How many guitars do you REALLY need?

How many guitars do you REALLY need? It’s the question that guitar players get asked and ask themselves over and over.
Personally, I have way too many guitars one might say, but each one plays an important part in not only the work that I do but the fun that I like to have. These instruments all have different sounds, they all feel different, and they all excel at something that the other guitars do not excel at. Sometimes just picking up a different guitar inspires me to play something differently, or even helps me write songs out of inspiration. With that said, one could argue that my telecaster collection is a bit out of control at this point but there’s no way I could give one up unless someone or something forced me to. Today, we add a new one to the family.
After waiting what seemed like an eternity (they keep selling out!) I finally have one of my close friend and guitar hero’s signature guitar - the Brent Mason fender telecaster. Let’s check it out.
Speaking of checking things out, if you like my videos it really helps me and this channel if you click the subscribe button and the little bell icon.

[@BrandonOutside]

Lol prob the best unboxing sequence I’ve ever seen 😂 Awesome guitar and great playing!

[@Freakaboogie]

that was fricking hilarious

[@mikecorey8370]

Yeah, that was good.

[@Marimba7]

You nailed it right at the start Brian: it’s about having fun 😁 I have too many guitars, pedals and amps…but I love playing around with them all, which keeps up my interest in making music. Rock on!

[@bms7632]

Well said

[@lazvt8469]

Got 17...that's about right...and finally got my first Wampler pedal last week...Tumnus Deluxe. LOVE IT!!

[@wampler_pedals]

Thanks so much!

[@JoelCaseyJonesMusic]

Agreed. It was my first and started the obsession...

[@PoliteAF]

Yo, I got a Tumnus Deluxe (best version of the best stacking overdrive circuit) and a Fuzztration (look this pedal up, souped up Big Muff with very tweakable octave settings).

[@lazvt8469]

@@PoliteAF haha...my first pedal, in 1978 was a Big Muff...still have it...gave to my son. Might be worth a few bucks.

[@AzaelVI]

My girlfriend asked me this question once. I asked her how many pair of shoes does she need. That ended the discussion.

[@soofitnsexy]

most guys need maybe 2 pairs of real shoes women...200 easily

[@adrianhjordan1981]

And she replied, OK, so you can have a formal guitar (Les Paul Custom), a smart guitar (Fender Strat), a sporty guitar (Ibanez Jem) and a casual guitar (Reliced Fender Nocaster) 😂😂😂

[@bozopennywize]

Perfect answer

[@coreybray9834]

Yeah, but be careful not to tell her how many girlfriends you need. That could be disasterous.

[@NintenDub]

That's gold

[@waynepatton689]

You put this video up just as I’m contemplating another Tele myself!! Awesome guitar too! Live that Bender too.

[@PeteLamont]

Great finger pickin! Love the playing! The guitar sounds great too, but the hands have the magic. Thanks for sharing!

[@underground_fuzz]

That B-Bender is so cool! Love the pickups diversity of sounds. I take back what I said about that "bright" sound because it sounds so damn good on a Telecaster!

[@CBGypsy03]

A solid 5 and the rest get cycled in and out. Always fun trying new ones :)

[@rprochowski3930]

Good stuff Brian...whatever makes us happy.

[@jeffbriggs4268]

N + 1 is a great formula. Now I think I need a Brent Mason tele. Great playing, Brian!!! Great video!!! I thought I was done buying guitars when I bought a Les Paul Special with P90s - another must-have guitar.

[@SteeringSteel]

I love it when the family grows :)

[@LPKJFHIS]

Best unboxing I’ve ever seen. Friggin hilarious

[@lance134679]

Really like that the B-Bender can be converted to G-Bender. Awesome.

[@Guitarsinthewild_Orl]

N+1 is the best explanation. 100% agree

[@erico2001]

Recently picked up the Martin SC13e and it’s all they say it is. Plays just like a electric and sounds amazing. The best acoustic I have ever played. But I’m still a electric player at heart and long time Wampler user.

[@noi5emaker]

Need ? 3. Have? 25. I apologise to no one.

[@MrBluesilverred]

I got tired of being asked that question. My solution was to continue buying any new guitars, new or used, in Antique white. The Strats, Teles, a Firebird and an SG all came into the house without hearing any static. The key was to only having one on the guitar stand at a time…..

[@t.p.sheppard1270]

All you pedal guys can jam. Your guitars sound awesome. Very cool extras.

[@christopherprice3226]

Glad you got the BM I had mine since day of release. My wife surprised me out of the blue! walked into my studio saw a case on my chair didnt know whats in it. It was a BM !!! One of my faves... My faves I own are BM PRS signed by BM and Paul,Fender BM and a Epiphone Union Jack. I agree with your formula N+ 1 !!! I have 20 guitars and need one more if its super cool. Have all the bases covered sound wise... PS I have a Hot wired signed by Brent Mason also, love it sounds extra good.

[@LoganFillmore]

Do you think there is any variation in tone caps between the two guitars? I was wondering if that could be responsible for the differences in sound.

[@trusarmor4957]

0:59 that unboxing tho. 😆🤣😂

[@fukkami6204]

You have enough guitars when you have enough.

[@XiscoDude]

Richard approves t-shirt selection! 😂 Love the podcast!

[@jeffs.3533]

No goats were harmed during this recording!?! Ha. Thanks for the great video!

[@PFB1994]

Love the guitars I have right now, but a few I sold I wish I still had in the collection. Never too many!

[@g_and_kikos_homestudio]

We now I need a B-Bender....so I guess at least 1 more....😉🤣 I also like the Dusenbergs with the benders you push. Very cool guitar sir. Also your Terraform is the next pedal going on my board... 🎸

[@frankturner4381]

Best unboxing ever!

[@michaelbartholomew8155]

As many as you want!

[@AbeldeBetancourt]

Gorgeous Strelecaster!

[@rayrifice2595]

I have 18. Some are from my early years playing in bands in the 70’s and a few are very recent. I sold 2 back in college to help me survive but wish I had not. That 68’ Trini Lopez standard still haunts me. They are like a box of crayons, all have a different color.

[@NPlus1Podcast]

N+1! Lol, I literally named my podcast after this idea! I played one of those Brent Mason Tele's at Sweetwater and they're friggin' DOPE!!!!

[@JaakkoTK]

All of them! I mean, mr. Brent Mason is on of my guitar heroes too and I have to have his signature model some day....damn GAS! Cheers from Finland!

[@OtherTheDave]

“Need” is a strong word… if I could only have one, it’d be something probably vaguely stratish and with an HSS pickup configuration (preferably with the H being splittable). I don’t own such a guitar, though, because there’s not a rule or anything that says I can only have one.

[@metfan999]

You just described my guitar: Fender strat ultra!

[@ClintCurtis]

I currently have around 25, and also I have a Tele obsession (5). Have you tried the Noventa Tele? (Single p90).

[@westernrider100]

Great question that I've been asked more than once. My standard reply is one for each day of the week and a couple of spares.

[@guitardave]

One more. Always one more.

[@nedim_guitar]

Right now I'm really into my Squier Telecaster Deluxe 70's Custom Vibe. But it's great to have a versatile lineup.

[@Markleford]

I commend your fire taste, sir. And yes, "(n+1)" is always the right answer! :D

[@sponger-49]

If you do alternative tunings you kinda need multiple guitars. If you don't then I guess it is still a nice to have.

[@JoelCaseyJonesMusic]

Not that I am advocating for fewer guitars, but the EHX pitchfork solves this problem. It’s also faster to change tunings.

[@sponger-49]

@@JoelCaseyJonesMusic interesting pedal but I don't think that is the same as changing tuning. Alt tuning can be scary but it can also free your guitar mind!

[@JoelCaseyJonesMusic]

@@sponger-49 well it won’t do outside of what your guitar is tuned to string to string if that’s what you mean, but I use it to capo and drop my guitar all the time. I play at church and sometimes a half or whole step up or down makes it so I can use open strings when they transpose the key.

[@sponger-49]

@@JoelCaseyJonesMusic Right on that makes sense. Props to you.. playing at church is not for the faint of heart! You better be ready for anything and feel your way around am I right?

[@STVG71]

N+1. Love it! I wish I lived in a more humidity stable environment so I could get more but I'm happy with my Squier Strat, Vintera Telly, Les Paul and Gretsch. Oh yeah, my epiphone acoustic. Last winter was really dry and had some fret sprout on the telly which scared me so I'm super cautious now! Hahahaha!

[@louaguado995]

4. One with humbuckers, one with single coils, one with p90's, and one acoustic. And maybe a bass too 😁

[@sense1240]

I love how you just dumped it out of the cardboard box lol, tested out that Hardshell case .

[@iaincobain3594]

Yesterday I bought an Aria Pro2 615 mk2 Nashville in Ruby Red.

[@sweetlowsounds]

I love your videos. You're very entertaining. Would you consider whenever Josh of JHS is in town recording him popping his head and shoulders into the room saying, "You know, Brian..."- followed by you pushing his giant head out. Do a dozen takes with different t-shirts and sprinkle that into the videos.

[@wampler_pedals]

I’d love to do something like that!

[@JoelCaseyJonesMusic]

Please do....

[@chasbee]

All of them.... ALL of them!

[@lance134679]

How many guitars do I need? One more. Ask me again after my next guitar purchase and I'll give you the same answer.

[@iost5459]

Lmao I’ve never seen an unboxing like that, amazing

[@jimbeaux4988]

Back in the 90s I was constantly learning Brent Mason stuff. It confused the hell out of me how he sometimes sounded like a strat on what was obviously a Tele.

[@theguitarprofessionals8584]

As many as I can get my hands on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@acmeyakko]

I think I'm finally at N-1. I have 31 and 30 was probably a good number, but I still had to have that last one (and that next one). The B bender (or G bender... or both) always reminds me of Diamond Rio.

[@tompoynton]

I have a Tele (with a strat pickup in the middle of 3), a Gretsch G5420T, and am saving up for a D-18 to meet my acoustic needs and honestly I don’t really feel like I need anything else

[@NKN82]

- How many guitars do you REALLY need? - One more.

[@onevoiceinc]

Hey now. My farmer's tan is kinda my thing. You're rocking yours. Don't steal my trademark, hahahaha! By the way, STILL loving the Wampler Ethereal. My always on pedal on my board. :) Rock on, brother!

[@CorporateBoar38]

heck ya!

[@darrellowe4208]

(N+1) is not the answer for my wife. Haha! Love the humor at the beginning of the video. I felt myself relax and was ready to view.

[@000MidnightSun]

More videos with the goat!

[@modularcuriosity]

I have my ES-335 which does almost everything. Then an archtop jazz guitar, a solid body Ibanez rock and blues guitar, a couple of telecasters because they're awesome, a dreadnaught acoustic guitar, a classical guitar, a mandolin, a Chapman Stick, a couple of lap steel guitars in different tunings, and a banjo. I still need a Strat, a Kiesel Allan Holdsworth model (because I love Allan's music) and a pedal steel guitar. And maybe an OM style acoustic. And a bass. But that's it. Ok, maybe a 12 string.

[@johnjgibson6807]

Well Said 👍Beautiful Guitar 👍👍🎶🎶🎸

[@jimilee459]

I have 50, and I need them all!

[@kennethmeeker6369]

I have to have one , but I want them all lol

[@AbeldeBetancourt]

Kids, that's how you make a damn intro!

[@allanflippin2453]

Brian, Is there any way with the Brent Mason Tele to select only the middle pickup? Seems like everything else can be done :D

[@wampler_pedals]

Yes, just roll main volume all the way down

[@jsullivan2112]

Haha awesome. Love it! For me I'd say, gotta have a Strat, gotta have my Ibanez shred machine, a guitar with P90s is a must (love Casinos), gotta have a hollowbody (Casino again works beautifully), and a flavour guitar, like for me a nice Gretsch with Hilotrons (Tennessean ftw!), or a Rick. So that's what, four or five right there? Then a decent 12-string electric is always a plus, like a Danelectro does that job beautifully, and that also gives you lipsticks! Then there's the acoustics (gotta have my Larrivee, really want a J-45, and a smaller parlour guitar as well). Yeah, N+1 seems about right lol. Nice Tele btw! Definitely one to own if you love 'em, pretty feature-packed.

[@drewg3087]

I just bought another one and have to hide it from the wife. So 7 guitars now and a jazz bass. I have all the essentials besides a strat, more of a tele guy. I think I'm good for a few years. Also will get a jtm45 down the road to pair with my Fenders and I'll be set musically for life besides swapping pedals. Great perspective and video! Thanks for all your do Brian.

[@heavybrett-al4082]

I need them all! My brain thinks guitars are Pokemon or something?

[@Matthew_Scan]

Reminds me a bit of the Nashville and James Burton telecaster

[@Rwtheking]

To me as long as you play all of them and they all have a unique purpose like a different playing neck or a dif tone. That’s for players though. Collectors are a dif breed.

[@The_Nameless_1]

I "only" have 4 (and 2 basses), and I already wonder if I have too many. 2 of them are customised strat copies, I am contemplating building one out of their parts that would unify the customisations of both, and another "pristine" one that I think I would probably sell. Also I have some 21 pedals now, and contemplating selling off a few, bringing the number down to just around 10-15. Also, 2 amps, one bass amp, the other is a very old clean-channel-only practice guitar amp, I might keep both or a might sell the old guitar amp.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

The grass is always greener.. always 😀

[@DamianS1893]

I've been thinking about adding a Tele Style Guitar to my Collection

[@HesheR82]

??? Can you please make a video on how to put 2 separate pedals in 1 enclosure and have 1 pawer jack and have them work together or on its own. I have a few mini pedals and faves I would love to combine into something unique and fun project. If you could make something like this would be really cool. Thanks and love the channel and pedals.

[@xRepoUKx]

At least one for every tuning you play in AS A MINIMUM! lol

[@pricedlx]

I was fortunate enough to have been raised with a Les Paul in my hands. Till I was the ripe age of… decades enough.. I thought all I needed was my Gibson, a Bass (Gibson), and an acoustic (you guessed it! Yamaha). I recently went to a friends house who has a telecaster farm. Quite odd that. But picked up his baritone Tele. Well I guess I need fenders now. Unrelated- Any chance of a circuit breakdown of any modulation pedals. Say a Analog-delay, phaser, chorus, and whatnot. I enjoy the circuit breakdowns

[@stevewilliams846]

As many as i want.

[@KoaCharvel]

Brian, everyone knows that the answer to, "How many guitars do I need?" Is N +1, where N is always the current number of guitars you own. Rinse, wash, repeat.

[@LeMans512]

I need just one more. Just one.

[@gregmize01]

Goats tend to mess up most guitar related videos, if not all of them.🐐🐐🐐🐐

[@bassblom]

over 40 years ago I hated telecasters, coz of the quack I guess.. when I took the humbuckers out of my les paul custom (around 2010) and replaced them with P94's I thought.. this sounds like a big fat tele. a few years later I got me a tele. never looked back. building my second one no, an esquire, with a dual rail humbucker in the bridge.

[@leftundersun]

I need: - 1 tele with vintage pickups - 1 strat with texas special pickups - 1 strat with 50's vintage pickups - 1 gibson (doesn't matter much which model) with 50's vintage pickups and a bigsby - 1 hsh with high gain modern pickups and a floydrose - 1 jazzmaster just because of the tremolo system

[@pauldncn1]

So dare I show my wife this video ? 😁😁 thank you Nice features on that guitar

[@rmcq1999]

I definitely need a Tele with a B bender. And a 60s paisley, and a '52.

[@joeacebo9633]

Strat, tele, LP, and SG. Then something with p90s. Then you need one to keep in open E, one for open G, one for drop D. A backup strat ,a hollow body, a PRS for when you’re feeling fancy. An acoustic, a nylon string, and a bass. 15 is the answer.

