Too many guitars?

[StephenM]

I have 2 almost identical Mexican strats - even the same colour - this is just stupid.

I don't think so! Maybe there's a method to this madness... Pics might follow soon(ish)

So a pic did follow... eventually

[imglink][/imglink]

I am revising my thought process. I actually spent about half an hour the other day taking photos of the strat on the right and when it came to it, my body would not allow me to post the guitar for sale online! A force within was too strong!

However. And I risk being relegated to division 2 on SC I have made the decision to get rid of the HB Les Paul on the left. I don't like it, never have. I looks nice for sure but it had problems from day 1. Poor set up... I then got it professionally set up, but it's simply just "ok" to me. It's not worth a lot but we live in small house so 4 or 5 axes is about my limit.

So it's done    ad is up

BUT... it will be replaced with a much finer upgrade... details will follow when the dirty deed is complete!

Mike

I applaud you Mike for realizing this ain't working for you and someone will like it... and use it...

[StephenM]

I think what Andy said about the Les Paul makes sense for someone who loves Strats so much... I mean I have only ever played a couple strats in my life but I spent years with both Gibson (black 1980 standard) and Epiphone Les Paul... If you are really into strats I doubt you would love Les Pauls... they are just so different and heavy too...

I am not as in love with mine as I used to be... lately I haven't played it at all... but I won't part with it... the Strat I have is a total garbage Jay Turser knock off and I really love it for distorted rock, which is more my thing... I don't like it much for clean stuff... it's too chimy for me... and I have played a fairly expensive American strat and felt similar to that .... but I would not hesitate to get one if I had the money available and the right one came along... but I want a Tele more... I don't know why because I never even played one.. I just think they look cool.
but I really don't think I need any new guitars... if I did it would be a really good acoustic.

[Zoltan]

Here's my real contribution to this topic! And also a parallel to why one would have two of the same: they can have babies!

Black stratocasters from left to right:

1. This has a MIJ neck from 89/90. Pure vintage '57/'62 pickups. Jumbo frets.
2. The OG. MIM 90/91. The bridge pu is Seymour Duncan JB jr.

And their baby is the Richie Blackmore Stratocaster. Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder pickups, scalloped U-shape neck, vintage 7,25" radius, 70s vintage tuners. 3-way selector.

I few weeks back i was going to buy some strings and i came out with the (1.) strat. It felt right, it sounded right. About a week ago they had their offspring.



Also it seems like there's a common thread of Les Pauls exchanging hands. Currently i don't own any. I let that Epiphone go.

[AndyR]

Oooo! Don't get me wrong Stephen - I love Les Pauls too.

In fact, the guitar the ES335 might supplant as "the one" is Lucy the Les Paul. It's a wine red Traditional from 2012. Although it has the "swiss cheese" weight relief it is somewhat heavier than the Standard 50s (from 2021 I think) that I let go.

I wanted a sunburst, I wanted "full-fat", I got a good deal. But I never bonded with it. I could have got used to it, especially if it had been the only guitar. But it was too "rich", not enough "top-end", didn't sing as much, I couldn't get what I think of the Les Paul bite out of it.

It was "better made" than Lucy, but Lucy just talks in my hands. She can be plummy and bell-like, she can growl, all points in between - and all done on the volumes and tones, using the same amp setting, no pedals. I get blues, rock, jazz, clean, pop, all of it in one guitar.

The 50s needed too much help, was worth X, and I wanted a 335

I have another Les Paul, a honey burst in a satin finish. That has "modern weight relief" so is loads lighter. That one is more of a "biting" Les Paul. Acoustically it doesn't have the "beef" the other two have/had. It's a great recording guitar for when you want a more "rock" thang. It has some build issues that would put some off in resale (the bridge, tailpiece, and pickups perfectly in line... but off centre on the body and neck!), but it plays fine, and it looks gorgeous. The 50s was likely to retire that one for me... but it didn't! Not even close.

We could talk about SGs too ()

Zoltan - yeah, that Les Pauls changing hands thing... I've heard that Les Pauls are funny things, when you find one you like it's "oh yeah" ... otherwise it's "it's alright, but..."

Most of us don't have the funds or access to try enough of them!

What got me a few months back was my "cheap" Gretsch Streamliner costing about a quarter of the Standard 50s, felt as well made and as yummy as the 50s - and it was working better for the stuff I'm playing at the moment. And the semi-acoustic vibe was re-awakening the longing for a Cherry 335 (let's not even discuss the black 335 I've had for years!)

And... btw... I've wondered about a Ritchie Blackmore strat!! But the AM Pro II, and the 50s roadworn, are close enough for when I want to play Highway Star or Lazy. And one of the reasons I love Lucy the Les Paul so much is she does that Ritchie Blackmore thing as well.

And the new 335 - the volume and tone controls have different profiles, so I have to adjust, but the guitar and pickups do the same as Lucy. It's FABULOUS.

