Guitars as art?

reverbbb · July 30th, 2004, 02:27 PM

I just had a thought . . . and it hurt too!

I was reflecting on the attractiveness of guitars as things of artistic beauty. I know, guitars are for playing. But there is also an element of collecting guitars strictly as art too. I don't fit into that catagory. I want to play all the guitars that I own.

But consider this. We can all visualize (with the help of Hollywood) the rich guys that have statues in their yard, huge paintings in their entry way, fancy Victorian funiture throughout their mansions. These are traditional collections that have been around for centuries.

Do you think guitars will eventually establish themselves as those type of art pieces, say 150 years from now? It won't matter to most of us - I doubt that we will be around. Many guitars will be unplayable 150 years from now. But their classic beauty should be their time stamp in history.

What do you think?

Mickey · July 30th, 2004, 02:52 PM

They're already art. The Telecaster is a classic design of the late 40s, up there with the fenders on Buicks and Christian Dior clothes.

I think a lot of Telecaster Mojo is because they look so damn classy.

Eric Karonen · July 30th, 2004, 03:01 PM

I've read that the Fender Custom Shop occasionally receives orders for one-of-a-kind guitars that end up as wall art.

feojack · July 30th, 2004, 05:01 PM

I'm not really a Prince fan, but he does play some nice "art" guitars. Tried to find a quick pic of one, but this computers too slow. That one he played in Purple rain came to mind when I saw guitars as art.
Cheers, feojack

Hey Joe · July 30th, 2004, 05:12 PM

As art? I dont know. As collectors items as in bought and displayed by people that dont play them? I think that is already happening. Like you its not my thing but hey what ever floats your boat.

reverbbb · July 30th, 2004, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hey Joe

As art? I dont know. As collectors items as in bought and displayed by people that dont play them? I think that is already happening. Like you its not my thing but hey what ever floats your boat.

As odd as it may seem to us, I would think that there will be a lot of folks who don't play, that will appreciate them as art. Now 150 years from now, the guitar is likely not to resemble the styles or structures that we currently have. These guitars will most likely not be playable to the standards of that era.

But, you don't have to be a painter to appreciate fine paintings. Though, you may never fully realize the time, feelings and effort that went into that painting.

I know folks that collect old Texas chuck wagons. They make an effort to take their prize to pioneer days and rodeos as much as possible. But they will not probably ever fully appreciate the exact art of living on the Texas range back in 1875.

This is a fantisy thread that is not going to go anywhere meaningful. I just thought it might be fun to toy with this idea for a little while.

Lance · July 30th, 2004, 07:17 PM

http://www.cstone.net/~lholland/guitars/guitarpics.html

Every time I visit my guitar shrine, my art brings tears to my eyes!!

(and I get to play them!)

e-merlin · July 30th, 2004, 10:22 PM

Ever been to a Hard Rock Cafe?

Seriously, collectors who don't play are many, but lots of them keep 'em under wraps and treat them like stocks and bonds.

And then, we have the Charvel EVH Art Series guitars.

andrew · July 31st, 2004, 01:45 AM

Some guitars are art I think. The ones mass produced may not be, but the ones made by real people I think are. The Custom Shop is a great example, but there are MANY others that are also great at building these "art" guitars. When I say "art" guitars, I don't just mean the ones that are weird looking, or have some theme, I mean ones that could simply be a plain-jane tele. Scott Lentz is a great example for one, Vince Pawless is a builder of acoustics who's work I just DROOL over.

Andrew

feojack · July 31st, 2004, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrew

Some guitars are art I think. The ones mass produced may not be, but the ones made by real people I think are. The Custom Shop is a great example, but there are MANY others that are also great at building these "art" guitars. When I say "art" guitars, I don't just mean the ones that are weird looking, or have some theme, I mean ones that could simply be a plain-jane tele. Scott Lentz is a great example for one, Vince Pawless is a builder of acoustics who's work I just DROOL over.

Andrew

Yes, I have to 100% agree on this. And not just guitars. Any handmade stringed instrument, well crafted, well thought out, well finished has all the care & love put into it as any "comtemporary" work pf art. I have a friend that builds mandolins and holding any one of them is to hold a thing of beauty.
Cheers, feojack

bek · July 31st, 2004, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lance

http://www.cstone.net/~lholland/guitars/guitarpics.html

Every time I visit my guitar shrine, my art brings tears to my eyes!!

(and I get to play them!)

Dang fine display, there! It's easy to tell which ones are your "go-to" guitars.....

dh · July 31st, 2004, 09:43 PM

That's why I hang mine on the wall! (also b/c it mkes them easy to grab & play & keeps them out of harm's way)

A couple of years ago the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston featured an exhibit "Dangerous Curves: Art of the Guitar"

www.themomi.org/museum/mfa/index2.html

ravindave_3600 · August 2nd, 2004, 10:59 AM

Several years ago Guitar Player mag ran an article on the Brune' collection of classical guitars. Awesomely beautiful pieces, some hundreds of years old. So, reverbbb, it's a good question but you're just asking it too late.

And apart from classicals, whenever one of us electric players sees a pristine old 'burst tele (or even a strat or 335, but NEVER a LP) we KNOW it's art.

BTW Lance - nice toys!

Tele295 · August 2nd, 2004, 11:13 AM

Bill · August 2nd, 2004, 02:16 PM

They're art already, though not everyone realizes it.

I have one of mine hanging over my (unused) fireplace.

KC · August 2nd, 2004, 05:33 PM

check it out:

http://www.girlbrand.com/

played one of these (ravengirl) in tucson earlier this summer and thought it was a fine-sounding-and-playing instrument. offset-v neck, meteorite pickups. if one of those spanish rococo models ever came up for sale, I would find the scratch, yes I would. sell a car if I had to, or maybe one of the kids.

feojack · August 2nd, 2004, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC

check it out:

http://www.girlbrand.com/

played one of these (ravengirl) in tucson earlier this summer and thought it was a fine-sounding-and-playing instrument. offset-v neck, meteorite pickups. if one of those spanish rococo models ever came up for sale, I would find the scratch, yes I would. sell a car if I had to, or maybe one of the kids.

Yes, I've seen this site before. From a thread here several months back, if I remember correctly. Absolutely Fabulous! This IS art!
Cheers, feoj.

Teleologist · August 3rd, 2004, 07:55 AM

Funny this should come up. The local PBS station had a segment about one of the Fine Arts Museums in Boston displaying a guitar collection as 'art'. The didn't show all the guitars, but they had a pre-war Martin flat top, Stromberg & D'Angelico(sic) Jazz boxes & a Gibson Flying-V.

But 150 years from now, using whatever comes after virtual reality and digital modeling, maybe you'll be able to download & play & hear & feel whatever might be in some digital museum. Imagine being able to try out Willie's guitar before & after 'the hole'.

Maybe live performances on TV will really be 'holograms' where the artists aren't there either ;) :) Then you can plug yourself in to Alan Jackson's "Mercury Blues" and play Brent's parts - heck maybe even download an old Mercury and take it for a ride ;) :) :)

Geo · August 3rd, 2004, 12:32 PM

I've heard of private collectors displaying vintage
guitars in glass cases so each could always be viewed
sort of like in a museum. I have no idea if they
play them or not. I would think many do at least
to some extent.
I guess if you live in a safe or well protected envirement
that would be a cool display.

Elk · August 4th, 2004, 07:04 PM

people with way more money than I have, have been buying and collecting guitars just to 'have them' for some time.

JBandtheSalts · August 5th, 2004, 12:44 AM

there was a traveling art exhibit here a couple of years ago that stopped here in lancaster, pa of all places that was just resonator guitars..it was a very cool exhibit and had some pretty unusual guitars,,i would say that those definatly have quite a bit of plain artistic value without being played at all.....-john

July 30th, 2004, 02:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
reverbbb Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Just Plano, Texas Age: 50 Posts: 3,688 33 Photos	Guitars as art? I just had a thought . . . and it hurt too! I was reflecting on the attractiveness of guitars as things of artistic beauty. I know, guitars are for playing. But there is also an element of collecting guitars strictly as art too. I don't fit into that catagory. I want to play all the guitars that I own. But consider this. We can all visualize (with the help of Hollywood) the rich guys that have statues in their yard, huge paintings in their entry way, fancy Victorian funiture throughout their mansions. These are traditional collections that have been around for centuries. Do you think guitars will eventually establish themselves as those type of art pieces, say 150 years from now? It won't matter to most of us - I doubt that we will be around. Many guitars will be unplayable 150 years from now. But their classic beauty should be their time stamp in history. What do you think? __________________ "I come here to reflect a little."™ http://www.myspace.com/reverbbb2 Guitarist Praise & Worship Forum

July 30th, 2004, 03:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
Eric Karonen Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Age: 56 Posts: 1,230	Custom Shop I've read that the Fender Custom Shop occasionally receives orders for one-of-a-kind guitars that end up as wall art.

July 30th, 2004, 05:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
feojack Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Houston,TX Posts: 240	What about some of Princes guitars? I'm not really a Prince fan, but he does play some nice "art" guitars. Tried to find a quick pic of one, but this computers too slow. That one he played in Purple rain came to mind when I saw guitars as art. Cheers, feojack __________________ "Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music." - Angela Monet

July 30th, 2004, 05:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Hey Joe Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Lees Summit, MO Posts: 225 2 Photos	As art? I dont know. As collectors items as in bought and displayed by people that dont play them? I think that is already happening. Like you its not my thing but hey what ever floats your boat. __________________ " I service society by rockin'. Im out there on the front lines liberating people with my music. Rockin' aint no walk in the park lady."

