Have your most hated guitar features ever turned into your favorites?

[Bert Camenbert]

Strings. I swear, when I started learning to play guitar, I hated strings. They would hurt my hands, They would be out of tune. They would smell funny after a time. And there were six of them!

But now, after years of practice, I've discovered that they're probably my favourite feature on a guitar.

[thenewromance]

Telecasters. Used to find their looks totally off, especially the headstock. Got one on a whim, and while it wasn't perfect for me playability-wise (lack of contours!), it sold me on the whole concept.

[marqueemoon]

I was initially put off by the really hot P90 in the Oceana Jr., but it’s actually a great sounding pickup. Responds well to picking dynamics, and it cuts without being overly harsh or nasal sounding. Really nails the power pop toanz I’m going for.

[higgsblossom]

Do not beat me, but I did not like Gretsch guitars because I found the enormous size unbearable. Then I had the opportunity to play a White Falcon. Fuck the size, what a sound!

[Vinkie]

When I started playing electrics in 1990 (after years of playing nylon string classical guitar) I couldn't figure myself ever playing anything with a solid body. For the next decade I was obsessed with Gibson and Gretsch hollow or thinline guitars and couldn't get on with Fenders at all.

This changed when I started doing repair and setup work for a guitar store. Having to demo Fenders and all kinds of guitars and hearing others play them on a daily basis changed my perspective. When I first played a vintage Jaguar 15 years ago I finally understood what they were about and bought it.

I remained obsessed with Gretsches, especially vintage ones, owned, restored and resold a few nice ones but they never quite sat right in my bands. After going through the motions for maybe the tenth time I swore I would never buy a Gretsch or Gibson again, as the '60 Jazzmaster I got in 2014 or so always seems to feel and sound better. I am now down to the Jazzmaster, a '63 LPB Jaguar and my Ric 381/12 and haven't shopped for guitars in the past three years.

[ThePearDream]

I used to think I hated maple necks, but it turns out I just hated the glossy finish that was on the maple necks. Now I have three guitars with satin finish maple necks. One of them is my current #1 guitar. Now I just see maple as an aesthetic choice. I have maple, rosewood, katalox, ebony, and laurel boards and they're all great.

I'll also echo what Kent said about three tone sunbursts. Maybe it's because my first electric was a cheap 3TSB, but I've never had any interest in having another one. But I'm thinking about picking up a 2TSB soon as those have been looking good to me lately.

I never liked Gibson shapes, but I'm really enjoying my cheap new Epi LP Special P90 and NR Firebirds are looking better and better each day.

I bought and sold two different teles, trying to get myself to like them. Third time was the charm, and now I get their appeal.

[Beltone]

I've always liked the look of maple necks on a Fender, but have never owned one.

I liked the look of block inlays until I played them. Now I prefer something more subtle.

Never liked a sunburst finish (black border) until I saw the 58 Jazzmaster Anniversary.

Never thought much about LP's (or any single cut) until I found my dream tone with one. Now it's my favourite style.

[s_mcsleazy]

set necks. i had a set neck les paul i liked. one night snapped the headstock at practice. brought an sg. same deal.

[MayTheFuzzBeWithYou]

I had these Fender (was it Frontline?) catalogues from 2005-2009 or so and the thousands of times I looked them:
I always found (just a few things):
1) Rosewood necks on Fenders would be boring - clearly prefered Maple necks on white or sunburst bodies (Strats or SB Tele with Bindings)
2) Block inlays on Fender guitars were too much. I had an Epiphone Les Paul and found the Trapezoid Inlays cool.
3) or better believed Single Coils are weak - and only humbuckers are the real deal
4) Metallic finishes to be so much over the top.

Now 10 years later:
I never possessed a maple neck guitar, Rosewood only (and whatever wood is on my fakenbaker bass' frerboard).
I have three guitars with P90s, plus another Pair of Surf90s in a drawer, collecting parts for a Custom-Jazzmaster with most likely Jazzmaster pickups, a Block inlay rosewood neck and either paint it Ice Blue Metallic or Firemist Silver - and if I ever come across a Charcoal Frost Metallic JM I might have to grab it too!

But I always liked Jaguars!

And the other side around: hard to believe but 10 years ago I loved pearloid pickguards especially on Strats (not so much today/not at all) and my favorite effect pedal was the wah wah - and I was relatively good at playing it and owned at least 4 maybe 5 different models - now I have/had no use for it at all - so I sold even the last one of them - 'cause it was such a tonesucker even when not turned on.
The only thing that remains is the Digitech Hendrix thing (it belonged to a friend who told me to keep it and so I did): decent wah and univibe sounds - but a nightmare to turn on and off in a live setting.

[sallikaan]

I hated Teles for maybe 20 years, and chunky necks oh God.
and now look what happens


and I love the chunky necks, but I think some things come with experience (didn't say age, won't say age)

[thisisnickpaige]

The dreaded 2nd and 4th position on a Strat, just could never do it. Now for like fingerpickin, jazzy stuff, or to cut through in a muddy mix, woah; they rock. I mean, i still prefer the 1st and 5th position, but i can totally use and enjoy the thing i couldn't understand before.

Still can't do thick necks, though. Starting to play guitar on a Charvel has it's lasting effects.

[higgsblossom]

I hated Teles for maybe 20 years, and chunky necks oh God.
and now look what happens

The one on the left with the Filterton:

[sallikaan]

thanks mate, one of the few with utter simplicity and raging tone!

[daysleeperjeff]

2 things:

Bound neck: always hated how they looked. Bought my AO Jazzy full intending to swap the neck. As soon as I cracked the case open it looked gorgeous in real life. More subtle than it looked in pictures and very classy. I still think cheaply done bound necks look like junk but I love it on the AO.

Maple Neck on a Jazzmaster: Now I own a Mystic Seafoam AMPRO Jazzy with a Maple neck and absolutely love it. Feels amazing and looks perfect with that particular color combo. In fact I saw the same guitar with a rosewood neck and thought it looked wrong. This taught me that with the right color scheme unconventional things can work well!

[601210]

Maple Neck on a Jazzmaster: Now I own a Mystic Seafoam AMPRO Jazzy with a Maple neck and absolutely love it. Feels amazing and looks perfect with that particular color combo. In fact I saw the same guitar with a rosewood neck and thought it looked wrong. This taught me that with the right color scheme unconventional things can work well!

God yes, the first time I saw a maple-necked Jazzmaster something just clicked in my brain and I realized this is absolutely what I want in life.