@@CapraObscura I don't mean a LP, but like, a ESP James Hetfield Signature Explorer, or a black Fender Stratocaster David Guilmour Signature Model. Those are all like pretending to be those guys, you know, I can't imagine myself going to a stage to play my original songs with one of those guitars.
OR maybe, variants of the same guitar with different features!! take the Harley Benton Fusion III for example. you can get a Hardtail HH version, a tremolo HH, tremolo HSH, tremolo HSS, Floyd Rose HH, Floyd Rose HSH, even a Hardtail EMG version. and some have roasted maple necks and some don't. and that's a good thing, people want these specifics man.
I've gotten into colored pickups, I have mainly humbuckers, black, white, black and creme zebra, blue, pink (on a flourescent yellow Ibanez 25th AnniversaryRG)... I might use red Dimarzios on my walnut flat Ibanez RG7421, then do the volume, tone knob and switch tip in yellow.
ok but the esp hatsune miku signature stream is fucking fire dude you legit cannot hate on it it's peak i'm so mad its japanese market only i'd totally rock up to my first midwest emo band rehearsal with that shit
Really intresting one I currently want is the Brian May acoustic on his site for £500. zero fret at nut, double cutaway, straight string allighnment to tuners and 24 frets
I'd say what sets these apart is that its not them being endorsed with a lazy signiature, they're actually designing line products in collaboration with brands/builders
the JEM stands out historically because it spawned the RG series and so on, at the time it was bonkers unique and earned its spot as not being a rebrand of a production model with a price hike
8 years ago I would hate the idea of owning a signature guitar, now I’ve noticed my most anticipated guitars are indeed signature guitars lol. I own a MM JP15 which I absolutely love, a TOD10, and a Jackson dominion, and I love them for how unique each is, I used to hate the idea of having the signature look of someone else, but what really drags me to a signature model now is the different features it may have, pickups, wiring, some carving or shale choices, etc
The JP models are specifically crafted designs though and not just some ibanez prestige with a paint job. That's the difference really. If some people just want to buy a signature slapped on a model already offered then more power to them I guess. I wouldn't trade my JP15 for anything and it's not because Petrucci's name is on it, it's just the best guitar I've ever played.
Billy Sheehan’s signature Yamaha bass started out by re-creating all the modifications he’d done at home to his old P-Bass, and building it that way from the ground up instead of a Frankenstein thing. (And then they’ve done further tweaks in the decades since they started together.)
I finally got to play one!!! it was super dope a felt really nice but ended up buying a warwick corvette standard instead because i couldnt swing the $1700 lol
When I was a lot younger, I bought a signature guitar, just because I really liked (and still like) the guitar player and because I thought the guitar looked cool and was original but after a while, I regretted buying it. I wanted to have my own guitar, so a few years ago, I bought a cheaper guitar and gradually replaced some of the parts (had to wait to save the money for each new part, which ended up being a good thing, it gave me time to really know what I wanted to change instead of just ordering all the parts at once and replace them just because that's what everyone else does). I still enjoy looking at the signature guitar as it sits there on its stand but the one I customised is the one I play the most. I could customise the signature guitar to make it "mine" but if you want to do that, what's the point of getting a signature guitar in the first place?
So instead of customizing your signature guitar you would rather it sit on the stand all because you say why buy a signature in the 1st place if your just going to modify it. Hmm that's such a good philosophy....Not!
The point of getting a signature guitar is just to get a fucking guitar. Its no different from any other guitar. If you like it, get it. That's it. It's no deeper than that unless you make it so.
@BkBk-gy6vr - What if you want to sell it? Swapping parts and making modifications would devalue the guitar. Anyone who is interested in getting a used signature guitar couldn't give a shit about your preferences. Good advice on modifying a signature guitar ....Not!
@SK23 - Not really. A lot of signature guitar have limited runs. Sometimes as few as 30. If you're buying the guitar as an investment vehicle, that's a lot different than " any other guitar". Like it or not, that's the reality of the guitar market. One market for doctor and lawyers, another for guys who actually want to play .
I bought a PRS Mark Holcomb because I wanted a 25.5 in scale length Custom 24 with a 20 in radius fretboard. I immediately tuned it to standard tuning and change the pickups out for my preferred set. It's my signature guitar now.
I understand signature models, and they have their place...IF it is something like an EVH signature guitar. What drives me crazy is when companies give UA-camrs signature guitars.
I have a PRS CE Dustie Waring guitar. To be honest, I never heard of his band until PRS announced the latest edition of his guitar. But, I didn't buy it because I was a fan. I bought it because it looks and sounds metal, and I love PRS, and it was a metal PRS. And it ended up being my favorite guitar, plays like it was made for me. So, I ended up being a fan of his band because I loved the guitar. I also have the Silver Sky, and I cannot connect with it. It's made for Mayer's hands. So, I got lucky with one signature model.
Dustie's signature is sick! I think PRS (overall) does a pretty good job with their signature guitars in that they seem purposeful. The Holcomb model is also sick
I also have a DW, it’s my number one guitar. And I get so many compliments on it. Honestly I do really like BTBAM but that is not why I bought it. I bought it out of the used section at my local music store because it was the best playing guitar there.
I'm of the mindset that, to justify a signature guitar, it has to basically stand on its own as a design. The Les Paul was an innovative, incredible design (for the time). It's iconic, and one of the first electric solid body guitars ever. The modern equivalents to the Les Paul are things like the JEM, the John Petrucci Music Man's, and, my personal favorite, the EVH (technically Music Man-designed) Wolfgang. All of these are either heavily modified existing designs, or completely original designs, instead of just being *slightly* modified. If you can strip the artist's name from the model and your average Joe can't tell the difference between it and a "non-signature" model of that guitar, it doesn't deserve to be produced. I'd say the JEM walks the fine line, but it gets the pass. But an SRV Stratocaster is just a Stratocaster without his name on there.
Matt Pike, a metal guitarist had a small signature Guitar run where he signed every guitar himself and that thing has three humbuckers and a unique shape. Pretty cool. And the price was like 1700 bucks I think. Only 200 bucks more
I generally completely agree that buying a signature guitar feels like you're just borrowing someone else's guitar and kinda feels wrong, however my Ernie Ball Majesty is John Petrucci's signature guitar, and it is the greatest instrument I have ever played and I've shamelessly used it on stage and for recording because of how incredible it feels to play. I consider it more as an innovation in guitar engineering rather than just another signature guitar
I don't think his point is that all signature guitars are bad. That seems to be made clear in his Jordan/Les Paul argument. It seems more like the problem is the sheer number of signature guitars that don't do something innovative or different. They're just a cool looking version of guitars they already release. If the only signature guitars were like the Majesty, or the Abasis, or the Holcomb PRS (you could even extend to the Jackson Juggernaut because of fret radius and roasted maple) then we'd be chill, but there are far too many signatures that probably aren't that creative.
But I don't think the Musicman JP fits the criteria to what Uncle Judy is referring to. the JP is a quite unique designed guitar with unique features, its kinda on its own category, and it has been in production for so long that at this point it does not even "feel" like a signature. Judy is talking mostly about the lazy ass signatures that are literally a production model from given brand but with some different colours and pickups, and that's all. The Ibanez AZ that Judy commented is one of the best example of that. Back then the AZ had lots of cool funky colours to choose from. Now they have dozens of signature artist where their signature is basically a recoloured AZ with minor changes, and to not cannibalize these signatures with the actual AZ models, they had to trim down the AZ line-up to boring sunburst, all black colours, etc.. otherwise people would not buy the signatures.
To me signature guitars arnt a big deal if they don't look like a custom one off. like EVHs normal guitars are fine, but something like the frankie to me would feel weird to own
Just to note, I think another reason for the rise in signature guitars is it's an avenue for the artists to make back the income lost to music sales. With revenue from music sales being practically non-existent, the artists need multiple ways to recoup that so they can keep doing what they're doing. Signature models is one of the easiest ways to do that, and the companies dig it because as you've pointed out, many times it's a slight variation on an existing product, and it's more marketing for them. Also notice how EVERY band is touring like crazy now? Same deal in that it's how they make their money, and there's an argument to be had that it's overcrowding the space for everybody.
While I agree with your argument about signature models, touring isn't necessarily profitable too. I know Misha Mansoor says that the only money he makes in music is from the signature stuff and his businesses. Periphery apparently doesn't make a profit
Don’t forget shilling , inferior hardware/plug-ins. Telling you to produce drums in your own home, instead of going out there in the real world and playing with real people . The future of hikikomori bedroom music is here.
The john Petrucci signature is one of the only signature models I don't feel this way about because so many people play them that it doesn't even feel like a signature guitar and there's so many different variations. Kinda like the les paul except obviously not as well known or iconic
I’ve played Washburn N4’s for years and they’re killer guitars. Having Nuno’s name on it has never been a problem for me. I can’t imagine ever buying a UA-camr signature guitar, but to each their own.
@@periachi4961same. I have both - I prefer the JEM in a lot of ways but you can’t beat the 550 in price-to-performance. The JEM at this point just feels like an Ibanez, less of a signature to me seeing it all over youtube and with some artists since it’s been around so long. It does everything, too, which is why I really like my Ibanez’s since they all do amazing at basically everything. In terms of JEM vs 550 it’s preference for the most part. The stock 550 pickups are fat as shit and sound amazing. The JEM’s (7VP) with en Evolution is super aggressive, and tone wise similar. Other than that the input jack location is almost worth the extra money. And aesthetics. JEM’s are very good looking guitars.
surprised you didn't talk about Kirk's other "signature" which is just a Les Paul, a signature on its own, made famous by two other people, then made into a Kirk "signature" My guy that's just..a guitar you own lmao Atleast his ESP models have lil Kirk flairs on em
Ah so because I did it with my dad in my dinky garage instead of alongside professional craftsmen then it's no longer a signature guitar. Got it. Cool. Didn't realize we had imaginary arbitrary criteria and checklists for what does and doesn't count as a signature model guitar. I've learned much today.
My local guitar center has a machine gun Kelly Schecter that they haven’t been able to get rid of for over a year Tbh it’s not a bad looking guitar, you just have to live knowing you bought a machine gun kelly guitar
Totally agree. I dont know who's in their marketing departments, but if they think a Silverburst FV Custom will only sell if Brent Hinds signature is on the back, they must be smoking crack. Give us fancy colors and specs
Completely agree, I own the epi Brent Hinds guitar and its great. I'm a fan of Mastodon, but I didn't really need or want the fancy pickups and skull sticker...
@@TheMightyYak At least the skull logo is on the back of the headstock when they could have put it on the front of the guitar somewhere and made it worse
ngl i got into dinosaur jr. long after buying the j mascis signature jazzmaster. i just liked the way the guitar was set up, fit, finish, and price. added bonus was getting into their tunes.
You dont have to. Dont buy it :) I dont give a shit if its a signature or not, if I like what I see, I would buy it. Every other stock guitar is also designed by somebody else. I guess custom shop is the only way for people to buy something "yours"... Or build it yourself from scratch even
Bought a Jim Root Tele used, yanked out the EMGs and the black hardware and replaced it all with passives with chrome covers and chrome hardware. I play Blues and Rock on that thing. Good luck finding a white Fender with an Ebony Board, 12 inch radius and a dual humbucker setup at the same time. But apart from that, I agree 😅
I bought a signature guitar. But as you said, the standard guitars are often times boring and annovations only seem to happen with signature guitars. Id be more than happy to by my guitar without a signature, but there just wasnt a basic guitar that had the specs that i wanted. With that said i share the thought that its not original, so ill build my custom guitar on my own soon. I just didnt have the time to do it since i needed a guitar for my band.
I used to own a LTD BW-1 Ben Weinman signature for years. Loved the guitar because it was unique, played great, sounded awesome and was very high end for the price. Funny thing was that he didnt really even play that guitar live but it was a cool collaboration between Weinman and ESP.
I would say the BW-1 is one of the most unique guitars at this moment, don't know of any other semi-hollowbody guitar that comes with evertune and fishman fluences.
I want the LTD BW-1 so badly but can’t get over it being a signature model. None of the other similarly designed ESP or LTD models have 24 frets so I can’t even go with one of the cheaper, non-signature models.
@TheTerribleShaman just go for it. I regret selling mine but I needed money at the time. They are really excellent instruments and they excel at just about any genre you could play. I swapped vintage voiced EMG fat 55s in mine loved the sound. Plus the evertune, when properly set up, stays in tune like nothing else.
I bought a schecter avenger off sweet water, after being such a huge avenged sevenfold fan. But couldn’t bring myself to bring his actual guitar. How u supposed to be yo own man when u got another man’s name on yo fretboard
That’s how I felt about the new Schecter ZV “h6llw66d” bad ass sg shape but man why the douche name ? There’s not a single song by them I could name but man the guitar looks sick. Oh well 😂
I think this is why so many bands that are doing this seriously (at least in metal) have turned to custom brands. Hapas, kiesel, etc. Last time i shopped for a guitar I went to ibanez because its what ive always played and it was the most frustrating catalogue I ever looked through. I think the guitar center box brands have become completely creatively bankrupt and have no idea what the needs of modern performing artists are.
Steve Vai expressed similar sentiments when approached about his signature guitar saying that most of the offerings were just the base models with a color scheme change.
Nah, I’m going to jazz school with my Guthrie Govan signature that I bought when I used to think he was all there is to guitar. It’s an awesome playing instrument. I don’t agree with this whole guitar fetishism thing. The guitar you play is about as important as the colour shirt you wear, it’s a superficial, needless thing. Just find a good instrument and hone your craft, none of this. The originality comes from what you choose to do with the tool, not the tool itself
Agree for the most part. But some signature guitars are well thought through. Take the PRS DGT for instance (or the newer Tremontis without the underwear tag on the 12th fret). The first run of Chris Cornell ES-335s was also cool (unlike the post-mortem tribute series where they put his signature on the headstock).
I kinda agree with you, but I'll never not want an Alexi Scythe. I just wish I had bought an Edwards one when they popped up online occasionally and were affordable
I went to a local guitar store one time and asked them if they had any schecter guitars and the guy working the counter was like “just… that one” and gestured towards the MGK guitar
There was this guy on youtube, who had james hetfield signature guitars, dressed like james hetfield, mimicked his playing style, his techniques, everything. Thats the vibe i get from signature guitars.
I like it when signatures inspire new model lines. The RG series is a great example, I enjoy the JP series as well. The Ibanez series that looks boring are basically revamps of the Roadstar II series from the 80s. I have an original that is just black w a rosewood fretboard. I wish the AZ series were cooler looking, even some of the original finishes are cooler.
I just got a video of yours in my feed literally a whole year after I was binging your videos. I honestly thought you fell in a hole or something, but seeing your activity, the algorithm did you real dirty. Love your content! And yeah, totally not spending a grand on a signature. There are just as many guitars that feel good and are quality built
ESP probably has a lot more than 32 artists but that's beside the point. For those wanting to know more check their Japanese site. Most of the Japanese signature models from ESP are a variation of the Forest or "F" line of guitars. I Also, I actually like the Kanji inlays and the vector art. I do own a signature model of a guitar its one of Karou guitars from an earlier period in Dir En Grey's history after he stopped using the ESP Horizon models. I'm rebuilding it from from the neck, body, and electronics cover that I imported from Japan.