July 30th, 2004, 07:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
Lance Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,163	Damn right it's art! http://www.cstone.net/~lholland/guitars/guitarpics.html Every time I visit my guitar shrine, my art brings tears to my eyes!! (and I get to play them!) __________________ Lance "not very good...but I make up for it by playing loud"

July 30th, 2004, 02:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mickey Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: L.A., CA Posts: 921	They're already art. The Telecaster is a classic design of the late 40s, up there with the fenders on Buicks and Christian Dior clothes. I think a lot of Telecaster Mojo is because they look so damn classy.

July 31st, 2004, 01:45 AM	#9 (permalink)
andrew Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Location: Valley Ranch, TX Posts: 799 5 Photos	Some guitars are art I think. The ones mass produced may not be, but the ones made by real people I think are. The Custom Shop is a great example, but there are MANY others that are also great at building these "art" guitars. When I say "art" guitars, I don't just mean the ones that are weird looking, or have some theme, I mean ones that could simply be a plain-jane tele. Scott Lentz is a great example for one, Vince Pawless is a builder of acoustics who's work I just DROOL over. Andrew

July 31st, 2004, 09:43 PM	#12 (permalink)
dh Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Phila 'burbs Posts: 190	Re: Damn right it's art! That's why I hang mine on the wall! (also b/c it mkes them easy to grab & play & keeps them out of harm's way) A couple of years ago the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston featured an exhibit "Dangerous Curves: Art of the Guitar" www.themomi.org/museum/mfa/index2.html

August 2nd, 2004, 10:59 AM	#13 (permalink)
ravindave_3600 Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Boise, USA Posts: 903	Too late Several years ago Guitar Player mag ran an article on the Brune' collection of classical guitars. Awesomely beautiful pieces, some hundreds of years old. So, reverbbb, it's a good question but you're just asking it too late. And apart from classicals, whenever one of us electric players sees a pristine old 'burst tele (or even a strat or 335, but NEVER a LP) we KNOW it's art. BTW Lance - nice toys! __________________ Want my guitar to sound like BBQ tastes! check out the band at http://www.brightredtie.com

August 2nd, 2004, 11:13 AM	#14 (permalink)
Tele295 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Haunted Amp, CA Posts: 3,266 14 Photos	__________________ "Turn it up and it doesn't need any reverb." - Danny Gatton www.dannygatton.info Tiger Town Aces - Music That Bites Back In Redd we trust! Free Bill Kirchen! If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

August 2nd, 2004, 02:16 PM	#15 (permalink)
Bill Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 2,611 58 Photos	They're art already, though not everyone realizes it. I have one of mine hanging over my (unused) fireplace. __________________ B i l l B a e c k A journal of our year in London

August 2nd, 2004, 05:33 PM	#16 (permalink)
KC Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Missoula, Montana Posts: 1,231 15 Photos	you want art? check it out: http://www.girlbrand.com/ played one of these (ravengirl) in tucson earlier this summer and thought it was a fine-sounding-and-playing instrument. offset-v neck, meteorite pickups. if one of those spanish rococo models ever came up for sale, I would find the scratch, yes I would. sell a car if I had to, or maybe one of the kids.

August 3rd, 2004, 07:55 AM	#18 (permalink)
Teleologist Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 382	150 years from now??? Funny this should come up. The local PBS station had a segment about one of the Fine Arts Museums in Boston displaying a guitar collection as 'art'. The didn't show all the guitars, but they had a pre-war Martin flat top, Stromberg & D'Angelico(sic) Jazz boxes & a Gibson Flying-V. But 150 years from now, using whatever comes after virtual reality and digital modeling, maybe you'll be able to download & play & hear & feel whatever might be in some digital museum. Imagine being able to try out Willie's guitar before & after 'the hole'. Maybe live performances on TV will really be 'holograms' where the artists aren't there either ;) :) Then you can plug yourself in to Alan Jackson's "Mercury Blues" and play Brent's parts - heck maybe even download an old Mercury and take it for a ride ;) :) :) __________________ Keep on Twangin'

August 3rd, 2004, 12:32 PM	#19 (permalink)
Geo Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hendersonville, TN Age: 59 Posts: 2,445 15 Photos	I've heard of private collectors displaying vintage guitars in glass cases so each could always be viewed sort of like in a museum. I have no idea if they play them or not. I would think many do at least to some extent. I guess if you live in a safe or well protected envirement that would be a cool display.

August 4th, 2004, 07:04 PM	#20 (permalink)
Elk TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 87	I'm afraid people with way more money than I have, have been buying and collecting guitars just to 'have them' for some time.

August 5th, 2004, 12:44 AM	#21 (permalink)
JBandtheSalts Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 510	there was a traveling art exhibit here a couple of years ago that stopped here in lancaster, pa of all places that was just resonator guitars..it was a very cool exhibit and had some pretty unusual guitars,,i would say that those definatly have quite a bit of plain artistic value without being played at all.....-john