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If you could choose, would you rather own a Signature guitar, or a Standard guitar?
Signature 45%  45%  [ 31 ]
Standard 55%  55%  [ 38 ]
Total votes : 69
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Post subject: Signature Guitar vs. Your Guitar
Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:25 pm
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I was recently reading the "David Gilmour Signature Strat." post and I had an unusual feeling come over me. See, as a Gilmour fan, I was originally very excited to see that Fender is planning to release his signature guitar...on the other hand as I started to read the posts, I started to feel uneasy about it.

Through all the posts on various websites that I have been too, and through all the discussions I have had with fellow guitar players I have come to realize one common feature that is shared not only among guitar, but among music in general...Music is entirely subjective - it is entirely unique to that individual. The way I may hear a David Gilmour solo may be entirely different than the way everyone else does...in the same way, the way I hear or play a guitar will also be completely unique and individualistic.

What I'm getting at here is a question to all of you guitar fans. Why is it that you all feel the desire to own an instrument which has been modeled after someone else? Don't get me wrong here, I am not going against the custom guitars that are built after great guitar players, I am just very curious to know why.

The way I see it, we all know the specs of David Gilmour's guitar, right? Why don't we go and make our own? Or if that is unrealistic, then why don't we assemble the parts in a slightly different way, using a standard guitar model?

I'm curious to know what you're opinions are...In the meantime, regardless of the replies, I'd like to say that in my opinion, neither the money, nor the artist justify the guitar...the player does. I believe that a great player who is honest to his needs, and more importantly aware of his own style is what counts in choosing a guitar.


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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:50 pm
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Well if it comes from the Custom Shop, somebody else pays for it, and I can get them to do what I want--I'd go for that.

Although I'd have them do it something like a Strat somewhere between 62-65 with an ebony fingerboard. Sunburst with black pickguard & pickups-chrome hardware. And I'd have to take some time to consider the rest.

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Post subject: Re: Signature Guitar vs. Your Guitar
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 6:10 am
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PlikityPlack wrote:
I was recently reading the "David Gilmour Signature Strat." post and I had an unusual feeling come over me. See, as a Gilmour fan, I was originally very excited to see that Fender is planning to release his signature guitar...on the other hand as I started to read the posts, I started to feel uneasy about it.

Through all the posts on various websites that I have been too, and through all the discussions I have had with fellow guitar players I have come to realize one common feature that is shared not only among guitar, but among music in general...Music is entirely subjective - it is entirely unique to that individual. The way I may hear a David Gilmour solo may be entirely different than the way everyone else does...in the same way, the way I hear or play a guitar will also be completely unique and individualistic.

What I'm getting at here is a question to all of you guitar fans. Why is it that you all feel the desire to own an instrument which has been modeled after someone else? Don't get me wrong here, I am not going against the custom guitars that are built after great guitar players, I am just very curious to know why.

The way I see it, we all know the specs of David Gilmour's guitar, right? Why don't we go and make our own? Or if that is unrealistic, then why don't we assemble the parts in a slightly different way, using a standard guitar model?

I'm curious to know what you're opinions are...In the meantime, regardless of the replies, I'd like to say that in my opinion, neither the money, nor the artist justify the guitar...the player does. I believe that a great player who is honest to his needs, and more importantly aware of his own style is what counts in choosing a guitar.


It depends on the specs and how they appeal to your style of play. Pickup types differ, as do neck profiles, fret wire, active electronics, features that are not necessarily available in the production line.


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Post subject: Re: Signature Guitar vs. Your Guitar
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 6:32 am
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PlikityPlack wrote:
Why is it that you all feel the desire to own an instrument which has been modeled after someone else?


We don't. You assume too much.


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Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:59 am
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I see what you mean zzdoc. I didn't know that certain parts that come in the signature model aren't available in the production line...You also make a good point that the signature model may just suit one's style better than a standard guitar would.

Gravity Jim, I don't think I understand what you mean...If I'm assuming too much, then please explain what's really goin' on.


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Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:42 am
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PlikityPlack wrote:
I see what you mean zzdoc. I didn't know that certain parts that come in the signature model aren't available in the production line...You also make a good point that the signature model may just suit one's style better than a standard guitar would.

Gravity Jim, I don't think I understand what you mean...If I'm assuming too much, then please explain what's really goin' on.



You need to keep in mind that there is an incredible level of sophistication and knowledge base among the readers of this forum. You can glean that from reading the myriad of responses and the level of technical know how found therein.

Some, like myself, have been watching this product line evolve over more than fifty years. First Stratocaster was a '58 handed down from a bandmate of mine when he bought himself a Fender Jaguar the year it was introduced.

You cannot intelligently assesss this line without having digested the catalog, and read everything there is about each model. You then begin to have a sense about what Fender does when it creates a "new" product. Is it 'really new", or have they simply tweaked something a bit and, most importantly, does it suit your style? What the company tries to do, is offer a menu which appeals to a broad variety of tastes and pocketbooks.
When I was sixteen, there was only one Stratocaster, and it was only 4 years old at that time. You could have it in trem, hardtail, left-handed, and in a new assortment of colors. You paid top dollar in those days for the guitar. Why did we choose it???....it was the guitar Buddy Holly played. A signature guitar without porfolio. Even then, artist choice began to play an important role in consumer demand and company marketing. That is why the Les Paul happened with Gibson and another legend was born.

There's a great deal of history about players such as Bill Carson, into whose hands Leo put the guitar, and whose feedback was most important in it's design and development. For me, when Buddy Holly appeared on stage, live TV, and the album cover with THAT guitar in his hands, there was the beginning of where we are now. THAT's the reason why my buddy Gary bought it in November 1958. He went to a rock and roll show, took one look and said. "Gotta HAVE that!!"

These days a beginner can have the pleasure of playing 'the real thing' at any price point and, for those who cannot be satisfied and have the wherewithal, there's The Custom Shop. Thus, my first CS is a Clapton, finished like an SRV in all respects except that all the plastic is black, and the pups are SCN's. It is my tribute guitar to my first, which was lost, and to all my heroes who made this guitar part of their and our music.

Now it is your turn.

"The difference between men and boys, is the kind and the price of their toys".


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Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:56 am
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Well said! I understand what you're saying. I don't mean to jump into a question without much background knowledge, I was just very curious on why it was so desirable. I was inquiring about these two types of guitars on a more general basis. I was interested in the real driving force for that individual himself (you hinted at this), however, I enjoyed reading your response, it cleared up a lot of my curiosity. I guess that apart from the history and the main goal of the company, there just must be somethin' else when you pick up a guitar that was modeled after someone you truly admire. I'm going to read a little bit more about Fender and particular products to be able to compare the two types of guitars. Thanks a lot for your reply!


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Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 4:25 pm
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PlikityPlack wrote:
Well said! I understand what you're saying. I don't mean to jump into a question without much background knowledge, I was just very curious on why it was so desirable. I was inquiring about these two types of guitars on a more general basis. I was interested in the real driving force for that individual himself (you hinted at this), however, I enjoyed reading your response, it cleared up a lot of my curiosity. I guess that apart from the history and the main goal of the company, there just must be somethin' else when you pick up a guitar that was modeled after someone you truly admire. I'm going to read a little bit more about Fender and particular products to be able to compare the two types of guitars. Thanks a lot for your reply!


Something else to consider:

Signature guitars are often NOT exactly what the artist plays on stage, yet can be a NOD to that instrument. There is always significant artist input to the design of the guitar, and they CAN be exactly what the perfomer uses. Again, you have to know the line and do your homework as these instruments come into existence and wash through the hype.

I'll give you a f'rinstance.

Jon Mayer was proported to have been one of the first purchasers of a Crossroads "Sun Strat'' during last summers concert promo for Crossroads Antigua, and that he would be performing with it. My eye observes that, in the Bryant Park, NY concert he is playiing a 'Sun Strat' with a rosewood board. We ultimately learn, from the company, as well as Mayer's blog, that CS built a 'one-off' for him. Essentially a hybrid with his preferred neck and pickups. Whether it had the preamp in the guitar is not discussed. My copy of the DVD of the Chicago concert does not show him with that guitar on stage. These observations are not to disparage either the artist or the company but only to illustrate that those of us who know our cookies take the matter of 'signature series' guitars with some reservation.

