Your LAST guitar

I've always fancied a Bigsby, but being a lefty they are hard to get and super expensive here. Also never wanted to alter a guitar for one. I recently picked up a used lefty Les Trem on eBay and it is really great! I'd thoroughly recommend these for any stoptail instrument that you want to non-destructively test a trem system on.

 

Okay, here you go, guys.



TODAY I BOUGHT MY LAST GUITAR
(a song by Señor Sparquelito)

opening chorus
Today, I bought my last guitar
I'll buy my last guitar tomorrow
It seems like this paycheck never goes very far
And thus the source of all my sorrow

1st verse
So many guitars, all of them shiny
and me filled with constant craving
My desires are strong but my bank account tiny
so at my job I'll be toiling and slaving

2nd verse
Ain't no woman like the one I got
She's a good one, and a real looker
But curvy like a Telecaster she ought
to bring in more money, like a high-dollar hooker

Chorus
Today, I bought my last guitar
I'll buy my last guitar tomorrow
It seems like this paycheck never goes very far
And thus the source of all my sorrow

3rd verse
I don't think there's an end to this
I don't think it'll ever stop
I just bought a signature guitar from KISS
and I ordered a furry one like ZZ Top

Bridge
I'm starting to stumble and shake
Don't know how much more I can take
Money's running out, and there's no more space
but there's something brand new and shiny in this here guitar case

Chorus
Today, I bought my last guitar
I'll buy my last guitar tomorrow
It seems like this paycheck never goes very far
And thus the source of all my sorrow

coda

fin

 

Any strat or S-type object with quality noiseless pickups would do.

 

I got mine. Black EC Strat, telecaster, and a Les Paul Special.plus four acoustics and ukuleles.
I look, but I quit buying, I think.

 

Bravo, bravo!

 

sweet and golden!

 

My answer may puzzle some, but I have my reasons.
Of 14 guitars in my arsenal, I have always been most fond of Stratocaster first and foremost; and my Arctic White 2012 MIM Standard Strat specifically. This guitar has a Maple fretboard, and is decked. Only mod I have ever done was add two more trem springs, and a second string tree. It is my "go to" guitar no doubt.
I like it so much I bought a Candy Apple Red 2015 MIM Standard with Maple fretboard to modify into my one and only "floater". Obviously set up to float, with roller bridge saddles, and roller string trees, GraphTech Tusq nut. I added an aged pearloid pickgaurd and GFS Steel trem block. She is my "pretty girl".
And then earlier this year I traded two Epiphones (SG & Les Paul of the less expensive lines) to a buddy that collects Epi's for his 2014 MIM Standard Strat in Midnight Wine. Only mods are Mint Green pickgaurd, and aged white pickup covers, knobs, and switch tip. This one has a Rosewood fretboard and it is decked with 3 springs only.

So; my "last guitar" (believe it or not) would be a 2013 MIM Standard Strat (to fill in the '12, '14, and '15 gap) with a Rosewood fretboard (because I'd have two Maples and two Rosewoods), in Sunburst (because I don't have an electric guitar in any form of Sunburst). Not sure what they offered for Sunburst in 2013...2 color or 3 color, possibly Sierra...but I'd settle for any of them.

I'm a simple man. I like the Mexican Standards...and I will continue to keep my eyes open for that '13 Sunburst with Rosewood fretboard.

 

If I had to choose today, probably this (Guthrie Govan Charvel) although I likely won't be pulling the trigger any time soon.

 

I like the votes for ES-335. I once tried that, a gorgeous example and ended up with this showing up when I opened the box:



I'm still traumatized. Someday I will try again though.

 

I would buy an AM Strat and spend the rest of it on Guinness.

 

Wow, $3200, yeah that's steep unless it comes with a pill that lets you play like Govan.

 

LOL...yeah, that's the primary reason I've stayed away. I do keep an eye out for used models but thus far even those are listing at $2,500 minimum.

 

Man that sucks, does anyone know why LP type guitars have this issue and yet other style (like a tele or strat) don't ever seem to break there.

 

It's the headstock angle. Wood is very strong along the grain you create an area that goes across the grain. Worse, it's thin there too. So it's just inherently weaker. If you see carved curved table legs you can find plenty where they snapped right at the bend too. Same thing. See the pic below, you can mitigate that but even the 'strong' one is weakest right at that bend. Fender just doesn't have an angle and of course maple is harder wood than mahogany but the key is the angle of the headstock creating a weak spot. The upside is that it puts downward pressure on the nut and theoretically yields better sustain as a result.

PRS split the difference between Gibson and Fender (which was their entire design philosophy) and so they have a mahogany neck and headstock angle that is more than Fender but less than Gibson. They don't seem to break. Gibson just pushes it to the limit.

 

Gibson Les Paul. Likely a gold top...possibly with P90's...

 

I could sell all my guitars and just get an HSS Strat or equivalent. That covers most of the tones I want from an electric. I think I would want one of the old American Elites with the truss rod adjustment at the base of the neck. But I only have three electrics currently (Les Paul Studio, Am. Std. Strat and Squier Paranormal Toronado), so I think I’ll just get a Tele.

 

Since my lowly Squier bullet strat became #1 I havent given big ticket guitars much thought. Crazy eh?

 

Over the last 4 months I’ve sold off 8 guitars and bought 2.

if I could only buy one more, it would be the Waterloo AT arch top.

 

I think a white falcon would be my choice for a hollow body electric too. Never played one, just like the look and rockabilly style.

 

I have enough semi-hollows (3), a Tele, Jazzmaster, and a project hollowbody, so American Strat.