signature guitars = poser or no??

[BloodRose]

Ive always been kinda shy about signature guitars, unless they have the feature set I want.

However, there are a couple of signature guitars Id LOVE to have, but NOT because of the artist. I am a big fan of the artist, but Id want the guitars for the features and the graphics. But would be worried about people thinking I was a wanna be for playing them.

Im talking about the Warren DiMartini crossed swords and skull ones. (kinda like the kamikaze or whatever it is too.)

So, would that look like poser if I showed up with one?
Just wonderin..

 

[kramersteen]

Re: signature guitars = poser or no??

I had a yjm usa strat - sold it - wish i didn't.

 

[man-in-moon]

Re: signature guitars = poser or no??

I am not a huge fan of sig gear. But if it has the specs or sound you want the go for it. I wouldn't mind having a DiMartini snake skin and the cantrell rampage is a sweet guitar as well.

 

[DreX]

Re: signature guitars = poser or no??

So, would that look like poser if I showed up with one?

I'm hard pressed to believe even one person in any given audience would realize it was a sig guitar, but aside from that, the bigger issue is how you play it. It is a bit like wearing someone else's shoes, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it brings with it an expectation that you'll be able to fill them. If someone does a mean SRV with an SRV Strat, it's all good, but if they don't do such a good job... what would you think?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: signature guitars = poser or no??

If you like the guitar, screw what anyone else thinks about it.

I would never buy a signature guitar just because I'm a fan of the artist; I think that is kind of lame, unless the guitar is truly a great tool for you in its own right. But I have owned several over the years, just because I love the guitars. I used to have a Clapton Strat. Now, I have a G&L Cantrell Rampage, and a prototype G&L that was made to test out some specs for a possible Brad Whitford signature model (pine body and neck - the model never made it into production). I like those guitarists all right, but I don't have a particular affinity for either of them. The guitars are just awesome. I would definitely own a Gibson Lucille (probably the best spec'd semi-hollow guitar ever made by Gibson), possibly the Florentine double cut model of the Trini Lopez, and definitely a Barney Kessel. I built an Esquire with the same exact finishing method that Francis Rossi used on his Tele. I do like Quo, but it was really about how *****in his guitar looks. And of course, I have several Les Pauls, and have had several more in the past.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: signature guitars = poser or no??

Well the way I see it, you could buy the signature guitar that practically nobody else plays but the guy it was made for, or you can play the guitar that was made for nobody in particular that everybody plays...

 

[Demanic]

Re: signature guitars = poser or no??

I agree with ItsaBass. If you decide that for whatever reason you want it, go for it. Especially if you can get a deal on it.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: signature guitars = poser or no??

I would (funds permitting...which they don't) maybe get one for it's unique features if any (scalloped neck on the YJM strat ) otherwise...cheap is always best :laugh2: ..does it make someone a poser? lol, depends on the person...some people don't need a sig guitar for that

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: signature guitars = poser or no??

If the signature has the features that make it one of your dream guitars, despite the signature aspect, then by all means. Even famous artists have been known to use other signature models. Paul McCartney used an Everly Brothers Gibson J-200. George Harrison later in life used an EVH Wolfgang for some solo work on a Beatles recording. John Mayer used a Hendrix Monterey Pop strat. Eric Clapton uses his own signature guitars. Brian Setzer uses his own signature guitars. James Burton uses his own signature guitars. Synyster Gates used his own sig guitars. Why not, if it's the right guitar?

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: signature guitars = poser or no??

If the signature has the features that make it one of your dream guitars, despite the signature aspect, then by all means. Even famous artists have been known to use other signature models. Paul McCartney used an Everly Brothers Gibson J-200. George Harrison later in life used an EVH Wolfgang for some solo work on a Beatles recording. John Mayer used a Hendrix Monterey Pop strat. Eric Clapton uses his own signature guitars. Brian Setzer uses his own signature guitars. James Burton uses his own signature guitars. Synyster Gates used his own sig guitars. Why not, if it's the right guitar?

Pete Townshend also uses older EC signature models that he mods with piezos.

 

[Mincer]

Re: signature guitars = poser or no??

Some signature Strats are hard to tell from afar that they are a special model. You don't really see any players outside of super fans and tribute bands using EVHs frankenreplica, or something so identifiable as Zakk's LP. I have never seen another blues guitarist at all the festivals I have played use an SRV strat. I would think most players, at a certain level, are as picky about their gear as anyone who has a signature model, and modify stock gear accordingly.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: signature guitars = poser or no??

My #1 is a Jackson Kevin Bond signature Rhoads from the original run. Forget the embarrassing Kevin Bond link... the guitar is a monster and you can't get the same combination of features and finish anywhere else outside of the custom shop! It's extremely lightweight, very full sounding, perfectly balanced, ultra-stable and I've yet to find a guitar that plays better!

As with pickups, I don't get too hung up on the "signature" thing because, more often than not, sig stuff is really good! Heck, I even enjoy sticking other artists' signature pickups in my signature axes!

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: signature guitars = poser or no??

i've owned signature guitars by artists i don't care for just because i like the features

my favorite guitars are Les Pauls and I don't play music anything like what he does

if you're worried about what other people think you really shouldn't be making art in the first place

 

[AlexR]

Re: signature guitars = poser or no??

If you showed up with the SRV strat fully adorned with the reflective sticker or carved pickguard, yes you would look a bit of a tosser. But a simple collection of the artists fave features on one guitar and a sig is hardly an invitation for scorn......do you own a Les Paul for example?

I'm with EP here. And if you suck at playing its not going to matter even if you have the least poser guitar out there.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: signature guitars = poser or no??

Don't care, tbh, though I prefer the more subtle ones like Ibanez JS etc., which don't scream 'I'M A SIGNATURE GUITAR! BLAAA!' Even like that Buckethead LP because it has some interesting features - bigger body, 27" scale, no markers on the fingerboard.

I'd love to have a RS too...

I had a yjm usa strat - sold it - wish i didn't.

D'oh!

I've been wanting to try one for some years.

 

[greekdude]

Re: signature guitars = poser or no??

I just wished they released the same models without the signatures all the features minus the lame signature and the added price increase!

 

[AzCat]

Re: signature guitars = poser or no??

Ssssshhhh!!! Don't alarm all those posers who've been playing Les Paul's signature axe for the past few decades ....

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: signature guitars = poser or no??

This is why I like those Brendan Small Gibsons actually. Very sleek looking and the only thing connecting them to the show are the names of the instruments, otherwise nobody would ever guess, and the names for them aren't beyond gibson's traditional guitar names either. No weird signature or logo or carved pickguard or anything. Like as much as I would probably love the EMTY blackouts, I can't get over that big SEVEN looking up at me from the side of the pickup. I still don't know why they put that there, it's not like anyone else but the person playing it can see it, so I figure all it is doing is turning people away rather than bringing them in but that is just me. And that is not like me feeling like I'm a poser or wanting to be "unique" by playing something everybody else plays, it's just purely aesthetic reasons. But like pretty much any signature fender ever made, tons of gibsons including the Wyldes, the Ibanez sig models, hell yeah sign me up. So long as the thing just ain't that goofy looking.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: signature guitars = poser or no??

Same with the Mushok baritones. There's nothing on them but clean looking guitar stuff.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: signature guitars = poser or no??

A signature guitar makes sense if it has unique features that match your needs. However a lot of fanboys buy signatures and that's lame.