Signature guitars......Why?

[veryhungrycaterpilla]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

That's great, unless you decide you actually think an MIA Strat has better craftsmanship. Oh, and the fact that if you decide to part ways with the EC a few years down the road, you'll get your money back out of it.

JVs are special guitars. Not your typical knock off MIM. Check out the FDP.

You won't gain $500 in resale value with the EC vs the resale of a JV with the DG set: http://cgi.ebay.com/Jimmy-Vaughn-Ji...ryZ38082QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-USA-Eric...oryZ2384QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Uk Ant]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

Ooh I'm glad I started this thread

Now what about the uber signiture guitars, things like the Charvel and Kramer EVH guitars. Or even the very, very expensive frankenstrat?
Now I'm oddly tempted by one of the cheaper options, but I don't know why.
I surely don't want to look like Eddie, and they are a bit too limited to be usable guitars, plus I'm sure sound/playability wise there is a much cheaper option.
Unless I was in a VH trubute band I wouldn't really use the thing live...
The only thing I can think of is that I just want to have it to look at, then it stops being a real guitar and starts being a collectable.

 

[veryhungrycaterpilla]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

Ooh I'm glad I started this thread

Now what about the uber signiture guitars, things like the Charvel and Kramer EVH guitars. Or even the very, very expensive frankenstrat?
Now I'm oddly tempted by one of the cheaper options, but I don't know why.
I surely don't want to look like Eddie, and they are a bit too limited to be usable guitars, plus I'm sure sound/playability wise there is a much cheaper option.
Unless I was in a VH trubute band I wouldn't really use the thing live...
The only thing I can think of is that I just want to have it to look at, then it stops being a real guitar and starts being a collectable.

There are some excellent "budget" sig guitars out there that are pro level. Fender alone has the Jimmy Vaughn Strat, Muddy Waters Tele, Robert Cray Strat...

 

[Uk Ant]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

But how different are they from a standard, and how much more do you pay to have Robert Cray on the headstock.
Come to think of it it's these more budget ones that possibly bug me more.
Does Robert Cray use a Robert Cray model strat?
Obviously SRV didn't have much input into his.
Now this is one of the things I really respect about the JEM, Steve Vai does actually use it. Yeh I'm sure he fiddles with each and every one, but any guitarist worth their salt would.

 

[benji657]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

this topic has been beat to death so many times..do a search..
i dont think im a poser (or anyone for that matter) if i buy a signature guitar based on its playability and tone..
really, even if you hate signature guitars, its gonna sell.
judge individual sig guitars as an individual guitar rather than making generalizations about the whole 'signature guitars' idea

 

[veryhungrycaterpilla]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

But how different are they from a standard, and how much more do you pay to have Robert Cray on the headstock.
Come to think of it it's these more budget ones that possibly bug me more.
Does Robert Cray use a Robert Cray model strat?
Obviously SRV didn't have much input into his.
Now this is one of the things I really respect about the JEM, Steve Vai does actually use it. Yeh I'm sure he fiddles with each and every one, but any guitarist worth their salt would.

The Cray is very different from the standard MIM Strat: custom shop pups, hard tail, different neck carve, etc. The FDP can give you the in depth differences. Just compare the prices at musicians friend or elsewhere-the price differential is usually a couple hundred bucks. The three "budget" sigs I mentioned are pro (meaning gig, touring) level guitars with numerous features that set them apart, not run of the mill standard MIMs. You don't have to believe me, just check out Fender's site for details and the FDP for testimony after testimony.

 

[Uk Ant]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

this topic has been beat to death so many times..do a search..
i dont think im a poser (or anyone for that matter) if i buy a signature guitar based on its playability and tone..
really, even if you hate signature guitars, its gonna sell.
judge individual sig guitars as an individual guitar rather than making generalizations about the whole 'signature guitars' idea

You have a point, well several, I think I just wanted to pose the question, put a few of my thoughts across and get some current opinions.

the result so far seems to be that people tend to take them as they come.
Yes, they are often a marketing ploy to sell a few more guitars at a premium.
The upside is that they offer more choice to use guitarists.
But do we really need so much choice, now that's a different question.

 

[benji657]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

You have a point, well several, I think I just wanted to pose the question, put a few of my thoughts across and get some current opinions.

the result so far seems to be that people tend to take them as they come.
Yes, they are often a marketing ploy to sell a few more guitars at a premium.
The upside is that they offer more choice to use guitarists.
But do we really need so much choice, now that's a different question.

sorry i wasn't trying to come across so negatively. i apologize
hmm thats an interesting question
'do we really need more choice?'
sometimes signature guitars have some unique interesting features (even if they're not traditional) that draw certain players to it..which might have required some modifications otherwise..in a way there are more choices to help you narrow down your preferences..
personally i like some sig guitars and some of them are ok-priced, which helps.

 

[mrturtle_91]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

Please, a plywood guitar and a stock DS-1 will get you sounding like Kurt...

:chairfall

Cobain did use a lot of "toy" guitars...his tone definitely isn't the most desirable.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

But how different are they from a standard, and how much more do you pay to have Robert Cray on the headstock.
Come to think of it it's these more budget ones that possibly bug me more.
Does Robert Cray use a Robert Cray model strat?
Obviously SRV didn't have much input into his.
Now this is one of the things I really respect about the JEM, Steve Vai does actually use it. Yeh I'm sure he fiddles with each and every one, but any guitarist worth their salt would.

