Let's Shame Those Bad Signature Guitars, or not...

Funny you should say that, the other day I was watching a youtube video of 1970s Linda Ronstadt playing guitar during a concert. Can't remember what song it was though.

EDIT:

I remembered:


Yep. Great singer, very talented, but I couldn't quite get why a signature guitar.
 
I actually dig the idea of a single pickup ES, But the unique paint job is off-putting. The strat was a good seller not only because of him. Many wanted a hardtail strat back then and his was like the only way to get one from Fender at the time.

Came stock with a Duncan Invader too. Pretty cool rig, really.
 
I pretty much like all the Fender Strat sigs. They are at least decent guitars you can gig with. I bought a Malm a few years back and its nice.
Okay. You confused me by borrowing my avatar for February. I had almost forgotten about it and this is the first time anyone took mine.
 
I support someone who has made their own way more than say someone who bought their way on stage and has to have their guitar turned way down in the mix and/or fretting motions do not match what's being played or has financed a studio in their home so they can say I'm for real hell I have a studio. I like people who have contributions to guitar in development, writing/playing, or technique no matter how ugly the guitar is as opposed to making a pirate movie where you can pretend Keith Richards is your dad.

It makes me wonder what happened to Alice Cooper and Joe Perry? Particularly Alice since he had all the commercials taking about the sound, feel, and attitude of music of the day not having the heart. Are they feeling grandfatherly to Depp? Come on Johnny, you can do it! Here's a participation trophy because you play one hell of a pirate. It's a joke.
 
Yep. Great singer, very talented, but I couldn't quite get why a signature guitar.

I'm with you. I usually think of a signature guitar as being particularly iconic, or having features or innovations special to the artist. Maybe Linda Ronstadt's guitar has some out of the ordinary characteristics, but my gut feeling is that it was probably a regular old guitar.
 
I have no problem with it, but I always wondered at the Linda Ronstadt signature Martin. I think I only saw her play guitar one time.

Of course, Martin also had the Car Talk signature guitar...

The one that really sticks out in my mind was the George Nakashima commemorative Martin. Kind of an odd choice since he was furniture builder, but it was a lovely guitar. I kinda regret not getting one when I had the chance.

https://reverb.com/item/6577926-martin-george-nakashima-commemorative-guitar-2000
 
Or the Kiefer Sutherland Gibson speaking of non-musician signature models. I understand he can play well, but outside of an SNL clip I've never seen him. I've seen Conan O'Brien play more often.
 
Could someone find me the qualifications checklist for signature model entitlement?



The one that really sticks out in my mind was the George Nakashima commemorative Martin. Kind of an odd choice since he was furniture builder, but it was a lovely guitar. I kinda regret not getting one when I had the chance.

https://reverb.com/item/6577926-martin-george-nakashima-commemorative-guitar-2000

FWIW, George Nakashima lived and worked about an hour and a half south of Martin's HQ & factory. He's a pretty influential to anyone in the region that does creative things with wood.
 
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Could someone find me the qualifications checklist for signature model entitlement?





FWIW, George Nakashima lived and worked about an hour and a half south of Martin's HQ & factory. He's a pretty influential to anyone in the region that does creative things with wood.
When that guitar came out, I was totally gassing for it, but I felt that since I didn't know who Nakashima was before the edition was announced that I didn't "deserve" to have one. As though some hardcore Nakashima collector would be sad to miss out, while a uncultured goofy dork in Texas who didn't know Nakashima from Mitsubishi would be playing Ramones covers on it.

Anyhow, I wasn't saying that he didn't deserve a commemorative guitar -- I get the connection he had to Martin -- though I realize I'm posting in the "shame those bad sigs" thread.
 
Joe Strummer Artist Series Tele. I don't remember if he lived to see it.

I like relics, but in this case, to keep MSRP down (I think at Joe's populist request), the front and back was just a picture printed on the body.
MZ7125246U_04__73776.1433784008.jpg
MZ7125246U_03__24674.1433784007.jpg
 
When that guitar came out, I was totally gassing for it, but I felt that since I didn't know who Nakashima was before the edition was announced that I didn't "deserve" to have one. As though some hardcore Nakashima collector would be sad to miss out, while a uncultured goofy dork in Texas who didn't know Nakashima from Mitsubishi would be playing Ramones covers on it.

Anyhow, I wasn't saying that he didn't deserve a commemorative guitar -- I get the connection he had to Martin -- though I realize I'm posting in the "shame those bad sigs" thread.

I'm of the mind that if you like something and have the means to obtain it, you don't really need much reason beyond that....but, the dude is a legend in American woodworking and design. His daughter has continued his legacy and continues to run his workshop to this day.

https://nakashimawoodworkers.com/
 
I don't begrudge anyone getting a signature model, but I wonder at times at the thinking behind them. Gibson did a Donovan signature model a few years ago; the best I could tell it was just based on a standard J-45 from the 60s.
 
Just a reminder that they release sig models that they think will make money from guitar players and collectors, not because they think the artist is great.

Joe Perry has at least one.
 
I've always loved the weirdness of the Buckethead sig, though I have no desire to own one.

27" scale, oversized body, and 2 arcade-style killswitches.

gibson-buckethead-signature-les-paul-253999.jpg
 
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