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The truth about getting famous guitarists to autograph your guitar


LiveMusic

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Is it wise to get famous guitarists to autograph your guitar? Would it add value or deduct value?

 

After shows, do you think you could get an autograph? What a pain to lug it into a show.

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Personally, I wouldn't take a guitar to a show, unless it was an intimate enough setting that you stood a chance of actually getting to see said artiste. And I wouldn't have anything of value autographed, like an old pre-CBS Strat or something. Now, a later model Strat, sure, but only if you happened to know where an artiste would be outside of a performance, like a clinic or something.

 

I've seen a couple acoustic pickers with signatures all over their guitars. To each their own.

 

At a radio station where I used to work, the general manager had a couple of Strats hanging on his wall autographed by Eric Clapton and Bonnie Raitt. That was cool in a way, but they were promotional items given him by the record companies. He didn't even play the damn things. What a waste.

 

As for worth...what's it worth to you? If I was to do that, I'd have one guitar designated as the "autograph guitar". That'd work, and something like a Strat would probably be a good choice. But not a custom or vintage one.

"Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine"
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Quote:

Posted by Tedster

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As for worth...what's it worth to you? If I was to do that, I'd have one guitar designated as the "autograph guitar". That'd work, and something like a Strat would probably be a good choice. But not a custom or vintage one.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well now Ted,

All of us should have one guitar that we never ever dreamed of playing for signature by famous Artistes now shouldn't we? BTW I'll sign yours if you sign mine......OK?

 

Simon http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

...remember there is absolutely no point in talking about someone behind their back unless they get to hear about it...
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Simon Says:

>>>>>Well now Ted,

All of us should have one guitar that we never ever dreamed of playing for signature by famous Artistes now shouldn't we? BTW I'll sign yours if you sign mine.....OK? http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

------------------------------------------------------------

 

Uhh......Simon, isn't the idea to 'INCREASE" the value of the guitar??? http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/net8/lol2.gif

 

KHAN... (taking it one step too far...as always)

So Many Drummers. So Little Time...
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Khan

( Hmmmm.... Scratches chin takes another drag of the old ciggy and looks perplexed!!)

 

Yes of course it is!!!!! But hell if it increases the value you wouldn' want to risk the increase by playing it now would you? http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif Bottom line is personally speaking I couldn't concieve the idea of owning a guitar I wouldn't or couldn't play!! But hey if you sign my legend strat with diflogioyd pickups I promise I won't ever play it or give it to my daughter ok?

 

Simon http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

...remember there is absolutely no point in talking about someone behind their back unless they get to hear about it...
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>>> Bottom line is personally speaking I couldn't concieve the idea of owning a guitar I wouldn't or couldn't play!!

--------------------

I'm right there with you on that one. http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/net3/smileJap.gif

 

 

>>>But hey if you sign my legend strat with diflogioyd pickups I promise I won't ever play it or give it to my daughter ok?

---------------------

Un fortunately my signature would render the guitar un-sellable... http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/cwm2/cwm14.gif

 

...and probably unplayable...

 

 

 

This message has been edited by KHAN on 03-04-2001 at 06:24 PM

So Many Drummers. So Little Time...
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We'll all sign each other's guitars, and do the "Oh, that signature is from the guy that taught Yngwie everything he knows, you've probably never heard of him, only the coolest, hippest people have heard of him, but for YOU, I'll part with this guitar for only (insert price here)..."

 

Plus, how many people's signatures are legible anyway?

 

HAHAHAHAHAHA.....

"Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine"
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I saw the craziest thing recently regarding signatures and value. My local Guitar Center had a green Wolfgang guitar, "actually played by and signed by EVH himself..." it had a piece of paper saying it was so and everything!

 

They wanted $30,000 for it. A week or two later I was back there and someone had bought it.

 

Huh?

 

guitplayer

I'm still "guitplayer"!

Check out my music if you like...

 

http://www.michaelsaulnier.com

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30k Jesus man thats obscene.

 

I think I'll opt for the brand new SUV. http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/eek.gif

 

I dont think I would ever have someone sign one of my guitars. Its seems a little dumb. Is it just me?

 

I saw a Hamer signed by the guy from Krokus. It actually shaved 200 buck off the price of the guitar. Man is that rough!

 

BK

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>>>I saw a Hamer signed by the guy from Krokus. It actually shaved 200 buck off the price of the guitar. Man is that rough!

