signature guitars

I would add that there is no such thing as a regular Strat, - there are so many options, - made in Mexico, Made in US, - been through custom shop, specified by custom shop but built in Mexico, 50's copy, 60's copy, 70's copy, 60's roadworn...To my mind the Fender range (certainly with the Strat) is far too confusing and part reason we walked away from buying one.

I do not profess to being an expert on this matters but I think I recall somebody like David Gilmore proclaiming the EC signature model as near perfect right out of the box. Any more informed opinion/ comment on that?

i should also add, i was referring to an american standard strat being as good as any of the signature ones but i am sure you get my drift

I know a lot of people on here call you a fan boy if you own a Strat with somebodys name on it.  I think thats rubish.  I had always wanted an Eric Clapton Signature model in Pewter but never really found one.  I settled for a blackie model in 2002 which was the first year of the Noiseless pickups.  I had it for 7 years and loved the fact that I could go from a twang sound to a humbucker heavy fat sound with the turn of a pot.  It wasn't custom shop, and I don't know much at all about those but mine wasn't at all perfect.  Fender should really make standard on all guitars to sheild their pickguards completely and not just at the controls.  That was my first experience with RF Interferrence.  I would touch the plastic and get a static pop that was then picked up by the electronics and sent out with the signal.  At first I lived with it.  JUst don't touch the pickguard.  But that messes with your playing style.  next I took it to a repairman who didn't know anything.  He said it was fine and sent me on my way.  That guitar didn't get touched for a long time until I learned that you can buy copper tape to sheild the electronics from RF.  After that I traded my dad 2 guitars for that one.  He traded in for a Les Paul Traditional Pro which we both decided was far better then the Clapton Strat.
My american series Stratocaster from 2001 kills about any strat that I've ever picked up and I've been told by people who play it that it feels like its got 20 years worth of playing on it due to it being my main guitar, it also got all the Clapton sounds easier then a EC Signature model.

Just felt like I should add this to what I said.  If your paying big bucks for a guitar Like the EC signature model you should expect perfection.  You shouldn't have to add copper foil to the pickgurard.  I have a friend that bought a Joe Perry BoneYard Les Paul which was beautiful with its flame top, but the electronics sounded horrible!  If you can believe that and he paid like $4000 for it!  If I'm dropping 4 grand on a guitar it sure as hell better not be a lemon.  As with anything try it out before buying and make absolute sure you dig it before dropping the money.  If your just going to change it anyways why not buy a cheaper guitar and start from there.

i too have no issue with owning signature model guitars....these people play for a living and have pretty cool ideas for their own guitars. but if i pick up a signature model and dont like then i wont buy it.

BUT, everybody that opposes signature models needs to keep in mind that technically speaking arent Gibson Les Pauls signature models????????

with that said, I own a fender eric johnson model and it is for sure different than any strat I have ever owned.  I really love the guitar and it is alot of fun to play and i have gotten some great sounds out of it.  is it $1000 better than an american standard strat?  probably not, but it is a wonderful guitar.

i also own a peavey american wolfgang.  one of the single greatest rock and roll guitars I have ever owned...period.  bought it used.  never lusted after one of these thigns even though I love EVH....i ran across it used and thought well I will play it and once I did i fell in love with it. not a real versatile guitar but if you plan to rock out then this will get it done.

i own a ernie ball music man steve morse signature model.  wonderul guitar....the pickup combinations are endless.....this is probably the msot versatile guitar i have ever owned....the only issue i have with it is a switch to engage the bridge humbucker gets in my way when i play and i alwasy switch it on when i dont intend for it be on...in the studio i can watch it but live i have trouble with it.  bu toverall a great guitar.

but like i said even though i am fanboy at times if i play something and dont like then i wont buy it....i practically worship at the church of ty tabor and when the yamaha ty tabor model signature came out years ago it was reasonbly priced etc.....i got my hands on one one time and quite frankly it sucked ****.  i was so dissapointed and even though i just knew i had to have one once i played i never wanted one again.

Les Paul - "How High The Moon"  My favorite Les Paul record is Lester and Chester.  Les had quit the music bussiness after a divorce from Mary Ford.  Chet Atkins calls him up and says "hey Les I've got some down time in my studio you wanna come over and play on some songs?"  To which Les was living across town said, "Sure".  It doesn't have a hit song that people will be like "I didn't know they played that" but it has tons of call and response to it, and to hear 2 master play in a competitive manner like this was incredible.  I think everybody ought to check Les Paul out he really is more responsible for more then just a Maple top shoulder weight.  Try multi track recording, for one.

Leo Fender never learned guitar.  He couldn't play one chord.  He had worked in the music bussiness for 10 years a amp builder and Fender Electircal Company started off that way.  His first idea was the P bass.  which totally chaged the world, sortly followed by the Esquire, but before it was mass produced they came out with a 2 pickup Broadcaster (Broadcaster was dropped due to a lawsuit and the famous nocaster "no logo" was used.  Thats when they came up with the name Telecaster in 1952.)

I think signature guitars are ok as long as they are no totally obvious they are a signature model. The clapton and eric john signatures for example are not branded with a name you can read from a mile away. The same can be said for the bonamassa les paul. Small chnages that add up. I dont have huge issue with signature guitars as long as they are subtle enough not to make you stick out like a fan boy.

let me ask this to those who oppose signature guitars.

if you put your own name a guitar you designed, from say - Warmoth.com, does that make you a d-bag or poser?
I mean, you did design it... it's like your signature model.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping.