If you’re reading this, you probably love guitars, and probably own one… or two… or twelve. Does this make you a collector? A guitar investor? Or a person who plays guitars? Let’s look at being a guitar player vs. a guitar collector, and why it matters.
Is More Better?
In the guitar world, amateurs who own multiple instruments is a relatively recent phenomenon. Years ago, it was uncommon for most people to own more than a few guitars. The drastic rise in the availability of guitar-related info has stoked consumer buying behavior, including Gear Acquisition Syndrome (G.A.S), which is heavily supported on guitar-related forums. Just as it has with virtually every other consumer product, the web has connected buyers and sellers in ways previously unknown. That ‘54 Strat that rested under the bed for decades is almost impossible to find now because the internet offers people the ability to gauge the value of the guitars they own, and an efficient way to sell them. As a result, regular guitar players—i.e., non professionals—have taken to buying and owning more guitars than ever.
Player vs. Collector
Players buy guitars to play, and collectors buy them to display. Simple enough? Not really—there’s a gray area that many, if not most of us, fall into. There are those who are fully dedicated to being the best amateur musician they can be, and have the interest and means to acquire multiple guitars. Then there are those who (happily) dabble, playing a little bit here and there, taking pride in their guitars and the “idea” of being a guitar player. No judgments here though—it’s all good! You can be a serious player and own multiple guitars, but by definition you cannot be a collector and own one guitar. A better question might be: How many guitars do I need?
More Than I Need, Fewer Than I Want
We can all get by with one guitar, if needed. That’s what a lot of people did, for a long time. But since we have more options now, here are some questions to ask yourself:
Question #1: What style of music do you play?
Why this matters: If you realistically play one style of music, you may be able to happily stick to one type of guitar. For example, many blues fans will choose the Stratocasters they see played by their guitar heroes, and rockers often gravitate towards Les Pauls. Metal players tend to favor more modern guitars, including those with extended range. If one style of guitar fits your musical breadth, you do not realistically need to own ten of them. Classical music doesn’t sound quite right on anything other than a classical guitar, so if you are playing that style you will be well-served to buy a nylon string guitar.
Question #2: Do you have Volume Considerations?
Why this matters: Do you play with others in a band setting, or prefer to play at higher volume? Soldbody guitars were invented with the purpose of addressing the feedback that can happen with hollowbody and semi-hollowbody guitars at stage volume. This is typically not an issue for people who are not on stage and/or who play at lower volume. The majority of home guitarists *should* fall into this camp.
Question #3: Do you have disposable income to spend on guitars?
Why This Matters: Multiple guitars are, by definition, a luxury item. If you have the cash, by all means buy what you want. But if you are, like most of us, limited in this regard, it’s smart to think clearly about what you need, and how much you need to spend. Some guitars are versatile, while others are more of a one-trick pony. If you are buying one guitar to play a mix of rock, blues, and jazz, you will be better served with a Telecaster than a one pickup Les Paul Junior.
Question #4: Do You Have Storage Space?
Why this Matters: Guitars don’t take up a lot of room per se, but you still need somewhere to keep them. Of course, that place CANNOT be a basement or attic, where climatic conditions are generally too unstable for proper storage. A dedicated music room is ideal, as you don’t necessarily want to have to dig a guitar out of a closet to play it, nor have to bring it to another room. And, your significant other might not love having 5 guitar cases stacked up in the living room either!
Question #5: How Many Hours per Week Do You Play?
Why this Matters: Take this typical example of a hobbyist guitar player: They have a regular 9-5 job, and play for an hour after work a few times per week, and then some on weekends. That would be 5-8 hours per week. Divide that by two guitars evenly and you have 2.5 and 4 hours. But you can see where the math goes, and quickly. What most people find is they have a smaller collection of instruments that they play the most. And unless you are a collector, it doesn’t always make a lot of sense to own guitars that you don’t play.
Conclusion
What’s your number? Ultimately, everyone needs to decide how many guitars are right for them. At Guitarkind, our general guide is that 10-12 seems about right for people who enjoy playing multiple musical styles. This allows for a representative sample of the primary guitar types we commonly see, with the ability to double up based on the style of music you play the most. You might love acoustic playing, so perhaps you double up on steel string flat tops, and have a couple of Les Pauls for rocking out. At GK, we feel that it is better to own fewer, nicer guitars, but that is your choice. Some people love the acquiring guitars for the sake of it, even if they are not remarkable guitars. Some people love certain models of guitars so much that they feel compelled to buy multiple examples, becasue each one sounds a little bit different to them. To each his own, and Happy playing!