The Great Pick/Gear Debate and the Value of the Additional Cost

[Spudman***]

Strum's topic was picks and OTHER over priced gear. What I can't understand is the ridiculous price of some of the straps that people are buying. I guess they're the same ones who buy overpriced jeans that already worn out and $30,000+ vehicles to get 5 more miles to gallon or even RELICED GUITARS.

Just my two cents (make it 5 with inflation.)

I agree with this. The Van Halen Peavey straps are a little overboard at $150.

[tot_Ou_tard]

I'll sell you a relic'd Vpick for $6 .

[marnold***]

This discussion reminds me how "personal" playing guitar is. Bass players, drummers, keyboard players, just don't seem to have this emotional/personal attachment to the instrument. I've watched a zillion jams over the years and have never seen a guitar player borrow an axe to join the jam. Yet bass players often do, drummers, keyboard guys always. I've seen all kinds of singers join a jam, have never seen one bring there own mic. So.... all these little things like choice of picks, strings (Strums fave subject), pickups etc.. are part of the phenomenon.

I'll agree that in my limited experience that bass players tend to be more laid back about these sorts of things, but just peruse the TalkBass forums sometime and you'll see GAS and related insanities are alive and well in the bass world. Post a thread about whether SX basses are any good or not, sit back, and watch the show.

[Plank_Spanker]

The only person a player's gear has to please is the player - be it over the top, boutique, expensive, cheap, or "spark-o-matic". If the player feels good about his gear, it's all good........................even if the player is playing a '59 Les Paul with $300 cables through a Super Skull Splitter spark-o-matic amp.

A player needs only to justify his gear to himself.

[R_of_G]

Cheap does not equal inferior.

Words of wisdom right there Spud.

I have two friends that are professional musicians, both of whom have owned dozens of guitars and played hundreds of others ranging from the super-cheap to the super-boutique. Both of them insist that my $125 Squire Strat is one of the best-playing Strats they've ever picked up.

As far as other gear goes, it's all dependent on what it is you're actually looking for in a sound. I have a lot of affinity for some bands with a very lo-fi sound. If they were more polished and clean, they wouldn't appeal to me at all. This is not the case with everything I listen to, but it makes the point that not everybody is looking for the same clarity in their sound.

[Spudman***]

The only person a player's gear has to please is the player - be it over the top, boutique, expensive, cheap, or "spark-o-matic". If the player feels good about his gear, it's all good........................even if the player is playing a '59 Les Paul with $300 cables through a Super Skull Splitter spark-o-matic amp.

A player needs only to justify his gear to himself.

You are a sage. Very nicely put.:

ps. where do I find this Super Skull Splitter Spark-o-matic?

[SuperSwede]

ps. where do I find this Super Skull Splitter Spark-o-matic?

You dont have one??? What kind of collector are you??

[just strum]

Strum, I think you need to get past gear issues and just focus on playing your guitar. It doesn't really matter what something costs. That is for the consumer to decide. If something bugs you then look at what doesn't bug you and pick up your guitar and play. That's really what matters most. Change your focus and improve your playing.

No, I don't have a gear issue as you see it. I am questioning the value of various gear as it relates to the end product/results. Having a gear issue would be someone that wets themselves every time they buy something that is even remotely related to the guitar.

I guess because I don't drool over the same product, I therefore am not following the forum line. Expressing anything outside of the "accepted" then becomes the unacceptable and an attempt to shut down the "DISCUSSION" follows.

I question a product and you attack my practice habits?

It's just a discussion about why and why not a product or products might be worth the value.

[ShortBuSX]

I guess because I don't drool over the same product, I therefore am not following the forum line. Expressing anything outside of the "accepted" then becomes the unacceptable and an attempt to shut down the "DISCUSSION" follows.

I respect you more and more everyday it seems. :

Im diggin the whole cost vs value topic.
But in the case of Squiers, you can let low cost dictate value...they really are great guitars and Id even go as far as to say underpriced.
But conversely a $4 pick or $150 strap doesnt dictate value either.

[bigoldron]

Guys, take a chill pill. It's just a discussion topic, not a presidential debate. Remember, Santa Claus is watching you!!!

[Katastrophe]

See, I tend to make my vote with my wallet. I simply don't buy items that seem overinflated for the job that they do.

A $5,000.00 PRS? Probably won't buy one, no matter how well they play.

A $500.00-600.00 PRS SE model? You bet, because they play great and are solid, well built guitars.

Others may disagree, and state that the higher price is justified for them. That's cool, it just ain't for me.

I play the picks that I play because I've tried a bunch of different thicknesses and materials over the years, and the ones that I like work best for me.

HOWEVER....

If I find a product that does its job so well, and is more durable than the competition, but is priced higher, I may save a little extra to afford that product.

In other words, I can see myself playing on a Squier (or an Epi, or an SX, et cetera) with other, more expensive equipment if the product does what I want it to do. It's all about function.

[just strum]

I'm dropping out, not worth discussing.

[LagrangeCalvert]

I respect you more and more everyday it seems. :
Im diggin the whole cost vs value topic.

So why don't we as a forum create a venue or a topic threat that is sticky'd to the top of the page where WE ALL can rate how we feel the cost VS value?

[Andy]

I believe there is a difference between an epi and a gibson , and a xavier and a tele. however unless a person is at the point of being hindered or held back in some way by the cheaper guitar ,amp picks ,strings it's not really going to help them much to get the expensive stuff.other than to have something that stays in tune a little better or plays and sounds better.
or makes them feel better.

contrary to popular beliefe,you can still learn and play on a cheaper guitar

I always compare it to golf

when you are a pro golfer than a high end expensive club will give you that slight advantage because you are at the level to reap the benefits of that high caliber club. if you are just a beginner or intermediate player than that club will probably not make much difference at all.

but that doesn't mean a person should not buy what they want , if they have the money and are not putting their finances in a bind than go for it.why not. you have earned it

[Tone2TheBone]

I'm dropping out, not worth discussing.

Heck I play both cheap and not so cheap and I don't even know what a V pick is how do you think I feel!

*goes to google*

[marnold***]

I always compare it to golf

when you are a pro golfer than a high end expensive club will give you that slight advantage because you are at the level to reap the benefits of that high caliber club. if you are just a beginner or intermediate player than that club will probably not make much difference at all.

An excellent comparison. I remember hearing some of my wife's relatives talking about how much they spent on golf balls. I started laughing, thinking that it was some of the stupid one-upsmanship that her cousins could get into. About 1/2 second later I realized that they were all dead serious. I'm stunned at the amount of money they spend on golf gear and that's not even considering green fees.

I was considering saying that at least with guitars you don't have to wear stupid clothes, but then I thought of some of my favorite guitarists in the 80s . . .

[tjcurtin1]

I've really enjoyed all of the responses to this thread - but I don't feel that anyone has tried to provide THE answer to Strum's question, or intended to do so. Please, step back and take a breath - don't let a discussion about $4 picks cost anyone a Fret friendship that is worth a lot more than that! The cameraderie here has been worth more to me than most of my (inexpensive tho it be!) gear.

[peachhead***]

Yes, I believe there are some things that are just overpriced...but who is to say what is really overpriced as long as people are willing to spend the money to get it?
I may not think an italian leather strap is worth $150, so I wouldn't buy it. But I've never spent five hours on stage playing with a 10 pound LP hanging off my shoulder. Someone else here may already have one, and would not want to be without it.

$4 for a pick seems a bit high but I'm curious enough to try to get one just to see. Of course if I don't like it then I'll be irritated I spent $4 on the thing, but that's life.

I guess my point is, value is relative to the consumer.

Now I don't really know if I answered the question or not.

[street music]

An excellent comparison. I remember hearing some of my wife's relatives talking about how much they spent on golf balls. I started laughing, thinking that it was some of the stupid one-upsmanship that her cousins could get into. About 1/2 second later I realized that they were all dead serious. I'm stunned at the amount of money they spend on golf gear and that's not even considering green fees.

I was considering saying that at least with guitars you don't have to wear stupid clothes, but then I thought of some of my favorite guitarists in the 80s . . .

Man does this hit home- since I play golf and attempt to play to guitar with about the same amount of skills. I've never had a lot of $$$$$$ and I grew up working hard for $$$$ all my life. So I never have been one to spend huge dollars for something that I could a similar or like item at a lower price. I'm still quite a learning guitar player but have several friends who have MUCHO DOLLARS invested in gear who are very impressed when they play my cheap guitars through good amps. The same goes for when I'm playing golf- I have a set of clubs that are copy cats of Callaway clubs that cost 5 times as much. I can hit the ball just as straight and far as my friend does with his set of BIG BERTHA clubs. I think my point is we all have reasons for buying what we like and there may be visible or audible differences to each ear and eye. I'm glad to see this information shared and I have learned a lot from these discussions on this site. I have heard changes in tone from changing picks all though some are not very noteable. Will I pay $4 for a pick? The answer is Yes! Why? To give it a try and see what or if there is a difference. I hope that we all continue to express our opinions and report our findings.: