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Joe Bonamassa Forum → Joe's Guitars, Amps and Gear → How far is too far when talking signature gear?
I don't want this to turn into a bashing but how far is too far when it comes to signature gear. Before anyone shouts at me let me just say I have the following,
PRS David Grissom
KWS Strat
Bonamassa Epi on order
Jimi hendrix Fuzz & Octave fuzz pedals.
My point is I just seen an advert in guitarist with joe advertising ernie ball, I believe he now has signature straps with them. Is this too far, I mean, a strap?
Well, artists have to pay the bills. I am assuming that signature models give artists kickbacks. Save maybe for the Carol Ann JB. Even if not, the exposure a company like gibson, fender, ernie ball can give to an artist, is often invaluable (for the working musician and not megastars). Although signature model anything is not for me and often said items are overpriced because of the name on them, to each their own. I am pretty certain that if I played a PRS DGT like yours, I would want one. BTW, Warren Haynes has a signature strap as well...
I think it's a great revenue stream for the artist that can obtain the endorsements. But I know what you're saying. Look at Slash or Zakk Wylde, they have so much signature stuff it cheapens what could otherwise be cool.
I think it's a fine line......
It doesn't help that lots of the stuff (here's looking at you Slash and Zakk) is actually tat.
Bad sound, bad build quality and double the price of even boutique stuff. Not sure I've heard anything as bad as the Zakk OD...
Plus he and K.King endorse those horrible little MG stacks as 'back stage practise amps'...when it's clear they'd never ever use them.
How good will this Slash amp be? Sounds pretty fair so far, but let's open it up to see modern Marshall quality...will it be worth the £1.3k?
Even Joe's stuff, unless it works for me and getting those sounds I've got in my head (which isn't Joe's, sorry)...it's pretty useless...?
What I want to know is where is the Eric Johnson signature battery? (old joke I know 
)
Have I found a good piece of sig. gear yet? Yes. The Gibson Les Paul. 
I don't think artists making signature gear is too far at all...they've paid their dues and deserve to have "official" items that they themselves use.
Having said that, I think BUYING tons of signature gear is a bit too far. If it's for a good reason like the specs, theres no problem. But just to live out the fantasy of "being them", it's a bit too far. The hendrix fuzzface I have is one of the best fuzz's I've ever played, and I bought it because I actually wanted those specs. At the time there was no alternative, and I'm very happy with it. Even with a guitar, I think if you're going to buy a sig, take off the truss rod cover, etc. that has their name stamped on it.
I think if you can find your sound with signature gear thats great and if you can find your sounds with a $100 pawn shop beauty that is great to.
I think there is a lot og signature gear out there thats average at best and is just the artist making a little extra cash. A lot of the Slash guitars come to mind, I have played some and was underwhelmed by them. A lot of the sig fenders as well.
But I do think some of the signature gear that Artists promote was intened for players. Like the Bonamassa les pauls, the Eric Clapton strat, I would say Eddies first Wolfgang guitar with Ernie Ball. It seems those artist had a say in the design and wanted those guitars built to be played more so than a little extra pocket cash for themselves. I am sure there is a long list of gear I am missing here but you see my point.
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Giving the opportunity, any of us with jump at it these opportunities based on the product meeting your quality, specs, before singing our name away to make the cash and further our brand in the marketplace.
Based on quality and specs, I would have Sig everything...I would be just like Gene Simmons. Now what bothers me about Sig gear, is when artist doesn't even play or use it....That's Gone Too Far.
If its good I don't see the problem... what gets me about generic gear especially from dunno is a lot of it is stock with a re brand....
I personally will use anything if it sounds good (robin trower od springs to mind)
As for guitars give me a stock strat or lp any day, I just don't get the stupid price points, a ec strat has features for its price (which is round same as a 50's avri) but all the others just don't see to offer anything for the cash. And Sig Gibson take the piss no excuse for branding similar products at over 100% increases. Lol there's even a ec les Paul soon shame on u gibbo
I guess your opinion of signature gear depends upon mainly two things:
1.) How dedicated of a fan of the artist you are.
2.) How much disposable money you have.
Why would one buy and pay more for Charmin toilet paper over generic, both wipe your **** clean, but does one feel a little smoother....Yes....now if that additional smoothness isn't worth it for your butt or you can't feel difference, fine, but nothing wrong with someone selling and someone buying higher quality regardless of preceived cost.
It's insulting to comment negatively on product pricing and or downgrade item like a JB, Page, Bloomfield Les Paul as an example to those who own them or might buy them IMHO.
I wish I could afford that Bloomfield Les Paul...
P.S. Most that knock a product as overpriced, nothing special for all that money, etc...need to look themselves in the mirror, they're merley disgusted they can't afford it.
