Signature Series Guitars. When is it too cheesy?

[Franko]

I don't know if anyone will agree with me. But whenever I meet someone who plays a sig model, and they have no idea who the artist is, I actually find that sort of cool.
I have a friend who just bought an Ibanez Tom Quayle.
It's this beautiful sort of off set Tele shape in a beautiful light blue color with a mini humbucker in the neck and a single coil in the bridge.
I thought of this guy as a sort of casual acoustic player. So I was shocked to know that he might be secretly into shred and fusion stuff.
I asked him if he was a big Tom Quayle fan, to which he replied "Who's Tom Quayle?"
He just picked it off the website cuz it looked great and had every spec he was looking for. I really respect that.

However, the opposite is extra cringey IMO.
I don't wanna throw shade at anyone here, but I can't tell you how many die hard John Mayer fans I know who own a Silver Sky and would love nothing more than
to play Slow Dancing In a Burning Room on repeat for you.

One of my favorite guitarists is Stef Carpenter from the Deftones. And although I am a big ESP nerd, I can honestly say I have no interest in ever owning an 8 String Baritone.

Discuss...

 

[budda]

I dont gatekeep gear

 

[owlexifry]

idk but i just find it hilarious when something claims to be a signature model and it's basically just a standard model with a particular finish and pickup set that i'd probably wanna ditch anyway because it'd probably be yet another fishman set

 

[KentBrockman]

The only signature models I would buy are the Ibanez JEM and EBMM Majesty guitars (and adjacent models like the Universe and JP6 etc).

The reason is because those were original shapes from those manufacturers (in fact, the JEM is the reason the RG exists). It’s not like a strat signature which just has different pickups and slightly different neck dimensions. It’s a unique instrument. I would be unlikely to buy a signature model from an artist that doesn’t have an original model. Eg I love Buckethead but I’m not buying his signature Les Paul. Also, I hate Les Pauls.

The other reason is because those guitars are actually comfortable to play, especially the Majesty.

But anyway, I actually do like Steve Vai and John Petrucci’s music. Watching a cover on YouTube and the guy has a Vai or Petrucci signature? Chances are, the cover will be good.

What would be weird is buying a signature guitar and NOT knowing much about the artist!

 

[Moongrum]

Discuss...

If you buy a guitar, regardless of it being a signature guitar or not, because you like the specs that's fine.
If you buy a guitar because your favorite artist plays it and you want to play that artist's music on said guitar, that's fine, too.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

A band I admire to absolute death recorded most of their peak shit with signature guitars (Music Man EVH/Axis, ESP KH-2/KH-4s), so yeah whatever works lol.

 

[ZLE]

Mark Knopfler dreamed for a red Strat, because Hank Marvin had one. James Hetfield had flying V copy, because Michael Schenker had one..... I have ESP Horizon, because that's closest to Greg Howe's custom Horizon. I also have HMStrat, because the same guy played one. And that aside, those are great guitars. So yeah, it happens to the best and the worst of us.

 

[cindarkness]

I found the artist cool, I liked the look of the guitar and it had a set of pickups that were new and interesting to me back then - it all worked out great and I don't even think of it as a signature guitar anymore lmao.. I just play it and it sure plays like a dream.

 

[Spicypickles]

A band I admire to absolute death recorded most of their peak shit with signature guitars (Music Man EVH/Axis, ESP KH-2/KH-4s), so yeah whatever works lol.

Rammstein?

 

[bloodocean]

Off the top of my head:

MGK razor blade Schecter
Any Synyster Gates Schecter
Any Dean ML with DIME on the headstock (love every other ML though)
The Dean KK Pincher Bug
The Dean Michael Amott Tyrant and Wraith
Every single Wylde Audio model

 

[STRHelvete]

I generally tend to avoid signature guitars because I want to do my own thing, BUT there are guitars from guitarists I like that I consider artwork and I want them.


I'm like Doyle's solo work more than I like his stuff with Misfits. I think he's cool but not a diehard fan, but with that being said I want one of those Annihilators because they're just so unique I'd like to just have it on display.

Prince is god in human form as far as music goes for me, and even though his Hohner Madcat is technically is main guitar, I'd much rather have a white Cloud guitar because, again, it's very unique and would be cool to have on display.

