Sparky2 Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Anyone else feel like we are being taken advantage of by giving free advertising on our keyboard rigs? It seems like the company/brand logos are getting larger and more visible while very few players are actually getting endorsements. Lately I've been quite tempted to break out the black gaffers tape and just cover them up. Anyone else felt this way? Just curious. Mark "Think Pink Floyd are whiny old men? No Problem. Turn em off and enjoy the Miley Cyrus remix featuring Pitbull." - Cygnus64 Life is shorter than you think...make it count. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timwat Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 I don't just feel that way; it's been my standard practice for years. Started in worship ministry in the church I helped plant a decade ago. All the "product placement" was visually distracting, so I unscrewed the "Roland" off the KC grills and gaffed over the big "Kurzweil" on the K2600. After that it was sort of an addiction. But I'm taking pills and getting shots. I just figure when KurzKawaiYamaKorgRoland start paying me to play their gear, the tape will come off. .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky2 Posted July 27, 2008 Author Share Posted July 27, 2008 Exactly. I also think we might get into more gear talk at a gig if it's not so obvious what we are playing. A little tougher to cover the Dave Smith blinking blue LEDs and the bright blue card slot on the PC3x may need to be painted with nail polish or something. Mark "Think Pink Floyd are whiny old men? No Problem. Turn em off and enjoy the Miley Cyrus remix featuring Pitbull." - Cygnus64 Life is shorter than you think...make it count. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Force Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Every time I buy a new car I take the manufacturers name off because it isn't right to let the world know I am driving a Lamborghini. Free advertising, you know? Steve Force, Durham, North Carolina -------- My Professional Websites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky2 Posted July 27, 2008 Author Share Posted July 27, 2008 Every time I buy a new car I take the manufacturers name off because it isn't right to let the world know I am driving a Lamborghini. Free advertising, you know? It's a b@#tch changing the door hinges though, isn't it? Mark "Think Pink Floyd are whiny old men? No Problem. Turn em off and enjoy the Miley Cyrus remix featuring Pitbull." - Cygnus64 Life is shorter than you think...make it count. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff_D_in_MD Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 The only time I thought of covering the brand name was when considering the hypothetical purchase of a Casio Privia if my Yamaha P120 were to die definitively. Yamaha P2 acoustic, Yamaha P120 digital, Nord Electro 3HP, QSC K10. FOR SALE: Nord Electro 2-61. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Davis Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 I don't mind the logos or feel taken advantage of. I have worked at a couple of churches who have asked me to gaff them over, though, and I have to admit, I like the flat black look. Now if I could just get my cables a little neater... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Nightime Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I don't mind letting people know what I'm using. Musicians know what it means, and the general public doesn't know or care what Korg or Hammond is. They just care that it sounds good. I did remove the Yamaha name plate from my old CP70B. I put it back on upside down to see how many people paid attention to it. Turned out to be about .01%. So why bother putting tape over the logo. No one cares. "In the beginning, Adam had the blues, 'cause he was lonesome. So God helped him and created woman. Now everybody's got the blues." Willie Dixon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonysounds Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I don't like the fact that the brand names are so damn HUGE. I've been covering them for years. Hitting "Play" does NOT constitute live performance. -Me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marino Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I don't mind the brand names. In fact, I think that if I've purchased an instrument and I'm using it, it's right to let others know what it is. Incidentally, this practice over the years has brought good relationships with music stores and some manufacturers too, which in turn has brought some good deals on new instruments. I don't think Horowitz has ever thought of removing the words "Steinway & Sons" from his piano. BTW, covering instrument names is common practice on tv. The only instrument I own on which I could think of covering the brand name, is the Casio CDP-100... but I doubt I'd ever use it live. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
area51recording Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 If a rep for Yamaha ever heard me play they would probably ask me to cover the logo on my S90...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Analogaddict Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I taped my two A-90:s to say "Poland" and "Piano" instead of "Roland". It was mostly to make handling easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan Lindmark Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 the bright blue card slot on the PC3x may need to be painted with nail polish or something. As soon as I noticed the LED intensity I inserted an xD card into the slot and then covered it with black tape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanS Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I don't cover my keyboard logos. I don't cover my home appliance logos. I don't cover my audio/video component logos either. Status. What we record in life, echoes in eternity. Yamaha Montage M7, Nord Electro 6D, Hammond XK1c, Dave Smith PolyEvolver & Rack, Moog Voyager, Modal Cobalt 8X, Univox MiniKorg. https://www.abandoned-film.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Muscara Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I haven't noticed many drummers nor guitar or bass players with this problem. "I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck "The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProfD Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Musicians cover up logos to prevent free advertisement. Manufacturers got hip to the game. That is why it is easy to spot a Korg X50 or Nord Electro in a 1/10th of a second without seeing a logo. I've never covered the logo. Didn't want tape goo affecting the trade/re-sale value. PD "The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return."