Signature guitars: I'm not getting the appeal of them

[bsp01]

I really don't think most of us buy a signature guitar for the sake of the signature, except maybe for someone who's into collecting.

It's mostly about awareness. When someone has a signature item, or big endorsement you tend to become more aware of certain products. I own signature stuff, but I bought it because it works for me, and sounds the way I want, or plays great, whatever. It is never about the signature, if anything that's usually my only gripe about stuff like that.

 

[King Guitar]

When I used to sell vintage guitars people would bring me autographed guitars and I would always pay less for them as a rule. That said I did one time get a American Standard Stratocaster signed hugely by SRV in silver marker just before his death at a Austin City Limits event and documented with pictures of him doing it. I sold that to the Hard Rock Cafe for crazy money. But personally I am not into signature guitars per se unless I just think they are cool on their own merit like the Les Paul Custom Iron Cross I got from Steve K. Just a cool guitar regardless of the Hetfield association (and I like Hetfield).

 

[JakeAC5253]

Cool. Glad to see someone using their brain for once. Everyone who's anyone knows someone who bought someone else's guitar for something or other. The thing is they've all realized that by buying into a certain artist's guitar it means you can only play their style of music even if you play through other gear you will always sound like them. If you try to play a song from a different genre spirit demons will fly out of the guitar and scold you for being bad boy. I find it limiting to be honest. I'd rather buy something like a Les Paul that does a wide variety of genres and styles without being limited to one person's musical ideas or having to look at their name on my guitar every time I pick it up. I just like the idea of owning a guitar that no one sat down and designed to their own or someone else's specs for anything or anyone in particular and and that's why I play a Honda. Nobody plays Honda. That makes me unique.

 

[Spaceboy]

I really don't think most of us buy a signature guitar for the sake of the signature, except maybe for someone who's into collecting.

I definitely bought my JS1000 because it said Satriani on it.

Of course I played it first and it felt wonderful before I dropped any money.

 

[Zachman]

I liked the EJ strat-- not because I am a huge fan of EJ-- but because I like the way the guitar sounds and plays.

 

[tekbow]

I really don't think most of us buy a signature guitar for the sake of the signature, except maybe for someone who's into collecting.

I definitely bought my JS1000 because it said Satriani on it.

Of course I played it first and it felt wonderful before I dropped any money.

I had a black pearl JS1000. i worked in a crappy job for 1.99 and hour for a year between the ages of 16 and 17 to save the money up for it. i loved satriani and yep i bought it because it was his guitar. And i'll say this, it was one of the most versatile guitars i've ever owned, one of the few coiltaps that got really close to sounding like a single coil. I never sounded like satriani, i wasn't trying, that ibanez was just one of the sexiest looking guitar shapes i had ever seen.

I never played mine before i ordered. noone stocked them in N. Ireland at that time. in fact i know it was the only one in ireland for a while and one of the only ones in the uk

i think there's a few sig guitars out there that have become disassociated with the artist they're attached to because the guitar itself was so good. EBMM Axis?

 

[grooveHT]

I think, for me, the draw is a particular feature set that a sig. guitar has, rather than the name on it. Sure, I have a Petrucci, but I LIKE it for the trem, the build quality, shape, and the pickups and 3-way switch with unique middle position. I think a signature guitar, done right, has tweaks that a particular artist likes, and if you like those said tweaks that aren't usually available on stock models, hit it like the fist of an angry god. I mentioned EBMM guitars, and I think those guys really do sig. guitars right; they're all off the beaten path, as evidenced by the Morse, Albert Lee and Petrucci models. The Luke is a little more run of the mill, but even so, only EBMM you'll find with EMGs and a neck contoured like that.

 

[Meathead]

I liked the EJ strat-- not because I am a huge fan of EJ-- but because I like the way the guitar sounds and plays.

