Blackmachine Guitars

[Heritage Softail]

What's funny is that all this guy has to do is find one second hand and use it on every upcoming tour & video. That right there would do more harm to the "metal only" image than the endorsement would.

Give it up for the next Nickelback tour....

 

[steve_k]

What's funny is that all this guy has to do is find one second hand and use it on every upcoming tour & video. That right there would do more harm to the "metal only" image than the endorsement would.

Really! I'd paint it pink with an airbrush of Britney on it...

Steve

 

[Workhorse]

Disagree all you want and Dylan can have whatever philosophy that suits him and work for whoever he wants including himself, I could give a fuck less. I don't give a shit why he started his shop, that is not relevant. It's perfectly fine to cater to a certain genre of musicians and not want to be associated with others (I think it's stupid, but he can do what he wants, I have no problem with that), there was just no reason to be rude to a guy who had a simple ask and no reason to spew his personal, troo metulz drivel on the guy. That is the only thing that really matters to me in evaluating the situation. Metal means absolutely zero to the vast majority of the people in the world and, even if it did, it is musical entertainment, not a movement for a new world order.

Ok. I got it, you don't care about his philosophy. The problem with that is if Alex Feathers was to do the reasonable thing and just go through the Daemoness website, he'd know Dylan was very serious about his music. Again, although it took you a few lines to explain your indifference to Dylans opinions, but you weren't the one who asked for the endorsement, Feathers did - and thus if he had done his research, he'd find something like this, straight off the site:

A snippet from the Daemoness site:

"The guitars I make do not have to appease themselves to anybody who does not understand or support metal, or the electric guitar...My guitars are for metal guitarists. Big brand guitar companies produce some amazing instruments that are inspiring to me, but they can never produce instruments that truly define the music. This is because they are to closely linked with big business and the mainstream, which is uncomfortable with were metal dwells within the human condition. My guitars are not sanitized to conform to the mainstream... I am fascinated by medieval art because it was during this time that it first entered (into western thought) the possibility that the world could end. I detect in this a correspondence with the ideas that have inspired metal into being."

Even if you didn't graduate highschool, all you need to know how to read and you'd realize that he knows exactly what he wants, and i hate to bring this to you, he is one of the finest at what he does. Dylan has a very philosophical, almost romantically nihilistic perception as to what constitutes heavy metal.

Again, you can be angry at his response all you want, you're not the one making some highly sought after guitars. You make the penultimate mistake of assuming that everyones favorite genre is as relevant to them as it is to you. I am not someone who necessarily agrees with everything Dylan says or does, but I am not stupid enough to ask for him for an entire endorsement if my biggest gigs are Eminem, Rihanna and Britney Spears, I'd be a goddamn moron to ask him anything really.

It's idiotic to think that just because you don't like a particular style of music that the hired guns playing it are not true musicians because they happen to play on it. Maybe he's working on a killer, metal-oriented solo record, but Dylan would never know that because he was a horse's ass to the guy for no reason. Also, what does it matter whether the guy is making a ton of money or just skating by? All I said was that he was making a living playing guitar, which is a very difficult thing to do. If he's making a ton, more power to him. Still no reason to be rude to the guy.

Dylan explicitly he could be wrong about Alex. I agree with you here, I think he went a little overboard - while I would have sent a strong letter expressing why his endorsement would be a problem, I would have made it a lot shorter and less painful.

Fuck that. Who is Dylan? God? How much does this guy have to investigate the fucking luthier's personal belief system?

Refer to the previous post. I found Daemoness a while ago looking into that site, if I can - then so can he. Not everyone gets it or agrees with it, but he's at an advantage, he left his mentor to make a metal shop and is probably one of the best luthiers in the world, which he did entirely out of passion - he could have made money otherwise, which is admirable. If you feel differently, start your own shop and have 2 year waitlists on your guitars and make one for any artist you'd like.

 

[Workhorse]

What's funny is that all this guy has to do is find one second hand and use it on every upcoming tour & video. That right there would do more harm to the "metal only" image than the endorsement would.

