It is amazing to me how someone could title a thread "Justifying Multiple Guitars" and it has turned into a brag fest of my dobro's bigger than your dobro. Not to mention shameless merchandising by Catspaw and his cohorts.

Let me try to install some decorum by explaining that for many of us it is not GAS. GAS is a disease which can never be cured, but it can be controlled with proper counseling and support.

I do not have GAS. I own a Martin D-28 (1957 vintage) that I bought in a pawn shop for $185. Several people have offered to buy it from me for that price or a little more, but I won't part with it if for not other reason than its sentimental value. 'Twas the first guitar I purchase. I first learned on my brother's Gibson Les Paul, but he won't part with it despite playing only three or four times a year. I made the mistake of giving my first guitar, a Gibson classical, to my ex-wife. We were still married then, and I thought if I encouraged her guitar-playing she wouldn't mind my playing so frequently. It did not work and the guitar has fled with her to Austin, Texas where I bet it is gathering dust.

After my divorce, I purchased a beautiful Guild 12-String (1967 vintage) as a present to myself to cheer me up. It did help.

Next, I purchased a Mc Nally backpacker. My other guitars are too old to take to the beach or the campsite and are two large to play in most cars (not while driving, of course, but as a passenger). It sounds a little bit better than those plastic guitars they sell in toy stores, but it is well-fretted and has good tuners so at least it is tunable and playable.

I slacked off for a while, but then bought a modern National Steel. If you want to play blues, there is no substitute, so of course it was a justifiable purchase (made on impulse, I went in the store to buy strings).

I thought I was finished, but I wasn't. I first came on the Mudcat looking for the string guages on Lead Belly's Stella. Well, to put them on, you have to convert the nut. I couldn't do that to my old Guild 12, so I bought a used Alvarez 12 for a couple of bucks and had it worked up for the heavy gauge strings used for keeping your guitar tuned to C or B. This was a serious, scholarly project and an additional guitar was the only solution.

Next (oh there is more) I came to realize that I really didn't want to take my old guitars to many places because other people drool over them and I read the horror stories of Rick Fielding who has had 786 guitars stolen (some of them cost more $50!!!). When I was up that way, I thought I saw Duckboots in a pawn shop and that may be an explanation (someone has to pay the rent).

I am losing count, but I am near the end. I went to a SALE ! ! ! at Mars (a big box music store chain here in the 'States) just out of curiousity. I like to go there, because they do carry some nice acoustics and they truly let you play to your heart's content. Well, they had this Carver mini-guitar. It has a fiberglass back and a pick-up in it. Having been dissatisfied with my Mc Nally Backpacker, I realized this guitar actually had some tone to it and was fun to play. And it was on sale, reduced even below their discount price (does anybody pay list price?). I have found it a pleasure and I keep it in the bathroom for those times when I will be sitting for long periods without much to do. Of course, the other guitars would be too big for that (except the tone deaf Mc Nally), so this has been a wise purchase on my part and has saved my Martin and Guild from damage banging against the sink and the towel rack.

Well, I was allmost done, but the Mudcat had an auction of a vintage Kay guitar. It was so old, it didn't even have a serial number. They swore you could actually tune it and play it (though it was worthwhile just for the bright red painted body). I was the winning bidder and it now sits next to my computer so I can try out new songs from the Mudcat as soon as they are posted or I can use it to "remember" the chords to a song when there is a chord request. There is not much concern even thought my son often kicks it when he gets heavily into a game of Dark Star (I know he doesn't mean too, the kid's allright).

Of course, if one wants to play at fancy establishments like Starbucks it is vital to have sound amplification equipment. I bought a little "song writer" amp and the paraphanalia that goes with it. This was economically justifiable, you have to spend money to make money.

My house is like a pick factory, you never know where one is going to show up. My advice is buy in quantity, you know you're going to lose them.

I have bought a few other instruments, just to try them out, you know. I have an Appalacian Dulcimer that I take down from the wall (gee, it looks nice) and play once or twice a year). It serves as decoration and instrument (Marge even likes it). I have an autoharp that comes out every year or so. I never have replaced that highest C string. But it is important, if you are going to perform, that you bring some varied sound qualities to your performance. And I am serious about my playing out. I do at least four or five gigs a year. I also own a Mc Nally strumstick (esentially a mini-3 string- dulcimer). I keep that to encourage people who said they can't play anything.

Of course, for the monthly Pot-Luck singing sociery, a few "color" instruments are necessary. I really haven't gone overball, just some shaker eggs, a tambourine, some spoons, a nose flute, a kazoo, and a few other items. Of course, I have a wooden "train whistle" which is absolutely necessary if someone request "City of New Orleans" for the 12th time.

So, you see, this is not an addiction. Everything is under control. This is as practical a hobby as you can get. I did think Anni Clark was playing a fine black painted Takamine 12 string last night and I may go downtown and see if anyone is carrying one of them. Just a nice, showy, performance guitar. I am sure is was under $2000.

Roger in Baltimore