The CS guitar they built for him for Continuum, which was won in the Fender Sweepstakes, is likely a far more elegantly crafted instrument than the Artist Series guitar they offer. However, that factory produced guitar is very popular with players on this Forum. They've had great things to say about it. As with SRV, a major influence of his, he uses different guitars throughout his performances. (Have you noticed that he even plays a Strat w/'lipstick tube' pickups. Talk about influences!!)

There are some interesting known facts regarding signature instruments. The first guitar EVH ever collaborated on,( not with Fender) at his insistence, had to be manufactured such that if he walked into a guitar store in Ashtabula and took it off the wall, it was to be the exact same guitar that he had in his road case. He wanted his audience to be playing the exact same guitar he did.

Buddy Guy's 'Polka Dot" was a MIM because he wanted that guitar to be at a price point a segment of his audience could afford. It's nice player, with a generic paint pattern and less sophisticated electronics. The MIA Artist series version has the active electronics and Lace Sensors of the stage guitar, but the two available finishes give the nod to a.) his original 50's Strat and b.) the first signature series guitar that was manufactured for him about a decade ago which did not have Laces and had a 10db midboost. (It is likely now the Powerhouse Strat.). The powerplant in the Artist series guitar is the same as the original Clapton which may be why Fender changes the pickups, to look more like the '57 Blackie. This is what I mean by 'watching the line as it evolves.' Buddy's stage guitar has a very different polka dot pattern and the pot knobs are white.

Fender offers the Artist series which is factory, CS Artist which is Custom Shop (likely the closest to or precisely an 'out of the box' new guitar), and the Tribute Series which are CS 'dimed' replicas of selected individual stage instruments offered in limited quantities at a respectable sum. Recent examples of that would be: SRV's #1 & 'Lenny'; Clapton's '57 'Blackie'. Andy Summer's Telecaster. The 'Tribute' is as close as anyone can get to the real thing and we have documented, EC's personal observations on that.

Good Shopping!


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Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 2:32 pm
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For me, I would prefer to customize a guitar to my style of playing and sound once I develope it. I think it's great that they make these signature guitars but I can have a custom guitar made at the custome shop where parts are available that aren't on the production models and to my specs. I think wanting to play like our favorit guitarist inspires us but isn't it our own sound were after after all?

BobV


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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 11:43 am
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Obviously the signature series are upgraded and usually better than the standard series. I mean, it has to be if the stars are playing 'em! But I prefer my own strat because you can never be sure whether a signature strat would be right for you because it's not built for YOU. Your own strat, you can customise it with whatever pickups and designs you like, but the signature series are basically only appealing to it's artist, which may not appeal to you. And you'd probably save alot of money by buying a standard! :)


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Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 8:31 pm
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I don't know of anybody famous that used a signature guitar to get there, for example, Eric Clapton didn't become famous using an Eric Clapton guitar he used a regular ol' strat. and then became famous but hey those are just my 2 cents.


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Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 7:19 am
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I personally think that you buy an Artist series guitar because it has the specs you are looking for and not necessarily to sound like that artist. In effect, it is a custom guitar because most of them have items that don't come stock. In some cases, they will be significantly cheaper than custom-shopping a guitar or buying additional items and then paying to have them installed. I bought both my Artist series guitars because they had the sound I was looking for and not because of the signature that was on them. I looked at plenty of other strats before I made my choices.

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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 9:34 am
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Fender_Fiend wrote:
I don't know of anybody famous that used a signature guitar to get there, for example, Eric Clapton didn't become famous using an Eric Clapton guitar he used a regular ol' strat. and then became famous but hey those are just my 2 cents.


John Mayer's first real strat was an SRV signature. But I see what you mean - I wouldn't want a signature because I'd want to be ME, not a copy of someone else.

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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:28 pm
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it depends what guitar you are talking about.


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Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:43 pm
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theres a difference between a sig and a tribute model and in the case of the ej strat a monsterous difference between the standard strat play for yourself that is the basis for my vote


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