I’m a terrible guitar shopper.

Mark Wein

Mark Wein

Grand Poobah
Staff member
This is probably better for the Guitar forum but...

http://www.markwein.com/im-a-terrible-guitar-shopper/

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Ya just never really know till you pick one up. When I went to NYC Gretsch shopping a White Falcon was way down on my list, too big, too blingy. Yet out of all the different Pro Linemodels I tried, the Falcon just won out over the Annie’s, Country Gents, 6120s, and Jets.
And even then sometimes first impressions don’t pan out, like that Epi Explorer I bought on a whim several years ago. Liked the sound,didn’t mind the shape, but after a while I found I just could not get along with the flat and thin shredder type neck.
And then sometimes you order online and just get lucky, like the older model 5138 Pro Jet I got recently off Reverb. I had played a few way back 10 yrs ago and liked them, but this one turned out to be just superb in every way.
 
OTOH I am a great guitar shopper. I haven't bought one since 2006. I made a deal with my wife back then that I could only have 5, actually I'm not really sure it was a deal more of an ultimatum :). And more won't make me better. I have not played one of them very much at all and another is tuned flat and it gets only occasional usage. So it seems that I have everything I need, therefore I must be a great shopper
 
So many great choices...a rainbow-colored star guitar, a camo king V guitar, a BC Rich Virgin, an Ibanez Joe Satriani...and you pick a plain 'ole Telly :(
 
I've just always had a mental list of guitars I'd like to own. When the right LP, Tele, Strat, etc. came along and the budgetary stars aligned I've pulled the trigger and I haven't been disappointed. I knew what I wanted and I had the patience to wait. There are 800 gazillion variations of a Strat out there. Whose do I like the best? Do I know why? What model, specs, finish, etc?

Every once in a while there will be a case of sudden unexpected GAS but for the most part that doesn't last long.

I think we're coming at the same answer from different angles: Buy what you like.
 
For bolt-ons, I usually build them from parts. That makes it kind of hard to stumble on "the one".

If it's not "the one", I have to tweak it until it is at least "one of the ones".

The set-necks fall into three categories:
1. "This is amazing and I must have it" (Godin Fifth Avenue, Taylor and Seagull acoustics)
2. "This is such a great deal, I'll either make it work or flip it" (Gibson ES-139)
3. Inherited (Martin and Guild acoustics)
 
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