Sometimes its hard for me to justify why I should buy one for said reasons (as well as budget) you mentioned in this video. However, there are two signature models I would actually buy if the opportunity arises. The Ed O'Brien Strat and the Johnny Marr Jaguar. Both guitars has managed to do things like a normal Strat or Jag would but also have characteristics that make them different. Plus being a fan of both Radiohead and The Smiths helps as both guitarists are influences of mines.
I almost bought a Jason Isbell Tele but didn’t because of your first two reasons. I don’t even listen to him, I just loved the looks and love double bound Teles. It just felt wrong. I also have been looking at Cobain guitars for a LONG time but I know I would only play Nirvana songs on them. I actually bought an epiphone explorer because I love The Edge and a Gibson explorer was his thing in the early U2 days. Whenever I pick it up I play something U2 ish and then put it down 😆 That’s the closest I’ve come to a signature guitar. Another one I always look at is a Billie Joe Armstrong LP Jr, but I just got a LP Jr 58 reissue instead. It’s kinda funny because either way, it’s not really “my own” guitar. Tons of people have them and have played them. This is so good though because it led me to buying a custom made guitar. I think that’s maybe the only way to get close to making something your own.
That's definitely an interesting take on it. All guitars I have ever bought has been because a guitarist I like plays them. So I haven't made any of it my own haha. I do have a fully custom made guitar coming my way though 👀
Yeah, I was thinking about this. I was looking at guitars and reverb and all the guitars I was looking at were signature guitars. However they’re all unique, the EOB strat, has that sustainer which is unique and looks classy and normal in all white, Troy can luween jazzmaster looks great in ox blood, haven’t seen another guitar in that color, Sean long charvel, mainly just to have actives and that beautiful maple neck without fret markers and then the Jim root strat and jazzmaster, they look sleak and classy
Oh shit, didn't even think about troy jazzmasters. They are beautifully made signature guitars! All of the guitars you mention definitely have classy moves without too much branding. 👌
Lol, it's hilarious that this video was recommended after I watched you're Burny LP video, and part of my comment was about signature gear. I did say that part of my decision to go with a Burny LP was because I realized I didn't want a signature Epiphone, but ultimately it was because I just wanted a Burny for the quality. I will say that I have bought signature gear before, or gear that is heavily associated with a particular artist. Being that Jerry Cantrell is a big influence of mine, I bought his 20W head, the JJ Jr. because I love his tone. I do find that I almost feel encouraged to play Alice in Chains stuff when I plug in, so I tend to make an effort to break out of that, and focus on my own stuff. I also have a G&L Rampage from the 80s, which even though wasn't Cantrell's official signature guitar (he did have signature Rampages in the 2000s), it's heavily associated with him, and is essentially "the Cantrell guitar". Being that it's a single humbucker guitar with a single volume knob, it's far from versatile, but it's precisely the barebones quality of the guitar that forced me to be more dynamic with my playing to get more tonal variation, so it's actually been a great guitar for me. I can understand both sides of the fence, why people would want a signature, and why people would stay away, and the people in between who will make exceptions for some and not others. I'm kind of in the middle, where I will make certain exceptions, but I either have too really love the artist (like in Cantrell's case), or it hits some of your criteria's. My issue with signature equipment is not so much how other's would perceive me playing a guitar highly associated with an artist, but how it might affect my own playing and what I play... It's hard to pick up a Malcom Young Gretch and not want to bang out some ACDC riffs...
I agree with you for sure. Mine is mostly visual for sure. Playing gets affected by gear for sure. I write different songs on different guitars, signature guitars definitely play a role in that inspiration you get from it. Also can't deny that Cantrell plays amazing guitars. I'd love a Wine Red LP Custom. I've been eyeing the Epiphone haha. Need to test it out in stores first for sure 🙂
@@alexradsby I hear you on Cantrell's les pauls. I was eyeing the Epiphone Wino for a long time too, but my Gibson LP Standard is Wino red, so it felt a little redundant to have 2 wine red LPs, even it the Epi was spec'd to Cantrell's Custom... which was an extra push towards the Burny. I think a pro of the Epi Wino over the typical Epi LP customs is that the neck is a lot fatter. I think it's got like 7-9 weight relief holes. The Adam Jones Epi LP comes with a super distortion which is pretty attractive, but it's also a few hundred more than the Wino. I know this is probably a small thing for a lot of people, and kind of superficial, but while I feel the newer inspired by Gibson headstock is head over heels better than the older version, it just felt like a half way transition, so close, but not fully there. I know they're probably trying to make them distinct from the Gibsons, but if they just went with the full open book headstock, it would be soooo much better in my mind... and Gibson owns both companies, so it's not like there would be any copyright infringement issues... I feel like it's just purely a business decision, like the concern that if people could get an Epiphone that essentially looks just like a Gibson (with the exception of the name), they wouldn't buy as many Gibsons, especially since Epiphone quality control has improved so much. IDK if I'm off base, but it just feels like a missed opportunity to me.
