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Thread: What are the "must have" guitars for any collection?

  1. #1
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    Default What are the "must have" guitars for any collection?

    After playing for a number of years I'm starting to realize that there are a few inconic sounds that represent the best of what electric guitars have to offer. My playing tastes have changed slightly over the years so I'm becoming more aware of the tones that I didn't need before, and added these to my list of "gotta have it" tones.

    The one guitar that made me painfully aware of this list of "must have" tones is my Line6 Variax. This guitar was supposed to solve all of my GAS for new guitars, and not fuel them, but I'm finding that this guitar has taught me about those guitars that I've been missing from my collection that I should have some day.

    So with that. Here's my list of must-have guitars. These are the tones that I keep using on the Variax, time and again:

    - Fender Strat
    - Fender Tele
    - Gibson ES-335
    - Gretch 6120
    - Rickenbacher 360

    With these, you can cover just about every guitar tone that's ever been recorded in the past 40 years. Sadly, I don't own a real Tele, or 335, or Gretch or Ric. I find myself using the Tele sounds for so many things. I'm thinking that I may need to buy a real one someday, but then again, I don't own a real Gibson ES-335, or Gretch either, so I have some gaping holes in my "must-have" collection :-) More GAS, dang!!

    --Jim
    Electrics: Hamer Newport, Fender Clapton Strat, Ibanez AF86, Line6 Variax 700
    Acoustic Guitars: Taylor 514CE, Martin J40-M
    Dobro: Regal "Black Lightning Dobro"
    Mandolin: Morgan Monroe Mandolin
    Amps: Egnater Rebel 30, Vox AD120VTX, Roland Cube 60
    http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...?bandid=301718

  2. #2
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    60 era 335 or an Inspired by artist series 335 from GCS
    any ES 330, 345, etc.( hollow body)
    at least 1 Gretsh
    any pre 1970 Fender
    and pre 1965 Gibson acoustic j45,j50,LOO,Country Westerm,SJ
    any pre 1970 Martin
    Fender from 1989 to 1999
    Les paul from 1980 to 1999
    May all your days be memorable, all your friends stay true and all your riffs be killer....

  3. #3
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    Strat
    some humbucker guitar, either Lp or Semi
    Tele
    Hollowbody

    Those are the 4 points on my compass rose of tone. You can fill in with variation from there.
    Steve Thompson
    Sun Valley, Idaho


    Guitars: Fender 60th Anniversary Std. Strat, Squier CVC Tele Hagstrom Viking Semi-hollow, Joshua beach guitar, Martin SPD-16TR Dreadnought
    Amphs: Peavey Classic 30, '61 Fender Concert
    Effects and such: Boss: DS-1, CE-5, NS-2 and RC20XL looper, Digitech Bad Monkey, Korg AX1G Multi-effects, Berhinger: TU100 tuner, PB100 Clean Boost, Line 6 Toneport UX2, Electro Harmonix Little Big Muff Pi, DuhVoodooMan's Rabid Rodent Rat Clone, Zonkin Yellow Screamer Mk. II, MXR Carbon Copy Delay


    love is the answer, at least for most of the questions in my heart. . .
    - j. johnson

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    There's been a post on this before, but I can't find it.

    My worthless opinion:
    Strat
    Tele
    Les Paul
    Hollow or Semi-hollow
    Guitars: Epiphone Les Paul Ultra; pretty red Squier Acoustic;
    Amps: Vox VT30;
    Pedals: Dunlop Fuzz Face; Dunlop Crybaby Wah
    My kids have: Squier Affinity Stratocaster MII; Fender G-DEC; Squire Acoustic; Jay Turser Strat-copy, Roland Cube amp

    "I am a sworn enemy of the saccharine, and a believer in grace over karma." Bono 2001

  5. #5
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    Les Paul
    Les Paul
    Les Paul
    Marshall

    ...oops. I wasn't supposed to do that, was I?
    Quote Originally Posted by Spudman
    Does anyone read the original post?
    Guitars: Gibson LP Studio, MIA Fender Precision, Carvin C350
    Amps: Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 + Avatar B212 / Genzler 12-3, Acoustic B20
    Pedals: Pod HD500X, Diamond Compressor, Tech 21 VT Bass, Sonic Research Turbo Tuner

  6. #6
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    Good lists so far, even if I can't afford classics like Greg lists.

    I'll add only one guitar type/pickup, of which there are many models available...
    Something with P-90's. Heck, you can get them on all kinds of semi-hollows, LP's, Tele's, and on and on.
    Humbucker lovers who don't like single coils like Strat's and Tele's should give them a test run.

    "I was used to playing humbuckers, but after putting in a pair of custom Seymour Duncan P-90's into one of my '70 Deluxes, the resulting tone was a bit brighter, a little warmer, and more transparent than the humbuckers.
    But what I really like about them was there solid midrange, distorted creaminess, and their ability to still hold definition when put through an over-driven tube amp. I'll put with the hum any day to have my current tone." -Mike Ness

  7. #7
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    I'm with you on the P-90 suggestion.
    I have a P-90 equippped hollowbody and it covers some great sounds. These pickups sound very warm when they're turned down and then they have a fantastic bite when you turn them up. With distortion they just sound incredible. I'm a big P90 fan now.

    --Jim
    Electrics: Hamer Newport, Fender Clapton Strat, Ibanez AF86, Line6 Variax 700
    Acoustic Guitars: Taylor 514CE, Martin J40-M
    Dobro: Regal "Black Lightning Dobro"
    Mandolin: Morgan Monroe Mandolin
    Amps: Egnater Rebel 30, Vox AD120VTX, Roland Cube 60
    http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page...?bandid=301718

  8. #8
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    How 'bout this idea...