Robert Cray uses the custom shop version of his sig Strat, which the MIM one is based on. I think that's a good idea - have a premium version for yourself and others who can afford it, and a standard version that is more accessible to the average guitarist. Back when Fender had a Richie Sambora sig, it was the same deal: MIA premium model, MIM standard model.

I know that if I had a sig model, I wouldn't want it to be completely out of reach for the average player. I'd probably do something along the lines of the Cray or Sambora sigs.

SRV did help design his sig Strat before he died, IIRC.

 

[Uk Ant]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

sorry i wasn't trying to come across so negatively. i apologize
hmm thats an interesting question
'do we really need more choice?'
sometimes signature guitars have some unique interesting features (even if they're not traditional) that draw certain players to it..which might have required some modifications otherwise..in a way there are more choices to help you narrow down your preferences..
personally i like some sig guitars and some of them are ok-priced, which helps.

hey you spoke your mind, I'm kinda cool with that, besides you echoed some of my own thoughts on where this thread was going.

Maybe one day I'll pick up a signiture guitar and think 'hell, this guitar is just great, I'll have it.' but so far I've yet to find one that fits my little hands and feels special.

 

[tc]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

I'm not into a "signature" guitar per se, but generally they have options and specs not available on stock guitars.

I don't buy any of them because I'm a fan of the artist- I buy them because of the different features they have.

+1. I have a Tom Delonge because it brought an Invader, was one Hb, and i liked the neck. The name plate on the back means nothing, even though it was kinda ironic, the first band i liked was Blink when i was a kid and the first (and only) guitar i ever bought with my own money was that strat

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

JVs are special guitars. Not your typical knock off MIM. Check out the FDP.

You won't gain $500 in resale value with the EC vs the resale of a JV with the DG set: http://cgi.ebay.com/Jimmy-Vaughn-Ji...ryZ38082QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-USA-Eric...oryZ2384QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Nobody has bid on either of those, and if you do a completed listings search, you'll see that the Clapton guitars sell for roughly a grand. So, what you do is buy a used Clapton for a grand, and if you sell it the next day, you'll get that back out of it. Hang onto it for awhile, and it WILL go up. Go do a completed listing for the JV, and you'll see one for $490 that didn't get bid on.

Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to dog the JV strats in any way, shape, or form. I know they get mad respect on here, and I'd love to check one out if I got the chance. However, I know how I am, and I tend to part with guitars after awhile. For that reason, it makes more sense for me to buy a more expensive one, knowing I can sell it without a problem.

 

[Uk Ant]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

You sell guitars???

 

[veryhungrycaterpilla]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

Nobody has bid on either of those, and if you do a completed listings search, you'll see that the Clapton guitars sell for roughly a grand. So, what you do is buy a used Clapton for a grand, and if you sell it the next day, you'll get that back out of it. Hang onto it for awhile, and it WILL go up. Go do a completed listing for the JV, and you'll see one for $490 that didn't get bid on.

Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to dog the JV strats in any way, shape, or form. I know they get mad respect on here, and I'd love to check one out if I got the chance. However, I know how I am, and I tend to part with guitars after awhile. For that reason, it makes more sense for me to buy a more expensive one, knowing I can sell it without a problem.

Nobody bid on the EC that was up at ebay either!

Anyway, I see your point but I don't think it works in the real world. But we'll just have to agree to disagree? :beerchug:

 

[Ez74]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

I have owned a few signature models, but it was because of the features or design that I liked not because of the actual players name that was on it. The Cray strat had/has everything I wanted in a strat and was cheaper than putting one together out of parts. The samick Blues Saraceno models interested me because of their body design and how cheap I could buy them.

My next guitar purchase will probably be a Jim Root telecaster, and not because his name is on It but because of the features it offers.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

Nobody bid on the EC that was up at ebay either!

Anyway, I see your point but I don't think it works in the real world. But we'll just have to agree to disagree? :beerchug:

It's not an exact science, but it does indeed work in the real world. Import guitars (save for certain models) lose value, MIA stuff raises.

But, the beauty of it is, if I go by my idea, and you yours, it leaves more of the desired product for each of us :beerchug:

 

[CGord]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

I don't like obvious sig models except for the EVH art guitars (I'd love one of each of those). Otherwise, I like a lot of different sig models for the different stuff they offer, but I don't like signatures on the front side of the guitar/neck/headstock. Stuff like the bullseye paint job will keep me from ever buying a Zakk Wylde LP, though the guitar itself has features I like.

 

[Kac]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

I don't like signature guitars to try to sound just like a certain person, but some signature guitars are designed with such perfection that I would love to own one.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Signature guitars......Why?

yes if done right i am into Signature designed axes for sure.... i love being able to buy an axe that is close to what the real player uses.... that i like... i don't like the extra costs involved with signature models but i do like being able to buy the right axe for the sound and look of a pro player i like....

signature axes i'd already own if i had lots of money would be

1-Gibson PT SG
2-3 Gibson PT LP Deluxes-one in each finnish
3-Gibson PT J200
4-Gibson Jimmy Page LP
5-Ric PT Model
6-Fender Beck Strat
7-Fender Eric Clapton Strat
8-Fender SRV Strat
9-Charvel EVH
10-EVH Frankie
11-Erine Ball EVH
12-Peavey Wolfgang-(i have a neck and body off one)
13-Hiwatt Pete Townshend Head
14-Hiwatt David Gilmour Amp
15-5150III stack
16-Fender Malmsteen strat
17-Vai Ibanez
18-Satch Ibanez
19-Carvin Vai amp
20-Peavey Satch model amps

i'd be dangerous with money