Poll: Do you really care about famous guitars (or amps)?

I’m interested in what famous musicians play because I’m interested in learning how they do certain things. How to get a certain tone or play particular chords or licks. Because of those types of things I am interested in knowing about famous guitars or amps but not necessarily owning them. Maybe owning a similar model or at least the same pickups to try and approximate the tone.

As far as people paying big money for collectibles I have no problem with that. It’s their money they earned so they can do whatever they want with it. Like someone mentioned earlier most of the time all that money usually goes to charity anyway. I think it’s pretty dang generous of someone to basically donate tens or hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars for a guitar that would otherwise only be worth a few thousand at most if not for the fame part.

 

Collectors and investors don't concern themselves with what average people think. They are a group of people who buy expensive and or rare things because of what they are. Rare.
A '59 Les Paul Sunburst is out of the range of most people. So, most people choose to discount it's usefulness and even it's value.
It's "just a guitar".
That's right, it's just a guitar. To most people. But to some it is the Holy Grail of their collection.
And, believe it or not, some '59s sound great and play great and are beautiful when looked at up close.

As far as instruments that have been owned by famous people and used on famous recordings and/or famous performances, their value and usefulness is up to the individual.
Some people have never heard of Lowell George. So, they wouldn't value one of his guitars any more than a standard model they could get on Craigslist.
I knew Lowell and played a few of his Strats. The ones that were average he would sell or give away. The good ones he kept and played all the time. The "good ones" blew me away. Not because of being owned by Lowell, but because of how they sounded. They rang like bells and sustained like crazy. Even when unplugged. I would love to have one of those for two reasons. One, because of how it sounded, and two, because my friend Lowell played it and loved it. It would have a lot of value to me.
I could have had one of those Strats had I asked for it. He was very generous. But I didn't want to take something from him that he needed and used. And people stole his guitars every time he turned around. I hate thieves.
The same with his Dumble ODR amp. That amp ruined me for any other amp since the day I played through it. It is the sound I hear in my head, and the sound I listen for in amps I use. So far, nothing comes close and I doubt it ever will. Even Lowell said, "that amp is a freak of nature. It sounds like heaven".

I played one of Jerry Garcia's Strats after a show they did. He made it sound wonderful. I didn't like anything about it. The neck was bowed, the action was very high, the pickups were weak sounding, and it looked like a dog had been chewing on it.
I would love to own that guitar. I would pay more for it than a regular Strat off of Craigslist. Why? Because Jerry owned it and played it and liked it and made magic with it.

 

I’ve always liked a lot of Tele players and Gretsch players, so I naturally gravitate toward those sounds. The tones they make inspire me to no end.

However, I have no need for an actual guitar played by any certain so and so. I’m also a regular person without millions of dollars to blow on crap i don’t need.

I like my guitars because I’ve done work to everyone of them to make them feel and sound the way I want them to.

 

I like individual instruments - as in actual instruments that were played exclusively or almost exclusively. But only to a point. Andy summers telecaster or Bill Monroe’s mandolin or Brian Mays red special. That type of thing.

Jerry Garcia’s 23rd strat or JIMI hendrix Gibson? Nah not so much.


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Guilty

 

Nice save there...

I barely give a toss about what (if anything) is on the headstock of a guitar.

But, if I had the opportunity to play a guitar previously owned/played by a legendary player, sure I'd want to have a go with that. But the ownership wouldn't make it sound any better, although presumably it would have had some serious setups and attention so it should be sweet to play.

I think it's wonderful that folks like Gilmour auction stuff off for charity (he's done that a few times over the years, I think there was a house in Chelsea...) and that there are people with enough money to play that game.

 

I really couldn't care less.

 

I do not think any mojo intrinsically resides into one guitar, but I do believe some mojo can come from the psychological effect a guitar can have on you. And this can definitely inspire you to play better and create more music.

Where this psychological effect comes from is up to you. Although I’ve never owned nor played a guitar that once belonged to a famous musician I admire, I can see how this could have an effect on me.

 

i once bought and used a replica orange acrylic drum kit in john bonham sizes for a while. pretty much everyone commented on the fact that the band didn't do zeppelin covers or that my drumming didn't sound like bonham's.
it was one of the shortest lived drum kits i've ever owned and a valuable lesson to never, ever, play an instrument that is recognisable to someone famous as the weight of expectation from others will kill your enjoyment of it.

 

It's not upsetting or anything, but I don't care. People are funny, and what makes them funny varies by point of view.

 

I’m going to go out on a limb and say most of the posters on this thread are lying to themselves. Would I pay hundreds of thousands for an instrument of a player I like? Absolutely not.

But, to say I’m flat out not interested, or that I would pass if one came across my good fortune for a price within my budget would be ridiculous.

 

i thought i was'nt interested in celeb guitars but,i would not mind one of those buddy guy polka dot fenders.

 

I will admit I am a fan of Ibanez Artust guitars because of Bob Weir. I don't own one because they weigh as much as a Buick.

 

Good point. I once had an opportunity to buy one of the replicas of Brian May's Red Special. It felt good and balanced on a strap. But two main things stopped me......I don't like guitars with fifty MILLION different switches and pickup combinations.....and everyone would likely have expected me to play and sound like Brian May......and I don't. So, I passed.....and never regretted it.

 

I have no opinion on this at all. So, if you need me I'll be outside chewing on a box of Turtles.

 

Meh. I could play Kirk Hammet's LP that he bought from Gary Moore that he bought from Peter Green and it would still sound awful.

I suspect that if Peter green played my Les Paul he'd still sound good.

 

I guess, to distill my, uh feelings, I care, but don’t covet.

 

This isn't quite what you're asking, but I find it kind of liberating that the most expensive guitar ever sold is essentially a partscaster — the Gilmour Black Strat is a refinished '70 sunburst that's on its seventh neck, with the bridge from a different '71 Strat, aftermarket pickups and electronics, and all kinds of patchy repairs. The moral of the story, for me, is: shut up and play your guitar.