Some great guitarists deciding what they feel is best on a guitar and it works great for them; then it may work perfectly for you, or it may not.
EVH has been a merchandising kook lately, but he does design a great sounding and playing guitar.

 

[Clawfinger]

I could never use a signature guitar, except maybe http://www.ranguitars.com/artists/clawfinger.

 

[Zachman]

I liked the EJ strat-- not because I am a huge fan of EJ-- but because I like the way the guitar sounds and plays.

Some great guitarists deciding what they feel is best on a guitar and it works great for them; then it may work perfectly for you, or it may not.
EVH has been a merchandising kook lately, but he does design a great sounding and playing guitar.

Ya... For me gear is about utility... and I've hardly ever bought any guitars sight unseen--

 

[stefvorcide]

I have a 7 string Randy Rhoads, does that count?

I like UV777's also, and I am not really into Vai.

If i like a guitar i'll play it, no matter what's written on the headstock. It just needs a Floyd Rose, that's my only requirement !!

 

[Meathead]

I liked the EJ strat-- not because I am a huge fan of EJ-- but because I like the way the guitar sounds and plays.

Some great guitarists deciding what they feel is best on a guitar and it works great for them; then it may work perfectly for you, or it may not.
EVH has been a merchandising kook lately, but he does design a great sounding and playing guitar.

Ya... For me gear is about utility... and I've hardly ever bought any guitars sight unseen--

I've had really bad luck at buying guitars without trying them first...ended up selling every one of them.

I think the really good sig guitars are made to work with all the parts as a whole. They've gone through a lot of R&D with the guitarist to find out what works well for him and what doesn't.

When people buy off the shelf Fenders, Gibsons, Charvels...a lot of times (right off the bat) they're talking about changing the pickups, changing the bridge, putting on better tuners...with the EJ strat, EVH Wolfgang, Andy Timmons model, Petrucci and Luke models, it's all been done, the parts go together as a whole to work well together, grab it off the shelf and just play it.

 

[jet66]

I took a chance with the Suhr M2, I'd never seen any Suhr in person at that point, let alone get to try one. Fortunately, it fits me even better than I had hoped, and has become my #1.

 

[Ventura]

I guess the thing that makes me laugh is, at least for the most part, the cats who have 'signature models' in their names still use their original guitars and not the signature models. So, for instance, Page - WTF is the value in having it 'look' just like his fave No.2 or whatever when really, it's not the guitar at all - it's not the year, it's not the same wood, it's not the same level of wear...it's just a look alike, oooops, except for the signature on it that's not even on the original

Randy Rhoads... LOVE that cat!! I love that cat SO much that rather than BUY his latest Gibby signature release, I'd much prefer to shop around for a mint condition, used, early 80's, white-now-naturally-turned-cream/yellow Les Paul off eBay or some international retailer than a signature RR model. Why? Because the guitar I'm buying is actually closer to the same one Randy graced than some new ax that Gibby pumped out 30 years later. Get m'driff?

And don't even start me on the Pearly Gates Lesters... Serious facepalm on those Partially because I don't even hold in high regard anything that Gibbons has done with his music - ZZ Top is, well, ZZ Top and they haven't really changed the course of history in my books. Flame away if need be, I'm just being honest.

V.

 

[axemeaquestion]

I guess the thing that makes me laugh is, at least for the most part, the cats who have 'signature models' in their names still use their original guitars and not the signature models. So, for instance, Page - WTF is the value in having it 'look' just like his fave No.2 or whatever when really, it's not the guitar at all - it's not the year, it's not the same wood, it's not the same level of wear...it's just a look alike, oooops, except for the signature on it that's not even on the original

Randy Rhoads... LOVE that cat!! I love that cat SO much that rather than BUY his latest Gibby signature release, I'd much prefer to shop around for a mint condition, used, early 80's, white-now-naturally-turned-cream/yellow Les Paul off eBay or some international retailer than a signature RR model. Why? Because the guitar I'm buying is actually closer to the same one Randy graced than some new ax that Gibby pumped out 30 years later. Get m'driff?

