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Post subject: Re: Confessions of an Ex-gear Snob
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 2:33 pm
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I haven't read the other threads in this post...I'm sure there's something somewhere there that would inevitably piss me off. Likewise, I'm not sure if I already responded to this...if I'm being redundant, just blame it on lost brain cells from too many late Saturday night jams (LOL).

-----------------------

Martian...welcome to the REAL world 8) .

(sorry...couldn't resist)

Seriously...I'm sure that you of all people know a lot of what I've said over the years that I've been on the boards. While my greatest love is still my mid 90's Latinas (MIM's...I have 6 of them at the moment), I have guitars that were made in the USA, Canada, Spain, Japan, Mexico, China etc., and I've even had the occasional Indonesian and Korean made instrument pass my way. The quality of a given instrument just isn't based on where it was made or even specifically on how much it cost...a good guitar is simply a good guitar. While I've often said that the inexpensive guitar market has come a LONG way over the years (I still have my old Memphis and an old Harmony for a direct comparison, LOL!), very simply some of the instruments even coming out of China today are really great guitars and a truly spectacular value. Along with my CIC Squier Standard Strat (still a truly lovely finish) and my CIC Affinity Tele which I purchased specifically for use as an art project, I recently acquired an Ibanez Artcore and I have to say that I'm simply floored by the quality of that instrument! Hell...even the pickups on that sucker are sweeeeeeet! I was sitting here jamming with some BB King stuff on Youtube the other day and I can really tweak out that Artcore to get that same "Lucille" tone...I guess it helps that I play thru an L5, but either way I was really amazed. After 20 years of playing Strats, it's gonna take a while to get used to a semi-hollow, but as to the guitar itself...wow!

I'm sure I have something of a reputation around here as the "anti-snob snob", but it's kind of funny...after more than 30 years of playing now, -if- I really wanted a "high end" guitar, I'd have one. As a guitar lover in general, yea...there's a couple out there that I'd like to have some day. I suspect I'd enjoy playing around with a nice 12 string Rickenbacker 360 and I'd -LOVE- to have a Gretsch White Falcon just so I could sit in the studio and stare at it...just one of the most beautiful guitars ever made. That said, call it my anally pragmatic nature but I really just can't justify paying that kind a dough just to "play around" or "stare at" a guitar. As a working musician, a nice used Mexican Strat or even a decent Squier serves me quite well :-)

(...and I can't wait to get that Ibanez out on stage!)

Honestly, the same goes for acoustics as well. I've played a few high end acoustics over the years...I have yet to hear a Taylor that actually sounds decent to me (although that could be due to those ridiculous Elixer strings) and the majority of Martin's I've played tend to sound rather flat and lifeless to me....give me an Ovation or a Seagull ANY day.


At the end of the day, it simply comes down to your playing. I've said this before and I'll say it again - I've seen guys with top shelf gear who couldn't play a lick if their lives depended on it and I've seen guys with the rattiest canoe paddles you can imagine who can bring tears to your eyes because they really are THAT good. It's not the gear, it's the person playing it. People who worry about where their guitar was made or how much it cost are simply worrying about the WRONG thing.


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Post subject: Re: Confessions of an Ex-gear Snob
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 2:54 pm
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:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Post subject: Re: Confessions of an Ex-gear Snob
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 8:12 pm
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lomitus wrote:
...I recently acquired an Ibanez Artcore and I have to say that I'm simply floored by the quality of that instrument! Hell...even the pickups on that sucker are sweeeeeeet! I was sitting here jamming with some BB King stuff on Youtube the other day and I can really tweak out that Artcore to get that same "Lucille" tone......


+1

I bought mine with the thought that I would probably have to upgrade the pups and maybe do some fret work and setup, but from the first time I played it, I realized how good the guitar was. I haven't changed a thing, it is just plain great as-is. 8)

AS-73:
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Post subject: Re: Confessions of an Ex-gear Snob
Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 11:12 pm
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My Sterling (budget Music Man) is made in Indonesia and the craftsmanship and playability of this guitar rivals those of USA made instruments. This thing is awesome, it's actually better built than my MIM tele.

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Post subject: Re: Confessions of an Ex-gear Snob
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 9:08 am
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shred6 wrote:
There was a time when I REALLY wanted an expensive RG or Jem. It was back in the earlier Floyd versions when there wasn't much difference between them.

When I tried out the expensive ones compared to the mid level, I could close my eyes and not feel one bit of difference. The expensive models had DiMarzios instead of the INF pickups, but I couldnt feel any difference.

And I remember thinking, "Wow, what a rip. They put a couple DiMarzios in it and slap another $900 on the price tag?? Screw that." And I bought an RG 550 for $200 at a Pawn shop and put a couple Dimarzios in it.

