
 
I can understand multiple guitars, but of different varieties (strat, LP, tele, super strat, etc.). They all play differently and feel different. IMO, I can only justify having multiples of the same guitar only if they're in different tunings.

Or I'm just an ass....
 
Here you go.. some assembly required ;)

IMG_5167.jpg

This little lot will be a 17" acoustic archtop.

The rest:
IMG_4506.jpg
Amp: JCM800 (2204) with 2W backend (full voltage pre/PI, also has SS/Tube rectifier) in an oversized 1x12 with a G12M-65
Guitar: own design and build, 7 string 28.625" through neck etc.

I have a little MIJ 1988 Strat and a Art & Lutherie Cedar acoustic too.
 
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I’ll probably end up with two of a type of guitar at some point. I have 10 guitars that are all different from each other.

Regular knockoff Strat
Baritone semi-hollow w P90s
7-string w lipstick
Humbuckers w coil taps
chambered w 3 P90s
Classical nylon
5-string acoustic
Harp Guitar acoustic
Martin Backpacker
Bass VI strat style
 
I can’t remember the exact quote but I remember some interview with Adam Savage (of Mythbusters) where he talks about how much he just loves certain kinds of objects. Tools and props and doohickeys. To him they’re almost like art; he likes seeing them and thinking about what went into designing and creating them. They can be inspiring or just plain nice to be around.

I have a somewhat similar relationship with gear. I get a twinge of joy or satisfaction walking past my 55 year old beat up Yamaha acoustic guitar or the partscaster I’ve been tinkering with for years. Or waiting for the tubes to warm up in my amp. Placing a newly finished pedal on the shelf next to all the others after getting it just right. It’s almost enough to outweigh the feeling of dread I get walking past my pile of unfinished projects and “to sell” gear…

Of course that kind of appreciation can veer into unhealthy hoarding, but we all have our own lines in that respect. As long as I’m being mindful and not annoying my loved ones too much it’s all gouda. Personally my biggest hang-up is learning to let go of stuff that has even this slightest hint of sentimental value but just doesn’t get used at all.
 
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