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My wife, as a musician, has similarly strong feelings about people collecting Guitars (and other instruments), there is nothing more depressing than an instrume

My wife, as a musician, has similarly strong feelings about people collecting Guitars (and other instruments), there is nothing more depressing than an instrument sitting there unused and just looked at.

galleywest200 3y ago
I understand the point, but would this mean people would just have a single instrument or two? Certainly people play their favorite and do not regularly cycle guitars on a schedule.
- samwillis 3y ago
  I'm sure there are people like that, but as a data point of one, she has four guitars and a piano. She has her favourite, but plays all of them very regularly, each for different things. Different music, different guitars.
- tesseract 3y ago
  A practicing musician owning multiple instruments, some of which may be used only rarely, is a different situation from a non-musician collecting instruments for their decorative or monetary value. (Sometimes, collectors who own valuable instruments lend them to accomplished musicians, perhaps even on a long-term basis. I think that's admirable!)
cnasc 3y ago
On that note, the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ has a permanent Les Paul exhibit. You can arrange a private viewing where you get to play some of Les Paul’s personal guitars [1]. The price is very reasonable and it’s an amazing feeling to have these historic instruments enjoyed the way they’re meant to be. It probably wouldn’t work for any instruments more fragile than a solid-body guitar, but I’m really glad to have had the experience and I wish there were more opportunities to do the same with other musicians’ gear hoards. [1] https://mahwahmuseum.org/play-a-les-paul-guitar/ https://mahwahmuseum.org/play-a-les-paul-guitar/
hondo77 3y ago
Like birds in cages. Birds are meant to fly, toys are meant to be played with by children, and musical instruments are meant to be played.
toss1 3y ago
Yes, that same sentiment exists in many areas. In motorsports there is a very healthy Vintage Racing community. The ethos is that even completely unique historic racecars were built to race, not exist on a pedestal as garage queens. And although the rules in vintage racing are a bit more strict about contact and racing room, the racers go at it hammer and tongs — often very exciting on-track action. I'm all for that attitude

galleywest200 3y ago

I understand the point, but would this mean people would just have a single instrument or two? Certainly people play their favorite and do not regularly cycle guitars on a schedule.

samwillis 3y ago
I'm sure there are people like that, but as a data point of one, she has four guitars and a piano. She has her favourite, but plays all of them very regularly, each for different things. Different music, different guitars.
tesseract 3y ago
A practicing musician owning multiple instruments, some of which may be used only rarely, is a different situation from a non-musician collecting instruments for their decorative or monetary value. (Sometimes, collectors who own valuable instruments lend them to accomplished musicians, perhaps even on a long-term basis. I think that's admirable!)

cnasc 3y ago

On that note, the Mahwah Museum in Mahwah, NJ has a permanent Les Paul exhibit. You can arrange a private viewing where you get to play some of Les Paul’s personal guitars [1]. The price is very reasonable and it’s an amazing feeling to have these historic instruments enjoyed the way they’re meant to be. It probably wouldn’t work for any instruments more fragile than a solid-body guitar, but I’m really glad to have had the experience and I wish there were more opportunities to do the same with other musicians’ gear hoards. [1] https://mahwahmuseum.org/play-a-les-paul-guitar/ https://mahwahmuseum.org/play-a-les-paul-guitar/

hondo77 3y ago

Like birds in cages. Birds are meant to fly, toys are meant to be played with by children, and musical instruments are meant to be played.

toss1 3y ago

Yes, that same sentiment exists in many areas. In motorsports there is a very healthy Vintage Racing community. The ethos is that even completely unique historic racecars were built to race, not exist on a pedestal as garage queens. And although the rules in vintage racing are a bit more strict about contact and racing room, the racers go at it hammer and tongs — often very exciting on-track action. I'm all for that attitude