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Post subject: The First Signature Guitar?
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:08 am
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Who was the very first Signature Series Guitar produced for? What was the idea behind starting these guitars? Just curious. :?:

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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:23 am
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The Clapton sig was the first I think.

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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:32 am
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If you are talking Fender, it is the Clapton Strat...if you're talking all of guitardom, I don't know...

As far as Signature models, while some do go to players who deserve them, it all comes down to marketing...After the Clapton Strat, Fender released the Yngwie Strat...now Yngwie is a great player, but I think the main reason why Fender came out with the Yngwie Strat when they did was because at that time, most rock/metal guitarists were using something pointy and dayglo painted with a Floyd Rose, HBs, and possibly a reverse headstock. The Yngwie strat got some metal heads like me taking another look at Fender...Same can be said now...Billy Corgan, Sonic Youth, and J Mascis guitars, yes all pretty good players, but these guitars are geared towards people in their 30s and 40s who grew up listening to these guys and always wanted to get one of their guitars as a kid, but could never find one or afford one when younger, but now that they're older and possibly have a job, lets let them relive some of their youth...these guitars also help make younger kids who perhaps mainly see lots of other brands of guitars in alternative rock/metal know that Fender is an influential force with musicians who laid down the groundwork for much of the music they may listen to today....when you look at the Iron Maiden signature guitar and bass.

So signature models sometimes goes to those who deserve them, but more often go to those who can help the marketability and sales of guitars and related items...

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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 7:51 am
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^^^^Excellent point^^^^ This was my thought process with John Mayer, sure he is a great player but the appeal I think to Fender would be the exposure to a much younger audience, I personaly am not a fan of JM and can only quote his TOP 40 singles....with that said, when I hear those singles (over and over again) I'm not thinking of buying a Fender Strat, but the Generation listening to this may very well be...in the end it is still buisness....on a side note I just recently bought a Tim Armstrong Hellcat...not because it had Tim's name on it but because it was exactly what I was looking for in an accoustic.

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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:15 am
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According to the PBS sho Mystery Detectives, one of the first contemplated signature guitars was supposed to be an acoustic for Josh White, but for some reason or another it did not go through to production. They mentioned who the first signature which went to production was for but I can't remember who it was. Hopefully that helps a little bit.

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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:24 am
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chrisfleury wrote:
^^^^Excellent point^^^^ This was my thought process with John Mayer, sure he is a great player but the appeal I think to Fender would be the exposure to a much younger audience, I personaly am not a fan of JM and can only quote his TOP 40 singles....with that said, when I hear those singles (over and over again) I'm not thinking of buying a Fender Strat, but the Generation listening to this may very well be...in the end it is still buisness....on a side note I just recently bought a Tim Armstrong Hellcat...not because it had Tim's name on it but because it was exactly what I was looking for in an accoustic.


WOAH WOAH WOAH!! Just one minute, don't you EVER talk bad about John Mayer!! He is a god amongst men!

agreed with you about that move being all business.


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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:28 am
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I thought the JM thing may stir up something...I don't want to highjack this thread....just an observation... :roll:

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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:35 am
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After appearances on The Dave Chappelle Show and Rob Dyrdeks Fantasy Factory, I don't find John Mayer himself that annoying, as he actually seems to be pretty chill with a good sense of humor...Its how he is marketed by his label thats annoying, as they more than likely release whatever single will get played on the most radio stations, and that usually means a lighter, poppier song that will appeal to broader audiences and may or may not showcase his musical abilities in the best light...Many groups and bands go through this...I'm not a fan of them, but I remember seeing Fuel live one time, and most of their set was some up beat rock stuff, but when you tune in to the radio, all you hear from Fuel is these sappy crappy songs...because the sappy crappy songs will not only get played on the "new rock" station, but also on the Top 40 station...If they just released a rocker, it only gets played on rock radio most likely, and cuts off a potential buyer...

The bottom line is, whether its guitars or CDs, its still show/music business, and if there's no business, there's no show/music...Thats paraphrasing a line from either the movie Rockers or The Harder They Come...Its show business, no business, no show.

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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:54 am
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I thought the first signature electric solidbody was the Bigsby Merle Travis model. Then I suppose the Les Paul would come after that, wouldnt it?

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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:17 am
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Okay, it's me again. The first signature guitar according to the Mystery Detectives transcript was for Nick Lucas made by Gibson in 1928. I have not been able to find anything regarding Solidbody Electrics, though.

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Post subject: Re: The First Signature Guitar?
Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:16 pm
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masterhacker wrote:
Who was the very first Signature Series Guitar produced for? What was the idea behind starting these guitars? Just curious. :?:


Not surprised that this thread is taking a different turn, but back to the OP.
If you are talking Fender, A.R. Duchossoir's book documents the parallel development of both the Clapton and the Malmsteen projects and there issues regarding contract signing vis a vis production starts on those two with respect to which came first. In the same time frame there was a 7-string that did quite make it. I cannot retrieve the last name of the artist(first name Alex) at this writing, not having access to my library, but I am sure that one of us out there will.

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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:04 pm
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You mean Alex Gregory ?
I think it was later, the EC came first because of Jeff Beck not wanting to be an endorsee at that time


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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 3:24 pm
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Les Paul, Chet Atkins, Merle Travis there were a few. George Van Eps had a 7 string sig guitar. There were a few Jazz guys.
John Mayer? Don't even get me started. He's just a god among girls IMHO :)
I won't argue about it either, it's just an opinion you get what you paid for it.


Anymore Fender gives a sig guitar to any popular top 40 clown that comes down the pike. They kind of ruined the whole signature thing for me. It used to be more of a tribute thing than a money making corporate thing. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Again just my opinion, not trying to start an argument.


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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:26 pm
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You'll get no argument from me on that supro!! :?


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Posted: Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:31 pm
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alainlafrance wrote:
You mean Alex Gregory ?
I think it was later, the EC came first because of Jeff Beck not wanting to be an endorsee at that time


There ya go! There's a photo of a yellow Strat Plus in Duchossoir's book which apparently was the finish intended for Jeff Beck.

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