Could owning a cheap guitar subconciously alter your potential?

Whisperer · June 7th, 2008, 09:45 PM

Well it may be a silly question, but you know, it just kind of occured to me as I was considering buying an SX Tele- style guitar.

Is it possible that your brain may equate "cheap guitar" to "limiting playing potential"?

hmmm....

RickG501 · June 7th, 2008, 10:02 PM

I'm sure even SRV had plenty of cheap guitars...

e-merlin · June 7th, 2008, 10:07 PM

If it's subconcious, how would you know?

Rufus · June 7th, 2008, 10:24 PM

"DUDE !!!"

"Sweet axe !!"

Uh... wrong thread, sorry.

Tim Armstrong · June 7th, 2008, 10:29 PM

Naw...

Cheers, Tim

octatonic · June 7th, 2008, 10:32 PM

Cheap guitar, no.

A bad guitar can but there are less bad guitars out there on a percentage basis than there used to be.
When I was learning a guitar usually meant the tuners didn't stay in tune, the action was weirdly high and other issues.
These days you can get much better guitars for almost nothing.

I have one student who has a $150 Burwood strat.
It really isn't a great sounding guitar, but it sounds ok, stays in tune and has a reasonable action.

Flat357 · June 7th, 2008, 10:53 PM

Most players , with the exception of the very lucky , start with budget guitars .
When they progress , and find a style they like , they will often pursue a guitar that is more inclined to offer the results they seek , and those choices are often made after viewing the choices of instrument used by those who inspire them .

A cheap guitar now , is generally better than a cheap guitar of yester year , as octatonic rightly mentioned , but even a cheap guitar can be made better by a good set up and a few replacement parts .

The most important aspect is generally the neck , as that's usually what makes one guitar a preferred choice over another , and will also dictate how the action can be set , and how playable it will be towards the style of choice .
Unfortunately , it doesn't just stop at the guitar .

Getting a particular sound from an amp / simulator etc will also dictate what you can and can't do too , and an inspired sound will lead to inspired playing .

boneyguy · June 7th, 2008, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rufus

"DUDE !!!"

"Sweet axe !!"

Uh... wrong thread, sorry.

Ah ha ha!!

Congratulations on 2,000,000 posts Rufus.

casterway · June 7th, 2008, 11:52 PM

Did somebody say cheap? This calls for more Seasick Steve!!

Cheap.

Guitar_Ninja · June 8th, 2008, 12:36 AM

I actually think a cheaper guitar that's a little harder to play can be a good thing for a beginner, since it forces you to really get your technique down to overcome its shortcomings. Within reason obviously, but my first guitar buzzed up and down the neck if I didn't play pristinely. It took a lot of control on my part to prevent that buzzing, and it forced me to really get my fingerings down.

Of course it depends a lot on the player. While my guitar's shortcomings motivated me to get better and overcome them there are other people who would likely have become frustrated by it, possibly even to the point of giving up trying to learn. YMMV.

beep.click · June 8th, 2008, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whisperer

Is it possible that your brain may equate "cheap guitar" to "limiting playing potential"?

My brain wouldn't, because I get good sounds out of cheap guitars. Quite often, there are tones that I get on the cheapies that I haven't been able to wrest out of my expensive ones.

LameLefty · June 8th, 2008, 12:49 AM

Au contraire! My Martin acoustics range in MSRP from around $399 (LX Black) all the way up to over $6,000 (000-42 sunburst). My most expensive electric was my Epi Dot (all of $15 more than my MIM Standard Tele).

My playing sucks just the same amount no matter which one I'm playing. :)

bowlfreshener · June 8th, 2008, 10:50 AM

No, if anything I find the cheap guitars these days open up my potential because many of them are surprisingly good, so I want to play more in order to justify getting more guitars. Plus its a cheap guitar so you could potentially take it anywhere with you and not have to stress too much if something should happen to it. I have ordered 2 guitars from Rondo in the past few weeks, and have been amazed by the quality. Your experiences may vary, but most people feel the same way.

Five Finger Fender Fiend · June 8th, 2008, 11:07 AM

Quote:

If it's subconcious, how would you know?

Good answer...!!

woodman · June 8th, 2008, 11:43 AM

a cheap guitar isn't necessarily a crappy guitar. it's a great way to learn what you want to seek when you can afford to get into a more expensive and (hopefully) a better one.

alter your potential? no -- your potential is what it is. it's up to you to make it real, on whatever guitar you're playing.

Telarkaster · June 8th, 2008, 11:53 AM

I agree with Guitar Ninja: it might even make you a better player, depending on the person.

It should be good enough to actually play so one can't blame the guitar if it sounds bad, but rough enough to make the player concentrate and motivate the student to learn enough to "deserve" a nicer guitar. It should also be nice enough and cool looking so that the student looks at the guitar and wants to pick it up.

A 12 year old kid with a Gibson Les Paul is just wrong...

I say all this assuming the player is a student. If an experienced player claims he can't play on a cheaper guitar, then he's just a snob!

I get less nervous playing a cheap guitar than I do when I play a $3000 ES-335, so cheap guitars have their advantages...

RickG501 · June 8th, 2008, 11:59 AM

First time I've seen Seasick Steve...

I like it!!!!

CatfishStudios · June 8th, 2008, 12:03 PM

The quality of my instruments, has coincided with my increase in ability and skill. I dont think having a cheap guitar would negatively affect ones advancement. A low quality instrument is another story. If the thing wont stay in tune, and is very hard to play, one is likely to not play it as much..which would affect the amount of time it takes to advance. Cheap no longer means horrible quality.

tristanavakian · June 8th, 2008, 12:25 PM

Sometimes boutique tone and good chops get in the way.... I have a Danelectro I pick up when a part is starting to sound too slick and accomplished. I call it the "Indie-izer"... it degrades whatever you're playing instantly, to good effect.... nice contrast to the Tom Anderson and the PRS.

Jimmy Page used a Harmony on the first album, and a Supro... He was unwilling to throw down big bux (by 1960's standards) until the band had some success... sensible attitude.

imwjl · June 8th, 2008, 01:01 PM

That would depend upon the individual. I think of a guy who's close to and sometimes a street person who has showed up at some area acoustic jams. His beat up damaged inexpensive Yamaha guitar doesn't stop him from from playing fast, creatively, transposing well, improvising, singing and generally making the people worth thousands of $ on the hoof look bad.

I lived with one so so guitar for decades before I got a few nice guitars and think I was wise for my not spending when the money wasn't there so that sort of thing weighs on me but not on others.

Solcat · June 8th, 2008, 01:49 PM

Some people own nice guitar, that stays in the case because you are afraid of nicking it, and mostly play a cheap guitar that stays in a stand ready to use on a moments notice.

Tim Armstrong · June 8th, 2008, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by octatonic

Cheap guitar, no.

A bad guitar can but there are less bad guitars out there on a percentage basis than there used to be.
When I was learning a guitar usually meant the tuners didn't stay in tune, the action was weirdly high and other issues.
These days you can get much better guitars for almost nothing.

I absolutely agree.

I have three electric guitars, two of which are expensive classic vintage guitars (1966 Telecaster, 1968 Guild Starfire III), and one inexpensive one (Indonesian-made Epiphone LP Junior with a few upgrades). I have less than $200 in the Epi, but it's a damned good guitar!

I think trying to get better on a cheap guitar that's NOT a good guitar (or ANY guitar that's hard to play) can be an exercise in futility...

Cheers, Tim

surfoverb · June 8th, 2008, 02:08 PM

I had a dream I was being chased by a cheap guitar. What does that mean?

So if a cheap guitar taps into my subconscious crappy playing does that mean an expensive guitar taps into my full potential? What's that saying, "Hope is the last thing to die"

Whisperer · June 8th, 2008, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e-merlin

If it's subconcious, how would you know?

Probably by the sounds you are hearing!
I thought the question deserved to be considered.

gtech · June 8th, 2008, 05:03 PM

I prefer a good cheap guitar to a bad expensive guitar...

