Guitar Snobs

[ClassicMetalMatt]

I know, but how would you know my gigging frequency.

educated guess.

 

[alterbridgefan]

I know, but how would you know my gigging frequency.

educated guess.

You're very well educated. I play in a band of 13 year-olds that has never gigged. Although even there I play drums more often than guitar.
I do have a friend though, who's my age and plays once a week at a bar for tips.

 

[Jumble Jumble]

StubHead, your posts have been great. Agree 100%.

I ask questions, they get ignored. This is not an intelligent discussion.

Also I've learned from this thread that you can't deduce anything about somebody's motivations over the Internet - indeed, even to try is laughable. Unless of course you're deducing why somebody likes a piece of music, which of course is never as simple as them just liking it, and can be deduced 100% reliably… over the Internet.

And that I'm stupid, which I sure hope my employers never discover.

 

[stubhead]

We have occasionally even been known to treat well thought-out, serious questions about how to actually accomplish something in between "boards" and "guitars" with informative, educated answers. But a thread that starts off TITLED as "Guitar Snobs" is heading for the ditch sooner or later anyhow. arty07:

 

[Johnny]

I have a friend who once said "There was Beethoven's 5th and Johnny B Goode, everything else is a copy".  Obviously, a gross exaggeration, but the point is that there are few truly original ideas.  There are precious few tunes or guitar designs or whatever that are not influenced by the past experiences of the creator.  For the vast majority of successes, someone was influence by something they liked and improved upon it.  If you feel that only the Fender designs for the Strat, Tele, etc. are worthy and that any copy is not, well so be it.  In fact, I will argue that you are entitled to those beliefs.  Of course, others and me in particular, may feel differently.  My Warmoth is a rear routed, quilted maple Strat copy.  It is truly beautiful instrument and I wouldn't trade my "copy" for any Fender manufactured guitar. 

 

[m4rk0]

At 13, I thought Teles were ugly, and that MIJ Fenders were inferior guitars!!
15 years ago, I thought that owning 3 guitars was more than enough!
10 years ago I still refused to buy a guitar without a floyd..
right now, I would never consider buying a brand new off the shelf fender! (or a gibson)
God knows what I want in 5 years!!!

I'm not saying you're not entitled to an opinion, but if you are only 13.... I think we should talk again in a couple of years.. young man!

(ps, I remember the time that Max was still a young, naive and annoying smart ass!)

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

I try to be more of a friendly educator at my age, especially when I get guitar questions from those that might have less experience in whatever area.  And much like guitarists who play better than I do, I have nothing but respect for those whose experience and knowledge far exceeds my own.

I don't ever wish to sound like a snob, but people who think they know s*** about s*** really irk me.

Boyfriend/baby daddy of my wife's BFF comes in for a brief minute to say hi when he's picking up the BFF.

He plays a little guitar, so he admires my wall of hanging 6 strings.

"Whoa, what's that?" he asks buzzing around my brand new just recently finished Warmoth LP. 

He was loving the hell out of it, and I was loving the hell out of the attention it was getting.  I was about to encourage him to take it down if he wanted to hold it...

...and then he got to the fact that the neck was bolted on (it didn't help that my 1979 Gibson Les Paul Artist was hanging right next to it for comparison).  I quietly shook my head behind him, because I knew where it was going the second he brought it up.  Oh, he was polite about the whole thing, but his ending statement, "...you should consider gluing the neck on, it'll be perfe--" 

Me *thinking*:  "--oh HELL no, you didn't."

At that point you can't even bother explaining quality of materials and workmanship in the parts.  Because people in this mindset just don't let go of the 'set neck = superior instrument' mentality. 

He probably won't be invited back in my home at any later date.    He's kind of a d**** anyway, but for non guitar related reasons.

If a bolt-on neck was good enough for Jimi Hendrix and is good enough for Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, and George Lynch, it's sure as hell good enough for me.  :headbang:

I do own a neck-through, Jackson USA KV2, and it does have a very solid feel to it, and it's probably more in my head than anything else that it feels "better" than a bolt-on.  There are trade-offs.  With a neck-through design, if I drop that guitar, it's toast.  With the bolt-on, I just go get a new neck, not to mention, if I ever decide down the line I want a different neck profile, it's as easy as ordering another one.

Guitar snob?  Yes I am.  If it isn't American, I won't even look at it.  Four out of 10 of my guitars are American-made.  Guess which ones are the only ones I play.  The only time I play the others are to either take to my guitar lesson or travel with, and to record some bass tracks.

