Funny but sad

[Fweezal]

I know you'll find this hard to believe, but I frequent a couple of other acoustic guitar forums. As I stated in my intro, I've been out of the loop for a little over twenty years. But, getting back INTO the loop, I'm discovering a completely different mindset than what used to prevail "back then". I think I would term it "snobbery" or almost guitar "holier-than-thou". Believe it or not, people are actually REJECTING the purchase of a guitar because it doesn't have fret markers!! They are also rejecting them because they have laminate back and sides... even though they readily admit the sound/tone is inconsequentially little-changed from real wood. Funny but sad, "back then" people bought guitars because they liked the sound. Because they had great action. Looks had a LITTLE to do with it, but not to the point of LACKING FRET MARKERS. Am I missing something? "Back then" we used to sort of look down our collective noses at names like Stella, Kay, Silvertone, Applause, because "back then" the action was horrible and the sound coming out 'em was even worse (I know.. I used to own a couple of 'em... briefly). Interestingly enough, the very same Stella, Kay, Silvertone, et al from that period seem to be highly regarded. What the heck's going on?! Has the guitar world gone mad or have I missed a paradigm shift somewhere?

 

[caissiel]

Totally agree, I had a Silvertone, gave it away and enjoyed a great guitar made in Japan for 40 years till everything wore out.

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[tjcurtin1]

There is definitely some consumerist snobbery at work, I think - a sign of our times. Most of the really good guitarists that I know don't make much of their instruments - they just play them, and most of them are well worn (er, the guitars, I mean... but most of the guitarists I know, too, at this point). Then there's the 'everything old is new again' thing, mainly because guitars have been around long enough for there to be a history, creating nostalgia, rarity, etc. which always excites longing. And all hobbies/pursuits have their element of fetishism about the tools used in the trade. It's like the renaissance of hand-tools for hobbyist woodworkers. Things once relegated to the flea market junk boxes are now treasures to be polished and restored (if not actually used), and if the original can't be found, there is someone making a gorgeous/fancy hand-made version for hundreds or thousands of dollars. As for the fret markers, that may just be preference and custom. I have a Tacoma that I love, but my model was made with no markers at the 3rd and 7th fret, so I eventually added them myself - sacrilege perhaps, to a collector or aficionado of Tacoma's...

 

[marnold]

Part of it certainly is too that people have different tastes. I like the black sharkies on my Jackson, but those would make many (most?) barf. Back in the 80s, classic Fender amps that are cherished now were next to worthless because no one wanted them.

I'll freely admit that looks play a part for me. I prefer the look of a maple fretboard, black hardware, etc. Of course, if it's unplayable, it doesn't matter what it looks like.

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[deeaa]

Heheh you can say that again about Fenders. I played Fender amps all thru the nineties because I could never afford a real Marshall. So I played a couple of Twins and a DeVille.

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[hubberjub]

I definitely don't get the fret marker thing. I have a very nice Amalio Burguet classical guitar that has no fret markers. Not even any side dots. That's how classical guitars are. Why you can't have a guitar without fret markers is beyond me.

 

[mopleez]

Bless the person who doesn't need fret markers. That would be a game changer for me. I need them!