The Kernel
New member
Are signature guitars, as in the clapton of Knopfler strats, worth the money or are you just paying for the name. I know they sometimes have neat features, but they still seem overpriced to me.
signature guitars- rip off?
- Thread starter The Kernel
- Start date
Re: signature guitars- rip off?
yeah your paying for the name, and in this day and age, lets face it, names sell.
A ripoff ? That depends. I could of bought a Hendrix Voodoo Strat (sorta a sig model) for around $1000 when they first came out, in what, 1997 I think it was.
I'm trying to find one now, they are selling for closer to $2k in used condition.
So is a guitar you can buy, play for 10 years and then sell for nearly double what you paid such a bad purchase ? I don't think so.
Will all sig guitars do the same ? not hardly
yeah your paying for the name, and in this day and age, lets face it, names sell.
A ripoff ? That depends. I could of bought a Hendrix Voodoo Strat (sorta a sig model) for around $1000 when they first came out, in what, 1997 I think it was.
I'm trying to find one now, they are selling for closer to $2k in used condition.
So is a guitar you can buy, play for 10 years and then sell for nearly double what you paid such a bad purchase ? I don't think so.
Will all sig guitars do the same ? not hardly
Sporky McGuffin
New member
Re: signature guitars- rip off?
I have an Ibanez Mike Mushok sig, and I thought it very good value. I don't know of any other neck-thru mahogany baritones with a custom bridge for £640, and it's very nicely built.
I have an Ibanez Mike Mushok sig, and I thought it very good value. I don't know of any other neck-thru mahogany baritones with a custom bridge for £640, and it's very nicely built.
Redmist
New member
Re: signature guitars- rip off?
$1000 11 years ago was worth alot more than $2000 in 2008, so you are looking at a loss, not a profit.
Everyone who has posted here, saying they are not a rip-off, has also purchased a signature guitar, - so either they are genuinely good or else people are just defending their purchase. It's hard to tell which it is. Looking at the prices over stock, I always thought they were way overpriced for what you were getting, so who knows?
$1000 11 years ago was worth alot more than $2000 in 2008, so you are looking at a loss, not a profit.
Everyone who has posted here, saying they are not a rip-off, has also purchased a signature guitar, - so either they are genuinely good or else people are just defending their purchase. It's hard to tell which it is. Looking at the prices over stock, I always thought they were way overpriced for what you were getting, so who knows?
Thunder7
New member
Re: signature guitars- rip off?
Signature models are for the most part a lot nicer than the standard production models so you aren't just paying for the name, some of them do have really cool features and some of them make you wonder "what exactly am I paying for?" It all comes down to what you like and what you want, the Yngwie Strat is worth the money, because it has the scalloped frets on it. I think the Clapton Strat just has noiseless pups and a mid-boost? If so you could install that yourself for MUCH cheaper than his signature goes for. Some Signature models make me shake my head and wonder why and then there are the ones that have so many cool things that you just want that guitar.
Signature models are for the most part a lot nicer than the standard production models so you aren't just paying for the name, some of them do have really cool features and some of them make you wonder "what exactly am I paying for?" It all comes down to what you like and what you want, the Yngwie Strat is worth the money, because it has the scalloped frets on it. I think the Clapton Strat just has noiseless pups and a mid-boost? If so you could install that yourself for MUCH cheaper than his signature goes for. Some Signature models make me shake my head and wonder why and then there are the ones that have so many cool things that you just want that guitar.
Binnerscot
Well-known member
Re: signature guitars- rip off?
I always thought the Yngwie strat was worthy of its slightly higher price. It offers features that you just don't see on Strats.
I always thought the Yngwie strat was worthy of its slightly higher price. It offers features that you just don't see on Strats.
JacksonMIA
Lemur-buckerologist
Re: signature guitars- rip off?
The Jimmie Vaughan strat is probably the best deal going on a strat. Custom shop bridge and tuners, good pickups, good playability...all for far less than any custom shop Fender.
The Jimmie Vaughan strat is probably the best deal going on a strat. Custom shop bridge and tuners, good pickups, good playability...all for far less than any custom shop Fender.