At the time, I thought, "What a lot of nerve to ask $1,700 for essentially the same guitar." And I never looked back.

Check this one out: :shock:

IBANEZ PS1CM PAUL STANLEY SIGNATURE GUITAR

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$6,999.99

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Post subject: Re: Confessions of an Ex-gear Snob
Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 11:35 pm
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I once had slight aspirations of being a gear snob--to a degree--but I couldn't afford it--and I discovered much gear I liked that didn't qualify as gear snob stuff.

I've seen the way people look at me for loving my Fender Mustang guitar, and I do.
Even though it's a Fender--at one point it was an object of scorn by gear snobs (And still might be)

But I love playing that thing--I prefer it to a Strat actually.

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Post subject: Re: Confessions of an Ex-gear Snob
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 5:27 am
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shimmilou wrote:
lomitus wrote:
...I recently acquired an Ibanez Artcore and I have to say that I'm simply floored by the quality of that instrument! Hell...even the pickups on that sucker are sweeeeeeet! I was sitting here jamming with some BB King stuff on Youtube the other day and I can really tweak out that Artcore to get that same "Lucille" tone......


+1

I bought mine with the thought that I would probably have to upgrade the pups and maybe do some fret work and setup, but from the first time I played it, I realized how good the guitar was. I haven't changed a thing, it is just plain great as-is. 8)

AS-73:
Image


Yep...that's what I got. Mine's the wine red color (no pics yet), but yea...AS-73. I did have to do some setup work on mine, however I got mine used in a trade and the previous owner had it pretty screwed up...not to mention 3 hours of scrapping stickers off the body (had to use some acetone just to get the goo off)...NOT something I can blame Ibanez for though.

I think the pickups and e-tronics surprised me the most with this thing. As you say, I figured I'd end up putting some Duncans or maybe even some genuine PAF's in it or something down the road, but the tone on this thing is really amazing. I can roll that tone off on the neck pickup and she's just got that serious bluesy jazz tone, ala BB King or George Benson and the bridge pickup just screams Rock-a-billy, LOL! Even the control pots...I peeked inside and expected to see those dinky little pots they used on my lower end Squiers, but these suckers are full size and at 6 years old, they're perfectly smooth without a hint of crackle. We'll see how she does in 15 or 20 years, but for now I can't complain at all.

She really is an A-1 instrument all the way around. In fact I've been so impressed with this guitar, I'm already shopping around for another. It's gonna be a while before I have some "toy money" (the wife and I are buying a new house at the moment), but I'm thinkin' either an AG-75's or an AG-86...I have 11 Strats, so why not a couple semi-hollows? Mwahahahahahahaha!


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Post subject: Re: Confessions of an Ex-gear Snob
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 8:09 pm
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lomitus wrote:
...In fact I've been so impressed with this guitar, I'm already shopping around for another...


Yeah, me too. I've seen a couple of other models that I would like to get. I got this S770PB, and the bridge pup is pretty good, fret edges have started sprouting, but the bridge is slick. The bridge has bearings instead of knife edges, and has this extra bar in the back for stiffening the bridge, allowing double stop bends without lowering the pitch of the other strings, and it stays in tune with extreme whammy use due to the bearings and double locking system. There is also a thumb-wheel for adjusting the tension on the bridge. The action is as low, or lower, than any guitar that I've ever had. Cleans are decent, but using a high gain amp is fantastic, great for metal. I am thinking of changing the pups, but really not imperative for the moment.

Overall, it is a very good guitar, a little pricey, but I enjoy playing it.
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Post subject: Re: Confessions of an Ex-gear Snob
Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 11:34 am
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lomitus wrote:
At the end of the day, it simply comes down to your playing. I've said this before and I'll say it again - I've seen guys with top shelf gear who couldn't play a lick if their lives depended on it and I've seen guys with the rattiest canoe paddles you can imagine who can bring tears to your eyes because they really are THAT good. It's not the gear, it's the person playing it. People who worry about where their guitar was made or how much it cost are simply worrying about the WRONG thing.


To be fair, there are also crappy players with crappy gear and guitar gods with godly gear.
How good the gear is and how good the player is are two different things, and no amount of gear is going to make someone a good player. (A truly crappy guitar given to a student, may on the other hand, turn him or her off playing forever.)
Practice, talent, practice, a good ear and practice is what makes a player good.

And what I have said before and will say again is that the player liking his gear is going to make a difference, whether he or she likes a Squier Bullet or a Shishkov creation forged in the fires of Mordor. If the player doesn't feel comfortable with the instrument, the performance won't be the best.


