Nobody needs many guitars, nobody needs a garage full of sports cars, nobody needs multiple carbon bicycles, nobody needs a dozen expensive wrist watches... But if you want them and can afford them then why shouldn't we have them?

Up till this time last year I owned over 20 guitars, with great difficulty I reduced them down to 10 I'm now back up to 12 with my eye on another 2. It's impossible to explain it's just what it is and doesn't hurt anyone and most of all it's fantastic fun too!!!!

I have played guitar on and off over the years, mainly because I traveled for work and couldn't dedicate time to play. The novelty of les paul tone chasing is real. Every time I got a mahogany bodied guitar that I thought I would love I got tired of it shortly after. Ended up settling with strats as an anti strat guy odly enough. There still is that itch for a les paul though. I figured it out, it never was the Les Paul. It was the kick you in the face p90 dirt that I needed and didn't know it. Thanks for the video and the playing.

"Nice Country picking there Boy." me thinks you have a bit of a parchant for that style there John. 🤠🎸 "Yee haw!!."

All I play are double humbuckers. Primarily 80's and forward with 70s thrown in. The crowd can't tell the difference, all they care about is: does it sound good, and are they entertained. Having said this, the majority of my guitars are coil tapped and I do want to add 1 SSS into my collection.

I used to gig with 3 guitars. I lost 1 one night at a hotel. 2:00 am and someone left it outside a lift. I have only 1 now but it’s an old Washburn Force 2 upgraded to HSH pups with coil taps and bridge in/out of phase. Independent switches, volume controls. Does the work of 5 guitars with the available pickup combinations. $300 invested and if you don’t set it down it can’t get lost.

Not to forget the acoustic guitars. Adirondack or Sitka? Possibly cedar over rosewood? All mahogany or only back and sides? Or rosewood back and sides or one (or two) of each? I just keep them in a special humidity controlled room.

As someone who's recently learned to love SGs, I do think they have a place in the panteon of required guitars. One may say a Les Paul can do the same, but others - including me - would argue the vastly different construction just leads to a very different guitar. It just feels so different so that alone inspires one to play differently. I'm certainly not the kind of person who goes on about 'tone wood' and nitro finishes letting it 'breath'-- both of which I find utter nonsense on electric guitars. At some point though a very different construction seems to result in a different sound. SGs just do seem to have more bite than Les Pauls, and give a slightly different flavour of rock sound to Les Pauls. Again the fact one has access right up to the top frets so easily is a pretty distinctive (for a classic guitar). AC/DC or Black Sabbath just wouldn't be the same without them.

When you're about to buy a new guitar, there is feeling like you don't own any...so it justifies itself...then when you get it home and start playing your new guitar you can feel the jealousy of the other guitars...but you get over it...also it's addicting...

Very nice jam and discussion demonstrating the different characteristics of each guitar. I try to explain the size of my guitar collection to my spouse by claiming that each guitar is a different tool in sonic toolbox. I don't think she's buying it.🤔

I have many guitars and sometimes I think, " if I only kept 5 guitars, which ones would they be". ...I couldn't possibly decide!

Les Paul with P-90, Strat, Tele agreed. If you like all that then I would suggest Firebird mini humbucker pickups in whatever body you like. I've got a DeCola/Baxter Firebird set in an LP and they are a like a hot single coil meets humbucker, very versatile if you tame them a bit. But I'll also be trying more vintage tone FB pups in the LP this year to compare. Meanwhile I'm trying to explain the various pickups to my high school grandson whos "learning guitar" and he doesn't seem to care. He took years of drum lessons, and plays in school bands, so he's got that skill and music theory covered at least. But I'll keep nudging him.

A Great Way To Show The Differences, In The Tones, of the Different Guitars... And, Great Solo, Too !!!!...

Asked the missus regarding the 'burning building' question on my collection. You'll be unimpressed to hear she opted for my Fender Jaguar. Happy new year to you and the family, John. And good to see you back.

All guitars are different, and it can be very difficult to pass up on a good one when you've only got one chance to acquire it! Also, we all remember those days as a skint kid gazing through the shop window. When you get your first job, you tend to become a little trigger happy!

Ha ha ha. My girlfriend always asks me the same question. My reply. "The same reason you need all them shoes love" Great video

Wow, that's some mighty fine picking, man !! 14 here, all cheap stuff and all different. Like to think i got all bases covered.

That piece rocked John, with a country flavour, love it. I'm guessing you must be tempted to try the Sire L7 & T7 at some point?

Fuck dude when I listen to you talk/teach I sometimes forget how seriously you shred 🤘 🔥

From LeoM. That answer certainly put the question to rest. Of course a chap needs AT LEAST that many guitars! Thanks for your work.

