What's more important? How a guitar looks, feels and plays, or sounds?

[stan]

Playability, you can fix the other two: refinish, new pups etc, then you have all 3

[DrNomis_44]

For me, it'd be the guitar's ability to play in tune and stay in tune.

The way I see it, there's no point having a guitar that looks and sounds a million dollars if it is a real pain to play in tune or keep in tune, you'd end up getting so frustrated with it that you'd feel like destroying it.

[Andy40]

Currently own a Pacifica 112VCX, had a 12 string Acoustic about 35 years ago as well as a Fretless BB1200 Bass around the same time, and when it came time for my eldest Son to learn Bass we bought a 2nd hand RBX250 which he still owns today. They were all built in different countries from Japan to Korea to Indonesia and the build quality control is exactly the same. Highly under rated axes.

I agree, when I was able to afford it, I eventually bought a Yamaha F-310 and a second hand Pacifica. Great guitars. frets were a little cramped but good to learn on. Goodtimes

@Waz...I was also heartened to hear that if I keep banging on about something over the years, there's a chance that my sons will remember...something.

[adam]

Great discussion thread wazkelly, very interesting read.

Can I add another factor, from the perspective of someone who's played plenty of 4+ hour gigs. Weight.

I do love my Tele and will use it for the original band gigs. However, when I played in Country and Bush bands, the gigs would go for 3 or 4 sets over 4 or more hours. Then I'd grab my Gretsch Jet Pro, which is semi-hollow and super lightweight. Doesn't sound, play or feel anywhere near as good as the Tele, but in the last set I'm not needing physiotherapy on my left shoulder.

Of course, now that DB has made me that stunning GR-1SF, that is my go to guitar.

[dave.king1]

Playability for me, I know pretty much anything can be sorted with a bit of sweat or a few bucks but if it don't feel right it won't come home so the sorting would never happen.

I've played Fenders all my life so I am aware of weight issues ( LP black beauty was far too heavy ) and we always played 20 on 10 off or there abouts in our 4 hour gigs in the past but now that we are all of a certain vintage we are looking at 40/20 because one of the guys has major issues with his legs

[wazkelly]

Great discussion thread wazkelly, very interesting read.

Can I add another factor, from the perspective of someone who's played plenty of 4+ hour gigs. Weight.

Cannot agree more Adam as my old Ric 4001 had the 2 truss rod setup and after playing 4 x half hour on/half hour off in hot sweaty pubs in SEQ under 1000w par 64's you were stuffed and if the gig went to 5 or 6 sets it was a real marathon like challenge.

[wazkelly]

@Waz...I was also heartened to hear that if I keep banging on about something over the years, there's a chance that my sons will remember...something.

Cheers Andy. Most of the time they only remember what you don't want them too but sometimes they can pleasantly surprise you too. All the fun that comes with parenting.

[wazkelly]

I've played Fenders all my life so I am aware of weight issues ( LP black beauty was far too heavy ) and we always played 20 on 10 off or there abouts in our 4 hour gigs in the past but now that we are all of a certain vintage we are looking at 40/20 because one of the guys has major issues with his legs

One word simple answer for that bloke - wheelchair!

[dave.king1]

One word simple answer for that bloke - wheelchair!

A bit harsh but it may come to that eventually, he has diabetes and this leads to infection in the soles of the feet also sings and plays lap steel so it is a siting down instrument.

[wazkelly]

Oops, I thought it must have been a dodgy hip from old age and apologise for my insensitivity.