Classic Guitar Devotees....Your thoughts?

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Classic Guitar Devotees....Your thoughts?

In staying with Hot Grits stream of logic.....it does make sense, since we always gravitate toward the types of women we're most familiar in life with.....anything from past girlfriends to female family members. I guess our brain subconsciously gravitates toward familiarity. Since most great recordings of the past featured classic instruments, our ear subconsciously is attracted to it.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Classic Guitar Devotees....Your thoughts?

they aren't unique anymore though...classic, yes, but about 50 years off of being unique. guitarists are pretty conservative though- that (and marketing) keeps them from buying something unique...even if other companies built better mousetraps. so they buy the same guitars over again.
for me, i can make my music man and brian moore get classic AND unique tones, and they feel better to play than the old standrds- i owned them too.

 

[54stratlover]

Re: Classic Guitar Devotees....Your thoughts?

And like usual, the classic players were using classic guitars, while the metal players were using stuff suited to that image.......not many visa versas tho.

I think that says a lot right there "IMAGE". I think image has a big part to do with it. I think sometimes there is a subconscious thing going on that leads us in one direction or another. I will call it a powerful 10%. playability is a huge thing (90%). But at times I wonder can we as guitar players convince ourselves to "love" a particular type of guitar? It is interesting to see players that don't B.S. themselves and go for something that is a total player, and not what one would expect for that genre, or the image guitar one would expect. I think Kevin Eubanks could be considered one of those.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Classic Guitar Devotees....Your thoughts?

The funny thing is that I can agree with every post in this thread! I'm starting to think guitars are like food....you don't eat the same thing every day. At the same time, players tend to move to whatever interests them at the time. There's so many guitars out there, that there's no real reason to say "I'll ONLY play those."

When I think about it, I've played a different style of guitar about every 5 years.
Almost any style of music can be played on ANY guitar....it really comes down to personal preferences at any particular time in your development.

I think it's what makes guitar players a more interesting sub culture than any other type of musician. Guitar has really permeated our culture, hasn't it? When I was walking through the Duncan Production Floor last week, it really hit me that 'wow, there are enough guitar players in the world for ALL these pickups to go to a different person.....then, add all the players who use other brands, or just stock pickups! It's amazing! There must be a few billion guitar nuts in the world! That leaves enough room for EVERY guitar, classic or not!

 

[54stratlover]

Re: Classic Guitar Devotees....Your thoughts?

this subject is really causing me to think...... I am attracted to guitars that are very "playable", and have great tone. For the most part, they are classics or based off of classic designs. #1 I have played a few classics, (amps and guitars) and they have something that I am always looking for. I played a genuine '59 strat, and that guitar did something. I played better through it (heads turned when I played that guitar, It wasn't just me that heard it). things came out of me that i didn't know was there. It felt right. There was a "something" that I will look for in any newer guitar I purchase. I played a 54-55 Les Paul that had much the same effect in sound, playability, and such in it's own way. I am not sure what it is but I will always go to classics and classic designs looking for the things I found in those guitars. More later *

I think there may be new classics. My James Trussart, to my ears, has that tone and feel to an extent that I found in the older instruments. I tried a hamer the other day that I think may have the potential to have that "thing" that I am looking for. I think PRS, and Tom Anderson guitars have it also. I think there are "new classics".

*On a final note. I may try an experiment sometime soon. I want to find old wood, and have it made into an instrument. Mahogony is used a lot in old furnature, as well as maple. I wonder if something happens to wood as it ages to effect the tone. i am toying with "salvaging" antique wood and seeing if a newer instrument made out of it has built in "old" tone. i know this theory is already un-scientifically able to be proven, due to the subjectivity of tone, but I may try it anyway.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Classic Guitar Devotees....Your thoughts?

I'll always believe that the guitars that the majority of high level players gravitate towards are the best ones. Since electric guitars have been around a little over half a century, we've got it nailed down to an exact science.

Nowadays, I think "classic" extends into the 90's as well. IMO, the 90's was the best era for gear since the 50s/60s. Besides Fender, Gibson, and Martin, we've picked up some new classics......ones that will stand the test of time. Musicman, Jackson, Taylor, Anderson, and PRS have all made it to classic status IMO. Some others I'm not so sure about. We'll see if Brian Moore, Parker, or Schecter get there. One problem that plagues some companies is that they specialize in lower line instruments, like Schecter, and it hurts their reputation in the higher end market, even though they offer spectacular guitars alongside their budget models. Most of the classics have established themselves as high end guitars first.