Marketing Type Question about GP Ads

[Terrell]

OK - I see a trend to signature model stuff. Most specifically Satriani, but many others too. Now, I'm a different personality. I have been labeled "anti" or "counter" or "obverse" among other things... I'm trying to gauge whether this attitude is part of my "sickness" or common to my peers.

 

Here's the symptoms: I wouldn't even try a pedal, amp, or a guitar or anything that was player "X" signature model. Especially if it was directly silk screened on the product. Not because I don't like that players: technique or tone, because I do in many cases. It's just because I want my own thing... Now I spend a LOT of money every year with my other sickness, GAS. GC continually sends me gift cards every quarter. So, if I'm part of a trend, it might be important. If it's just me, no biggy!

 

So, my question is: do you guys share this kind of feeling about signature model products. Like: The Satchurator or the SRV strat or whatever?

[Trucks]

It's a strange question... The names on a lot of the signature stuff, I have never even heard of.. But a good product is a good product, nonetheless.. Some of it will be good and some of it crap. The good stuff will become popular, the crap stuff will never get beyond the die hard fan market.

 

http://www.voxamps.co.uk/pedals/images/McCoy-Base.jpg

[Terrell]

It's a strange question...

 

That's what I thought.

 

Correction, I'm not talking about Les Paul. I'm talking about contemporary guitar heroes.

[miroslav]

Now, I'm a different personality. I have been labeled "anti" or "counter" or "obverse" among other things... I'm trying to gauge whether this attitude is part of my "sickness" or common to my peers.

 

Oh...so you're part of that bunch too.

Ill keep an eye out for you at the next group therapy session.

 

I voted "don't care"...but generally speaking, I wouldn't turn down a sig model if it was handed to me...though I usually prefer to buck anything that has too much mass-hype attached to it.

I guess one of the reasons I never went for a Les Paul or Stratthough I will certainly acknowledge that they are both great guitars!

 

[Terrell]

I wouldn't turn down a sig model if it was handed to me...though I usually prefer to buck anything that has too much mass-hype attached to it.

 

See, I'd take it, and immediately throw it on E-Bay... I'm thinking it's sickness...

[miroslav]

Well yeah...that would probably be my move too! :grin:

[MILLO]

I avoid them, yet it wouldn't keep me from owning "signature" gear... that being said I own a Carvin Legacy amp (good amp, I think) that has Steve Vai's signature on it (yuck!). I used to own a Joe Pass Epiphone guitar. I also want a Les Paul.

 

...but I'm like you: if there's a name on it I prefer it to be the builder's (actual builder, not necessarily a brand name) or MY OWN.

 

Two-Rock makes the John Mayer signature amp and sells it for like $7K; you know you want it!!!

[bennyguitfiddle]

I don't own any sig stuff

but i wouldn't be aposed to the idea

I played an eric johnson sig strat that was

great $1600 a little steep though

[Terrell]

Two-Rock makes the John Mayer signature amp and sell it for like $7K; you know you want it!!!

 

Yeah, I'm hip to the Mayer tone machine, but am holding out for the Hansen or Jonus brothers because they're more "now"...

[Caevan O'Shite]

Well... http://rfrocks.com/guitars/1959LepSaulJuniorNeck.jpg

 

Seriously, I'm mostly (or wuzzatt moistly?) like you on this, Terrell; especially when there's a big ol' signature, initials, or name emblazoned on there somewhere, can't stand that (the "Les Paul" script-logo has attained a standing of an entirely higher order here, though).

 

I would tend to avoid things like pedals with "Jimi Hendrix", "Eric Clapton", "Brian May", etc. silk-screened on 'em in bright, metalic-pearl, stylized colors.

 

Although I do really dig those Elliot Easton sig-model Gretsches, they're very nice and exactly what I'd want in a Gretsch (other than a baritone, or an original-vintage '50s or authentic knotty-pine topped Round-Up).

 

Overall, though, I'd much prefer finding, making, or custom-ordering gear that'd be "my own thing".

 

[Terrell]

Yeah - Howard Roberts and Les Paul don't count... Actually, anyone that invented multi-track or played before a moon landing is strictly not part of the poll!

 

Here's a better topic. How many people, do you think, that own a Les Paul would know a Les Paul recording if they heard it?

[Caevan O'Shite]

Hahh!

 

Know what I think is funny? (No, besides that.) Double-sig-named guitars, particularly things like the "Slash Les Paul", "Joe Perry Les Paul", "Jimy Page Les Paul", etc....

 

For me, having the sig-model thing be too obvious is the kiss of death.

[picker]

It wouldn't bother me to own & publically use an instrument/amp/pedal with some famous name emblazoned on it, if I liked it. Truth is I probably won't make it sound like that guy does anyway. If it's quality, works well, and I like what it does, how it feels, etc, I couldn't care less if an artist's name is on it.

I'd LOVE to own Clapton/Beck/Buddy Guy/Eric Johnson/SRV & several other strats. And there are a few signature Teles I'd fer-shur love to own, too.

And that's just the Fenders...

[Guitar Slinger]

I own a Jeff Beck Signature Strat but not because Jeff put his name on it. I love the specs and the sound of the guitar. Fender was smart and understated the whole "Jeff Beck" signature theme on the guitar design with just a signature on the headstock. A great design is a great design.

 

Now if it's a signature pedal or something that will let you try to exacly emulate someone else's tone, I avoid it like the plague. I'm trying to do my own thing here as well.

[Caevan O'Shite]

Y'know, I wouldn't mind having a good specimen of one of those Fender SRV sig-model Strats, but I'd definitely hafta change the pickguard, that black one with those three GIANT initials onnitt; probably swap it out for a "mint" 'guard, and ivory/parchment/cream pickup-covers, too.

[Guitar Geezer]

Well....I'm still gassing for a Jimmie Vaughan MIM Strat.....just because I like the neck, the pickups and the relatively good price. I also have a Morley Bad Horsey Wah - which is usually associated with a modern shredder type ;-)

[-Will-]

I have a Geddy Lee Jazz bass, so I guess I don't mind signature models. What I do like about it is the fact that Geddy's signature is hidden on back of the headstock. But it's hard to find a better bass in that price range.

[GuitarPlayerFL]

I have an EVH Wolfgang. It's the best playing guitar I have and sounds great. But a guitar isn't really going to make you sound like the signature player.

 

OTOH...I like Satriani's playing. I would check out a Satchurator.

 

I bought a Rockman when they first came out. No matter what you played, it sounded like Boston. I love the tone, but it's TOO unique a tone....similar to the gated reverb records of the 80s.

 

I would be more concerned with writing a great tune and playing it well rather than worry if the tone was too much like somebody else. Lots of guys crank a Marshall or Rectifier to 10 and all of them have the same tone and most sound alike.

 

 

[Justus A. Picker]

 

I wouldn't specifically avoid something that had a players name attached to it unless the name was used to pump up the price of otherwise average gear, or if was intended to replicate their tone exactly. In the latter case I'm going to end up sounding like me anyways, so if a piece of gear worked for my needs I wouldn't care whose name is on it (as long as there is no upcharge!). I can always cross their name off with a permanent marker...

 

On a similar note, I played an Eric Clapton signature model 000-28 the other day. Beautiful $3000+ guitar that was a complete dog tone-wise. My cheapo 000-15 blows it right out of the water.

[Guitarzan]

i just try to get gather info on products so i can make decisions on what i may or may not need to achieve my desired sound and feel.

as for signature gear. i may learn about an artists gear to understand what makes their sound different. but i don't want their gear. there isn't much out there that is so unique that you can't modify your gear to get the results.

i don't want to pay for a name because it has a "Bob Bucker", "Bob Burst", "Bob's neck profile" or Bob's signature and certificate of authenticity.

i may as well go to Bob's house and have what he is having for lunch.

[Guitarzan]

...Bob?..what's for lunch?

[Caevan O'Shite]

 

And then there's Bob's signature backwards-reverse effect, the one that sounds forward; like when he says his name into the mic and it comes out backwards-reverse, like "boB"... Damn! Effects wizardry...

 

I hear he's working on a bold new weird effect related to that, the inverse-reverse-vice-verse, and it'll sound like "oBo", with upside-down flanger-sauce onnitt (the icing on the take)... Incredible!!

 

And I also I hear that his next album will feature not only that, but guest-star rapping (yes, with TWO "p"'s) by Yogi Berra...

[Terrell]

With 17 responders, I'm feeling counter culture but not alone...

 

Thanks for playing, all that played... Even the singe clicker on the "stupid question" radial.

[miroslav]

... Even the singe clicker on the "stupid question" radial.

 

 

:grin:

[Caevan O'Shite]

The only stupid question is the one that doesn't guit' axed...

 

http://images.quizilla.com/V/VampireMelissaII/1061254190_esGene-Axe.jpg

[soggybomb]

if a piece of gear is good enough, i really don't care whose name is on it, even if i hate the guy! plus, like others said, just because i tried a hughes and kettner alex lifeson sig amp doesn't mean i sounded like alex lifeson. it sounded like me.

[GuitarPlayerFL]

if a piece of gear is good enough, i really don't care whose name is on it, even if i hate the guy! plus, like others said, just because i tried a hughes and kettner alex lifeson sig amp doesn't mean i sounded like alex lifeson. it sounded like me.

 

I'm not a fan of John Scofield, but I always thought his signature model Ibanez was really nice.

 

http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/discus/messages/6484/14080.jpg

[Caevan O'Shite]

Y'know, it occurs to me, that there are so many different sig-model guitars out there now, both in and out of production, that it'd be hard not to find one that'd at least come close to one's idea for a custom-made or modded axe to fit one's personal vision...

 

I would rather go my own way, though, for the most part, rather than go with a sig-model, much of the time. I have a little bit of an aversion to much of the sig-model concept, a little-bit of the aversion that you have, Terrell, not too unlike my not wanting to be caught dead in an Izod Alligator shirt years ago...

 

Again, though, some sig-model gear is just too Goldilocks-ian "just right", like those Gretsch Elliot Easton sig-model guitars (in dark metalic "Cadillac Green" with gold hardware and some tweaky T.V. Jones pickups, bay-bee!)... Or an SRV Strat with a different pickguard put onnitt ("mint"!)...

 

EDIT:

 

"...I'm not a fan of John Scofield, but I always thought his signature model Ibanez was really nice."

 

That reminds me; I have always wanted an Ibanez George Benson model...

 

I guess that I will go for some sig-models, but they're usually the ones that are a bit visually-understated in their signature-essence, and have a very specific combination of features and innovations; and I look to them in a way that a golfer might view various golf-clubs, not so much for that one main guitar...

[Trucks]

+1 on the George Benson Ibby.. I have lusted over those for a long while.. Especially after seeing PaulDil' on his.. Very sweet tone.

[Trucks]

I have a Geddy Lee Jazz bass, so I guess I don't mind signature models. What I do like about it is the fact that Geddy's signature is hidden on back of the headstock. But it's hard to find a better bass in that price range.

 

I've heard great things about the Geddy Lee (or for the the members of the Lowdown.. The BenLoy) Bass.