How many guitars in a band are too many?

[Ron Green]

Poll question: How many guitars in a band are too many?

The bass doesn't count, unless it's a wanker with a pick.

[Moochy]

1. Four

Three is pushing it.
Lead guitar, and rythm guitar, and maybe a sitar.

[AntiCoup2K4]

17. Rolling Stones - Kansas City 1981

Mick Taylor rejoins the band for one night. You would think the result would be guitar heaven. Unfortunately it was not. It seemed like nobody knew who was supposed to be playing what. I guess they didn't rehearse?

[smartvoter]

2. In some cases three works -- four is over the top. nt

[FogerRox]

3. I voter for 3 -- but 2 electric and an acoustic can be OK

[no name no slogan]

4. Never enough

The Gipsy Kings have a MINIMUM of four guitars on each song-- three rhythm, one lead. And it's an amazing thing to hear.

Otherwise, the optimum amount is at least three. And one of them should be a twelve-string, if at all possible, a la the Byrds, the Church, etc.

[Ron Green]

10. The Gipsy Kings' guitar playing is the whole texture of the music, though.

The rhythm and everything. I'm thinking about some bands that have trouble leaving any holes in their music, because there's so much sustained sound going on. That's where I have issues with too many guitars.

[no name no slogan]

28. Yeah, good point. Molly Hatchet DOES suck

three guys playing harmonized lead lines. Yay how exciting. I can do that too with enough multitracking.

I'm more of a "texture" guitar player myself: not so much technique, but the entire sound of all of them playing together can be quite something.

Glenn Branca (a modern New York composer) has done some things with 'guitar orchestras' that are pretty interesting, though.

[Skip Intro]

5. I want to see a band with four - a bass and three leads!!!!

yes yes YES!

:headbang:

[AntiCoup2K4]

15. The real Lynyrd Skynyrd pulled it off.

I have a bootleg from the tour (1975) they did after Ed King left the band, but before Steve Gaines joined. The way they constructed their songs, just did not work with 2 guitarists. While the boot is otherwise excellent, you can literally hear the holes in the sound.

[Ron Green]

6. Some people think ONE is too many, but I voted for a different number.

[Wickerman]

7. three worked just fine for the True Believers

of course the weight of the egos imploded the band, but God, it was some glorious noise when it worked. :D An encore of Back in Black with 3 separate leads by three excellent guitarists (Alejandro Escovedo, Javier Escovedo, and Jon Dee Graham) was a sight to be held. The thunder of Hard Road was amazing.

[enigmatic]

12. Wow, another True Believers fan??

I love their stuff, and Alejandro Escovedo is one the great artists of the past 25 years, IMO. I take it you like The Silos as well?

[Wickerman]

21. Big Silos fan

Not as familar with their later work as the earlier stuff, but Walter's work is brilliant.

Big, big Alejandro fan! Saw the True Believers several times and was blown away. Don't recall seeing a stage act with that much raw power before our since. And, of course, their choice of covers was amazing.

:toast:

[enigmatic]

29. The new Silos record is great

"When The Telephone Rings"; is has alot of the atmosphere as their early 90's stuff, and the title song is beautiful..

Alejandro is a great guy; I hope he's doing better these days. We need him around as long as possible.

[Wickerman]

32. I think you pegged what I like about the Silos

the atmosphere is terrific on the early records. I think it is possible Walter gave some of that up on the mid records. I know his band has shuffled a lot, but who doesn't over, what, nearly 20 years? I first saw them in 1987! I believe they opened for The Reivers!

Alejandro toured this summer so I hope he's got it under control. Oh, and he recorded a live set in Austin last year with a lot of friends, a benefit - I've heard it will be released as a DVD - I'm hoping at least.

[GreenArrow]

8. three's a crowd

two's ideal.

[Spinzonner]

9. More than there are decent guitar players

[enigmatic]

11. 3 guitars like The True Believers

That was a great band..

[Rabrrrrrr]

13. It's not a sane question

Bands like Molly Hatchet and the Gypsy Kings can have many guitars, and it fucking works.

The only real answer is "only as many guitarists as the skill level of the players can suppport".

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

14. Well the Outlaws did great with as many as four at one time

and all were stellar and belonged there.

I don't think 25 is too many if they all blend...bounce off of one another or please the ear

[enigmatic]

16. There was a great garage band in the 80's called Plan 9

that had as many as a dozen guitar players on stage at a time, and it was amazing to hear; a wall of swirling Psyhedelic music..

[Technowitch]

18. Any number, just as long as there's plenty of frickin' cowbell baby

"Guess what? I got a fever! And the only prescription... is more cowbell!"

[BBradley]

19. I don't particularly care for more than 2.

[jpgray]

20. As long as they are doing interesting and tasteful things

There can never be too many. Doubling for example can be an incredibly sexy though simple effect live as well as in the studio. All the guitars don't need to be jangling away on something different, but they do need to sound good. :D

[vi5]

22. 2 is the absolute max.....

Unless we're talking something like Glenn Branca or Robert Fripp's league of Crafty Guitarists which are obviously exceptions to the rule.

Did Band of Susans have 3 guitars? They'd be another exception.

But most of the time I find 2 guitars to be just enough and sometimes even too much.

[no name no slogan]

31. Susans had three

and agreed about Branca and Fripp, but they're kind of in a league of their own. Sonic Youth now has three gtrs, with Jim O'Rourke.

But then again Molly Hatchett also has three. Ew. :puke:

[Bassic]

23. Who cares about guitar?

Make way for bass :D

:headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

[Ron Green]

26. That's absolutely right: Think of the many bands with no guitar, and you

come up with an excellent list, including many jazz groups, some Latin ensembles, and horn bands. But make a list of bands with no bass, and it's exceedingly weak.

[Bassic]

30. Weak and they are all groove-less :)

[ProfessorGAC]

24. I Say Three

Two guitars is enough. Maybe, like in Heart where there was 2 electrics and an acoustic, but 3 electrics is almost always too many.

And, hey, watch that wanker with a pick on bass stuff. I play bass when i have to! Somebody's got to do it!
The Professor

[Bassic]

25. But seriously some bands can make with three

Lead, rythm and baritone for example. That does make 4 with the bass.

But for regular rock, 2 is enough I guess.

[DrGonzoLives]

27. Who cares

as long as we get rid of the drummer. :evilgrin: