Posted on 02/15/2011 4:39:17 AM PST by decimon
Budding guitarists seek the magical powers of rock hero instruments, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.
"Like people from the Middle Ages who sought saints' relics, modern consumers like the budding rock guitarist desire fetishes (objects perceived as magical and possessing extraordinary power)" write authors Karen V. Fernandez (University of Aukland, New Zealand) and John L. Lastovicka (Arizona State University).
"We live in a world where anybody with a modest amount of money can buy a close copy or a replica of a desired object," the authors write. "We wanted to know why consumers who desired a particular rock star's instrument would settle for replicas of it; and how those copies became perceived as special, magical objects in their own right."
The researchers conducted in-depth interviews with sixteen men who owned more than one guitar and resided either in New Zealand or the United States. They found that many participants believed in the idea of "contagious magic" (the idea that two entities that touch can influence each other). For example, many fans want to have rock stars sign their instruments, and one established performer explained how he used another rock star's discarded guitar strings.
The research also revealed that replica guitars appeal to participants' belief in "imitative magic" (things that look alike are alike). "They often bought the best possible copy they could attain, and then if needed, made further changes to it so that it resembled the desired object even more closely," the authors explain. For example, some consumers switch out knobs on their guitars to more closely resemble the instruments of the artists they admired.
When players acquire new instruments, they play them often and become bonded with the objects. "A guitar then often becomes perceived as a player's confidant, companion, collaborator, wife, girlfriend, or muse," the authors write. And guitar players act out their fantasies by playing their guitars in private and in public.
"A fetish object does not guarantee a hit recording, a major league record, or a safe return home from battle," the authors write. "However, fetish objects increase confidence and reduce anxiety and hence increase performance."
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Karen V. Fernandez and John L. Lastovicka. "Making Magic: Fetishes in Contemporary Consumption." Journal of Consumer Research: August 2011. Further information: http://ejcr.org. To be published online soon.
Johnny Winter once said he just couldn't play a strat. Loved the sound, but the pickups always interfered with his hand. It is an issue.
Anyway, every true Tele man knows about this site.
Johnny Winter once said he just couldn't play a strat. Loved the sound, but the pickups always interfered with his hand. It is an issue.
Anyway, every true Tele man knows about this site.
But a lot of guys shot heroin in the 40s and 50s, because they thought it would make them play like Bird.
I love my Gretsch Country Classic Jr. though -- even though I've never seen anyone else play one, including my own guitar heroes like Pat Martino, Lenny Breau, Joe Pass (and lately Bireli Lagrene).
Any time I do a gig or go to an open mic jam session, people always come up and ask me what the hell kind of guitar I'm playing.
I would love to see the money trail for this research. At a bare minimum they were getting their salaries paid by their universities to do this rather than teach. At worst they were getting stacks of money from both the United States and New Zealand government to answer these questions vital to both nations' survival.
To be honest, I usually pick up the Strat when I’m learning something new only because it’s the one nearest to me.
But, I generally put it all together on which ever one is going to be necessary for the song.
Besides, age is no big deal
Heck, if Les Paul could play until he was 93, then I can do it at 62..
:)
The best Teles, tone wise seem to be heavy as hell. Weight makes sense for sustain.
A couple of questions:
1. I never liked maple necks. They seem sticky. Mahogany just feels better. What do you think.
2. Some say the Strat whammy bar & floating bridge robs string resonance and sustain, similar to the Floyd Rose.
The Bigsby seems pretty massive.
3. Weight: have you ever found a light weight guitar that works well? ( Soid body, I mean.) Related: makers are introducing lighter weight hardware—using aluminum and titanium and carbon fiber. What’s your take.
It’s great not to think about politics today.
The best Teles, tone wise seem to be heavy as hell. Weight makes sense for sustain.
A couple of questions:
1. I never liked maple necks. They seem sticky. Mahogany just feels better. What do you think.
2. Some say the Strat whammy bar & floating bridge robs string resonance and sustain, similar to the Floyd Rose.
The Bigsby seems pretty massive.
