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!
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