What Does a "Workhorse Guitar" Mean to You?

[guitaardvark]

I see this phrase used to describe everything from Squiers to PRS Cores. Personally, it's kind of lost all meaning because of this, but I'm curious what it means to you.

 

[nikt]

It depends what do you mean by "work"?

For live setup - most stable in tuning and with good sound.
For studio - best setting in the mix =/= not always the best sounding overall
For writing - the guitar that you play the most and it inspires you to write new stuff.

 

[Discoqueen]

Usually I think of midrange guitars around $1000 dollars that hold tune well, have impressive tone, aren’t too oranately pretty because it is expected to get beat up over a long time due to a lot of use. It’s super subjective, of course, but that’s my take.

 

[budda]

It means I can do whatever the hell I want with it, and it's going to be reliable.

 

[Bearitone]

To me, a work horse is well built, sturdy guitar, with minimal features (like one bridge humbucker and a volume knob) and no fancy aesthetics.

Basically something that will get the job done, and done well, without all the bells and whistles we’ve come to think of as “standard”

 

[Demiurge]

A versatile guitar with little concern for looks- either stripped-down or checkered with "mojo".

 

[sezna]

Just a synonym for reliable to me. Makes sense for both Squiers and PRS Cores, if they're reliable. This includes sturdiness, simplicity, and stuff like that. Preferably nice to play as well.

 

[Bearitone]

Oh, forgot to add.
To me a work horse should be between $400 to $650

 

[budda]

Oh, forgot to add.
To me a work horse should be between $400 to $650

I guess my s2 that i happily dragged across north america is out, even though it checks all the boxes. Ah well!

I get what you mean but I wouldnt rule out more expensive guitars.

I think we all think of a workhorse as a guitar we can trust.

 

[Miek]

can be made into glue

 

[budda]

can be made into glue

Dark but also hilarious.

 

[MaxOfMetal]

I always took it to mean something well built, and has everything you need with very little that you don't. I don't feel price really plays into that.

Think of it as the guitar version of a work truck. No fancy paint job, wood paneling on the inside or leather seats, just what you need to get the job done and built to be reliable.

 

[jaxadam]

24 fret Ibanez RG superstrat H-S-H trem

 

[spudmunkey]

To me, it could mean 2 things:

1. A super simple, no-frills guitar. This is a claw hammer. You can get a lot of things done with a hammer, if you're not super picky about the end result...but it'll get the job done (ever use the claw of a hammer as a flat head screw driver? Ever use a hammer to break a hole in OSB when you didn't have a hole saw handy?) It could either be something nice and made well but with simple options, or a "beater". That old HH Schecter with the tree-trunk neck, horrible abalone purfling and flame inlays, that has the strap button relocated because it pulled out of the other hole, and one of the tuners doesn't match because you needed to fix it in a pinch, etc.
2. A guitar that can do everything. This is a Leatherman. If you go on tour and only want to bring one guitar with you, it's the one with the most knobs and switches to let you cover the broadest spectrum. Maybe it's has split coils, or HSS pickups, maybe a phase switch and piezo, etc. Also, no-frills in terms of aesthetic upgrades...no flamed koa tops, no custom inlays).

Again, in either scenario, it's one that gets a lot of miles, that you aren't afraid to lose/get stolen/damage, like maybe some others you own. I've got a $4k koa Taylor which I play at home, and maybe small events where I could keep it with me at all times...and I've also got a shitty chinese Taylor knock-off, which is the one I'd bring to a club gig.

 

[BenjaminW]

Pretty much my main guitar, which is my Gibson Les Paul. Nice thing is that it's got some added versatility with a coil-split and Floyd on it.

 

[Fenriswolf]

Oh, forgot to add.
To me a work horse should be between $400 to $650

Ya, about that

 

[Randy]

This

 

[Descent]

^ last 2 posters before me seem to have the right idea.

For me that is Eddie's stripe guitar, Yngwie's worn out and beat up #1 Strat, SRVs strat, and so forth.

In my case it would be my LTD M-1000 as I've done quite a few gigs with that one and it has taken a beating here and there

 

[Bearitone]

I guess my s2 that i happily dragged across north america is out, even though it checks all the boxes. Ah well!

I get what you mean but I wouldnt rule out more expensive guitars.

I think we all think of a workhorse as a guitar we can trust.

Just sayin I don’t see why you’d “have” to pay more than that to get something reliable to gig with for most styles of music. If we’re talking brand new, I’d say like $850 tops.

If I’m looking at guitars over that range I know I’m not looking for a reliable tool to complete a job. Im shopping for a new toy. And that’s okay!

 

[ixlramp]

To me it means a silly phrase.