1960's Gibson SG Standard
1972 Rickenbacker 4001 Left Hander (One of ours In stock now!)
1969 Fender Stratocaster Olympic White
1979 Gibson RD Artist ( I know! I know!)
1961 Gretsch 6120
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Stratocasters Telecasters and the Great Leap Forward!
Greetings Twang Kings and Queens
The Fender Stratocaster, you see it everywhere. Ask any man or woman in the street to draw a guitar, chances are they will draw something Strat like. This ubiquity is unsuprising considering its looks, history and impact on rock history. Personally I will leave the hyperbole to others because lets face it we have heard it all before. But what about the more humble Telecaster? Telecaster sales and vintage values have always lagged behind Strat's and the humbler Tele is increasing in popularity. My personal view is that the Tele has always been more of a guitar for the purist. Whilst Strat players often chop and change with other guitars, Tele players are Telecaster players through and through, Wilko Johnson, Joe Strummer, Roy Buchanan, to name a view are iconic and look well...just plain wrong with anything else.
To this end I am starting to wonder if the Stratocaster was the design great leap forward that guitar historians say. Perhaps we have all just been indoctrinated to believe that it was, but those who are fans of the way of the Telecaster know better? On that bombshell...until next time fretheads!
The Fender Stratocaster, you see it everywhere. Ask any man or woman in the street to draw a guitar, chances are they will draw something Strat like. This ubiquity is unsuprising considering its looks, history and impact on rock history. Personally I will leave the hyperbole to others because lets face it we have heard it all before. But what about the more humble Telecaster? Telecaster sales and vintage values have always lagged behind Strat's and the humbler Tele is increasing in popularity. My personal view is that the Tele has always been more of a guitar for the purist. Whilst Strat players often chop and change with other guitars, Tele players are Telecaster players through and through, Wilko Johnson, Joe Strummer, Roy Buchanan, to name a view are iconic and look well...just plain wrong with anything else.
To this end I am starting to wonder if the Stratocaster was the design great leap forward that guitar historians say. Perhaps we have all just been indoctrinated to believe that it was, but those who are fans of the way of the Telecaster know better? On that bombshell...until next time fretheads!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Edwyn Collins....Absolute Bloody Hero!
I have just watched a sensitive documentary on BBC 4 about Edwyn Collins - he of Orange Juice and 'A Girl Like You' fuzzed out guitar solo fame - and his road to recovery after suffering a brain tumour and a stroke! Vintage guitar fans will know Edwyn from features in guitar magazines outlining his superb taste in vintage guitars, amps and effects. Despite problems with his right arm it was great to see Edwyn making his first steps towards recording again. What an absolute bloody hero...It was very emotional watching Edwin using Fender and Gibson name games as part of his speech therapy...and all of my very best goes out to Edwyn and his family. In Edwyn's own words.
"How are you? You're Well? Good. Let's start with guitars. I like guitars. I have loads of guitars. The Gretsch, The Levin, The Rickenbacker,the Gibson and the Fender. So many possibilities. Some times I look at them with excitement! The trouble is my hand doesn't work at the moment but it will do in time. Give it time"
As I said...absolute bloody hero!
Check out Edwyn's own site and myspace page
http://www.edwyncollins.com/
http://www.myspace.com/wwwmyspacecomedwyncollins
"How are you? You're Well? Good. Let's start with guitars. I like guitars. I have loads of guitars. The Gretsch, The Levin, The Rickenbacker,the Gibson and the Fender. So many possibilities. Some times I look at them with excitement! The trouble is my hand doesn't work at the moment but it will do in time. Give it time"
As I said...absolute bloody hero!
Check out Edwyn's own site and myspace page
http://www.edwyncollins.com/
http://www.myspace.com/wwwmyspacecomedwyncollins
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Misnomers of the guitar world unite.
Some product names and advertising straplines are just plain wrong! Whilst there are classic brands with classic advertising slogans, sometimes the admen, and I count myself as one such adman in a former life, just get it plain wrong. It doesn't matter what the brand or product some items are just plain misnamed or maladvertised. One of my former clients were the company that made British soft drink from the 1960's Tizer and one of the advertising slogans historically used for that brand was "The Appetizer"! How? Why? How did a pinkish coloured drink apparently made from sugar and fruit flavourings increase any consumers' appetites? In the world of cars too we can laugh at the Morris Marina, presumably because it let a fair amount of water in through rusty side panels and you got your feet wet, and the Austin Allegro which wasn't either Italian, musical or quick! Even luxury cars have strange names Testarossa, Countach or Ghibli Spyder anyone?