June 7th, 2008, 09:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Whisperer Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: . Age: 40 Posts: 280	Could owning a cheap guitar subconciously alter your potential? Well it may be a silly question, but you know, it just kind of occured to me as I was considering buying an SX Tele- style guitar. Is it possible that your brain may equate "cheap guitar" to "limiting playing potential"? hmmm....

June 7th, 2008, 10:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rufus Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NW Atlanta Posts: 386	"DUDE !!!" "Sweet axe !!" Uh... wrong thread, sorry. __________________ the Grand High Exalted Mystic Poobah of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy I spent most of my money on women and beer...the rest I just wasted.

June 7th, 2008, 10:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 9,550	Naw... Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

June 7th, 2008, 10:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
octatonic Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2007 Location: An Australian in London. Posts: 1,651	Cheap guitar, no. A bad guitar can but there are less bad guitars out there on a percentage basis than there used to be. When I was learning a guitar usually meant the tuners didn't stay in tune, the action was weirdly high and other issues. These days you can get much better guitars for almost nothing. I have one student who has a $150 Burwood strat. It really isn't a great sounding guitar, but it sounds ok, stays in tune and has a reasonable action. __________________ "A jazz musician is a juggler who uses harmonies instead of oranges." Benny Green

June 7th, 2008, 10:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
Flat357 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Cheshire Age: 40 Posts: 2,913	Most players , with the exception of the very lucky , start with budget guitars . When they progress , and find a style they like , they will often pursue a guitar that is more inclined to offer the results they seek , and those choices are often made after viewing the choices of instrument used by those who inspire them . A cheap guitar now , is generally better than a cheap guitar of yester year , as octatonic rightly mentioned , but even a cheap guitar can be made better by a good set up and a few replacement parts . The most important aspect is generally the neck , as that's usually what makes one guitar a preferred choice over another , and will also dictate how the action can be set , and how playable it will be towards the style of choice . Unfortunately , it doesn't just stop at the guitar . Getting a particular sound from an amp / simulator etc will also dictate what you can and can't do too , and an inspired sound will lead to inspired playing . __________________ Homepage http://www.soundclick.com/members/de...member=flat357 MySpace http://www.myspace.com/flat357

June 7th, 2008, 10:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
RickG501 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Age: 54 Posts: 933	I'm sure even SRV had plenty of cheap guitars...

June 7th, 2008, 11:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
casterway Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Aldergrove, British Columbia,Canada Age: 40 Posts: 2,797	Did somebody say cheap? This calls for more Seasick Steve!! Cheap. __________________ There's nothing wrong with a proper repair... "I don't scratch no guitars." John Lee Hooker, when asked to carve his signature into an old acoustic.

June 8th, 2008, 12:36 AM	#10 (permalink)
Guitar_Ninja Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 1,459 6 Photos	I actually think a cheaper guitar that's a little harder to play can be a good thing for a beginner, since it forces you to really get your technique down to overcome its shortcomings. Within reason obviously, but my first guitar buzzed up and down the neck if I didn't play pristinely. It took a lot of control on my part to prevent that buzzing, and it forced me to really get my fingerings down. Of course it depends a lot on the player. While my guitar's shortcomings motivated me to get better and overcome them there are other people who would likely have become frustrated by it, possibly even to the point of giving up trying to learn. YMMV. __________________ Wicket KNOWS.

June 8th, 2008, 12:49 AM	#12 (permalink)
LameLefty TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Age: 40 Posts: 10	Au contraire! My Martin acoustics range in MSRP from around $399 (LX Black) all the way up to over $6,000 (000-42 sunburst). My most expensive electric was my Epi Dot (all of $15 more than my MIM Standard Tele). My playing sucks just the same amount no matter which one I'm playing. :)