--E. Ahbez "Nature Boy" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SK Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I confess, I covered up the name on my _______, but I didn't cover up the logo on my _______. CD: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stevekessler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I cover my logo with a giant swatch. It doesn't leave that gummy residue that tape does. http://www.elzeonline.com/Pics/stratford.jpg Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffinator Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I cover my logo with a giant swatch. Which would be in keeping with your band theme, of course... A bunch of loud, obnoxious music I USED to make with friends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnH Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I don't mind the brand names. In fact, I think that if I've purchased an instrument and I'm using it, it's right to let others know what it is. Incidentally, this practice over the years has brought good relationships with music stores and some manufacturers too, which in turn has brought some good deals on new instruments. Same thoughts here...I understand why people do it and it makes sense, but I wouldn't do it as I like people to know what I'm playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rainbird Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Back in the day, when I was a bit irked at the sporadic performance of an Moog Opus 3 (turned out to be a cold solder joint,) I covered the "g" with black electrician's tape... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue JC Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I don't cover them but most stagehands put black gaffer's tape on them now. I don't know why but something's changed. Last week, they even covered our amp nameplates. I just leave it on now because I think it makes it worse to keep taping and untaping the damn things. Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer. W. C. Fields Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Muscara Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I would not let someone put tape on my gear. We are the same people posting in the They say keyboard players are... picky. thread... "I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck "The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzwee Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I did put a sticker over the "Radio Shack" logo on my old Casio CDP 100. But I don't have that inclination now to cover the Casio label if I bought a new one. (the Radio Shack special is now dead). Hamburg Steinway O, Crumar Mojo, Nord Electro 4 HP 73, EV ZXA1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloodyMary Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Anyone else feel like we are being taken advantage of by giving free advertising on our keyboard rigs? It seems like the company/brand logos are getting larger and more visible while very few players are actually getting endorsements. Lately I've been quite tempted to break out the black gaffers tape and just cover them up. Anyone else felt this way? Just curious. Mark Do you cover/unscrew the brand logo on your car? The TV set? I use great gear and want people to know it. I don't mind RolKorg getting free ad because I feel that products I use are great. Stage: MOX6, V-machine, and Roland AX7 Rolls PM351 for IEMs. Home/recording: Roland FP4, a few guitars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J. Dan Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I cover my logo with a giant swatch. Which would be in keeping with your band theme, of course... Of course, I cover the Swatch logo with tape so as not to give them any free advertising. (joking) Dan Acoustic/Electric stringed instruments ranging from 4 to 230 strings, hammered, picked, fingered, slapped, and plucked. Analog and Digital Electronic instruments, reeds, and throat/mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthoid Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I have worked at a couple of churches who have asked me to gaff them over, though, That's odd. We've never had that request from any place our band played (including churches). When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoodyBluesKeys Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I was formerly chief engineer of a TV station. It is relatively common now in TV productions for a contract somewhere to require that all products have names covered (unless said product company has purchased the right to display the name). I don't really agree with that practice, but would comply if it meant the difference in doing the gig or not. To me, it is an individual choice. (after the first pos amplifier that I bought in the early days of playing bass guitar, I resolved to never again buy something that I wasn't at least proud enough to not mind the name.) I don't mind my gear having name disclosed; but I'm picky (see the separate picky thread) about my clothes. I don't wear someone else's logo and PAY for the so called privilege of advertising their product. A lot of my playing is in churches and outreach; but, so far, I've never been asked to cover a logo. If such happens, I'll do it, not worth hassling over. Howard Grand|Hamm SK1-73|Kurz PC2|PC2X|PC3|PC3X|PC361; QSC K10's HP DAW|Epi Les Paul & LP 5-str bass|iPad mini2 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Davis Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I have worked at a couple of churches who have asked me to gaff them over, though, That's odd. We've never had that request from any place our band played (including churches). It makes sense in a way. In a church service, you're trying to create a 'sacred space' type of environment in which people can go deep without distractions. That's what we call it in Unity churches, anyway. It helps if all of the elements in the room are visually coherent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthoid Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 I would hope that a logo on a musical instrument wouldn't be that much of a distraction. When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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