Who here has several guitars and amps but is not in a band?

[Rock Bodom]

This thread has exposed the real truth of the matter...some of us are getting older, doing financially well, and are cars are now too nice to haul gear around in (I don't want to try to stuff a speaker cabinet into my BMW).

You can get a BMW X5 for that.

You know, you're right...there's no excuse. I'm placing a Craiglist ad:

Central Ohio guitar player looking for like-minded musicians to start a band. Must be over 40, have luxury SUV, boutique gear. Must enjoy partying (single malts, cigars, etc.) Musical ability a plus.

C’mon fellow aging bedroom/basement players…let’s get something started (especially so I can find out what my stack of 100W amps sound like above a volume of 1).

 

[datriani]

I just left my cover band not too long ago but I still get calls to fill in for other bands and I'll hit random open jam nights at local bars. But I will be looking for another one as soon as I figure out what city I'm going to be living in.

I'm 40 and have been playing for about 28 years but most of my gear that I acquired in the last 4 years and up until I quit was paid for by gig money. But the funny thing is, now that I'm no longer getting gig money, I think I've spent more money on pedals than I ever have. Eventide, Hermida, XTS, Disaster Area in the last 6 months.

I play/practice often, anywhere between 5-25 hours a week BUT as my dad (who also plays) told me when he bought me my first Fender Silverface Twin amp, doesn't matter how much money you spend on your gear as long as your playing can back it up. So whether I play in just my bedroom or MSG, as long as I can afford it and my playing is reasonably tip top (meaning I'm consistently practicing), I can comfortable justify the gear to myself. If my practicing started to drop off, I would probably sell most of my gear....... only to buy it all over again when I decide to pick the guitar back up. But I've only taken 1 year long break in playing in my 28 years.

Has anyone else taken a break from playing?

 

[Ventura]

This thread has exposed the real truth of the matter...some of us are getting older, doing financially well, and are cars are now too nice to haul gear around in (I don't want to try to stuff a speaker cabinet into my BMW).

You can get a BMW X5 for that.

I don't mind beating the shit out of my Audi, Benz or the like...

I do mind when my '59 Lester is at danger of getting a ding, or my Bogner 20thX head rolls around the trunk

Call me nuts

 

[Markedman]

I'm 52 and not in a band for the first time in my life. The bass player died in February, what can I say? I tried out for several cover bands but after playing Springsteen/Petty in one and Born to be Wild/Mustang Sally in the other, I've decided to stick to writing and guest appearances here and there. After the bass player died, I sold my 1955 stratocaster and bought a Boogie C+. I'm playing tomorrow at a party with some good players doing originals and southern rock style covers which I do about once a month with different bands, I'm at my best doing Metallica/Pantera. I've been to some open mics looking for either a bassist or band but the writing of music has been rewarding and enjoyable so I'm riding high on the creative wave.

 

[trashedlostfdup]

I am sitting on 23 tube amps. I like them. My 34 guitars are also dearly loved. I have 40 some odd pedals last count.

I have not been in a band for a few years, BUT, I can say that I love playing open mikes. It gives me a chance to get out and have fun.

Most of the guys are pretty talented overall and it's fun. I do like the no commitment thing a lot tbh. Low stress high fun factor.

Also for the hassle i don't need 50 bucks that bad.

Also all i need is my modded to heck little VK and not worrying about bringing in a full rig that is indefinitely more expensive.

I rotate between six guitars and five amps most days.

 

[thrashinbatman]

how many do not play in a band

I used to play in two bands, now just one. We haven't gigged in a year or so, though that's not due to personal choice. Hopefully by the end of the year I'm back to playing local and regional gigs regularly.

how did you get the $$$ for such great gear?
I have a job, and I pinch my pennies. This is really the only shit I'm interested in, my lifestyle is somewhat frugal outside of this so that frees up a lot of capital.

Do you use all of the gear you own on a daily basis?
Nah, I've got 4 guitars I somewhat regularly use (got a couple more that are cheaper I bought years ago when I was a broke student, I keep them around more for sentimental value than anything else), but two are in different tunings so I don't play them unless I'm wanting to play in that tuning. Two I play almost every day, because they're the guitars for my band, so when I'm practicing I gotta use them. I have a Kemper as well as an Engl Savage 120, and the Savage gets played once or twice a week. Kinda hard to go buck wild with other people in the house, ya know? I use the Kemper the majority of the time, played through my studio monitors.

 

[sleewell2]

I play in a band. It's tons of fun. I basically only have the gear I use live, collecting is not my thing plus diapers and formula are very expensive.

 

[romanianreaper]

As pathetic as this sounds, in the past few months I've actually cut down on food and coffee intake to save up money towards gear. It is not that I don't have a great job and can afford it, it is that I like not having the guilt associated with getting gear. LOL!

I used to gig when I was in the military at almost every base I was at. When you get older I think it becomes something that would have to be a perfect scenario as far as a band goes. When I was younger, if someone didn't show up to practice or kept turning their amp up louder, you just pressed on. When you get older your threshold for BS goes down.

 

[ChurchHill]

When you get older your threshold for BS goes down.

+1000

I've got a lot of gear, but it's taken me years of hard work to get it and I use it all, even if I don't regularly play out anymore. Does where one uses their gear really make a difference?

 

[guitarbilly74]

YT completely changed what playing at home means. There are tons of players just doing demos/clips at home that have 1000's of views/subscribers.

 

[errrrrl]

I've got a lot of gear, but it's taken me years of hard work to get it

Thats me too.

I've got like 30+ guitars 5 bass, 4 heads and play drums in a thrash band ... If I could find a good drummer i'd be playing guitar in a band but hard to find good drummers where i'm at.

The last time I did play guitar in a band was in 2002-ish. From the late 80s til about 2000 I was a total broke ass with shit gear... so yeah, i'm that older dude that goes to the local shops that actually buys shit lol. Pretty much buying and playing what makes me happy regardless of not playing out.

 

[ChurchHill]

From the late 80s til about 2000 I was a total broke ass with shit gear... so yeah, i'm that older dude that does to the local shops that actually buys shit lol. Pretty much buying and playing what makes me happy regardless of not playing out.

Yep, me, too. Playing music still makes me as excited and as happy as the day I first started.

 

[Mr. Huge]

YOU!

 

[SpiderWars]

Around here that question usually reduces to, "Are you in a band?". I would guess most have multiple amps and/or guitars. I have 7 guitars and around a dozen amps plus four 4x12s and a few other cabs. No desire to gig but I still love making noise and gear.

 

[SFW]

I’ve got four guitars and one amp. Until two years ago, I was in a band. May get into another one at some point. With the abuse you take in the used gear market right now, I just don’t see the point in trying to sell gear. My two Les Pauls will go to my kids when I’m gone. The two Charvels that I own won’t fetch enough to bother with. I work as a Project Manager for a Security intergration company. I make a decently living, but most of my gear was purchased used. Mainly because I think new prices are silly.

 

[stratjacket]

I am sitting on 23 tube amps. I like them. My 34 guitars are also dearly loved. I have 40 some odd pedals last count.

I have not been in a band for a few years, BUT, I can say that I love playing open mikes. It gives me a chance to get out and have fun.

Most of the guys are pretty talented overall and it's fun. I do like the no commitment thing a lot tbh. Low stress high fun factor.

Also for the hassle i don't need 50 bucks that bad.

Also all i need is my modded to heck little VK and not worrying about bringing in a full rig that is indefinitely more expensive.

I rotate between six guitars and five amps most days.

Just curious, what were you searching for to come across this and resurrect a 3 year old thread?

But it’s a cool subject. I don’t play in bands and have not in 30 years. I have done a couple albums where I did everything and I also jam with people sometimes, but no band. No time.
It’s just a lifelong cool love and at this point I am able to get the gear that I want, I work hard enough for it, so why not. Always dreamed of having a cool studio with all the toys and you only live once.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Necro or not here I come

Haven't played in a band for about 26 years and even then it was just a garage band for fun, but I still enjoy the hell out of rocking out in my basement. I Just picked up a Wizard MCII and am in the process of culling the herd from 7 to 2 maybe 3 amps and have 2 guitars with another coming before years end. One 2x12 and one 412 and I feel like I have all I need for the foreseeable future.

 

[Bob Savage]

I tried putting something together a few years ago and eventually tapped out.

While I get that my vision for the group was somewhat specific, the two most important pieces were 1) Play material (whether cover or originals) that the band loves and 2) put in the work to be tight.

In the end it seemed that finding four people (or three, since I was fully onboard) who were reliable (i.e. would show up), solid players who were also willing to spend the time and effort to learn new material (the covers I selected were well known classics, but not the same ones that have been covered a billion times) and show up to practice prepared was unrealistic. Either they were too busy with life or they were too concerned with playing every weekend to their $100.


So the options were pretend to be another band (i.e. a tribute - often covering bands that are still actively touring) or play 3-4 sets of predictible covers in bars. I went from there to just losing all inspiration to play (I need goals/projects to keep me playing at this point). The itch it coming back now but it's probably going to be back to recording. It's all about the fun at this point...

Oh, and I just bought a beautiful Explorer that will arrive this week... MmmmmHmmmmm

 

[RedB4Black]

Necro or not here I come

Haven't played in a band for about 26 years and even then it was just a garage band for fun, but I still enjoy the hell out of rocking out in my basement. I Just picked up a Wizard MCII and am in the process of culling the herd from 7 to 2 maybe 3 amps and have 2 guitars with another coming before years end. One 2x12 and one 412 and I feel like I have all I need for the foreseeable future.

Every time I sell off a few amps thinking I'm going to thin the herd, I always end up buying more. Just sold of 3 in the last month. Currently I have 4, but just bought one over the weekend and another cab to go with it. So soon I will have 5 heads/5 cabs/4 guitars and about $40k invested .... All for my upcoming tour of the room above my garage!

 

[Bob Savage]

Every time I sell off a few amps thinking I'm going to thin the herd, I always end up buying more. Just sold of 3 in the last month. Currently I have 4, but just bought one over the weekend and another cab to go with it. So soon I will have 5 heads/5 cabs/4 guitars and about $40k invested .... All for my upcoming tour of the room above my garage!

I've come to realize that I'm not interested in a lot of new gear, the practicality of how much money is actually discretionary and the fact that I'm satisfied with much/most of what I have has me at a point where I'm just recycling gear. If I sell something, I buy something new. New stuff lately has been a Fryette Power Station II and an Explorer. Sold stuff to buy them... The Cycle of Gear®.