Instruments, Cost & the Placebo Effect

[OneChordTrick]

Coming soon to a thread near you: 'My mandolin is longer than your piece of string'

But is that a plain or a wound string?

[RichardF]

Seriously though. That earlier point about better mandolins sounding more powerful when played up the neck is useful. I bought my 2006 Breedlove OF because it played well from fret 9 up when playing in E. I don't really play above fret 13 I admit.
And yes I do realise that some people would not agree with my choice of instrument as a "better" instrument but that is my choice.

[Charlieshafer]

From Eoin - ".... over priced Bugatti Veyron ..". I couldn't be bothered to get out of bed to ride in something so cheap !!. If you want possibly the finest ''custom built' car ever made,go for one of these - a Rolls Royce ''Sweptail'' - yours for a mere £10,000,000 UK,
Ivan

PS - That was a total 'one off', uniquely designed for a specific customer ('whoever' they were) RR hasn't disclosed the name / location of the owner. Surfice to say that they also have the mega-yacht to go with it.

That was the one purchase I regret. The yacht, not so much.

[MikeEdgerton]

Seriously though. That earlier point about better mandolins sounding more powerful when played up the neck is useful. I bought my 2006 Breedlove OF because it played well from fret 9 up when playing in E. I don't really play above fret 13 I admit.
And yes I do realise that some people would not agree with my choice of instrument as a "better" instrument but that is my choice.

Son, there ain't no money above the 5th fret.

--Chet Atkins, Stringbean, Lester Flatt, almost your choice as to who said it.

[Beanzy]

I used to have one of these but then I got cured....

[Eric Platt]

I used to have one of these but then I got cured....

Bass player Lee Sklar used to have a "producer switch" on his bass. When a producer asked for something different, he'd throw the switch and play. They were usually happy. Of course, the switch wasn't connected to anything, but it did the job.

[Br1ck]

Just hand a Telecaster plugged into a clean Fender amp to a Les Paul guy used to playing through his effects pedals. View the look of consternation when they realize how crappy their technique is.

Mandolin is the only instrument I've played that demands more of a player. I imagine fiddle is harder still. I doubt there is a mandolin out there that would make you sound better than three or four thousand dollars worth of lessons with a great teacher would. So I say, get a three thousand dollar mandolin and take a couple of years worth of lessons. You'll be happier in a few years. Buy that five thousand dollar mandolin and a year from now you'll be looking for another.

Imagine being able to pick up any old mandolin and make it sing. That friends, would be true happiness.

[mandocaster]

half are gear nerds, and really care, and for them names and what people play are important. For the other half, it seems playing music is important, and gear is just something you need.

I don't mean to be adversarial, and yet here I am. I don't there is a clear dichotomy. I know there are folks here that play a Rogue mandolin with a piece of string as a strap who probably are fine musicians, and others that own Loars who are not professionals. I think we can assume that for most of us, playing music is what is important - whatever our skill level. Plenty of artists are gear nerds, too, or at least have a connection with a particular fine instrument.

[Jim Garber]

Just hand a Telecaster plugged into a clean Fender amp to a Les Paul guy used to playing through his effects pedals. View the look of consternation when they realize how crappy their technique is.

I am waiting for the cascade of videos of LP players plugged into a clean Fender amp.

[Br1ck]

I am waiting for the cascade of videos of LP players plugged into a clean Fender amp.

Even so, the rounder, fatter tone of humbuckers is not as revealing as a single coil.

Im trying to remember the last time I heard a Les Paul played cleanly, maybe a clip of Les himself.

[JeffD]

It seems that about half are gear nerds, and really care, and for them names and what people play are important. For the other half, it seems playing music is important, and gear is just something you need.

I get your point, and there is truth to it. Which part of the hobby of music different folks get attracted to. But I think the one statement I quote above is perhaps misleading. I think most everyone feels that playing music is important, very important. Some are more interested in the tools and maximizing the quality of what the use, others perhaps more emphasis on technique and practice and maximizing their ability.

I don't think there are very many, if any, for whom the brand and what others play is of supreme importance. I really don't. I think such issues get a lot of "air time" here on the cafe, because they are interesting and it is fun to dream. But I don't think there are many who spend money except to maximize the quality of the tools they use to make the music.

I might be wrong, but I think such a person is a straw man constructed out of a frustration with those who do manage to get the things we want but can't get.

[mtucker]

PS - That was a total 'one off', uniquely designed for a specific customer ('whoever' they were) RR hasn't disclosed the name / location of the owner.

Sam Li a chinese businessman is the owner of that beast! Check out some of his other sort of 'one-off' junkers.
http://supercars.agent4stars.com/pow...lection-china/