My wife and I recently had to flee Myanmar because of the coup. I could only take one guitar with me. After much soul searching I decided on a TLO (telecaster like object) made by Steve Benford with a pine body (made from 100 year old barn rafters) with Duncan P-rails. It is the most versatile with something like 27 pickup configurations, and the most resonant solid-body guitar I have ever heard. Love this channel and your content. Keep bringing us more history and philosophy.
My choice, I already own one, is Fender Telecaster. It's a work horse, can handle any genre, holds it tune, can handle almost anything except fire. Mines been through earthquakes, tornadoes, being dragged across the country, plus my grandkids inquisitive minds! My second choice is a 335. Btw I own a Tele, a 335 copy, a beater acoustic, & an $85 bass. Come to think of it, my Telecaster is worth more at nearly 30 yrs old, than all my other stuff, including amp, recording equip., & the other guitars, all put together. I think a person needs 2 electric guitars 1 with single coils, 1 with humbuckers, & an acoustic guitar. Of course people malign the early 90s Teles, but according to the neck stamp, it's a Tuesday guitar, almost Wednesday. So...
i own 16 electric guitars (yeah i know...), i agree with you, tele baja is amazingly versatile while keeping its own personnality. It can play the blues and barking like a german sheppard and also render a clystaline sound for jazz Because it s a cheap axe it s not the one i would save if my house was on fire, but surely it would be the very first i'll buy again
I couldn't agree more. If you look at the most used studio guitarist you will find them all playing Tele & 335's as a rule and may have other guitars for specific sounds the producer may want to hear. But the staple guitars are those two.
@@yannber any Suggestions for my first tele ? Thought about something around 1k bucks, I already have LP, a Vintera 50's Strat, and a SG and I really desire Teles lately...
@@yannber ya probably just helped me out too cuz I am finally to a point where I see what other people see in teles (never had till pretty recently really always was doing heavy stuff and nobody was using em for metal in '98 Jim Root) but I keep looking at like... P90 and humbucker equipped teles and I believe if I'm going to get into them at all I should at least *start* with a pretty straight up tele type... Just 2 single coils no weird shit to begin with. I mean if I'm wanting a tele for the *tele sound* then probably leave the humbuckers on my gibson-ish things.
My favorite.. you can do all with it. And P90 doesnt lose highs when Vol is turned low, unlike HBs... an Esquire is just as good... single pickup guitars rule !!
Couldn't agree more! I just turned the second tone knob into a Spin-a-Split for my bridge pickup, so on 5 you have an almost p90 like sound, with the option of pure single coil or humbucker.
Like a lot of us I’ve been trying to answer this question for quite some time. I used my free time during the pandemic to accelerate the process. I already know how to make bread. Ha. I caught and released countless guitars. For me it’s the PRS S2 Mcarty. They get a lot of hate from some other PRS owners. But I love mine. I consider myself a serial monogamous guitar owner. So having “only” one guitar isn’t a burden. It just has to be the right guitar. The acid test for me is how much I’ve grown as a guitarist since owning it. I’m able to focus on theory and playing. Not what I want to change or feel I “need”. Love the channel! Keep up the good work.
I just got an S2 McCarty 594 double-cut...its replaced my Les Paul...it plays like butter and does everything great...the blue color isn’t my fav...but what ya gonna do!!!!!
@@eddiejr540 congrats on the guitar! You went with the thin wide neck. Nice guitar! I went in to buy a new 1950’s gold top Les Paul. I’ve always thought they were so cool looking. I didn’t like the way it wanted to slip to right while seated. I walked out with a 1960’’s SG. and it went from there. Your guitar reminds me of a SG on steroids. what are your thoughts? It’s so cool it replaced your LP!
@@hailmaryrecordings8255No guitars; guns and knives and model train stuff, mostly. He was never a musician. It’s cool you shared a hobby with your dad!
One good Les Paul (doesn't have to be a custom shop, just a great feeling neck) and one good amp. I have more than that.. ..but if forced to pick, I could live with just that easily.
An Ibanez RG with 2 humbuckers is an extremely versatile and well-engineered instrument, and the hardtail version is great for those who aren’t into the whole Floyd Rose thing. If I let my fingers do the voting instead of pandering to the imaginary “image” I have of myself playing guitar, the RG wins every time. Don’t fear it just because it’s pointy!
I've gotten rid of several guitars and now I only have Ibanez RG's (1) and Jem's (2). They are the most comfortable guitar to play, and if you wish, you can change the pickups to give them a different tone. They are available in a variety of woods, so a variety of tones is possible.
Idk your age obviously but I am 38 and I know that for me the RGs got a bad rep cuz when I was learning to play and Korn came out the market got flooded with super low end RGs and they were awful. Much later in life I got my hands on a real one and was an immediate convert. And they're excellent chameleons as well.
Wasn’t a fan of the RG550 I bought in the 80s in Road Flare Red. Sold it and bought an ‘87 ESP Mirage Deluxe in baby’s ass pink, which was so much nicer than the Ibanez.
My 62 jazzmaster, it is my sonic home and has been for 15 years. I heard the sound of it in my head for years not knowing what I imagined then I found it and I was sold and subsequently sold my other guitars.
As to the small hands, short fingers thing, I learned the "trick" - when it matters - is to tune the guitar to D and put a capo on the 2nd fret to play in standard E. The fret markers are mostly in place and it makes it easier to play. Also, depending on the song, a capo can help such as when I play I Feel Fine by the Beatles - I can play the standard F barre chord shapes on the 10th and 8th fret positions and do the fingering, but when I get to the 3rd fret position my little finger can't reach the 5th fret, so I use a capo on the 3rd fret and do a standard E chord fingering which allows my little finger to reach the 5th fret. As for only one guitar, if I had to clean out and only keep one, it would be my Gretsch Duo Jet.
Hey Keith: Have you ever had to go through & clean out someone's belongings after they die? I've done this twice now, and it really makes you look at your personal "stuff" with a critical eye. Especially music gear. I'm super fascinated by this idea of minimizing one's superfluous bullshit. Awesome video man. Oh!.. And I guess I don't really care which "one guitar" I would own. As long as it's set up and stays in tune, I'm fine with it. I don't need a special hammer to drive a nail. The skill is in your training and muscle memory.
Dude... I agree with everything you said a million percent...I have cleared out “stuff” when a loved one passed...it does really make you think about all the material bullshit...rock on brother!!!
Keith, for context I started lessons 50 years ago, and have been an orchestral woodwind player all my life as well as the guitar playing. On that side, I have a flute and a sax, both of which are 40 years old and I have one of each. Classical players tend to have one instrument, and their ‘tone’ comes from their playing and interpretation. I sang in bands in the ‘70s and early ‘80s with guitarists who typically had a half stack, a curly lead and a guitar. Later playing flute in Irish/folk bands I played residences with a guitarist who owned 1 guitar, a Martin D28. All the more mystifying when my guitar hero, Rory Gallagher, basically had one Strat for his entire career!
The tone is YOU .. the instrument is just means to get there. But .. they all want to play a different song.. that´s all the fun with multiple instruments.. so I´ve found out 😉
Love the 5 watt life but for me it’s the inspiration in each individual guitar that makes me keep 30 on hand that 30 is whittled down from 500 and I made a few bucks along the way
I realize I'm late to the party, but... Ummm... Didn't hear it mentioned... I own a brand new (2021) Gibson Les Paul Classic, which I love. I understand how many people dislike the Modern Series, but the versatility of the PCB board is actually very good. The dual pickup, out-of-phase tone is AMAZING to me. I also dig the whole pop up one knob and, no matter what configuration you're in, once the bridge tone control is pulled up, you're playing the bridge pickup through the volume pot with the tone control bypassed. It's a really useful feature. Add coil-splitting to all this, and it makes for a versatile instrument.
For me, hands down it'd be my 1994 Gibson Nighthawk SP3. It's got the best of both the Strat and Gibson features in one guitar. Great for cover band guitarists. Maybe an idea for a future short history? Kudos on your channel, btw.
