Your Signature Guitar

[Bogner]

Depends so much on circumstances. In my current situation I'd probably tell them no thanks if I really don't gel with the company offering the deal as I don't make a living playing music.

In a real life scenario I imagine that it would effectively be an offer that is too good not to accept, but before accepting it I would go to some companies that I gel better with and tell them what I've been offered and let the know I'd much rather make a similar deal and see what they have to say.

There's a twist!

[Phantasmagoria]

Yeah sure. I stopped being nitpicky & letting stuff like preference's (or principle's) hold me back many moons ago. Not gonna say no to free guitars. **** all the other ****.

[Aceman]

I would, but I would not be "exclusive" to them in the contract.

I'm sure I could get any company to make me a guitar that I'd be happy with.

Like, I could get a "Steve Dallas" King V easily, or a Fender Strat. But...I would not sign to exclusively use them.

Only Gibson/Dean could get me to do that on stage.

[Chistopher]

I don't know if this has been said already, but if I was good enough to where a company was asking me to make a signature model for me and I didn't like them, I'd probably be able to go somewhere else and get them to do it.

[Bogner]

I don't know if this has been said already, but if I was good enough to where a company was asking me to make a signature model for me and I didn't like them, I'd probably be able to go somewhere else and get them to do it.

Maybe, maybe not...

I could see a few scenarios where that could work or not work at all. New company, trying to get their first artist but knows they can't land a big fish. Established company has 10 different artist sig models and may not want any additional. Company may not be known for catering to a certain style of music or player. I don't see Cannibal Corpse and Taylor partnering up. I think there may be more variables than we all initially thought. Good stuff though!

[Jack_TriPpEr]

A guitar company wants to make a signature guitar. You have full say in design/specs/etc. The problem is, you aren't a fan of that company for whatever reason(s). Do you do it?

I wouldn't.

I also wouldn't.

If I wanted a guitar with those specs so badly, I know there are talented luthiers in the market that I can hire to make that guitar for me. One might argue back that hiring someone might not be an option if you can't afford the cost of that, but that's why I mentioned earlier *how badly* you needed all those specs. Cuz in reality, you don't actually need ALL the specs in your dream signature guitar design, hence why most of us make due just fine with what we can afford.

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Or alternately, production models that have 80% of the specs I want and that i can achieve the other 20% by just doing some DIY mods.

[Top-L]

A guitar company wants to make a signature guitar. You have full say in design/specs/etc. The problem is, you aren't a fan of that company for whatever reason(s). Do you do it?

I wouldn't.

How can you not be a fan of a guitar company? Serious question.

Is it because the company is known for putting out mostly Chinese junk and you don't want your name associated with it? (Everyone is doing this now.)

Is it because you don't like the quality of the instruments? (They use proprietary bridges and you want an OFR)

Is it because you don't like the management? (The only company I've read that people seem to have "problems" with are Gibson, regarding management and declining quality. But its an iconic brand. Ive read some weird stuff about BC Rich too.)

Is it because they wouldn't be able to build the guitar you really want? (For instance a traditional brand approaches a modern player.)

Is it because the brand is so unknown that you don't think it means anything? (And you would rather not be contractually obligated to play their guitars.)


If someone gave me an opportunity for a signature guitar, I would jump at it. But I'm not a professional player.

[Bogner]

How can you not be a fan of a guitar company? Serious question.

Is it because the company is known for putting out mostly Chinese junk and you don't want your name associated with it? (Everyone is doing this now.)

Is it because you don't like the quality of the instruments? (They use proprietary bridges and you want an OFR)

Is it because you don't like the management? (The only company I've read that people seem to have "problems" with are Gibson, regarding management and declining quality. But its an iconic brand. Ive read some weird stuff about BC Rich too.)

Is it because they wouldn't be able to build the guitar you really want? (For instance a traditional brand approaches a modern player.)

Is it because the brand is so unknown that you don't think it means anything? (And you would rather not be contractually obligated to play their guitars.)


If someone gave me an opportunity for a signature guitar, I would jump at it. But I'm not a professional player.

All of what you said weighs into it.

[devastone]

Like:

[Aceman]

How can you not be a fan of a guitar company? Serious question.

Is it because the company is known for putting out mostly Chinese junk and you don't want your name associated with it? (Everyone is doing this now.)

Is it because you don't like the quality of the instruments? (They use proprietary bridges and you want an OFR)

Is it because you don't like the management? (The only company I've read that people seem to have "problems" with are Gibson, regarding management and declining quality. But its an iconic brand. Ive read some weird stuff about BC Rich too.)

Is it because they wouldn't be able to build the guitar you really want? (For instance a traditional brand approaches a modern player.)

Is it because the brand is so unknown that you don't think it means anything? (And you would rather not be contractually obligated to play their guitars.)


If someone gave me an opportunity for a signature guitar, I would jump at it. But I'm not a professional player.

More than that goes into it....


Like I said; Can I play another brand on stage?
Am I allowed to mention other guitars I have played in interviews?
Can I post a Youtube vid of me & my first guitar?
Are they free? Or reduced cost?
Is there a sales target expectation?

This is NOT about giving YOU the guitar you want. It is first and foremost about selling THEIR guitars.

[Top-L]

More than that goes into it....


Like I said; Can I play another brand on stage?
Am I allowed to mention other guitars I have played in interviews?
Can I post a Youtube vid of me & my first guitar?
Are they free? Or reduced cost?
Is there a sales target expectation?

This is NOT about giving YOU the guitar you want. It is first and foremost about selling THEIR guitars.

Hmmm. Trying to imagine the worst possible deal...

Lets say I had a breakout metal video and album that had some traction on YouTube.

I was approached by Sawtooth guitars to do a signature.

But the caveat was that I had to play Sawtooth guitars exclusively for three years.

And I had to have my picture in Sawtooth ads under Master Micheal Angelo Batio.

And they sent me two essentially $300 guitars to play for that three years.

Would I take it?

I would take it as a joke. To say I had a signature guitar.

Even though it is probably a production guitar that someone quickly spraypainted in the warehouse to my "specs".

I would take it.

Maybe.

[DKSEARS]

If they could make me the exact guitar I wanted, I would go for it, unless I was opposed to their morals or ethics.

This is how I see it. My "needs" in a guitar are not all that special, in my opinion, but if a company I admired wanted to do a deal, I'd probably go for it, if they're willing to give me the keys to the design room.

[Aceman]

I was approached by Sawtooth guitars to do a signature.

I'm out. I'll buy my own. Thanks but no thanks...

[CaptainWhizz]

Is it because you don't like the quality of the instruments? (They use proprietary bridges and you want an OFR)

Is it because they wouldn't be able to build the guitar you really want? (For instance a traditional brand approaches a modern player.)

I think the original hypothetical said you had full control of design and specs (we will have to suppose without infringing on trademarks), so for example, if you ask them to, Fender have to make you something as close to an Ibanez Jem as possible.