And don't even start me on the Pearly Gates Lesters... Serious facepalm on those Partially because I don't even hold in high regard anything that Gibbons has done with his music - ZZ Top is, well, ZZ Top and they haven't really changed the course of history in my books. Flame away if need be, I'm just being honest.

V.

Funny, I was just thinking about Gibbons. He's supposed to be awesome. However, many people posting here can play his songs and do. Does that mean they are also awesome? Of course, this same analogy could be used for most players.

 

[yngzaklynch]

I guess the thing that makes me laugh is, at least for the most part, the cats who have 'signature models' in their names still use their original guitars and not the signature models. So, for instance, Page - WTF is the value in having it 'look' just like his fave No.2 or whatever when really, it's not the guitar at all - it's not the year, it's not the same wood, it's not the same level of wear...it's just a look alike, oooops, except for the signature on it that's not even on the original

Randy Rhoads... LOVE that cat!! I love that cat SO much that rather than BUY his latest Gibby signature release, I'd much prefer to shop around for a mint condition, used, early 80's, white-now-naturally-turned-cream/yellow Les Paul off eBay or some international retailer than a signature RR model. Why? Because the guitar I'm buying is actually closer to the same one Randy graced than some new ax that Gibby pumped out 30 years later. Get m'driff?

And don't even start me on the Pearly Gates Lesters... Serious facepalm on those Partially because I don't even hold in high regard anything that Gibbons has done with his music - ZZ Top is, well, ZZ Top and they haven't really changed the course of history in my books. Flame away if need be, I'm just being honest.

V.

Funny, I was just thinking about Gibbons. He's supposed to be awesome. However, many people posting here can play his songs and do. Does that mean they are also awesome? Of course, this same analogy could be used for most players.

You're trying so hard. God bless ya

 

[Meathead]

I guess the thing that makes me laugh is, at least for the most part, the cats who have 'signature models' in their names still use their original guitars and not the signature models. So, for instance, Page - WTF is the value in having it 'look' just like his fave No.2 or whatever when really, it's not the guitar at all - it's not the year, it's not the same wood, it's not the same level of wear...it's just a look alike, oooops, except for the signature on it that's not even on the original

Randy Rhoads... LOVE that cat!! I love that cat SO much that rather than BUY his latest Gibby signature release, I'd much prefer to shop around for a mint condition, used, early 80's, white-now-naturally-turned-cream/yellow Les Paul off eBay or some international retailer than a signature RR model. Why? Because the guitar I'm buying is actually closer to the same one Randy graced than some new ax that Gibby pumped out 30 years later. Get m'driff?

And don't even start me on the Pearly Gates Lesters... Serious facepalm on those Partially because I don't even hold in high regard anything that Gibbons has done with his music - ZZ Top is, well, ZZ Top and they haven't really changed the course of history in my books. Flame away if need be, I'm just being honest.

V.

Funny, I was just thinking about Gibbons. He's supposed to be awesome. However, many people posting here can play his songs and do. Does that mean they are also awesome? Of course, this same analogy could be used for most players.

Oh yes...if you can play an (insert name) riff and have an (insert name) type tone then you are as awesome as (insert name).

 

[axemeaquestion]

I guess the thing that makes me laugh is, at least for the most part, the cats who have 'signature models' in their names still use their original guitars and not the signature models. So, for instance, Page - WTF is the value in having it 'look' just like his fave No.2 or whatever when really, it's not the guitar at all - it's not the year, it's not the same wood, it's not the same level of wear...it's just a look alike, oooops, except for the signature on it that's not even on the original

Randy Rhoads... LOVE that cat!! I love that cat SO much that rather than BUY his latest Gibby signature release, I'd much prefer to shop around for a mint condition, used, early 80's, white-now-naturally-turned-cream/yellow Les Paul off eBay or some international retailer than a signature RR model. Why? Because the guitar I'm buying is actually closer to the same one Randy graced than some new ax that Gibby pumped out 30 years later. Get m'driff?