    A bass!!:-)

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    Quote Originally Posted by Eric View Post
    Les Paul
    Les Paul
    Les Paul
    Marshall

    ...oops. I wasn't supposed to do that, was I?
    Mmmmm, LP and Marshall. Sweetness.

  10. #10
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    Simple: Any guitar that you actually play.

  11. #11
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    All of these are "type" guitars, since there are different brands that can get close to each model:

    Les Paul
    Strat
    Tele
    335
    6120 (Gretsch)
    Firebird (NOT the X... but one with mini-hums)
    Reverend Club King (for the P90s)
    Ibanez/ESP/Jackson shredder

    With that list of guitars, and a Fender and a Marshall amph, you can cover just about all sonic territory.
    Guitars:
    Fender 2006 MIM Fender Stratocaster HSS in 3TS
    Ibanez RG 570 with a bridge Invader
    ESP M II Deluxe with a Tune-o-Matic bridge
    Eleanor, the magical, mystical Road Worn wonder Tele
    Blackstar HT Club 40

  12. #12
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    This is probably a ridiculously naive question, but what are the differences between a 335 and a 6120? Besides the brand of course.
    Guitars: Epiphone Les Paul Ultra; pretty red Squier Acoustic;
    Amps: Vox VT30;
    Pedals: Dunlop Fuzz Face; Dunlop Crybaby Wah
    My kids have: Squier Affinity Stratocaster MII; Fender G-DEC; Squire Acoustic; Jay Turser Strat-copy, Roland Cube amp

    "I am a sworn enemy of the saccharine, and a believer in grace over karma." Bono 2001

  13. #13
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    Telecastor
    Stratocastor
    P-90 (any)
    Humbucker (any)
    TV Jones Gretsch and a Richenbacher for those songs that need them!
    Guitars: '06 Les Paul Classic Goldtop, '07 SG classic, '79 ES335TD Blond, '88 Telecaster, '08 Custom Shop Strat 57 NOS, Framus '69 Goucho Acoustic, '72 Framus Caravelle hollow body, '09 Hagstrom Swede, '10 Ibanez AG95 and '69 Heit

    Amps: Fender Blues Deluxe Tweed, Marshall JCM 900 50W full stack, Roland Cube 20XL and '69 Checkmate!

    Pedals: (all DVM) Tremolo, "Rabid Rodent" distortion, "Zonkin Yellow Screamer" OD/Boost, "Gee Ain't That Swell" volume swell, and "Mega Muff" fuzz

  14. #14
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    A full hollow
    A semi-hollow
    A Strat
    A metal/shred machine
    A vintage guitar of some flavor
    A two-humbucker guitar
    An acoustic
    A tele
    And a claasical guitar

    I need more room for guitars!!
    Dave
    Guitars: Ibanez AF-75, Schecter Solo-6 Custom, Douglas SG
    Amps: Fender Princeton 65, Marshall AVT50
    Pedals: Metal Muff, MXR Smart Gate, EHX Cathedral Reverb, Digitech RP-255

  15. #15
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    It's not so much different guitars that count.....it's different pups that are good at different things.
    Strats
    Teles
    P-90s
    Buckers
    CC Rider

  16. #16
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    Yamaha SA2200....

    Oh wait I already have one! bwahahaha

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Retro Hound View Post
    This is probably a ridiculously naive question, but what are the differences between a 335 and a 6120? Besides the brand of course.
    335s tend to sound more mellow, and are great for jazz and blues, at least to my ears. A 6120 is all about the rebel rockabilly twang. For the difference, look up Larry Carlton for 335 tones, and Brian Setzer for 6120 tones.

    "That Great Gretsch Sound" is unique, and is a different type of twang as compared to what you get from a Tele or from a P90 equipped guitar.
    Guitars:
    Fender 2006 MIM Fender Stratocaster HSS in 3TS
    Ibanez RG 570 with a bridge Invader
    ESP M II Deluxe with a Tune-o-Matic bridge
    Eleanor, the magical, mystical Road Worn wonder Tele
    Blackstar HT Club 40

  18. #18
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    Ibanez SR and SR Prestige Bass

    Strat SSS and HSS
    Tele thineline P90's and HS
    LP HH
    Nighthawk HSH
    semi-hollow dream axe would be Gibson Cs-336
    Taylor T-3 & T-5
    Maxi...................

    Bootsy Collins:
    I pledge allegiance to the funk, the whole funk, and nothing but the funk, so help me James, Sly and George, Amen!!

    Guitars: 2010 American Special HSS Strat, 2010 CIC Squire CV ThinLine Tele, & 2006 MIM FSR Strat.

    Basses: 1979 Peavey T-40, 2007 Ibanez SR 500, 2013 Ibanez SR375F, 2013 CIJ Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, 2014 Sadowsky Will Lee VI, & 2014 Sadowsky Will Lee Metro V

    Amps: Mesa Boogie BASS STRATEGY:Eight:88, Aguliar DB 4X12, Augilar DB 751, Genz Benz CTR500-210T/Focus 1X15 CAB, Fender Hot Rod Deville 410, VHT Deliverance 60/VHT 2X12 fat Bottom Cab, & VOX DA20

    Effects: Boss ME-25, MXR Custom Baddass 78, MXR Custom Baddass modified O.D., Vox Joe Satriani Satchurator, MXR Phase 90, MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe/Octave Deluxe/Bass Compressor/Envelope Filter/, Way Huge Pork Loin

  19. #19
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    Everyone needs a Musicman in their stable. It will turn into a horse that gets ridden a lot.

    "No Tele For you." - The Tele Nazi

    Ha! Tele-ish now inbound.

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