June 8th, 2008, 10:50 AM	#13 (permalink)
bowlfreshener Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2007 Location: Virginia, USA Age: 33 Posts: 1,539 6 Photos	No, if anything I find the cheap guitars these days open up my potential because many of them are surprisingly good, so I want to play more in order to justify getting more guitars. Plus its a cheap guitar so you could potentially take it anywhere with you and not have to stress too much if something should happen to it. I have ordered 2 guitars from Rondo in the past few weeks, and have been amazed by the quality. Your experiences may vary, but most people feel the same way. __________________ RAMA LAMA FA FA FA

June 8th, 2008, 11:43 AM	#15 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 62 Posts: 5,896	a cheap guitar isn't necessarily a crappy guitar. it's a great way to learn what you want to seek when you can afford to get into a more expensive and (hopefully) a better one. alter your potential? no -- your potential is what it is. it's up to you to make it real, on whatever guitar you're playing. __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/woodymitchellmusic BAND PAGES: www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Stragglers - Western Swing) www.myspace.com/loafersgloryband (Loafers Glory - '70s country-rock)

June 8th, 2008, 11:53 AM	#16 (permalink)
Telarkaster Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montreal Quebec Canada Posts: 1,752	I agree with Guitar Ninja: it might even make you a better player, depending on the person. It should be good enough to actually play so one can't blame the guitar if it sounds bad, but rough enough to make the player concentrate and motivate the student to learn enough to "deserve" a nicer guitar. It should also be nice enough and cool looking so that the student looks at the guitar and wants to pick it up. A 12 year old kid with a Gibson Les Paul is just wrong... I say all this assuming the player is a student. If an experienced player claims he can't play on a cheaper guitar, then he's just a snob! I get less nervous playing a cheap guitar than I do when I play a $3000 ES-335, so cheap guitars have their advantages...

June 8th, 2008, 11:59 AM	#17 (permalink)
RickG501 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Age: 54 Posts: 933	First time I've seen Seasick Steve... I like it!!!!

June 8th, 2008, 12:03 PM	#18 (permalink)
CatfishStudios Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon , United States Age: 33 Posts: 727	The quality of my instruments, has coincided with my increase in ability and skill. I dont think having a cheap guitar would negatively affect ones advancement. A low quality instrument is another story. If the thing wont stay in tune, and is very hard to play, one is likely to not play it as much..which would affect the amount of time it takes to advance. Cheap no longer means horrible quality.

June 8th, 2008, 12:25 PM	#19 (permalink)
tristanavakian Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: toronto Posts: 107	the indieizer Sometimes boutique tone and good chops get in the way.... I have a Danelectro I pick up when a part is starting to sound too slick and accomplished. I call it the "Indie-izer"... it degrades whatever you're playing instantly, to good effect.... nice contrast to the Tom Anderson and the PRS. Jimmy Page used a Harmony on the first album, and a Supro... He was unwilling to throw down big bux (by 1960's standards) until the band had some success... sensible attitude.

June 8th, 2008, 01:01 PM	#20 (permalink)
imwjl Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 1,237	That would depend upon the individual. I think of a guy who's close to and sometimes a street person who has showed up at some area acoustic jams. His beat up damaged inexpensive Yamaha guitar doesn't stop him from from playing fast, creatively, transposing well, improvising, singing and generally making the people worth thousands of $ on the hoof look bad. I lived with one so so guitar for decades before I got a few nice guitars and think I was wise for my not spending when the money wasn't there so that sort of thing weighs on me but not on others.

June 8th, 2008, 01:49 PM	#21 (permalink)
Solcat Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 198	Some people own nice guitar, that stays in the case because you are afraid of nicking it, and mostly play a cheap guitar that stays in a stand ready to use on a moments notice.

June 8th, 2008, 02:08 PM	#23 (permalink)
surfoverb Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,889	I had a dream I was being chased by a cheap guitar. What does that mean? So if a cheap guitar taps into my subconscious crappy playing does that mean an expensive guitar taps into my full potential? What's that saying, "Hope is the last thing to die" __________________ "You released the ****** fury!"*

June 8th, 2008, 05:03 PM	#25 (permalink)
gtech Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Quebec, Canada Age: 59 Posts: 1,999 173 Photos	I prefer a good cheap guitar to a bad expensive guitar... __________________ Back to practice now...to make my Teles sound good.