The 10 Best Signature model guitars...

guitars4you

Bennyboy-UK said:

So who was the first rock/pop star to have a solid body/non arch top signature model - The Framus Jan Ackkerman in the early 70's is one of the first I recall - Anyone before then ?

Mosrite Ventures that was in the 60s IIRC?

Good shout - In my mind I was going through models I had seen in the UK and Mosrites are very rare over here, so I had not thought of that - And as we know Ventures were big news in the USA and very influential - I much prefer them to Hank and the guys 

Iamnobody

idiotwindow said:

Iamnobody said:

idiotwindow said:

I generally can't stand signature guitars but I wouldn't say no to a Martin 000-28EC or Asher Marc Ford sig.

Is the Les Paul in your profile pic yours?

  

It is and I take your point though I don't think a Les Paul is a signature guitar in the sense that we use the term nowadays. The Les Paul represented a whole new line of guitars from Gibson. For me, a signature guitar is not a new guitar design associated with an artist but one that is simply meant to represent a particular guitar that an artist is known to have owned and use. Rather than a new body design it is more likely to be a copy of an artist's own guitar – most likely an existing production guitar that has been modded with special pickups and the like.

Thinking about this, the Asher Marc Ford probably isn't a signature guitar by my definition and is more like the Les Paul in being a unique model inspired by or designed in conjunction with the musician.

I know I was just being a cunt for cheap laughs.  

I’ve got a Pete Townshend SG - the ‘signature’ on that is on the back of the headstock arguably out the way but I’m not that comfortable with it still as I feel similar to you about sig. guitars.

However - we are all happy to have Les Paul plastered over the front of our headstocks - like you say these days it’s perceived as a model name rather than a signature model. 

stonevibe

Some great suggestions on here, I might have to do a Part 2!

stickyfiddle

I wrote a shortlist before I read the article. Aiming for anything that wasn't just a regular model with a different neck profile or finish: 

• Clapton Strat
• EOB Strat
• Les Paul
• Manson Matt Bellamy
• EVH 
• Johnny Marr Jag
• DGT
• Pete Townshend SG

I see we agree on the DGT and Manson at least...

Eartrumpet

The only signature guitar i have ever had is a PRS Chris Robertson single cut. I bought it for the neck profile and pick up configuration. Great guitar

stonevibe

stickyfiddle said:

I wrote a shortlist before I read the article. Aiming for anything that wasn't just a regular model with a different neck profile or finish: 

• Clapton Strat
• EOB Strat
• Les Paul
• Manson Matt Bellamy
• EVH 
• Johnny Marr Jag
• DGT
• Pete Townshend SG

I see we agree on the DGT and Manson at least...

Good list, I agree on the EVH as well, not sure about the PT SG, as never played one, but all the rest are solid choices. 

DiscoStu

Mr. Vibe, I thought you'd have included the Yamaha SA503 TVL...

Bennyboy-UK

I’ll list the Hamers I can remember - the ones that had some sort of production availability and not just the one offs that artists ordered to their spec like Vernon Reid’s guitars or the Hamers (and parts of Hamers) that Brad Gillis used, and all the others like Scotty Hill, Richie Sambora and etc

Steve Stevens Proto SS
Steve Stevens SS1
Steve Stevens SS2
Glenn Tipton GT custom
Glen Tipton Phantom GT
KK Downing V
Jeff Watson Model
Rick Nielsen Futura

There might be one or two more that I remember at some point

earwighoney

guitars4you said:

Is the Gibson N Lucas the 1st signature guitar ?

Could well be, and the Martin Perry Bechtel model was released around the 1930's as well (it was the first OM)

Kittyfrisk

No mention yet of Nuno Bettencourt and his signature Washburns?

stonevibe

DiscoStu said:

Mr. Vibe, I thought you'd have included the Yamaha SA503 TVL...

No longer in production.

I only wanted to include guitars people could still find new, as if not it is a bit of a bugger to say this is amazing! But you can't find one/buy one etc.

stonevibe

Kittyfrisk said:

No mention yet of Nuno Bettencourt and his signature Washburns?

Not in my Top 10 to be fair, I owned an original '90s one and it was good, but not great.

I prefer the Peavey/EVH Wolfgang as a good all rounder, compared to the N4 in all honesty.  Nice signature, but quite limited production and super hit and miss on quality as Washburn do things like use cheap components and out source production. to dodgy factories, so I  couldn't recommend them.

Bit of a minefield unless you know which one to get.

They've changed for example the bridge, the pickups, the necks and the quality on some I have played was shockingly bad.  Sure original run ones and the first run Padauk models were nice, but the rest are a bit dodgy.

I've met Nuno and I even told him this to his face my thoughts on these, he smiled and we left it at that. 

Kittyfrisk

^  Can't say fairer than that 

DiscoStu

stonevibe said:

DiscoStu said:

Mr. Vibe, I thought you'd have included the Yamaha SA503 TVL...

No longer in production.

I only wanted to include guitars people could still find new, as if not it is a bit of a bugger to say this is amazing! But you can't find one/buy one etc.

Fair play

mikem8634

Shinichi Ubukata ES-355

Yamaha TVL sa503

Epiphone Jorma Kaukonen Signature Riviera Deluxe

Bit of a theme at work here

Philly_Q

guitars4you said:

guitars4you said:

Is the Gibson N Lucas the 1st signature guitar ?

None of the big pop/rock stars of the 60's Clapton, Page, Beck, Beatles etc had a signature model back in the day - This was left to the jazzers - B Kessel and Tal Farlow etc

Which reminds me of the Herb Ellis, Howard Roberts, Pat Martino models, although they'd be a bit later.

Are Billy Byrd and Hank Garland the only guitarists to have a joint signature model?

Loobs

The Marr Jaguar is great! 

Skipped

I am not too keen on guitars with 2 signatures.

It seems silly.

So I would have to rule out the Gibson Les Paul Slash.

And the Gibson Trini Lopez Dave Grohl.

The Gibson Les Paul Jimmy Page Phil X will sell OK but I don't want one.

stonevibe

mikem8634 said:

Shinichi Ubukata ES-355

Yamaha TVL sa503

Epiphone Jorma Kaukonen Signature Riviera Deluxe

Bit of a theme at work here

Yeah, I own the TVL and it is fantastic!

Just a pity they arena longer made, or it would be on my list.

DrJazzTap

Swirl jem or floral jem. 

Good list though