I have had a guitar for a few years and I haven’t spent a dime since buying it. Haven’t even broken any strings yet, which I already have 3 packs of replacements for because I thought they broke more often so I bought 4 packs when I got the guitar.
That explains it. You haven’t played enough to get GAS, Guitar/ Gear Acquisition Syndrome, yet. One day, it will get in your head that the reason you aren’t improving is because you need a better guitar, and life as you know it, will be over.
It’s the difference between a simple set-up like Ringo’s, or an elaborate set-up like Peart’s. If I were a drummer, I’d be like Peart. I’d have to have all sorts of different cymbals, toms, bongos, shakers, scrapers, gongs, bells, congas, whistles, miscellaneous percussion gizmos, etc.
And then there are all sorts of sticks, mallets, and beaters to clobber them with.
Is there any real reason to replace them if they aren’t broken? I know they can get stretched out, but I thought that would affect the sound. They still sound okay as long as I tune it.
But I also only really practice twice a week and I’m not good at it.
They lose some of their sound, literally.
This is very audible with the mandolin, it gets quite muted as the strings age. What a difference when you change them.
Not to mention they also just get gross, and can fuck up your fretboard too. Every string change sesh is also an opportunity for me to clean and condition the fretboard.
You keep your strings in better shape with string conditioner/cleaner if you’re using steel / nickelwound /nickel though
I think even that’s getting cheaper over the last couple years. Mid range guitars are getting premium features & qc out of Philippines and Indonesia is pretty solid, modelers are making a big collection of amps and pedals unnecessary for chasing tones. As long as you’re not a collector gathering signature serieses or looking at all the new releases giving yourself fomo it’s not too bad.
Oh, yeah, that’s what gave me the bug. I bought a Monoprice strat copy for $99, including a padded gig bag and shipping, and I couldn’t believe how nice it was. I still have it, still play it often.
I got a Harley Benton Les Paul copy for $158 (with $85 shipping from Germany, ouch), and loved it. Then I visited Nashville, and went to the Gibson Garage, where they had the exact same guitar, with all Gibson branding, of course. Both guitars are a copy of a popular style/color from the early 70s, neither is an original model. Yet, while my copy was $158, the Gibson version was $6700! You could argue that the Gibson hardware makes a huge difference, but even if I replaced all the hardware with Gibson branded stuff, it would still be only about $1000. You could try to argue that the QC is better on the Gibson, but $6700 better? I don’t think so, especially since my HB is perfect. I’ve had it a couple of years now, and I’ve never found any flaw in it at all. You could never rationalize that the Gibson copy is thousands of dollars better than my HB copy.
I’m a big cheapskate. I love to find old beat up guitars, fix them, clean them, restring them, set them up, play them for a while, then sell them. Or keep them if I like it enough.
Gibsons’ been lacking so much lately anyway; they charge so much for a guitar that can barely stay in tune (at least for the one’s in the last decade). Brands like Harley Benton have been squashing them for dirt cheap for the last few years.
If you are looking for an endless money pit, take up the guitar.
I have had a guitar for a few years and I haven’t spent a dime since buying it. Haven’t even broken any strings yet, which I already have 3 packs of replacements for because I thought they broke more often so I bought 4 packs when I got the guitar.
You definitely don’t play enough, or your strings a gnarly and should be replaced anyway by now dude lol
Edit: I change my strings every few months
That explains it. You haven’t played enough to get GAS, Guitar/ Gear Acquisition Syndrome, yet. One day, it will get in your head that the reason you aren’t improving is because you need a better guitar, and life as you know it, will be over.
I didn’t have GAS when I was playing guitar, but when I switched to synthesizers, oh boy
I get that. It happens to drummers, too.
I never played the drums, can you give me examples for a classic Drummer GAS situation? Probably all different kind of crashes and rides?
It’s the difference between a simple set-up like Ringo’s, or an elaborate set-up like Peart’s. If I were a drummer, I’d be like Peart. I’d have to have all sorts of different cymbals, toms, bongos, shakers, scrapers, gongs, bells, congas, whistles, miscellaneous percussion gizmos, etc.
And then there are all sorts of sticks, mallets, and beaters to clobber them with.
Fair point, just constantly wondering “what if I use the plunger with my broken hihat”. Thanks, I get it now I think
Is there any real reason to replace them if they aren’t broken? I know they can get stretched out, but I thought that would affect the sound. They still sound okay as long as I tune it.
But I also only really practice twice a week and I’m not good at it.
They lose some of their sound, literally. This is very audible with the mandolin, it gets quite muted as the strings age. What a difference when you change them.
Not to mention they also just get gross, and can fuck up your fretboard too. Every string change sesh is also an opportunity for me to clean and condition the fretboard.
You keep your strings in better shape with string conditioner/cleaner if you’re using steel / nickelwound /nickel though
I think even that’s getting cheaper over the last couple years. Mid range guitars are getting premium features & qc out of Philippines and Indonesia is pretty solid, modelers are making a big collection of amps and pedals unnecessary for chasing tones. As long as you’re not a collector gathering signature serieses or looking at all the new releases giving yourself fomo it’s not too bad.
Oh, yeah, that’s what gave me the bug. I bought a Monoprice strat copy for $99, including a padded gig bag and shipping, and I couldn’t believe how nice it was. I still have it, still play it often.
I got a Harley Benton Les Paul copy for $158 (with $85 shipping from Germany, ouch), and loved it. Then I visited Nashville, and went to the Gibson Garage, where they had the exact same guitar, with all Gibson branding, of course. Both guitars are a copy of a popular style/color from the early 70s, neither is an original model. Yet, while my copy was $158, the Gibson version was $6700! You could argue that the Gibson hardware makes a huge difference, but even if I replaced all the hardware with Gibson branded stuff, it would still be only about $1000. You could try to argue that the QC is better on the Gibson, but $6700 better? I don’t think so, especially since my HB is perfect. I’ve had it a couple of years now, and I’ve never found any flaw in it at all. You could never rationalize that the Gibson copy is thousands of dollars better than my HB copy.
I’m a big cheapskate. I love to find old beat up guitars, fix them, clean them, restring them, set them up, play them for a while, then sell them. Or keep them if I like it enough.
It’s fun, but the money pit is bottomless.
Gibsons’ been lacking so much lately anyway; they charge so much for a guitar that can barely stay in tune (at least for the one’s in the last decade). Brands like Harley Benton have been squashing them for dirt cheap for the last few years.
Yeah, they’ve been coasting on their legacy for a long time.