Slash "Max" Les Paul

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Slash "Max" Les Paul

I kinda remember seeing a Derrig V/Explorer pair on eBay years ago,opening bid was like $30K...

 

[Mincer]

Re: Slash "Max" Les Paul

I find it interesting how people think a particular guitar is the key to someone's mojo. I guess I am not that attached to instruments, especially ones that other people use to create their signature sounds.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Slash "Max" Les Paul

^^^^^^

Kinda true.

I remember an Yngwie quote where he said something along the lines of if he was playing an SG thru a Crate it would still sound like him...

 

[Davii]

Re: Slash "Max" Les Paul

I was discussing this with the luthier that's been sorting my guitars out in Tin Pan Alley; As I understand it from him, the guitar Slash used on Appetite was originally intended for someone he knows here in London (which, if I remember the story correctly, is a luthier themself now). I don't recall the particulars, but his story doesn't fit the one here unless I heard it all completely wrong.

The Joe Perry one used in the November Rain video he gave back as a birthday present to Joe, didn't he?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Slash "Max" Les Paul

^^^^^^

Kinda true.

I remember an Yngwie quote where he said something along the lines of if he was playing an SG thru a Crate it would still sound like him...

To be fair, I have lusted after my hero's guitars. A Steinberger, an ES175, a Strat, an LP, some of which I've acquired, and come which I didn't bother with. I mean, after all, hero worship drives much of the music instrument industry. As I got to be a better player, though, not only did I realize that the guitar itself wasn't the key to my hero's tone, but I wanted to make my own sounds not connected to anyone else.

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Slash "Max" Les Paul

There is nothing negative about being a "ghost builder" - in fact Gibson themselves (and probably Fender, and every other 'name brand' builder on the planet) hire ghost builders to do celebrity guitars and other one-off projects that for whatever reason the custom shop won't or can't take on inside their four walls. The manufacturer provide fully sanctioned designs and put their brand on the instruments. The builder has a "work for hire" arrangement - it's no different than any other subcontract they might enter into for components or hardware.

I work in the guitar OEM trade. "Ghost building" is not a term we use, so I'm not 100% sure how moucon is using it. When a brand outsources their production, it's called contract manufacturing. As the name would imply, there's a contract in place whereby the contract manufacturer gets paid to build the guitars under a license of the brand. That's how more than 90% of guitars are built these days and it's similar to ghost writing a book. It's 100% legal and there's nothing unethical about it.

However, when a guitar builder puts a well known brand on the headstock of a guitar that was built without the brand's knowledge or control, that's counterfeiting, plain and simple. It's no different than making a fake Rolex. And its no different than stealing music.

It's true that Slash revitalized the Les Paul with a counterfeited guitar and Gibson gained from it (so much that they reissued that guitar themselves). But that's just dumb luck and it doesn't justify counterfeiting. I know for a fact that Fender and Gibson and most of the big brands have very aggressive legal teams that will take action against counterfeiters to the extent the law allows.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Slash "Max" Les Paul

I work in the guitar OEM trade. "Ghost building" is not a term we use, so I'm not 100% sure how moucon is using it. When a brand outsources their production, it's called contract manufacturing. As the name would imply, there's a contract in place whereby the contract manufacturer gets paid to build the guitars under a license of the brand. That's how more than 90% of guitars are built these days and it's similar to ghost writing a book. It's 100% legal and there's nothing unethical about it.

However, when a guitar builder puts a well known brand on the headstock of a guitar that was built without the brand's knowledge or control, that's counterfeiting, plain and simple. It's no different than making a fake Rolex. And its no different than stealing music.

It's true that Slash revitalized the Les Paul with a counterfeited guitar and Gibson gained from it (so much that they reissued that guitar themselves). But that's just dumb luck and it doesn't justify counterfeiting. I know for a fact that Fender and Gibson and most of the big brands have very aggressive legal teams that will take action against counterfeiters to the extent the law allows.

Evan, as a long time member of the forum it's a pleasure to see you posting!

I know you from your previous work with the Seymour Duncan company. Has SD also suffered from counterfeiting?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: Slash "Max" Les Paul

I find it interesting how people think a particular guitar is the key to someone's mojo. I guess I am not that attached to instruments, especially ones that other people use to create their signature sounds.

I call it the Excalibur Syndrome.

There was nothing fancy or prestigious about EVH's Frankenstein guitar, but look what he did with it.

If someone is motivated to have something as a collector's item to sell one day at a profit, or simply brag about to impress party guests, I suppose it makes sense to spend boatloads for an alleged "Excalibur" guitar, but I don't attach mystical status to pieces of wood. I suppose if someone does attach mystical status to a piece of wood, and it inspires them to create, then it's worth it for them.

However, it is nothing short of silly for middle class people to be duped into paying $12K or $30K or whatever for a fake relic guitar that is "just like the one Slash used to record Appetite!!". Yep, I think it's silly.

"Look, it even have the same scratches as Slash's guitar....duh, da one dat he used back in tha '80s". Really, spanky?

 

[some_dude]

Re: Slash "Max" Les Paul

I find it interesting how people think a particular guitar is the key to someone's mojo. I guess I am not that attached to instruments, especially ones that other people use to create their signature sounds.

Particularly someone like Slash, who's hasn't consistently used the same guitar or amp yet has consistently sounded like Slash.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Slash "Max" Les Paul

Well, yeah, EVH, too. His sound has changed (mostly due to amps), but no matter what, when he plays, you know. I started realizing that no matter what guitar I use, I go for the same sound..or, at least, I make the same sound. So I use what is comfortable.