Funny Thing Happened at the Music Store Today...!

[kmaster]

I went to the nicest GC in town (the one on 85 in Atlanta) and a Music-Go-Round and played perhaps 15 different Teles of various types and trim levels. While I appreciated some of the beauty of the finishes on some of the guitars...

None felt as good as or better than my own Highway One. Old or new, expensive or cheap, American, Japanese, Mexican, nothing. There was always something "wrong" with the guitar.

I know some of these surpass my guitar in quality of manufacture, but two thoughts crossed my mind:

1. There is no place like home...or no guitar like my guitar.
2. This means I really have bonded with my guitar. It's like a symbiotic relationship...I guess like the bond between a wand and a wizard in the HarryPotterverse.

Anyone feel the same? Differently? Let's hear it!

[jjkrause84]

Well yeah of course. There's been times when someone has handed me their guitar (some REALLY nice ones too) and for the first 5-10 minutes I feel like an utter beginner again. After that I can get my feet down and be ok but it's never instant like with one of my axes

[91xlntS-3]

It's always "magical" when it's right! There's a reason I own the guitars that I do; they just felt "right" to me. No harm in looking, 'cause there's always room for 1 more; if you can find it!

[Parma_TeleMon]

I once heard someone compare using someone else's guitar to using another person's toothbrush.

This is my Tele. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

[imsilly]

I think this has more to do with bad setup more then anything else. Strings to high, strings too low, bad tuning or intonation.

The only thing I ever notice is neck shape and radius. I think every tele with a similar neck shape or radius to my main I'll play just as well (or badly in my case). Sometimes finish might affect how I feel, but again that is something that all telecaster of the same model will have in common.

I don't think I have noticed to dramatic a difference bonding with instruments which are the same model. A case in point would be when I tried out a bunch of offset fenders, jaguars and jazzmasters and found I liked the MIJ 62 reissue for feel (pickups sucked). I simply shopped around and bought it over the phone and when it arrived I bonded with it just as well as the one I picked up in a shop and tested in person. Though it that case every offset fender I tried was heavy so weight never played a part in choice (play sitting down for the most part).

There is a definate difference in feeling happy with the feel of an instrument and therefore how well you play and the character of an instrument's tone. I feel that tone is an elusive prey and can't be captured with a guitar alone. Things like amps and strings are so much a part of it that a guitar you pickup in a store and play may only need to feel right and not sound right for you to eventually get the tone you love from it. Maybe I'm just biased because I love any excuse to buy another amp, but I only own one guitar.

[leftyfrank]

You love what you have. I can't count the times that I've come home from a music store and pull out my tele or strat or acoustics and say to myself "what was I thinking" ? If your guitar is set up to your liking it is like a comfy pair of sneakers. I reallly like the cheapo Epi dot I got from MF for $299 a couple years ago but still can't get into the pickups but it feels and plays great. I've come to the conclusion it all centers on the feel of the neck.

[mistermullens]

I visit that same GC quite often and always leave feeling the same way about my guitars. Nothing in there compares to what I have. I did have a lot of fun playing those new Dano Dead On '67s through a BJr and Egnater last time I was there. Now that was fun!

[kmaster]

Originally Posted by mistermullens

I visit that same GC quite often and always leave feeling the same way about my guitars. Nothing in there compares to what I have. I did have a lot of fun playing those new Dano Dead On '67s through a BJr and Egnater last time I was there. Now that was fun!

You know, I played those same Danos (though through a Fender tweed). What pleasantly goofy guitars!

[beep.click]

Originally Posted by kmaster

1. There is no place like home...or no guitar like my guitar.

Anyone feel the same? Differently? Let's hear it!

It's only in recent years that I've had that feeling.

For DECADES, I would go to stores and come home hating my own guitars. Everything in the store seemed miraculously better. It only made it worse, realizing that I didn't have the dough to upgrade...

A few guitars and years later, I suddenly started getting that pleasant surprise you describe: trying other guitars and realizing, WOW, I like what I have!

[mellecaster]

Let's put it in real simple terms...you personal Guitars have probably been Set-up (if not, they should be....) The ones in the Store have not....can make quite a difference, plus most everything done at Home just feels better.

[Papa Joe]

I have owned dozens of guitars over the years but only had that experience with one..That one is my Taylor Big Baby.The store had just gotten in a shipment of 12 Big Babys and I had My pick.I played 4 and they were ok but number 5 talked to me.Take me, take me,..I enjoy playing that guitar more than any that I've ever played.
I did have a 69 Thinline that wes close though.

[Spidercaster]

Originally Posted by Parma_TeleMon

This is my Tele. There are many like it, but this one is mine.

+1 - Very well said!

[krauser2]

I feel the same way about my Les Paul studio....i've played standards for goodness sake and I wounldnt trade it for one if given the chance. Others are prettier, but they dont play that much better.

Its a territorial thing I believe.

[ole AZ]

Yeah I don't really like playing other guitars. Mine are mine because we get each other.

[Mark Davis]

Originally Posted by mellecaster

Let's put it in real simple terms...you personal Guitars have probably been Set-up (if not, they should be....) The ones in the Store have not....can make quite a difference, plus most everything done at Home just feels better.

A real good setup can make a good guitar into a great guitar.

[johnnylaw]

Aaahhh...

Familiarity, though, IS the most subtle addiction in the world.

Highway Ones are nice axes, and when well set up, they're as good as anything out there. I guess you know that after the experience you describe!

[Hiker]

When I bought a SCXD at GC yesterday, the salesman asked, so...what guitars R U gonna to play through this amp?
And I commented-MIM Strat and MIM Tele.

It was/is good thinking about-how much pleasure they both bring.