I already have a brand new Charvel San Dimas which is very similar to the Jake E Lee model being shown but I'd love to see the Guthrie Govan model. It won't be cheap, at least $2500.

There are some instruments that are worth the price, some that aren't. There are some that you wonder why they don't cost more (although not loudly so as not to give anyone ideas). In general, I'm a big believer in you get what you pay for - but you may not be able to get the full potential out of what's there (a HUGE problem for me!).

I got a chuckle today on one of the guitar lists I read - somebody posted about an import Gibson LP Junior clone that runs about $400. Somebody posted - I kid you not - that it was a great guitar for the price, but he'd have to "change the tuners, change the nut, change the pickup, put in new electronics and dress the frets". Just like that genuwine George Washington axe - just replaced the head and the handle!

The only thing that gives me pause about the Govan is the trem - there are some things that are unconventional about it, which isn't necessarily bad, but I wonder if I have the patience and ability to keep it in tune like he does. I'm pretty lazy about that stuff! I doubt it will be a problem. But I want to try one - surely it'll make me play as well as him!!!

Yeah the Govan model is a real guitarists model that requires special skill (that maybe only he possess).
But I'd like to hold one in my hand one day. Not sure if it will ever show up at your local Guitar Center.

I'm thinking my local pusher may get one, but hard to say. I'd like to hammer at one for a bit. So many guitars, so limited a guitar fund!

A Govan would be quite an investment. I really need to stop this year. So he says.

I don't plan to stop, but I really thought (and still think) this might be the year I do the Private Stock thing. I probably should have done it for my 50th birthday last year, but I didn't. I tried to get my wife to finance it, but she wouldn't go for it. I said I'd withhold sex, but she said that was almost, but not quite, a good enough trade.

Question for you guys: I've been learning to play guitar since Christmas, slow and steady, but coming along. I'm using my metal body resonator to learn standard tuning (and basic guitar lessons), but I am constantly tuning to open G to practice slide as well. Basically, I only use standard tuning for the "regular" lesson time, to learn the basics, finger placement/fretting etc, and tune to an open chord to learn and practice slide riffs which I really enjoy and do for the fun time. Hence, with all the tuning and twisting, I'm breaking strings more than I'd like. Would it be a good idea for me to buy another inexpensive acoustic just for standard tuning and lessons, while keeping my resonator in open G most of the time? If so, any particular recommendations? Something around $200 or so; we're talking a pretty basic lesson guitar. I don't want something coming with a warped neck or crap fretboard, but I don't need to break the bank either.

There are a bunch of cheap Fender and Epiphone acoustics out there, but I don't know how they sound. You can also find deals on Craigslist for used guitars. Do you have a Guitar Center near you? I think their President's Day Sale is still going on.

Musicians Friend sells the Yamaha FG700S for $199 and it gets rave reviews for its price point. It's considered a great beginners guitar. Look that one up. My oldest guitar is my Yamaha acoustic guitar which I bought in 1978 and it still sits proudly on a stand in my media room after all these years. Bought that one at Manny's Music in NYC.

BTW, here's a generic pic of my new baby: a Taylor 314CE

Nice!

Yes, there's a Guitar Center 10 minutes from my house. I go there to buy strings every Saturday. OK, not every Saturday, but I've been a few times now. I just feel like such a tool talking to them in there because I don't know jack about what I'm doing. They have used stuff in the back that might be what I'm looking for though.

She's too good for you. Send her down here and I'll keep her safe until you're ready.

Sweet guitar!

I'm really happy with it. It sounds beautiful and it's a breeze to play.

It's definitely worth speaking with them before you buy. They can give you pointers based on what you are looking for. As far as keeping a guitar in open tuning, I'm thinking about doing that with my Strat. My Ibanez and my Telecaster are my favorites to play, so that strat is almost superfluous at this point.

Keep your grubby hands off my instrument!

Well, let's back up a second. A couple questions - when you break strings, are you breaking the same strings over and over? Meaning always the G or always the B? And are they breaking in the same spot each time? Are they the same brand set to set? That could be a bad lot that the store got in (I've seen it happen). Trying a different brand may help. You could have a rough edge on the saddle, the nut or a tuner if it's the same string in the same spot, but going from standard to open G shouldn't stress them out that much.

And check out juststrings.com (think that's right) - they have pretty good deals on strings.

Another question - are you doing the restringing yourself?

I did have a burr on the saddle which was causing the G string to break very regularly. Luckily the guy at Guitar Center advised me how to fix that, and gave me a bit of the sandpaper he uses to do it with. I haven't had any problems with that string since, though it broke 3 times in a week before that. I think the burr happened when I broke the string the first time, from a backlash of the string when it popped, because I'd been playing with alternate tunings for over a month before it did that, and then it couldn't go a day afterwards. I am staying away from trying out open E anymore though, at least without tuning down to D and just using a capo.

I broke my high E string Saturday night tuning back to standard from open G. I don't know why that happened, but it's what prompted this post. The bit of reading I did today suggested that just tuning and retuning constantly can put a great deal of strain on the strings.

Yes, I've looked there. Good prices, but no free shipping and it ends up with them costing more than just picking up at Guitar Center.

Myself, using youtube and other guides. I guess, now that I look at it, I've broken only two strings that weren't related to that burr; I'm more thinking of preventive measures. Or maybe I just want an excuse to have two guitars.

That's the early onset stages of GAS.....

You're hooked. Might as well just get the guitar.

Yes, I'm afraid so. Since posting, I've started toying with the idea of picking up a cheap electric too, just to add a little variety to the practicing and playing time. Surely three would be enough, right? Right?

Sure...ah no. I'm up to 5. I'm afraid how many Alan has.

It's like potato chips...you can't have just one!

I think you would enjoy having another acoustic to play, simply for a change of pace from the resonator. It would make it easier to have one in each tuning but I haven't noticed a problem with string breakage myself. $200 is a pretty good price point for a lower end acoustic. Anything less and I don't think you would be happy with it. Guitar Center has a pretty good assortment of acoustics to play around with so you can try before you buy. For $200, you're talking about an entry level Epiphone, Yamaha, or similar. A little more ($300 or so) will get you into a low end Martin or Taylor.