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Post subject: Re: Confessions of an Ex-gear Snob
Posted: Sun May 17, 2015 6:34 pm
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In the spirit of less expensive but nice guitars, here are a few of mine that fit the description.. The Malibu CE acoustic really surprised for me, considering it was less than $300 new. The quality of my Korean-made PRS SE Custom 24 is just amazing..

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Post subject: Re: Confessions of an Ex-gear Snob
Posted: Sun May 17, 2015 9:38 pm
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Talk about gear snobs. Look at a Stradivarius for example. First off, I have never seen one up close, but, I have held the next best thing in my hands, which when told what it was, my hands shook, and I was afraid to hold it any longer, and I returned it promptly to the owner who was not fearful of my admiration at all. His violin was, like the Stradivarius, a thing of beauty. The owner was a first violinist for a symphony, and this treasure was regularly played as opposed to being a museum piece.

There are different opinions as to whether the Stradivarius is a better sounding player than other reasonably priced and, perhaps, more modern designs. Many blind tests, again questionable, would show that other violins have been chosen to be better sounding, or at least equal. There is little reason to think that a better looking violin is or is not available. The Strad's finish is discussed more for its sound relationship rather than its appearance.

I wonder if there are crappy sounding Stradivarius violins on the market. He did make guitars too.

I think it's safe to say that to own such a desirable instrument is usually not based on one person's reasoning alone. The opposite would seem to exist as well. IMO.

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Post subject: Re: Confessions of an Ex-gear Snob
Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 8:14 pm
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Fender Strat Brat wrote:
He did make guitars too.

Only a handful of Stradivari baroque guitars are known, and only one ten-string one is playable (after restoration).

Image

Baroque guitars seem like interesting instruments (even with waaay too much reverb added):


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Post subject: Re: Confessions of an Ex-gear Snob
Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 9:19 pm
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arthl:

Thanks, for the Stradivari baroque guitars followup and video. That was truly great playing and a beautiful guitar to see and hear. The harmonics and tones were awesome IMO. Maybe there is a reason to be a gearhead :lol: If I had the money to buy that guitar . . . on the other hand, my playing would not do it justice . . . so I best fuggedaboutit. :(

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Post subject: Re: Confessions of an Ex-gear Snob
Posted: Mon May 18, 2015 11:56 pm
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Fender Strat Brat wrote:
arthl:

Thanks, for the Stradivari baroque guitars followup and video. That was truly great playing and a beautiful guitar to see and hear. The harmonics and tones were awesome IMO. Maybe there is a reason to be a gearhead :lol: . :(


+1 :D

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Post subject: Re: Confessions of an Ex-gear Snob
Posted: Tue May 19, 2015 12:47 am
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Despite this thread now numbering 5 pages, I've not yet contributed.

I've lurked it and find everyone's opinions valid... for them !

I would be labeled a Gear Snob by many, but there's much more to it than that.

My other hobbies are/have been Photography and collecting/restoring Classic Foreign Sports Cars.

Compared to these, this guitar hobby thing is incredibly cheap !

I own 9 great guitars and have spent a total of $6200 for them. The list consists of a 2011 FSR Ltd. Ed. American Vintage '57 Stratocaster, a 2010 Martin DC-1E, a 2014 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster, a 2012 Telebration Empress Telecaster, a 2010 Heritage H-535, a 2013 Custom Telecaster HH, a 1999 Nashville Telecaster Deluxe, a 2011 Applause (Ovation) AE-128 and a 2010 Epiphone AJ-100CE.

My friend, a professional player for 30+ years, says he's never had a guitar as good as any of my guitars.

To put these into perspective, that total would equal half a top-end rebuild of my 1990 Porsche 911, or a rebuild of my 1990 BMW 325is, or a paintjob for my 1985 Lotus Turbo Esprit or 1976 BMW 2002, or just a couple of high quality long-lenses.

These wonderful guitars are very easy to play, allowing a new player to advance more quickly.

They are also VERY motivating... that someday my skills will be equal to these instruments. Also, that I'm no longer embarrassed to bring them to a jam, pull out this amazing guitar, then sound like a crappy 3-year player (which is what I am).

Add to this that each of these guitars will almost certainly bring more than their purchase price in years to come, and I'm essentially playing them for FREE (assuming I keep them in great shape, which I'm pretty anal about).

Among my guitars is an MIM, an Indonesian, and Budget-Line guitars. Despite appearances, I'm really not a Gear Snob.

It's cool if you want to own less expensive guitars, but it's also no shame to own high-end ones either.

I've been moderately successful in both business and investing. I have no debt, kids, college or mortgage to pay, so spending some dough on my instruments (and really not all that much - $688/guitar avg.) is OK for me.

Really whatever floats your particular boat.

cheers!

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