Keith, great show. I’m following your mantras for real (and the minimalist guys) and am down to 4 guitars, 2 teles, a Les Paul and an Ibanez Artcore semi. Redecorating my home office, had the hangers down off the wall and guitars in cases except 1 on a stand. Tele from around 1980, unknown pickups and neck. Jimmy Page dragon design on it done by someone when it was newish. I haven’t got anything back out of the cases. So the one guitar is my Tele, probably not replaceable, and the one that to me sounds better than any other guitar. I’m now working down to one amp, reverb channel and no pedals.
The Cole Clark Angel 2EC-RDBL Redwood top, Blackwood back & sides, Spanish heel construction, and Cole Clark's unique 3-component electric system. All Australia-grown woods, built in Melbourne. Yes, the California redwoods were planted 150 years ago by the Botanist General as an experiment. 44 mm nut width is a great improvement for me, compared to 1-11/16 inch.
Telecaster...I used to hate them, and now having owned many guitars, Telecaster is the only guitar I'd feel comfortable playing any kind of music on, it's so stupidly simple and versatile, and I feel like an idiot for having avoided them for years.
Got a G&L Telecaster ASAT Tribute Special - the last guitar Leo Fender designed. The complete full life cycle of the Fender Telecaster, ie the electric guitar.
Hi, I wasn’t able to see this live but I appreciate the post. I have several guitars and if forced to use only 1 it would be a toss up between my 2017 Single Cut McCarty or my Double Cut 20th anniversary McCarty. The funny thing is, I’m 50 and when the rock band playing live thing was relevant to me, I had 1 guitar. Nobody cared including me. I’ll never forget I got a Steinberger for Christmas probably in 1990 and I thought I was so cool because my old guitar became a backup. Age and a strong work ethic allows some of us guitar geeks to indulge ourselves. You really only need one (of course assuming you never break a string live) and if you can play people will enjoy what you do. Thanks again for the great post
An old bandmate of mine had a Strandburg bass. When he showed up with it for my wannabe Stones/ R&B rock band I thought it was a joke but he played well and it grew on me.
My #1 is right there in my profile, my 50's Standard LP. Just over 8-1/2 pounds. My #2 is my standard ES-335 in 60's cherry. I have many other guitars, but those are my #1 and #2 and I could do without all of the others.
kiesel theos: chambered body, lovely top, lots of wood options, stainless steel frets, tremolo system, locking tuners and great humbuckers that range from heavy metal to jazz.
For me, it’s the “thought of” (...............). I like the “thought of” a Strat. I’ve had a bunch. Sold them all. Always do. Same goes for Les Pauls. I’ve had a load of really great ones. However, I just never end up reaching for them. I always have my Tele within arms reach. Funny part, I don’t love Teles....🤔. Now, for the art piece. I recently sent a great McCarty back to PRS for a complete refinish/rebuild. I had it spec’d out with all new parts and added splits like a Paul’s Guitar. I even picked a color just for me, a one off. I went with pink nitro. It may be the best guitar I’ve ever had pass through my hands. However, like you mentioned, I just can’t justify it. Kinda sucks, but I’d never buy a $4,000 painting. So, onto Reverb it goes.
One guitar? Suhr Alt T Pro. It is a semi-hollow Tele shape with two humbuckers, 5 way switch with Strat tones in position 2 and 4. Action is fast and intonation is accurate. It does everything well for me and remains my go-to guitar for recording and live.
I am always watching your videos ever since you started the channel. I was skeptical about your moto of making music with less guitars as I had almost 30 at the time. Gradually I understood your logic and now only have 5 guitars of different brands because they serve different purposes. I may or may not add a 6th one. Saying that , I have come to realize that I can probably live my life happily with 1 of them. That's is my heavily modified 2001 PRS CE24. It does everything for me. The neck ,heel are shaved to my liking, bigger frets, different pickups and wirings etc. only the body and tremolo are left alone. It does your LP, Tele, Strat tones very easily. I wish I could find another one like it that feels the same but still no luck. Trust me when I say I hardly pick up my 7000$ custom shop 60s reissue LP which is an awesome guitar too. So Thank you so much for helping me realize how little I need to be happy and satisfied. By the way if anyone here know a great guitar tech in NYC kindly let me know as I need to replace the nut of the PRS after 20 years of heavy use. Please stay safe and stay blessed.
Only one? My Danocaster single cut with Peter Florance TE-60 pickups and the Ted Greene controls mod. 6.3 lbs, .88 soft V. Light, comfortable, plays like butter, versatile tonal palette ( through a 5 Watt Swart STR Tweed with a Celestion Blue).
If only one...my PRS 513. I love it. It's going in the casket with me. If 2...my PRS McCarty 594. Its more like my 1B guitar. Both very expensive and it took about a year to pay off each one but, I have absolutely no buyers remorse.
I've been downsizing lately myself over the past 2 years as I'm getting ready to retire soon and have come down from 17 guitars to only 9 essential ones now. I'd find it hard, but I can live without my 335, LP,s Strats, and Gretsches. Honestly, when it comes down to it, I play my Fender '64 AVRI Tele most of the time. It does EVERYTHING well, and would be my desert island guitar for sure.
'What would you grab if the house was burning down?' Tough one as I have bought several guitars since the mid 70's but given I have 2 arms to grab them it would have to be my 1968 LP Custom, my first 'real guitar' and my Roger Sadowsky NYC S Style (HSH) which has been my go to in the studio and for a handful of live gigs since I bought it in 1992 - incredibly versatile instrument. Fun vid and enjoyed reading everyone's comments 😀 What a sad story about Abercrombie . . . saw him live in 81, owned most of his ECM work. Tragic.
Gibson Nighthawk (90s) or a Les Paul GT or Les Paul LPX.. There's enough settings on each of those models that you should be able to comfortably dial in any sound you can imagine. The versatility of those instruments is off the charts and I think I could live the rest of my life satisfied with either of those.
Someone mentioned Fender Starcaster. I always think of the stint that name had with a Walmart guitar. It was my first guitar and was basically an "official" Strat copy (I doubt fender actually had much to do with it). The electronics were junk, but it made for a great partscaster platform because it seemed to use Fender specs meaning swapping parts was really easy. I still have mine and I absolutely love it.
D'Angelico Bedford Bob Weir model. Got it Nov 2022 and have rarely played anything else. SD Silent P90's and silent SD single coil and complex electronics. Does everything. Best Regards!
Love your work Keith. It's always a wonderful journey on your videos. My one acoustic is a Northwood 00-12 fret, my one electric is a sunburst Heritage 535, and my one amp is a Morgan JS-12. They cover it all for me and I've loved the journey finding myself with them. "Be careful with the man with one gun."
last year i went to visit my son for christmas. while i was away from home someone broke in my house and stole all 11 of my guitars. i had a fender strat that i had for over 20 years, a ibanez that i really liked, and many other guitars. i also had a gibson les paul standard , i had wanted a real les paul for over 40 years and i finally got one only to have it stolen along with the rest. Anyways i heard from my neighbor that my house was robbed and that my guitars were taken. i was quite upset as you might imagine. so i said i could cry or i could buy. so i chose the later. and bought a used gibson les paul. to my surprise i liked the new paul much better . long story a little shorter, when i returned home i found the first les paul in the near by pawn shop. now i had two! but the second paul is still my favorite. i miss the rest but like my honeyburst best
I got a Fender 50s Baja Tele. Black guard in butterscotch with brass saddles. The neck is a soft V which i love (and hard to find on anything except the high end American made teles) and the pickups were designed by fender custom shop with a twisted tele in the neck which has a Straty sound and a Broadcaster bridge pickup. It has a 4 way switch that also gives you the two pups in series and an S switch that gives two out of phase tones that are perfect for my slide playing. So all the traditional tones X 2. The body is swamp ash with beautiful grain and the weight of the guitar is 6.8 lb. How can you beat that? If i can pick a second guitar it would be a furch acoustic or if i have the option to have two electrics my second would be an SG with P90s.
I kept buying and selling for awhile, looking for my perfect guitar, and kept returning to the Schecter Tempest I bought just after high school - it's so comfortable, so familiar, and rock solid tuning stability. It's really all that I need.