------------------------------

HAHAHHAHAHAHA!!!!! http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/net8/dazzler1.gif

So Many Drummers. So Little Time...
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http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/cwm/cool.gifhttp://smilecwm.tripod.com/ http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/cwm/coo.gif

******************************************

I saw Krokus on their "Headhunter" tour way back when. I think they were opening for Sabbath.

Maybe Krokus could go out on a club tour with Accept and Cinderella.They could call it "The Night of the Living Bands That Suck"!!! http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/cwm/errrr.gif

 

This message has been edited by KHAN on 03-09-2001 at 01:47 PM

So Many Drummers. So Little Time...
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Hey BK ? Khan

What are you guys on? whatever it is let me know I want some!!!!!

 

Simon http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gifhttp://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gifhttp://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

...remember there is absolutely no point in talking about someone behind their back unless they get to hear about it...
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....................KHAN...........................

........................................ http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/net4/0000007.gif ..............HIGH.................

........ http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/net2/smile-l.gif .................. http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/net5/bongsmi.gif .......

..............................................................ON......... http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/net5/bongsmi.gif ...

....... http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/net8/dazzler1.gif ................. http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/net2/multi.gif ............

...................LIFE............. http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/net3/outtahere.gif ..........

So Many Drummers. So Little Time...
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I saw someone last weekend with a great idea as far as signatures go. He brought in a pick gaurd and had Chris Duarte sign that. Now there's an idea, don't have to lug your ax around for signatures, and you can put it on or take it off your guit whenever you feel like it. Wish I'd have thought of it, I wouldn't mind havin Chris Duarte's signature on my guitar.
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If you do have guitar autographed, be sure to have at least one photo to verify the star did autograph it. I read about this somewhere. There has been a lot of fraud about star autographed items.

Psalm 33:3

The best instrument you have, is your heart.

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  • 1 month later...

It's been a couple of months since I first created this thread. I don't know why this intrigues me. I've never been an autograph seeker. However, there are a couple of people that I might be able to pull this off (getting them to autograph my guitar). George Jones and James Burton. Both of whom I greatly admire. Both are living legends and I don't have the inside track to many living legends.

 

I have a Taylor 310KCE acoustic that I just LOVE. Awesome. I can't see ever selling this guitar. I also have a Fender MIM Strat. No allegiance to it. I was thinking of having them autograph the Taylor; I only mentioned the Strat because of Burton. But it could be that my main guitar forever will be an acoustic. (I've always played acoustic and am having trouble learning to like the Strat.)

 

So, should I do it? If I had them sign the Taylor... since I don't plan on ever selling it, would it be worth it? Once it's done, I guess it's done. The guitar is "defaced." Would it inspire me? I think it might. Not sure. As far as "defacing" the guitar... that doesn't really bother me... as long as it doesn't affect the playability, it doesn't bother me. On the other hand, it might make it more valuable to me.

 

I think far into the future, say 20 to 30 years... having a guitar autographed by two legends like that... hmmm...

 

I wonder what type of marker... http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/wink.gif

 

Would you do it?

 

------------------

Duke

 

This message has been edited by LiveMusic on 05-06-2001 at 12:42 PM

> > > [ Live! ] < < <

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Uhh, Simon ole pal, take it from me. Don't bet on the daughter thing....HeHeHe!

 

As for me I would MUCH rather have the Yairi signed by the members of this forum than any celeb.Why? Because they matter more to me than any celeb,and therefore, influence my music more.

 

I mean I can't call Segovia up, or write him and bare my soul now can I?

But you guys? Anyday!

 

Bare neked soul.......

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I actually worked for Christie's auction house in the mid-'90s, putting together a music memorabilia and instrument sale, so I do have considerable knowledge of how this works and which instruments are worth more. Unless the guitar was something that was owned, played and well-documented as something that belonged to the guitarist who autographed it, these guitars are typically only worth whatever the autograph is worth. If the signature is on a guitar similar to the one the artist plays, then it may worth a little bit more, as it's more desirable to a buyer as a presentation piece to hang on the wall. Many artists won't even sign guitars anymore because most of them are just sold immediately on eBay, in auctions or by autograph dealers - and unless you have a photo of the artist signing the guitar, it makes it more difficult to authenticate the signature and it's just your word saying that it is what it is. I have two signed guitars, both were signed to me and given to me by the artist as gifts. I rarely play them because I wouldn't want the signatures to wear off. A personalized signature, where it's signed "To Lisa," is also worth less in an auction than one that was just signed with the artist's name.
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Originally posted by rosespappy:

As for me I would MUCH rather have the Yairi signed by the members of this forum than any celeb.Why? Because they matter more to me than any celeb,and therefore, influence my music more.

