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

**jpfeifer** · February 24th, 2011, 10:25 AM

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

**gregsguitars** · February 24th, 2011, 10:50 AM

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

**sunvalleylaw** · February 24th, 2011, 10:52 AM

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.

**Retro Hound** · February 24th, 2011, 11:40 AM

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

Eric*** · February 24th, 2011, 05:02 PM

Les Paul
Les Paul
Les Paul
Marshall

...oops. I wasn't supposed to do that, was I?

Tig*** · February 24th, 2011, 05:34 PM

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

**jpfeifer** · February 24th, 2011, 06:22 PM

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

**NWBasser** · February 24th, 2011, 06:33 PM

How 'bout this idea...

A bass!!:-)

**NWBasser** · February 24th, 2011, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by Eric

Les Paul
Les Paul
Les Paul
Marshall

...oops. I wasn't supposed to do that, was I?

Mmmmm, LP and Marshall. Sweetness.

bcdon*** · February 24th, 2011, 07:26 PM

Simple: Any guitar that you actually play.

**Katastrophe** · February 24th, 2011, 07:34 PM

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.

**Retro Hound** · February 24th, 2011, 07:44 PM

This is probably a ridiculously naive question, but what are the differences between a 335 and a 6120? Besides the brand of course.

**mapka** · February 24th, 2011, 07:47 PM

Telecastor
Stratocastor
P-90 (any)
Humbucker (any)
TV Jones Gretsch and a Richenbacher for those songs that need them!

**progrmr** · February 24th, 2011, 10:17 PM

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!!

piebaldpython*** · February 24th, 2011, 10:41 PM

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

**FusedGrooves** · February 24th, 2011, 11:28 PM

Yamaha SA2200....

Oh wait I already have one! bwahahaha

**Katastrophe** · February 25th, 2011, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by Retro Hound

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.

**MAXIFUNK** · February 25th, 2011, 05:20 PM

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

Spudman*** · February 25th, 2011, 09:00 PM

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

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