It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:27 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 30 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Best on-stage guitar color
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 6:20 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Dec 07, 2011 1:59 pm
Posts: 1152
Location: Surf City, USA
I was at a gig the other day watching the opening bands and the thought struck me, "What guitars look good on stage?"

I mean, we all have guitars that look good when we hold them close up and admire say a flame top or a certain sparkly color, but does that come across when the stage lights come on to the audience member that's fifteen rows back?

So I decided to look at it from that criteria and here's what I found.

-A lot of people like black guitars and a lot of those same people wear all black on stage. Guess what... The guitar gets lost against a black shirt from way back in the crowd.

-Colors like red, blue, and even bursts change colors when the lights change. A red guitar under a blue spotlight? Not really purple but pretty much dark.

If you guessed that I concluded that a white guitar seems to work best on stage. You're absolutely right. Not only does it really stand out. The white color readily accepts whatever color spot light they put on, so it actually changes colors and looks cool.

Unfortunately, I don't own a white guitar right now but I know what color my next purchase is going to be.

Thoughts?


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Best on-stage guitar color
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 6:55 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2014 9:25 pm
Posts: 176
I agree. It wasn't until I played in the Reggae band that I noticed the same things. As pics started showing up of our live shows, I got a clearer perspective of that. Eventually, I bought a white Schecter Tempest. And you could spot it in far away shots. Since then, I have about 5 now.

But it's going to be interesting to see how this one translates.

Image

At the moment, this is my favorite looking of the herd. The all maple, black block fret markers. Beastly.

_________________
YMMV


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Best on-stage guitar color
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 7:06 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Dec 07, 2011 1:59 pm
Posts: 1152
Location: Surf City, USA
That's a nice looking axe.

And yeah, I was wondering how natural wood or TV yellow would look, too. Will have to keep a look out for people playing those. In the meantime, if you get a shot of you playing live, post it up so we can take a look!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Best on-stage guitar color
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 8:11 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
Do you want people to focus on your guitar or your playing? Contrasts can draw the attention to the playing and not just the dancing and other stage antics.

Here's one guy who isn't afraid of letting his hands stand out:

Image

Here's another;

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Best on-stage guitar color
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 8:26 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Wed Dec 07, 2011 1:59 pm
Posts: 1152
Location: Surf City, USA
Arth1,

You make a good point. I guess when I was doing my observations, I was standing so far back it was hard to see the player's hands. If you're playing a huge gig with a Jumbotron that can zoom in on your hands or a small gig where people can be close enough to see them, I see how that would come into play. I'm thinking more medium-sized to large hall type of gigs. (And I play punk mostly so even with the big gigs, there ain't too many jumbotrons to be seen).

Guess it goes to show it depends on your situation...


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Best on-stage guitar color
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 8:35 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 29, 2011 6:10 pm
Posts: 2261
Location: Elay
I like the way the Daphne Blue looks on stage.
Image

I've had several people tell me that my Sunset Metallic Strat looks cool on stage.

Image

But if you're going to go black, liven it up with a quilted leopard pattern.

Image

_________________
'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Best on-stage guitar color
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 9:21 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2013 8:03 am
Posts: 575
Location: In the Land of "Stratocaster"
The Sunset Metallic does look cool...
The Sparkle Finishes work well for live playing... they pick up the light.
Here's my Strat in Titanium Silver... very cool in the stage lights 8)

Image

Image

_________________
★ ★ ★ ★ ★


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Best on-stage guitar color
Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 11:32 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:50 pm
Posts: 7998
Location: ʎɹʇunoɔ ǝsoɹ pןıʍ
Anything in a glitter paint is going to visually Pop! on stage.

Orange flake and Rootbeer flake are two favs.

_________________
Image
Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Best on-stage guitar color
Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 12:31 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
In all my life, I never gave one single thought to what color my instrument was while playing. I only cared about how it sounded and playing well. While ordering or buying, sure I want it pretty. While playing no. I also don't think audiences care one whit even if it is a famous pro brand or a knockoff. Video producers doing a color balance care about color. I don't. I think the main thing is that it plays and sounds good and I have confidence in the instrument.

Let's face it a good color balance on an instrument that plays awful and sounds bad is a disaster sonically. Don't worry about the color, just find one that plays good and sounds good and play that one. This is coming from someone playing Fender blonde and sunburst instruments mostly. But honestly I can't think of a more trivial issue than color impact and how it looks against your clothing colors. I don't care if it is pink polka dots on purple and made on Jupiter by Kingon slaves, as long as I can play it better and it sounds better that is the one that is number one.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Best on-stage guitar color
Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 3:47 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Sat Apr 20, 2013 12:22 pm
Posts: 718
brotherdave wrote:
In all my life, I never gave one single thought to what color my instrument was while playing. I only cared about how it sounded and playing well. While ordering or buying, sure I want it pretty. While playing no. I also don't think audiences care one whit even if it is a famous pro brand or a knockoff. Video producers doing a color balance care about color. I don't. I think the main thing is that it plays and sounds good and I have confidence in the instrument.

Let's face it a good color balance on an instrument that plays awful and sounds bad is a disaster sonically. Don't worry about the color, just find one that plays good and sounds good and play that one. This is coming from someone playing Fender blonde and sunburst instruments mostly. But honestly I can't think of a more trivial issue than color impact and how it looks against your clothing colors. I don't care if it is pink polka dots on purple and made on Jupiter by Kingon slaves, as long as I can play it better and it sounds better that is the one that is number one.


+1000

The only way color matters, is when I am picking out a guitar. When I am deciding on a color, I pick the one that looks so good to me that I cannot walk past it without wanting to pick it up and play it. I don't care what anyone else thinks or how it looks to others. I have been going to live shows for 30 years and I cannot think of one time that I remembered what color the guitars were.

But to each his own, if it is important to you, more power to ya!

8)

_________________
You can't have too many guitars!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Best on-stage guitar color
Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 6:57 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 4:18 pm
Posts: 1921
Location: Upstate, NY
I like White Blonde. That way every time the lights change it's like I've got a whole new bass. :wink:

_________________
http://www.reverbnation.com/casanovafrankensteinandthevoodoomachine
https://www.facebook.com/CFandtheVM

2012 Fender Custom Shop 55 Precision Bass
2012 Fender American Vintage 57 Precision Bass RI
2014 Fender Super Bassman and Bassman 100T/410 Neo


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Best on-stage guitar color
Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 8:31 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:03 am
Posts: 9449
Location: NL Canada
My favourite onstage guitar colour has always been plaid.

_________________
'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Best on-stage guitar color
Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 8:56 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:50 pm
Posts: 7998
Location: ʎɹʇunoɔ ǝsoɹ pןıʍ
guitslinger wrote:
My favourite onstage guitar colour has always been plaid.

That's because you just looooooove those Bay City Rollers.

S - A - TUR - DAY - Night!

:wink:

_________________
Image
Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Best on-stage guitar color
Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 9:15 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:03 am
Posts: 9449
Location: NL Canada
Gee I had forgotten all about these guys.With all the hoopla that was on the go when they first hit the airwaves,all the radio stations and media in general had them pegged to become bigger than The Beatles,who can remember one of their names today?

_________________
'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Best on-stage guitar color
Posted: Tue Nov 04, 2014 11:04 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 8:50 pm
Posts: 4602
Location: ˚ɷ˚
guitslinger wrote:
My favourite onstage guitar colour has always been plaid.


Image


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 30 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: