I have bought a lot of guitars during my career and played thousands of gigs in that time, we still do a bit even now.
I started with Vox Duotone because a Fender Stratocaster cost a kings ransom to us back then, but when I got my Strat I immediately felt comfortable with it. I swapped it for a Telecaster because it became troublesome after a re-fret and I fancied a change. I had stopped playing Shads music in the late sixties so the trem wasn't a big issue, but after four years, having tried a Les Paul along the way, I bought a second hand Burns Nu Sonic with trem and I loved it, immediately using the trem again. I ordered a custom built Strat from John Birch on the recommendation of Karl Green of The Hermits, as I was with Dave Berry at the time and our paths were always crossing being under the same management and we worked together a lot. Karl had been recommended to go to John Birch by Roy Wood, who already had guitars from Mr Birch, as did Tony Iommi, Noddy Holder and Dave Hill and quite a few other chart bands at that time. Fender weren't making good stuff during that period which is why we all wound up at Rubery, Birmingham at John Birch guitars. The Strat was white with a tiger stripe pickguard with a John Birch Humbucker and two strat pickups and a double selector switch for every pickup configuration. I had the neck shaped very thin to make it easy to play for me, much thinner than my old Strat had been I used that guitar for over ten years before buying a Tokai fiesta red Strat because they appeared in the shops and weren't expensive and they were excellent, everything that Fender hadn't been. This was my route back to Fender in a round about way. Fender finally changed hands and I'm pleased to say they got their act together once more.
I also began experimenting with other types of guitar but always went back to the Strat and I still do to this day. I figured out that The Strat has everything and covers all bases for what I have to play, where a Les Paul, 335, Gretsch, ES175, SG and similar do not. That isn't to say I don't like them, but it's down to practicality and I always go to the Strat if I can only take one guitar to a gig. I do have options as the Brian May guitar is equal to a Strat in every way and I love it, as is are my PRS and G&L, but the Strat has one thing that these don't for our music - THE LOOK.
So that's my reason for sticking to my Strat, I have my Burns Marvin too but find it clumsy although great to look at. Leo's G&L Strats are terrific, but mine is dark blueburst and I don't like dark colours on stage, they clash with our stage attire and you can't see them. There are all sorts of reasons why our minds are swayed towards a certain tool, or instrument and you also have to consider in theatre on a sixties nostalgia show that the audience too have expectations, they expect The Shadows to be played on red Strats or white Burns, which is why we have them simply for aesthetics. We recently switched the heavy Vox AC 30 amps for new lightweight Fender ToneMaster amps, but as we are not a Shadows Tribute act it doesn't bother me at all, but we did make the effort when we actually focused on The Shadows shows.
Back to guitars and I still have a couple of Teles, though rarely use them and do prefer Strats' , particularly my latest Fender American Deluxe in fiesta red. The last electric I bought is a Burns SSJ twin pickup short scale and that too is a nice, easy to play guitar for £249.00.
Although I love the look of them, I have lost count of the lovely big Gibson Jazz guitars I've had and sold, simply because they are uncomfortable to play for a full set, just because of their size. I have now settled on a couple of ES339 guitars by Epiphone and fitted Duesenberg Trems, they are delightful and easy to play and that trem is one of the best I have ever had.
I'm at an age now where I can buy what I want so I'm trying out all the things that were unaffordable to us back then, I guess like many more of us on here.
I had the Gibson J200, Martin OM28 and they are lovely, but Tokai J200 sounds just as good at £3000 less money, as does my Vintage Gordon Giltrap acoustic versus the Martin.
OK the Gordon Giltrap isn't cheap, but I got mine as 'B' stock for £329 so I'm well pleased. It's the only electro acoustic guitar that I have being able to successfully use for lead work on stage without feedback problems and it sounds terrific. The firm 'Vintage' make some great instruments, I'd recommend them all day.
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