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Post subject: Of aesthetics vs function...
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:55 am
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Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:01 pm
Posts: 1598
Hey Ya'll,
Don't mind me...just feel like typing a bit here this morn. Take it as you will and feel free to start gather rotten vegetables to throw at me... :-)

Ok...I'll admit that I am opinionated and bias in many ways (not just with guitars and music gear) and that yes, I do shoot my mouth off around here from time to time regarding my own personal tastes, preferences and so on...to paraphrase a character in the movie The World According to Garp, "the only thing I ever inherited from my mother was her natural ability to p--s people off". That said, I really do believe that once we move beyond labels, preconceptions, aesthetics, etc., that slab of wood sitting in your lap (or slung over your shoulder) with a collection of parts called frets, tuners, pickups, bridges, etc., is a -guitar-...it's purpose...regardless of brand, model, cost, yadda, yadda, it's reason for existence is to create music (which I've often said and/or alluded to in the past as well as recent posts). I've also said on occasion that it really breaks my heart to see something like the infamous Hendrix white strat that he used at Woodstock locked up in a hermetically sealed case at the Rock Hall where very few will ever be able to touch, let alone play it. Brings a tear to my eye every time I see it because gads...now THAT is a guitar that was meant to be PLAYED. And yes, if I had something like a 50's or 60's Strat, I would modify it to my own tastes, including refinishing it if she was "worn" and would do so -in a heart beat- (yes, I know that comment gives some folks a rash, LOL!). To me, the real value of any guitar is in how it sounds, feels and looks, particularly in my own hands and heart.

So a while back I dug out a few of my old Musician's Friend and AMS catalogs, doing some research on a Korean made Fender Lite Ash Tele I recently picked up for cheap...the idiot kid at Guitar Center thought it was a fake (mainly because of the abalone inlays) so I got it for $179. They originally retailed in MF for $599 and this one is -mint-...only to discover that after 30 years...no...I still just don't like Tele's. Anyways, I was sitting here in the "reading room" this morn, flipping thru the pages of the 2003 "Holiday Dream Book" addition of MF and I ran across an ad for a Gretsch "White Falcon 1". I had seen an original from the 50's at a guitar show many years ago with a price tag marked "Don't even ask...". Now here's the funny thing...like Gibson's, I really just don't care for most Gretsch instruments. Nothing wrong with them but personally I find them terribly bulky and uncomfortable to play...tend to feel that way about pretty much any arch top I've ever had my hands on (including LP's). With that though, I have to admit these White Falcon's, even the reissues, are just soooooooooooooooo beautiful to look at. Stunning...genuine elegance at it's finest.

Ok...get those vegi's ready to throw...

Now here's the thing that struck me this morning... If I ever had one of these instruments (not that I would -ever- pay $3000+ for a guitar, let alone the asking price for an original), while I'm sure I would play it every now and again (how could I not?), for the most part it would very likely sit down in the studio, if not in a display case....just so I could look at it and admire it's beauty. It's kind of funny really...again not really a Gretsch fan at all. If I ever happened into something like a 6120 or a "Tennessee Rose" (6119) or something, I'd likely sell it or trade it for a couple (more) Strats. But there is something about these White Falcons (and the even rarer White Penguins) that really appeal to my eyes...even though except for the color, they're -very- similar to the other Gretsch semi-hollows. Again, for the most part I really do believe that guitars were meant to be played...to create music (or some semblance of it), but even in my narrow minded, anally retentive little world, yea...I guess there's a rare exception or two.

So go ahead and start tossin' those rotten vegi's at me because yea...I'm a hypocrite. Guess I really am "only human" after all...not that I'll ever admit it around here 8).


Peace,
Jim


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Post subject: Re: Of aesthetics vs function...
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 10:32 am
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Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 5:06 am
Posts: 68
Buy a poster to put on your wall. Save thousands of dollars.

While I agree with your premise that guitars are created to make music, that's not entirely the full scope of it, because they are also created to be visually appealing. If you de-coupled aethetics from function, there would be many fewer guitars sold each year.

So when it comes down to it, it is completely up to the owner what the guitar's purpose is.

At one time, I was appalled by the idea of people buying guitars to put in glass cases, but when I really think about it, if I were going to buy "art" to decorate my fantasy house, I'd prefer a guitars over other weird sculptures of bodies or heads or birds or something.


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Post subject: Re: Of aesthetics vs function...
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 10:56 am
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Roadie
Roadie

Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2011 8:02 am
Posts: 228
Location: Clover, South Carolina
I agree that, yes, they're meant to be played.
But I gotta say, (how shallow of me to admit) I'm just not fond of any guitar that's plumb ugly.
(and "ugly" is a matter of personal opinion)
So when I buy or modify a guitar, I do give some thought about what it's going to look like in the context of my environment.

I can definitely relate. Who wouldn't want a beautiful instrument?
If I had the bread, I'd adorn my environment with a
Black-top Sunburst Jazzmaster,
and a blacked-out (all the way to the headstock) Jaguar,
I might play 'em a bit more than you would your Gretsch,
but no, you're not a hypocrite.

And I'll be checking the Gretsch forum for your "NGD" post :wink:
And besides, I'm hangin' on to my veggies for my salad.

good luck, bud


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