Why am I not satisfied with my guitars?

**Fritzjazz** · 06-21-2011, 01:46 PM

Why am I not satisfied with the guitars I have? Why haven't I found "that sound" I crave. Why am I constantly looking for that one more guitar to make me complete?

I've been very lucky, been in the right place at the right time, had a good paying job for many years and remained un attached, no wife or children til recently so over the years I've amassed a little collection.

I'd call them mostly "B" guitars-just a step away from the real jewels:

-I have a '70 Gibson L-5CES- a beauty but alas during the Norlin period., 76 Johnny Smith, 59 ES330T, 2 American strats, a custom color ash tele, ES-165, '37 Gibson L-12, A decent nylon string etc etc. probably 20 or so.

But I can't seem to be satisfied. I keep them in a temp & humidity controlled room, in their cases except I keep one archtop, one electric and one acoustic out each month to play. One month they sound great and I wonder why I would want any other guitar, then the next time I take the same guitar out I find it lacking.

I'm really considering a Sadowsky JH right now, I like the 25" scale and 1-3/4" nut.

Wonder why they sometimes sound grat and other times sound ehh. Is it the guitar or my ears?

Any body else have this problem

Thanks,
Fritz

**JohnW400** · 06-21-2011, 02:15 PM

What's wrong with the Johnny Smith?

**MortenFaerestrand** · 06-21-2011, 02:19 PM

If you're not completely happy with ANY of your guitars, maybe you should try to solve it by changing something else? I've had similar experiences, one of the most important things that solved it for me was the pick...! I tried everything, and ended up with a really thick red bear pick, to me that solved everything really.

And of course, what amp you use also is important...

**ESCC** · 06-21-2011, 02:23 PM

Yes, and it's because we're human.

I made a decision a long time ago that I am best served by having only one wife while having multiple relationships with guitars.

**Kman** · 06-21-2011, 02:26 PM

I'm often dissatified with my guitars and sound, but then I realize it's my playing that is the underlying problem.

**andyhoey1** · 06-21-2011, 02:29 PM

First of all, you have some GREAT guitars! A Gibson '70 L-5CES and a Johnny Smith not great?? Come on dude, seriously. Don't be so hard on yourself. Maybe like Morten said, you need to change something else: an amp, a pedal, a pick etc.
Oh also, I have played and am currently awaiting an ordered Jim Hall Sadowsky. I think they are fantastic, IMHO. But the scale length is 24 3/4" not 25" (see Sadowsky website) just so you are comfortable with that scale length.

Andy

**Pierrot** · 06-21-2011, 02:37 PM

If you decide to part with the Johnny Smith for less than 1K, please pm me.

**Bill C** · 06-21-2011, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by Fritzjazz

I'm really considering a Sadowsky JH right now, I like the 25" scale and 1-3/4" nut.

24.75" scale iirc

**msr13** · 06-21-2011, 02:57 PM

When you say you find the guitars lacking, what do you mean? I get that sometimes they sound great, but when they don't, what are you feeling or hearing? What is the gap?

There are lots of things to change before changing guitars. Strings, picks, amps, pickups, getting a different set-up, etc.

**bborzell** · 06-21-2011, 03:13 PM

Maybe you should ask your guitars how they feel about you?

(Waiting to see how long it takes for someone to mention that , "It's not the arrow, it's the Indian")

**Flatwound12** · 06-21-2011, 03:25 PM

Originally Posted by Fritzjazz

Why am I not satisfied with the guitars I have? Why haven't I found "that sound" I crave. Why am I constantly looking for that one more guitar to make me complete?

I've been very lucky, been in the right place at the right time, had a good paying job for many years and remained un attached, no wife or children til recently so over the years I've amassed a little collection.

I'd call them mostly "B" guitars-just a step away from the real jewels:

-I have a '70 Gibson L-5CES- a beauty but alas during the Norlin period., 76 Johnny Smith, 59 ES330T, 2 American strats, a custom color ash tele, ES-165, '37 Gibson L-12, A decent nylon string etc etc. probably 20 or so.

But I can't seem to be satisfied. I keep them in a temp & humidity controlled room, in their cases except I keep one archtop, one electric and one acoustic out each month to play. One month they sound great and I wonder why I would want any other guitar, then the next time I take the same guitar out I find it lacking.

I'm really considering a Sadowsky JH right now, I like the 25" scale and 1-3/4" nut.

Wonder why they sometimes sound grat and other times sound ehh. Is it the guitar or my ears?

Any body else have this problem

Thanks,
Fritz

I think what you need is a Guild Artist Award or a Gibson Le Grande

**larry graves** · 06-21-2011, 03:53 PM

Hi. I've been playing guitar for 56yrs. I know what you mean, one day the guitar plays like a dream, three weeks later it sounds like crap, what do you do? you change your string gauge,the pick size then a new guitar. Life's sweet again. Then it starts all over again, the pick doesn't feel right the strings dont feel or sound right. It's not the guitar that's the problem ( unless it's a badly set up 5os orange box ) it's definitely the player,it's called form,or the lack of it! golfers go through putters at an alarming rate because of it, people are making fortune out of it. I friend who played violin at the Phil said his 17c Italian masterpiece sounded like a plywood copy and his hands felt like lead at times, I asked him how he coped, he said he just played through it. I hope this has shed some light on the problem. It works for me .LG..

**djelley** · 06-21-2011, 03:57 PM

Is it really that you find them lacking, or just that you like acquiring new guitars? (a.k.a. "GAS"). I like to joke about GAS, but I honestly have a bit of a problem. I can't stop buying new guitars. Its not that I don't like the ones that I have, I just always want another.

