Inappropriate Guitars?

[MrBump]

I'm not much of a metaller, at least not these days, but I've started to develop an alarming attraction to Schecter guitars, which have a reputation and image that lend themselves to the 'evier end of the musical spectrum.

And it got me thinking of how I divide up guitars in my mind.

For example, the Jackson-esque, pointy headstock type guitars - I'd never think about buying one of those, because in my mind they're so linked to a particular type of music, regardless of how great they might be.  Likewise, I probably wouldn't ever consider a larger semi-accoustic, because I associate them with a genre that I'm not particularly interested in.

Anyone else think like this, or am I just odd?

And also, can anyone tell me really bad things about Schecters to protect my bank balance, and also from the wrath of Mrs Bump?

Mark.

[Philly Q]

I tend to think along similar lines, so you're not odd. 

Hang on, it's me saying this  :? .... we're both odd.


I don't think there's anything wrong with using "inappropriate" guitars for different musical styles, but there's no doubt that certain guitars become associated with particular styles.  We'll probably never see Kerry King with a Tele Deluxe, and we'll probably never see Franz Ferdinand endorsing BC Rich.

I think the whole thing happened almost by accident - manufacturers would see particular players using one of their guitars, then they'd start to design additional models to appeal to fans of that type of music.  The early BC Rich models were futuristic looking, but they were also quite curvy, had cloud inlays and came in cute colours like pink, lilac and baby blue!  Then they came up with the Warlock and Ironbird.... and everything since has been black and pointy.

There have been some Ibanez (in particular) models I've really liked the look of, but there are usually practical factors which put me off - Floyds and skinny necks, mostly.  Probably just as well, as I would look weird with a pointy guitar hanging round my neck.

Going back to Schecters, I've heard nothing bad about them.  I preferred the old US models which were really just posh Teles and Strats (the precursors of Valley Arts, Tom Anderson, Tyler and Suhr).  The new models are a bit...... too metal, really.  :oops:

[mecca777]

I like incongruous guitars, personally; like seeing Bill Steer shredding death metal on a Les Paul Jr, or David Allen Coe playing rebel country music on an Ibanez JEM. Certainly there are guitars that seem well suited to different genres, but there's a difference to me between performance issues (tuning stability, vibrato units, versatile switching, a particular tone) and aesthetic issues ("you can't play jazz on a Gibson Explorer because it's not a jazz guitar"). :)

I remember reading a guitar magazine years ago with an interview with, I think, the Reverend Horton Heat, where he described a prank one of his friends played - they took a brand new Marshall JCM head, put the guts of the amp in an old, battered tweed cabinet and took it to a guitar show as a rare find, where everyone was enthralled by the "amazing vintage vibe" it had. I think guitarists can be particularly guilty of listening with their eyes; I don't think the average non-musician fan would pay much attention if Bruce Springsteen started using a Dean Razorback onstage, as long as he didn't start dressing like Dimebag as well.

[mecca777]

Oh, and on the topic of Schecters, I have a couple of the Korean ones; I'd love to tell you all kinds of bad things about them, but they're actually very good guitars and I'd describe them as "excellent" in the value stakes, although the ones I got aren't quite as "metal" as most of their current product range. Sorry. :)

[Ted 'N' Leo]

I remember a few years back i was considering getting an S1 (the sort of double cut les paul style one) and remember it being a fine guitar.

Just had a skek on their site too, this is quite tasty

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/3/1/1/487311.jpg

Wouldn't consider it metal really either  :)

[badgermark]

wow i like that semi Ted posted. I know what you mean Mr Bump, I have a bit of a thing for the fat mahogany 'superstrat' Schecters. I don't get on too well with Les Pauls and this seems like a cool alternative.

[MDV]

Schecters quality and materials can be very hit and miss. They also falsly advertise their woods (like "african mahogany" which isnt mahogany at all) and use very low grades.

They can make some great guitars, but you really have to look for a good one and buy that exact one. I have a schecter bass that I did that with, and its a very competent bang for buck instrument.

Highly variable brand, values image over substance, main market isnt just metal but n00b teenagers that want the look of them, can make a good guitar, but beware!

[HairyChris]

I've had 2, which I got at a stupidly good price. 006 Blackjack (mahogany, maple neck, JB/59 set) that sounded great at B standard through a Recto, and a C7 Hellraiser (mahogany, 707s) that wasn't bad but was a tad chunky necked...

[dave_mc]

They also falsly advertise their woods (like "african mahogany" which isnt mahogany at all) and use very low grades.

i dunno, i thought it was ok if you put "african" in front of it. it's the ones saying the guitar is made of "mahogany" and then you find out that it's actually made of phillipine mystery wood which annoy me much more (and which is technically illegal, as far as i'm aware). At least if you know it's the african stuff (khaya, right?), you can make a judgement call.

Not a major fan of schecter myself, but just wanted to point that out.

Regarding guitars for certain genres... I'll play most guitars (though I do play a bit of everything). Something like a dean razorback would be too pointy for me, but other than the really extreme ones, i'll play anything (assuming i like the guitar).

[Sifu Ben]

The ones I've tried, I've not liked the necks, and I found the fingerboard edges to be quite sharp.

[Ratrod]

I remember reading a guitar magazine years ago with an interview with, I think, the Reverend Horton Heat, where he described a prank one of his friends played - they took a brand new Marshall JCM head, put the guts of the amp in an old, battered tweed cabinet and took it to a guitar show as a rare find, where everyone was enthralled by the "amazing vintage vibe" it had.

I know that story. I believe they put the Fender on stage and the Marshall behind the curtain or something.

It's actually alot of fun to use something 'inapropriate' for certain music styles.

Play rockabilly, jazz or country through a Marshall and play metal with a Gretsch.

Some of the Who's biggest tones were made using a Gretsch 6120 through a cranked little Fender (a Princeton or something). While everybody was thinking it was an SG through a Marshall.  :lol:

[MDV]

They also falsly advertise their woods (like "african mahogany" which isnt mahogany at all) and use very low grades.

i dunno, i thought it was ok if you put "african" in front of it. it's the ones saying the guitar is made of "mahogany" and then you find out that it's actually made of phillipine mystery wood which annoy me much more (and which is technically illegal, as far as i'm aware). At least if you know it's the african stuff (khaya, right?), you can make a judgement call.

Not a major fan of schecter myself, but just wanted to point that out.

Regarding guitars for certain genres... I'll play most guitars (though I do play a bit of everything). Something like a dean razorback would be too pointy for me, but other than the really extreme ones, i'll play anything (assuming i like the guitar).

The indonesian stuff is probably Meranti, which I've chosen over mahogany for the Aurora. Its like all the best things about mahogany and swamp ash in one wood.

The only mahoganies are Swietenia, and "african mahogany" is a popular/trade name for trees whos only relation to Swietenia is they're sort of red.

[CaptainDesslock]

I'm not sure if its "inappropriate,"

But i do understand what your saying how certain guitars have a visual flair that could make them look out of place or potentially unprofessional.  Imagine going to a metal concert with the band playing a '52 tele, or going to a rockabilly show and they're playing a warlock, just wrong.

[MDV]

There are bounds and trends to the inapropriate too. I've seen people play jazz on RGs and metal on Teles and so on and so forth and so have the rest of us.

First off is how well you get on with the instrument in general.

Then theres how well it can do what you want it to, regardless of its image.

Then theres the vibe you get off it and what youre inclined to play with it, if indeed you are inclined to change your playing on the vibe of the instrument, which it seems you are.

If it ticks both those boxes who cares if you end up playing Wes Montgomery on something very pointy?

If it doesnt and its not gonna feel right, then surely that disqualifies it?

[ToneMonkey]

Gibson Corvus.... not right in any situation  :lol: