Over the last couple of years, there have been a number of "identity items" that I have challenged and changed. My daughter jokes that I am having an identity crisis. I'm not, but I think I am "softening" on some issues. Here are some examples, all of which have come about in the last 5 years or so.
Maple Fretboards. I have had a Strat with a pao ferro fretboard since the early 90s. When I was looking to buy a Tele back in 2014, I only wanted a maple fretboard. I liked the look better, this was how a traditional Tele was, so I became a maple fretboard guy. I (internally) dismissed any guitar that did not have a maple fretboard. I ended up buying a 50s Baja.
After a few years, I really wanted something a bit different. I started looking at the American Professional line, specifically the candy apple red one with the maple fretboard. I played a used one, but it was too much money. A bit later, I played an AP-II, the mercury (reverse grey burst) with the rosewood fretboard. Boy, did that feel nice! I ended up buying an AP-II Tele in Dark Night with rosewood. I spent some time before my purchase wishing for a dark night with maple, but after playing the mercury AP-II, I pulled the trigger. I really like the feel of the rosewood. I still need to put the Baja up for sale. I now prefer rosewood - it is not an "identity", I just prefer it.
I thought I was an 11s guy. I now use 9s. My Baja does not like 9s - it works better with 10s, so that is what it has. It is funny how some guitars just want a certain gauge, regardless of what you like best.
Last year, I bought a new car. I used to identify myself as "they guy who only drives a manual, they guy who only uses analog gauges, the guy who does not rely on tech." Well, since I got a fairly nice car, guess what? I have a DSG gearbox, digital gauges including a digital numeric speedometer and a digital dial speedo, Android Carplay, traction and stability control, and a bunch of other stuff. I really like it - and I find that I don't miss the manual transmission (probably since the DSG feels very similar?). The Android CarPlay is brilliant, as I can put Waze on my main display in the center console. I always swore that HVAC systems should be three knobs only, but the new climate control system with three zones just works well.
I used to think I was a Fender Medium / punched pick guy. Blue Chip picks have convinced me otherwise. I tried a whole bunch of picks before I came to this conclusion. It was fun, and fairly inexpensive to try a bunch. Lockdown projects, amIright?
I used to think I was a Fender-only guy. Well, I have my eye on a Reverend Kingbolt. The Kingbolt has humbuckers! I am a single coil guy! Well, I prefer a brighter pickup, and the railhammer pickups in the Kingbolt are fairly bright, so maybe I did hold fast on to that one. I probably will not buy another guitar though, so this may be moot. The fretboard radius is a bit flatter than I prefer, but OMG is the Kingbolt a real looker!
Maybe it is good to challenge your preconceived notions. Maybe this is a late mid-life crisis. Maybe I am just relaxing with age. I still have some strong opinion about other things - like desktop OSs - but I feel I've grown.
Maple Fretboards. I have had a Strat with a pao ferro fretboard since the early 90s. When I was looking to buy a Tele back in 2014, I only wanted a maple fretboard. I liked the look better, this was how a traditional Tele was, so I became a maple fretboard guy. I (internally) dismissed any guitar that did not have a maple fretboard. I ended up buying a 50s Baja.
After a few years, I really wanted something a bit different. I started looking at the American Professional line, specifically the candy apple red one with the maple fretboard. I played a used one, but it was too much money. A bit later, I played an AP-II, the mercury (reverse grey burst) with the rosewood fretboard. Boy, did that feel nice! I ended up buying an AP-II Tele in Dark Night with rosewood. I spent some time before my purchase wishing for a dark night with maple, but after playing the mercury AP-II, I pulled the trigger. I really like the feel of the rosewood. I still need to put the Baja up for sale. I now prefer rosewood - it is not an "identity", I just prefer it.
I thought I was an 11s guy. I now use 9s. My Baja does not like 9s - it works better with 10s, so that is what it has. It is funny how some guitars just want a certain gauge, regardless of what you like best.
Last year, I bought a new car. I used to identify myself as "they guy who only drives a manual, they guy who only uses analog gauges, the guy who does not rely on tech." Well, since I got a fairly nice car, guess what? I have a DSG gearbox, digital gauges including a digital numeric speedometer and a digital dial speedo, Android Carplay, traction and stability control, and a bunch of other stuff. I really like it - and I find that I don't miss the manual transmission (probably since the DSG feels very similar?). The Android CarPlay is brilliant, as I can put Waze on my main display in the center console. I always swore that HVAC systems should be three knobs only, but the new climate control system with three zones just works well.
I used to think I was a Fender Medium / punched pick guy. Blue Chip picks have convinced me otherwise. I tried a whole bunch of picks before I came to this conclusion. It was fun, and fairly inexpensive to try a bunch. Lockdown projects, amIright?
I used to think I was a Fender-only guy. Well, I have my eye on a Reverend Kingbolt. The Kingbolt has humbuckers! I am a single coil guy! Well, I prefer a brighter pickup, and the railhammer pickups in the Kingbolt are fairly bright, so maybe I did hold fast on to that one. I probably will not buy another guitar though, so this may be moot. The fretboard radius is a bit flatter than I prefer, but OMG is the Kingbolt a real looker!
Maybe it is good to challenge your preconceived notions. Maybe this is a late mid-life crisis. Maybe I am just relaxing with age. I still have some strong opinion about other things - like desktop OSs - but I feel I've grown.