I actually bought an LTD Viper since it's the closest thing I could find to Kaorus 7 string for a decent price. While it's obviously not the same guitar I'm very happy. I feel like if I had a Kaoru signature model I'd just want to play Dir en Grey on it which would be ironic given how often they change up their sound.
I have an Yngwie Strat that I use for everything, regardless of genre. It's comfortable and it's special to me because we also share a birthday. I do agree that the market is oversaturated, though. It's not even the most artsy design either. It's just an off-white maple Strat. It looks like a normal guitar to the untrained eye but it has value to me, both objectively and subjectively. The scalloped fingerboard is so comfortable to me that sometimes a normal flat one feels foreign.
I generally feel the same sentiments. That being said I think signatures occasionally do unique things (which is what they should do) and have 2 signatures (kinda). One is the Tim Henson TOD10N which I share with my father as we both love nylon string guitars but this thing is actually pretty unique, has a great sound unplugged and plays fantastically like an electric, but also sounds great plugged into anything. It is also cool as hell especially for a nylon string guitar, as there is essentially one look for every other instrument, and at a fantastic price point. I also got the Javier Reyes JR-208 in pelham blue as my first 8 string. It isn't just some cheap and generic looking black super strat, it is a blue ESP mystique shape. The pickups were fine, whatever, doesn't really matter cause I am not one of those people who spends more time whining about pickups than playing. It has coil splitting, its own inlay style, gold hardware and binding on a metallic blue, all of which set it apart from other lower (than $1k) price point 8 strings when I bought it. It played better than any 8 string I had tried other than ~$2500 Strandbergs. Seems like most signatures even if cool seem *really* signature in the looks department but lack their own specs or wiring options or anything new, so few are unique enough to be worth purchasing IMO.
I would literally buy an Uncle Judy Signature guitar over 99% of sigs out there. Oh and yes, I would love to record my original music on a guitar with your autograph on it. Please send it to me now Uncle!
I’m with you on this. The worst is when you come across a guitar that’s a thousand dollars or more and you get one color option. Extra annoying when it’s some plain color like unburst
Signature guitars are cool when they offer different features that aren’t so common. Most of the time I’ll look into a signature guitar if someone idek but If I like the specs I’ll dig it. Problem is when brands like fender give random people their own guitars and it’s just a strat that’s like dark blue lmaooo. At least the Stephen carpenters have distinct features. I do loathe that fluff and Jared dines have guitars tho….
Most of the signature guitars I own are ones I bought because I like the design and the specs. There's only two that I bought because of the artist that played them and those are my esp alexi models. The rest were because I thought they were cool. Some I didn't even know who the artist was until after I had bought them. The days of signature guitars all plastered with the artists name and band are mostly gone. Anymore a signature guitar, is just another guitar. It just might have someone's name on the back of the headstock and some don't even have that.
Marketing, advertisement, and endorsement can be written off by the company to offset their taxes. They could give a fuck less about actually selling signature guitars. I waited nearly a year for the Tim Henson Ibanez. Finally showed up and it wasn’t playable. Everything was loose. Needed a complete setup and overhaul. And now that model is discontinued.
I got myself a James Hetfield Ltd vulture. But I specifically ordered it white so it didn’t look like the one he played. I then went on to buy some custom inlays and decorations, and made it my own.
I bought an Epiphone Les Origins 7 Matt Heafy sig, only because it was the only 7 string LP I could find that I could afford. The only branding is on the truss rod cover (easily changed) and the back of the headstock. It's fantastic and I wouldn't change anything about it, even if I was ordering from the custom shop.
I have always thought that they only made somewhere between 5 and 20 of each signature model to distribute to stores, and the rest are just made to order. 90% of the people who will buy a signature guitar are massive fans or people in tribute bands, people who go into stores to try an instrument are looking for something high quality, a super fan or somebody in a tribute band wants something that looks the part
I feel the same about signatures, I feel like I’m playing dress up and have no originality, wearing another guitarist briefs and shoes, trying to be them. It just doesn’t appeal to me.
I think its definitely oversaturated, but I really like when some companies end up bringing out signature guitars which have unique features that would normally require a far bigger price/aftermarket, or some very unique visuals and making it more accessible. But there are very few, and even some more unique artists signatures have slowly been dumbed down through certain releases (such as the berried alive signature guitar which was a 7 string, that came with a sustainiac, tremolo and killswitch, one of the very few guitars that offered it stock, and now it does not have a sustainiac. I don't think there are any in production/readily accessible guitars that offer that combination). I like the idea of artists working with companies to make their unique equipment available at an affordable price, I'm not interested in buying a marked up generic guitar that has some specific colours etc.
Holy crap. I don't know who this guy is, but I just found him, and he's basically the filthy frank of guitar. I love him. Just please don't r*pe my eyes ever again with unwarranted footage of 2 men making out. Do that, and I'll stick around, like, and subscribe.
When I was in high school, I bought the Ibanez Paul Stanley PS40 (replaced by the PS60 in 2017) the first year he went back to Ibanez. Only reason I really cared was because it was, back in 2015, it was the only truly cheap full scale Iceman. I've since modded it with a single passive EMG and set it up in B standard since the DigiTech pitch shifters skip from 7 semi-tones straight to an octave
A guitar is a guitar man. I don't care if it's signature or not. In fact, my 2 main stage guitars are a Schecter KM-7 and a KM Hybrid. Keith Merrow made the best guitars ever, and I 100% am proud to play them. No one has ever asked me why I play a signature model😂 also in most cases, getting your own "signature" requires a butt load of money for a custom shop model....
Yea and 99.99% of the time nobody actually cares either if you "write your music using a signature guitar belonging to someone else" either. Like, I get that it's all for comedic effect but there's always a tiny bit of truth behind a shit post too and there's a part of me that genuinely believes Judy does unironically think to himself "ew I can't be writing my music using someone else's signature guitar" which is just super funny in my head.
I don't mind using signature guitars as long as the painting is not "exclusive", i have a Jackson sdx from Adrian Smith, it's a white strat with fr, just a regular guitar with a signature, a Zakk Wylde LP with the bullseye would be weird.
The rifle check with the brad paisley caster was exquisite. And I have laughed my ass off several times because I’ve literally said most of this same shit dude. Fuckin everyone who’s even relatively aight at guitar, has a signature. Except us, unless we outsource to china for a guitar we personalize or some shit. Excellent vid my dude
thats something i thought was interesting about guitar players. the ones that pick a style and stick with it or they will idolize one guitarist and try to emulate them. idk i always thought that was weird coz i never got too attached to a guitarist or band or style of music(i dont think). stephen carpenter's sig guitars are surprisingly good quality, i own one of the cheaper ones. ended up choosing it over my seven string ibanez, but im not a shredder so whatever
That was like you were building a Kiesel on their builder. You're right about them not wanting to make them. This is why Charvel charges $3700 for a Govan sig that's basically a San Dimas- they want you to buy the San Dimas they already made that's at GC.
This is actually a really good point. They don’t have to give a cut of revenue to the artist, and you can get a guitar that looks close enough. For example, I am on the hunt for a PRS SE singlecut for a pretty low (and quite possibly unreasonably so) budget, and while I would love to have a Tremonti SE, there are a number of better looking models available for closer to my budget that are not signature models, but do have that PRS style single cutaway that I really like. I have been in love with his signature guitar since it came out back in 2001, but I am not and will never be good enough to justify spending that kind of cash, and while it is still hard for me to tear myself away from the idea of having at least the SE version of THAT guitar, if I can get a guitar that looks just like it without “Tremonti” stamped on it, I am sure I would be just as happy, and maybe less inclined to feel intense disappointment if I end up hating it.
It was already crazy in the 1990’s. My friend had a Jimmy Vaughan signature Stratocaster. Not Stevie Ray Vaughan; his brother, Jimmy. But at least that signature guitar no one asked for didn’t say “SRV” on the pickguard. SRV’s guitar did because he was SRV.
While I do agree there are probably too many signature guitars these days, and agree with some of your points - there are a couple of counter arguments I'd make: 1. Some signature guitars offer unique design/ergonomic/pickup features which are what the artist wants - and appeal to others too (especially if they like and want to sound like that artist). 2. Unfortunately, most of us probably will never be famous guitarists. Most of us play guitar as a hobby and have a different day job. Realistically we're looking at being in a cover band and not practicing anywhere near the amount we would like to because we have full time jobs, families, etc. So we're not trying to write and record original music - and we'd like to cosplay as our favourite guitarists... Like you said with the Avenged Sevenfold example - it's cool and fun. But I agree that if I were a recording artist trying to make a career out of music - I probably wouldn't buy a signature guitar as my main instrument (maybe as an "extra" fun guitar). Unless it was the best guitar I ever played.
I would love nothing more than to not by a signature model to write stuff on, but I’m picky when it comes to visuals and you literally can’t get anything else that looks good and sounds good for anything less than custom guitar prices. The system is corrupt 😭
I mean, I own a Sire Marcus Miller signature 5 string and a John Mayer signature silver sky USA, I don’t necessarily make it an amateur by signature guitar is, but it just happens that way that the signature guitars are modified to the musician specs that I would want
What I like to do is buy signatures, mod them, and play a genre that the sig artist wouldn’t approve of. For example I have an Adrian Smith signature and I use it to play pornogrind and put fishmans in it
i MEEEEAAAAN I just bought a km7 and holy shit its beautiful, I was the exact same with signature guitars but this thing is just so perfect and exactly what i was looking for
I only have one signature guitar but I didn't buy it because I like the guy or because I'm a fan of his band. At the time I wanted a 27" 7 string with actives, and the first one I found that checked those boxes was a signature guitar (Stef Carpenter). It doesn't get played like it used to because I'm learning over time I prefer a 27" 6 string over it. I plan on keeping it because it has sentimental value.
When I was 19, I saved up for like a year to buy the red and black Synyster Gates guitar when it first came out. It was so awesome, but I felt like I didn't deserve it, and felt like a fan boy. I rarely used it in jam sessions, and sold it after only a year or two. The design is cool, but I could have got a guitar with similar specs for much less.
Most of them are easily ignored. I don't mind them so much if they look reasonably generic, rather than 'fan boy' level of obviousness. I got one of the black PRS Zach Myers ones from a few years ago when Andertons were practically giving them away. I'm not a fan of his.. may be a good bloke, but his music bores me. His signature guitar though, is lush. The neck is lovely.
I think the signature models that make sense are the weird hybrids like Kurt Cobain's Jagstang. That's just two different guitar bodies fused together and it is divisive but at least it looks cool. The Brian May Signature is also cool because his guitar was made with his dad in the 1960s. Both are unique and if somebody wants that body shape, they can't just modify a Strat or Paul clone. The signatures for the most cloned guitars out there like Strats and Pauls make no sense. Your favorite artist used a bridge humbucker? Then replace any strat with a humbucker. Your favorite artist used P90s in the neck position? Replace your Tele's neck pickup with P90s. Buy a cheap guitar and mod it, have fun, and discover a sound you like
Yes, it is like cosplay if you try to emulate the sound and vibe of the person whose signature guitar you play. But I use them as mod platforms as they often come with features rarely or not even available at lower pricepoints. E.g. the PRS Zach Myers SE: a hollowbody singlecut with a satin widefat neck? Unheard of in the affordable range of PRS. I love this guitar, and I never played a better one. And after changing everything except for the colour, it's now my guitar, not his. And as I don't even now the music of ZM, I don't find myself in the situation to emulate him when playing live.
I built a Frankenstein Ibanez RG ("Partscaster?") earlier this year, it has a quilted maple ruby red headstock, natural finished flamed maple body top, a black and cream zebra bridge pickup and white neck pickup, etc... I think it's my favorite guitar, I consider it my signature model.
Well for me there's one guitar that I can think of that I want that they don't make so I have set out to make it on my own. And I would suggest that if you feel the same way that the market is oversaturated with everybody else's stuff and you want something different than sit down draw it up and design it and build it yourself. With all the interesting parts options available from overseas you shouldn't have a problem designing something you want.
"It feels like cosplay" expresses perfectly how I always felt and couldn't put into words about signature models.
My friend wears jerseys and I was explaining to him that to me its like pretending and doing cosplay. The same thing is true about sig guitars.
@@CapraObscura I would never play a LP or any guitar with another mans name on it.
@@CapraObscura I don't mean a LP, but like, a ESP James Hetfield Signature Explorer, or a black Fender Stratocaster David Guilmour Signature Model.
Those are all like pretending to be those guys, you know, I can't imagine myself going to a stage to play my original songs with one of those guitars.
2 best signatures that are great. Eric Johnson strat. Is the best strat. Function wise. And prs dgt
@@CapraObscurawell that’s a brand not a singular musician l
Yes! We need 200 more of the exact guitar but with minor color changes!
Obviously, brocicle.
OR maybe, variants of the same guitar with different features!! take the Harley Benton Fusion III for example. you can get a Hardtail HH version, a tremolo HH, tremolo HSH, tremolo HSS, Floyd Rose HH, Floyd Rose HSH, even a Hardtail EMG version. and some have roasted maple necks and some don't. and that's a good thing, people want these specifics man.
I've gotten into colored pickups, I have mainly humbuckers, black, white, black and creme zebra, blue, pink (on a flourescent yellow Ibanez 25th AnniversaryRG)... I might use red Dimarzios on my walnut flat Ibanez RG7421, then do the volume, tone knob and switch tip in yellow.
And a $500 uptick!
Judy's never bought a custom Halo guitar and it shows
I just have to say I work at a Guitar Center, and we have had the same MGK signature guitar for over a year now
When is the best time to get a steal
ok but the esp hatsune miku signature stream is fucking fire dude you legit cannot hate on it
it's peak i'm so mad its japanese market only i'd totally rock up to my first midwest emo band rehearsal with that shit
Based ass opinion 🔥
Do the Midwest emo dudes have the same fascination with razor blades and wanting to feel something as the regular emo girls/cry babies? 😂
I would say, Petrucci, Van Halen, Brian May are the ones that stand out the most to me and maybe Steve Vai’s Jem or Pia
how about Dime?
Really intresting one I currently want is the Brian May acoustic on his site for £500.
zero fret at nut, double cutaway, straight string allighnment to tuners and 24 frets
I'd say what sets these apart is that its not them being endorsed with a lazy signiature, they're actually designing line products in collaboration with brands/builders
the JEM stands out historically because it spawned the RG series and so on, at the time it was bonkers unique and earned its spot as not being a rebrand of a production model with a price hike
@@zunk4435
Same with satrianis
Originally was a Ibanez R540 Radius model.
