If Only Two Guitars?

[Jersey tuning]

Two different body types entirely.  A GC for fingerstyle and either a 12-string or baritone for different flavors.  I already have a great GC.  And I would love a Taylor koa 12-string, although lately I've become quite smitten with my Alvarez Baritone.  If it continues to intrigue me, I might get rid of half my collection and BTO a baritone.

[lmacmil]

My GA3 and my Martin rosewood dread are the only two guitars I own.  I don't need any others, though a 150e would be nice.

[Jersey tuning]

If I could only keep two guitars in my collection, I would keep my Taylor GC BTO and my Froggy Bottom "00"-sized Adi/Braz.  One (Taylor) has amazing sustain, the other prototypic note separation, so they are very different small(er) bodied guitars

[Guitarsan]

Guitarsan.....yeah, I knew the question was wide open, but you're right, I was looking for insights from those who own multiple guitars.....my question wasn't so much what would you buy, but more, which ones would you sell to get down to the last two, and what moved you to sell A B C D and E and keep F & G.....my first Taylor was a new 2009 855ce because I played acoustic 12 strings for 50 yrs...loved the sound, dream guitar.....then last Dec I decided it was time to switch to 6 strings, mostly because I started using a capo on half the songs and tuning was getting to be a problem (and I tried them all)...so the search began for my dream guitar to replace my 855.....twelve Taylors in twelve months...2012 GS8, 2013 416ce, 2010 516ce CV WW, 2014 514e FLTD, 2013 GS Mini Hog e, 2014 524e, 2003 DN W-10e, 2012 DN8, 2013 520e FE, 2013 528e, 2012 810e Proto, 2013 818e FE.....returned some, sold some, still have the '13 514e FLTD, the mini hog e, the '13 520e FE, the '12 810e Proto and the '13 818e FE.....as you said, Guitarsan, now we're getting somewhere.....the 810 Proto is the "dream guitar" for me...if I sold all the others and just kept it I'd be OK.....but...and this is where my original question came from, which one of the others would I keep to fit the "family budget" of two guitars (happy wife, happy life.....and the Lord's nudging).....if I eliminate the 514 FLTD cuz I don't play pretty enough to deserve it, then the main question is keep the tone and sound I like the best and keep both rosewood/spruces (818 and 818) very similar but still the 810 is the better for me...or make the second one the all hog 520 FE, different sound and tone but has a place in my song list for that clean, warm, less sustain and less overtone beauty of the all hogs....and the dreads became my favorite after the yr long search.......so there ya go, that's the longer version, and some of you have followed my whole year and have given me great advice (by the way, the wife agrees the mini doesn't have to count for the two, it's not going anywhere!)...so I have four of the best Taylors made for me, and I want to keep two of them.....that's where my first question came from.....thanks again to all who have chimed in this year ...it really is time to get back to writing and playing and "end" the shopping.....appreciate UTGF soooooo much!

So I'm much of the mind of michaelw on all of this. Based on everything you say and reading somewhat between the lines, I say sell the 818, that's the easier decision. Then take a bit of time to think about the next move. If I can summarize considering between the 520Fe and the 514e FLTD, the 514e is "nicer", but the 520 hog is more complementary to your 810 tonewise, is also a dreadnaught, your favorite shape. Like michael says, don't regret selling the 514e FLTD. You can take a bit more time either deciding you can separate from it and not regret it, or come around to you prefer it over the 520 hog. Hope that helps!

[krugjr]

Guitarsan.....good point on the 514...put it away and see if it is "missed" while playing the others over a period of time.....have it as a safety valve if needed.....and it will be an easier decision to sell the 514 if it really doesn't fit into the routine for several months.....speaking of the 818, I know it drives Bob Taylor crazy when we buy and sell guitars based on what they "sound" like (or don't sound like) before keeping them long enough to open up and become all the guitar that they can be! (but that's another whole topic, isn't it)  thanks for your feed back...

[TaylorMan1]

I would go with different tops and woods, but I only have one guitar now.  (GS 5) great sounding. It makes it hard looking for one to add to the mix ! I really like the western red wood cedar.


Carl

[Strumming Fool]

maybe that is the "plan".....the 520 through the Bose L1 playing with MP3 tracks..... the 810 as my go to, unplugged, acoustic, do everything, if I only had one, main guitar.....and the 514 waiting in the wings for someday when I don't play with tracks anymore or at least don't "play as hard" anymore....yeah, I kinda like that...we'll call it the "delayed" two guitar plan!

I think you've got a good plan there...stick with three until you're sure that you only want/need two.  They're all great guitars IMHO....

[krugjr]

you're right, SF, all four are awesome guitars.....and to make the choice even harder, I restrung all of them in the last week or two.....all Elixers...80/20 lights on the 514, 80/20 med on the 520...both 80/20s polyweb.....then phosphor bronze med nano webs on the 810 and phosphor bronze med bottom and light tops nanos on the 818.....always amazes me the difference they make, even if the old strings weren't that old.....and I'm reminded once again how many different tones you can get out of a good guitar with a variety of strings and picks.....four days off for the holiday and I'm havin' a ball playing them all unplugged and through the Bose L1....yes, I am "thankful".....

[Frances50]

Well, I'll have to deviate and say that my two acoustic guitar keepers would be the Taylor PS56ce 12-string and my Olson.  These two guitars are the best in my gaggle.

[werkout52]

It would be my Taylor 514e FLTD and either my
Taylor 654ce or Eastman E20om, but it would be a tough decision.

[JimW]

For me it's a six string and a 12 string. You can see my choices in my signature.

[Frettingflyer]

Since we are keeping the Mini separate I would keep the Koa Mini and both my 314 and 414. But if one of those had to go it would be the 414. Need a mini to travel(every week) and the 314 sounds so good after 10 years it would be my only guitar if I could only have one. Scarey thought!

[TaylorMate]

I have had quite a few different Taylors. I now settled for three: an 812, a 512TF and a Mini Hog. The Mini is mainly for traveling (and more...) As for your question I am happy with the 812 (Rosewood/Sitka) and the 12 fret 512 (Mahogany/Cedar). Although the same in size, these two are different in almost every respect. I love that and it satisfies me. It is exactly what I was after for many years.

[krugjr]

"Although the same in size, these two are different in almost every respect. I love that and it satisfies me. It is exactly what I was after for many years."

TaylorMate.....great answer to my original question!