Some sweet sounding axes John. That Fazley Tele makes me smile, like a cheeky ragamuffin friend that we all had at school. Punches way above its weight

You are very right

Love your guitars

I love Telecasters ( Your explanation of what a Tele should be is spot on John 🤠 ) and I have to say ; " That Fazley is astounding ... and not only for its price point " I also adore semi hollow and hollow bodied guitars. I have an " Inspired By Gibson " Epiphone ES335 ( which I rate very highly ) but that Sire Larry Carlton H7 is exquisite too 😎 Perhaps I shouldn't be watching this video because I still might have to invest in a Sire Larry Carlton H7 🤣 Yeah, the P90 pickups are my favourite pickups. I have 2 Casino's, a Casino Coupe, a lovely Godin 5th Avenue Kingpin ( single P90 and an amazingly versatile guitar ) and even a Harley Benton TE 90 QM ( which gets mixed reviews but I must have got a proper " good un " because I adore it. I don't know how anyone can knock its Roswell pickups, they sound outstanding ) 😎 and it is great fun to play. I use it a lot. All the best John 👍

Great playing.

I mostly agree. But I prefer having an acoustic over a semi hollow. BTW thanks for the review of the Epiphone SG Classic. That's my P90 fiddle now.

That was positively inspirational. Thank you.

It's good to hear your view on this subject, have you seen Tyler Larson's take too, on Music is Win? He has a differing viewpoint. As I'm pretty fair and open minded about such things I'd say I have to agree with you both, I think 🤔🤘

Good video JR. Happy New Year to you and yours.

I've been asked this too. I don't bother explaining the differences between them because what she really means is "Why aren't you spending all that money on me?" To which I would reply "Because Guitars, like diamonds, are forever. Unlike you". But usually, the conversation goes like this...... Her: "Why do you need so many guitars?" Me: "How many pairs of knickers do you have?" Her: "What's that got to do with....." I don't bother letting them finish. Me: "You only need three." Her: (Which is a f&%$&£g miracle in itself.) Me: "One to wear, one in the wash, one drying." They don't like that. They also don't usually stick around much longer either. And before anybody asks, yes I'm single. By choice. Have been for the last 20 years for reasons that have nothing to do with guitars - Lets just say I really understand the whole "MGTOW" thing.

Thank you very much mate. My wife has just watched this with me and decided that I only really need five guitars so why have I got all the others? The words shot, self and foot spring to mind

Absolutely the wrong question to ask a guitarist😂 I even can tell people why I own six different Les Pauls,an ES 335, an ES 339 and a Strat! They ALL sound DIFFERENT! Happy new year and many many more guitars 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸 Greetings from Germany!

Quite agree, except the 10 - 12lb LP I replace with a 6lb SG. Maybe even with P90s....

Brilliant show John , Fantastic playing cheers

There are more important things like 'Eastend Street or Coronationers'...

Normally a review of guitars, but a master class upgrade the Blixen beautiful guitar playing that I want to emulate… Thank you John!

I don't think much of the colour of the body of the Fazley, kind of feel neutral about it in the same way that I feel neutral about Phil Collins and Genesis music (I don't dislike it and it's perfectly fine but I would never choose to put some Genesis on). But that neck is really nice. I saw it on another of your videos but seeing it again it's really growing on me

Great job John; my H7 is supposed to arrive today; very anxious

I liked the Humbucker & P-90 pickup lead tones that you used the best in this Lead Song demo. (I did miss a neck pickup Strat tone... I believe that you left that out...the S-style tones that you used were fine...but way too Country sounding in the mix on the Demo....) but I did like the Strat demo on it's own...at least the neck & neck + middle combo tones.

John excellent video and playing mate 👍 I was thinking the same as you while watching I must play my Larry Carlton 335 more often. I like the look of the new P90 version 🍺👍

You should have replied to her 'Because they give me happiness' + optional : 'and they help counteract the stress that you give me'

I've attempted the same conversation with my female family members. The only interest I occasionally get is "oh that's a nice colour" because of course that's why I buy them, the nice bloody colour!?

Happy New Years, John!😃

Here's an idea, instead of me trying desperately to get better to please my bandmates, why don't you move over here to Cologne and join the band instead of me? 🙂 This would have the added bonus of me being able to take classes from you in person. Happy New Year!

Be interesting to see a video on "What does this guitar not do?".

Funny, I was discussing this with someone (not my missus) just today.

It's like ice cream .We all like it but have favourite flavours

Just one more....I have about 18 but I do often think about thinning the herd down to about 5.

Have you ever tried a Variax? the Line 6 Pod effects that you have has a direct RJ45 input for a Variax Guitar, many guitars in one place.

Thumbs up for that jam 👍

I have too many. I need to get the collection down.

Sonic warfare requires a guitarsenal!