[@ZigbertD]

I have seven electric guitars, one acoustic. Three of the electrics will cover 90% of what I need for live and studio use. I could buy ten more, and still not cover all of the other 10% that I might want, there are so many distinct possibilities, especially in recording. And of course now I definitely still need a B-bender Tele...Of course don't even get me started on dirt pedals. The Tumnus and Pantheon are the two Wampler representatives of the thirteen drive and fuzz pedals I own, and more will be coming regularly.

[@picksalot1]

One of each: Solid body, Classical, Archtop, Acoustic, Acoustic-Electric, 12-String, Bass, Lute, and Ukulele. But, I only play the first two every day, and haven't bought a new guitar in ages.

[@FBDerringer]

How many guitars? I don’t understand…🤔n+1, EXACTLY! Great unbox!

[@pedroleal7118]

Contrary to most people, my favorite configuration is SSH (the H being splittable)+active three band active pre-amp (cut/boost 15dB)! You need one with singles, one with doubles and a good acoustic!

[@jeffbriggs4268]

Don't forget.something with P90s.

[@GuitarAnthony]

All of them.

[@masonianbund]

Every time I think “ok, I’ve got enough guitars” I find that I’m totally delusional. N+1

[@SomeRandomDude2020]

N+1. Good one!

[@jamesbell1701]

Nice tee

[@gorlagOv]

How many tunings are there?

[@mr.d.572]

I'd say 3, maybe 4. I overbought last year and ended up with 6 and that is too much. I sold one last month and will be selling at least 2 more and will look at getting a different kind that I don't have, like a PRS or Telecaster.

[@drewg3087]

Go tele!

[@DaySleeper403]

I’m sitting on 7, different sounds for different applications, but if I could only keep one, it’d be my #1, a Gibson Les Paul with coil splits!

[@drewg3087]

Same but no coil splits nd my tele!

[@wogmurthsplasherwafflez301]

One, but a pretty good one. And it's kinda hard to play two at the same time anyway.

[@solkvist8668]

In all honesty, one. For flexibility I can understand a handful more. For me I’ve got my first electric (an old charvel) which I’ve had for 15 years and a strandberg sälen jazz for the neck design and other ergonomic benefits. If you need something with more strings, go for it. If you need a certain kind of bridge, go for it. If you want a different finish on what is effectively the same guitar, stop doing that. I’ve known far too many guitar guys who just buy the same damn guitar over and over again for some meaningless difference. Get a guitar that makes you happy. Now, if you are someone who needs a more diverse collection, do so. Grab some single coils, p90s, a jazz box, and 8 string, an 8 string jazz box if you are particularly ambitious. Pickups are the big game changer. Hell, just get a relish guitar and buy all the pickups you want for it. You don’t need 10-15 guitars, let alone 5. Just go for 1-2 guitars and make sure you are happy with them, get rid of the old if it doesn’t have sentimental value

[@Meep207]

Easy! How many guitars you have +1 more. You can never have too many guitars!

[@NintenDub]

More!!!! I only have 11

[@lancemorgan644]

Settled on 24, including at least 4 for just art on the wall. The other 20 can be reduced to about 12 which actually get played some. The key is, I was never trying to amass a collection. It took all of them to get me to the last two…which are incredible EBMMs.

[@wampler_pedals]

That’s one guitar I don’t have that I need

[@alangreenway6695]

I find the people who ask me ‘do you need that many guitars?’ Tend to have 4 holidays a year, or 200 pairs of shoes, or drink 8 pints of beer every night. We all have our vices, it’s just guitars are really visible.

[@jasondorsey7110]

When I see the things other people acquire needlessly, guitar equipment doesn't seem like a bad idea at all, especially stuff that's sought-after

[@josephwalton487]

I have noticed though that as much as I hear people say different guitars make me play different, their playing never sounds any different on different guitars. They might play different licks than they would on another, but their techniques are still the same. Phrasing is still the same as well. They just TRY to play different.