Now only available as the JS series
8 years ago I would hate the idea of owning a signature guitar, now I’ve noticed my most anticipated guitars are indeed signature guitars lol. I own a MM JP15 which I absolutely love, a TOD10, and a Jackson dominion, and I love them for how unique each is, I used to hate the idea of having the signature look of someone else, but what really drags me to a signature model now is the different features it may have, pickups, wiring, some carving or shale choices, etc
The JP models are specifically crafted designs though and not just some ibanez prestige with a paint job. That's the difference really. If some people just want to buy a signature slapped on a model already offered then more power to them I guess. I wouldn't trade my JP15 for anything and it's not because Petrucci's name is on it, it's just the best guitar I've ever played.
Billy Sheehan’s signature Yamaha bass started out by re-creating all the modifications he’d done at home to his old P-Bass, and building it that way from the ground up instead of a Frankenstein thing. (And then they’ve done further tweaks in the decades since they started together.)
I finally got to play one!!! it was super dope a felt really nice but ended up buying a warwick corvette standard instead because i couldnt swing the $1700 lol
When I was a lot younger, I bought a signature guitar, just because I really liked (and still like) the guitar player and because I thought the guitar looked cool and was original but after a while, I regretted buying it. I wanted to have my own guitar, so a few years ago, I bought a cheaper guitar and gradually replaced some of the parts (had to wait to save the money for each new part, which ended up being a good thing, it gave me time to really know what I wanted to change instead of just ordering all the parts at once and replace them just because that's what everyone else does). I still enjoy looking at the signature guitar as it sits there on its stand but the one I customised is the one I play the most. I could customise the signature guitar to make it "mine" but if you want to do that, what's the point of getting a signature guitar in the first place?
So instead of customizing your signature guitar you would rather it sit on the stand all because you say why buy a signature in the 1st place if your just going to modify it. Hmm that's such a good philosophy....Not!
The point of getting a signature guitar is just to get a fucking guitar. Its no different from any other guitar. If you like it, get it. That's it. It's no deeper than that unless you make it so.
@BkBk-gy6vr it sounds logical to me man 😂
@BkBk-gy6vr - What if you want to sell it? Swapping parts and making modifications would devalue the guitar. Anyone who is interested in getting a used signature guitar couldn't give a shit about your preferences.
Good advice on modifying a signature guitar ....Not!
@SK23 - Not really. A lot of signature guitar have limited runs. Sometimes as few as 30. If you're buying the guitar as an investment vehicle, that's a lot different than " any other guitar".
Like it or not, that's the reality of the guitar market. One market for doctor and lawyers, another for guys who actually want to play .
I bought a PRS Mark Holcomb because I wanted a 25.5 in scale length Custom 24 with a 20 in radius fretboard. I immediately tuned it to standard tuning and change the pickups out for my preferred set. It's my signature guitar now.
I understand signature models, and they have their place...IF it is something like an EVH signature guitar. What drives me crazy is when companies give UA-camrs signature guitars.
I have a PRS CE Dustie Waring guitar. To be honest, I never heard of his band until PRS announced the latest edition of his guitar. But, I didn't buy it because I was a fan. I bought it because it looks and sounds metal, and I love PRS, and it was a metal PRS. And it ended up being my favorite guitar, plays like it was made for me. So, I ended up being a fan of his band because I loved the guitar.
I also have the Silver Sky, and I cannot connect with it. It's made for Mayer's hands. So, I got lucky with one signature model.
try a custom 24 or a pauls guitar. Ive hated every silver sky ive played even the really pricey ones
Dustie's signature is sick! I think PRS (overall) does a pretty good job with their signature guitars in that they seem purposeful. The Holcomb model is also sick
I also have a DW, it’s my number one guitar. And I get so many compliments on it. Honestly I do really like BTBAM but that is not why I bought it. I bought it out of the used section at my local music store because it was the best playing guitar there.
I'm of the mindset that, to justify a signature guitar, it has to basically stand on its own as a design.
The Les Paul was an innovative, incredible design (for the time). It's iconic, and one of the first electric solid body guitars ever.
The modern equivalents to the Les Paul are things like the JEM, the John Petrucci Music Man's, and, my personal favorite, the EVH (technically Music Man-designed) Wolfgang. All of these are either heavily modified existing designs, or completely original designs, instead of just being *slightly* modified. If you can strip the artist's name from the model and your average Joe can't tell the difference between it and a "non-signature" model of that guitar, it doesn't deserve to be produced.
I'd say the JEM walks the fine line, but it gets the pass. But an SRV Stratocaster is just a Stratocaster without his name on there.
Les Paul himself also didn’t design it!
Matt Pike, a metal guitarist had a small signature Guitar run where he signed every guitar himself and that thing has three humbuckers and a unique shape. Pretty cool. And the price was like 1700 bucks I think. Only 200 bucks more
The Jim Root tele is a heavy redesign of a tele, I think its fair
You couldn’t have said that any better
The syn gate signature is pretty standalone. However they make a lot of there guitars in the avenger shape now, so it's not as unique.
I generally completely agree that buying a signature guitar feels like you're just borrowing someone else's guitar and kinda feels wrong, however my Ernie Ball Majesty is John Petrucci's signature guitar, and it is the greatest instrument I have ever played and I've shamelessly used it on stage and for recording because of how incredible it feels to play. I consider it more as an innovation in guitar engineering rather than just another signature guitar
I don't think his point is that all signature guitars are bad. That seems to be made clear in his Jordan/Les Paul argument. It seems more like the problem is the sheer number of signature guitars that don't do something innovative or different. They're just a cool looking version of guitars they already release. If the only signature guitars were like the Majesty, or the Abasis, or the Holcomb PRS (you could even extend to the Jackson Juggernaut because of fret radius and roasted maple) then we'd be chill, but there are far too many signatures that probably aren't that creative.
But I don't think the Musicman JP fits the criteria to what Uncle Judy is referring to. the JP is a quite unique designed guitar with unique features, its kinda on its own category, and it has been in production for so long that at this point it does not even "feel" like a signature. Judy is talking mostly about the lazy ass signatures that are literally a production model from given brand but with some different colours and pickups, and that's all. The Ibanez AZ that Judy commented is one of the best example of that. Back then the AZ had lots of cool funky colours to choose from. Now they have dozens of signature artist where their signature is basically a recoloured AZ with minor changes, and to not cannibalize these signatures with the actual AZ models, they had to trim down the AZ line-up to boring sunburst, all black colours, etc.. otherwise people would not buy the signatures.
To me signature guitars arnt a big deal if they don't look like a custom one off. like EVHs normal guitars are fine, but something like the frankie to me would feel weird to own
Just to note, I think another reason for the rise in signature guitars is it's an avenue for the artists to make back the income lost to music sales. With revenue from music sales being practically non-existent, the artists need multiple ways to recoup that so they can keep doing what they're doing. Signature models is one of the easiest ways to do that, and the companies dig it because as you've pointed out, many times it's a slight variation on an existing product, and it's more marketing for them. Also notice how EVERY band is touring like crazy now? Same deal in that it's how they make their money, and there's an argument to be had that it's overcrowding the space for everybody.
While I agree with your argument about signature models, touring isn't necessarily profitable too. I know Misha Mansoor says that the only money he makes in music is from the signature stuff and his businesses. Periphery apparently doesn't make a profit
Don’t forget shilling , inferior hardware/plug-ins. Telling you to produce drums in your own home, instead of going out there in the real world and playing with real people . The future of hikikomori bedroom music is here.
The john Petrucci signature is one of the only signature models I don't feel this way about because so many people play them that it doesn't even feel like a signature guitar and there's so many different variations. Kinda like the les paul except obviously not as well known or iconic
Gretsch 6120 for me.
the JEM is kinda this way, as the RG is a derivative from it
Can’t fault them for creating a very good design. Hell the Majesty is very ergonomic, while still looking/feeling conventional.
I’ve played Washburn N4’s for years and they’re killer guitars. Having Nuno’s name on it has never been a problem for me. I can’t imagine ever buying a UA-camr signature guitar, but to each their own.
I’d actually buy that Japan-inspired guitar
It was nice and i usually hate 80s type shred guitars
The Jem is the only signature model I'd consider buying. Then again, it's essentially an RG550 with a monkey grip.
Actually, an RG550 is a Jem but cheaper. The JEM was first.
@@maciejduda5257 yes that is true, however I'm basically saying the RG550 is just as good but better priced
@@periachi4961same. I have both - I prefer the JEM in a lot of ways but you can’t beat the 550 in price-to-performance. The JEM at this point just feels like an Ibanez, less of a signature to me seeing it all over youtube and with some artists since it’s been around so long. It does everything, too, which is why I really like my Ibanez’s since they all do amazing at basically everything.
In terms of JEM vs 550 it’s preference for the most part. The stock 550 pickups are fat as shit and sound amazing. The JEM’s (7VP) with en Evolution is super aggressive, and tone wise similar. Other than that the input jack location is almost worth the extra money. And aesthetics. JEM’s are very good looking guitars.
signature guitars are a way to market product. It's just another way to compete with other guitar companies. It's all about the business of business
surprised you didn't talk about Kirk's other "signature" which is just a Les Paul, a signature on its own, made famous by two other people, then made into a Kirk "signature"
My guy that's just..a guitar you own lmao
Atleast his ESP models have lil Kirk flairs on em
How in gods name did I forget about that Jesus Christ.
@@unclejudymusic it's okay just get gud
Brian May designed and built his own electric guitar as a teenager, together with his dad. THAT is a signature model.
Ah so because I did it with my dad in my dinky garage instead of alongside professional craftsmen then it's no longer a signature guitar. Got it. Cool. Didn't realize we had imaginary arbitrary criteria and checklists for what does and doesn't count as a signature model guitar. I've learned much today.
@@justsomeguy727Hey, you might to either reread what I just said, or otherwise look upward - because the point just flew right over your head.
My local guitar center has a machine gun Kelly Schecter that they haven’t been able to get rid of for over a year
Tbh it’s not a bad looking guitar, you just have to live knowing you bought a machine gun kelly guitar
shit man, the black with the pink accents version is sick as fuck I’m considering buying it
Totally agree. I dont know who's in their marketing departments, but if they think a Silverburst FV Custom will only sell if Brent Hinds signature is on the back, they must be smoking crack.
Give us fancy colors and specs
Completely agree, I own the epi Brent Hinds guitar and its great. I'm a fan of Mastodon, but I didn't really need or want the fancy pickups and skull sticker...
@@TheMightyYak
At least the skull logo is on the back of the headstock when they could have put it on the front of the guitar somewhere and made it worse
ngl i got into dinosaur jr. long after buying the j mascis signature jazzmaster. i just liked the way the guitar was set up, fit, finish, and price. added bonus was getting into their tunes.
I've still not listened to a full track but I'll never sell my J Mascis Jazzmaster.
Jim Root Tele's are cool too. I've no idea who he is either.
I have a Jim root Squier tele and it’s my favorite guitar
FINALLY someone said it! I felt like i was alone on this with one... I dont want to play someone else's guitar!
Then Dont buy it
You dont have to. Dont buy it :)
I dont give a shit if its a signature or not, if I like what I see, I would buy it.
Every other stock guitar is also designed by somebody else.
I guess custom shop is the only way for people to buy something "yours"...
Or build it yourself from scratch even
You don’t have to. This is America
Same! That's why I only play Les Pauls .
@@alfsmith4936 uh.... Lol
Bought a Jim Root Tele used, yanked out the EMGs and the black hardware and replaced it all with passives with chrome covers and chrome hardware. I play Blues and Rock on that thing.
Good luck finding a white Fender with an Ebony Board, 12 inch radius and a dual humbucker setup at the same time.
But apart from that, I agree 😅
Your videos are like the only interesting part of the “guitarist” UA-cam, they are so funny and unhinged, please keep making these!!
I bought a signature guitar. But as you said, the standard guitars are often times boring and annovations only seem to happen with signature guitars. Id be more than happy to by my guitar without a signature, but there just wasnt a basic guitar that had the specs that i wanted. With that said i share the thought that its not original, so ill build my custom guitar on my own soon. I just didnt have the time to do it since i needed a guitar for my band.
I used to own a LTD BW-1 Ben Weinman signature for years. Loved the guitar because it was unique, played great, sounded awesome and was very high end for the price. Funny thing was that he didnt really even play that guitar live but it was a cool collaboration between Weinman and ESP.
I would say the BW-1 is one of the most unique guitars at this moment, don't know of any other semi-hollowbody guitar that comes with evertune and fishman fluences.
I want the LTD BW-1 so badly but can’t get over it being a signature model. None of the other similarly designed ESP or LTD models have 24 frets so I can’t even go with one of the cheaper, non-signature models.
@TheTerribleShaman just go for it. I regret selling mine but I needed money at the time. They are really excellent instruments and they excel at just about any genre you could play. I swapped vintage voiced EMG fat 55s in mine loved the sound. Plus the evertune, when properly set up, stays in tune like nothing else.
I bought a schecter avenger off sweet water, after being such a huge avenged sevenfold fan. But couldn’t bring myself to bring his actual guitar. How u supposed to be yo own man when u got another man’s name on yo fretboard
That’s how I felt about the new Schecter ZV “h6llw66d” bad ass sg shape but man why the douche name ? There’s not a single song by them I could name but man the guitar looks sick. Oh well 😂
I think this is why so many bands that are doing this seriously (at least in metal) have turned to custom brands. Hapas, kiesel, etc. Last time i shopped for a guitar I went to ibanez because its what ive always played and it was the most frustrating catalogue I ever looked through. I think the guitar center box brands have become completely creatively bankrupt and have no idea what the needs of modern performing artists are.
Steve Vai expressed similar sentiments when approached about his signature guitar saying that most of the offerings were just the base models with a color scheme change.
Nah, I’m going to jazz school with my Guthrie Govan signature that I bought when I used to think he was all there is to guitar. It’s an awesome playing instrument. I don’t agree with this whole guitar fetishism thing. The guitar you play is about as important as the colour shirt you wear, it’s a superficial, needless thing. Just find a good instrument and hone your craft, none of this. The originality comes from what you choose to do with the tool, not the tool itself
Agreed, Dont understand whats all this whiening about. If you dont want a signature guitar then Dont buy one. No one is forcing you
Agree for the most part. But some signature guitars are well thought through. Take the PRS DGT for instance (or the newer Tremontis without the underwear tag on the 12th fret). The first run of Chris Cornell ES-335s was also cool (unlike the post-mortem tribute series where they put his signature on the headstock).
I kinda agree with you, but I'll never not want an Alexi Scythe. I just wish I had bought an Edwards one when they popped up online occasionally and were affordable
I went to a local guitar store one time and asked them if they had any schecter guitars and the guy working the counter was like “just… that one” and gestured towards the MGK guitar
There was this guy on youtube, who had james hetfield signature guitars, dressed like james hetfield, mimicked his playing style, his techniques, everything. Thats the vibe i get from signature guitars.
I like it when signatures inspire new model lines. The RG series is a great example, I enjoy the JP series as well. The Ibanez series that looks boring are basically revamps of the Roadstar II series from the 80s. I have an original that is just black w a rosewood fretboard. I wish the AZ series were cooler looking, even some of the original finishes are cooler.
I just got a video of yours in my feed literally a whole year after I was binging your videos. I honestly thought you fell in a hole or something, but seeing your activity, the algorithm did you real dirty. Love your content! And yeah, totally not spending a grand on a signature. There are just as many guitars that feel good and are quality built
Ibanez really said "hey what if we made RGs but made it look like the one Seymour Bababooey played and made it ten times more expensive" AND IT WORKED
Bro you’re so unhinged it’s amazing how do you manage to create guitar videos this insane bro I love it
1:34 if everyone's super, no one will be. That delivery. Perfect.
Really enjoyed this video. No shade or anything. I appreciate you actually being entertaining.
ESP probably has a lot more than 32 artists but that's beside the point. For those wanting to know more check their Japanese site. Most of the Japanese signature models from ESP are a variation of the Forest or "F" line of guitars. I Also, I actually like the Kanji inlays and the vector art. I do own a signature model of a guitar its one of Karou guitars from an earlier period in Dir En Grey's history after he stopped using the ESP Horizon models. I'm rebuilding it from from the neck, body, and electronics cover that I imported from Japan.
I actually bought an LTD Viper since it's the closest thing I could find to Kaorus 7 string for a decent price. While it's obviously not the same guitar I'm very happy. I feel like if I had a Kaoru signature model I'd just want to play Dir en Grey on it which would be ironic given how often they change up their sound.
I have an Yngwie Strat that I use for everything, regardless of genre. It's comfortable and it's special to me because we also share a birthday. I do agree that the market is oversaturated, though. It's not even the most artsy design either. It's just an off-white maple Strat. It looks like a normal guitar to the untrained eye but it has value to me, both objectively and subjectively. The scalloped fingerboard is so comfortable to me that sometimes a normal flat one feels foreign.
The Yngwie Strat is the only signature I think I’d ever play live cause the scalloped neck has an actual purpose
I generally feel the same sentiments. That being said I think signatures occasionally do unique things (which is what they should do) and have 2 signatures (kinda).
One is the Tim Henson TOD10N which I share with my father as we both love nylon string guitars but this thing is actually pretty unique, has a great sound unplugged and plays fantastically like an electric, but also sounds great plugged into anything. It is also cool as hell especially for a nylon string guitar, as there is essentially one look for every other instrument, and at a fantastic price point.
I also got the Javier Reyes JR-208 in pelham blue as my first 8 string. It isn't just some cheap and generic looking black super strat, it is a blue ESP mystique shape. The pickups were fine, whatever, doesn't really matter cause I am not one of those people who spends more time whining about pickups than playing. It has coil splitting, its own inlay style, gold hardware and binding on a metallic blue, all of which set it apart from other lower (than $1k) price point 8 strings when I bought it. It played better than any 8 string I had tried other than ~$2500 Strandbergs.
Seems like most signatures even if cool seem *really* signature in the looks department but lack their own specs or wiring options or anything new, so few are unique enough to be worth purchasing IMO.
Actually your designed japan-style Ibanez looks great
I would literally buy an Uncle Judy Signature guitar over 99% of sigs out there. Oh and yes, I would love to record my original music on a guitar with your autograph on it. Please send it to me now Uncle!
I’m with you on this. The worst is when you come across a guitar that’s a thousand dollars or more and you get one color option. Extra annoying when it’s some plain color like unburst
This is the funniest guitar channel I’ve found. Easily.
ESP actually has more models/players under their domestic and other foreign lines too lmao its insane!
2:52 Aye you don’t say that 😂
The Kurt cobain ones are cool
But fenders quality is so bad when buying them, you have to send them to get corrected
Signature guitars are cool when they offer different features that aren’t so common. Most of the time I’ll look into a signature guitar if someone idek but If I like the specs I’ll dig it. Problem is when brands like fender give random people their own guitars and it’s just a strat that’s like dark blue lmaooo. At least the Stephen carpenters have distinct features. I do loathe that fluff and Jared dines have guitars tho….
Was not ready for the Guitar Center parking lot.
Two of Gibson’s Main guitars are signature guitars. The Les Paul and the SG that started life as a Les Paul.
Most of the signature guitars I own are ones I bought because I like the design and the specs. There's only two that I bought because of the artist that played them and those are my esp alexi models.
The rest were because I thought they were cool. Some I didn't even know who the artist was until after I had bought them.
The days of signature guitars all plastered with the artists name and band are mostly gone. Anymore a signature guitar, is just another guitar. It just might have someone's name on the back of the headstock and some don't even have that.
Marketing, advertisement, and endorsement can be written off by the company to offset their taxes.
They could give a fuck less about actually selling signature guitars.
I waited nearly a year for the Tim Henson Ibanez. Finally showed up and it wasn’t playable. Everything was loose. Needed a complete setup and overhaul. And now that model is discontinued.
I bought a Lee Malia Les Paul for 700 and sold it for 1000 so it was a win for me. But no more signature guitars ever now!
I got myself a James Hetfield Ltd vulture. But I specifically ordered it white so it didn’t look like the one he played. I then went on to buy some custom inlays and decorations, and made it my own.
I bought an Epiphone Les Origins 7 Matt Heafy sig, only because it was the only 7 string LP I could find that I could afford. The only branding is on the truss rod cover (easily changed) and the back of the headstock. It's fantastic and I wouldn't change anything about it, even if I was ordering from the custom shop.
I have always thought that they only made somewhere between 5 and 20 of each signature model to distribute to stores, and the rest are just made to order. 90% of the people who will buy a signature guitar are massive fans or people in tribute bands, people who go into stores to try an instrument are looking for something high quality, a super fan or somebody in a tribute band wants something that looks the part
I feel the same about signatures, I feel like I’m playing dress up and have no originality, wearing another guitarist briefs and shoes, trying to be them. It just doesn’t appeal to me.
I think its definitely oversaturated, but I really like when some companies end up bringing out signature guitars which have unique features that would normally require a far bigger price/aftermarket, or some very unique visuals and making it more accessible. But there are very few, and even some more unique artists signatures have slowly been dumbed down through certain releases (such as the berried alive signature guitar which was a 7 string, that came with a sustainiac, tremolo and killswitch, one of the very few guitars that offered it stock, and now it does not have a sustainiac. I don't think there are any in production/readily accessible guitars that offer that combination).
I like the idea of artists working with companies to make their unique equipment available at an affordable price, I'm not interested in buying a marked up generic guitar that has some specific colours etc.
Holy crap. I don't know who this guy is, but I just found him, and he's basically the filthy frank of guitar. I love him. Just please don't r*pe my eyes ever again with unwarranted footage of 2 men making out. Do that, and I'll stick around, like, and subscribe.
makes it better
I'm a simple man. I see a new Uncle Judy video, I click.
When I was in high school, I bought the Ibanez Paul Stanley PS40 (replaced by the PS60 in 2017) the first year he went back to Ibanez. Only reason I really cared was because it was, back in 2015, it was the only truly cheap full scale Iceman. I've since modded it with a single passive EMG and set it up in B standard since the DigiTech pitch shifters skip from 7 semi-tones straight to an octave
A guitar is a guitar man. I don't care if it's signature or not. In fact, my 2 main stage guitars are a Schecter KM-7 and a KM Hybrid. Keith Merrow made the best guitars ever, and I 100% am proud to play them. No one has ever asked me why I play a signature model😂 also in most cases, getting your own "signature" requires a butt load of money for a custom shop model....
