Signature Guitars - Opinions
 

What do you think about artists and manufacturers collaborating to create signature series guitars?

Who actually buys them - and for what purpose? I mean sure, collectors and superfans may be willing to fork out the money for such guitars, but I just can't get my head around the idea. Also, if it's just a case of trying to get that perfect sound I think there are much cheaper ways to do so.

What do you think?

I have a '96 SRV strat. I do love SRV, but it wasn't the reason I bought it. I bought it because it was the best strat I could find that I could afford. The neck felt great, and it's a very lively, resonant hunk of wood. I did replace the pickguard because I didn't want unnecessary comparisons but it wasn't "out there" enough for anyone to really notice. SRV is certainly an influence, but my style isn't really anything like his so it's not an issue.

In general, a signature model is a slight turnoff to me, but if it's the right instrument, it's right and I don't really care who's name is on the headstock. If the sig model is too outlandish then it would be a distraction, although maybe appropriate if I was in a cover band of that artist.

I think collectors go more for high-end custom shop replicas, not just general signature models.

Well, if it's the right guitar for you then nobody can argue against that.. I think it's just the outlandish prices that I find it hard to deal with.

If its a good guitar, (Or more cynically - If someone good enough, and famous enough, plays one) people will play it.

Lets remember, the Les Paul is a signature guitar. And it was so successful for so long that there are now signature les pauls - two layers of endorsement for the same design.

This. I have 3 Les Pauls (4 if you count my Hamer Special, which is basically a Les Paul Special doublecut with 3 knobs instead of 4, but of course it doesn't say "Les Paul" or "Gibson" on it). Of the 3 actual Gibsons, they're all pretyy different. One is a singlecut regular-style Les Paul Classic. The other singlecut is a flat top Les Paul Special, with P-90's. And I have a second LP with humbuckers, a Studio Doublecut.

There are some other sigs I would buy if I ran across them for the right price, because they're good guitars. I don't really care about the endorsement bit.

I'll admit that if I had the funds, I'd totally snatch up that George Harrison Gretsch. We're talking the 9-11k one; not the budget version - just for the sheer fact that it's Masterbilt with individual attention to detail, and what have you.