Signature Gutars

[spychocyco]

It's all about how the guitar feels, not whose name is on it. I don't care for most Van Halen, but two of the best feeling guitars that I've ever played were the Axis and the Wolfgang. My Axis doesn't have the EVH signature on it, but it wouldn't matter if it did, either. If the guitar feels good to me, I'd buy a signature model from my least favorite guitarist. On the other hand, if my favorite player put out a signature model that didn't work for me, I wouldn't consider buying it just because his name's on it.

 

[paranoid70]

I think this is really good topic.

I'll be totally honest and say that I purchased the Silhouette guitar because it was NOT a signature guitar. Morse and Petrucci are two of my favorite guitar players... and they are both freakin awesome shredders. At the time I felt, I am no where near the player these guys are, so who am I trying to kid by playing their guitar. Luckily, I love the SS more than the Morse and the Petrucci, so that has worked out.

I felt the same way years and years ago when I bought my Ibanez. I didn't want to get the Satriani model for the same reason.

However, I don't quite feel the same way any more. If I had the money to buy another Ball, I think I would love to get an Albert Lee guitar. And I am mostly unfamiliar with his music, just Country Boy. But the guitar is great and would be a nice compliment to the Silos.

 

[Slingy]

Watching the Morse videos on the main site gave me great appreciation for what goes into these "Signature Models".

 

[Smellybum]

when I first started playing I was in my teens, living in Scotland it was never like i'd walk down the street and meet one of my guitar heros, signature models in general seemed a way of connecting to your idol without meeting them - or if you're 15 - you think - I suck but if I get that signature model I'll have the same tone and skill as the endorser... - (Just me huh?)

Confession time - I have a luke and an AL, both of whom I had knowledge of but not a true beleiver prior to buying the signature models!

I bought my AL pretty much based on Robdelinda! not ALbert Lee - any guitar that can make a regular guy like Rob change his entire collection to has gotta be worth a look - and one of the best decisions I ever made, my decision wasn't based on the headstock but now I have more Albert Lee records I would maybe buy a second one thinking about ALberts playing and tone.....does that make sense?

When i bought my Luke again I was 'aware' of Loucius I have my toto cd's, my star licks Tape and a handful of solo CD's but bought the guitar for it's features and shapes, but the more I see of his playing it makes me want another one....

Perhaps I'm just a freak consumer, but most of you knew that aleady!!! - It is pretty amazing that you can buy the same guitar as the guy on stage, but I also think that some of the larger companies (not naming any in corona or nashville) are milking it, people are getting there own signature model for opening a beer... take Justin Hawkins, 1 album, 1 hit record -signature guitar, band splits up, game over.... there's an obvious bias towards EBMM here but at least their artists have standing in the music community and some miles under their belts.

I respect that alot.

 

[73h Nils]

Well, this is a weird topic. I love my JP and never even would have started playing guitar at ALL if it wasn't for the Man, himself. To be honest, if he was still playing with Ibanez, I'd probably be into Ibanez; I won't lie. Although, if he started playing Fender/Gibson etc. I doubt I'd get one...Now. (If he had been playing them back then, I probably would look into it). It's just that Ibanez and Music Man (JP) guitars are somewhat similar in that they are shred machines (it's just that the JP is infinitely more versatile with the piezo etc.) And yes, I use it to play DT material etc. But, to be honest, still not many people know who JP is and the fact that his "signature" on the headstock is so subtle, I'm certain 80% of people (more, even) wouldn't know it's a sig model unless they were into gear or, more specifically, Dream Theater etc.

I'm dying to try a JEM, but not because Vai plays them. I personally just think they look incredible and have such unique features that you can't get on a "normal" Ibanez. There are J Customs that are nice, too.

Ahhh, GAS...

 

[banjoplayer]

Buying a Steve Morse guitar and belive playing like Steve Morse is ridiculous.

Of course, I´m a big fan and was attracted to this guitar in this way.

I love Steve´s sound (which of course comes from the fingers) but you can´t tell me, that the instrument is not a part of it. I believe, that the special Morse sound has to do with the unique Humbuckers on his guitars. Never heard similar buckers. So trying it out - the guitar itself, the sound, the versatility and the overall quality convinced me in buying it (and not a Silo Special or Luke which was available at a good price too at this time).

I got a good price for a blueburst which was not my first choice, because I had the same thoughts like Andy - looking like a wannabe and so on. But the price made the decision and meanwhile I don´t have any problem with it.

I also love playing my others guitars, so I don´t care very much of having a signature guitar. It´s my main guitar but not the only one.

 

[banjoplayer]

One more thought: Les Paul, the guitar, is also originally a signature guitar, but who does really know something about Les Paul, the guitar player?

Are Les Paul Players wannabe-Les-Pauls ?

 

[Axilla]

Very interesting thread you put up here, Andy !

I actually first saw the EBMM headstock on an EVH in the early nineties and lateron on the Luke sig model. Nevertheless, what I purchased first from this extraordinary brand was a Silhouette Special because I instantly fell in love with the looks and the feel of it. Well OK, none of my three Silo Specs is original - they're all modded, but this is just to suit my taste...
I tried out a whole lot of EBMMs apart from an original EVH which I could never put my hands on. I really do like the shape and feel of the Luke and I am a huge fan of his, but I just can't deal with the EMGs as I'm really much more into passive electronics.
As for the JPs - I really LOVE Dream Theater and have all their CDs, but I rather listen to their stuf and have a great time at their concerts. I do not really play that kind of music. Although I love the way John plays, the way his sig guitar looks, the technically tweaked out possibilities of this guitar, and so on... I just couldn't get comfortable with that shape of the neck.
I guess to me it's more the looks and feels of a guitar, as well as build quality that make my decisions. If I'd own a Luke, I guess I'd just throw out the EMGs sooner or later making her pretty much a Silo SPecial which would be a pity for that guitar as I could have used my Silos instead, so no reason for that.

I must however admit that joining a rock band in January this year brought me to a point where I just did not get the sounds I needed for certain classic rock songs we were doing out of my Balls. So I went out to see if I could get some good Les Paul basis to tweak to my likes... Well, what shall I say - I ended up with two Les Paul signature models from Epiphone, one being the Joe Perry Boneyard, the other one the Slash signature. I got both really cheap, but had to invest MANY hundreds of Euros to get all hardware and wiring exchanged. The only reason for these two ones was the quality of the wood compared to the ridiculous prices I paid for them, not the fact that they're signature models...
Too much blabla here from my side - this is an EBMM forum.

The point just is - I'm basically playing what just feels and sounds (and looks) right to me as it is me who has to be comfortable with it, rather than any signature artist.

"Spare Ribs"-Axel

 

[phatduckk]

the first sig guitar i ever purchased was a JP6. at the time id never heard dream theater or any of JP's solo stuff. i was looking for a new guitar and being an MM bass player for years I ventured over to this side of the forum and read raving reviews about how awesome a guitar the JP6 is. I was like you... i didnt want a sig guitar esp. not the sig model of a player whose work i had no familiarity with. after more reading i figured f*** it and bought a JP6.

about a year later I met Luke at the open house, heard him play, hung out with him and I'd done a complete 180. i HAD TO have this guy's sig. guitar. no question i'm not a old school toto fan or anything like that. but seeing how this cool dude made that guitar sing during the jams i saw was amazing.

after that I bought an Albert Lee too. LOL

so - ive been on both sides of the fence. I once hated the idea of having someone's name on my guitar then flipped.

why the flip? well, its not like I can magically acquire JP's, Luke's of AL's skills. i wish i could get that good by purchasing a guitar... but that's not reality. but the thing is these guys inspire me to play and play differently to boot. not my normal cup of tea but listening to them has widened my small world of guitar interest. im a punk rocker who strive to play great country runs now. the dudes are inspiring as a player... not just as a listener of music.

so extending upon that... its nice to know these gentlemen play the exact guitar I can buy. nope, i wont sound like then or be as good as them but I have their tool in my hands. so if i want that tone I know this guitar can do it and the rest is up to me and my practice routine.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I must say that I am very fickle when it comes to signature guitars. I have an EVH guitar that I only bought for the artist association, and I used to have a Guild Brian May guitar (I am fans of both guitar players). Mind you, I think the Axis has become a design in its own right, and of all the gigs I have done with my guitars over the years I could count on one hand the amount of people that recognised me using an 'EVH' guitar.

 

[DaPatrooch]

If it feels good, play it. Sure, most of us were turned on to the signature models because of the artists, but we wouldn't buy them unless we liked them. Most people who see you play won't know it's a signature guitar anyway, but if they did, they would probably think it was cool. I know that if I saw someone playing a Luke or JP, the person playing it would have instant respect from me haha. That may not make too much sense, but it's hard to explain.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

If you are playing a signature guitar it automatically makes you a slightly better guitarist.......just like with a high performance car and the color red. If some part of the engine is red it gives you an extra 5 horsepower.
...

Don't forget that if the car is painted yellow then it is faster. Yellow paint naturally has a lower drag coefficient and that helps with aerodynamics.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

As far as signature guitars go, the only sig guitars in my growing collection are by happenstance all EB artists: JP; LUKE; Steve Morse y2d; Albert Lee.

I don't have them because of the artist name on the headstock, I have them because of their functionality and playability. The fact that an artist whose work I admire was the person who designed them in conjunction with EB is just a bonus.

 

[PugNinjas]

The fact that an artist whose work I admire was the person who designed them in conjunction with EB is just a bonus.

Leave it to Pete to hit the nail on the head !!!!

 

[Sweat]

Leave it to Pete to hit the nail on the head !!!!

And to that i had BINGO

Pretty much what I said in a earlier post, just a bonus

 

[Astrofreq]

For me it's pretty straight forward. I worked hard to find my own style. The more that develops, the less I want someone else's name on my guitar. Period. It's nothing against this artist or that. It works both ways. I'm about 99.9% sure that Petrucci doesn't want my name on his headstock.

 

[PugNinjas]

And to that i had BINGO

Pretty much what I said in a earlier post, just a bonus

I hear ya, Fing. It is just a bonus that these cats combined thier wants and needs with the superior craftsmanship and materials that EBMM employs.

Personally, I like the fact that I have a signature guitar from Ernie Ball Music Man because almost any time I am questioned about what guitar I'm playing if gives me an opportunity to preach about EBMM.

 

[kompressaur]

since owing a Morse and an AL I've definetely come to appreciate some of the features these guitars have which I cant have on the regular non sig models. and unlike many of the big F sigs all the EBMM ones are all valid imo.
I wouldnt own a luke or petrucci because of the neck shapes,nothing more.
komp

.

 

[Paul in WV]

I haven't posted in a bit but thought I'd chime in here.

I bought the guitar I bought strictly because I was a fan of John Petrucci. I hadn't played in years but once I discovered Dream Theater, the more I listened to the band, and the man, the more I wanted to play again.

So, in sort of an homage to the Band, and man, who inspired me to play again, I bought a JP6.

I have no reservations of being able to EVER play like JP...Luke...Steve Morse...Albert Lee...anyone for that fact. I actually want to play like me!

The fact that JP inspired me to play and I found this company by researching his guitar...well that speaks for itself doesn't it.

These days, I'm lucky to play "Mary Had A Little Lamb" correctly but because of the desire to play again, I now have the best guitar I've ever held in my hands, I've had my Carpal Tunnel problem corrected (finally) as it physically hurt me to play, I'm starting to actually *learn* (gasp!!!) things that I just wasn't interested in doing before AND I'm getting all three of my kids more interested in music than they previously were.

That's what a Signature Artist guitar did for me. I'm so glad I looked around and considered *other* options before blindly dropping the cash on a Strat or a cheaper Les Paul!

 

[ishred6string]

i bought my JP6 because of the name written on the headstock.. ERNIE BALL MUSIC MAN!!
high quality. made in U.S.A.!