Yes but a real non-relief StD. is a tremendous commitment, almost an obsession! It is HUGE HEAVY BLOCKY, has Intonation and tuning problems...and does something that NO OTHER GUITAR can do or can compete! Les Pauls are a deal with the devil in some ways. They are a lot like Teles...a good one, WOW~!
Custom built Warmoth Partscaster. Because it came out of my brain and does what I want it to. Off the shelf? Fender SSH Strat. Most versatile guitar ever (and YOU can modify EVERYTHING on it).
If it weren't for the guitars I've gotten after the LP Effector, it'd definitely be that #1 that's been with me since my 15th birthday from my mother in 1984. I've played few guitars in various music stores over the years but always came home to my #1! I've lost count of the upgrades and makeovers it's endured almost 37yrs.
Smaller hands here too. I refuse to answer this question because all my guitars, when I pick them up and think about them, bring me joy :). 1. Nash S-63 Strat in E flat - because Hendrix 2. K-Line Springfield with 24.625 scale in E flat - because SRV and I need all the help I can get 3. K-Line Springfield Fiesta red in normal tuning - because Knopfler and Gilmour 4. Heritage H-150 aged burst - because Allman Brothers 5. PRS S2 594 Thinline - because AC/DC 6. Rivolta Regata (24 frets) - because jazz and BB King 7. PRS CE24 Semi-Hollow with P90's (24 frets) - because fusion, and it's different and might be the best of them all The guitars are mostly with 9's on them, some are intentionally setup with a slightly higher action, some are thinner necks and some chunkier, they all feel different. When I am learning to play something, I practice it on all of them, they all get fairly equal use.
Ibanez 59er Custom. Just a good all-round guitar. Skinny neck profile, great pick-ups and very light. Bought it new in 1973..........well, actually my dad bought it after a year of pestering.
Hi You said once on your show beware of the man who only has 1 gun , cause he knows how to use it ! When I look all the time for new guitars remember your words ,Thanks Your a great speaker or story Teller I Digg your shows....
My first was an Epiphone SG, I went through a PRS, a Les Paul, a strat, a tele, a few Ibanez (Ibani?), a Music Man and a strandberg over the years, and now I am settled on a Suhr and a strandberg. I can't say I have found my only gun (says no guitarist ever), but my Suhr Modern comes damn close to one. My ideal specs if I ever get to order a custom build: 25.5" scale length, HSH, 5 way switch, coil taps on both humbuckers, chambered mahogany body with maple top, roasted maple neck and fretboard, stainless steel frets, decked vibrato bridge, locking tuners. This may sound like a very stereotypical "shredder" guitar, but I find this type of guitar to be really capable of covering every genre out there, from smooth jazz to modern metal.
No deliberation. The 72 thinline telecaster. Semi hollow, 2 wide range Humbuckers. Can do ANYTHING. And do it really well. Great neck middle and bridge sounds clean and dirty.
Yeah Keith, you don’t go golfing with one club, but if you do, people know you mean business… or are completely crazy. Lol. I live in the completely crazy area and I love the sound of that single P-90, so it’s Junior all the way for me. I used to lust over guitars, but much like Mick from TPS, I could live with our guitar but I’d need 5 amps. Great video, Brother. Love how good you are getting with the live streams.
I believe you on the bread baked in Paris. Paris and southern France is a dream destination for me as well. Some of that bread with Parisian butter or fleks of foi gras would be heavenly.
Like many other commenters, I'd opt for a Telecaster. I have a Les Paul, a Strat, a Sheraton, and an acoustic; but my 50s JV Modified Telecaster just gets more play than the others combined. I wouldn't change a thing on that MiJ instrument, and it really does speak to me like none other.
Hey Keith! Love your channel. You crack me up so hard, you really flog the concept of having a minimum amount of gear but you're such a gearhead! I always worry that I have too much gear but then find myself looking for that next piece. Maybe we're related! All the best to you and yours. Oh, and you should probably change the title to 22 watt world.
We don't need one of everything ! But it's sure is fun ! Honestly though, I made it in a cover bags that played everything with a Telecaster and a Les Paul Jr and both have single coils but the amp is usually more important than the guitar is but my pedals is what made it all possible to get the tones from the 50's-Today possible.
Les Paul can get a Strat or Tele sound when you use both pickups and you have the neck pickup magnet reversed. Done this with my LP Traditional but of course you have to use all of the tone and volume controls to get that sound . They call this the Peter green pickup I believe.
My first out the door is my handmade 24.5 scale Fender Swinger with a Strat headstock. I have a mini humbucker in the bridge and a vintage Strat pickup in the neck. My second is my 25" scale Tele I also built or my single pickup jazz, all hand built 😂
Howdy Keith. I had a beer rep drop by today. I'm catching up. My one guitar was built by Roger Gresco in 1986-87. Tele ash body. Two hmbkrs, coil tap switch. Phase switch, sweep blend knob. It's a freaking hot rod, supremely versatile with supremely usable tones throughout all of it's settings. Wilkinson's trem, roller-bearing nut. You can play a convincing Redd Volkaert riff and follow it with AC-DC. I actually own my one guitar. (But I am totally open to more).
i got bit by the guitar bug 3 years ago. started with a dyi tele kit. now i am at twenty with about 12 new projects and a redo in mind for most of the builds. but, when i ask myself if i had to pick one, its always the same choice : a very small body LP jr one pickup style(a homemade p90/single coil hybrid). the guitar seems to love doing everything. it can sound huge. it can almost sound like an acoustic. i love how it plays, sounds, and looks. yup, another guitar geek who loves yer channel...
My Ibanez GB10 made in japan 2002 😊 (I have only 2 guitars but intend to get a tele) Always very interesting your ideas, I like your philosophy and the theories you are talking about. And I didn't know that : tu comprends le français , bravo mon cher ! You are The most elegant TH-cam guy talking about guitars ;)
Love the versatility of my Firecaster/Telebird loaded with a Gibson (Epi leftover) Mini in the Neck and a Tele Bridge. I make use of a 5-way switch with the 'Bill Lawrence' wiring. 1.Neck 2.Both 3.Bridge 4.Strat-ish* 5.Neck Thru Capacitor (About 10% sweeter than Pos1) It's coming along but its not ready to be my ONE yet, it still needs a more suited neck (looking for one off a vintage Coronado) Edit- I've gotten my core 3 sorted out. My 60s inspired strat, Firecaster, 2 Hum Kramer with Floyd Rose. They each play/feel different and I regularly use each of them. I'd be hard pressed to drop it down to one. A 390 sized hollow has been on my shortlist of things to try (Specifically an Eastman T184MX) but almost think what I want is a Semi Hollow version of my FireCaster, I feel that would do everything I believe I'd intend to play.
I gotta tell you, I would have gone with Tele for sure until I got a pink paisley Japanese Jazzmaster. That guitar is great for just about anything. Super comfy to play for long periods of time too.
@@eddiejr540 The neck is asymmetrical but fits the hand well. The radius is a bit odd at around 13.75 or so. Its a good guitar with lots of tones but it isn't anything special. That being said it does what I need it to do. The frets are jumbo but wide. All this is true of the 502 models and up. the 300 and 400 ranges have thin necks and medium frets.
If we're talking about any guitar - obviously a good acoustic would be the one. But if it has to be electric, then i would definitely go with a nice Tele and Fender Twin reverb/vibrolux. That combo would cover a wide spectrum from mellow jazzy to piercing trebly overdrive.
A year ago I bought a Yamaha Super Axe SA700… It’s the best guitar I’ve ever played… Sold all my SGs my R8 and Tele…. Bought a 5e3 Tweed deluxe… Pretty much in heaven everyday…. Took forty years to get here tho!……… And countless thousands of ££££……
I have a factory D'Angelico EXL 1 I ordered online 2016. Played it out of the box .Archtop blonde finish one floating Kent Armstrong pickup. Thick strings. Been playing jazz exclusively for last 6 years. Post videos daily on FB have a small fan base. The most frequent comment "Love yer Tone"
I used to be a sitar player. I was a one sitar man. My first sitar was a Naskar's Calcutta tarabdar sitar I played for 25 years. Got my current sitar a Hiren Roy & sons Angourpatar sitar in the shop on Rashbehari Ave in Calcutta in 1993. Still playing the Hiren.
