Black guitars....love em or hate em? :)

[Nadir]

OK black, like it a lot, but not figured.

 

[László]

It's weird, I can't see at least half the pics you post on the forum! I have no idea why.

 

[László]

There are guitars that need to be black.

The simplicity of black sets off and cleans up any guitar with ornate shapes or trim. For example, that ornate early 20th century gimcrackery Gibsons have as part of the design of a 335 calls out to me for a simple finish (i.e., the multiple curve headstock shape, the trim pieces, the pick guards with the metal support, the big inlays, etc). Black for those, please. Same with guitars with big, curvy, plastic pick guards, like Strats.

So I've had a few black guitars - I thought they looked absolutely fantastic.

PRS' have a cleaner, less ornate design than these guitars to start with, so they don't need a simple finish to set off the rest of their design. However, a black PRS does appeal to me quite a bit. I just can't resist the fancy translucent finishes.

 

[shimmilou]

... need to be black.... ornate shapes or trim. ...the multiple curve,..... the trim pieces, ...the big inlays, etc.... with big, curvy, ...
...they looked absolutely fantastic...black PRS does appeal to me... can't resist the fancy...

Lasz, it almost seems like you are talking about women

 

[Aahzz]

I generally don't care for them, even if my favorite Vela happened to be black.

 

[László]

Lasz, it almost seems like you are talking about women

You know, that makes perfect sense - beautiful women are a joy to behold, are they not? It's even better if they're smart along with the looks.

 

[garrettb]

Solid gloss black is the worst color for a guitar. Second only to those polished chrome looking ones, I imagine. Yet I've owned four solid black gloss guitars and it would be a sad day if I had to part with my SE One.

 

[Alessandro]

Great for solid/metallic finishes but not a fan of it as a stain on a flame top

 

[aamefford]

Great for solid/metallic finishes but not a fan of it as a stain on a flame top

Agreed. Very polarizing as a stain on flame or quilt. I’m in the same pole as you.

 

[garrettb]

Worth adding that my ideal PRS would have a Charcoal top with natural back.

 

[Abe]

Did somebody say charcoal?

I'm a Black & White kinda guy.

 

[László]

Did somebody say charcoal?

I'm a Black & White kinda guy.

I second Abe’s expression of taste in finishes! Charcoal, B&W, all great! This one's Charcoal.

 

[Bogner]

If It Looks Good, Plays Good And Sounds Good And Also Happens To Be Black I Am OK With That.

 

[Black Dog]

 

[Abe]

Kinda reminds me of when I was like 10 years old I had a black Rickenbacker.

 

[László]

Kinda reminds me of when I was like 10 years old I had a black Rickenbacker.

When I was 10 I had a black accordion. Does that count?

 

[Abe]

When I was 10 I had a black accordion. Does that count?

Funny. My Dad told me that when he was a little kid he got an accordion as a gift from my Grandparents because for some reason he wanted one prior to being a guitar player, and now thinks they are silly. My black Rickenbacker was like a kids' Rickenbacker they used to sell, all black, and I think the only white on the thing was the inlays. A Christmas gift from Mom and Dad in like 1990. My Dad still has his sunburst 60's Rickenbacker that's actually worth a lot now. But such small necks and fretboards. Good for when I was a 10 year old with smaller hands, but nowadays I find the strings too crowded on them. And my Dad's more expensive Rickenbacker was even a 12-string but he usually only played it with 6. I think he got into Rickenbackers because of John Lennon.

 

[László]

Funny. My Dad told me that when he was a little kid he got an accordion as a gift from my Grandparents because for some reason he wanted one prior to being a guitar player,

When I was 10 I didn't even know guitars existed. My older cousin had an accordion. I played piano, but I wanted to be like my cousin.

My Dad still has his sunburst 60's Rickenbacker that's actually worth a lot now. But such small necks and fretboards. Good for when I was a 10 year old with smaller hands, but nowadays I find the strings too crowded on them. And my Dad's more expensive Rickenbacker was even a 12-string but he usually only played it with 6. I think he got into Rickenbackers because of John Lennon.

I had a Tom Petty Signature Rick (660TP/12) with a wider neck (now worth a lot and obviously I should have kept it), but also had a 330 six string.

GM sent me to Europe to do some TV ad soundtrack sessions in the late '90s, and they wanted that jangle, so I bought the Ricks. The sessions went great, but not being a Rick player, I sold the guitars a little while after returning to the US.

When my son was in high school he had a 360/6 and a PRS CU22 Soapbar.

 

[Zoot Allures]

Everyone should own one black guitar….assuming, of course, they own a few other PRS colors.

 

[TheCraftsman]

I’ve got a fingerprint magnet, I mean black Tremonti SE and it’s awesome, kinda sad I saw a white tremonti SE for a steal near me, modded with SD pickups, but I….must….not….buy