Signature Guitars

[heavymetaljames]

I've been following the signature guitar threads with interest, and was wondering how many people go for these rather than a particular guitar model - I have never been a fan of sig' guitars - I do have an i***** sig' but I bought that because I liked the look of the guitar over anything else. Personally I have always thought that if I have a sig then people will think - 'he wants to be.......... but he aint!' I am no Paul Gilbert, and I don't really play in his style.
Those of you who have Lukes and AL and JP's etc - how influenced are you by the artist than the guitar? How much influence does it have over your purchase? It must make a difference or no one would do it, but I'm with Tristan when he says he is happy to be playing the particular model of guitar.

For example if the JP was a EBPP non sig model -would you buy it?

If it was a BP - no doubt it would be very popular!

Just wondering...................?

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

I haven't purchased any of my guitars for any reason other than I like the way they play, and the options that they offer. The fact that the only signature guitars I own are made by MusicMan is because they just happen to feel great in my hands.

 

[mbgreene]

With repect to the signature guitars, I believe it is not just the individual Artist that influences the decision as much as the type of guitar and the sound you are looking for. Without the artist guitars Musicman's lineup would be two versions of the Axis, two versions of the Silo and the Sub.

The balance are the sig models but they are unique instruments unto themselves, engineered from the ground up with respect to body shape, neck profile, tone wood, pick up configuration etc. If your looking for particular tonal qualities your looking at different instruments to achieve that goal.

I believe this makes it different than putting a special color and new pick ups in a str*t and calling it the "whoever" model and looking for that to influence sales. And then introducing a new slightly modified str*t six months later as the next "whoever" model. I think this is more where you say I don't want a signature guitar when I can get pretty much the same instrument as the original without feeling your being derivative

I'm sure the signature some what drives some initial interest but I bought mine for the sound and feel of the actual guitar, it just happens to be named the Albert Lee and he just happens to be a phenomenal player!

and remember, half the people that claim they would never own a signature guitars are probably playing Les Pauls - think about it
just my two pennies

 

[J_Alexander]

to be honest if the axis came out and there never was a evh i probably wouldnt of ever tried one. opnce i bought my evh though back in the early 90's and felt man this feels like a custom shop guitar i mean it didnt feel or play like anything hanging on the wall. then when they kept almost all the same things and switched it to the axis i was even more excited and bought some of them. i really have a hard time now playing other guitars cause the evh/axis neck is so unigue in its thin for my little hands but fills my hand up like i'm holding a baseball bat. its just hard to explain unless you've ever held one.

 

[RichW]

Actually, I have a JP signature model and the fact that it was, in fact, a signature model, almost made me -not- purchase it for the reason the original poster specified: I was afraid I'd feel cheap, playing on "someone else's" guitar.

However, all the information I got about EB was very positive (build quality, customer service etc.), and I was looking for a guitar with certain features, like high output humbuckers, a thin neck, comfortable body--and then the JP even has the piezo, too. So I myself was mainly sold on the features and brand name of the guitar rather than the fact that it's a signature guitar--even though JP is by far my greatest influence, musically.

It's an interesting question to ask, though.

 

[CINCHouse]

I will comment only as a spectator. Rich played a guitar at guitar center and would not put it down. He said he heard of the artist, but did not know the brand. He said the guitar was like "angelic" in his hands and he had to have it. There was no arguement cause I could see it in his eyes...he became motivated again. I believe this was a greenish guitar, cahnged colors to purple. he said a guitar player he knows uses it. I believe he p.ays for dream therater. So, with no arguement from me, he bought it. i personally know he does not like to buy thinkgs as endorsed by an artiest as much as he likes the feel of the guitar. He told me in there music store the feel was just about as good as....well, you can figyre it out.

He likes those funny looking bases as well. I don't know the name of them, but that is what he play in his band. I appreci9ate the fact he is doing that instead of being gone. who is the bass named after? Anyone know? He called it a bongo, but that is a drum is it not? I just nod my head as most wives do when they ahve no idea what the hubby is talking about.