I have 3 guitars. A Gibson Les Paul Studio, a PRS SE 245 and a PRS SE Paul's Guitar. For me, my SE 245 is my lifer and main workhorse. Its modified to my needs and works flawlessly.
I am not a strat guy by any means, but the partscaster strat I built with Lollar pickups and blender switching and the trem set to float both ways can cover absolutely every tone I would ever need with the right amps and the right pedals.
Bigsby Tele with a mastery bridge, twisted tele pickups and a 4-way switch. Personally also added a vibramate spoiler and rubbed the "sticky" gloss of the neck for comfort
My Rick Kelly Tele and the Stew Mac dreadnaught acoustic kit I built in 2001…still my daily driver. Desert island choice would, of course, be the dread…no electricity!
My one guitar (which sadly I don’t have anymore)...would be my ‘96 PRS CE 22...I ordered it just before they moved shop from Annapolis Md... I was a kid and I learned on that guitar and grew up with it and it could do it all... I miss that guitar so much...the new ones don’t even come close!!!
Picking one is a pretty tall order. I have a small collection and my thought process was focused on what I consider to be workhorses. So it’s down to a Telecaster, a 335 w/humbuckers, a Les Paul Special DC w/P90s, and a Yamaha acoustic. Ultimately I will add a Gretsch Anniversary w/Filtertrons. (Yes. I’m well aware I have failed this thought experiment. 😎)
Hi Keith... but when enthusiasts talk about a guitar being a piece or work of art... it’s PLAYABLE art. Instruments are inspiring, feed creativity, produce music and to top it off they can also look fantastic on a stand or wall between times playing them. I don’t think many people (relatively speaking) really buy instruments to simply put on display as art like a museum piece. That would be a waste. So I see instruments as particularly great value items due to their practical and artistic value. How much you spend is up to the individual. It’s all awesome to fellow enthusiasts who want to hear, feel, play and LOOK 🙂 Thanks for all the fantastic content and that which is yet to come 👍
I missed the live stream but out of the 9 electrics I have I could cut it down to two essentials; a partsocaster Strat (Warmoth mahogany chambered hardtail body with quilt maple top, one piece maple neck, gold hardware, handmade quilt maple pickguard, two Seymour Duncan vintage style singles and a staggered pole piece grey bobbin Fender single from the early 70s) and a home built ES330 with a single mini humbucker (plan to replace with a P90) built around an early 70s bolt on Epiphone acoustic guitar neck and gold hardware. These two just play so easy and because both are self built/made there's a deep emotional connection.
As a poor kid growing up, l played cheep strat knock offs. I think I was 20 before I was able to buy my first amp. I've played a bunch thru the years avoiding anything that reminded me of a strat. Older, and a minimalist at heart, I have one P90 semi, a humbucker guitar, and yep, a strat that I built. If I had to choose, it would be that strat. Somehow every time I pick it up and put my hands on it, before l ever strike a note, it just feels like home. Love the others, don't get me wrong, but they don't make me feel that.
You and me have had a similar journey. I grew up learning on knock-off strats. I lusted after Les Pauls and PRS customs. I bought SGs and ended up playing Ibanez guitars. But when a friend gave me his old Greco strat it all clicked. "I'm a strat guy!"
I had a revelation last night playing with my band.... my pedalboard has become a little larger than I'd like, I have a variety of blackface sounding pedals, and a choice of klon, TS to add mid boost. I admire these guys that go direct into the amp or have 1/2 gain stage pedals. To prove to myself that I could I unplugged the board and went direct into the amp with my Strat (to stop myself bailing out halfway!). And you know what it sounded just as good, there was sustain lacking but I adapted my playing style and pushed myself. Made really good use of the vol, tone and pickup switch to control the tone and push some mids in soloing. I also plugged my SG direct into the amp and it kept the sustain. I won't be getting rid of the board, but it'll be shrinking. Plus you just can't get a good fuzz tone any other way! Sounds obvious, but I think my post is really about how gear can become a '"crutch" and how I became reliant on unnecessary gear.
My ultimate goal was to always just find one guitar and then in 40 years it would be all beat up and relic-ed naturally. That one guitar for me is my 2017 limited walnut Gibson ES 335 ❤🎶
Gun to head it's my custom built explorer, and it's probably obvious why- I chose every spec for that guitar from the capacitors to the wood. I always try to find a newer, better, guitars than what I have and with this one I just... can't. It's probably not perfect for any other person but it might be for me.
prs studio. one of the most slept on guitars in their line up. since getting one i've sold off nearly all of my 17 i had this time last year. rs studio and ebmm valentine and cutlass. thats all im keeping
Man that’s a good question. My revolving door includes: a homemade top loader esquire, a Jazzmaster with no rhythm circuit, and a SG. Weird bunch i guess. Hahaha!
If I had to pare down to only one guitar, it would be my 2020 American Pro II HSS Strat. I don't have a bunch of instruments anyway, which I suppose makes it easier to choose. I have 2 strats, 1 tele, 1 acoustic, 1 classical, plus my grandpa's old mandolin. 😁
Wait a minute. Isn’t it fair to say that the music your guitar enables is art, and the making of a great guitar is art, and your selection of the better guitar is an art? Me personally, I believe guitars are themselves works of art if they look beautiful, sound beautiful and are enjoyable to play.
I agree. Guitars are like modern works of art. Especially if we are talking Stratocaster, Telecaster, Les Paul, SG or 24 PRS. There are many, many more.
I’d buy another 36 CS advanced jumbo. If it was a house fire I’d send my kids in to get the rest🤣. It’s a tool not a piece of art like all of them. My wife loves Marie Kondo. She collects all her books now we are cluttered with Marie Kondo books🤔jk. I loved this Keith. Great chat. Keep doing these.
![Rick Beato At That Pedal Show! [Recording Guitar Tips, Producing & More]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/9vefw_c2BRA/mqdefault.jpg)
My wife and I recently had to flee Myanmar because of the coup. I could only take one guitar with me. After much soul searching I decided on a TLO (telecaster like object) made by Steve Benford with a pine body (made from 100 year old barn rafters) with Duncan P-rails. It is the most versatile with something like 27 pickup configurations, and the most resonant solid-body guitar I have ever heard.
Love this channel and your content. Keep bringing us more history and philosophy.
My choice, I already own one, is Fender Telecaster. It's a work horse, can handle any genre, holds it tune, can handle almost anything except fire. Mines been through earthquakes, tornadoes, being dragged across the country, plus my grandkids inquisitive minds! My second choice is a 335. Btw I own a Tele, a 335 copy, a beater acoustic, & an $85 bass. Come to think of it, my Telecaster is worth more at nearly 30 yrs old, than all my other stuff, including amp, recording equip., & the other guitars, all put together. I think a person needs 2 electric guitars 1 with single coils, 1 with humbuckers, & an acoustic guitar. Of course people malign the early 90s Teles, but according to the neck stamp, it's a Tuesday guitar, almost Wednesday. So...
i own 16 electric guitars (yeah i know...), i agree with you, tele baja is amazingly versatile while keeping its own personnality. It can play the blues and barking like a german sheppard and also render a clystaline sound for jazz Because it s a cheap axe it s not the one i would save if my house was on fire, but surely it would be the very first i'll buy again
I couldn't agree more. If you look at the most used studio guitarist you will find them all playing Tele & 335's as a rule and may have other guitars for specific sounds the producer may want to hear. But the staple guitars are those two.
@@yannber any Suggestions for my first tele ? Thought about something around 1k bucks, I already have LP, a Vintera 50's Strat, and a SG and I really desire Teles lately...
@@xxdr34m5xx_4 for the real thing : go for the tele baja classic player 60s
@@yannber ya probably just helped me out too cuz I am finally to a point where I see what other people see in teles (never had till pretty recently really always was doing heavy stuff and nobody was using em for metal in '98 Jim Root) but I keep looking at like... P90 and humbucker equipped teles and I believe if I'm going to get into them at all I should at least *start* with a pretty straight up tele type... Just 2 single coils no weird shit to begin with. I mean if I'm wanting a tele for the *tele sound* then probably leave the humbuckers on my gibson-ish things.
Les Paul Jr: one pickup, two knobs, and so many amazing tones
The tone knobs are very underrated. Even now, today.
My favorite.. you can do all with it. And P90 doesnt lose highs when Vol is turned low, unlike HBs... an Esquire is just as good... single pickup guitars rule !!
Strat, HSS with a vibrato bar with a coil split on the humbucker. That will cover about any style out there.
THIS GUY FUCKS! Seriously. Desert island guitar is hss strat
Couldn't agree more! I just turned the second tone knob into a Spin-a-Split for my bridge pickup, so on 5 you have an almost p90 like sound, with the option of pure single coil or humbucker.
Like a lot of us I’ve been trying to answer this question for quite some time. I used my free time during the pandemic to accelerate the process. I already know how to make bread. Ha. I caught and released countless guitars. For me it’s the PRS S2 Mcarty. They get a lot of hate from some other PRS owners. But I love mine. I consider myself a serial monogamous guitar owner. So having “only” one guitar isn’t a burden. It just has to be the right guitar. The acid test for me is how much I’ve grown as a guitarist since owning it. I’m able to focus on theory and playing. Not what I want to change or feel I “need”. Love the channel! Keep up the good work.
I just got an S2 McCarty 594 double-cut...its replaced my Les Paul...it plays like butter and does everything great...the blue color isn’t my fav...but what ya gonna do!!!!!
@@eddiejr540 congrats on the guitar! You went with the thin wide neck. Nice guitar! I went in to buy a new 1950’s gold top Les Paul. I’ve always thought they were so cool looking. I didn’t like the way it wanted to slip to right while seated. I walked out with a 1960’’s SG. and it went from there. Your guitar reminds me of a SG on steroids. what are your thoughts? It’s so cool it replaced your LP!
I have 70+ guitars. My dad was a collector.
I play a 2008 MIM Telecaster he gifted me, 98% of the time. It’s just perfect.
My dad’s a collector, too. Unfortunately, the stuff he’s hoarded isn’t anything I’m interested in!
@@ItsVictoriaG Really? Not even one?
@@hailmaryrecordings8255No guitars; guns and knives and model train stuff, mostly. He was never a musician. It’s cool you shared a hobby with your dad!
@@ItsVictoriaG That’s all good stuff too! He left a lot. ☮️
One good Les Paul (doesn't have to be a custom shop, just a great feeling neck) and one good amp. I have more than that.. ..but if forced to pick, I could live with just that easily.
An Ibanez RG with 2 humbuckers is an extremely versatile and well-engineered instrument, and the hardtail version is great for those who aren’t into the whole Floyd Rose thing. If I let my fingers do the voting instead of pandering to the imaginary “image” I have of myself playing guitar, the RG wins every time. Don’t fear it just because it’s pointy!
I've gotten rid of several guitars and now I only have Ibanez RG's (1) and Jem's (2). They are the most comfortable guitar to play, and if you wish, you can change the pickups to give them a different tone. They are available in a variety of woods, so a variety of tones is possible.
Idk your age obviously but I am 38 and I know that for me the RGs got a bad rep cuz when I was learning to play and Korn came out the market got flooded with super low end RGs and they were awful. Much later in life I got my hands on a real one and was an immediate convert. And they're excellent chameleons as well.
Wasn’t a fan of the RG550 I bought in the 80s in Road Flare Red. Sold it and bought an ‘87 ESP Mirage Deluxe in baby’s ass pink, which was so much nicer than the Ibanez.
I only play Ric basses, so I feel soundly focused and secure in myself and what I like.
My 62 jazzmaster, it is my sonic home and has been for 15 years. I heard the sound of it in my head for years not knowing what I imagined then I found it and I was sold and subsequently sold my other guitars.
As to the small hands, short fingers thing, I learned the "trick" - when it matters - is to tune the guitar to D and put a capo on the 2nd fret to play in standard E. The fret markers are mostly in place and it makes it easier to play. Also, depending on the song, a capo can help such as when I play I Feel Fine by the Beatles - I can play the standard F barre chord shapes on the 10th and 8th fret positions and do the fingering, but when I get to the 3rd fret position my little finger can't reach the 5th fret, so I use a capo on the 3rd fret and do a standard E chord fingering which allows my little finger to reach the 5th fret. As for only one guitar, if I had to clean out and only keep one, it would be my Gretsch Duo Jet.
Just screenshot your comment / suggestion
Hey Keith: Have you ever had to go through & clean out someone's belongings after they die? I've done this twice now, and it really makes you look at your personal "stuff" with a critical eye. Especially music gear. I'm super fascinated by this idea of minimizing one's superfluous bullshit. Awesome video man.
Oh!.. And I guess I don't really care which "one guitar" I would own. As long as it's set up and stays in tune, I'm fine with it. I don't need a special hammer to drive a nail. The skill is in your training and muscle memory.
Dude... I agree with everything you said a million percent...I have cleared out “stuff” when a loved one passed...it does really make you think about all the material bullshit...rock on brother!!!
Spot on guys. Both of you are speaking the truth. Respect.
You always need two.
One with the luthier, or in need of a change of strings.
Keith, for context I started lessons 50 years ago, and have been an orchestral woodwind player all my life as well as the guitar playing. On that side, I have a flute and a sax, both of which are 40 years old and I have one of each. Classical players tend to have one instrument, and their ‘tone’ comes from their playing and interpretation.
I sang in bands in the ‘70s and early ‘80s with guitarists who typically had a half stack, a curly lead and a guitar. Later playing flute in Irish/folk bands I played residences with a guitarist who owned 1 guitar, a Martin D28.
All the more mystifying when my guitar hero, Rory Gallagher, basically had one Strat for his entire career!
Yup. THAT Stratocaster of Rory’s (my guitar demigod) is arguably the most famous Strat of Fender lore.
The tone is YOU .. the instrument is just means to get there. But .. they all want to play a different song.. that´s all the fun with multiple instruments.. so I´ve found out 😉
Love the 5 watt life but for me it’s the inspiration in each individual guitar that makes me keep 30 on hand that 30 is whittled down from 500 and I made a few bucks along the way
I realize I'm late to the party, but... Ummm... Didn't hear it mentioned... I own a brand new (2021) Gibson Les Paul Classic, which I love. I understand how many people dislike the Modern Series, but the versatility of the PCB board is actually very good. The dual pickup, out-of-phase tone is AMAZING to me. I also dig the whole pop up one knob and, no matter what configuration you're in, once the bridge tone control is pulled up, you're playing the bridge pickup through the volume pot with the tone control bypassed. It's a really useful feature. Add coil-splitting to all this, and it makes for a versatile instrument.
My If Only One guitar is a thinline Tele with Seymour Duncan P-Rails, Les Paul controls, and a trem bridge with a piezo.
For me, hands down it'd be my 1994 Gibson Nighthawk SP3. It's got the best of both the Strat and Gibson features in one guitar. Great for cover band guitarists. Maybe an idea for a future short history? Kudos on your channel, btw.
Keith, great show. I’m following your mantras for real (and the minimalist guys) and am down to 4 guitars, 2 teles, a Les Paul and an Ibanez Artcore semi. Redecorating my home office, had the hangers down off the wall and guitars in cases except 1 on a stand. Tele from around 1980, unknown pickups and neck. Jimmy Page dragon design on it done by someone when it was newish.
I haven’t got anything back out of the cases. So the one guitar is my Tele, probably not replaceable, and the one that to me sounds better than any other guitar. I’m now working down to one amp, reverb channel and no pedals.
The Cole Clark Angel 2EC-RDBL Redwood top, Blackwood back & sides, Spanish heel construction, and Cole Clark's unique 3-component electric system. All Australia-grown woods, built in Melbourne. Yes, the California redwoods were planted 150 years ago by the Botanist General as an experiment. 44 mm nut width is a great improvement for me, compared to 1-11/16 inch.