Yea and 99.99% of the time nobody actually cares either if you "write your music using a signature guitar belonging to someone else" either. Like, I get that it's all for comedic effect but there's always a tiny bit of truth behind a shit post too and there's a part of me that genuinely believes Judy does unironically think to himself "ew I can't be writing my music using someone else's signature guitar" which is just super funny in my head.
Did you check the Japanese ESP endorsed guitarists with signatures? The list only get's longer then. They're Japan exclusives though.
I don't mind using signature guitars as long as the painting is not "exclusive", i have a Jackson sdx from Adrian Smith, it's a white strat with fr, just a regular guitar with a signature, a Zakk Wylde LP with the bullseye would be weird.
This is the unhinged guitar content I never thought I needed
If Ibanez does not produce the UncleJudy signature, I'm gonna fucking riot
#JusticeForJudy
#JusticeForJudy
The rifle check with the brad paisley caster was exquisite. And I have laughed my ass off several times because I’ve literally said most of this same shit dude. Fuckin everyone who’s even relatively aight at guitar, has a signature. Except us, unless we outsource to china for a guitar we personalize or some shit. Excellent vid my dude
I forgot how fucking chaotic this channel is
thats something i thought was interesting about guitar players. the ones that pick a style and stick with it or they will idolize one guitarist and try to emulate them. idk i always thought that was weird coz i never got too attached to a guitarist or band or style of music(i dont think). stephen carpenter's sig guitars are surprisingly good quality, i own one of the cheaper ones. ended up choosing it over my seven string ibanez, but im not a shredder so whatever
That was like you were building a Kiesel on their builder. You're right about them not wanting to make them. This is why Charvel charges $3700 for a Govan sig that's basically a San Dimas- they want you to buy the San Dimas they already made that's at GC.
This is actually a really good point. They don’t have to give a cut of revenue to the artist, and you can get a guitar that looks close enough. For example, I am on the hunt for a PRS SE singlecut for a pretty low (and quite possibly unreasonably so) budget, and while I would love to have a Tremonti SE, there are a number of better looking models available for closer to my budget that are not signature models, but do have that PRS style single cutaway that I really like. I have been in love with his signature guitar since it came out back in 2001, but I am not and will never be good enough to justify spending that kind of cash, and while it is still hard for me to tear myself away from the idea of having at least the SE version of THAT guitar, if I can get a guitar that looks just like it without “Tremonti” stamped on it, I am sure I would be just as happy, and maybe less inclined to feel intense disappointment if I end up hating it.
Found you recently, best UA-camr fr
It was already crazy in the 1990’s. My friend had a Jimmy Vaughan signature Stratocaster. Not Stevie Ray Vaughan; his brother, Jimmy.
But at least that signature guitar no one asked for didn’t say “SRV” on the pickguard. SRV’s guitar did because he was SRV.
While I do agree there are probably too many signature guitars these days, and agree with some of your points - there are a couple of counter arguments I'd make:
1. Some signature guitars offer unique design/ergonomic/pickup features which are what the artist wants - and appeal to others too (especially if they like and want to sound like that artist).
2. Unfortunately, most of us probably will never be famous guitarists. Most of us play guitar as a hobby and have a different day job. Realistically we're looking at being in a cover band and not practicing anywhere near the amount we would like to because we have full time jobs, families, etc. So we're not trying to write and record original music - and we'd like to cosplay as our favourite guitarists... Like you said with the Avenged Sevenfold example - it's cool and fun.
But I agree that if I were a recording artist trying to make a career out of music - I probably wouldn't buy a signature guitar as my main instrument (maybe as an "extra" fun guitar). Unless it was the best guitar I ever played.
I would love nothing more than to not by a signature model to write stuff on, but I’m picky when it comes to visuals and you literally can’t get anything else that looks good and sounds good for anything less than custom guitar prices. The system is corrupt 😭
I liked the moment when you diss the sunburst guitar while there’s one right behind you on the wall
I mean, I own a Sire Marcus Miller signature 5 string and a John Mayer signature silver sky USA, I don’t necessarily make it an amateur by signature guitar is, but it just happens that way that the signature guitars are modified to the musician specs that I would want
this video feels like a fever dream
What I like to do is buy signatures, mod them, and play a genre that the sig artist wouldn’t approve of. For example I have an Adrian Smith signature and I use it to play pornogrind and put fishmans in it
i MEEEEAAAAN I just bought a km7 and holy shit its beautiful, I was the exact same with signature guitars but this thing is just so perfect and exactly what i was looking for
I only have one signature guitar but I didn't buy it because I like the guy or because I'm a fan of his band. At the time I wanted a 27" 7 string with actives, and the first one I found that checked those boxes was a signature guitar (Stef Carpenter). It doesn't get played like it used to because I'm learning over time I prefer a 27" 6 string over it. I plan on keeping it because it has sentimental value.
When I was 19, I saved up for like a year to buy the red and black Synyster Gates guitar when it first came out. It was so awesome, but I felt like I didn't deserve it, and felt like a fan boy. I rarely used it in jam sessions, and sold it after only a year or two. The design is cool, but I could have got a guitar with similar specs for much less.
"i dunno im not KDH" lmfao
I swear i have gold Japanese characters as fret markers,never thought anyone else would like it.
Considering my sparkle ouija has doubled in price due to limited number and collectability I’am very happy 😂🤘
Most of them are easily ignored. I don't mind them so much if they look reasonably generic, rather than 'fan boy' level of obviousness.
I got one of the black PRS Zach Myers ones from a few years ago when Andertons were practically giving them away. I'm not a fan of his.. may be a good bloke, but his music bores me. His signature guitar though, is lush. The neck is lovely.
Love that someone was playing Laid to Rest at the GC 😂
The AZ you designed looks awesome!!!
I think the signature models that make sense are the weird hybrids like Kurt Cobain's Jagstang. That's just two different guitar bodies fused together and it is divisive but at least it looks cool. The Brian May Signature is also cool because his guitar was made with his dad in the 1960s. Both are unique and if somebody wants that body shape, they can't just modify a Strat or Paul clone. The signatures for the most cloned guitars out there like Strats and Pauls make no sense. Your favorite artist used a bridge humbucker? Then replace any strat with a humbucker. Your favorite artist used P90s in the neck position? Replace your Tele's neck pickup with P90s. Buy a cheap guitar and mod it, have fun, and discover a sound you like
Yes, it is like cosplay if you try to emulate the sound and vibe of the person whose signature guitar you play.
But I use them as mod platforms as they often come with features rarely or not even available at lower pricepoints. E.g. the PRS Zach Myers SE: a hollowbody singlecut with a satin widefat neck? Unheard of in the affordable range of PRS. I love this guitar, and I never played a better one. And after changing everything except for the colour, it's now my guitar, not his.
And as I don't even now the music of ZM, I don't find myself in the situation to emulate him when playing live.
I built a Frankenstein Ibanez RG ("Partscaster?") earlier this year, it has a quilted maple ruby red headstock, natural finished flamed maple body top, a black and cream zebra bridge pickup and white neck pickup, etc... I think it's my favorite guitar, I consider it my signature model.
Gotta love the hardtail bridge and locking nut, too!
Well for me there's one guitar that I can think of that I want that they don't make so I have set out to make it on my own. And I would suggest that if you feel the same way that the market is oversaturated with everybody else's stuff and you want something different than sit down draw it up and design it and build it yourself.
With all the interesting parts options available from overseas you shouldn't have a problem designing something you want.
“Who the fuck is this kid?!”
I’m howling 😭💀
I agree with you I don't want a signature guitar either most guitarists don't I just want a well-built guitar with a nice neck and quality hardware