Player or Gearhead?

[MikeVt]

Folks, I was thinking about a conversation I had with a guy at work the other day, and I thought I'd post a poll just for fun. We got to talking about gear, and I found out that he plays an LP through an old Marshall head. During the conversation, it became clear that he had never heard of many of the big names in gear. For example, he mentioned that a friend had just bought a Mesa Lonestar, and he had never heard of Mesa.

So it started me thinking about the types of players that I tend to run into. At one end of the spectrum are the pure players. These are the guys/gals that play really well, but generally don't know much about gear and tend to not care. It's all about playing. These folks also don't usually use many effects, and for some reason a lot of them tend to play strats (good standard 'no-thought' choice maybe?). At the other end of the spectrum are the gearheads. These folks play a little, but it's really the technology and gear that gets their adrenaline flowing. Given that most of us are here for EBMM guitars and basses, I suspect that we all get at least a little excited about gear - so we probably fall somewhere in the middle. For example, I'd probably put myself somewhere in the 75% gearhead, 25% player area. I'm curious to know where most of us here on the guitar side fit into the spectrum. Let me know what you think!

Mike

 

[shredderbetter]

50% player ~~49%gearhead ~1% peckerhead!!
I buy too much stuff that's what wifey calls me!!

 

[Smellybum]

Good thread mike, I've 90% gear 10 % player - married with 2 kids, no social life, i can get quite excited on the toilet with a catalogue of amps fx or guitars.

It's sad in a way but I don't have playing talent, I play for my own pleasure and have probably spent about $20-30k on stuff that would be better used by someone else, but I just love it....

 

[Jonny Dubai]

75% player 25% gearhead for me. Or anywhere about that. Cool thread mate.

J

 

[Norrin Radd]

What about for a guy like Brad Paisley who's 100% both???

 

[Sweat]

Mike,

Interesting question, got me thinking, I know both as well, I really am not a good player but it is my hobby and I try, do enjoy the gear side, always trying stuf out at GC.

 

[roburado]

I'm pretty much rubbish as a player. I went with 25% player, 75% gearhead.

 

[francric]

Yea, had to go 25-75.............

 

[JMB27]

25% player and 75 % gear head

even when I was doin' gigs, I still was more of a gear head than a guitar player ....

interesting thread, thanks for asking.

cheers, eh

Joel

 

[TwAn]

25% player, 75% gearhead for me!

I'm not a great guitar player, but I know a good guitar or amp when I see/hear/play one!

I mainly play just for fun, with a few mates, but I have a lot of gear... I just like reading and studying stuff about guitars and amps, and I love buying stuff...

 

[fogman]

25 - 75 here too!!!
That's mostly because I'm not a good player! LOL!
But I do get excited about gear! Sometimes I even buy some!

 

[guitarman23]

Well I'm Not Sure What To Say But I'm A Player, And Of Course I Love Good Gear But I'm Not Crazy Bout
It.

Well Ill Say 75% Player 25% Gearhead

 

[Larry]

75% gearhead 25% player... I love seeing/trying all the new pieces of equipment. I play guitar for no other reason besides the fact that I enjoy it. I can honestly say I enjoy all aspects of it both the music and the equipment but in a way the gear just makes it so much cooler.

 

[brasco68]

75% Player 25% Gearhead:

Just when I think I know about gear...I come in here and see a gear discussion you guys are having, and I end up doing a Google search to find out more information. So...I guess I place more weight on the playing factor....but I do like gear....just don't have the time or place to shake the windows like I used to.

 

[DT1607]

50/50 for me, since I don't really spend all my money on gear. But I am planning to get a JP or AL sometime soon.

 

[Headstock]

25% - 75% Here as well.
I practice as much as I can, but that does not afford me as much time as I need. I enjoy it and that is what counts !
I enjoy boating as well. I spend more time practicing/playing guitar than I do boating and have less in my guitars than my boat

What a great thread. I have often wondered this myself. I always find my self "assuming" that I am the only one with skills that don't match the quality of my guitars

 

[metal_terrorist]

Great thread topic! I went with 50/50. Bear in mind that while my interests lie evenly divided, I make no claims at being great at being a player or a gearhead.

 

[73h Nils]

50/50, just for the fact that I don't really mind if I have to play through my 15 Watt Line6 instead of the Mesa more often. I just like playing!

 

[TonyEVH5150]

I'm about 50/50. Though, the Musician's Friend catalog might as well be the Victoria's Secret catalog. Nothing like a little guitar porn. Plus, I'm half the player I wish I was. I need to practice more, or take sme lessons.

Plus, I'm always interested in new pedals, new amps.

I sell guitars so often that my wife calls me, "Habeeb the Guitar Trader".

 

[GoKart_MoZart]

75% player, 25% gearhead.

But my gear is **way** better than my playing.