Late Night Guitar Informercial...

[rodeo_joel]

Staying up late at night posting threads on the tele forum and the Esteban infomerical comes on TV advertising quite a package.

Sounds too good to be true to me (I mean REALLY to good to be true). Their giving you like a six string electric/acoustic, an amp, five lesson DVD's, strap, strings, picks etc. for like less than $200. Ya right!!

They make it sound like you'll play like esteban after one lesson. Everybody on this is so fake. All that stuff for like $200. You're better off to spend all $200 on a Yamaha, a couple of picks and a beginners lesson book. It's all you need.

Though this is so fake looking, I love watching it. They're such terrible actors. So fake.LOL

[cook]

I find the infomercials entertaining for some reason. The other night, Esteban's co- host said the guitars are also good for playing "Flamingo music."

[cook]

I find the infomercials entertaining for some reason. The other night, Esteban's co- host said the guitars are also good for playing "Flamingo music."

[Brian blaut]

And If I remember correctly, they even go so far to "indirectly" say the $200 is every bit as good as the original and that it is "hand made". Infact, never before has such a fine crafted hand made musical instrument been available for such a low price. You'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between this one and the original costing thousands more (something like that). Its no big deal they are offering a cheap guitar. Its only how far they go to practically lie about its quality that makes me roll my eyes.

I'm shock by two things. One, that anyone believes what advertises say, especially when its too good to be true (but they do). And two, that Esteban would endorse such a thing, especially the way they advertise it. Actually I know nothing about the guy or his music, but he seems to be somewhat of an acomplished player in his weird old world/new world/new age/spanish nature playing style. And his legacy will be now known for pushing some of the crappiest stuff sold on infomercials.

+1 on spending that $200 on a Yamaha, a pick and a book. I still play my first $150 Yamaha almost everyday at work. Its probably 14 years old and still going strong.

[brillocaster]

I kinda marvel at Esteban. I have this whole theory that his real name is something like Dave Wiernoski and he's just some regular guy from Pittsburg or Phoenix or Houston...lives in a nice but not ostentatious suburb...neighbors know he's in sales, but they think maybe it's copiers. Flies out to QVC a couple days a month to hawk those cheap guitars. The all-black-head-to-toe is key to the whole thing - he'll never get recognized and all he has to do is find a similarly jaw-lined session man to tape the DVDs and go out on tour once in a while.

If you told me I could put on a black hat and sunglasses, go on TV for an hour and a half and do $3.125 mm gross (I saw five minutes of him on one of the shopping channels hawking that peacedovemagicsparklebird guitar and they had sold 12,500 units @ $250) and repeat this every six months or so I'd be tempted to let fly some of the half-truths they pump out (I couldn't do it though - I'd die of embarrassment). Every time I stop on one of those networks I just boggle that A) anyone would believe the obvious garbage that they say and B) anyone would consider purchasing the obvious crud they offer.

[rodeo_joel]

I'm sure Esteban is completely a very accomplished guitar player.

Brian: I agree with you that his legacy will be remembered for being on stupid infomercials pushing bad equipment, and lying about its quality.

He makes me laugh though. He calls himself Esteban (spanish name) and he's from like Pittsburgh. And what's with the complete black outfit and bolero hat. Who does he think he is, Zorro?

I can't poke fun at this talent though, he's very talented. In my opinion he should have focused his career more on expanding his talents and performances instead of trying to market crappy guitars.

He could always have done what lots of other great musicians have done. Put out a video with Hotlicks or something (like Brent Mason or Johnny Hiland etc.). That would have been fine.