It would be very funny, almost hilarious, if he'd do that. But who really spends $3000 to piss someone off? If I were Feathers, I'd take pride in the fact that I am well known for what I do and someone who worked with some really famous entertainers.

 

[Anonymous]

Ok. I got it, you don't care about his philosophy. The problem with that is if Alex Feathers was to do the reasonable thing and just go through the Daemoness website, he'd know Dylan was very serious about his music. Again, although it took you a few lines to explain your indifference to Dylans opinions, but you weren't the one who asked for the endorsement, Feathers did - and thus if he had done his research, he'd find something like this, straight off the site:

A snippet from the Daemoness site:

"The guitars I make do not have to appease themselves to anybody who does not understand or support metal, or the electric guitar...My guitars are for metal guitarists. Big brand guitar companies produce some amazing instruments that are inspiring to me, but they can never produce instruments that truly define the music. This is because they are to closely linked with big business and the mainstream, which is uncomfortable with were metal dwells within the human condition. My guitars are not sanitized to conform to the mainstream... I am fascinated by medieval art because it was during this time that it first entered (into western thought) the possibility that the world could end. I detect in this a correspondence with the ideas that have inspired metal into being."

Even if you didn't graduate highschool, all you need to know how to read and you'd realize that he knows exactly what he wants, and i hate to bring this to you, he is one of the finest at what he does. Dylan has a very philosophical, almost romantically nihilistic perception as to what constitutes heavy metal.

Again, you can be angry at his response all you want, you're not the one making some highly sought after guitars. You make the penultimate mistake of assuming that everyones favorite genre is as relevant to them as it is to you. I am not someone who necessarily agrees with everything Dylan says or does, but I am not stupid enough to ask for him for an entire endorsement if my biggest gigs are Eminem, Rihanna and Britney Spears, I'd be a goddamn moron to ask him anything really.

Yeah, dude, I found and read the website before I commented the first time and saw that paragraph. Here's my recommendation. He should add this, "If you are not a metal guitarist or whatever I deem to be a 'serious musician/artist', I will not sell you a guitar. Also, if you are not a metal guitarist or whatever I deem to be a 'serious musician/artist' and you ask for an endorsement, I will reply in an incredibly rude manner telling you no and go on and on about how YOUR musical choices are destroying mankind." That would make things clearer for everyone. And listen pal, I didn't make any "penultimate mistakes" here. I never discussed how important my favorite genre of music is to me, you are making your own assumptions. And yeah, I don't make "highly sought after guitars", I make killer guitar amps and I would not be rude to anyone who wanted one enough to ask for an endorsement, regardless of whether I'd grant one or not, or whether they played music I liked or not. Try to follow me here. There is no excuse for this guy's behavior and no amount of your trying to justify it, or put words in my mouth is going to change that. Period.

Dylan explicitly he could be wrong about Alex.

Great, then why be a flaming shithole about the guy's request? Why not tell the guy, "Hey I cater to metal guitarists. I see you are mostly playing with pop acts and frankly, I wouldn't endorse someone doing that entirely as it doesn't really fit in with what I'm trying to do. Do you have metal related projects that you could tell me about?"

I agree with you here, I think he went a little overboard

A little?

while I would have sent a strong letter expressing why his endorsement would be a problem, I would have made it a lot shorter and less painful.

Well, then it appears that you aren't a complete asshole. Hopefully your influence will rub off on your hero luthier...

Refer to the previous post. I found Daemoness a while ago looking into that site, if I can - then so can he. Not everyone gets it or agrees with it, but he's at an advantage, he left his mentor to make a metal shop and is probably one of the best luthiers in the world, which he did entirely out of passion - he could have made money otherwise, which is admirable. If you feel differently, start your own shop and have 2 year waitlists on your guitars and make one for any artist you'd like.

Don't lecture me about starting a company, my friend. I am producing some of the best quality guitar amps you are ever going to find on the market. I did it entirely out of passion to create my ultimate guitar amp, and well, if others want them as well, I'm happy about that. I didn't do it for money, either. I also gave away my prototype designs on my website so that people could learn about tube amps and keep the craft of building them alive. I will continue that with how to articles and things like that to share my experience. Don't try to tell me about personal integrity or passion, ok?

