Upcoming Alter Bridge V album used guitars for sale on Fret12

R

Reactorcritical

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This seems to be a common occurrence that I think is cool, despite the cash grab factor.

I believe that the last Tremonti and Alter Bridge albums had it where you could purchase the actual guitars used during recording. Well, here we go again. 12 PRS Tremonti guitars are available for purchase, which will all be used on the new AB V album that will release later this year. Pretty cool, but the price is steep and would probably only interest hardcore Alter Bridge fans (like myself, but my pockets aren't deep enough).

Anyway, here's a link:
https://fret12.com/store/alter-bridge
 
Cool! Lots of bands are doing this kind of thing to raise funds for new albums. That price isn't cheap, nor is it unreasonable though, if you had the cash...
 
Yea, Tremonti did it with his last record to help fund it. Makes sense, I would imagine even if he is a friend, Elvis Baskett isn't cheap. This time around it's Mark and Myles guitars though. Definitely a hefty sum and for the diehards that's for sure. I feel like with so many bands doing this kind of thing though it's eventually going to take away the whole rarity of it all :/
 
kes7u said:
I'm not sure how well this works for them, but I like the idea. In this era of diminishing revenue streams for the music industry, I'm all for any ideas that allow my favorite bands to keep making music!!

Kevin
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Exactly this!!!

I'm wondering, though... Usually... or rather, traditionally, records are funded by the record company as a kind of a loan to be paid off by royalties (which means an artist may not see any money past the advance they get when signing the contract, since the payment of that loan has precedence). This is of course a simplification, but I'm wondering if Alter Bridge are without a contract right now? (If they are: good for them!)
 
Yeah, it's truly amazing what bands have to do to make money doing what they do these days. Amazing and sad.
 
would love to see some pictures of the fire red and orange tiger guitar

sounds like a wonderful idea to own a guitar that are used on the record. too bad i don't have 5500$ laying around to spend. i hope pictures show up on the net of the guitars
 
Michael_DK said:
Exactly this!!!

I'm wondering, though... Usually... or rather, traditionally, records are funded by the record company as a kind of a loan to be paid off by royalties (which means an artist may not see any money past the advance they get when signing the contract, since the payment of that loan has precedence). This is of course a simplification, but I'm wondering if Alter Bridge are without a contract right now? (If they are: good for them!)
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I don't know that they're without a contract, but the last Tremonti record was on Fret12. I'd have to check Alter Bridge's last release, but it seems more like it's a case of them owning it and doing this part on their own, thus the need to raise funds like this.
 
Michael_DK said:
Exactly this!!!

I'm wondering, though... Usually... or rather, traditionally, records are funded by the record company as a kind of a loan to be paid off by royalties (which means an artist may not see any money past the advance they get when signing the contract, since the payment of that loan has precedence). This is of course a simplification, but I'm wondering if Alter Bridge are without a contract right now? (If they are: good for them!)
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I can't remember who AB is with right now. Roadrunner/EMI I think.

But... they are still trying to pay back their loan to get out from under Universal. In a nutshell, Universal didn't promote AB like they should have and the guys got tired of it (THE SAME REASON they left Wind-Up). However, leaving would mean breaching contract unless they bought themselves out of it. So the guys got together and paid Universal out of their own pockets to get out of the contract.

Pretty crap deal to say the least.
 
Reactorcritical said:
I can't remember who AB is with right now. Roadrunner/EMI I think.

But... they are still trying to pay back their loan to get out from under Universal. In a nutshell, Universal didn't promote AB like they should have and the guys got tired of it (THE SAME REASON they left Wind-Up). However, leaving would mean breaching contract unless they bought themselves out of it. So the guys got together and paid Universal out of their own pockets to get out of the contract.

Pretty crap deal to say the least.
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Thanks for the info. Yep, a crap deal - but that's record contracts for ya.

What I don't understand is why they're self-financing the next record, if they have a deal with roadrunner still.
 
Rich5150 said:
They have been made yet
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Exactly. AB is just now in the process of piecing the album together. Recording probably won't take place til April or May. I'm sure the guitars are on order but haven't been made yet. I believe last time Tremonti did this, it read on the back of the headstock that the guitar was custom made for the album and that it was guitar X of 12.
 
Michael_DK said:
Thanks for the info. Yep, a crap deal - but that's record contracts for ya.