Mana is cool, and I like Moi Dix Mois but I really want his Jeune Fille guitar because...well you see the pattern here.

The only "basic" looking guitars I want, that aren't signatures but are tied to two artists that are important to me, are the Gibson Gothic Flying V, and ESP Viper in Holoflake played by Morgan Lander and Fallon Bowman of Kittie. Kittie got me into guitar and those were the first two guitars I ever really noticed. I wouldn't really play them much. They'd just be on a wall somewhere.


Now, that being said..I get why people want sig guitars. Everyone has their reason for picking up a guitar and there's no right or wrong way even if I personally disagree with with their reason..BUUUT that being said Dime guitars have a special hate in my heart. I suppose it's more the fanbase than the guitars themselves because someone getting an actually good Dime sig guitar doesn't irk me as much as the grown ass men who mimick Dime in every way but the quality of his gear so they buy the cheapo kiddie entry level guitars just because it says Dime on it so they can run it through shitty Randalls, talk like him, dress like him, etc. I get a 16 year old doing it but I'm talking big age mothefuckers. At that point you're a little too old to be idolizing someone and patterning yourself after them, especially if you aren't even playing a guitar he actually played, but just bought any cheapo shit because it had his name on it. "Let people enjoy things" I know, but for some reason that's just a pet peeve that irks me to my core.


I mostly find signature guitars a little strange if not so unique that they're worth being made. If a pro guitarist takes a standard model, changes the pickups and puts his name on it, why the hell would anyone want that? Just because his name is on it? That's bizarre to me. Say what you want about the Kerry King Earwigs and the Mike Amott abominations, but at least they're original shapes so that justifies their existence to me.

 

[Demiurge]

If you're ever concerned about someone buying signature gear for 'the wrong reason' or whatever, you can take solace in knowing at least that person might be capable of enjoying themselves.

 

[KentBrockman]

I generally tend to avoid signature guitars because I want to do my own thing, BUT there are guitars from guitarists I like that I consider artwork and I want them.


I'm like Doyle's solo work more than I like his stuff with Misfits. I think he's cool but not a diehard fan, but with that being said I want one of those Annihilators because they're just so unique I'd like to just have it on display.

Prince is god in human form as far as music goes for me, and even though his Hohner Madcat is technically is main guitar, I'd much rather have a white Cloud guitar because, again, it's very unique and would be cool to have on display.

Mana is cool, and I like Moi Dix Mois but I really want his Jeune Fille guitar because...well you see the pattern here.

The only "basic" looking guitars I want, that aren't signatures but are tied to two artists that are important to me, are the Gibson Gothic Flying V, and ESP Viper in Holoflake played by Morgan Lander and Fallon Bowman of Kittie. Kittie got me into guitar and those were the first two guitars I ever really noticed. I wouldn't really play them much. They'd just be on a wall somewhere.


Now, that being said..I get why people want sig guitars. Everyone has their reason for picking up a guitar and there's no right or wrong way even if I personally disagree with with their reason..BUUUT that being said Dime guitars have a special hate in my heart. I suppose it's more the fanbase than the guitars themselves because someone getting an actually good Dime sig guitar doesn't irk me as much as the grown ass men who mimick Dime in every way but the quality of his gear so they buy the cheapo kiddie entry level guitars just because it says Dime on it so they can run it through shitty Randalls, talk like him, dress like him, etc. I get a 16 year old doing it but I'm talking big age mothefuckers. At that point you're a little too old to be idolizing someone and patterning yourself after them, especially if you aren't even playing a guitar he actually played, but just bought any cheapo shit because it had his name on it. "Let people enjoy things" I know, but for some reason that's just a pet peeve that irks me to my core.


I mostly find signature guitars a little strange if not so unique that they're worth being made. If a pro guitarist takes a standard model, changes the pickups and puts his name on it, why the hell would anyone want that? Just because his name is on it? That's bizarre to me. Say what you want about the Kerry King Earwigs and the Mike Amott abominations, but at least they're original shapes so that justifies their existence to me.

Agree with the last part. I think a good signature should not just be pre-existing model with slightly different neck dimension, pickups, and a new finish.

I don’t think there are a huge number of people out there that are trying to be exactly like Vai or Petrucci, but they are probably people who are REALLY into guitar and like the looks and feel of those guitars (I’m one of them). But you won’t catch me beekeeping or making erotic facial expressions while I play my JEM, nor will I become a bodybuilder like Petrucci. I think people buying JEMs and Petrucci models like those models a lot and it’s not about their lifestyles.

I think your example about Dimebag is probably more correct. His signature model looks terrible for ergonomics and they’ve become notable for being the first choice for teenage edgelords from 2005…or maybe grown men like you say. I think he’s got more of a reputation for his lifestyle compared to Vai, Satriani, and Petrucci, etc

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

Rammstein?

Yep lol. Paul used Music Man EVH and axis models until LIFAD and Richard used KH2s between Sehnsuct and Rosenrot

 

[Dambo55]

Do ya'll consider the ESP MX's Sigs?


I would like a Snakbyte myself, played the LTD at Sam Ash, played, and sounded great.

I once played a cheaper Syn Gates sig model, and honestly, it played, and sounded amazing! Thin flat fretboard, huge frets, had those Schecter made Invader wannabe's, but they were great!
I did not expect that. I was looking for a guitar to test on couple amps, and there was nothing around with hot pups, except that.
But the finish, and inlays on that guitar are pretty extreme, and such an obvious sig modell that I'd never buy one. It's chessy as hell. But really was a great guitar, especially at the price point.
Think it was about 800$'s.

If a sig is just set up to specs of an artists, and they work well for you, why not. IE: Josh Middleton, KH, That ESP Arrow w 24.75 and 1 EMG, forget his name. Mustaine Gibson.
Those are great, I'd buy one regardless if I like the artist or not. Because they designed a great guitar, that works for me. I don't listen to AAL's, but I'd buy that LTD M1 in a heartbeat, it's a killer guitar.

The only ones that are really corny for somebody outside a tribute band would be Dime graphic ML's, Syn Gates, and Kerry King tribal things.
And perhaps the Dean Mustaine V's, but I honestly would like the RIP graphic V, well because Megadeth, and RIP!!! And its Rad'AF!

 

[Ordacleaphobia]

The only time an artist's name being on a piece of gear will bear any significance to me is either like @KentBrockman said where it's a fresh, original shape, or if said artist actually uses that exact instrument either to tour or record, and it's an artist who's sound / style is similar to my own or what I'm going for. The first is neither a pro nor con, just something that piques my interest, and the second will actually drive a purchasing decision.

Outside of that, it's all about specs and aesthetics, and if those all line up with a piece of signature gear, nice; you get a neat little bonus for knowing how to spec a guitar I guess. And as for what anyone else buys / doesn't buy, I really don't care. I mean I guess I'll assume if you own a piece of signature gear, especially high dollar, that you know and have at least a loose affinity for the artist, but that's about it. Like if you don't really play guitar but you're a massive Dream Theater fan and have a JPM 90th hanging on your wall, I'd think that's pretty fuckin' sick. Same as if you'd never heard of Animals as Leaders but you can shred so hard on your Larada 8 that I'd be embarrassed to tell you I play guitar.

 

[wiretap]

Don’t really care either way but I do like Bill Kelliher’s sigs mostly because I have the same taste in guitars. Haven’t really listened to mastodon since remission so I doubt I really qualify as a fan, dudes just got sick guitars. Wish I still had the Pelham blue sparrow hawk, actually.

 

[Franko]

These are all valid points. I think it all depends how "personalized" the guitar is, right?
Some are more subtle than others. Not sure you would buy a Synyster Gates with the Avenged Sevenfold logo and bats and skulls going all up and down the
fretboard unless you were a die hard fan of the band

 

[Pingu]

The Dean KK Pincher Bug

Every time I repress this memory someone just has to mention it...

 

[Alberto7]

idk man, I currently own an Edwards E-Scythe (Alexi Laiho... and have owned an Alexi-600 once upon a time), an EBMM JP12-7 (John Petrucci), and a PIA3761-SDG (Steve Vai). I also own three RGs, so I guess I have copies of a signature guitar there... and a cheap Les Paul copy, so there's another signature copy. I also plan on eventually grabbing another Alexi Laiho signature, and possibly an actual Les Paul in the future. Maybe another JP later on. Come to think of it, I only really own 3 electrics that aren't tied to any one artist: my Carvin, my Oni, and my Ibanez AZ.

Guess I'm a fucking cringefest.