• From: Nottingham, UK
  • Registered: 2006-08-08
  • Posts: 690

Topic: Image?

"its all about image , well 90% is . We must be genetically predisposed to certain guitar types. Am i going to buy a bc rich because i like it`s fantastic tone or playability , am i F**** i`d look a dick ."

Most guitars have an image that goes with them. Pick up a G brand Gretsch and people will think Country. You can of course play metal on a Gretsch (well, if you pack the body with stuff to negate feedback). Punk tried to avoid image so Joe Strummer had his sunburst sprayed grey/black but that Telecaster sure didn't make him sound hony-tonk Western.

B C Rich guitars are more about image than many others. I'm trying to remember the first band to appear on 'Top Of The Pops' (was it Girlschool? or Priest?) all playing red B C Rich guitars, absolutely stunning sight, can't remember the song though.

The guitar is a performer's prop, why else did Elvis carry one then hardly ever strum it? The guitar gives the audience something to focus on, wave the neck and people start to sway. The guitar needs to match the performer, a big ole B C Rich is shouting LOUD&PROUD so you're unlikely to see a modest singer-songwriter hefting one. Country instruments tend to go for a 'My brother Duke knocked this up in the wood-shed' vibe (did I say Duke can do real good pearl inlays?).

Image is fine but if you're starting out you don't know where the music's gonna take you, so try to avoid labelling yourself before you're ready to.

(What do I know my Ibanez is martini olive metallic green?...sometimes have to put on sunglasses to practise!)

'The sound of the city seems to disappear'
  • From: BELGIUM
  • Registered: 2007-01-27
  • Posts: 3,403

Re: Image?

CYTANIA, I just saw on "harmony central" a Brawley guitar. They look rally nice.
About the "association" you make, like Gretsch representing country, rockabilly, I agree.
I have 2 "screaming" babies: a Gibson SG Menace and a:
Gibson Faded Flying V Bridge Pickup 500T HB, Neck Pickup 496R HB. PRICE 699,99$
Ther is a second flying V:
Gibson Flying V: bridge pick-up    500T HB  Neck Pickup 496R HB. This guitar looks exactly the same as the "faded" with premium nitrocellulose finish for super-fat tone PRICE 1100$.
The difference in price, is it only caused by the nitrocellulose finish?
They look exactly the same. The "faded" price is compared to other guitars, ridiculous. Converting 699$ = €482, this exact the same guitar is over €900, 500€ more expensive. I did some great business on eBay if you see the difference.The difference provides me a GUITAR + A FREE AIRPLANE TICKET. I have more than enough guitars, my only dream is a COLLINGS. It must be not so difficult to arrange this: I pay a US chordian an amount, with him buying a guitar on eBay, and paying all transport, it shoulmd work.
But about METAL GUITARS: I think it is all about our COLLECTIVE MEMORIES, music video's, gigs and the fact to see guys like Metallica playing a Gretsch: the picture doesn't match, and again we can start arguing about WHY, see a lot of other topics. Can you imagine JIMMY PAGE playing an ESP, or BC RICH? Can you imagine SATRIANI playing a TELECASTER. Our "heads, brains" are tricking and fooling us again. This concerns every product, like why Coca Cola and not Pepsi. The people working for "publicity companies" know exactly were our sensitive spot is.

[color=blue]- GITAARDOCPHIL SAIS: TO CONQUER DEAD, YOU HAVE TO DIE[/color]   AND [color=blue] we are born to die[/color]
- MY GUITAR PLAYS EVERY STYLE = BLUES, ROCK, METAL, so I NEED TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY IT.
[color=blue]Civilization began the first time an angry person cast a word instead of a rock.[/color]

gitaardocphil's Website

  • From: Down a Wesh pot noodle mine
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 24

Re: Image?

Cytania , I think it was the Clash knocking out Londons Calling that first fired my imagination to own a Tele , but in between me getting one , mainly due to finances I`d gone thru a fair few cheaper guitars i guess like most kids starting out . I sold my first car and bought an Epi Sheraton in the backend of the eighties [which I`m about to sell due to lack of use], I finally splashed out on a brand new  `92 Tele with lace sensor pickups which I was a bit disapointed with and sold fairly quickly .My wife left me in a pub so she could do some shopping, some months later so i nipped over the road and bought this hideous coloured Tele , like Rick Parfitt said 'if it had legs I`d shag it ' . But to go back to another thread Phil wrote, buying into an image or an expensive guitar can give you the impetus to pick it up and practice every day, I know i do with my Martin and in turn will only make me a better player .

You can`t wind me up , I`m electric.