What I don't understand is why they're self-financing the next record, if they have a deal with roadrunner still.
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The band doesn't have a deal for the US, they're signed with Roadrunner in the UK and have a distribution deal for the US. As far as PR is concerned the band, like most bands have been doing the past ten years, hire outside third party PR companies to handle promotion of albums, tours, press, etc. If you don't see much press on a band it's because the band hasn't smartened up and gotten an outside PR company or 2 to help with all of their promotion.
The band left Wind-Up because Wind-Up wanted them to be more Creed and they didn't want to be marketed as Creed with a new singer. If you were an AB fan during the first album cycle that's exactly how they were promoted, signs in record stores to magazine adverts. Universal just didn't do much for them at all and when the album came out there actually was a decent amount of PR for it, they just weren't in your face everywhere. At the time that second album came out you had EMO, and bands like My Chemical Romance and 30 Seconds to Mars dominating the rock market with not many wanting to hear AB's rock. That album did however do very well overseas which is why the band spent so much time, and continue to ever since touring there.
Tremonti's solo album is distributed under 'Fret 12 records' which isn't an actual label, just a banner imprint by the company that Mark owns with his brothers I think. He helped fund his second solo disc by selling off a bunch of PRS guitars that he used for tracks on the album and it looks like AB is doing the same thing. Recording an album isn't cheap, especially with a known producer. Bands pay the label back by selling albums first and foremost. Bands make THEIR money by touring and selling merch, but the money recoups their stake by fans actually buying albums. This is an IMMENSE fact that FANS don't seem to understand. They think that going to the show supports and that they're sticking it to the label by stealing the album or streaming it, but they kind of screw the band they love in doing so. It's no wonder bands have to revert to these kinds of things.

...pardon the long rant.
 
solacematt said:
The band doesn't have a deal for the US, they're signed with Roadrunner in the UK and have a distribution deal for the US. As far as PR is concerned the band, like most bands have been doing the past ten years, hire outside third party PR companies to handle promotion of albums, tours, press, etc. If you don't see much press on a band it's because the band hasn't smartened up and gotten an outside PR company or 2 to help with all of their promotion.
The band left Wind-Up because Wind-Up wanted them to be more Creed and they didn't want to be marketed as Creed with a new singer. If you were an AB fan during the first album cycle that's exactly how they were promoted, signs in record stores to magazine adverts. Universal just didn't do much for them at all and when the album came out there actually was a decent amount of PR for it, they just weren't in your face everywhere. At the time that second album came out you had EMO, and bands like My Chemical Romance and 30 Seconds to Mars dominating the rock market with not many wanting to hear AB's rock. That album did however do very well overseas which is why the band spent so much time, and continue to ever since touring there.
Tremonti's solo album is distributed under 'Fret 12 records' which isn't an actual label, just a banner imprint by the company that Mark owns with his brothers I think. He helped fund his second solo disc by selling off a bunch of PRS guitars that he used for tracks on the album and it looks like AB is doing the same thing. Recording an album isn't cheap, especially with a known producer. Bands pay the label back by selling albums first and foremost. Bands make THEIR money by touring and selling merch, but the money recoups their stake by fans actually buying albums. This is an IMMENSE fact that FANS don't seem to understand. They think that going to the show supports and that they're sticking it to the label by stealing the album or streaming it, but they kind of screw the band they love in doing so. It's no wonder bands have to revert to these kinds of things.

...pardon the long rant.
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Thanks for the rant - interesting read about their previous labels and (lack of) promotion.

Another "fun fact": labels are now making so-called "360-deals" (as in 360 degrees), where it's not only record sales they dip into, but also touring, merch etc etc... Further cementing the tendency that only the few big acts get much out of a deal, let alone get a dime other than their advance. Also, while the cost to produce a record has gone WAY down the past ten-fifteen years, costs for everything related to music videos, promotion and all that is ALSO something the record company will typically recoup before the artist gets any money.
 
Uhh.. I guess if that's what you're into. Seems akin to buying "used" panties from pornstars to me.



Michael_DK said:
Another "fun fact": labels are now making so-called "360-deals" (as in 360 degrees), where it's not only record sales they dip into, but also touring, merch etc etc...
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Nothing new about that.
 
sergiodeblanc said:
I'm like Les is with guitars when it comes to lingerie: I prefer to buy new so I can get the warranty.
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HaHa...good one. Used panty flashback: 1988/89 living in Darien. Spent many nights at Joanie's Dry Dock on the frontage road right off of Cass and I-55. They used to do "Lingerie Shows" once or twice a week for Happy Hour. Pretty girls in lingerie selling raffle tickets for the outfits they were wearing. I never could get the wife to wear anything I won. She must be pro warranty too o_O

Back to your normally scheduled thread....
 
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