And don't even start me on the Pearly Gates Lesters... Serious facepalm on those Partially because I don't even hold in high regard anything that Gibbons has done with his music - ZZ Top is, well, ZZ Top and they haven't really changed the course of history in my books. Flame away if need be, I'm just being honest.

V.

Funny, I was just thinking about Gibbons. He's supposed to be awesome. However, many people posting here can play his songs and do. Does that mean they are also awesome? Of course, this same analogy could be used for most players.

You're trying so hard. God bless ya

Thanks, bro, but why would an invisible entity with supernatural powers deign to bless me? I'd prefer it if he just left me alone.

 

[axemeaquestion]

I guess the thing that makes me laugh is, at least for the most part, the cats who have 'signature models' in their names still use their original guitars and not the signature models. So, for instance, Page - WTF is the value in having it 'look' just like his fave No.2 or whatever when really, it's not the guitar at all - it's not the year, it's not the same wood, it's not the same level of wear...it's just a look alike, oooops, except for the signature on it that's not even on the original

Randy Rhoads... LOVE that cat!! I love that cat SO much that rather than BUY his latest Gibby signature release, I'd much prefer to shop around for a mint condition, used, early 80's, white-now-naturally-turned-cream/yellow Les Paul off eBay or some international retailer than a signature RR model. Why? Because the guitar I'm buying is actually closer to the same one Randy graced than some new ax that Gibby pumped out 30 years later. Get m'driff?

And don't even start me on the Pearly Gates Lesters... Serious facepalm on those Partially because I don't even hold in high regard anything that Gibbons has done with his music - ZZ Top is, well, ZZ Top and they haven't really changed the course of history in my books. Flame away if need be, I'm just being honest.

V.

Funny, I was just thinking about Gibbons. He's supposed to be awesome. However, many people posting here can play his songs and do. Does that mean they are also awesome? Of course, this same analogy could be used for most players.

Oh yes...if you can play an (insert name) riff and have an (insert name) type tone then you are as awesome as (insert name).

As I stated, the analogy could be used for most players. I appreciate your restatement of my thesis, Randy, but would much prefer if you answered my query about your Tele and Strat in a serious manner.

 

[Meathead]

I guess the thing that makes me laugh is, at least for the most part, the cats who have 'signature models' in their names still use their original guitars and not the signature models. So, for instance, Page - WTF is the value in having it 'look' just like his fave No.2 or whatever when really, it's not the guitar at all - it's not the year, it's not the same wood, it's not the same level of wear...it's just a look alike, oooops, except for the signature on it that's not even on the original

Randy Rhoads... LOVE that cat!! I love that cat SO much that rather than BUY his latest Gibby signature release, I'd much prefer to shop around for a mint condition, used, early 80's, white-now-naturally-turned-cream/yellow Les Paul off eBay or some international retailer than a signature RR model. Why? Because the guitar I'm buying is actually closer to the same one Randy graced than some new ax that Gibby pumped out 30 years later. Get m'driff?

And don't even start me on the Pearly Gates Lesters... Serious facepalm on those Partially because I don't even hold in high regard anything that Gibbons has done with his music - ZZ Top is, well, ZZ Top and they haven't really changed the course of history in my books. Flame away if need be, I'm just being honest.

V.

Funny, I was just thinking about Gibbons. He's supposed to be awesome. However, many people posting here can play his songs and do. Does that mean they are also awesome? Of course, this same analogy could be used for most players.

Oh yes...if you can play an (insert name) riff and have an (insert name) type tone then you are as awesome as (insert name).

As I stated, the analogy could be used for most players. I appreciate your restatement of my thesis, Randy, but would much prefer if you answered my query about your Tele and Strat in a serious manner.

I'd be pretty dumb to take you seriously.