Well we can laugh, but in the guitar world, we who buy and sell guitars are not immune from ridicule, indeed the guitar world has offered up its fair share of howlers! A Gibson Grabber anyone, Grab what? What does the Gibson Grabber actually Grab, answers on a postcard please; and who can forget the can opener like Corvus. Having put Corvus into Google (OK I was a little bored this afternoon) I came up with an international global investment company, a hooded crow and a specialist weeding tool. Well you could use a Gibson derived Corvus for the final task but other than that no linkage. Just plain weird product names!
Other companys are not immune, the Fender Jazzmaster, was anything but jazzy and no real master of the jazz arts worth his salt would go anywhere near one. But perhaps the saddest most misnamed guitar is the Gretsch White Penguin. OK I know its a rare and collectable guitar, but without wanting to spoil the party or be labelled a pedant, Penguins aren't white, and it has to be the oddest name for such a beautiful guitar. Same for the Teuffel Birdfish, now that is a really weird product naming concept. Both Heritage and PRS both have had the sense to pick a more majestic bird in their Golden Eagle guitars, whilst I cannot see anyone clamouring to name their guitar the Dodo anytime soon. So dear readers even we in the guitar world get it wrong occasionally in the product naming and advertising stakes. A Modern Guitars Budgiecaster anyone?! You never know it might just catch on!
Well we can laugh, but in the guitar world, we who buy and sell guitars are not immune from ridicule, indeed the guitar world has offered up its fair share of howlers! A Gibson Grabber anyone, Grab what? What does the Gibson Grabber actually Grab, answers on a postcard please; and who can forget the can opener like Corvus. Having put Corvus into Google (OK I was a little bored this afternoon) I came up with an international global investment company, a hooded crow and a specialist weeding tool. Well you could use a Gibson derived Corvus for the final task but other than that no linkage. Just plain weird product names!
Other companys are not immune, the Fender Jazzmaster, was anything but jazzy and no real master of the jazz arts worth his salt would go anywhere near one. But perhaps the saddest most misnamed guitar is the Gretsch White Penguin. OK I know its a rare and collectable guitar, but without wanting to spoil the party or be labelled a pedant, Penguins aren't white, and it has to be the oddest name for such a beautiful guitar. Same for the Teuffel Birdfish, now that is a really weird product naming concept. Both Heritage and PRS both have had the sense to pick a more majestic bird in their Golden Eagle guitars, whilst I cannot see anyone clamouring to name their guitar the Dodo anytime soon. So dear readers even we in the guitar world get it wrong occasionally in the product naming and advertising stakes. A Modern Guitars Budgiecaster anyone?! You never know it might just catch on!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
The Top 5 Guitars We Like This Week
1. Gibson Les Paul Heritage 80
2. Gibson Les Paul Classic Antique
3. Rickenbacker 330 Blueboy
4. 1959 Gibson Les Paul Junior
5. Teuffel Birdfish
2. Gibson Les Paul Classic Antique
3. Rickenbacker 330 Blueboy
4. 1959 Gibson Les Paul Junior
5. Teuffel Birdfish
Vintage Guitar market coming to an end shock....nah! not really but...
Hello again twang kings and queens!
What was once ephemeral often becomes iconic! Hmmmmm! Very deep and philosophical fretheads! But remember dear readers this path of enlightenment leads to meaningless “markets” for obscure items, often created by those who are seeking to sell the items in the first place!
Take the market for obscure 1970’s effects pedals where the price of such “gems” as Mutron, MXR and god love us Electro Harmonix went through the roof in the mid to late 1990’s. I personally blame those indie grunge players whose love of so called ‘lo fi’ sounds pushed the price of more obscure pedals up to some very un”lo-fi” prices. I once sold a Pearl Phaser to the lead guitarist of a major 1990’s band for around twice its going rate market “value” just because he “didn’t have one” and wanted to hear “what it sounded like”….errrm like a phaser mate you know swishy shwooshy sort of sound.
Now that particular market largely "collapsed" due to the rise of boutique hand built pedals such as ZVEX and the like. No I don't get the junior school art class paint jobs either but there you go! Also the manufacturers got hip to this market and began building "new old" versions of the classics, often in China. Take for example the Electro Harmonix range or Roland's superb Space Echo now a COSM modelled Boss Pedal. The boutique and high end effects market is booming at the moment and the price for scratched and knackered old MXR pedals and the like has hit an all time low. Why because the market moves on.
Now the same might be said for the market for 1970’s guitars. As the good 60’s stuff dries up attention is refocused on 70’s Strats Teles and Gibsons. Now I own a couple of 1970’s guitars and a '77 Strat I once had was the worst dog of a guitar I have ever played. But my most recent acquisition a 1974 Telecaster Custom, whilst it has the usual dodgy paint job (red over sunburst) is a truly great guitar! It has a Bigsby and the Seth Lover designed humbucker and is one of the nicest guitars I have ever played. It does everything it says on the tin and more besides.
SO what are we saying here? Yes there is a lot of tat out there masquerading as collectable instruments from the 1970's, but there are some gems also. But just because it looks like a dog and smells like a dog doesn't make it a pedigree dog! I have stood at stalls at vintage guitar shows and watched guys literal drool over the cracking, chips, wear and "patina" on a 1977 Stratocaster. That's all well and good and whatever floats your boat, but what happens when the market changes. Perhaps then the idea of old guitars, relic instruments and lets face it damaged guitars becomes a turn off, the vintage guitar market goes into reverse and the public want nice clean examples of something more upmarket and boutique say....after all it happened with the effects pedals. Plus the major manufacturers are producing nice worn in, played in examples of their old stock product. So eventually the cachet of vintage instruments loses its attraction. Who knows and that's what makes this guitar selling game such fun! Its all going on out there if you just use your eyes and ears! Until next time fretheads!
What was once ephemeral often becomes iconic! Hmmmmm! Very deep and philosophical fretheads! But remember dear readers this path of enlightenment leads to meaningless “markets” for obscure items, often created by those who are seeking to sell the items in the first place!
Take the market for obscure 1970’s effects pedals where the price of such “gems” as Mutron, MXR and god love us Electro Harmonix went through the roof in the mid to late 1990’s. I personally blame those indie grunge players whose love of so called ‘lo fi’ sounds pushed the price of more obscure pedals up to some very un”lo-fi” prices. I once sold a Pearl Phaser to the lead guitarist of a major 1990’s band for around twice its going rate market “value” just because he “didn’t have one” and wanted to hear “what it sounded like”….errrm like a phaser mate you know swishy shwooshy sort of sound.
Now that particular market largely "collapsed" due to the rise of boutique hand built pedals such as ZVEX and the like. No I don't get the junior school art class paint jobs either but there you go! Also the manufacturers got hip to this market and began building "new old" versions of the classics, often in China. Take for example the Electro Harmonix range or Roland's superb Space Echo now a COSM modelled Boss Pedal. The boutique and high end effects market is booming at the moment and the price for scratched and knackered old MXR pedals and the like has hit an all time low. Why because the market moves on.
Now the same might be said for the market for 1970’s guitars. As the good 60’s stuff dries up attention is refocused on 70’s Strats Teles and Gibsons. Now I own a couple of 1970’s guitars and a '77 Strat I once had was the worst dog of a guitar I have ever played. But my most recent acquisition a 1974 Telecaster Custom, whilst it has the usual dodgy paint job (red over sunburst) is a truly great guitar! It has a Bigsby and the Seth Lover designed humbucker and is one of the nicest guitars I have ever played. It does everything it says on the tin and more besides.
SO what are we saying here? Yes there is a lot of tat out there masquerading as collectable instruments from the 1970's, but there are some gems also. But just because it looks like a dog and smells like a dog doesn't make it a pedigree dog! I have stood at stalls at vintage guitar shows and watched guys literal drool over the cracking, chips, wear and "patina" on a 1977 Stratocaster. That's all well and good and whatever floats your boat, but what happens when the market changes. Perhaps then the idea of old guitars, relic instruments and lets face it damaged guitars becomes a turn off, the vintage guitar market goes into reverse and the public want nice clean examples of something more upmarket and boutique say....after all it happened with the effects pedals. Plus the major manufacturers are producing nice worn in, played in examples of their old stock product. So eventually the cachet of vintage instruments loses its attraction. Who knows and that's what makes this guitar selling game such fun! Its all going on out there if you just use your eyes and ears! Until next time fretheads!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Jem's 20th Birthday...and why signature guitars are the Marmite of the Guitar World
It is hard to believe that the Ibanez Jem is now 20 and nearly 21 years old. A cursory glance at Steve Vai's website reveals that the Jem has been through some mainly cosmetic changes in the last two decades. As an instrument it was a significant departure for Ibanez and the market in general in the late 1980's, in that it ticked a number of boxes we now take for granted in guitar design, manufacture and marketing. Not only did it establish Ibanez as a major player, I personally think it represented the major transformation in price and perception that Ibanez had been pushing for, for sometime. They had always been worthy producers of good quality stuff even in the 1970's and there are some lovely Ibanez instruments from that period, but had always been subject to the Japanese copy tag due in part to guitars made in what we now call "the Lawsuit Era".
There is a marketing pricing case study they used to give to students back in the day when I was a marketing student, in which BMW stopped trying to take on the Ford Escort in Europe raised their prices and headed off in the direction that led to the BMW 3 Series.
Ibanez I feel tried to do the same thing with their signature models and as a result redefined the rock guitar market. Yet I feel that for all their efforts at redefinition high end Ibanez guitars are the Marmite of the guitar world. They are loved by those who play, collect and work on them, disliked and derided by those of a more conservative guitar playing bent. As other manufacturers have fallen by the wayside in the "pointy head" rock "axe" market. Ibanez have both blazed a trail in that market and been a little "guilty" of "over marketing" syndrome on a grand scale. Ibanez's position in the market in their particular sectors of strength has been defined by being where Fender and Gibson never dared to go.
