Is it a good idea to spend a bunch of money to cheer yourself up?

[natty]

A new guitar won't help you improve.  It's perfectly fine to want a new guitar but don't try to tell yourself you 'need' it.  If you think your tele sounds too thin then you probably just want something with a humbucker.  So if you feel like that's something you really 'need' then realize you could get something cheaper.  Guitarists in general are overly obsessed with equipment, 99% of your sound comes from your hands.  

 

But if you want it, then fug it, get it.  

[Sapper]

Just make sure you don't let it turn into a process addiction.

[phone]

I would do it. you can get way better value if you buy used. I found a 94 american Tele for $750 once. By far my favorite guitar.

I've had two Gibson sg standards. One was bought brand new for $1700 through american music supply. . Wasn't as impressed once I set it up. The second was found used at guitar center For $1200. Some asshole had but emgs and grover machine heads in it. I left the grovers in and bought a pair of 57 gibson classics. Man that was fun to play.

But honestly if you want to improve your sound, I think you get more bang for your buck if you put your money into an amp. Vox ac30 and twin reverb are my fav. Just remember, you can also upgrade a cheaper guitar with pickups, bridge, nut, machine head, etc. Not so much with an amp.

[phone]

What kind of amp are you playing? combo or head and cab? Hopefully you are already using tube if you're recording.

[hepcat]

What kind of amp are you playing? combo or head and cab? Hopefully you are already using tube if you're recording.

 

I have a hotrod deluxe I got on craigslist for $200.  Awesome amp.  I've had a lot of amps and it's definitely my favorite.  I've owned a Mashall combo, a Twin, had a Dr Z for a little while (too much amp - sold it), and had a roommate with a Vox AC30 combo for awhile.  Used to borrow it from time to time.  My favorite is the 1x12 Hotrod man, I feel no need to get another amp right now.  The guitar though...would love a Les Paul to counter my Tele sound.  I just need a second guitar in general because of the long shows we've started playing.  If I bust a string or just need a different sound for certain songs.  Like everyone has said I don't need to drop $2k on another guitar but...the one I really like was that much so...

[stratopanther]

I have a hotrod deluxe I got on craigslist for $200.  Awesome amp.  I've had a lot of amps and it's definitely my favorite.  I've owned a Mashall combo, a Twin, had a Dr Z for a little while (too much amp - sold it), and had a roommate with a Vox AC30 combo for awhile.  Used to borrow it from time to time.  My favorite is the 1x12 Hotrod man, I feel no need to get another amp right now.  The guitar though...would love a Les Paul to counter my Tele sound.  I just need a second guitar in general because of the long shows we've started playing.  If I bust a string or just need a different sound for certain songs.  Like everyone has said I don't need to drop $2k on another guitar but...the one I really like was that much so...

200 bucks for a hotrod man that's a steal.  I got mine for $350 and thought I made out pretty good.  Prices aside, it's a great amp.  Between the hotrod and it's little brother the blues jr I've never felt the need to get another amp.  It's nice and lightweight also which is extremely convenient. 

[hepcat]

200 bucks for a hotrod man that's a steal.  I got mine for $350 and thought I made out pretty good.  Prices aside, it's a great amp.  Between the hotrod and it's little brother the blues jr I've never felt the need to get another amp.  It's nice and lightweight also which is extremely convenient. 

 

The working man's amp!

[phone]

I love the hot rod. Had a 2x12 that was loud as poo. You just can't beat fender tube amps for a clean tone.

But another solid amp I played out of was a music man hd-130. Sounded great playing out of a 1960. Only downside was no reverb tank.

[PhillyB]

you'll regret it

 

this is coming from a fellow guitar player btw

 

everything in me says no, too, but a decade ago i was working a poo job cooking chicken sandwiches for 6.50 an hour struggling to pay rent and be financially responsible and stay in school and one day i got this impossible itch to upgrade from my absolute poo-ass johnson electric guitar to something that i could actually play on, so i went and dropped $800 on my credit card for a les paul (epiphone, it was still a huge step up) case, and some gear.

 

it was financially regrettable and it took me a long time to pay off, but even now i look at it as one of the best decisions i made in what otherwise was a very very shitty year of my life. i didn't regret it then and i don't regret it now. my only regret is selling the thing a few years later to buy an engagement ring.

 

so i say do it.

[phone]

everything in me says no, too, but a decade ago i was working a poo job cooking chicken sandwiches for 6.50 an hour struggling to pay rent and be financially responsible and stay in school and one day i got this impossible itch to upgrade from my absolute poo-ass johnson electric guitar to something that i could actually play on, so i went and dropped $800 on my credit card for a les paul (epiphone, it was still a huge step up) case, and some gear.

it was financially regrettable and it took me a long time to pay off, but even now i look at it as one of the best decisions i made in what otherwise was a very very shitty year of my life. i didn't regret it then and i don't regret it now. my only regret is selling the thing a few years later to buy an engagement ring.

so i say do it.

Only a fellow guitarist can understand the euphoria playing brings.

[stirs]

On a MB, advice is way cheaper than your proposed purchase of $2k.

 

Too many unanswered questions in the OP to make a recommendation.  My thoughts at first glance would be to make sure you are not buying something so unconnected to the problem, so as not to help it at all.  Example:  I am hungry, I am gonna buy a pair of shoes.

 

In the end, you might want to spend a bit more time examining why you are bummed before spending big bucks on a solution

[phone]

On a MB, advice is way cheaper than your proposed purchase of $2k.

Too many unanswered questions in the OP to make a recommendation. My thoughts at first glance would be to make sure you are not buying something so unconnected to the problem, so as not to help it at all. Example: I am hungry, I am gonna buy a pair of shoes.

In the end, you might want to spend a bit more time examining why you are bummed before spending big bucks on a solution

Music can be very therapeutic. Just like medication, it can be a successful tool. It won't be a fix all, but it can only help. He's already said that the money won't be an issue.

[2jakefansinva]

I've been seriously considering buying myself a new guitar for around $2k.  I've been kinda down in the dumps lately and there's no question a new guitar would make me happy but losing the money would make me very nervous.  I need a new guitar - I've "out grown" my old one, so to say.  It still does the job but a better guitar will help me improve even more.  I've got a good amount saved up, $2k is a little chunk but not going to hurt me in the short term.  Problem is I have to move in a few weeks so I have that expense looming and I don't have a lot of extra income coming in to offset the cost - basically this expense comes right out of savings.  My band is about to release our debut album (which I already sunk a bunch of my savings into) so I'd have the guitar for those big shows, or I can wait until my financial situation is better maybe over the summer.  Or I could float it on a credit card for awhile and pay a butt ton of interest...

 

What say you huddle folk?  Make a big expense to cheer myself up or be responsible and frugal?

 

my wife shops the Goodwill every week searching for a bargain............and does pretty well.

 

So she is constantly buying herself something new..........but used/cheap.

[hepcat]

I just signed up for a Citi Card with no interest financing for 18 months...so I will probably get this guitar sooner than later...hahaha