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Electric guitars all sold. That's the strat and the tele I had. Also sold Keystone strat pickups, that I never installed. Got a good price for all of them, meaning I got what I paid for them.

My amp is still with me, maybe will sell it too. It's a VibroChamp '65. Then there's the Danelectro effects that I'll sell too. Might lose plenty on the Champ, the Danelectros will break even as I only bought one of them, the other one I got paying just shipping.

Bought a plywood Martin LXK travel guitar. And two ukuleles, on half plastic (MIA), one solid koa (MIH ).

Playing the Martin the most. Just put mediums on my A&L Ami (the other guitar, another small acoustic) and tuned to open D. Sounds great. The Martin has lights on it, although Martin recommends mediums (.013). I'll put some Elixir Mediums on it soon, I think. The Martin likes new strings (and 2mm pick), the Ami isn't as picky (also meaning I rarely use picks with it ).

...
Bought also a Hohner Pro harp harmonica. And a plastic Xaphoon. Haven't really played either.

I think cheapo electric basses work well. Not that I would've played one in a band mind you!

This last year, I've been thinking of getting a bass myself. But I'm torn between the Beatles hollowbody or a long scale P-bass type of thing. I also tried Harley Benton cheapo acoustic eletric which I think felt good and played well, don't know about the electrifed sound but it sounded nice acoustically. Also played a tiny Alvarez acoustic electric the size of a mini guitar. Sounded very alive (too much so) and well (not in the very bass end of frequencies), plugged in, but the I didn't like for any real use. Looking to test drive a Epi that somebody locally has (but isn't selling) to figure out if it's miuch better than the Harley Benton at 2-3 times the price.

>> "My amp is still with me, maybe will sell it too. It's a VibroChamp '65. [...] Might lose plenty on the Champ"

> "Keep it! You're bound to get another electric of some kind."

It could be, it could be. Not in the picture right now, though. If I got another electric guitar right now, it'd be a semihollow (ES-335 type) or a hollow one. But currently I feel I will grow as a player if I stay 100% acoustic.

If I got back to electrics, I feel I'd like to make an amp myself. Plus there are plenty of good amps anyway. Although I do love the tone of the VibroChamp.

>> "Bought a plywood Martin LXK travel guitar."

>"HPL isn't plywood. It's much better than that. Personally I wouldn't call it a travel guitar, but I guess it's subjective. The scale is a bit too tight for my fingers, but plenty of good players I know rave about the Little Martins...rating them better than 95% of the acoustic guitars available."

But I do enjoy calling it a plywood guitar. But on the other hand I also do enjoy lugging it with me with the gold script saying "Martin" on it. Like I had a real guitar, for the first time in my life.

Yes, I do understand that it's not the real travel model. Have never played those backpackers, btw, didn't think they stock them here, but they do (I did enjoy the original "3 string miniature" of it). But I was looking for another acoustic that would respond to picking and strumming better than the Ami. This 1-year old Martin happened to cross paths with me, so I went and bought it. Had tried the Martin LXM before and liked it, although both of these are kinda dead sounding, but not in bad way. Never played the solid-top ones, but it might be that I wouldn't like those as much (I have played the small Taylor and Alvarez). I do enjoy the fact that mine doesn't nick as easy, and has sufficiently padded gig bag. And it is a year old and hasn't been humidified and setup is still right on the money. Feel sturdy and good. Meant to be played, not to be put in to a cabinet for show.

I have thin and rather short fingers, so the scale is not a problem for me! But the nut width is a tad tight (for fingerpicking), but workable for me (if I don't use fingerpicks).

Anyway, it is small easy to take and leave anywhere kind of guitar that has a warm sound and nice for such a small package. Yet to see if it performs in a context. I am taking it to a practice session to "compete" with two acoustic guitars tomorrow. We'll see how it'll stack up.

>> "A&L Ami"

> I really like those!

Me too. They are a real good deal (in Germany, not here!). They too ought to have a bit wider nut width, though. Not a biggest of problems for me, but still. I strung mine up with Martin PB 13s, for the fun of it, and it's in "open D" (DADF#AD) now.

So it's secondary guitar in my stable. I was about to sell it a while ago but my girlfriend (who never cared for guitars or my playing) said "Are you really going to sell THAT ONE?" and now that I have the Martin, she said "The other one sounds a lot louder and better".

I've read that the Little Martin sounds louder to the player than it is. Could be. But if it doesn't sound loud, it's one of the few not loud guitars that I do enjoy. And that's good, with the neighbors sometimes complaining about my playing (by banging loudly when I play and their baby is asleep).

>> "The Martin has lights on it, although Martin recommends mediums (.013)."

>"I'm rather surprised, as Martin guitars are well known for not handling thick strings. Normally 12's max. And my Backpacker can only take 10's."

The backpacker is an exception, certainly, not really Martin invention either, IIRC. But it does say that recommended strings are Martin M550 Phosphor Bronze (which are 13-56): www.martinguitar.com/guit...e%20Martin
(I've got PB 12s on it now)

The necks are ply as well, so that helps making them more stable, I'd assume.

Martins are the rare make that often has better prices here than in Germany, so that's nice as well. Seagulls (and A&Ls when they are available) on the other hand have very high prices here.

>> "plastic Xaphoon"

> "My bamboo Xaphoon was handmade by Brian Wittman."

Yes, for the last couple of years, the regular Bamboo ones are not made by him anymore. Bought the plastic one new online from the States, so it was rather inexpensive (eneough so that I didn't need to pay customs on it). Just to give it a try. That's about as much as I've really done with it. I think I'll take up the blues harp first.