TSJMajesty
Rock Star
- Messages
- 5,816
TL;DR What do you buy, and why?
I was just at the store, and passed the battery "stand" that they stick right out in the middle of the aisle, you know, to remind people like me that, "Oh yeah, I need batteries."
I'm almost out, and I have 3 guitars that I rotate through that each take 3 AA's, so I grabbed a big pack. But what I really wanted to do was look into rechargeables, and compare the cost, since I've used them for many years (but my charger doesn't work any more, and several of the batteries are shot), so I wanted to buy a new set.
But like I said, I didn't want to run out while waiting for them to be delivered, since I would order them online, so I just grabbed them. Done. For a while anyway.
But anyway, that's not really my point.
What I wanted to ask was, do you guys really consider your choices when buying these comsumables? As in, What's the best value, for example?
Have you truly determined that those Elixers last twice as long, or is it possible you just buy into the marketing hype? (Not saying either is right or wrong.)
I'll admit I have no idea if the Duracells I bought are better than the Energizers. Or if rechargeables are a better value, because I'd have to weigh out the up-front costs, compared to how long they last, and if I really wanted to make an informed decision, also factor in the cost of the electricity to recharge them. And if I really wanted to nerd out, also think about the environmental aspect.
How do you decide? Is that $40 Blue Chip pick really worth it, or is it just confirmation bias, because you spent so much money on ONE pick?
Or is all of this stuff simply too small to even think about?
For me, wrt to strings: Since I play EBMM guitars, and they put 10-46 Slinkys on them from the factory, that's how I make my decision- Buy those same strings. I hardly ever break strings, and even then it's only when I've left them on the guitar too long, so for me, I think spending extra money wouldn't be worth it. And I have compared D'addario to Ernie Ball, and have used both, so as far as I'm concerned, they're both great.
But I do buy the RPS version, since I think every manufacturer out there puts a cheaper replaceable item on their products to save costs.
If it were tubes, I'd go with whatever Eurotubes would recommend (I'd call them.) But I definitely don't "Only buy Mesa-branded tubes for my Mesa amps" because that's what Mesa says to do.
Picks- I went through my "Try as many different ones as possible" phase a long time ago, and settled on JP Jazz III's. Cuz Petrucci. Maybe a dumb reason, but whatever. I would like to try a Blue Chip though (I do not lose picks; I wear them out), but I'm just not $40 curious.
I was just at the store, and passed the battery "stand" that they stick right out in the middle of the aisle, you know, to remind people like me that, "Oh yeah, I need batteries."
I'm almost out, and I have 3 guitars that I rotate through that each take 3 AA's, so I grabbed a big pack. But what I really wanted to do was look into rechargeables, and compare the cost, since I've used them for many years (but my charger doesn't work any more, and several of the batteries are shot), so I wanted to buy a new set.
But like I said, I didn't want to run out while waiting for them to be delivered, since I would order them online, so I just grabbed them. Done. For a while anyway.
But anyway, that's not really my point.
What I wanted to ask was, do you guys really consider your choices when buying these comsumables? As in, What's the best value, for example?
Have you truly determined that those Elixers last twice as long, or is it possible you just buy into the marketing hype? (Not saying either is right or wrong.)
I'll admit I have no idea if the Duracells I bought are better than the Energizers. Or if rechargeables are a better value, because I'd have to weigh out the up-front costs, compared to how long they last, and if I really wanted to make an informed decision, also factor in the cost of the electricity to recharge them. And if I really wanted to nerd out, also think about the environmental aspect.
How do you decide? Is that $40 Blue Chip pick really worth it, or is it just confirmation bias, because you spent so much money on ONE pick?
Or is all of this stuff simply too small to even think about?
For me, wrt to strings: Since I play EBMM guitars, and they put 10-46 Slinkys on them from the factory, that's how I make my decision- Buy those same strings. I hardly ever break strings, and even then it's only when I've left them on the guitar too long, so for me, I think spending extra money wouldn't be worth it. And I have compared D'addario to Ernie Ball, and have used both, so as far as I'm concerned, they're both great.
But I do buy the RPS version, since I think every manufacturer out there puts a cheaper replaceable item on their products to save costs.
If it were tubes, I'd go with whatever Eurotubes would recommend (I'd call them.) But I definitely don't "Only buy Mesa-branded tubes for my Mesa amps" because that's what Mesa says to do.
Picks- I went through my "Try as many different ones as possible" phase a long time ago, and settled on JP Jazz III's. Cuz Petrucci. Maybe a dumb reason, but whatever. I would like to try a Blue Chip though (I do not lose picks; I wear them out), but I'm just not $40 curious.
Used Elixir a couple years and they are fine, too, just maybe a tad more dull sounding.
I do have some V Chips, though,
HEH! "Peasant Picks", that shit's funny!!
