What defines a great guitar?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Scott Baxendale
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Scott Baxendale

Scott Baxendale

Well-known member
To me any guitar that you pick up and as soon as you play it it instantly inspires you to play something you hadn’t previously thought of and then is hard to put down is a great guitar. Price point ultimately has nothing to do with it.

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For me (electric):
Feel, as in neck size/shape, comfort, and weight/balance
Sound, as in tone, pickups, switching, and versatility
Looks (subjective and least important)

Full disclosure, I am an admitted PRS toady
And one day I'll get another acoustic, as my old Fender F65 got stolen... :cautious:
 
A great guitar is simply the one you want to continue to pick up and play. And there can be multiples that fit that bill. It doesn’t have to be just one.
 
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I've owned over 30 guitars and have not really experienced that. At least nothing that couldn't be fixed. Some play along beautifully and others fought me all the time. Obviously the fighters didn't stay around long!
 
mbsmike said:
I've owned over 30 guitars and have not really experienced that. At least nothing that couldn't be fixed. Some play along beautifully and others fought me all the time. Obviously the fighters didn't stay around long!
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I currently have around 200….yikes…
 
Hey you guys,

I watch Craigslist for guitars that were never learned and seldom played.

I buy them cheap and sell them for more.. Mostly Squires.

One day I bought a candy apple red HSS Affinity Squire Stratocaster for $100.

Mint condition 2005 had spent it’s life in it’s case. When I played it, it had some fret buzz and weird action.

And yet, it was absolutely magical.

I sat with it way into the night and played the living Hell out of it, unplugged no less. Because it sang and played like no guitar I ever felt. IIt seems like every square inch of this guitar exudes tone.
I find it hard to not play. It feels so good it’s hard to not pick it up and waste ridiculous time with it.

It reminds me of Howard Stern in that you always want to hear what it’s going to say next.

I have 14 guitars and I have played many. But I have encountered exactly 1 magical guitar in my life.

I gave it to the luthier to give it a fret level and set up..

Now it buzzes not at all and it’s action is rivaled by few.

I feel like I hit the guitar lottery the day this beloved instrument found it’s way to my studio. It’s market value means nothing to me because I will never let go of the only magical guitar I ever met.

This one will be with me for the duration.

Magical, :thumbs up:

HKP
 
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Scott Baxendale said:
I currently have around 200….yikes…
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I used own around that number - and about 80 amps - but lately I’ve found I really
only need 6 - and use a Helix in stead of amps - if I can’t get it done with those
then it’s not the guitars or Helix that’s the problem.
 
Papanate said:
I used own around that number - and about 80 amps - but lately I’ve found I really
only need 6 - and use a Helix in stead of amps - if I can’t get it done with those
then it’s not the guitars or Helix that’s the problem.
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I've never owned 80 amplifiers, but I own too many. Over the past few years, I've been selling off amps because I just want what I need. Maintenance and clutter are my big issues.

Right now, I have my touring rig (Soldano and either a 100 watt JMP or Dual Rec) and a pair of old 1960B cabs with EVs.

I like having great sounds and things that sound different, so in my studio, I have:

68 Vibrolux
49 Deluxe
60 Vibrasonic
58 Magnatone 260
Top Hat Club Royale
90s Matchless DC-30
64 Tremolux
Gibson GA-15
Ampeg Portaflex

For cabs, I have an old Fender 2x12, an old Marshall with old Greenbacks, and a JMI with an old 18" Greenback

I'm the first one to say I have too many guitars, but it's the same deal. I think I have about 30 guitars and basses in my studio, but they are all different things.
 
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