Bludave
New member
Re: signature guitars- rip off?
Signature guitars are generally more $ then the guitar without the name. But usually these instruments have feature that are not available on the standard model. I own 2 Clapton Strats. I bought my first one when they first came out. Went to check it out to see if it was cool, and I bought it because I loved the neck. The other features are pretty cool also, but I rarely use the preamp. I liked this guitar so much I went out and bought a 2nd one. My first one is my #one single coil guitar.
Signature guitars are generally more $ then the guitar without the name. But usually these instruments have feature that are not available on the standard model. I own 2 Clapton Strats. I bought my first one when they first came out. Went to check it out to see if it was cool, and I bought it because I loved the neck. The other features are pretty cool also, but I rarely use the preamp. I liked this guitar so much I went out and bought a 2nd one. My first one is my #one single coil guitar.
F
Forbes
Guest
Re: signature guitars- rip off?
How did you calculate that? That seems like a pretty extreame rate of inflation..?
How did you calculate that? That seems like a pretty extreame rate of inflation..?
Sporky McGuffin
New member
Re: signature guitars- rip off?
Somewhere between 6 & 7% for that.
Somewhere between 6 & 7% for that.
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Re: signature guitars- rip off?
I'd say they are a rip-off, UNLESS you don't know how, or have the desire to modify your guitar.
You can unbolt and bolt-on pretty much EVERYTHING on a guitar, especially a bolt-on-neck guitar, so unless you need something that requires woodwork, I say it's more cost effective (not to mention "cool and tough") to modify it yourself.
Then you don't make any compromises either, e.g. "I love the bridge and tuners, but I wish I had different switching..."
I'd say they are a rip-off, UNLESS you don't know how, or have the desire to modify your guitar.
You can unbolt and bolt-on pretty much EVERYTHING on a guitar, especially a bolt-on-neck guitar, so unless you need something that requires woodwork, I say it's more cost effective (not to mention "cool and tough") to modify it yourself.
Then you don't make any compromises either, e.g. "I love the bridge and tuners, but I wish I had different switching..."
pzaxtl
Gibletsologist
lex666
New member
Re: signature guitars- rip off?
I've got 2 ESP/LTD wanna be Kirk Hammet sig guitars. Not so much becuz of Kirk but becuz I was looking for a superstrat guitar with 2 independent volumes and a FR trem. The KH guitars fit the bill perfectly and they turned out to be great guitars.
I also bought a Jimmy Vaughn strat but didn't like it. The V shaped nack wasn't something I was gonna get used to. That ended up getting traded in.
I've always wanted a Jimmy Page sig LP. The price it costs aint worth it IMO, but I'm sure anyone who is fortunate enuff to buy that guitar will swear its worth every penny.
I guess only you can decide if something is worth the price you pay.
I've got 2 ESP/LTD wanna be Kirk Hammet sig guitars. Not so much becuz of Kirk but becuz I was looking for a superstrat guitar with 2 independent volumes and a FR trem. The KH guitars fit the bill perfectly and they turned out to be great guitars.
I also bought a Jimmy Vaughn strat but didn't like it. The V shaped nack wasn't something I was gonna get used to. That ended up getting traded in.
I've always wanted a Jimmy Page sig LP. The price it costs aint worth it IMO, but I'm sure anyone who is fortunate enuff to buy that guitar will swear its worth every penny.
I guess only you can decide if something is worth the price you pay.
Sporky McGuffin
New member
Re: signature guitars- rip off?
I'm not sure how to modify any of my guitars into a 28" scale neck-thru baritone. Am I missing something?
I'm not sure how to modify any of my guitars into a 28" scale neck-thru baritone. Am I missing something?
MojoMonster
Active member
Re: signature guitars- rip off?
Actually, just replace with a baritone neck and then move the bridge back a few inches, drill new holes... easy.
Fugly, but easy.
heh.
MM
Power tools mang!
Actually, just replace with a baritone neck and then move the bridge back a few inches, drill new holes... easy.
Fugly, but easy.
heh.
MM
