Their Choice of Brand

[just strum]

We were having a discussion at work that was prompted by my growing interest in Fender products. A few of the people at work are Gibson fans and one is a Gretsch fan.

I commented that a lot of artists play Strats and Tele's and that should say something about the guitars. Two people felt that the choice in an artists guitar and amps is a direct result of endorsements. Pointing out that Hendrix played Gibson on stage for awhile and Townsend played Gibson for the longest time until more recently where he is seen playing Strats along with Fender amps.

So how much of an artists equipment is preference and how much do you feel has to do with the makes bank rolling equipment and sponsoring the concerts?

I am clueless, although I wouldn't think they would use an instrument if they didn't prefer it. Then again, maybe I am just naive.

 

[tot_Ou_tard]

Ask them to endorse you with one of their Gibsons & Gretsches (Gretschii?).
Tell them that you promise to badmouth teles & strats.

 

[Rocket]

My decision to hang with Gibson was due directly to the wide choices of 24-3/4" scale length instruments, (which I'm most comfortable playing.) With fender, that was limited to custom builds or Jaguar "rattle traps".

Amps are very different... I've owned a bunch, and played through more than I can list. When shopping for amps, I go to the stores, intended guitar in hand, and spend time crankin amps. It's the only way. Once I do have a serious problem (like with Marshall MG's) I'll never trust one again.

These days all of my amp solutions seem to be Fender... just worked out that way.

 

[hubberjub]

I don't think I'll ever have to worry about compromising on my guitars. I think most guitarists go with the equipment they like. It's probably the company that goes along with them. I could be wrong.

 

[just strum]

Well, let me state my side of the discussion. First we were using international artist in our discussion, but it certainly doesn't limit it to that category only.

My feeling was that the artist or musician (whatever tag you prefer) would tend not to compromise their music for free equipment and sponsorship. I base that on the fact they are going to want to play what produces the best sound to fit their music and what they are most comfortable with when practicing their trade.

Rocket is a good example of that, he can play other guitars, but getting a guitar and amp allows him to perform at a higher level and produce better quality music.

I think anyone that uses an instrument as their source of income is going after what produces the best for them, because in the end it's not what's written on the headstock that is important, it's what ends up on the CD or live performance.

 

[street music]

Strum, I'll agree to a certain degree that they play what feels and sounds the way the artist want them too. Some, may use a brand in public and play a different one in the studio. Rocket being the "STAR PLAYER" of our forum touring the country has the chance to play many different guitars or so I would figure. MY question is Do these companies come to the players offering deals to endorse their Brands? What are the requirements of a artist after agreements?
Very good topic. I'm in way considered a stage player but in my dealing with putting on many different stage acts, I see a lot more Fender products on stage than any other brand in electric guitars. I know that I like the sound of some guitars but don't like the feel and I too like the shorter scale.:rockon:

 

[hubberjub]

A lot of people who endorse certain companies actually admitt to playing a copy of the guitar made by ghost builders. Slash has stated that his main Gibson Les Paul is not actually built by Gibson. It has the logo on the headstock and looks the part. I guess that's one way of having your cake and eating it too.

 

[Bloozcat]

Most of our guitar heroes played what they liked. There were no endorsement deals for them when we first started listening to them. That all came after they became famous enough for the music companies to notice. Of course, now it's a much more common thing. There are artists out there with "signature" model guitars that have outlasted their popularity as artists.

Hendrix did play Gibsons on stage occasionally, it's true. But nobody who knows anything at all about Hendrix, would ever associate him and his sound with anything but a Stratocaster.

I've heard it said that Carlos Santana will play his old Yamaha SG2000 when he does concerts overseas, but not in the US due to his endorsement deal with PRS. And on the album Santana did with Eric Clapton, Santana played a Strat in at least one song in the studio (and owns that nicely shielded Strat as well).

It seems that as guitar players evolve, they come to appreciate the sweetness of a single coil equipped Strat - especially if they started with hard rock music. The Strat is such a versatile instrument, but one that may take time for some to appreciate.

 

[duhvoodooman]

Most of our guitar heroes played what they liked. There were no endorsement deals for them when we first started listening to them. That all came after they became famous enough for the music companies to notice.

Agree 100%. I surely can't imagine SRV ever setting down "Number One" for an LP because Gibson threw an endorsement his way!

Clapton is a good example. After starting out as a pretty hardcore Gibson guy, by the Derek & the Dominos era, his preference had switched to Strats, and he's stuck with them ever since. Sure, today he has a strong relationship with Fender and there's an EC Signature model, etc. But that famous "Blackie" Strat of his came from a combination of parts from three Strats purchased for $100 each from the Sho-Bud guitar shop in Nashville. Ya can't get much farther from an endorsement deal than that!

Obviously, there are players who feel just as strongly about their Gibsons, or PRS's or Gretsches, or whatever else....

 

[Spudman]

It comes down to what you like as an artist.
If you want a particular feel, sound etc then it is usually up to the Company to provide you with what you are most comfortable with in their product line or else build a custom artist signature model very much like what ESP did for Michael Wilton and Peavey did with Mike Stone both of Queensryche.

FWIW: Many of the bicycles ridden in major professional races are not built by the company whose name is on the bike but are often one off custom models built by a different builder.

 

[just strum]

Most of our guitar heroes played what they liked. There were no endorsement deals for them when we first started listening to them. That all came after they became famous enough for the music companies to notice. Of course, now it's a much more common thing. There are artists out there with "signature" model guitars that have outlasted their popularity as artists.

Hendrix did play Gibsons on stage occasionally, it's true. But nobody who knows anything at all about Hendrix, would ever associate him and his sound with anything but a Stratocaster.

I've heard it said that Carlos Santana will play his old Yamaha SG2000 when he does concerts overseas, but not in the US due to his endorsement deal with PRS. And on the album Santana did with Eric Clapton, Santana played a Strat in at least one song in the studio (and owns that nicely shielded Strat as well).

It seems that as guitar players evolve, they come to appreciate the sweetness of a single coil equipped Strat - especially if they started with hard rock music. The Strat is such a versatile instrument, but one that may take time for some to appreciate.

But what about Hendrix and Townsend switching. Do you think they just had a change in the sound they like? That's what makes me wonder if there is some endorsement involve where they would switch.

Spudman's example of the bikes makes a good point. We certainly are not seeing them play with off the rack guitars. I am sure some of them are gifts too.

 

[evenkeel]

So how much of an artists equipment is preference and how much do you feel has to do with the makes bank rolling equipment and sponsoring the concerts?

In my past life (before getting out and living on a boat for a bunch of years) I was a evil marketing guy, working in the athletic footwear business. The bad news is consumer product companies, footwear, apparel, bikes and yes guitar companies spend a lot of dough to get celebrities to endorse their products. Why, it works. Pure and simple. Money does talk, even for musicians.

In the studio I'm sure an artist will use whatever instrument will produce the sound he/she wants. On stage, if an artist can get a big $$ endorement deal many times they will. Sad but true. For some artists, Roger McQuinn is a good example, his endorsement deal is very straight forward and "honest". His association with Martin and Rickenbacker came as a result of his use of the guitars first. And his 7 string Martin and Ric signature guitars did come about directly from his input. It's not just a label. Other guitar players tennis or golf pros, basketball players will wear/play with anything if the bucks are enough. I remember a line from a well known tennis pro. "I'd go out a hit with a cereal box if the $$ are right." I'm sure not exactly true, but you get the sentiment.

 

[Bloozcat]

But what about Hendrix and Townsend switching. Do you think they just had a change in the sound they like? That's what makes me wonder if there is some endorsement involve where they would switch.

Spudman's example of the bikes makes a good point. We certainly are not seeing them play with off the rack guitars. I am sure some of them are gifts too.

We have to remember that Hendrix was a pre-1971 artist. You didn't see many endorsement deals back then, and nothing remotely close to those of today. Additionally, Hendrix was a counter culture figure, and the business world didn't quite know what to make of him. Imagine what the suits at CBS thought when they saw him onstage burning one of their guitars. That sure wasn't like a nice postcard picture of a clean-cut surf band holding Fender guitars. Hendrix just connected with Stratocasters. His clean tones and his overdriven/distorted sounds became signature tones that no one else had achieved, even those using Strats at the time. And one of the most lasting images of Hendrix in many minds, was him playing Woodstock...with an off the rack '68 Strat, not a custom signature model.

Peter Townsend is similar, although unlike Hendrix, a continuing story. He does have an endorsement deal with Fender now as evidenced by the ads in the guitar mags with him playing his own signature Strat. But...I'd be willing to bet that Townsend turned to Strats for his own reasons well before Fender approached him with a contract in hand. Townsend was always known as a rebel, a tone freak, and was particular about his gear. Add to that an educated ear that has matured with time and he, like Clapton, heard some tones coming out of Strats that he liked. But, like Clapton and Hendrix, Townsend created his signature sounds without endorsement deals. I don't think Fender would have had a chance of signing Townsend to a deal if he hadn't already chosen Strats for himself for their tone. It's just lucky for Fender that he did, and that he was willing to sign the deal. That alone says a lot about how Townsend has mellowed over the years.

There were some endorsement deals with music instrument makers back in the 60's, but it was not even remotely close to the over-the-top commercialism we see today. I remember Vox as one of the first to sponsor bands with their equipment. They partnered in creating Paul Revere and the Raiders for a TV show (although the band certainly went on to become popular in their own right for their music). They even got the Beatles to do ads with Vox amps.

The bicycle example that Spud brought up is typical of today, not the climate of 35-45 years ago. Cycling was always popular in Europe, but here it was pretty much just the small hard core groups of bicycling fans that followed the sport. With the mass media we have today, far more people have been exposed to cycling. As the popularity rises, the money trail widens. That's the world today.

That's just MHO on the subject. YMMV....

 

[scgmhawk]

Then you look at Eddie Van Halen and Brian May and they played guitars -- for most of their heyday (and I think Brian still does) -- that they built themselves! It worked for them. Of course, both have products with their names on them now. Why wouldn't you take the opportunity to make some extra money as long as you're not compromising too much? It's gotta be tough to pass up.

 

[just strum]

Don't limit the idea of endorsements to guitars - a lot of money tied up in amps too.

 

[just strum]

Another thing - I don't mean this thread to be a right or wrong on the subject of endorsements. It's just here to see if you feel it is common and/or does it the motivator for an artist to change brand of instruments he or she commonly uses in public.