The GAS Rules of Acquisition

I had a few hours to kill yesterday afternoon at Russo Music in the Trenton, NJ area (whilst picking up my 94-year old mother-in-law for the trek back to VT).  I played up and down just about the entire Taylor and Martin lines, a few Gibsons, a Takamine or two and nothing really sang to me. Seriously.  Until, in the corner, I spied three Cole Clark models.

Knowing they were out of my price range, nonetheless I took them down, tuned them up and one of them (in particular) -- the Triumph 2 -- blew what hair I had left right off my head.  Wow.  Big, big tone, beautiful craftsmanship (LOVE the inlaid rope rosette), just felt great in the hands. At $2549 it was just a tad out of my current price range, but it's nice to have a goal in life.

I've been married for almost 38 years and one doesn't achieve that by bringing home new guitars with those price tags on them, so it still sits at the store. But it's nice to dream, and drool...

My guitar purchasing rules are as follows:

1) Aesthetics
2) Does it play/feel/sound well?
3) Price

If it passes the first 3, then the real test begins.

1) Do I need it?
2) What musical styles can I use it for?
3) Do I have something that sounds just like this?
4) Can I justify its use for performances?

If it can pass the following rules then I will usually try to wait 3 days. If the GAS is still there, I will purchase it. I have passed on some really great guitars and have had no regrets. There have been some occasions that I have had to bypass the 3 day rule and buy. So the life of certain used instruments.

My wife's line is, "Do you NEED it or do you WANT it?"  I've thrown that back at her a few times. 

I'm actually shopping (casually) for a smaller body (smaller than a dread) that has the mid-range projection for fingerstyle (without picks at this point).  The Cole Clark Triumph 2 did not fit the size requirement... although it does have a cutaway that my current Seagull S6 doesn't have.

Part of the rub for me is the bit about Cole Clark's 3-way pickup system  and how it's much more than "just an acoustic guitar... it's meant for performing."  I don't perform, but I do enjoy great craftsmanship, feel in the hand, tone and all that.  If they had a no-electronics version for $800-$1000 off that price I'd probably own it right now.

I also have to keep reminding myself that at 18 months into this journey I don't deserve nor need an expensive guitar. My Seagulls have served me just fine (and if I'd spend an equivalent amount of time playing/practicing as I do researching guitars, I'd be better off!).

petermac, After 18 months, you are now starting to see the path that you have taken, and a glimpse of the whole package.
Playing and practicing guitar is only a part, there's looking and researching guitars, trying other makes and sizes of guitars, trying many different makes and gauges of strings, trying alternative and open tuning's, the socialising and been Administrator of guitar forums, to name but as few, and last but not least the GAS.

Well guys come this September 3rd My wife and I will have been married 56 years.
And I still get trouble if I suggest a new guitar, its "You can only play one at a time." or "What on earth d'you want another one for?, isn't 11 damned guitars enough?." So about 3 weeks ago I noticed a Fender DG8S NAT for sale for Au$125 and decided I would buy it. I asked the wife if she'd map read for me to get to this guys house so we were well on our way when she decided to ask why and what I was going to get. When I told her it was a guitar there was suddenly that angry silence until we reached the area where this guy lived, then she started giving me directions. We came away with this guitar after I'd give it a good going over and thankfully the angry silence clicked in again and it was a peaceful drive home.
I told her I'd bought it to fit a Fishman Presys Pre-amp and then sell it at a profit, that is until I had worked on the guitar had it feeling like it had been mine for a 100 years and it sounded so sweet going thru' my Fishman amp. The neck was a satin finish and it just felt perfect, there was not a scratch or mark on it, in fact it looked brand new. So I've used it a couple of times on my busking gig and she sounds cherry. So to come straight to the point, if you want another guitar and you're frightened the wife will kick you out my advice is to get her to map read your route to the sellers property. Heheh, well it worked for me.. S

slowpoke,I have a Google phone, and bluetooth...asking wife to stand in for that would just be another argument.