Mac,

FWIW, when I first started playing, there were two really good guitarists in my neighborhood who independently told me the same thing. They said the mark of a good guitar player is someone who can turn his amp on '10' and sound like a million bucks and then turn the amp off and sound just as good. Meaning, all an amp does is mask your mistakes and deficiencies while at the same time, electronically enhancing whatever it is that you are playing. I took their word for it, never forgot this and after close to 50 years of playing, I still never (private) practice with an amp as their advice has clearly been proven to me by me. YMMV.

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You dig?

I dig You're not getting older, just getting better.

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"Another day in paradise!"

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You dig?

Sounds like clear thinking to me. When I was just starting out in 1954/5/6/7 there was no AMP just me and my old Thump/Thud Stella flat top and an aspirin bottle or something for a slide. Sometimes I had a pick and sometimes not. I've even used a match book for a few minutes once in a while. I learned my tunes off the radio and played them till I was blue in the face. No I actually never turned blue, and never became famous. But I learned guitar. The best I could. I'm still playing, although I have better equipment, I'd give a million bucks for a recording of that old sound.
----Danny,

When I was young...and they packed me off to school..and...

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"C'est parti mon Kiki "

I think you just took a big step to becoming a better guitar player,

But.....never give up on improving your tone,it's a fact that a great tone will inspire you to play better...it's all part of maturing as a player.

Once someone learns that expensive gear or buying a lot of stuff does not make a guitarist, but the player learning and practicing is what makes a guitarist they are on the road to really becoming a true guitarist.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

As Rkreisher says buying a lot of stuff doesn't make one a better guitarists but it sure as heck creates an overwhelming urge to buy even more been there-been there-been there. LOL

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Soounds like a pledge for GAS-aholics annoymous. I need to take that pledge.

New gear will not make me a better guitarist
New gear will not make me a better guitarist
New gear will not make me a better guitarist

But on the other hand a new delux strat in sienna burst, maple neck and delux amp sure would be nice.

New gear.............................

Spending more time posting to an internet forum isn't going to make you a better guitar player either. Rather than spend the money on something that will take away from your practice time, just save it.

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

True.

I did pick up a little recorder, now I can hear myself, and have confirmed that I do need lots more practice.

I reached that same conclusion some time ago myself, the amp I had was fine etc.

However, one that that you should invest some $$ in, even a small amount is to make sure that the guitar you have, be it a $100 Squier or a $1k Strat, is set up as comfortably as possible for you. Adjusting the action/neck/etc will help prevent you from working harder at fretting and make practicing more comfortable, which in turn will up your practice time, which in turn makes you better.

Or something like that.

you are right mac. howevah...........buying new, better gear might inspire you to play more. i know it works for me and i rarely buy new gear. but when i do, i play alot more. make sense? when i got my tube amp i was just so amazed at the way notes jumped out so clearly. when i got my MIA strat i couldn't believe the bell-like tone playing clean thru the middle pick-up. that stuff right there made play more.
having said that, i haven't plugged in for 3 weeks due to work. maybe it's time for some new stuff?

"Man's got to know his limitations.." Clint Eastwood..

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!