Anyway, Rich likes the feel more so than the name. Just an observation on my part./

 

[groovetuber]

I have had somewhat similar thoughts as you HMJ. Petrucci and Dream Theater are absolutely incredible, and some of my biggest influences, but there is no way I would've bought a JPMM if it didn't feel right in my hands. I have tried out guitars with extremely high hopes before, with my mind basically set on buying them, but I ended up trying them out and they felt horrible in my hands. Feel and tone is what it's all about, not about who's name is on the headstock.

 

[ghunter]

I've also been hesitant to buy anything with an endorser's name on it. Rickenbacker and EBMM are the only two companies doing something different with their signature models but even then I echo the other comments above.

There's no way I'd buy a Fender signature model because they're rarely anything beyond a custom color and a signature decal. The Gibson models are simply priced ridiculously, so I haven't even looked closely at them.

With all that said, I am seriously considering buying a Luke to replace my strat.

 

[Roubster]

Well if it was not for Steve Morse playing his beautiful Blue Burst EBMM, I would never probably think of getting one. However my first one was a Silhouette, because it seemed to have the features which I personally was looking for and have found. But than I bought a LUKE, because I staretd hearing about him just recently and I love his tone, so I got that one, and it indeed plays incredibly fast and feels good with the EMGs and the neck and all. Honestly I basically like them ALL, but with a preference of one from the other. I eventually want to get almost ALL the EBMM models and I will see at THAT point which I REALLY like the best. BEcause after all, hour or even 5 will not tell sometimes for some people wether THAT is exactly the one. But I do know for SURE that I dont want to play any other brand. I personally dont have a huge problem with switching from one neck to another, but there is still a little bit of a preferance. Steve Morse is my absolute favourite guitar player and musician of all time, and I definatly will have his signature guitar at some point.....BOTH actually (regular and Y2D of course) if not more than 2 . But I guess to actually answer the question, it IS the artists that influence us to play guitar in the first place, and I think in MOST cases we start looking from their point of view of what amp and guitar they play and pedals and technique and all that. Later on we progress to be our selves with our own technique wether the sig guitars stick with us or not. Of course this does not apply to everyone.

 

[John C]

I am currently ball-less (stupid, stupid, stupid for selling my Silo Special ) but I have an Albert Lee on order.

I'll freely admit that I've read a lot of interviews with him and know him more by reputation; hell I've probably only heard his late 70s work with Eric Clapton.

However, I have played the AL before - in fact, I almost got an AL instead of the Silo Special back in 2004 - and know that it is a unique, comfortable, very cool guitar that clearly isn't something from the Strat family tree. I'm getting one with MM-90s to blend my favorite elements of the Strat, Tele and Les Paul Jr./Special into one unique EBMM guitar.

 

[Shnook]

My EBMM Albert Lee is probably one of my favorite guitars I've owned in 25 years of playing and buying many guitars. However, I do not own a single Albert Lee CD. Nor do I play 'country music.' I like signature guitars. Mostly because they offer features that generally aren't all included on standard production models.

 

[Kontalonis]

For some reason i've always been a little obsessive over NOT getting signature items. I've never bought a signature amp, pedal, or guitar. I've only bought one signature pickup and that was because i was looking for his tone (Joe Satriani). I do however like certain items that evolve from signature items (the axis!!!!) but i feel i can not be a true individual player with some guys signature stamped on the headstock (even if it is my favorite guitar player: EVH). But as stated before i do applaud signature items that take on many identities such as the les paul. Another case would be the Peavey Wolfgang, which you could order in any desired configuration via the custom shop. I guess if the JP evolves into signature models or a custom model of some sort i'd be all over it. (I'd like to get one with a quit top and a vintage trem).

 

[J_Alexander]

see thats why i love the axis is cause besides what 2 changes its no different. i really dont like the wolfgang myself for the same reason i cant play alot of other guitars anymore. the thin neck on the evh and axis is to die for as far as i'm concerned and alot of other necks are to wide and even the wolfgang which is only like 1 to 2/32 wider but i can feel it. measurment at the 12th fret that is. i am with ebmm for life and will only by axis and evh's as long as i live.

