Do your guitars really sound different than each other?

[TBman]

I don't mean the Dread vs the Parlor, I mean similar sized guitars. I'm listening to a few online that I am interested in and I realize that I am drawn to the same tone that I already have. That makes sense, but where's the sense in buying yet another guitar then?

[tbeltrans]

There is no sense, no logic to it. GAS simply is.

Tony

[The Bard Rocks]

Originally Posted by TBman

I don't mean the Dread vs the Parlor, I mean similar sized guitars. I'm listening to a few online that I am interested in and I realize that I am drawn to the same tone that I already have. That makes sense, but where's the sense in buying yet another guitar then?

It's like hunting; the fun is in the hunt. After you accomplished that goal, it isn't so exciting any longer.

[RP]

Originally Posted by TBman

...where's the sense in buying yet another guitar then?

Barry, you must be the new guy....

[edward993]

1. Yes, they sound different. Not earth-shatteringly different, but enough that I can justify them.

2. Feel different, as well. Whether neck, body dimensions, or scale length, yes the differences feel is another reason for another.

3. None of this is rational in the strict sense of the word, of course. It's all guttural, emotional; different shades of similar hues. One can easily be fully satisfied and "set" with one, two, or how many ever guitars. The "need" for another guitar is hardly ever met with rational discourse

Edward

[L20A]

There was a time when several of my guitars sounded a lot like each other.
I thinned the herd and now have 5 guitars that each have their own unique voice.
Martin D-35
Guild Jumbo 8 string Baritone
Beard Resonator
Custom build Dred that is closer to a D-18 than a D-35
Martin GPC smaller body

[guitararmy]

I own two Larrivee rosewood dreadnoughts, a D03R and a fancier D09.
I assume the construction is similar.

The D03R has a nice midrange growl that is lacking in the D09, which sounds more polite...
I doubt the matte finish vs gloss finish would account for the difference.

[Rosewood99]

All mine have a distinctive sound.

[Steve DeRosa]

Yes, they do...

[Malcolm Kindnes]

The sound is mostly in the hands of the player not the instrument. We fool ourselves into thinking differently but the difference in sound between two similar guitars played by the same person is unnoticeable by most people.

[brencat]

After many years of buying and selling, I realized what I really wanted was various shades of the same bluegrassy Martin vintage voicing. And that's what I have now -- 5 dreads, different enough but similarly voiced. I'm happy...finally.

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by Malcolm Kindnes

The sound is mostly in the hands of the player not the instrument. We fool ourselves into thinking differently but the difference in sound between two similar guitars played by the same person is unnoticeable by most people.

I really don’t care if it sounds the same to most people, only if it sounds different to me.

[rollypolly]

I'm coming to realize the same thing. Most of mine sound pretty similar, and if they don't, I put strings on to make them sound and play alike. Need to thin the herd but looking to buy one more. It's a disease.

[Dru Edwards]

Sometimes it's those little tonal nuances that bring out the differences in guitars... a little more bass, a little more crispness on the highs, a little more sustain, a little more responsive for fingerpicking, etc.

[guitarman68]

Originally Posted by Rosewood99

I really don’t care if it sounds the same to most people, only if it sounds different to me.

Yes, they do - after many years of joyful hunting with loads of GAS involved.

I would say I'm happy with:
D28 - Merrill C28
D18 - Blazer & Henkes HD18
OM28 - Merrill OM28
OM18 - Merrill OM18
hog topped small body - Martin 017 (1934)
Bob Altman super+ - fits into no category, just an awesome guitar built by a genius: Gibson AJ inspired but Martin-style bracing