What'cha Got v. What To Get -- The Power of G.A.S.

[Gutch]

I've been chasing Taylor tone for over 12 years now, buying and selling literally dozens of guitars in that time - Both new and used.  Through the years, I've found a few that really exemplify what I like to hear and see in a guitar.  It has to be both - I've had beautiful ones that didn't trip my trigger in the tone department, and at least one lapse of reason that I can think of that allowed me to sell a Taylor that sounded great but looked like a train wreak (IIRC, it was a 1988-ish 615 where the original owner so over humidified the guitar, the top bowed up and literally shattered the nitro finish.  Of course, that opened the top and she was a cannon!).

Anyway, I'm at a point now where each instrument in the collection is a killer example of that model both tonally and visually.  It's a good thing, right?  Well, yes, until GAS kicks in and a new one comes along that catches your eye.  At what point does G.A.S. diminish your ability to think rationally, allowing to make a big mistake trading one of the prime instruments in the herd simply to get something 'new'?  Can you control yourself?

Do you know "when to say 'when'"?!?

I will admit that I will play this game at least once a month, saying to myself, "Oh, I'll sell this one because I don't play it much anymore...".  Then I'll pull that one out of the case or off the wall (Depending on the time of year), tune it up and play it for 20 minutes or so.  Then I'll really examine it, studying the grain of the woods, the craftsmanship of the build, the geometry of the instrument, and realize that I'm an idiot for even thinking for a minute of selling the guitar.  It's at that point that the urge to buy goes away and GAS heads back into remission for a few more weeks.

Anybody else go through this exercise?

[cjd-player]

Each of my Taylors serves a specific purpose.   My BTO is my No. 1 and main go-to for my solo fingerstyle music.  My No. 2 is my 312ce kept in DADGAD, both for convenience and because it sounds better than my No. 1 in that tuning.  No. 3 is my 814ce, which was my No. 1, but was replaced because of scale length.  I keep it because it sounds awesome as a combo strummer/fingerstyle, and more recently for Orkney tuning where the longer scale is actually beneficial.   

There are certainly lots of beautiful guitars to catch my eye, but I'm at the point where I will not buy without playing first, and I have yet to find another one that will do better for one of my purposes than what I aleady have.   I've been to several Road Shows and great Taylor dealers, and even passed on an R. Taylor because I'm just very happy with what I have.  No tone chasing for me.

[Andromeda]

It took a while of buying and selling to figure out that the cedar and rosewood combination are what works best for me.

[Steve]

Anybody else go through this exercise?

Dude, I have guitars I haven't seen in eight years...

[Scriptor]

but I'm at the point where I will not buy without playing first

This is what I try to live by as well these days ... it used to always be the case in my younger days before the Internet and my introduction to Taylor consistency.  I tried the "this Taylor should work for me on paper" route for 3 guitars and all 3 were eventually sold.  The 2 higher end Taylor's I have today are both ones I picked after test driving a few times and I'm very happy with them.

I still have ideas about what I think I'd like to try in wood combo's but if I hold to the try-before-you-buy rule, I know I will be better off ... that rule can convince me that I like what I already have more or, if the guitar really speaks to me, I can buy with confidence ... the hardest part of this "rule" is trying the find the more uncommon models in the local shops that tend to carry just the best sellers ... there are a couple of shops that will get an interesting piece in every now and then but I find as the economy stays slow, this is more infrequent ...

[rcoolz]

Yes   same here....My buddy has a martin d 16 H... 92 model...It has all  of the specs of the new d 18 vintage model. I have gassed for this from him for several yrs......Yesterday  i proposed a trade deal tgo him ...My 1984 D 35...for his  D 16 H..     He is going to let me know.....Last night  I did the very same   thing that you described .....playing, looking   playing ,  listening   and  Thought  I must be  Crazy to want to do this........ Man  Gas  clogs your JUDGEMENT......... It seems my gas really flares up every  spring      I usually sell something  then buy   something...I sold 2 guitars  this  month  ......HEY   that means  Im behind  and  have to  get  one  !!!   GOT  TO GO   and start the hunt....    rcoolz

[Scriptor]

I sold 2 guitars  this  month  ......HEY   that means  Im behind  and  have to  get  one  !!!   GOT  TO GO   and start the hunt....    rcoolz

Slacker!    ... yeah, it's 1 out, 1 in man ... get with it ...