3. Weight: have you ever found a light weight guitar that works well? ( Soid body, I mean.) Related: makers are introducing lighter weight hardware—using aluminum and titanium and carbon fiber. What’s your take.
It’s great not to think about politics today.
>>If only Fender would make a top quality version.
I make my own guitars. Which is nice because you can do whatever the **** you want. Quality is up to you and your skills.
And no I am not talking about partscasters—rough sawn wood to finished body and neck, hand fretted, hand soldered, etc. I don’t make my own pups...yet.
>>The best Teles, tone wise seem to be heavy as hell.
My best sounding Tele I have is made with poplar and is light as a feather. Sustain for days, makes my LPs sound like they are clipped. I personally think it is all in the neck, as this is one has a baseball bat sized maple neck on it, whereas most of my other guitars are thinner, with either maple or mahogany necks.
The most muddy sounding is made from a single slab of swamp ash, quarter-sawn maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. Go figure.
I tried a Epi Dot Studio next to a Ibanez Artcore. Came home with the Artcore. I do have a few Epis and like them, but the Ibanez sounded better to me. Of course each guitar is unique, so side-by-side, such a comparison with two different guitars might have had me coming home with the Epi.
The tele purists claim "it ain't a Tele less it have a maple neck."
And I can hear a difference (a local guitar god has many teles including two sets of identical models with same pickups made in the same year but with one each a maple and a rosewood/mahogany neck.
Me I am a rosewood neck kinda guy, nothing else feels right no matter what make of guitar.
Hmmm....gals must go for Martins. That’s all I need, my Martin D-1. You can see it on my profile page. I have a cute blue Danelectro, but rarely play it. Just love that Martin.
I agree. For me, I like Fender plugged into a Fender. Nothing wrong with a Gibson into a Marshall, or whatever. But you're right. Most people end up preferring one or the other.
Yup. Nashville Teles. Don’t buy the hype about made in USA vs Made in Mexico. I’ll take my Tex-Mex Nashville teles over US Tele Standards any day. Awesome guitars. Built solid. Great sound.
I think it depends on the finish. I don't get too deep into it. Both my teles have maple necks. One has all maple, the other has a rosewood fretboard. I keep a nice polishing cloth with me, and I wipe down my neck before and after playing a set, and it's fine. Not too tacky. Some of em, like the 52s, have a real heavy laquer on the neck that is a little sticky, though.
2. Some say the Strat whammy bar & floating bridge robs string resonance and sustain, similar to the Floyd Rose. The Bigsby seems pretty massive.
I hate Strat trems. I hate most trems. The bigsby, like any other trem, does rob some sustain. I feel like the Bigsby compensates for it a little just by the massiveness of the metal mount, etc. But it still loses some sustain. I just love the sound of a Bigsby wiggling.
3. Weight: have you ever found a light weight guitar that works well? ( Soid body, I mean.) Related: makers are introducing lighter weight hardware—using aluminum and titanium and carbon fiber. What’s your take.
I think those cheap Danelectros are pretty awesome.
My first tele had the maple neck/fretboard, just cuz it seemed like the thing to do. Only maple fretboard I’ve ever owned. I have to admit it’s nice to play. But when I got my second tele, the one with the Bigsby, I made sure it had a rosewood fretboard, because I’ve always been a rosewood guy too. I have a Godin with an ebony neck, which feels like maple to me.
>>a local guitar god has many teles including two sets of identical models with same pickups made in the same year but with one each a maple and a rosewood/mahogany neck.
Heck, I’ve made teles from the same slab of poplar with the same brand pups and electronics, both with maple necks, and they sound different running through the same amp. There are so many variables it is tough to tell why one sounds this way and the other sounds different.
Saw the Stray Cats a few years back, I believe Brian Setzer plays one of these.
He can play.
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