[SteveB]

Standing against a backdrop of my current bête noire, these 4 Harley Benton variables cost roughly £700 UK. For that wedge you may get a decent MIM Fender or Epiphone or some-such. However, all 4 of these do the job they are designed for remarkably well, and certainly up to the satisfaction and playing-ability of this owner. Win-Win, eh? Yep, I do have Fender's, Squier's and others, possibly about 15 in all, but if I were put on the spot right now to choose just one to take with me to a desert island, it would be the HB semi-acoustic 335-style guitar. Just how the heck they produce something so decent at such a price-point is a puzzler – (though I'm sure there must be real turkeys as well. I've been lucky 4 times). 

[StephenM]

for when I want to play Highway Star

do you have a recording of that Andy?  I would love to hear it.

and to Steve B.'s note above... those all look nice... I have one HB, it is a PRS copy and I love it...

I think your photo above and Zoltans says we should all photo all our guitars and post it...lol
good luck to some of you.

[AndyR]

for when I want to play Highway Star

do you have a recording of that Andy?

     

Nah... Of course not!!!

Not the sort of thing I'd put the effort in to record.

Sounds quite good on this thing too:

[Jean Pierre]

When I was working, I had some in my flat in Lyon, the city where I worked, and another in Savoie, in the countryside where I'm now retired, and in my attic home studio, they're now all grouped together,

I read in the thread that there were 24....

..even my wife doesn't know how many guitars I have


At the last count I've just taken, there are 27 around me... including guitars and similar instruments (mandolin, banjo, ukulele, violin, autoharp, dulcimer...).

...but of all of them, the one I prefer is not the most beautiful, nor the most expensive, but a Harley Benton Telecaster clone, bought in kit form and assembled myself, for 88 euros (whereas I have a luthier's classical guitar costing more than 3000 euros).

Here's a photo (I found the photo taken with my computer's web cam quite amusing, against the light under the Velux window in my attic)




Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

[Mike_S]

Just a wee bit more context on the Harley Benton I am trying to get rid of, never really fell in love with. I have heard so many good things about HBs in general. A few negative too but not many. The main thing you do hear is they often need a pro set up , but again many have said they play well out of the box.

I know next to nothing about guitars in reality. I can change strings, adjust a truss rod but beyond that I don't really know what I am doing. I bought the HB LP at a very slightly reduced price as it was a returned item for whatever reason. But in their small text on the site they verify that these items have been inspected /checked etc and are good to go.

I was happy with that and went ahead with the purchase. On arrival to say the guitar was unplayable is being kind. You needed hands like Billy Gibbons to try and fret a note. Attempted to adjust action/ truss rod etc to little avail. Went out of tune very easily.

Ok so took it to a pro luthier about 50 miles away. He was a good guy. He upgraded the tuners and did a full set up. He did point out that the neck wasn't straight which I didn't notice. In fact when he pointed it out even to me it looked pretty off.

Well even after that I didn't gel with it. It doesn't stay in tune as long as my strats in my opinion and there's other things I don't even remember I am not a fan of. The plastic plate that covers the hole where you plug in the lead smashed easily and needed replacing with a decent metal one.

I suppose it is like even some relationships in life. It didn't work. But my main advice would be don't purchase anything off the bargain/returns section even if they say they have been checked / inspected etc. it's BL.

In saying this I think I equally learned I am not a Les Paul guy

Mike

[SteveB]

So a pic did follow... eventually

[imglink][/imglink]

I am revising my thought process. I actually spent about half an hour the other day taking photos of the strat on the right and when it came to it, my body would not allow me to post the guitar for sale online! A force within was too strong!

However. And I risk being relegated to division 2 on SC I have made the decision to get rid of the HB Les Paul on the left. I don't like it, never have. I looks nice for sure but it had problems from day 1. Poor set up... I then got it professionally set up, but it's simply just "ok" to me. It's not worth a lot but we live in small house so 4 or 5 axes is about my limit.

So it's done    ad is up

BUT... it will be replaced with a much finer upgrade... details will follow when the dirty deed is complete!

Mike
[/quote]

Mike, sorry to hear about your Harley Benton experience. I guess at the price they're charging it's gonna be a bit hit-&-miss as to what you get. Thankfully, the ones I've purchased have all been of a decent quality, build and sound-wise. This is the first LP-style guitar I've ever had, always been a Strat or Tele person, but boy, I'm a convert. Given how cheap these guitars are, for them to include, is it called 'coil-tapping'?, where you can use the humbucker or change to single coils – wow!! So much potential. Now, the reason that I've included your photo, is that, from my angle, the headstock on your HB LP looks as though it's angled-upwards away from the neck – can this be so? Look how the Strat headstocks seem to be a continuation of the fretboard, and then look at the LP. Maybe it's the angle of the photo or my old eyes, but it is certainly noticeable. If it's true, then no wonder you can't get it to play nice. Good luck with any future purchases.