I guess your opinion of signature gear depends upon mainly two things:
1.) How dedicated of a fan of the artist you are.
2.) How much disposable money you have.
I have bought sig gear for the followign reasons.
The fuzzes, I been through loads of fuzzes and these were the ones that best fitted my needs and got them at a good price.
PRS DGT, I wanted one for 2 years after reading the review in guitarist magazine, hadn;t even heard of David Grissom at the time. It was a PRS with vintage appointments that looked and sounded amazing.
KWS sig strat. I was looking for a strat with a nice big chunky neck with a flat radius. It came up on ebay and and I got a good deal on it. I was convinced I would need to change the pickups but they're staying in.
As for the Epi Bonamassa, First off I'm a fan and missed out on a gibson (all my money went on the DGT). The specs on the epiphone look like good value.
The kenny wayne shepherd in sunburst isn't an obvious sig neither is the DGT really the artist touches are there but not in your face like say a Kirk Hammet sig with a wicked paint job. The Bonamassa too is a little subtle, can;t decide weather to change all the black parts for more traditional cream, I'll wait and see.
Can you mod the generic toilet paper? 
Why would one buy and pay more for Charmin toilet paper over generic, both wipe your **** clean, but does one feel a little smoother....Yes....now if that additional smoothness isn't worth it for your butt or you can't feel difference, fine, but nothing wrong with someone selling and someone buying higher quality regardless of preceived cost.
It's insulting to comment negatively on product pricing and or downgrade item like a JB, Page, Bloomfield Les Paul as an example to those who own them or might buy them IMHO.
I wish I could afford that Bloomfield Les Paul...
P.S. Most that knock a product as overpriced, nothing special for all that money, etc...need to look themselves in the mirror, they're merley disgusted they can't afford it.
Too Funny...thanks for laugh...that was good!!!
Can you mod the generic toilet paper?
t92780 wrote:Why would one buy and pay more for Charmin toilet paper over generic, both wipe your **** clean, but does one feel a little smoother....Yes....now if that additional smoothness isn't worth it for your butt or you can't feel difference, fine, but nothing wrong with someone selling and someone buying higher quality regardless of preceived cost.
It's insulting to comment negatively on product pricing and or downgrade item like a JB, Page, Bloomfield Les Paul as an example to those who own them or might buy them IMHO.
I wish I could afford that Bloomfield Les Paul...
P.S. Most that knock a product as overpriced, nothing special for all that money, etc...need to look themselves in the mirror, they're merley disgusted they can't afford it.
If I could afford a 10-20K guitar I would not spend on a bloomfield model although he is one of my favorites. I would spend the 4-5K or whatever on a JB LP and a PRS! What I think distinguishes the JB LP from others is that it was built as a workhorse and not a melancholy museum piece. two different departments altogether IMHO.
It depends on if it has a sound you're looking for. As for straps, I don't really have a problem with that.
Are you asking about too far into one guy?
For example:
Gibson JBLP
Ernie Ball Strap w/JB logo
Sig. CarolAnn, Cat.5 or comprable
Marshall SiverJub
EV12's
etc.
I guess I don't think there's anything wrong with it because a) you still won't sound just like him and
b)this logo or name isn't FLAUNTED everywhere on the things he uses.
Obviously if all of your gear had a big JB logo on it, people would wonder who the heck you are and why you've stolen "JB's" rig?
I'm coming to a place where I'm starting to get my own musical identity. I have huge guitar collection, so I doubt there is a guitar that defines me (SG, LP, etc.) but most of my straps have snake skin on them because I'm an avid fan of snakes. I've never let others define what a good amp is, and I've been playing Rivera amps since 2000. Yes other amps are awesome, but the Rivera is "mine." I've even inspired others to get the same make of amp.
That said, if I see something Joe uses that will help my musical vision in any way, I wouldn't hesitate. But like Joe said in the past, doing your own thing is important too. On a happy note, it's been years since the "JB is a SRV clone" discussions have plagued the forums. I'm so happy that stuff is history! 
Yea, I guess it is the money. When the BFG sig LP came out I wanted one. But they sold for 9K up to 13-14K. That to me is ridiculous money for a what really is a reissue with enhancements. I later bought a 50th Anniversary 59 LP and a Bonaburst for what I would have spent on a BFG LP. I guess I don't understand the collector mentality. To me it's just a guitar and nothing more. It's meant to be used. After all it IS just a tool of the trade. No? Do I collect? I guess to a certain extent I do. I've got a house load full of $hit. At my age, that makes me a hoarder not a collector. 
Collectors CANNOT play guitar.
Joe Bonamassa Forum → Joe's Guitars, Amps and Gear → How far is too far when talking signature gear?
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