No, you don't need that.
There's lots of gear out there that, while interesting and/or alluring, would end up collecting dust in my collection. Whether it's motivated by nostalgia, desire for change, or something else, there's always gear that says "yeah, you want me, but you don't really have a good reason to want me."
Here's a quick rundown of things that I think I want, but seriously don't need.
WANT IT: Nostalgia, combined with the fact that this is super local. Seller is offering this and some ancient DOD multi-effect unit for $75. Could the Metal Zone be had for $40?
DON'T NEED IT: It's a Metal Zone. While I'm interested in knowing what a Metal Zone through a Dr. Z sounds like, it isn't for any reason beyond a good laugh. Still, it's only $40...
WANT IT: Not commonly available on the used market. Classy look for low bucks. This will make me a jazzer right?
DON'T NEED IT: Wrong. Recent efforts aside, I am NOT a jazz guy, and I'm old enough to know that buying the gear doesn't transform you suddenly.
Here's a quick rundown of things that I think I want, but seriously don't need.
Boss Metal Zone - $40, maybe?
No pedal, since the inception of pedals, has gotten more flak than the Boss Metal Zone. You know who doesn't care? Boss. They hit it out of the park with this one, and an entire generation of guitarists put these on their first pedal boards, including me.
Does it sound good? Not really, but I guess what it does it does reasonably well. In high school I built my rig around this sound (kids, right?), thrashing about all day and night.
DON'T NEED IT: It's a Metal Zone. While I'm interested in knowing what a Metal Zone through a Dr. Z sounds like, it isn't for any reason beyond a good laugh. Still, it's only $40...
Squier Vintage Modified Jazzmaster - $350
I own a Vintage Modified Jaguar, and I really like it. A Jazzmaster from the same series at a reasonable price certainly caught my attention, and for my money this is the best color option available for the Jazzmaster in this series.
Just like the Jaguar, this would required about $100 in parts to bring it to playable - A Mustang bridge to deal with the saddle jumps, new tuners to address stability, and some electrical tap around the posts for added stability (this was a tip from a local tech, and it made a huge difference for me).
WANT IT: This is a good price - seriously. I purchased my Jaguar for $299 back when the CAD was stronger, and it blows my mind that these are now listed for over $500. Used examples aren't afar off from the new price.
DON'T NEED IT: I rarely play the Jaguar, despite being pretty positive about it. This would end up a pretty lonely guitar, being played about half as often as that.
Just like the Jaguar, this would required about $100 in parts to bring it to playable - A Mustang bridge to deal with the saddle jumps, new tuners to address stability, and some electrical tap around the posts for added stability (this was a tip from a local tech, and it made a huge difference for me).
WANT IT: This is a good price - seriously. I purchased my Jaguar for $299 back when the CAD was stronger, and it blows my mind that these are now listed for over $500. Used examples aren't afar off from the new price.
DON'T NEED IT: I rarely play the Jaguar, despite being pretty positive about it. This would end up a pretty lonely guitar, being played about half as often as that.
Epiphone Joe Pass - $450
This model has been around forever, which is saying something given that I can't for the life of me tell you who Joe Pass is (but probably a jazzer right?). That's pretty considerable staying power for a model that has limited mass appeal - this must be the second most famous guitar that is more famous than it's name sake (sorry Les).
I've only seen one in action in person - A friend going to school for music was in a jazz group, and their guitar player used one of these. Certainly not enough to form an opinion of it, but I suppose that if someone was going to school for jazz guitar, and this was an acceptable instrument, there you go.
WANT IT: Not commonly available on the used market. Classy look for low bucks. This will make me a jazzer right?
DON'T NEED IT: Wrong. Recent efforts aside, I am NOT a jazz guy, and I'm old enough to know that buying the gear doesn't transform you suddenly.
Boss Super Chorus - $80
I used to own a Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble (it spent most of it's life down the board from the Metal Zone... because Metallica?). It lasted right up until the Maz 38 came into my life. Something about that pedal and the front end of the amp didn't get along, so the pedal had to go. No, it didn't sound any better in the loop. Thanks for asking.
Will this one work any better? Probably not, but it isn't a big chance to take.
WANT IT: Nostalgia mostly, but chorus is cool, right?
DON'T NEED IT: The likelihood that I don't experience the same issue with the Maz 8 is slim to none.
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