 

I mean I can't call Segovia up, or write him and bare my soul now can I?

But you guys? Anyday!

Thanks!!!

What about this: Steve Vai was giving away his heart shaped guitar. I thought to my self "Man, if I won that guitar I wouldn't know what to do with it. I couldn't play on it and I wouldn't as well (after Steve played on it) and think about hard case or flight one!!!" http://www.musicplayer.com/ubb/smile.gif

I would like to have guitar signed by you guys as well...

If it sounds god, just play the darn thing
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Having George Jones "blessing" on my guitar or James Burton's... would it inspire me... would it be a great conversation piece... especially far into the future... these are the kinds of things I wonder about. (Since I have zero interest in selling it.)

 

BTW, if I were to do it, I wonder what type of ink should be used and where the sig should go?

 

 

------------------

Duke

> > > [ Live! ] < < <

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Rick wrote..

 

>>>As for me I would MUCH rather have the Yairi signed by the members of this forum than any celeb.Why? Because they matter more to me than any celeb, and therefore, influence my music more.

 

Awww...shuckins, Rick, we're speechless...no, wait, here's a speech:

 

"Four score and seven years ago..."...uhhh...seriously, though,

 

Duke...taking in to account what Lisa said...if you play the guitar and plan on keeping it, have Mr. Jones sign, "To Duke"...it'd be worth less at auction, but, it's for you, y'know. But, Lisa also brought up the point about it wearing off. If you're playing your Taylor and George's signature becomes illegible over the course of time, is it worth it? Hmmm...I don't know...

"Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine"
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I knew a guy in the late 70's who had a mint sunburst '58 Les Paul Standard...and had Jeff Beck scratch his name on the back with a nail...no kidding. He had to bug the crap out of Beck get him to do it...he didn't want to do that to a nice guitar. Haven't seen the guy in decades, but I can tell ya that guitar would be worth at leat 90k WITHOUT the signature.

 

Tom

http://www.digitalaudiorock.com

The Protools Plugin Preset Co-op

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now were talking! autographs are for wussies. you want a signature get it carved in deep in the finish. years ago when bluesman jim thackery was in the nighthawks his main axe had muddy waters, koko taylor, bb king, john lee hooker, bo diddley, etc (every act they opened for) carved into it. i was talking to him last summer and he had to retire it so no one would steal it. i say get it carved!

 

-d. gauss

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Matbe that 58 Les Paul originally belonged to Jeff beck. I remember when he did a gig in upstate NY and his guitar was stolen after he started a riot by hosing down the audience with a fire extinguisher.

Mac Bowne

G-Clef Acoustics Ltd.

Osaka, Japan

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I've never been an autograph hound. When I moved to Nashville 7 years ago, I discovered I had access to a lot of living legends and current stars. I rarely ask for autographs, but, I have picked up my share in those 7 years.

 

The first guitar I dedicated to this purpose is a terrible classical we bought used from my first teacher for $15. The whole idea was to have a guitar I could take to overnight camp. In highschool, I changed the strings from nylon to an electric set. It made for a great guitar to walk around campus with, in college. Now, it's covered with autographs of the famous and not so famous, but fantastic musicians I've had the pleasure of working with.

 

I had a mini-Les Paul copy with me to test DI's on gigs, when we were held up by a sea of cars on a ramp at Opryland. 45 min. later we finally got into position to load out. Then, due to Christmas traffic around the hotel, we had to drive into the Opry House artist entrance gate. When we got there, Garth Brooks was still signing autographs at 12:30am (The Opry is deserted by midnight, most Saturdays.) He was standing in front of his pickup, with the lights on and 15 people in line. What the hell? We stopped, I got this cheap guitar, and got in line. It looks nice in the studio. (And the guitar had always PLAYED like shit.) Some lady insisited on taking our (Garth and I) picture together and sent it to me later. I don't know if it's worth something, and I don't care. It makes a great conversation piece for the studio.

 

I also allowed John Abercrombie, John Patatucci, Bob Mintzer, and Peter Erskine to sign my good classical when I worked the Superband clinic for D'Addario and Shure at the Mars Music I worked at. Normally I wouldn't have done it, but, the guitar was just fixed and I knew I wouldn't ever sell it, so.. Two of them made characatures of themselves in addition to the signatures.

 

But after working hundreds of concerts as local crew and mixer without bothering the talent, I can live with these minor invasions of their time. All of them were happy to sign.

 

Neil

It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman

 

Soundclick

fntstcsnd

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