Signature model guitars

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Author Message Guitarman (Guitarman) Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 8:13 pm:    I was just wondering about all these "signature" models out there. To be honest, I am never keen on any signature models at all although some are quite nice. Having said that, I do notice something quite interesting. If you look at most of Fender and Gibson's signature models, they are all based on an already existing design. But Ibanez is different, "most" of their signature models are of an original design - am I correct? Here's some example - Weir, Benson, Metheny, Satriani, Vai, Gambale, etc. I am not too sure about Joe Pass's or Scofield's. And of course the Scruggs is a copy of Les Paul and not original. The only original model from Fender is Robben Ford's, I think. Other than that all the Clapton, Blackmore, Beck, are pure Strats. And Gibson is much the same - except for the Barney Kessel double cutaway. Although one of their awesome looking signature model is the expensive Pat Martino model based on the plain ES-446. Having said that, I think Ibanez is really pretty unique to include original design to give a signature model it's identity. Any thoughts on these... Cheers, Vic Tim_Gueguen (Tim_Gueguen) Posted on Tuesday, May 20, 2003 - 9:04 pm:    The Scofield is just a renamed AS200, which itself is heavily based on the Gibson ES335. The Joe Pass model is pretty much an ES175 with a rounded cutaway instead of a sharp one. Even the upper cutaway on the Metheny has a precident in a modified ES175 the late jazz guitarist Howard Roberts played for years. Otherwise the Methenys are largely conventional archtop designs of the sort made for 60 years. The Satriani and Vai models are very similar to other "superstrats" of the late '80s. The sig models put out by most companies are largely variations on existing designs because thats what the folks in question used in the first place, modded versions of stock guitars. Johns (Johns) Posted on Wednesday, May 21, 2003 - 11:40 am:    Vic: I guess it depends on what you think "signature" is supposed to mean/signify. As Tim points out, relatively few guitar are truly "original". They evolved, for better or worse, from previous works. So, it's seems futile to try and equate "signature" with "original". To me, the word "signature" is just a marketing term for a model with specs defined by an artist/endorser. When I was young and foolish, I actually believed that all endorsers actually defined the specs and played the guitars that carried their name. While some artists do, I'm not quite so gullible anymore. Trying to find truely "original" examples of guitar designs is not easy. For the electric, Les Paul's "log" seems to fit the strict definition of a breakthrough in technological design. Aren't the Strat and Broadcaster the same basic components? A solid plank of wood with neck, frets, strings, pickups and associated electronics? What distinquishes the Fender products? A bolt-on neck and a more appealing body shape. Hmmm, one technological breakthrough and the rest cosmetic. Is that truly original? Sure, if you start to break down "original" to a less strict standard. I'm in favor of that. I don't think that it helps serve the public to split the "original" hair as finely as we might tend to. If you follow that line, there's a the tendency to end up arguing about details that don't help people to play better guitar. We lose the forest for the trees. There is a smaller subset of guitar enthusiasts who don't care to play better (and whatever that entails) but are enthralled with the academic pusuit of the history and evolution of the guitar. They'd probably choose to impose the strictest definition of "original". I've become a lot more tolerant in defining terms and have tried to focus on celebrating the evolution of the guitar, in all it's diversity. It's a fascinating subject. Raceboy (Raceboy) Posted on Thursday, May 22, 2003 - 8:24 am:    Here's a unique guitar... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2532760823&category=33043&rd=1 Guitarman (Guitarman) Posted on Friday, May 23, 2003 - 4:05 am:    Tim and JohnS, You guys are right about the originality design of guitars. Actually I wasn't even that specific about it. But no matter... Raceboy, I have look at it really hard and can't make out what the design is supposed to be - an alien? a bird? a fish?... Raceboy (Raceboy) Posted on Tuesday, May 27, 2003 - 9:21 pm:    I was never quite able to figure that out myself. It says it's designed after the photo on the Vai album pictured. I think it's supposed to be a weapon. The pointy parts would open a person up like a can opener.

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