What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

[TimmyPage]

When I was first learning guitar, my first guitar was a Peavey Raptor in this dark navy blue colour. I remember going to the local Long and McQuade for years after, and most of their beginner guitars, whether the Ibanez GIO or the Squiers seemed to come in that same navy blue colour. It's to the point that even if I saw that colour on an expensive high class guitar now I just kind of assume it's a crappy instrument.

And I don't think I can ever disassociate seafoam guitars from past forum member Seafoamer.

What does it for you, love it or hate a colour, and is there an interesting story or association behind why?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

I dunno if I have a story much like that, in which I associate a certain color with something. But I do always prefer solid colors or relatively plain figuring on most guitars. And I like pretty much anything that is green, because I've been on a green kick for several years. I also tend to dislike pearloid or tortoise shell guards on pretty much anything. Oh...and I cringe at Butterscotch Blonde. Yuck! It looks like wood that has been dipped in pneumonia phlegm, and to make it worse, BSB guitars usually have necks that look like they've been soaking in stale piss for a year.

 

[AlterBlackbird]

Re: What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

I used to be a fan of different variations of a black finish.

The second (of three) guitars I own is a Starcaster by Fender (Strat-style starter guitar) that is black with a white pickguard.

A few months ago, I was looking at it, and it just looked very plain Jane. I've come to call it a very "uninspired" finish. There's no creativity, no personality...nothing...about it. I've since stripped it down and am looking at paint to give it a makeover.


It's on hold while I find the right paint, but it should be painted in the next couple months.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

I've always wondered why navy blue wasn't more popular, because it's a good color as far as I'm concerned.

I think the same way as Itsabass about butterscotch blonde guitars. If I wouldn't like a car in a certain color, I pretty much wouldn't want it on a guitar either.

I can't look at a white strat without thinking 'Jimi fanboy.'
I can't look at surf colors without thinking of bands like The Beach Boys
Anything in paisley simply screams Brad Paisley
Anything with graphics screams heavy metal 16 year old IMO.
I have a personal disgust for men in pink or pastel clothes, so that transfers to guitars as well.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

First guitar my friend and I learned on was a Memphis Blackie copy. I associated maple necks with that sticky gross urethane finish. I obviously now know the difference and have many maple/maple guitars.

 

[Archer250]

Re: What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

Nope. Except that trans blue = must buy!

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

I see a lot of cheap guitars in pawn shops, and they are invariably black, fire engine red or stark white.

Bill

 

[ExplorersRock]

Re: What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

Blue is my favorite color and I think it makes most guitars look irresistible! There are exceptions. I associate surf green and sea foam green with a form of nostalgic desire the verges on desperate, so those two colors always bother me. So does shoreline gold and that light pink. Cherry-bursts make me think of Jimmy Page and a 3-tone sunburst always make me think of a Strat. Heritage Cherry means Gibson like nobody's business.

But the one color that really has a negative connotation in my mind in the way That TimmyPage is talking about is translucent red (Heritage Cherry excluded). To me, this is the single most unoriginal, every-man, also-ran color. Seriously, how many LTDs, Schecters, Ibanez's, etc. are out there with this color? I can't stand it.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

I like a lot of different looks for guitars. I never really took to green, though.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

When I was first learning guitar, my first guitar was a Peavey Raptor in this dark navy blue colour. I remember going to the local Long and McQuade for years after, and most of their beginner guitars, whether the Ibanez GIO or the Squiers seemed to come in that same navy blue colour. It's to the point that even if I saw that colour on an expensive high class guitar now I just kind of assume it's a crappy instrument.

And I don't think I can ever disassociate seafoam guitars from past forum member Seafoamer.

What does it for you, love it or hate a colour, and is there an interesting story or association behind why?

What? It's a guitar play it.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

YOU play it!

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

blue is sooo sexy
a dark kelly green strat with black hardware and pickguard
and maple board, yea I'd hit that

red candy apple metallic, oh yea


seafoam is the most hideous color I have ever seen

shoreline or aztek gold, blah

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

I don't necessarily think of a color as cheap...personally a really thick poly gloss makes me think "cheap" while a satin finish makes me think "quality". I know this isn't the case but still whenever I see a guitar with a ton of gloss on it I think it's a really cheap guitar that will sound and play bad...lol

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

Once when I was 5 an older boy from the neighborhood gave me a wedgie and teased me afterward. He was wearing a blue shirt and ever since then I have been traumatized by blue. This is the reason for my 20 years of heroin addiction and my strong dislike of cilantro. I could never play a blue guitar! Where's my Oprah nod?

 

[Demanic]

Re: What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

If it sounds good, I couldn't care less what color it is. Like a single pickup hot pink Hello Kitty strat with a Kahler and a Black Winter, mmmmm...

 

[AlexR]

Re: What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

Goldtop = class

 

[DreX]

Re: What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

When I was first learning guitar, my first guitar was a Peavey Raptor in this dark navy blue colour. I remember going to the local Long and McQuade for years after, and most of their beginner guitars, whether the Ibanez GIO or the Squiers seemed to come in that same navy blue colour. It's to the point that even if I saw that colour on an expensive high class guitar now I just kind of assume it's a crappy instrument.

I'm fixing up a Strat that looks almost identical to this, except the pick guard is white pearloid instead of plain white, and I have nothing but warm thoughts about that guitar. For me it's clear gloss Strats, they remind me of my first junker. I do recoil a little when I see them, which isn't too often. I was thinking of buying a clear gloss Strat for a crazy experiment in honor of the junker.

I'm glad this topic was brought up though, it's always good to look our irrational bias straight in the face. It seems as though normally rational people lose their minds when it comes to music gear.

 

[Brian Griffin]

Re: What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

Gray/ transparent black = black/ white TV.

 

[Oinkus]

Re: What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

Have a bunch of black guitars , spray painted my Strat with a can of flat black Rustoleum couple runs looks awful. Few with various sunbursts. Really couldn't matter to me that much , the HM Strat was neon pink and I sort of wish I hadn't stripped it (after the painter fiasco) but it does have about $120 bucks worth of high grade primer on it. Color is one of those things that is specific to the player , if you like it , it is good period.Personally don't really care for the seafoampickguards but for the most part if I like how it feels and sounds color is irrelevant.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: What do certain guitar colours mean to you?

Any paint i see on a guitar immediately sends me off to the hardware store to buy paint stripper.