 

[hepkat]

Interesting enough, I got into Steve Morse's music because of his EBMM sig. I had heard of him and the Dregs, but never gave him a serious listen. A local shop got in an early Morse and a buddy of mine bought it, I played it one time and was hooked. When he traded it in I immediately went to the store and bought it. It is one of the first 50 hand signed by Steve.

Before I played the Morse I only thought of the Stingray and the Sterling. Now I have the Morse, an Axis MM90, and have had two Silo's (wish I had them back)

 

[Big Poppa]

Generally Signature guitars are the kiss of death for both the artist and the manufacturer. The dealer only has so many hooks on the wall and putting someones name on it limits the customer base.
I think that we sell more USA made signature guitars than any one because they are unique and have credibility.

The sad part is that some companies take advantage of a player and his/her ego and use the signature trick to lock them into their brand. They promise them tons of dough and it rarely materializes.

I think that regardless the signature guitar must be the same guitar if you bought it in Kentucky and if we sent it to the arist.

 

[louisgtr]

I bought my JP simply because all of it's features was what I was looking for. I would have bought it if it was a sig guitar or not. One of the things I like about the JP is that the volume knob is not right under my pick hand like many guitars I've owned.

 

[hepkat]

It may just be my narrow vision sometimes, but it seems artist that endorse EBMM seem to be playing their signature axes EVERYTIME you see them. Other brand endorsers play their signature instruments, but also pull out others (even from non endorsed makers) from time to time.

I would assume it is because EBMM goes to great pains to see the artist gets all of the features they are looking for in the guitar, not just putting their name on a re-creation of a guitar they are well known for playing, or a watered down version of a custom shop.

 

[kbaim]

I just like the Lukes because to my ears, my playing sounds better with it and I seem to be more creative with it than any other guitar I've picked up or owned.

It sounds good with a variety of amps and also happens to be the most comfortable to play both with my fretting hand and picking hand.

But I do love Lukather's playing and how great his tone has always been.

 

[phatduckk]

i have a JP 6 and dont listen to Dream Theater at all, ever.

Just before I got the JP i was VERY anti sig models. Juts not my thing probably for some combination of all the reasons expressed above and no real good reason all at the same time.

So, it was a jump for me to get the JP - a sign model of a dude whom Id never heard of (ya, im ignorant to non-punk rock, i know). Anywho, i got the guitar b/c i was in the market for a 6 string and a dealer i like (Bassplyr on this forum) had a JP in stock. I read a lot of good things about the JP and from experience w/ MM basses I knew MM made great stuff. So, after some thinking i figured "f' it" and took the sig plunge.

Ironically my sig averssion, like many others, excludes Les Pauls. I think, to most, the LP just isnt a "sig" anymore... i mean, there's a Slash sig LP. Is that a sig sig? LoL.

Either way. I was once anti and now im not... if its a good guitar and u like how it plays and sounds then u should buy it

 

[heavymetaljames]

Thanks everyone - this is interesting stuff. From my point of view an artist did use to influence my choices - when you're young and wanna be like.....!!!
This might influence my choice of strings etc at one time until I worked out what I like and an artist using a guitar or product would definately get interest, but I still don't get the sig stuff yet!
I am a big fan of Gary Moore among others and have bought guitars by brand similar to what he used at the time - he used to use a brand of amp called Gallien Kruger!? in the '80's - I always wanted to try one - but couldn't afford it - it didnt matter about his name on it - just the fact he used it was enough for me to be interested and to raise its profile.......then I moved onto another artist!
EVH definately helped to make me more aware of EBMM - but I wouldn't go and buy his sig because he used it.!

I will certainly be looking at the Luke, JP etc when I get the opportunity, but its the EBMM name that sells it to me.

Like most people I have eventually gone for a guitar that works for me 'small hand'
and is a quality instrument - I can't stop raving about my Axis - lovin' your work BP!