I have probably bought and sold well over a hundred and really need to find a way to stop!

**jazzphan** · 06-21-2011, 03:58 PM

sounds like "the hedonic treadmill effect"

the more you obtain, the less satisfying each new acquisition is.

**andyhoey1** · 06-21-2011, 04:06 PM

What does G.A.S. stand for? (Pardon my ignorance)

**msr13** · 06-21-2011, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by andyhoey1

What does G.A.S. stand for? (Pardon my ignorance)

Guitar (Gear) Acquisition Syndrome

**Steve Z** · 06-21-2011, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by Kman

I'm often dissatified with my guitars and sound, but then I realize it's my playing that is the underlying problem.

Hey, that is me exactly. I have had many great guitars only to finally realize that everyone else sounds much better playing them. I have now sold most everything and ended up with a G&L ASAT Classic that is my main player... at home playing that is. I still long for those nice archtops though...

**andyhoey1** · 06-21-2011, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by msr13

Guitar (Gear) Acquisition Syndrome

Ahh yes, I have that too!

**NSJ** · 06-21-2011, 05:14 PM

When I'm ( irrationally) upset with my guitar, I usually find that what I'm really dissatisfied with is my playing, and no amount of gear will instantly solve that. As someone says here, it's not the instrument, but ye old "time on the instrument" that is the solution.

**msr13** · 06-21-2011, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by NSJ

When I'm ( irrationally) upset with my guitar, I usually find that what I'm really dissatisfied with is my playing, and no amount of gear will instantly solve that. As someone says here, it's not the instrument, but ye old "time on the instrument" that is the solution.

First of all, I wholeheartedly agree with the point of view and feel it describes my buying/ selling challenge to the "t". And, I also believe that sometimes a change in "scenery" can re-inspire practicing, music making, and focus. For example, I just changed the string gauge on one of my guitars and it feels great. I've learned two new songs as I reacquaint with the guitar. Minor, subtle changes can have big affects on mitigating GAS and inspiring "time with the instrument", to quote Pierre.

Mind you, I suck when it comes to discipline, so...

**gary mitchell** · 06-21-2011, 05:23 PM

Go by a really junk guitar and a first act amp, play it 6 mo. Then go back and play your guitars. You might be surprise. I agree with NSJ when I start feeling that way, it means I am getting bored with my playing ability.

**SamBooka** · 06-21-2011, 06:07 PM

Go back to basics. Try all your archtops and find the one that sounds best and play it. When it starts to sound meh... change your pick! When that stops working try a different brand/style of strings.

I dont think there is anything wrong with you. You just get bored. We all do eventually. Its normal.

**mambosun** · 06-21-2011, 06:22 PM

Originally Posted by Fritzjazz

Why am I not satisfied with the guitars I have? Why haven't I found "that sound" I crave. Why am I constantly looking for that one more guitar to make me complete?

I've been very lucky, been in the right place at the right time, had a good paying job for many years and remained un attached, no wife or children til recently so over the years I've amassed a little collection.

I'd call them mostly "B" guitars-just a step away from the real jewels:

-I have a '70 Gibson L-5CES- a beauty but alas during the Norlin period., 76 Johnny Smith, 59 ES330T, 2 American strats, a custom color ash tele, ES-165, '37 Gibson L-12, A decent nylon string etc etc. probably 20 or so.

But I can't seem to be satisfied. I keep them in a temp & humidity controlled room, in their cases except I keep one archtop, one electric and one acoustic out each month to play. One month they sound great and I wonder why I would want any other guitar, then the next time I take the same guitar out I find it lacking.

I'm really considering a Sadowsky JH right now, I like the 25" scale and 1-3/4" nut.

Wonder why they sometimes sound grat and other times sound ehh. Is it the guitar or my ears?

Any body else have this problem

Thanks,
Fritz

Did you ever consider playing piano?

**Fritzjazz** · 06-21-2011, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by JohnW400

What's wrong with the Johnny Smith?

Nothing's wrong with the Johnny Smith. Its a 1977 so from the Norlin period. Its a blonde and spotless. The frets are real wide though sort of makes it hard to play for some reason. I have it strung with T.I. George Benson .012s, round wound with a flatwound .058 low E. One time I take it out of the case and it barks and growls and sings so sweetly, the next time it sounds clinky. But I'm sure its me. It did take a long time to open up, it was a dog when I first got it 34 years ago.

I was lucky to get it though- my L-5 was stolen (which I bought used, cheap). The insurance company paid new retail price to replace the L-5. I went to the big guitar store in DC and played Gibsons whole archtop line up and left with the JS and $600 in my pocket (Ins Co had paid retail). Ten years later the L-5 shows up at the local guitar store, I walked in, saw it and came back with the paper work (receipt and police report). I walked out with the L-5, called the Ins Co to buy it from them, they said "case is closed, you keep it". So for the price that I paid for the used L-5 ($600 back then), I got The L-5 back, the Johnny Smith and $600 in my pocket. "right place, right time".

Thanks,
Fritzjazz

**rictroll** · 06-21-2011, 11:55 PM

From what I see from your original post the problem is that you are not spending enough time with any of these instruments to really establish a relationship with any one of them. It takes time - lots of time - to understand the character of an instrument and to learn how to interact with it. You are not doing yourself or the instruments any favors by playing them for only a month at a time.

It's not unlike a woman - you need to invest and commit.