I hanker for a Cole Clarke. Nice choice.
Telecaster...I used to hate them, and now having owned many guitars, Telecaster is the only guitar I'd feel comfortable playing any kind of music on, it's so stupidly simple and versatile, and I feel like an idiot for having avoided them for years.
Dont feel that way. Teles are not really all that easy to play.
Got a G&L Telecaster ASAT Tribute Special - the last guitar Leo Fender designed. The complete full life cycle of the Fender Telecaster, ie the electric guitar.
@@michaelstellajr3931 Nothing worthwhile in life is easy - especially relationships including with your guitar.
Sparks joy! What a life changing concept 👍
Hi, I wasn’t able to see this live but I appreciate the post. I have several guitars and if forced to use only 1 it would be a toss up between my 2017 Single Cut McCarty or my Double Cut 20th anniversary McCarty. The funny thing is, I’m 50 and when the rock band playing live thing was relevant to me, I had 1 guitar. Nobody cared including me. I’ll never forget I got a Steinberger for Christmas probably in 1990 and I thought I was so cool because my old guitar became a backup. Age and a strong work ethic allows some of us guitar geeks to indulge ourselves. You really only need one (of course assuming you never break a string live) and if you can play people will enjoy what you do. Thanks again for the great post
An old bandmate of mine had a Strandburg bass. When he showed up with it for my wannabe Stones/ R&B rock band I thought it was a joke but he played well and it grew on me.
My #1 is right there in my profile, my 50's Standard LP. Just over 8-1/2 pounds. My #2 is my standard ES-335 in 60's cherry. I have many other guitars, but those are my #1 and #2 and I could do without all of the others.
kiesel theos: chambered body, lovely top, lots of wood options, stainless steel frets, tremolo system, locking tuners and great humbuckers that range from heavy metal to jazz.
Love your show and I learn a lot from you Keith. Thanks.
For me, it’s the “thought of” (...............). I like the “thought of” a Strat. I’ve had a bunch. Sold them all. Always do. Same goes for Les Pauls. I’ve had a load of really great ones. However, I just never end up reaching for them. I always have my Tele within arms reach. Funny part, I don’t love Teles....🤔. Now, for the art piece. I recently sent a great McCarty back to PRS for a complete refinish/rebuild. I had it spec’d out with all new parts and added splits like a Paul’s Guitar. I even picked a color just for me, a one off. I went with pink nitro. It may be the best guitar I’ve ever had pass through my hands. However, like you mentioned, I just can’t justify it. Kinda sucks, but I’d never buy a $4,000 painting. So, onto Reverb it goes.
One quitar only? Fender Stratocaster, period.
One guitar? Suhr Alt T Pro. It is a semi-hollow Tele shape with two humbuckers, 5 way switch with Strat tones in position 2 and 4. Action is fast and intonation is accurate. It does everything well for me and remains my go-to guitar for recording and live.
I am always watching your videos ever since you started the channel. I was skeptical about your moto of making music with less guitars as I had almost 30 at the time. Gradually I understood your logic and now only have 5 guitars of different brands because they serve different purposes. I may or may not add a 6th one. Saying that , I have come to realize that I can probably live my life happily with 1 of them. That's is my heavily modified 2001 PRS CE24. It does everything for me. The neck ,heel are shaved to my liking, bigger frets, different pickups and wirings etc. only the body and tremolo are left alone. It does your LP, Tele, Strat tones very easily. I wish I could find another one like it that feels the same but still no luck. Trust me when I say I hardly pick up my 7000$ custom shop 60s reissue LP which is an awesome guitar too. So Thank you so much for helping me realize how little I need to be happy and satisfied. By the way if anyone here know a great guitar tech in NYC kindly let me know as I need to replace the nut of the PRS after 20 years of heavy use. Please stay safe and stay blessed.
My new CS Tele (Broadcaster. Time capsule) I swore that I would NEVER put out that much dough for a guitar! But, s o o o glad I did!!!
Only one? My Danocaster single cut with Peter Florance TE-60 pickups and the Ted Greene controls mod. 6.3 lbs, .88 soft V. Light, comfortable, plays like butter, versatile tonal palette ( through a 5 Watt Swart STR Tweed with a Celestion Blue).
If only one...my PRS 513. I love it. It's going in the casket with me. If 2...my PRS McCarty 594. Its more like my 1B guitar. Both very expensive and it took about a year to pay off each one but, I have absolutely no buyers remorse.
I've been downsizing lately myself over the past 2 years as I'm getting ready to retire soon and have come down from 17 guitars to only 9 essential ones now. I'd find it hard, but I can live without my 335, LP,s Strats, and Gretsches. Honestly, when it comes down to it, I play my Fender '64 AVRI Tele most of the time. It does EVERYTHING well, and would be my desert island guitar for sure.
Absolutely, one of my two Telecasters, always and forever 🙂
'What would you grab if the house was burning down?' Tough one as I have bought several guitars since the mid 70's but given I have 2 arms to grab them it would have to be my 1968 LP Custom, my first 'real guitar' and my Roger Sadowsky NYC S Style (HSH) which has been my go to in the studio and for a handful of live gigs since I bought it in 1992 - incredibly versatile instrument. Fun vid and enjoyed reading everyone's comments 😀 What a sad story about Abercrombie . . . saw him live in 81, owned most of his ECM work. Tragic.
Gibson Nighthawk (90s) or a Les Paul GT or Les Paul LPX.. There's enough settings on each of those models that you should be able to comfortably dial in any sound you can imagine. The versatility of those instruments is off the charts and I think I could live the rest of my life satisfied with either of those.
Anything with decent action and humbuckers. That’s really all I need.
This channel has some of the best content on TH-cam. I would have to say telecaster. But I have been spending a lot of time with my 335 lately!
Someone mentioned Fender Starcaster. I always think of the stint that name had with a Walmart guitar. It was my first guitar and was basically an "official" Strat copy (I doubt fender actually had much to do with it). The electronics were junk, but it made for a great partscaster platform because it seemed to use Fender specs meaning swapping parts was really easy. I still have mine and I absolutely love it.
Fender has 2 Starcasters. The cheapo Strat type, and the semi 335 type. The latter are beautiful, with a gorgeous flowing headstock.
D'Angelico Bedford Bob Weir model. Got it Nov 2022 and have rarely played anything else. SD Silent P90's and silent SD single coil and complex electronics. Does everything. Best Regards!
Sold it all and bought a Taylor Builder's Edition K14ce. Happiest I've been in a long time.
I like the way you present things. Open, honest, articulate and great speaking voice. Guess that’s why you were in education.
I was in admin actually but thanks!
@@fivewattworld well you’re still good so there🤣
Thanks Richard. I was often “teaching” in all my jobs of course.
Love your work Keith. It's always a wonderful journey on your videos. My one acoustic is a Northwood 00-12 fret, my one electric is a sunburst Heritage 535, and my one amp is a Morgan JS-12. They cover it all for me and I've loved the journey finding myself with them. "Be careful with the man with one gun."
last year i went to visit my son for christmas. while i was away from home someone broke in my house and stole all 11 of my guitars. i had a fender strat that i had for over 20 years, a ibanez that i really liked, and many other guitars. i also had a gibson les paul standard , i had wanted a real les paul for over 40 years and i finally got one only to have it stolen along with the rest.
Anyways i heard from my neighbor that my house was robbed and that my guitars were taken. i was quite upset as you might imagine. so i said i could cry or i could buy. so i chose the later. and bought a used gibson les paul. to my surprise i liked the new paul much better . long story a little shorter, when i returned home i found the first les paul in the near by pawn shop. now i had two!
but the second paul is still my favorite. i miss the rest but like my honeyburst best
I got a Fender 50s Baja Tele. Black guard in butterscotch with brass saddles. The neck is a soft V which i love (and hard to find on anything except the high end American made teles) and the pickups were designed by fender custom shop with a twisted tele in the neck which has a Straty sound and a Broadcaster bridge pickup. It has a 4 way switch that also gives you the two pups in series and an S switch that gives two out of phase tones that are perfect for my slide playing. So all the traditional tones X 2. The body is swamp ash with beautiful grain and the weight of the guitar is 6.8 lb. How can you beat that? If i can pick a second guitar it would be a furch acoustic or if i have the option to have two electrics my second would be an SG with P90s.