[S MS Picker]

I keep looking for one that sounds & plays like the 93ish 510 that Katrina killed.I can make them play , but the sound's just not right no matter what I do to them. The 99 414 that Taylor did the neck reset on is really,really close ; as is the 2011 412ce.
Steve

[Tammany Tiger]

Well, as we used to say in the last century, it has been a long strange ride for me. When I first started playing a little under ten years ago I lived in a perpetual gaseous environment and went through many, many guitars trying to find the right fit, right tone, right vibe. I had begun to settle down when I started focusing on Taylor and had a smaller scale repeat of perpetual Taylor GAS.

Once I figured out the Taylor line and hit stride as a marginally competent guitarist, I left all that  behind. I still enjoy the hunt and some variety but now days I have my "keeper for life" (at least for the past four years part of my life),  a guitar that complments the "lifer" and that might qualify for that exalted spot one day, and a third guitar that is whatever pleases me at the moment, usually a used piece that I can sell for a profit. The first two spots are a GA Limited Maple that is my do everything guitar. The second spot is a BTO all mahogany GC that is a different fit, different sound, different feel for finger work and vocal accompaniment. The third guitar right now is an electric that is starting to bore me and likely will go on to EBay soon.

I am pretty resolved about putting no more new money into the herd unless it is from an unexpected gift or work bonus and I keep a separate "guitar only" bank account thor that purpose. Since I adopted this policy I find myself playing more, enjoying the avocation more and feeling better about my personal economy.

[silvereagle48]

Anybody else go through this exercise?

Dude, I have guitars I haven't seen in eight years...

Geesh, thought I was the only one!!

[Strumming Fool]

G.A.S. comes in all different shapes and flavors. The guitars in my signature are the result of many years of searching, with so many guitars come and gone (including Martin, Santa Cruz, Lowden and Larrivee among others, along with a few Taylors of other shapes - GC, GS and jumbo). In fact, two of the guitars below were put up for sale in search of the "holy grail". Fortunately, I came to my senses and kept both. I'm fairly certain that these five are here to stay, although I can still see a couple more GAs in my future!

[Go Navy]

It took a while of buying and selling to figure out that the cedar and rosewood combination are what works best for me.

Andromeda, you made my day/week/month/year.....that's the combo I have on order for my first Taylor!

[jjracer]

I have a few taylors that I am pleased with.  Although,  I am very curious about the new 700 series with the Engelmann/rosewood combo and the burst looks great in the photos. 

I am headed for Nashville in a couple of weeks and Gruhn is on my list of places to stop.  I sold a guitar last night but not sure the wife will let me bring one home until I thin the heard a little more.  But she is up for checking out Gruhn.
 
As far as gas goes.  I am pretty much set for guitars, but am always looking just nothing has set me off as one of those "can't live without guitars"

[michaelw]

Gruhn had some really cool GAce Customs -
adi/eirw with adi bracing, maple binding &
600 series pearl inlay fretmarkers, but ...
that was a good year ago, if not longer

should still be a cool place to check out, though

[beachbum205]

I hear ya.  My GAS has often been fueled by the idea that even if I like what I have, there is something better out there just around the corner that I will like even more.  This may be sort of like the gambling addict who thinks the next winning bet is just about to happen.

So, for example- I loved the Martin D-18 I was playing- so I figured that I would really love a D-28.  This turned out not to be the case at all for me, should have never sold the D-18.  Same with Taylor- moving up the 1, 2, 3, 4... Series ladder.

OTOH, I have met some great people over the years that I have bought/ sold/ traded with.  So while I have probably spent a small fortune and in the process, kept Brown in business over the years, I have had a lot of fun, met some great people, and played a whole bunch of great guitars.  So how's that for a rationalization!

GAS- a cruel master....