@@mountainpeakcloud8442 Again I agree with all your points for sure. Definitely a business decision BUT it seems to work fine for Fender/Squiers. It's too bad that Gibson don't do the same for Epiphone. It's better now but like you said, not quite there yet. I'd rather own Burny/Greco/Tokais actually haha, I need that headstock.
@@alexradsby Good point about Fender/Squier... you're right, they make it work, not reason why Gibson/Epiphone can't. Yeah, the MIJ LPs got the headstock right. I typically don't like when even the inlays veer too far from the split diamond, but I have to say I really love the lightening bolt diamond inlay on my Burny rlc-60, just like your rlc-60... I might actually prefer it to the split diamond.
Agree with everything you said. II tend to stay clear of them, but I've got an Ed O'Brien strat, even though I'm not really a strat guy - but that sustainer pickup was too much fun to resist. I could be wrong, but his personal one is black, I think. The public get a white one as kind of blank slate. So it' doesn't really stand out as an obvious signature. A blast to play.
Signature guitars I would go for (if I ever get the money to be able to afford one that is) are one of Andy Timmons's signature guitar, the 2022 ATZ10P and Paul Gilbert's Fireman (due to its unique shape). The ATZ10P is probably more versatile than the Fireman, but I could just mod the Fireman and make it versatile as well. Since the pickups are mounted on the pickguard, one can easily change the pickup configuration, change to different pickguards to personalise the look and/or install the Ibanez Dyna-mix switch.
Ooh nice picks for sure! I agree with you about the modding, but if it already sounds really good I don't think you need to mod it for moddings sake. 🙂
I've never tried them. But I do feel like if I'm buying an epiphone, id rather spend the money for those models than the standard ones. The Jerry Cantrell is definitely one I'd pick up if possible. That said, I tried the Epiphone Les Paul Classic in Worn Gold and it was pretty great too. They have stepped up their game for sure!
I'm typically not a fan of signature guitars, for me personally, I think there has to be some cool/unique thing on it that would get me to buy one. The only one I own is the Epiphone Brent Hinds Flying V. Sure, I like Mastodon and Brent Hinds fine enough, but the only reason I bought that guitar, is because it's a Silverburst Flying V Custom that didn't cost $5000+ from Gibson (even has an ebony fretboard as well). Then from there, I ditched the truss rod cover that had his name on it, and from there, now I have a killer looking Flying V with upgraded pickups right off the bat!
The signature is fine but they are quite specific to that artist's specs. For instance, the Cory Wong signature is said to have a smaller body-what does that do for me? I like Hendrix strats because it is just different enough like a Buddy Guy (both have a few color variations and are reasonably priced especially in the used market. I am a fan of EVH signature guitars and am looking hard for a good used model - there are so many shapes/colors/specs to choose from!
Had no idea about the smaller body on the cory wong haha. That's definitely interesting! Oh the EVH thing is interesting, would you play it live at all?
@@alexradsby probably not, but I would play the el out of it at home or jamming with friends! I just ordered a Charvel San Dimas HSS in platinum pearl Hardtail and can’t wait for delivery. That may keep me busy for quite a while🤙🏽🤘
with the recent price hike by fender and other guitar companies, I regret not buying the Jim root telecaster model years ago. now im kicking myself in the ass. I mean $1499.99? nah im good.. hell im happy I bought the chris shiflett telecaster in 2018 when it was 749.99.. and now, I looked at guitar center and it was $1149.99? Yeesh
@@alexradsby I love my Chris shiflett. It’s my favorite guitar in my collection. Don’t get mad but my second favorite guitar in my collection is the Schecter machine gun Kelly signature model lol
@@adyingshadow Haha i have heard good things about MGK signature actually. Never met anyone who actively bought it though! 😛 Schecter do make some great instruments!
@@alexradsby I only bought it to piss people off lol my band mates were pissed off coz it’s “machine gun Kelly” but as soon as I played it, they liked it but still hate machine gun Kelly lol. Weirdly enough, I want to buy that Jim adkins fender or the Matt heafy origins white guitar (my dad bought me the black one as a bday gift) since my bday is in 2 weeks lol. Yet I complained about the Jim root model being expensive. Dang guitarist problems lol sorry for the long reply. I’m bored right now lol
@@adyingshadow I have played the Jim Adkins and it's fucking amazing. I really really want one. The neck pickup is glorious and that's coming from a guy who spend 95% of his playing on the bridge pickup 😝 The Heafy models seem damn good too. 🙂
The only signature guitars I’ve ever bought are an Ernie Ball Music Man Valentine and a PRS Zach Myers Single Cut. Both signature guitars of guitarists who’s bands I have zero interest in, but instead they were super versatile guitars that don’t look like signatures unless you knew. The absolute worst signature I’ve ever seen is the Schecter Synster Gates one. It literally has the band logo covering nearly the entire fingerboard 🤢
Oh no. I just looked at it... 🤢 The Valentine is perfection. The zach myers does seem pretty great! I don't like the blue though, i like the older one better (the tampa green one) 🙂