I just choose not to be a complete asshole to potential customers, endorsers, or anyone else interested in what I'm doing. I'm not interested in denigrating what other people do to make an honest living as a guitarist/musician.

And I never said this guy can't run his business any way he wants or have whatever bizarre philosophy of life he wants. I just think he's a dick for the way he treated that guy. And I mainly commented because of how many people commenting in this thread seemed to endorse his behavior. Frankly, I found that more disturbing than the original email Dylan wrote...

Steve

 

[animal]

[
It's idiotic to think that just because you don't like a particular style of music that the hired guns playing it are not true musicians because they happen to play on it. Maybe he's working on a killer, metal-oriented solo record, but Dylan would never know that because he was a horse's ass to the guy for no reason. Also, what does it matter whether the guy is making a ton of money or just skating by? All I said was that he was making a living playing guitar, which is a very difficult thing to do. If he's making a ton, more power to him. Still no reason to be rude to the guy.

[
Steve

I kinda picture you thinking this would be a killer metal record

 

[Anonymous]

[
It's idiotic to think that just because you don't like a particular style of music that the hired guns playing it are not true musicians because they happen to play on it. Maybe he's working on a killer, metal-oriented solo record, but Dylan would never know that because he was a horse's ass to the guy for no reason. Also, what does it matter whether the guy is making a ton of money or just skating by? All I said was that he was making a living playing guitar, which is a very difficult thing to do. If he's making a ton, more power to him. Still no reason to be rude to the guy.

[
Steve

I kinda picture you thinking this would be a killer metal record

I kinda don't care what you picture.

Steve

 

[Stealthtastic]

I think the real issue for Dylan was that Alex probably wasn't going to be playing the guitar live much. Sometimes big name guys just take all the free guitars they can get and then sell them, which is kinda mean to luthiers.

 

[narad]

I think the real issue for Dylan was that Alex probably wasn't going to be playing the guitar live much. Sometimes big name guys just take all the free guitars they can get and then sell them, which is kinda mean to luthiers.

He gives Alex a guitar and he plays it live a lot, and now you have a metal brand associated with some of the least metal acts out there. He gives Alex a guitar he doesn't play live, then what the hell is the point of an endorsement. It's lose-lose, and Alex was full of himself to boot. Good riddance.

FWIW, Dylan's building me my second Daemoness, and I'm not a serious musician by most standards. Music's not my day job. I love metal and most of the imagery and cultural references that inspire metal music and culture, but I'm not a serious musician. I think Dylan's aware of this, doesn't turn away my orders because of it. Not nearly as pompous as he's being made out to be by people who have never spoken to nor dealt with him, or even know the full story.

 

[Workhorse]

I think the real issue for Dylan was that Alex probably wasn't going to be playing the guitar live much. Sometimes big name guys just take all the free guitars they can get and then sell them, which is kinda mean to luthiers.

He gives Alex a guitar and he plays it live a lot, and now you have a metal brand associated with some of the least metal acts out there. He gives Alex a guitar he doesn't play live, then what the hell is the point of an endorsement. It's lose-lose, and Alex was full of himself to boot. Good riddance.

FWIW, Dylan's building me my second Daemoness, and I'm not a serious musician by most standards. Music's not my day job. I love metal and most of the imagery and cultural references that inspire metal music and culture, but I'm not a serious musician. I think Dylan's aware of this, doesn't turn away my orders because of it. Not nearly as pompous as he's being made out to be by people who have never spoken to nor dealt with him, or even know the full story.

Exactly. I'm a PhD student in the sciences, definitely not someone who makes music a full time job but he's extremely professional and a pleasure to work with. If I can't buy a used daemoness, I'll definitely go to him again.

 

[Spaceboy]

I have no dog in this fight, but coming from a metalhead, this Daemoness guys comment on metal and his whole little philosophy with his brand is laughably childish.

 

[grooveHT]

I think the real issue for Dylan was that Alex probably wasn't going to be playing the guitar live much. Sometimes big name guys just take all the free guitars they can get and then sell them, which is kinda mean to luthiers.

He gives Alex a guitar and he plays it live a lot, and now you have a metal brand associated with some of the least metal acts out there. He gives Alex a guitar he doesn't play live, then what the hell is the point of an endorsement. It's lose-lose, and Alex was full of himself to boot. Good riddance.

So then, what with being a business owner and wanting to be trusted with large sums of other people's money, act the part of a freaking grown up and just say no thanks instead of going on a diatribe about the lofty ambitions of metal. Speaking of full of himself, Dylan isn't curing cancer, he's not putting people in space, he's building a fucking guitar, albeit a good one, for guys capering around on a stage growling and wearing makeup; dude can get over himself and act with the decency of a normal human being.

 

[spirit7]

I have no dog in this fight, but coming from a metalhead, this Daemoness guys comment on metal and his whole little philosophy with his brand is laughably childish.

+1 - it's the kind of pseudo-intellectual claptrap I might have spouted aged 12.

-C

 

[thegame]

Hi Alex,.....


...Let us for a minute juxtapose these multitudes of sin with the entirely more socially concerned and responsible attitudes that inspire metal musicians.

Dylan

I'm a "metalhead" I suppose but this is so far off base its laughable.

 

[skoora]

I find his philosophical stance on metal pretty funny but ultimately it's his business and he can run it any way he sees fit. I can definitely appreciate one who can put their ideals/principals before money.

 

[Workhorse]

I find his philosophical stance on metal pretty funny but ultimately it's his business and he can run it any way he sees fit. I can definitely appreciate one who can put their ideals/principals before money.

i didn't find everything he wrote to be agreeable, in fact some of it is a little silly because there are some serious losers who enjoy metal. However, I see where he's coming from, there are certain metal bands who do have some kind of thoughtfulness to their music. My main issue was seeing that he was very keen on putting his passion ahead of making himself more money, I don't care what anyone thinks - thats commendable even if the means to express it are controversial.

 

[ke2]

Why ask Daemoness? I think the mail was unnecessary as well, but why not ask Fender?
They would probably give him a guitar as well

 

[steve_k]

the guy should have ordered an air guitar, since spears is lip synching these days. it would be a great match. i am sure though, this guy is dying for some endorsement deal and was passing through the "D's" on the list.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

It really seems many of you are making assumptions about a metal scene you are not part of.

I'm not saying Dylan is right on all of his points by any means but there ARE metalhead inspired and driven by social concerns . MANY of them.

Not that any of this really matters to me at all.

Ehhh back to my guitar...




I think Dylan would like the lyrics from the last band I played with based on his mission statement.


"Understood,
This will read as a plea to vindicate intolerance as surely as it is written.

Understand,
Contempt born of clear perception is a birthright to those who channel it toward progression.

Preserve life without loathing.
Awaken hope within hatred.
Wrest insight from outrage.

This is a birthright and obligation.

Spiteful and ill-tempered, I know the character well...
A maelstrom of weakness, and instability seething with viciousness.
I choose not to accept this;
Not into my life.
There is no hope of reform.
When pride is allied with hostility, all reason is denied.
I return the denial.

A glaring misconception of self-importance, I know the character well...
Heedless fool, so arrogant with no understanding of consequence.
I see this negligence.
I choose not to accept it;
Not into my life.
Absence of introspection neglects the outer world.
Let not the excess of lusts and comfort mislead you.
This world is not yours.

Feel the quarrel in just his presence, you know the character all too well...
A destructive man at war with his cowardice.
I detest belligerence, and choose not to accept it;
Not into my life.
Keep separate these hatreds.
Undefined animosity is a device of the spineless, the means of a fool.
Focused misanthropy is opposition for these dark hearts-
Downpours of disapproval no words could begin to express.

To distort the truth to serve itself,
To oppose understanding,
I believe in man.
Man will maintain its hostility.
Have this faith.

Conflict in the chest.
To be concerned for the needs of such heartless men."