You’re describing my own Partscaster there, w just a few differences.
I’ve got the vintera 50’s modified, which is the same thing as the Baja. Awesome guitar
@@fivewattworld nice! So is that one you're gonna keep? 😃
I kept buying and selling for awhile, looking for my perfect guitar, and kept returning to the Schecter Tempest I bought just after high school - it's so comfortable, so familiar, and rock solid tuning stability. It's really all that I need.
You can rule the world with a good LP
Yes but a real non-relief StD. is a tremendous commitment, almost an obsession! It is HUGE HEAVY BLOCKY, has Intonation and tuning problems...and does something that NO OTHER GUITAR can do or can compete! Les Pauls are a deal with the devil in some ways. They are a lot like Teles...a good one, WOW~!
Custom built Warmoth Partscaster. Because it came out of my brain and does what I want it to. Off the shelf? Fender SSH Strat. Most versatile guitar ever (and YOU can modify EVERYTHING on it).
If it weren't for the guitars I've gotten after the LP Effector, it'd definitely be that #1 that's been with me since my 15th birthday from my mother in 1984. I've played few guitars in various music stores over the years but always came home to my #1! I've lost count of the upgrades and makeovers it's endured almost 37yrs.
Smaller hands here too. I refuse to answer this question because all my guitars, when I pick them up and think about them, bring me joy :).
1. Nash S-63 Strat in E flat - because Hendrix
2. K-Line Springfield with 24.625 scale in E flat - because SRV and I need all the help I can get
3. K-Line Springfield Fiesta red in normal tuning - because Knopfler and Gilmour
4. Heritage H-150 aged burst - because Allman Brothers
5. PRS S2 594 Thinline - because AC/DC
6. Rivolta Regata (24 frets) - because jazz and BB King
7. PRS CE24 Semi-Hollow with P90's (24 frets) - because fusion, and it's different and might be the best of them all
The guitars are mostly with 9's on them, some are intentionally setup with a slightly higher action, some are thinner necks and some chunkier, they all feel different. When I am learning to play something, I practice it on all of them, they all get fairly equal use.
Ibanez 59er Custom. Just a good all-round guitar. Skinny neck profile, great pick-ups and very light. Bought it new in 1973..........well, actually my dad bought it after a year of pestering.
Hi You said once on your show beware of the man who only has 1 gun , cause he knows how to use it ! When I look all the time for new guitars remember your words ,Thanks Your a great speaker or story Teller I Digg your shows....
My first was an Epiphone SG, I went through a PRS, a Les Paul, a strat, a tele, a few Ibanez (Ibani?), a Music Man and a strandberg over the years, and now I am settled on a Suhr and a strandberg. I can't say I have found my only gun (says no guitarist ever), but my Suhr Modern comes damn close to one. My ideal specs if I ever get to order a custom build: 25.5" scale length, HSH, 5 way switch, coil taps on both humbuckers, chambered mahogany body with maple top, roasted maple neck and fretboard, stainless steel frets, decked vibrato bridge, locking tuners.
This may sound like a very stereotypical "shredder" guitar, but I find this type of guitar to be really capable of covering every genre out there, from smooth jazz to modern metal.
No deliberation. The 72 thinline telecaster. Semi hollow, 2 wide range Humbuckers. Can do ANYTHING. And do it really well. Great neck middle and bridge sounds clean and dirty.
If I could only have one guitar, I would pick Billy Gibbons “Pearly Gates”…..not a remake, but the original one
Telecaster. Simplicity and versatility all in one!
Yeah Keith, you don’t go golfing with one club, but if you do, people know you mean business… or are completely crazy. Lol. I live in the completely crazy area and I love the sound of that single P-90, so it’s Junior all the way for me. I used to lust over guitars, but much like Mick from TPS, I could live with our guitar but I’d need 5 amps. Great video, Brother. Love how good you are getting with the live streams.
I believe you on the bread baked in Paris. Paris and southern France is a dream destination for me as well. Some of that bread with Parisian butter or fleks of foi gras would be heavenly.
Like many other commenters, I'd opt for a Telecaster.
I have a Les Paul, a Strat, a Sheraton, and an acoustic; but my 50s JV Modified Telecaster just gets more play than the others combined. I wouldn't change a thing on that MiJ instrument, and it really does speak to me like none other.
It would have to be a jazzmaster.
Hey Keith! Love your channel. You crack me up so hard, you really flog the concept of having a minimum amount of gear but you're such a gearhead! I always worry that I have too much gear but then find myself looking for that next piece. Maybe we're related! All the best to you and yours. Oh, and you should probably change the title to 22 watt world.
You have a point Jim. Beato is always saying to me, "you're the anti-gear channel but you're ALWAYS talking about gear."
We don't need one of everything ! But it's sure is fun !
Honestly though, I made it in a cover bags that played everything with a Telecaster and a Les Paul Jr and both have single coils but the amp is usually more important than the guitar is but my pedals is what made it all possible to get the tones from the 50's-Today possible.
My Les Paul with the HP harness. Splits, phase, blower. It does it all.
Les Paul can get a Strat or Tele sound when you use both pickups and you have the neck pickup magnet reversed. Done this with my LP Traditional but of course you have to use all of the tone and volume controls to get that sound . They call this the Peter green pickup I believe.
My first out the door is my handmade 24.5 scale Fender Swinger with a Strat headstock. I have a mini humbucker in the bridge and a vintage Strat pickup in the neck. My second is my 25" scale Tele I also built or my single pickup jazz, all hand built 😂
Howdy Keith. I had a beer rep drop by today. I'm catching up. My one guitar was built by Roger Gresco in 1986-87. Tele ash body. Two hmbkrs, coil tap switch. Phase switch, sweep blend knob. It's a freaking hot rod, supremely versatile with supremely usable tones throughout all of it's settings. Wilkinson's trem, roller-bearing nut. You can play a convincing Redd Volkaert riff and follow it with AC-DC. I actually own my one guitar. (But I am totally open to more).
i got bit by the guitar bug 3 years ago. started with a dyi tele kit. now i am at twenty with about 12 new projects and a redo in mind for most of the builds. but, when i ask myself if i had to pick one, its always the same choice : a very small body LP jr one pickup style(a homemade p90/single coil hybrid). the guitar seems to love doing everything. it can sound huge. it can almost sound like an acoustic. i love how it plays, sounds, and looks.
yup, another guitar geek who loves yer channel...
My Ibanez GB10 made in japan 2002 😊 (I have only 2 guitars but intend to get a tele) Always very interesting your ideas, I like your philosophy and the theories you are talking about. And I didn't know that : tu comprends le français , bravo mon cher ! You are The most elegant TH-cam guy talking about guitars ;)
Hasn’t changed for me since soon after I first picked up the guitar more than 50 years ago, that being the ‘60-‘64 Les Paul (SG) Special❣️
Love the versatility of my Firecaster/Telebird loaded with a Gibson (Epi leftover) Mini in the Neck and a Tele Bridge. I make use of a 5-way switch with the 'Bill Lawrence' wiring. 1.Neck 2.Both 3.Bridge 4.Strat-ish* 5.Neck Thru Capacitor (About 10% sweeter than Pos1) It's coming along but its not ready to be my ONE yet, it still needs a more suited neck (looking for one off a vintage Coronado)
Edit- I've gotten my core 3 sorted out. My 60s inspired strat, Firecaster, 2 Hum Kramer with Floyd Rose. They each play/feel different and I regularly use each of them. I'd be hard pressed to drop it down to one. A 390 sized hollow has been on my shortlist of things to try (Specifically an Eastman T184MX) but almost think what I want is a Semi Hollow version of my FireCaster, I feel that would do everything I believe I'd intend to play.
I gotta tell you, I would have gone with Tele for sure until I got a pink paisley Japanese Jazzmaster. That guitar is great for just about anything. Super comfy to play for long periods of time too.
A Fender Jaguar HH. They're so versatile it's ridiculous. The only guitar I've ever owned that can do both metal and surf rock pretty well.
A year ago I sold all my guitars except the Gibson ES-235. Really really nice one. Zen since then
I’m down to a Yamaha Revstar 502 with p90s and a helix. Sold off all of the amps, pedals and other guitars. Oddly enough I don’t miss my prior excess.
That's a unique set up. Cool.
I’d love to try a Revstar... Is it true they have an odd neck profile??
@@eddiejr540 The neck is asymmetrical but fits the hand well. The radius is a bit odd at around 13.75 or so. Its a good guitar with lots of tones but it isn't anything special. That being said it does what I need it to do. The frets are jumbo but wide. All this is true of the 502 models and up. the 300 and 400 ranges have thin necks and medium frets.
I will do everything in my power to get you more subscribers, you legendary, erudite man
If we're talking about any guitar - obviously a good acoustic would be the one. But if it has to be electric, then i would definitely go with a nice Tele and Fender Twin reverb/vibrolux. That combo would cover a wide spectrum from mellow jazzy to piercing trebly overdrive.
A year ago I bought a Yamaha Super Axe SA700… It’s the best guitar I’ve ever played… Sold all my SGs my R8 and Tele…. Bought a 5e3 Tweed deluxe… Pretty much in heaven everyday…. Took forty years to get here tho!……… And countless thousands of ££££……
I have a factory D'Angelico EXL 1 I ordered online 2016. Played it out of the box .Archtop blonde finish one floating Kent Armstrong pickup. Thick strings. Been playing jazz exclusively for last 6 years. Post videos daily on FB have a small fan base. The most frequent comment "Love yer Tone"
I used to be a sitar player. I was a one sitar man. My first sitar was a Naskar's Calcutta tarabdar sitar I played for 25 years. Got my current sitar a Hiren Roy & sons Angourpatar sitar in the shop on Rashbehari Ave in Calcutta in 1993. Still playing the Hiren.
I have 3 guitars. A Gibson Les Paul Studio, a PRS SE 245 and a PRS SE Paul's Guitar. For me, my SE 245 is my lifer and main workhorse. Its modified to my needs and works flawlessly.
I am not a strat guy by any means, but the partscaster strat I built with Lollar pickups and blender switching and the trem set to float both ways can cover absolutely every tone I would ever need with the right amps and the right pedals.
A PRS P245 Piezo Semi-Hollow. Great subject Keith!
Bigsby Tele with a mastery bridge, twisted tele pickups and a 4-way switch. Personally also added a vibramate spoiler and rubbed the "sticky" gloss of the neck for comfort
My Rick Kelly Tele and the Stew Mac dreadnaught acoustic kit I built in 2001…still my daily driver. Desert island choice would, of course, be the dread…no electricity!
Desert island choice lmao.
My one guitar (which sadly I don’t have anymore)...would be my ‘96 PRS CE 22...I ordered it just before they moved shop from Annapolis Md... I was a kid and I learned on that guitar and grew up with it and it could do it all... I miss that guitar so much...the new ones don’t even come close!!!
Picking one is a pretty tall order. I have a small collection and my thought process was focused on what I consider to be workhorses. So it’s down to a Telecaster, a 335 w/humbuckers, a Les Paul Special DC w/P90s, and a Yamaha acoustic. Ultimately I will add a Gretsch Anniversary w/Filtertrons. (Yes. I’m well aware I have failed this thought experiment. 😎)
Hi Keith... but when enthusiasts talk about a guitar being a piece or work of art... it’s PLAYABLE art. Instruments are inspiring, feed creativity, produce music and to top it off they can also look fantastic on a stand or wall between times playing them. I don’t think many people (relatively speaking) really buy instruments to simply put on display as art like a museum piece. That would be a waste. So I see instruments as particularly great value items due to their practical and artistic value. How much you spend is up to the individual. It’s all awesome to fellow enthusiasts who want to hear, feel, play and LOOK 🙂 Thanks for all the fantastic content and that which is yet to come 👍
I missed the live stream but out of the 9 electrics I have I could cut it down to two essentials; a partsocaster Strat (Warmoth mahogany chambered hardtail body with quilt maple top, one piece maple neck, gold hardware, handmade quilt maple pickguard, two Seymour Duncan vintage style singles and a staggered pole piece grey bobbin Fender single from the early 70s) and a home built ES330 with a single mini humbucker (plan to replace with a P90) built around an early 70s bolt on Epiphone acoustic guitar neck and gold hardware. These two just play so easy and because both are self built/made there's a deep emotional connection.
As a poor kid growing up, l played cheep strat knock offs. I think I was 20 before I was able to buy my first amp. I've played a bunch thru the years avoiding anything that reminded me of a strat. Older, and a minimalist at heart, I have one P90 semi, a humbucker guitar, and yep, a strat that I built. If I had to choose, it would be that strat. Somehow every time I pick it up and put my hands on it, before l ever strike a note, it just feels like home. Love the others, don't get me wrong, but they don't make me feel that.
You and me have had a similar journey. I grew up learning on knock-off strats. I lusted after Les Pauls and PRS customs. I bought SGs and ended up playing Ibanez guitars. But when a friend gave me his old Greco strat it all clicked. "I'm a strat guy!"
I had a revelation last night playing with my band.... my pedalboard has become a little larger than I'd like, I have a variety of blackface sounding pedals, and a choice of klon, TS to add mid boost.
I admire these guys that go direct into the amp or have 1/2 gain stage pedals.
To prove to myself that I could I unplugged the board and went direct into the amp with my Strat (to stop myself bailing out halfway!). And you know what it sounded just as good, there was sustain lacking but I adapted my playing style and pushed myself. Made really good use of the vol, tone and pickup switch to control the tone and push some mids in soloing. I also plugged my SG direct into the amp and it kept the sustain. I won't be getting rid of the board, but it'll be shrinking. Plus you just can't get a good fuzz tone any other way!
Sounds obvious, but I think my post is really about how gear can become a '"crutch" and how I became reliant on unnecessary gear.
My ultimate goal was to always just find one guitar and then in 40 years it would be all beat up and relic-ed naturally. That one guitar for me is my 2017 limited walnut Gibson ES 335 ❤🎶
Gun to head it's my custom built explorer, and it's probably obvious why- I chose every spec for that guitar from the capacitors to the wood. I always try to find a newer, better, guitars than what I have and with this one I just... can't. It's probably not perfect for any other person but it might be for me.
There is just no way that I could choose only one!
Keith it’s amazing how you’ve based an entire TH-cam channel on a single question.
Ha! Not quite but close.
prs studio. one of the most slept on guitars in their line up. since getting one i've sold off nearly all of my 17 i had this time last year. rs studio and ebmm valentine and cutlass. thats all im keeping
My solid black prs standard 22. 5 way rotary and a tremolo. Seems to cover all the bases, doesn’t weigh a lot, nice size neck and well balanced.
Man that’s a good question. My revolving door includes: a homemade top loader esquire, a Jazzmaster with no rhythm circuit, and a SG. Weird bunch i guess. Hahaha!
If I had to pare down to only one guitar, it would be my 2020 American Pro II HSS Strat. I don't have a bunch of instruments anyway, which I suppose makes it easier to choose. I have 2 strats, 1 tele, 1 acoustic, 1 classical, plus my grandpa's old mandolin. 😁
Wait a minute. Isn’t it fair to say that the music your guitar enables is art, and the making of a great guitar is art, and your selection of the better guitar is an art? Me personally, I believe guitars are themselves works of art if they look beautiful, sound beautiful and are enjoyable to play.
I agree. Guitars are like modern works of art. Especially if we are talking Stratocaster, Telecaster, Les Paul, SG or 24 PRS. There are many, many more.
I’d buy another 36 CS advanced jumbo. If it was a house fire I’d send my kids in to get the rest🤣. It’s a tool not a piece of art like all of them. My wife loves Marie Kondo. She collects all her books now we are cluttered with Marie Kondo books🤔jk. I loved this Keith. Great chat. Keep doing these.
“Cluttered w Kongo books” made me laugh. Thanks!