How Many is Too Many?

[adorshki]

Y'know we've been seeing justifications for years but this one's new, thought some of you may find it useful.
Right up there with walking an empty case out of the house and bring the new guitar home in it.
Courtesy of Ed Theriot from you-know-where. (Google Quora):

“Americans have shotguns.” I waterfowl hunt. My wife asked (yelled at) me, “WHY DO YOU HAVE _NINE_ SHOTGUNS TO HUNT DUCKS!?!” My reply was that I had 5 when we got married and have only been able to afford 4 since we got married. There was a similar discussion about fly rods. And saltwater fishing rods. And bass fishing rods. And lures.

 

[Minnesota Flats]

What is this "too many" concept of which you speak?

Please elaborate...

 

[HeyMikey]

The answer has been known for decades. Three is too many. One to use, and one as a back-up. That’s all you need.

 

[richardp69]

The answer has been known for decades. Three is too many. One to use, and one as a back-up. That’s all you need.

Different answer in these parts. I think about 75 has a nice ring to it.

 

[bobouz]

I have it on good authority that the correct answer is when there’s no more room in the house.

 

[Wilmywood]

'Too' and 'many' should never be used together in a sentence ...

 

[adorshki]

The answer has been known for decades. Three is too many. One to use, and one as a back-up. That’s all you need.

They forgot a spare for your buddy if he foolishly shows up "un-axed", so to speak, while one of the primaries is in the shop.
And the "rotator" which is the one you'll sell to fund the next GAS. It'll become the next rotator because really it's not about finding the perfect guitar, it's about the chase.

I was never able to clear that hurdle.

 

[Wilmywood]

They forgot a spare for your buddy if he foolishly shows up "un-axed", so to speak, while one of the primaries is in the shop.
And the "rotator" which is the one you'll sell to fund the next GAS. It'll become the next rotator because really it's not about finding the perfect guitar, it's about the chase.

I was never able to clear that hurdle.

Well put. I find 12 is about my happy place ... I fluctuate between 12 and 15 most of the time.

 

[mushroom]

Isn’t the answer 1?

You have enough and then you get 1 more then you have too many.

So if anyone says anything about your (insert number of products here), the just sell one and you back to balance.

 

[Default]

I don't know how many I have of anything. Tape measures, for instance. I keep misplacing them, and having to buy new ones. The latest is a small six foot tape on a keychain.
It'll increase efficiency, because I will be able to lose my housekeys *along* with the tape measure.

 

[Guildedagain]

The right number is one... more that is.

 

[Harp Tail]

I checked with Rick Nielsen, who said if it's less than three digits there is nothing to worry about

 

[GAD]

I checked with Rick Nielsen, who said if it's less than three digits there is nothing to worry about

You could have just asked Grot or me.

 

[Harp Tail]

You could have just asked Grot or me.

You're right, GAD - I do remember your wife being absolutely relaxed about the hundreds in your possession

 

[adorshki]

Isn’t the answer 1?

You have enough and then you get 1 more then you have too many.

No, it's been well established that 1+X=Enough if and only if Enough+1=Too Many. Therefore 1 cannot equal Enough and by corollary Too Many can never be Enough.

So if anyone says anything about your (insert number of products here), the just sell one and you back to balance.

Right. The "rotators".

 

[adorshki]

I don't know how many I have of anything. Tape measures, for instance. I keep misplacing them, and having to buy new ones. The latest is a small six foot tape on a keychain.
It'll increase efficiency, because I will be able to lose my housekeys *along* with the tape measure.

How many guitars do you have?

 

[mushroom]

No, it's been well established that 1+X=Enough if and only if Enough+1=Too Many. Therefore 1 cannot equal Enough and by corollary Too Many can never be Enough.


Right. The "rotators".

Ahhh…..

I think then the answer is 2?

If
1 + X = Enough
and
Enough + 1 = Too Many
then
1 + X = Too Many - 1
or
Too Many = 1 + X + 1
or
Too Many = X + 2
or
Two Many = X + 2

I think I have hurt my own brain now.

 

[adorshki]

Ahhh…..

I think then the answer is 2?

If
1 + X = Enough
and
Enough + 1 = Too Many
then
1 + X = Too Many - 1
or
Too Many = 1 + X + 1
or
Too Many = X + 2
or
Two Many = X + 2

I think I have hurt my own brain now.

Y'fergot 'bout the rotators, but that's gettin' into string theory which I'm kind-a oxidized on.

I think that's @Guildedagain 's container. The flat-tops're in the back. Better protection.

 

[Bernie]

I think one needs a classical guitar, a flamenco guitar, a gipsy jazz guitar, 4 or 5 steel strings acoustics (00, 000/OM, Dreadnought, GA or/and Jumbo), and a 12 strings in order to pretend that he knows about (playing) guitar(s)...That's for acoustics alone (of course) and already makes it 8 or 9 guitars : that's not too much since acoustic archtops, GCs, 8 or/and 9strings, GSs, fan frets and more aren't even mentioned (nor is the minimal rate of 1 per major builder - Martin, Gibson, Guild, Taylor, ... - even considered).
From there we can see that none of us here has even enough guitars...

How do I get along with my wife? 'Darling, there you'll have to chose : if I stick to one guitar, I'll have to have several wives...Make up your mind' For some reason, I still have permission to get more

 

[Guildedagain]

I don't need permission, but when she doesn't notice a new one that looks radically different, I feel as though she might be indifferent, which causes some sadness, then I start thinking of another, guitar that is. It's a virtuous cycle.