My argument why all GOMs should be Open Class

[Patriot54]

I've had this thought in the back of my mind since joining the site so I'd like to know what the GOM moderators and other members think. If it's already been discussed, then I couldn't find the thread.

I know it's just an unofficial contest and it's all about the fun of showing off our projects and friendly competition, but my personal feeling is that there should NOT be 2 separate categories for these reasons:

1) The owner-finished instruments that usually enter can compete with the professional finishes any day, in my opinion. You could probably tell the difference in person, but the GOM seems to be more about the photography and the overall concept of the project. If anyone has the time to go back to the previous Open Class contests and either back up my theory or prove me wrong, please do so. If someone entered an obviously sub-par finish, then it likely wouldn't stand a chance, even against other owner-finished guitars.

2) Not including the Guitar of the Year and Runner's Up months, there would only be 10 GOMs per year - 5 Pro and 5 Owner-Finish average. If they were all Open Class, it would allow for more variety, more entries and more opportunities for us to show off our guitars instead of waiting up to 2 months in between.

3) It would make things a little easier for the GOM mods - they wouldn't have to explain the difference to newbies, or have to confirm what finish is on an instrument, etc, etc.

On a side note, I think basses could also compete equally with guitars, but maybe that's for a different topic.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I like the separate classes.  The year end contest with the winners from all the months ends up pitting owner finished against Warmoth/Pro anyway.

 

[Hbom]

Didn't we just go through all of that a year or so ago?

I vote keep it the way it is. It works fine.

:rock-on:

 

[Cagey]

I also think it could be simplified.

A finish is either good or not... why is origin important?

Scale length doesn't change the fact that it's a guitar. Bass, baritone, long, medium, short scale... then there's no differentiation for number of strings. Throw out the narrow differentiation or broaden it.

Currently there are no other criteria. Winners are chosen for their desirability by individual voters. For instance, It would be difficult for me to vote for a 7 string with a Floyd on it, because I wouldn't want one. Guy could've spent 500 man-hours and $3500 over an 18 month project timeline, and I'd pass it right up for an interesting Tele somebody threw together overnight. Originality, difficulty, rarity, complexity, practicality, cost... the list of things that an instrument could be judged on is long, yet none of those things are considered.

I'm not sure if that's good or bad, I only mention it to illustrate that this is a fairly whimsical contest. So, I don't know that it needs a lotta rules.

 

[Strat Avenger]

I discovered a long time ago that the GOTM  is pretty much a waste of time, due to the fact that a lot of people have a strange idea of what a cool guitar is. We're all here because we want something we can't get off-the-shelf from a music store, or don't wanna spend the money for a "Custom Shop" guitar from a major manufacturer. Our ideas of what a cool guitar is vary widely.

 

[Cagey]

I don't know if I'd call it a "waste of time". I mean, what kind of investment are you making by saying what you like best? 30 seconds?

Since there's no criteria other than who finished it and whether or not the neck or body was made by Warmoth, what do you expect? It's very nearly a purely subjective choice. So, take it for what it is - an education in popular sentiment by knowledgeable people who should know better. Ignore it at your peril if you're a manufacturer, or if public opinion means anything to you.

It's not that big a deal, beyond that. There's no tangible compensation for winning - the closest thing to a trophy is a tiny picture in the corner of the site for a brief period. Who sees that? 150 people? 135 of which couldn't care less if you paid them? It feels good for us regulars, but it's not like there's any national tracking of the results.

It's a good driver to excel, albeit with very low risk. If nothing else, that makes it all worthwhile. We all need motivation of some sort, lest we fall into complacency and poor performance, and who wants that?

 

[Ddbltrbl]

I also think it could be simplified.

A finish is either good or not... why is origin important?

Scale length doesn't change the fact that it's a guitar. Bass, baritone, long, medium, short scale... then there's no differentiation for number of strings. Throw out the narrow differentiation or broaden it.

Currently there are no other criteria. Winners are chosen for their desirability by individual voters. For instance, It would be difficult for me to vote for a 7 string with a Floyd on it, because I wouldn't want one. Guy could've spent 500 man-hours and $3500 over an 18 month project timeline, and I'd pass it right up for an interesting Tele somebody threw together overnight. Originality, difficulty, rarity, complexity, practicality, cost... the list of things that an instrument could be judged on is long, yet none of those things are considered.

I'm not sure if that's good or bad, I only mention it to illustrate that this is a fairly whimsical contest. So, I don't know that it needs a lotta rules.

I find myself agreeing with Cagey again! :icon_thumright:

 

[SustainerPlayer]

It's fun and guitar porn. And some are using their unpaid time for it to happen. I'm grateful for that and overall it has proven to be a successful format.

And if someone has to wait another month to enter the competition - how can that be a problem? (for others than Updown who at that time probably has completed 16 new builds anyway  :icon_biggrin.

 

[Updown]

If it's already been discussed, then I couldn't find the thread.

Yep, In here ... http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=18706.msg275734#msg275734

(for others than Updown who at that time probably has completed 16 new builds anyway  :icon_biggrin.

No special cookie for you sir  :icon_biggrin:

But you were close ... #15 is the Worm Lab Cab Tele. (nearly there)
.... Also 2 of those 15 have been taken apart.
Think I got enough, but ya never do know  :laughing7: ..... may-be a Bass 

 

[Patriot54]

It's fun and guitar porn. And some are using their unpaid time for it to happen. I'm grateful for that and overall it has proven to be a successful format.

And if someone has to wait another month to enter the competition - how can that be a problem? (for others than Updown who at that time probably has completed 16 new builds anyway  :icon_biggrin.

I agree with everything you said. Despite my obsessive analysis of the categories, I have no problem with it and will still have fun voting and entering in the GOM however the mods choose to run it.  :guitaristgif:

 

[Wyliee]

It's fun and guitar porn. And some are using their unpaid time for it to happen. I'm grateful for that and overall it has proven to be a successful format.

And if someone has to wait another month to enter the competition - how can that be a problem? (for others than Updown who at that time probably has completed 16 new builds anyway  :icon_biggrin.

All good, and important, points.  This is supposed to be fun and a way for board members to be recognized for their builds.  Beyond bragging rights and a banner at the top of the page, there's nothing else to win.  It's great to see people thinking outside the box.

Please remember there are a couple board members that volunteer their time to organize and facilitate the contest each month.  Let's respect that effort.

 

[Nando Vallart]

All good, and important, points.  This is supposed to be fun and a way for board members to be recognized for their builds.  Beyond bragging rights and a banner at the top of the page, there's nothing else to win.  It's great to see people thinking outside the box.

Please remember there are a couple board members that volunteer their time to organize and facilitate the contest each month.  Let's respect that effort.

+1!

 

[Ddbltrbl]

Please remember there are a couple board members that volunteer their time to organize and facilitate the contest each month.  Let's respect that effort.

+1 Thanks to our volunteers! ccasion14:

 

[Great Ape]

Please remember there are a couple board members that volunteer their time to organize and facilitate the contest each month.  Let's respect that effort.

+1 Thanks to our volunteers! ccasion14:

AMEN! ENJOY!

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I for one, like the different criteria each month.  It mixes it up, makes it interesting, and ensures that the same person doesn't "over enter" these contests, keeping the choices to a realistic minimum.

Concievably, if it were open class, the same person could enter month after month after month, eventually win, and keep entering.

Having alternating class allows everyone to participate at one point or another.

 

[Tony Raven]

There's a classic-car club in town. They have open competitions a few times a year, but it's 90% the same entries every time, a bunch of guys get $5 trophies, & a good time is had by all. Like that, I don't see the GOM as particularly definitive -- & that's (IMO) a good thing. It's like someone is leafing through a stack of photos & flagging something that's momentarily interesting... which is totally cool with me at least.

If I was going to tweak the GOM, it'd mostly be to give some sort of break to the first- or one-time builders & happy hobbyists, so that their efforts aren't totally buried by the pro shops. But there's nothing wrong with more "funny" awards either -- I've admired at least two "Least Popular" guitars.

 

[AutoBat]

I've admired at least two "Least Popular" guitars.

Whose might that be?  :icon_jokercolor: