My buddy and I were just having this argument-do most professional artists (of national status), play thier Fender guitars and amps right off the rack, or do they spend extra time and money modding them to look the same as off the rack, but having some sort of extras installed? I say at least 3 out of 4 are modded-of course he says they're all using the same gear as you and me, they just make it sound better. What do you think? Especially modding the vintage stuff so it can keep up with the new gear.

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Life is like a sh*t sandwich. The more bread you have, the less sh*t you have to eat.

oh

you don't really think Slash plays a Gibson and Metallica plays ESP's do you?

Those are custom built guitars built by a private luthier (often called "Ghost Builders") and the name gibson/esp is put on that guitar. But it's not a Gibson or Esp, it's a custom guitar. Metallicas ESP's are I believe built by a guy in Germany and Slash's LP was built by a guy in California.

The companies just pay them to endorse their brand, much like a race car driver having decals on his car. They're not "actually" the brand that's on the headstock.

Now that being said, I'm sure there are 'some' artists that play stuff off the rack and tweak it a bit, but not many.

check out Mr. Romans view on the subject:
http://www.edroman.com/rants/ghost.htm

Though honestly, I think it's very well known that most pros who play Fenders order them from the Custom Shop - that's what it's there for, after all.

An example of both positions: back at the beginning of the '80s Pete Townshend started playing what looked like a black Telecaster, but was in fact a Schecter neck on a Roger Giffin body. Just the sort of thing Mu51cman suggests - but that was before the Custom Shop existed, of course.

However, these days Pete plays a Custom Shop Eric Clapton Signature model which has then been modded to include a Fishman Power Bridge piezo system, controlled by an extra knob near the jack socket.

So the likes of Townshend have it every which way!

Cheers - C

though not my cup of tea, Jim Root said a big part of his telecaster design was that he wanted it to be exactly what he played. he wanted the average fan to be able to get the same thing as what he played all the time. And that he wanted, if an emergency arose to be able to go to a local shop, and pick up an axe that was exactly how he would want it.

many artists do not play even their own signature model.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

I remember a few weeks back we were talking to Mike Eldred on his forum and he told us that Billy Gibbons was sitting in his office while they were tweaking one of his guitars!

Ooo - hot off the press: over on another thread jmr986 has just pointed out that kk5fe's photos of Buddy Guy show him using two of his own Fender Signature Guitars (you can see the Sig at the top of the headstock - they're not copies by another maker):

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... sc&start=0

Not only that; the polka dot one appears to be the Mexican made version of that model (from the trussrod entry hole).

Which speaks to a whole row of debates that come around again and again on the Forum!!!

Cheers - C

(PS: where's russianracehorse? How's that for nurdiness? )

Depends on how big a pro they are.

Most bands, yeah, they are playing off the shelf. Pete Wentz has gone on record saying he plays off the rack Squier P-Bass'. I have talked with a bunch of gear-heads in the punk rock scene and most of them play off the shelf instruments. Tom Gabel(Against Me!) plays used MIM Tele, Fat Mike from NOFX plays Danelectros off the shelf.

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I agree. For instance John Mayer and Kenny Wayne Shepherd both played an SRV sig. Now that they can afford the expensive gear that's what they use.

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

I thought slash was gibson tied now. His original appetite les paul wasnt a gibson, but gibson copied it for the current model.

I really think that when you can take your favourite into a factory that has spawned the best builders in the world, have them spend days analyzing your guitar. Then spend years (in the case of clapton) ensuring it fully fits your requirements. Then you get the things for nothing. Its a bit of a jib to have some small builder knock you a plank up that looks identical.

Perhaps its just me but I think its a bit far fetched. Sure sponsored artists use other gear. Miami Mike sent me some pictures of knopflers latest recording sessions. There were a fair few gibsons used and a marshall plexi too. Its common for artists to use whatever to record with, its the visual aspect of live appearance and advertizing images that matter to the builder.

Anyhow fender can put my ugly mug over any number of pictures they want. Aslong as I can have a strat to my requirements. I can wholeheartedly promise that I will never be seen with any other brand.

Now where can I get some of them fake decals to put on my other brands

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No no and no

There were a couple of MK sig strats in fiesta red too, IIRC?

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

As Mu51cman stated a lot of guys do indeed have there axes ghost built. I dont think it happens as much today though. Just about every top artist that I had read an interview with lately that have there own artist models plus a ton of vintage pre CBS Fenders or 59 Gibson Les Pauls all state that they leave that gear home these days and use it for the studio, and when they tour they have there axes made from the custom shop. Slash just said in an article Gibson sent him 5 new axes from the custom shop of which he kept two as the others did not cut it. Now you can imagine what he is getting as he has the best builders that Gibson has making his axes. I really believe that no top player is playing something off the rack. Maybe Jack White.lol

Watch the NAMM show performers....many of these guys are doing some endorsement deals too.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!