[Seminole90]

The mystery of Esteban was solved right here on the TDPRI: http://www.tdpri.com/forum/bad-dog-c...hlight=esteban

Of course if you want Esteban's official version you can check out his own high speed website - http://www.estebanmusic.com/

I couldn't care less about how his manner of dress or his personality quirks so long as he stays legal. Personally, if the guy is getting folks interested in music and guitars I think it's great. On the other hand, perhaps the EPA, the FCC, the BBB and some of the other legal entities with three letter acronyms ought to check out the toxic and poor quality materials and garbage placed into those guitars he and HSN (or QVC or whoever it is he's working with) are foisting off on the public. I've seen one of the guitars and it looked awful. It actually had a strong chemical smell. It was unbelievable. It looked like a poorly made toy. The neck wasn't even straight and the fret wire might have come from old coat hangars. My fear would be that folks (more likely kids) will get turned off of music by the poor quality stuff he's hawking on the infomercials. The money could be better spent.

Regards,
Rob

[Steelpicki'n]

If they make you play like Estaban, Then maybe you could sue! Please dont flame me too bad...I just think he and his guitars are third rate at best...

[68tele]

Hate all you want, he has a successful career in music.

[Teletwang]

I pretty much agree with all the above posts. But I also think Esteban is helping spread the word, if you will. Especially to the younger ones. I much rather see him hawking his goods on QVC than some mindless video game or the like. So whos getting hurt?

[newrider1969]

Biography by Drago Bonacich
Guitarist Esteban (Stephen Paul) began playing his favorite instrument at a very young age. Having graduated from Pittsburg's Carnegie Mellon University, the talented musician moved to Spain to take master classes with Andrés Segovia, known as the father of the modern classical guitar movement, returning to the U.S. in 1978. Unfortunately, due to a car accident, Esteban, nicknamed by his teacher and mentor, was unable to play guitar for a decade. Starting all over again during the 1990s, Esteban became a chart-topper after independently releasing By Request and Flame Flamenco & Romance. Dozens of albums followed, and in time Esteban developed a guitar teaching program that he marketed largely through television and video, along with his own American Legacy guitar line, which he features prominently in the videos. Best of Esteban appeared on CD in 2006.

[Seminole90]

Here is a link to an interesting article that sheds some light on the "mystery" of the dude the calls himself "Esteban".

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/issue...feature_1.html

My take on all of this that he sells his guitars and makes statements to the effect that the guitars are "as good as" and then inserts the names of such fine istruments as Martin, Ramirez, and Rodriquez. I would say his wares don't hold a candle to such fine guitars, but to put a candle next to an Esteban guitar is to invite a catastrpohic explosion. The things aren't even good toys.

Enjoy the article.

Best Regards,
Rob

[marksound]

My sister-in-law bought one, and I laughed--until I saw it. I was surprised, to say the least. It's no Martin, but I've seen worse for the money, and it played and sounded ok too. Maybe she just got lucky.

[Steelpicki'n]

[studio1087]

His real name is Steve.

He studied with Segovia for about three weeks and tells fans that he studied with Segovia for years.

Segovia (according to legend) nicknamed him Estaban which is spanish for Steve.

He wears the sunglasses because his eye was badly damaged in an accident and it looks unusual.

I have palyed the Black Estaban guitar at a pawn shop. The fretboard was coated with black dye that came off on my fingers. The rosette was a sticker. It was a horrible piece of junk. I get mad when I think about all the unsuspecting parents and grandparents who buy those things at Christmas to later learn that they bought a pig in a poke. I wonder if they buy more musical instruments for their kids or say to heck with it.

Not everyone knows what a Yamaha FG700S or a Seagull S6 is. There are good starter guitars available at the local mom amd pop store.

Down with Zorro. He is the musical equivelent of guys who sell spray on hair or magic fishing lures on TV.

[RodeoTex]

Doesn't he compare the sales guitar to his original by saying something like, "It sounds as good as my original which costs five thousand, eight hundrrrrrrrred dollars, and my original cannot even play electrically." ?
I always laughed at the commercial for the bad acting and bravado until I recently met a neighbor who had bought 2 of these packages for his nephews. He knows nothing about guitars but swears that they are the best. I would be interested to hear what his poor little nephews think. From all I've read here I wouldn't be surprised if they lost their guitar amititions completely.

[esteban]

Aww come on guys.... hehehehe.