The Punch-In
28Jan/10

The Second Guitar

by Charlie Doom

85211434Buying a second guitar is a rite of passage for a guitarist. It represents a commitment between artist and art, not only spiritually, but financially, too. Buying a second guitar says, "I am serious and committed to expanding my craft." And it is my firm belief that a guitarist only really needs two guitars - an acoustic and an electric. Which explains why I have seven guitars crammed into my tiny downtown apartment. I don't even own a couch. It's a disease.

If you're even thinking about having two guitars it's already too late. Some of us have money to sustain the addiction, but the rest of us have to scavenge about like frightened swine; lying, cheating and stealing to bring home what we most covet. If you or someone you know might be suffering from this addiction, there is no hope. All you can really do is learn how to play your guitars to the best of your ability. At least that way you'll have an excuse to buy that 1988 banana yellow American Strat you see in the window of Stevie B's  everyday you ride your bike to work.

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  1. I really like that you made to corelation between one's chosen instrument and spirituality. Most guitars are lovingly maintained and adored! My son just bought another acoustic, this one with a pick up, for upcoming performances. He was afraid to take his precious Martin parlor guitar out into the big wide world!
    Great post. Hope you get a sofa one of these days….

  2. i agree i was ok till i got a job as a pawnbroker ! now i have 14 teen vint E G`s and 12 asorted acustic guitars not counting amps / keybords / and/all kind of string stuff (mine! mine ! all mine)you are right! a sickness ! but i got every toy i ever wanted at a great discount ! slowly going through guitar D T`S but slowly kicking the habet (just one more dubbleneck and i`ll quit )!!
    GOLDEN BEATLE

  3. Too funny… and painfully true. I have two guitars (one acoustic, one electric) that I play regularly and beat to heck on the road. One more acoustic at home in my office for playing around. And four other electrics, a 12 string acoustic, a mando, and a banjo that sit in my closet untouched. It's truly an addiction. My girlfriend's own purse addiction keeps her from complaining. :)

  4. GAS is a mild curse, at worst. Mine vanished when I fell in love with one particular guitar. I haven't seriously thought of acquiring any more since that happened. Who know how long the romance will last?

  5. Well, it started some way back with a wonderful acoustic, mmm, o, and then my dear buudys suggestion we get another and make an ELECTRIC ACCOUSTIC, few wires, couple pickups, u no, mmm, o! the sweet fender strat, my dearr Irish friend with some obscure band called the Pink Fairies, suggested i try out. O!! the acoustic another freund suggested i look at in TUNISIA. enuff. No! (as i said some time ago. O! that little four picup with the little marshall amp.mmm (aside to Doom– sic. ) mines a really neat cool green strat! o dear i guess i should look at a MARTIN acoustic. let see picks pedals, mm. o speakers ,cases, tuner, Music!! God help us all.

  6. a couple of mine are in the witness protection program….

  7. Well I am kinda strang,,I own 18 differant guitars,,But mine are cheap ones,or should I say budget guitars,,true they are not all fantastic players,but they are beutiful in there own ways,,One of these days maybe I will buy a high dollar one,,but I doubt it,,besides i have picked up some that are truely amazing for the money,,2 Silvertones,2 Hohners,2 Peaveys,2 LTDs,..And the list go on,,Never spent more than 400 buck on one,and sold it because the neck felt like a baseball bat,,Have spent as little as 25 bucks,on one of the silvertones,,Besides,,if you can make a cheap guitar sound good,youve done something,,,

  8. Its not a sickness, its a search for the one meant for you…I have seven and each one was meant for me. There may be others searching for me yet, who knows?

    Have a look at my rig:
    http://baatkarlo-aol.spaces.live.com/?_c11_BlogPa...

    Yes, I am out of money for my studio until I work harder to get that Carvin SH-575 that's been gnawing at for a year now – that's why I have a day job.

  9. I'm a very new guitarist, and still only have one axe. But I don't think it's going to be an only child for long. I have found that "window shopping" for guitars is a fun hobby as well. I spend many online hours drooling over guitars.

  10. Loved this article! Hysterically funny and totally spot-on!!

  11. It sounds like you’re creating problems yourself by trying to solve this issue instead of looking at why their is a problem in the first place.


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