How many guitars should a guitarist have?

Question

I'm okay on the guitar and bought a cheapy stratocaster for £50, but i've seen this gibson les paul for £100, it's so much better. I don't know if i should buy it or not, i've been playing for 5 months or so. what do i do?

i mean one or more?

Answer 1

It depends on the guitarist. Someone who gigs a lot or records professionally is going to need a lot more choice than a beginner guitarist.
It would also depend on the quality both of sound that you get from a guitar. If you believe that the guitar you use at present has outlived its tuition stage and you believe it is limiting your sound and ability as a guitarist then go for it. You say you are an 'okay' guitarist it may be worth getting another guitar, especially seen as you are committed to your guitar playing.
See if you can try out the Les Paul guitar in the shop, as all guitar shops usually allow you to do, and also try it with different amplifiers and settings. Play some different styles of music on it (rock, jazz, pop, classical...) and see how it handles. Compare closely to your Stratocaster and see if it is truly any better.
Trust me you will usually find that guitars have a 'personality', and different guitars will be suited to different types of playing. This is where a couple of spares comes in useful.
Another consideration is travelling. I've learned the hard way that it's a good idea to have a travelling instrument and one that stays at home. If you got the Les Paul then you could easily do this.
At the end of the day if you feel that another guitar is what you need then go for it. You could even store the Stratocaster away for any children you decide to have, or have already but are too young.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Save up for a real american usa strat or a mexican strat, unless you have the real deal you wouldn't see much of a difference in sound, Tokai love rock les pauls are cool, they have beefier double pick ups for a more distorted sound ala gary moore, slash, the single coil pickup strats are great for clear glistening sounds like dire straits Mark knopfler, shadows, etc i would just keep 1 guitar and think about saving for a bigger amp, maybe a Line 6 Spider 111, modelling amp, those are cool for £149 from "imuso" online.

Answer 4

I guess it's not a real Gibbo for that money. But buy it anyway, you might find you like it better. And if you like it better, you'll play it better. I reckon you should have as many guitars as you can fit under the bed / on top of the wardrobe, plus the one you're playing. That'll be about twenty, then!!!

Answer 5

Do you wanna waste your money for a gibson les paul??? But do what you want. If the guitar is bad condition then but a new one.

Answer 6

Get the best you can afford.Time will tell you you need a better guitar as you become a better player.You'll realise the current guitar your using really is crap no matter how good you thought it was. My preference is my trusty U.S.Standard Telecaster.

Answer 7

If it's a true Les Paul then it's a bargain and you should snap it up. Keep them both and do what my son does and have them tuned differently for different styles of music.

Answer 8

Unless you can't get it another time (unlikely considering Les Pauls are such bestsellers!) then I think maybe stick with the Strat until you've got to a point it's going to make a bigger difference (I don't know how fast you learn but I'd say after a year or so maybe!)

Answer 9

Hey mate you are going to get so much slavers in these replies, its just not true.

For 50 or a hundred you are not going to notice much difference.

5 months isn't long so I don't think you should be thinking about changing ANYTHING yet.

And when you do want to change, go to a good music shop and try a few different guitars.

Answer 10

Buy the LES PAUL,keep them both,keep on playing and practising.