Can Gear Make You A Better Player?

i mean.. i like gear. i think its overblown how much guitarist NEED it, its just more fun to like what you sound like. i think a lot of meaningless hairs are split in that pursuit though because people have expendable income to be divested of.

i enjoy hearing lots of different things, but in the end, i think most of it makes me happy im playing, and that i dont need it all. basic stuff inspires different creative solutions- and my favorite ones are finding ways to not need a lot to make fulfilling music. but thats just me- and theres tons of ways to make great music!
 
I don't think expensive gear makes anyone a better player. Better players do have gear which is tailored to suit their sound though.

Once I saw an older country guitarist playing a tele with a very high action. He was an amazing player and it was appropriate for him. When I looked closer, it was a partscaster.

I think its always a good idea to invest in mid range gear or buy used. If it doesn't work for us, we don't have to lose a lot of money. Everybody doesn't have money to burn.
 
In my opinion, the right gear can enhance your skills as a player, but only if your current equipment is holding you back from performing at your peak.

Take, for instance, a guitar that can’t achieve a low enough action to execute a particular technique, like a swift legato run. Imagine you’re working with a guitar that has a bowed neck and a malfunctioning truss rod, making it impossible to adjust the relief. As a result, you’re stuck with a string height of 1 inch, even with the saddles fully lowered. In this case, upgrading to a guitar with a properly functioning neck might allow you to nail that legato technique. I’d challenge anyone to attempt a fast Allan Holdsworth-style legato run with 1-inch action.
 
newpedals said:
I don't think expensive gear makes anyone a better player. Better players do have gear which is tailored to suit their sound though.
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norminal said:
In my opinion, the right gear can enhance your skills as a player, but only if your current equipment is holding you back from performing at your peak.
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Well, the OP wasn't so much about whether gear instantly makes you a better player but whether it inspires you so much to play more - which may ultimately result in you to become a better player.

For myself, it's a mixed bag. Sometimes getting the most out of what I already have is challenging and inspiring, at other times, it's a new thing I bought that doesn't let me stop playing.
 
No, practice makes you a better player. With that said, once you learn how to play well, having the right gear is important.

Sort of like...

Bad player/bad gear = awful
Bad player/good gear = still awful
Good player/bad gear = passable
Good player/good gear = good
Great player/ any gear = amazing (top 5% maybe)
Great player/ good gear = that's the top 1%

Most of us don't have the chops of the top players and live somewhere in the decent/good range.
 
la szum said:
Well, it sure can't hurt, and make us worse, right? :idk
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*Delay covering up sloppy playing has entered the chat*

Cartoon Diabolical Laughing GIF
 
Honestly, I think the absolute best bang for your buck in gear upgrades is the guitar pick. Everybody has a different picking style, and using the right (or wrong) pick can have a huge effect on your playing. As your playing progresses, it's worth trying a bunch of different shapes and thicknesses of picks to see what works best for you, and it's worth doing every few years. I've become "unstuck" several times by switching picks - not even radical departures in pick shape or thickness.
 
Aelred said:
And I won't practice on gear that causes me pain, such as baseball-bat necks etc.

A better amp is a bonus, and inspirational.
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yeah it's cool when you have that luxury, for sure.
I grew up poor and had to practice on a shitty guitar with terrible neck and action and SS amp and managed to get inspired just the same. But having access to the good stuff is not a bad thing.
 
GuitarBilly74 said:
yeah it's cool when you have that luxury, for sure.
I grew up poor and had to practice on a shitty guitar with terrible neck and action and SS amp and managed to get inspired just the same. But having access to the good stuff is not a bad thing.
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We all have different circumstances and requirements we need to address or work around. I wasn't ready to give up, but my new gear is making it much more enjoyable ergonomically as well as tonally.

When I was young I was stronger and more flexible, but didn't stick at it even as a hobby for decades. Readjusting and relearning can be a chore for mind and body, so I prefer comfort if I can afford it.
 
newpedals said:
I think its always a good idea to invest in mid range gear or buy used. If it doesn't work for us, we don't have to lose a lot of money. Everybody doesn't have money to burn.
Click to expand...
Yeah, reselling gear rarely nets a profit, if you count all the costs involved.

I've been fortunate in hardly ever buying a piece of gear that didn't work for me just as I hoped it would, so I've also hardly ever sold anything for that reason. One time in my life I put myself in a very bad place, and had to sell a lot of gear, but fortunately only 1 guitar. Which I don't miss.

But I did re-acquire most of it, but it cost me money overall.

If it's something you truly enjoy, I say go for the best you can afford, and buy it for the long haul, so to speak. Anything that enhances your enjoyment is money well-spent, imo.
 
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