Signature Model Guitars...Yay or Nay?

The ones that are not immediately identifiable as signature models are fine by me.

I have a G&L Cantrell Rampage and a Jimmy Page Tele.

There isn't much Cantrell about the Rampage, aside from the recessed Kahler and a signature decal on the head. Regular Rampages had a Kahler, but it wasn't recessed.

The Page is just a really nice 1960 Tele reissue with a Page neck plate and rear decal.

And several Les Pauls, of course, which I do indeed count.

The Chrissy Hynde Tele is next, though I will ditch the mirrored guard for a traditional guard. After that, it's pretty much just a slab-rosewood-era Tele with a rare finish color and a '70s style "rattler" bridge.
 
Last edited:
In general I see it as a negative rather than a positive.

Nevertheless I'd like to try out a Joe Satriani model and would be tempted to buy a Musicman Luke under the right conditions.

Couldn't care less about a signature.
 
Don't usually dig signature guitars -I wouldn't usually want the exact tonal nuance of someone else -but rather customize myself.


but damn if i haven't considered this super copper sexy *ss b*tch this year.

If this way Troy's idea..... then sig model it is!

I got a tone boner for this.

Screen Shot 2021-02-03 at 5.01.35 PM.png - Click image for larger version  Name:	Screen Shot 2021-02-03 at 5.01.35 PM.png Views:	0 Size:	182.7 KB ID:	6053806
 
Don't usually dig signature guitars -I wouldn't usually want the exact tonal nuance of someone else -but rather customize myself.


but damn if i haven't considered this super copper sexy *ss b*tch this year.

If this way Troy's idea..... then sig model it is!

I got a tone boner for this.


That's pretty hot.


I have to admit to a strong attraction to Johnny A's sig:
Screen Shot 2021-02-03 at 5.01.35 PM.png - Click image for larger version Name:	Screen Shot 2021-02-03 at 5.01.35 PM.png Views:	0 Size:	182.7 KB ID:	6053806
 
The only signature guitar I ever thought of buying was a Tom Delonge Strat. And no I am not a Blink 182 fan I just like the setup of the guitar.

squier-tom-delonge-stratocaster-7429.jpg
 
I have to admit to a strong attraction to Johnny A's sig:

My old boss owns serial #003 he is friends with Johnny's rhythm guitarist. I GASed for that guitar for years. After playing #003 the GAS was gone. I would say the setup and strings he has on the guitar turned me off a lot.
 
If the only difference between the signature model of guitar and one that is not signature but they are the same minus the signature, I see no need to purchase the signature model. I have an Iceman that was a reissue back in 94, I would never spend the money on the PS model of that guitar when for far less the difference between those two guitars, I could build my Iceman into the PS model.

For $160 I could make my Iceman a PS model minus his name, not worth the cost of the Sig model difference of about $400. I think I paid approx $800 for it new, think the PS models were going for $1200, so for the cost of 2 pickups and his name on it, naw, not gonna happen.

Buy the Mikro one.
 
The only signature guitar I ever thought of buying was a Tom Delonge Strat. And no I am not a Blink 182 fan I just like the setup of the guitar.

Having used to own a super cheap Squier Bullet Strat that was modded to be a one-pickup guitar with an Invader, I agree. It played like garbage, but had no right to sound as good as it did.

EDIT: Wow, just looked at prices on Reverb. Absolutely wild that people are asking $1,500-$2,000 for a Mexican-made strat that was what, $600-800 new? You could build a brand new, American-made Mod Shop Strat to close enough spec for that, and probably sell the pickguard and electronics for what it'd cost for a single HB pickgard and Invader/electronics. I guess you wouldn't have the large '70s headstock, but the hardtail, paint options, and Invader are what made that guitar, but those options (minus the Invader) are all available through the Mod Shop.
 
Last edited:
I don't care one way or the other. There are signature models from artists that I like which I'd never buy and those from artists I have no interest in which I would.

I actually own two signature models right now: one from a favorite and one from someone I think I've only heard one song from.

EDIT: Oh, and yeah, Les Paul. I'm sure I've pulled up a YouTube video of him at some point, but I literally remember nothing about it.
 
Last edited:
The only signature guitar I ever thought of buying was a Tom Delonge Strat. And no I am not a Blink 182 fan I just like the setup of the guitar.

It's funny you say that. I'd have to do a "google" search to even remember who Tom Delonge is. But I did like that single bridge pup archtop that someone made.
 
Having used to own a super cheap Squier Bullet Strat that was modded to be a one-pickup guitar with an Invader, I agree. It played like garbage, but had no right to sound as good as it did.

EDIT: Wow, just looked at prices on Reverb. Absolutely wild that people are asking $1,500-$2,000 for a Mexican-made strat that was what, $600-800 new? You could build a brand new, American-made Mod Shop Strat to close enough spec for that, and probably sell the pickguard and electronics for what it'd cost for a single HB pickgard and Invader/electronics. I guess you wouldn't have the large '70s headstock, but the hardtail, paint options, and Invader are what made that guitar, but those options (minus the Invader) are all available through the Mod Shop.

Fender has the 70's necks. You could build it $900 - $1,000

https://shop.fender.com/en-US/parts/stratocaster-parts/
 
Having used to own a super cheap Squier Bullet Strat that was modded to be a one-pickup guitar with an Invader, I agree. It played like garbage, but had no right to sound as good as it did.

EDIT: Wow, just looked at prices on Reverb. Absolutely wild that people are asking $1,500-$2,000 for a Mexican-made strat that was what, $600-800 new? You could build a brand new, American-made Mod Shop Strat to close enough spec for that, and probably sell the pickguard and electronics for what it'd cost for a single HB pickgard and Invader/electronics. I guess you wouldn't have the large '70s headstock, but the hardtail, paint options, and Invader are what made that guitar, but those options (minus the Invader) are all available through the Mod Shop.

Look at the prices for the Fender J. Mascis.
 
Are you fans of signature model guitars? I know some are and some aren't. I think I would probably NOT buy a signature guitar if I wasn't a fan of the artist.

If you are a fan of signature model guitars, which ones do you like?

I really like the Knaggs Steve Stevens SS2 models although the SSC models are ok. I am also a fan of anything ESP and James Hetfield. The PRS Tremonti's (old versions with fat necks and fixed bridges) are awesome as well.

I'm a huge fan of signature guitars and I'd own more if I had the opportunity to. I have one signature model and it's great. I like the fact that a production guitar can be improved by a player's needs which most other players see a benefit to.
 
I have two signature guitars, but like many have said, when they were produced, the specs or finishes, or the combinations thereof, were only available on them. And this was before I in a position to build my own guitars.
 
A lot of guitars are spec’d for broad appeal, so it’s nice when signatures give you a more specialised option. But even companies like Kramer, Jackson, and Charvel - which often aim largely at a certain type of player or genre of music - make signature models, and Epiphone are doing Prophecy models, so I guess it’s all changing over time.
 
The only signature guitar I ever thought of buying was a Tom Delonge Strat. And no I am not a Blink 182 fan I just like the setup of the guitar.

squier-tom-delonge-stratocaster-7429.jpg

I have a friend who has a Fender version he picked up super cheap. I really like it. The Invader sounds awesome in it.
 
Back
Top