Ryan Adams and other band endorsements/sig pedals

[MrNovember]

I honestly have no idea who Ryan Adams is. Seriously, I've heard his name for years, but I just don't know who he is

As far as signature pedals go, I'm in the I'd rather not camp. I'm just not interested in sounding like someone else, which is another reason I can't stand JHS. Literally, the only signature anything I've been really interested in is the Ed O'Brien Strat. I don't even like Strats, but I want that one!

[Heraclitus Akimbo]

I bought a Tomsline chorus pedal that was a Michael Angelo Batio signature edition. I had to look up who he was.

I bought it 'cause it was a proverbial $22 pedal... I don't think anyone's getting rich (or precious PR points) off this decision.

[Benn Roe]

I honestly have no idea who Ryan Adams is. Seriously, I've heard his name for years, but I just don't know who he is

I'm glad I'm not the only one. He's just that dude who gets endorsements and signature gear for some reason.

I'm also likely to avoid signature gear, but I do like Les Paul and St. Vincent guitars. To be fair, I don't really have any idea who those people are, either, though.

[codetocontra]

Better to take inspiration from influences than just copy them outright. I am sure the EAE Dude Incredible is an awesome pedal but I just can't use that AND have an aluminum neck guitar. I need to forge my own path too.

Once in a while a signature guitar is made that is just a superbly modded take on existing models. The Ed O'Brien Strat is a perfect example, it is something actually a bit different and customized. Or yeah, the St. Vincent guitar. Just having an artist's custom paint scheme is beyond lame.

[univalve]

I have three JMascis JMs. I bought them because they look bad ass (sparkle!) to me and I like the bridge upgrade.

[coldbrightsunlight]

Yeah the j Mascis and St Vincent are both nice examples of guitars that look cool with good ideas and the name isn't important at all. Something that's just another reliced strat in a new paintjob? ...

[spacelordmother]

I ordered a Reuss Roland S Howard pedal (less signature than homage, I guess) this week

I would buy a Robert E Howard sig pedal in a heartbeat.

I saw JHS is actually offering to rehouse their VHS pedal for 35 bucks and is changing the artwork/name. I actually think that's some good ass quality control there. At 35 bucks, it's a no brainer IMO.

Thoughts?

can they rehouse it but also put a better builder's guts in there?

Uh... isn't that like their whole deal? lol

[MrNovember]

I forgot about the J Mascis and St Vincent. I'd definitely be into those as well. Good examples of signatures done right

[Gone Fission]

I definitely dunno about one sig model guitar, though: “How High the Moon” makes me wonder if that Gibson could really rock enough when it comes down to it.

[Ugly Nora]

I wouldn't mind one of those orange Gretsch Chet Atkins guitars. Sexy.

[dubkitty]

if i was going to buy a sig model, it would most certainly be the Stephen Stills signature Gretsch White Falcon. i love Stills and White Falcons, but the $3000+ price point is way tf too high.

[garyg]

I guess buying any signature instrument comes down to how much you trust the musician; you either admire them to the point that you trust their judgments about refinements etc or you just want the instrument because it has their name on it (both perfectly fine choices).

Only one I'd probably lust after on both counts is Mike Watts reverend wattplower bass because a) he was heavily involved in it's evolution, road testing about 7 prototypes I believe and b) he's one of the coolest musicians around, really nice guy to talk to too.

[friendship]

all gear is signature gear if u know how 2 write ur name

[dubkitty]

that's the reason i like the Stills model...he let them use his original WF at the template, which Gretsch/FMIC have also done with other sigs. the SSWF has different top bracing than their bog-standard reissues and a Tunomatic rather than the Gretsch bar bridge. i like the bar bridge, but on a 25.5" scale guitar you desperately need the intonation adjustments.

[univalve]

One point to keep in mind: a lot of products were inspired to get special sounds (out to masses) that were/are signature sounds of bands/musicians. that is absolute fair: I also get inspired to write songs by listening to someone who inspires me (excuse the double use of inspiration - mandatory in that case). So why not get the inspiration to create a product that reproduces that sound. Is that "signature"?
In my opinion that is the highest appreciation someone may get for his own music: inspiration spread for creative processes.