Not sure if he deserves a sig Strat but everyone else seems to be getting in there these days so maybe.

On a side note, I happened to catch a Crue concert on Dish Network the other day. I think it was in Michigan in October, 2006 (the Red, White and Crue tour?). I had forgotten how many great songs they had from back in the day. It did seem that Mick was much less "enthusiastic" on stage than his brethren, though. Maybe that's the way he's always played?

Anyway, great concert. Made me want to go out and get a mullet, an earring and a muscle shirt.

The younger Mick Mars of the 80s had very strong stage presence and used Jackson strats and black Gibson Les Paul Customs during his prime. Today, he struggles to move around and takes lots of effort to play on stage due to his illness. Now, he looks very frail, looks much older than his age. His illness is taking its toll on him.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/gmlasam

Mick was a showman. He was never considered a premium player.

My brother was a big Crue fan. I could take em or leave em. But when they were popular he was never seen with a Strat. kramers, LP's were all I saw.

Someone above said crue wasn't a nostalgia act, but I put to you that really that's all they are. They might be a skilled, and popular one, but make no mistake they sell tickets based on their period at the top, 20 - 25 years ago.

The music that their fame comes from was not made with Fender guitars. The music he makes with Fender guitars has next to no impact on the music scene.
If anything they did new was popular you could maybe make a case for a sig model. That said, I think Mick probably does deserve a signature guitar, but it should probably be a Kramer, or a Black Les Paul. The impact he had on the guitar world was immense, back when he played those. he was never a 'top' guitar geek player, but much like KISS the Crue was an inspiration to many young kids at the time, who then picked up a guitar.

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

True. But that was in the era of VERY flashy players (DeMartini, Rhoades, Halen, Lynch, et al, et al). In recent years for me, though, I have honestly come to appreciate his more retrained approach (which was not the "in style" back in the '80s). Also, seeing him live, you really can get an appreciation on what master user of trem he is.


Hmmm ... yes and no. In fairness to them, they have kept themselves a bit current. Last year's new "Saints ..." album sold quite well. Also, Cruefest is not a '80s throwback tour (thank God), with all the supporting acts being current.


True ... and also this is also a very astute point that had yet to be made. But I am not sure I agree that this is cause of "signature exclusion" in my book. Regardless, it is a good point, though.

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

I'm not disparaging Mick. He has a place in music history, for sure.

but his signature model would probably be best suited for one of the brands his successful period is most associated with.

I am a big van Halen fan, but i don't get the fact that he is working with fender to release copies of his famous guitar, which he spent decades pointing out wasn't a fender. i don't know anyone who would make any kind of mental association between EVH and fender. He was famously Kramer Frankenstein and marshall, for the brownsound.

Just being a famous guitarist shouldn't automatically qualify you for a sig model. i think a player should be thought of with that model in order to get one. EC and Blackie, SRV and his number 1(and others,) but Mick mars and what? EVH and what?

I am not really a John Mayer fan, i find his playing a bit boring, but he is hugely popular, especially with younger players he is associated quite closely with his stratocasters, mental image of him always has one. he will pull young buyers toward strats, his makes a lot of sense, his appeal is beyond that of just the guitar community. that is a better example than Mick mars in my opinion.( i much prefer crue, but he just isn't synonomous with the strat.)

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

Although I am against all "Signature" models in general, I do find your comments interesting. Especially stuff like "he will pull young buyers towards strats" It's all about the money, and there is no such thing as someone who deserves a "Signature" model unless in my humble opinion, they have passed away...eg. Stevie Ray, Jimi Hendrix, and in that case these models should be collectibles.

If I am out at a club and see the guitar player strap a Stevie Ray around his neck, he better do something special with it. He sure looks weak if he doesn't. No less a "lota thousands" Lenny or Malmsteen or some other ridiculous model that Fender dragged behind a car and then slapped some out of this world pricetag on just because it's some guy's "Signature" model.

So really who cares if they give one to Mick Mars ( who I think is a stylish player ) or to Mick Jagger, as long as Fender can sell them to someone. I will continue to buy American Strats because they're great and I love playing them. I will never buy a "Signature" model until they release one with my name on it.

Well I was never a fan of MC but in reading the Vintage Guitar interview with Mars he seems like a cool guy and if he gets a signature model I think they said it would be a double humbucker which should make some players happy. I know about 5 Iron Maiden tunes but that Dave Murray strat that was once owned by the great Paul Kossof is deffinetly going to be in my basement soon because once I test it out and it sounds as great as it looks I dont care if it said KEITH PARTRIDGE. I havbe 2 artist series because of what the guitar offers and how it plays and sounds. I hate to say this but I dont think Mick Marrs desrves an artist series strat. I think those guitars should be held in reserve for special players. Kind of like baseball there have been a lot of really good players but you have to be super special to be in the hall of fame and to me he is not a hall of fame player .A solid pro yes.To be honest in any other decade John Mayer would not have an artist series guitar and that is being honest. The guy can play and knows his way around the fretboard but there is nothing really special about him I cant think of no signature Mayer licks or riffs I think of his Dave Mathews acoustic cloneing songs when he broke. What electric stuff has he done that you went whoa. I bought his first album with his trio and was disapointed. In fact if you put him on stage with KENNY WAYNE SHEPPARD and JOE BONAMASSO 2 guys close to him in age I think he gets planted. IMO

I've seen several posts mention Mick's illness. Maybe I stuck my foot in my mouth, then, when I noticed that he doesn't seem too excitable on stage, which is ok in my book. What kind of illness does he have?

The foot in mouth concept reminds me of a couple years ago when I saw Lou Gramm, former lead singer of Foreigner, sing at a local "fair" in my suburb. My wife and I noticed immediately that he "just didn't sound or look like himself". Of course we mention Foreigner, Journey, etc. to our kids and the first thing out of their mouths is "Are they still alive?" Very funny kids. Now get your dear old dad a beer.

Anyway, I hadn't known that Lou Gramm suffered a brain tumor in 1997 or that the meds he was treated with negatively affected his singing voice. I promptly removed my size 12 shoe from my mouth. It did not taste very good.