 

[alterbridgefan]

At 13, I thought Teles were ugly, and that MIJ Fenders were inferior guitars!!
15 years ago, I thought that owning 3 guitars was more than enough!
10 years ago I still refused to buy a guitar without a floyd..
right now, I would never consider buying a brand new off the shelf fender! (or a gibson)
God knows what I want in 5 years!!!

I'm not saying you're not entitled to an opinion, but if you are only 13.... I think we should talk again in a couple of years.. young man!

(ps, I remember the time that Max was still a young, naive and annoying smart ass!)

Again, I'm not trying to be an ambassador for fender. They aren't my favorite guitars. But IMO, if it looks like a fender, that's what it should be.

 

[Pelagaard]

I like to put a fender logo on all my fenderesque guitars so people will say "thats the best sounding strat I've ever heard." Then i can say it's not a strat, and they don't believe me, so i leave it at that. And you feel a pride, with the reputation fender has, that they were impressed with your "strat."

Again, I'm not trying to be an ambassador for fender. They aren't my favorite guitars. But IMO, if it looks like a fender, that's what it should be.

:tard: :doh: :tard: :doh: :tard: :doh: :tard:

 

[alterbridgefan]

I like to put a fender logo on all my fenderesque guitars so people will say "thats the best sounding strat I've ever heard." Then i can say it's not a strat, and they don't believe me, so i leave it at that. And you feel a pride, with the reputation fender has, that they were impressed with your "strat."

Again, I'm not trying to be an ambassador for fender. They aren't my favorite guitars. But IMO, if it looks like a fender, that's what it should be.

:tard: :doh: :tard: :doh: :tard: :doh: :tard:

Where is the contrast?

 

[Updown]

Where is the contrast?

If your on iMac 3rd key from the left, top row on the keyboard  :laughing7:

Again, I'm not trying to be an ambassador for fender. They aren't my favorite guitars.
But IMO, if it looks like a fender, that's what it should be.

:redflag:  **WARNING*** DON'T LOOK HERE, THEN ..... http://www.warmoth.com/Gallery/#!/Strat/1

Better off going here .... http://www.fender.com/community/forums/

 

[alterbridgefan]

Where is the contrast?

If your on iMac 3rd key from the left, top row on the keyboard  :laughing7:

Again, I'm not trying to be an ambassador for fender. They aren't my favorite guitars.
But IMO, if it looks like a fender, that's what it should be.

:redflag:  **WARNING*** DON'T LOOK HERE, THEN ..... http://www.warmoth.com/Gallery/#!/Strat/1

Better off going here .... http://www.fender.com/community/forums/

They are licensed as replacement parts by fender, and I've used them to upgrade my fenders. Warmoth is a replacement parts site, not a guitar building website. This is merely a personal opinion. When I see a G&L guitar, I don't think, "Here is a superior guitar," I think: "That's not a Fender."
It is mostly just a matter of what I've experienced, which isn't a lot.

 

[jackthehack]

Get off the lawn!!!

 

[Cagey]

When I see a G&L guitar, I don't think, "Here is a superior guitar," I think: "That's not a Fender." 

I do. For certain body styles, Fender is the standard by which all others are judged. So, if I see a what looks like a Strat or Tele, the first order of business is to determine if it's actually a Fender. If it is, then it can be evaluated on its merits, which is a job by itself since Fender makes about 1,359 versions of each model per year. If not, then whether it's better or worse than a Fender, which isn't always as easy as it sounds because Fender makes about 1,359 versions of each model per year.

Years ago, it was easier. A Strat was pretty much a Strat. Pick an ugly color, pay your money, and go forth to wank and crank. Now, the marketing weenies lay awake at night trying to think up new ways to sell the same old thing. Limited edition? Signature series? Pawn Shop prize? Country of origin? Option group? Custom shop? Reissue? The list is long. And tiring.

 

[lucky13]

Guitar snob?  Yes I am.  If it isn't American, I won't even look at it.

+1  American all the way

 

[Eric Banjitar]

Guitar Snob? Hell yes, and proud of it!
I also like fine-food, hand-crafted beers, well-tuned sports cars and custom guitars. Sometimes all at once!
This is not because they are expensive or some marketeer told me to. It is because they taste (food and beer),feel and sound (car/guitar) better to me.
The blending of flavors, textures, temperatures and smells: an inviting plated presentation.
The character of a good American Pale Ale (Sierra Nevada, for example): sharp-touch then smooth and rich maltyness and then blammo, HOPS. Repeat as neccessary.
Ever driven a '60s sports car? The feel of the engine in your seat, the RAW power, the smell of leather, rubber and oil....the rumble as you hit the gas...feel the power band...valves start to float-SHIFT! FLOOR IT! GRIN!
I remember as a kid the feel of my father's saftey razor.  It had a machined stainless steel handle and was heavy but well balanced.  You know a good kitchen knife the second you lift it.  There is a particuluar feeling I get holding my custom guitar. Is it pride? Or is it the residue of craftsmanship inspiring me. I dont know, I just know it "feels" different than eating at McD, drinking Budweiser, driving a Honda Civic or playing a MIJ.

 

[Strat Avenger]

At 13, I thought Teles were ugly, and that MIJ Fenders were inferior guitars!!
15 years ago, I thought that owning 3 guitars was more than enough!
10 years ago I still refused to buy a guitar without a floyd..
right now, I would never consider buying a brand new off the shelf fender! (or a gibson)
God knows what I want in 5 years!!!

I'm not saying you're not entitled to an opinion, but if you are only 13.... I think we should talk again in a couple of years.. young man!

(ps, I remember the time that Max was still a young, naive and annoying smart ass!)

So true!  My tastes certainly have changed as I've gotten older. I used to hate Teles; now I want to build one. I never cared for LPs until a few years ago, and now my LP copy is one of my main guitars.

This is one reason I think it's so foolish for young people to get tattoos (not trying to start a tattoo debate here); because they assume that their tastes are never gonna change 20 or 30 years from now, and they'll be stuck with what ever immature choice they made in their youth.

A lot of the things that you find unattractive now, could possibly become attractive to you later, and a lot of the things that are important to you now, won't matter to you decades from now.

I can't explain why that is, it just is.

 

[hannaugh]

I never liked Teles as a kid either.  I thought they were only for hillfolk for some reason. 

 

[Perry Combover]

Hillfolk.  :laughing7:

 

[reluctant-builder]

It's not snobbery at all.

FACT: Britney Spears, Katie Perry, Madonna, Christina Aguilera, etc, ARE NOT musicians. They do not write songs, they do not play musical instruments, and the music they perform that was written and played by other people ...

With a heavy sigh, I find myself needing to stick up for artists whose work I don't even particularly like because, like it or not, your remarks are fallacious.

Madonna. I don't think she can sing worth a damn. I do happen to know that she knows how to play the guitar, albeit not in any sort of technically masterful way as, say, John Petrucci ... but she's adept enough at three chords responsible to make a pop tune.

Also, just because she, and other pop idols, collaborate with professional songwriters, that does not diminish the value of their (the pop idols in question) input nor the importance of their vision or idea, merely because someone else may have taken the idea and shaped it into a polished, catchy finished product. This happens all the time. You've heard, I'm sure, of "idea men" ... and these people get paid handsomely just to come up with ideas, that are later developed to fruition by people not the one who had the idea. Without impetus, there is no finished product.

Personally, I place a high value on artists who write their own songs -- whether lyrics, music, or both -- whether solo or as a band, but no one -- read: no one -- creates in a vacuum, without influence. Just because some people may not do all of the "work" by their lonesome, and the source of influence is present at the session, I don't think it automatically devalues the finished product. For example, if you were able to sit down with some legend you admire, living or dead, and they influenced the way you played at that moment, gave you a tip on writing a song, even supplied you with a couplet or a hook ... would that make you a hack? Please don't harp on composing with a corpse, either, in re: my hypothetical.

Now, Christina Aguilera ... of whom I am not a fan, whose music I have never willfully consumed ... is a musician. Her voice is her instrument. Not being able to play an instrument does not preclude someone from being musical, nor from being a musician. I don't happen to know if James LaBrie plays any instruments, but that cat's voice is an instrument in itself. Pavarotti was a musician. Give credit where it is due; someone who can truly sing but can't play a physical instrument is just as much of a musician as someone who can't sing a note and can play the guitar (or anything else) like a champion.

I'll let inference fill out the rest of this argument ... and continue reading the thread where I left off. Just felt the need to chime in, here. I disclaim that I used two members of Dream Theater simply because they are, I think, the premier example of what most snobs would consider "real" musicians.