"something stratty" I have a fender showmaster with humbucking pick-ups. I'm thinking how cool would it be to get another. Cheap. Have it reworked with three single coil. Quick search. Crikey! Fender made them.

I see people show modeling amps, like the Spark, and make any tone imaginable. So I wonder how much the type of guitar still matters? Could you, for instance, get anywhere close to playing a Strat sound on a Les Paul by making the right kind of tweaks on the app? Or, could you make a $150 Epiphone sound like a $8,000 Gibson? Probably not, and of course, playability and looks also still matter, but I'd love to see someone try. And if you could, would there be a certain type of guitar that could best be used to replace all the others?

Well it depends on how define need, I guess There’s always x=y+1 x is how many guitars you need and y is how many you have

Funnily enough, I seem to have the same type of wife, and same range of guitars, albeit different makes and models of the same shapes.

Let's not forget about a nice accoustic...and, maybe a little midi controller! 🤪

Thanks John, for a really nice explanation / overview of the different styles. I'd have expected you to prefer Blondie to the Fazely. Don't you class Blondie as a T-style guitar?

All you need now is a gretsch semi solid electromatic to replace all the others lol, have you reviewed one yet John ?

Q - "Why do you need so many guitars?" A - " They breed when I sleep"

Scott Chinery could have explained GAS.

You forgot the acoustic!

Had that conversation with SHMBO last night. Think i got away with it. BTW she was very curios about Rickenbacker guitars being a Beatles fan poss new avenue.😈

Hi. Thank You so much for Your inspiring videos! I do have some questions (at the bottom) I and would very much appreciate Your (and/or someone else's) thoughts around them: I like both Your playing, Your thoughts/opinions around guitars and Your videos. Will definitely be coming back!. I value Your opinions so much that I have ordered a Harley Benton CST-24, planning to mod. it, like You did (also ordered a HB DC-DLX).I recently rediscovered how much I like playing guitar, and I wanna buy some more, hence the questions: 1: I have an opportunity to get a Vox Tonelab ST for around £65 (if I act quick). Would You recommend that, or/and a NUX Horseman for £60? (I do have an Boss GT-100, which I haven't tried yet. Does anybody have an opinion of this- compared to the VOX and NUX?) 2: I would like to get a Strat type too, and are considering the: a) Fazley Phynica FSST820 b) Fazley Outlaw Series Sheriff Plus c) Jet JS-400 d) Harley Benton Fusion iii HSS (stainless steel frets, and ebony fretboard) Modding tuners/pickups on the a, b, c, is an option. Any thoughts here? 3: I will order a Tele too, and the Fazley Outlaw Series Coyote Plus definitely looks very interesting! Anybody tried the Jet JT-300? Only worry about Fazley is; I live in Norway, and it doesn't look like Bax is sending here. But I see someone had them senfding to Canada, so I guess I can write to Bax, and ask. Thank You very much. Have a nice day, everybody. Regards Gunnar Kristian

Dear John please tell me how the guitar donations work ,do you expect guitars sent by courier or would you collect if more than one ,do you accept amps and fx as well ?.

So your saying I shouldn't have bought 7 vintage single coil guitars?

Hi John, Do we need one more guitar set up for sliding ?

And all that without different tunings?

What is the neck on the Farley tele and sire 335 like please - shape/depth/radius?

Been there with the missus "why do you need so many guitars?" I just point at her shoes and say nothing, she gets the idea...

Hi John how many telecaster type guitars do you have

Very Cool Thankyou. No Blondie? Awesome playing. Cheers

This is a daft question, really. It's a bit like asking a Northerner why he needs all that beer.

I didn't see Blondie, maybe in part two.

Because we can still be promiscuous with our tones. Every guitar has her charms

You should have put your Tammy Wynette record on! 🤷‍♂️😉

Hey John Would you ever consider the Jimmy Page mod for your Les Paul?

You don't need many guitars, you just do.

Same reason you have wardrobe full of shoes etc !

Looking at my retirement investments I should have bought guitars and not stocks

I have zero issue with people who can actually play and love playing guitar owning several guitars. What annoys me is all these you tubers that have 50 guitars hanging behind them along with 20 amps that cant even play guitar or are just plain horrible and never practice. Instead of spending 50 grand on guitar props invest your time and money and become a competent player. I cringe when they demo a guitar or amp. They sound like a 3 month beginner.

G.A.S. lol

So basically grown up men need different guitars so they can look like different heroes in the mirror.

Maybe your missus is not a shoe collector,but most women have far more shoes than they need. LOL. I often try to imagine how many guitars could I reduce to and it comes to 6. However that ain't never going to happen. If the guitar sings and makes you play just 5 more minutes, er just 20 more minutes...it's a keeper. Otherwise sell it. Nice playing on the slimline hollow body btw.

John5 uses Telecasters for everything.