Gear minimalism as a thought process...

[zhivago]

If I were to only have two guitars, one being a Jazzmaster, the #2 slot would be a Les Paul...maybe with P90s...in fact that was my electric collection for many years.

[Steadyriot.]

I'm more of a Jaguar than a Jazzmaster guy but if one had to be a Jazzmaster, I'd go with a Telecaster (they always work, in any setting, in any mix) or a Gretsch with Filtertrons.
A G6229 would be a good companion to a Jazzmaster.

[JSett]

If I were to only have two guitars, one being a Jazzmaster, the #2 slot would be a Les Paul...maybe with P90s...in fact that was my electric collection for many years.

Yeah, but we know what those two were, so we can see why you didn't have much of a wandering eye

[zhivago]

Heheh! That is true...they were (and still are) quite the dynamic duo!!

[seenoevil II]

I've been playing my Jazzmaster again lately. This was my main guitar for about 8 years. 100% of gigs and recordings happened with this guitar. There was zero thinking about what guitar I was going to play. It's very broken in - also just plain broken, so there's no selling it.

I'm sitting here thinking- I feel bad for my guitars. I have too many. I don't play them all. Even my favorites I rotate in and out of use. And now that my VMJM is back in fighting shape I see it's all a farce. The Jazzmaster does everything I need to do. I basically stopped using it because I wanted something new at the time, and also Jazzmasters were becoming somewhat embarrassing to be seen with. I know I know I know. Whatever, it's true. It's like when right wing pundits finally discovered flannels and skinny jeans in 2019 or some shit.

But I'm so sorry for my guitars that I own them. They're stuck with me. Sitting in their cases- only coming out to be fiddled with, noodled on for a bit, then back in the case. Somebody else should have them. That VMJM is all I need. I don't care about how I come off anymore, I'm just this over the hump loser so it truly doesn't matter what I do.

I partially own my Gibsons because I know they'll hold their value, so they're like inflation bonds. But shit, I should just buy some gold bars or some crap if that's how I feel.

I have one amp. Why am I hoarding all of these guitars?

[Unicorn Warrior]

The Jazzmaster does everything I need to do. I basically stopped using it because I wanted something new at the time, and also Jazzmasters were becoming somewhat embarrassing to be seen with. I know I know I know. Whatever, it's true. It's like when right wing pundits finally discovered flannels and skinny jeans in 2019 or some shit.

I have felt this same way. I started wanting an offset from the first time I saw one in a musiciansfriend catalog circa 2002. I didn’t get my first offset until 10 years later and the guitar market was a much different place. Not only did I love the look, but I loved the sound, the feel, the quirks. Everything. Fast forward to more recent years, the influx of popularity kindof made me feel pretentious even though it has been something I’ve been an enthusiast about for almost 20 years.

But, as I age I really am starting to care much less about what guitars I’m playing or even what others think. My Jazzmaster is my go to. It’s light, consistent and I know how to get what I want out of it.

I’ll also point out that the metal guitar guys probably had to go through these feelings far longer than we. But, now metal guitars and Peavey amps are cool again. So, there’s that.

[distressed]

I have Tele and Jazzmaster at this point (and there will be no new guitars in a foreseeable future for sure), and I'm still having hard time utilizing them evenly for a band stuff. There is only so much time left besides regular job, family, social life and other things. Time's finite.

[SSquirrel]

Guitars I still owned before December:
Jazzmaster
Danelectro Baritone
Epiphone LPS
Squier Duo Sonic

Adding, by the end of this month
Yamaha Revstar
Squier Bass VI
Epiphone Casino

Used to have a Casino and saw a gold top one and gf decided it should be an anniversary gift. Wanted a VI for years and used some tax money for it. Revstar was for Christmas from the family. Still don't own anything w/a humbucker. Part of the issue is not having a space at home I can really setup and just leave things setup. But when we get into a house, already planning for that as part of our search, so THEN I can enjoy everything whenever.

If minimalism makes you feel better about yourself, cool. If not, buy what seems like fun.

[tequila_in_teacups]

My minimalist setup:



Very content with this.

[TagoMago]

My minimalist setup:



Very content with this.

Rightly so, it looks ace!

[UlricvonCatalyst]

My minimalist setup:



Very content with this.

Yeah, lovely. Wish I could get by with that little. Also, not helping my JC-40 GAS

[terminalvertigo]

I have the urge to cull, however I am so far down the vintage game (been buying and selling for 20+ years), anything I get rid of I will never be able to replace.. so i need to be careful.
I feel stuck.

how do i keep just 5-7 of these?
how do i know that's the "right" number to keep?
even 5-7 is a LOT of guitar options for a non touring, basement player!

63 Black JM
65 LPB JM
62 LPB Jag
66 Blonde beat Tele
80s beat AVRI Strat
2002 beat AVRI Strat
Squier Vista Jagmaster Blue
Squier Vista Supersonic Blue
60 cherry 345
60 Epi Wilshire
61 Hummingbird
59 D-28
61 SGLP
69 SG Standard
65 Pelham SG Jr
65 Pelham Blue Melody Maker
65 Epi Pacific Blue Olympic Special
64 Epi Crestwood Deluxe in Pacific Blue
69 LP Custom (beat)
69 LP Custom (clean with hang tags)

[sal paradise]

My pedal purge has continued in earnest. I’ve made some effort on the guitar & amp front, too.

Currently 5 guitars, 1 amp & 35 pedals. Which still feels too much, and I’ve got a 2nd amp arriving this week.

The SG has been up for sale but can’t seem to give it away, so I get to play with a P90 for longer

1991 Les Paul Standard
2011 SG Junior
1967 Telecaster
2024 partscaster tele deluxe
+ 2012 Squier CV Telecaster (not pictured)

Oh, and my Martin 000-15m & 1976 Precision. But they don’t count.

[javier-san]

I am currently in the middle of a purge. I don't have a ton of stuff, but more than I can make time for.

I just sold my shell pink jaguar w/ WRHBs and that leaves me with 1 baritone, 3 guitars, a bass and bass VI. I am planning to sell the jazzmaster and the JMJ mustang bass given that I haven't been playing music with anyone and not sure if that's going to change. I would like to learn how to be content with less and during the last 5 years of buying guitars, pickups, pedals, amps, I have kinda figured out what I like.

Also, I've had people in my family pass or get too old to live by themselves and it's heartbreaking to have to sort through their stuff and figure out what to keep or donate or throw away. I am nowhere near that age, but I would like to keep my things a little more to minimum, so the future family members won't have to handle that, to that extent.

[JSett]

My pedal purge has continued in earnest. I’ve made some effort on the guitar & amp front, too.

Currently 5 guitars, 1 amp & 35 pedals. Which still feels too much, and I’ve got a 2nd amp arriving this week.

The SG has been up for sale but can’t seem to give it away, so I get to play with a P90 for longer

1991 Les Paul Standard
2011 SG Junior
1967 Telecaster
2024 partscaster tele deluxe
+ 2012 Squier CV Telecaster (not pictured)

Oh, and my Martin 000-15m & 1976 Precision. But they don’t count.

What I'm reading here is zero offsets.