It is interesting to note the way that Fender and Gibson tried to emulate their Oriental competitors in the late 1980's and having owned a Gibson Q300 and a Fender HM Strat and Katana in the past I can vouch that they were better off leaving well alone! The Ibanez Jem is/was so radical that it seemed like a revolutionary "blank piece of paper" design job, unencumbered by brand history, a unique and bold statement where an artiste had really expressed what he wanted in design terms...yes even the Monkey Grip! Packed with genuine innovation and a great neck, it was as bold as it was playable! But...and this is where Ibanez and I fall out, what they have done with the guitar since with cosmetic changes and sometimes odd rejig jobs smacks a little too much of milking a "signature" cash cow until it drops. The problem is not really Ibanez's. As with any of the Ibanez Signature Satriani Vai Gilbert ranges or any signature guitars is that once you have got the basic product based on the artiste's favourite guitar then all the manufacturer can really do is produce increasingly opulent or lurid cosmetic specifications. To change anything more significant would render the guitar no longer the "signature" model, and when the signee goes elsewhere, what to do then - what price a Musicman Axis or Peavey Wolfgang anyone?
Despite all of that, like Marmite, my advice is ignore all the flashy paint jobs, and odd add ons like screwheads as fret markers and try a Jem or a JS at least once in your life....who knows you might just like it...and that Jem neck is brilliant! Now where did I leave that Dave MacGregor signature Gibson Corvus....Doh!
Check out Steve Vai's great guitar website at http://www.vai.com
Until next time Fret Heads!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Modern Guitars?
Hello Twang Kings and Queens!
Friday, February 8, 2008
Our Top Five Guitars Seen This Week!
Every so often, hopefully after each blog, we at http://www.modernguitars.co.uk will decide on and publish our Top 5 guitar we have seen that week. If you agree or disagree with us drop us a line...here goes out first list
The Top 5 Guitars We Like This Week
1. White Gibson SG Custom with Bigsby
2. 1963 Fender Stratocaster Sonic Blue
3. 1980's BC Rich Mockingbird
4. Gibson Les Paul Special TV Yellow
5. Duesenberg Starplayer TV Outlaw in Black faux Crocodile Skin
Until next time fret heads!
The Top 5 Guitars We Like This Week
1. White Gibson SG Custom with Bigsby
2. 1963 Fender Stratocaster Sonic Blue
3. 1980's BC Rich Mockingbird
4. Gibson Les Paul Special TV Yellow
5. Duesenberg Starplayer TV Outlaw in Black faux Crocodile Skin
Until next time fret heads!
This Blog ...Guitars....and me!
I suppose this could be construed as a mid life crisis thing , Mrs Modern Guitars certainly perceives it that way! This "guitar thing" as she politely puts it, (she will never call it a hobby or a business start up) represents both my current interest and lifelong passion. I have been around guitars for most of my teenage and all of my adult life apart from one strange period of mental aberration when I had decided to become a hot shot advertising executive, I kid you not! and my guitar languished under the bed for around five years! Apart from that I have always been around guitars whether buying or selling them, attending gigs and concerts and frequenting guitar shows and guitar shops for more time than I care to admit or own up to. In answer to the three questions that seem to stalk the life of anyone who has ever picked up a guitar ; Q: "Do you play?" A: Yes I do but not as well as I would like! Q: "Have you ever been in a band"? At this point I am usually tempted to say something like "Yes Led Zeppelin! Have you heard of them? I played on their long lost 1980's comeback album, I was filling in for Jimmy Page you know!" But mostly I allude to being a group made up of 1980's poseurs with bad haircuts who almost very nearly coulda woulda shoulda had a single out on Factory Records had Tony Wilson (God Bless Him!) and company not spent all of their and quite a bit of New Order's money on the Hacienda nightclub. Ah well kid such are the breaks! The last question I often get asked is what sort of music do you play or like. The truth is that since the Punk Rock Wars of the 1970's when everyone was in musical ghettos such as Punk, New Wave Post Punk, Metal, Prog Rock or Funk this question now I feel gets harder to answer every year. I try to be electic in my listening and am mainly drawn to anything which has great guitar playing on it and especially rate Vini Reilly of the Durutti Column for being so very unique but other than that can't say I tend towards any one style. I remain in awe of anyone who is sticking to one way of playing and really working hard at their craft to be say a top Jazz Player, a great Metal guitarist or a really hot Shredder Respect is due!....in the words of Spinal Tap Rockumentary Director Marti Di Bergi however, "But hey enough of my yakkin. Whaddya say! Lets Boogie...."
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