What If "Deserve" Had Something To Do With It?

[László]

What if a guitar player had to pass a Does This Player Deserve It? test to qualify to buy a good guitar and amp?

What would you be rewarded/stuck with?

How many really good guitars would get sold in the world each year?

What would average (or worse) players be playing?


DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A 'JUST FOR FUN' TOPIC, NOT A SERIOUS SUGGESTION, MAINLY BECAUSE I DO NOT WISH TO GIVE UP MY PRS GUITARS. :hello:

EDIT: THIS THREAD DOES NOT INCLUDE DISCUSSION ON WHETHER FREE MARKETS SHOULD BE PART OF THE DEAL, OR WHETHER YOU OPPOSE THE IDEA OF TESTING GUITAR PLAYERS TO QUALIFY FOR GUITARS.

THIS THREAD IS JUST FOR GRINS. OK? IT'S A HYPOTHETICAL. IT'S PURELY A FUN DISCUSSION.

THE "GIVEN" HERE IS THAT PLAYERS MUST QUALIFY VIA TEST TO BUY HIGH QUALITY GUITARS BASED ON SKILL AND/OR ABILITY.

YOU DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF THE THREAD, DON'T PLAY.

 

[Egads]

I think the criteria should be based on taste, not necessarily skill.

I'd like to think I'd at least qualify for an used SE One in that case. :top:

 

[Johnnyboy94]

ottom of the barrell would get Dean's. LOL

 

[mezzio]

Id probably be stuck with used Kramer's or Peavey Predators, lol.

 

[Sage]

I'm a hard-core free marketeer, so I tend to believe "deserves" is largely defined by a willingness to pay the price for quality.

 

[Tedder]

I think my collection of SE's and my 1999 Ibanez SC1620 Prestige (3+3 with stop tail and vintage styles buckers) are about right. OF course I'd love to have a core PRS but if earning or deserving it based on talent were on the table I'd probably not qualify.

 

[László]

I'm a hard-core free marketeer, so I tend to believe "deserves" is largely defined by a willingness to pay the price for quality.

Hey Sage, you big party pooper! This is supposed to be a fun thread, not a question of economics principles.

And hey, the last truly free market was probably killed in 10,000 BC when the local Flint Tool guild approached the cave fathers and wanted import tariffs put on imported stone tools, and there hasn't been another one since. And don't give me this it was cooler in the18th and 19th century BS, the historical record is rife with tariffs, exclusive corporate charters like the East India Company (a 16th century creation isn't it?), and multilateral international attempts to corral and control trade right down to the opium trade in china, and up to the several foreign government dominated oil and other cartels we all are forced now deal with that prevent any real possibility of free trade of important commodities that affect the prices of everything one can buy.

So let's get with the freakin' program here and have some fun!

The test in this "just for fun" thread involves only guitar playing skills, not free markets. This is just a GAME.

It isn't the freakin' University of Chicago School of Economics.

 

[László]

I think the criteria should be based on taste, not necessarily skill.

Another country heard from.

To be explicit: The criteria in the hypothetical is musical skill or ability, not taste.

 

[NomadMike]

What would you be rewarded/stuck with? I've been stuck with the same gear since 1980, some wonderful late 70's MIJs, a 70's Gretsch and some old amps from the mid 60 and early 70's. And the Mira. Pretty much what I should have.

How many really good guitars would get sold in the world each year? This is the analyst in me: Define good amp and good guitar. I've met some great players with awesome tones with what most would consider the worst gear possible.

What would average (or worse) players be playing? Epiphones through a headphone amp and no access to soundcloud or youtube.

 

[Tedder]

Does that mean I win a prize for sticking to the details of the original topic? I'm guessing it won't be that core PRS I don't deserve. Hehehe

 

[Sage]

It's an interesting question you've posed, Les, partly because the landscape of guitar-making has changed so much in the last 20 years. In 1994 I bought a Korean-made Squier Bullet Stratocaster for about $150. I still have it, just for sentimental reasons, but it's a terrible guitar. Ceramic pickups, plywood body, and the dimensions are all off -- the neck pocket, and even length of the neck aren't standard spec. I'm kind of amazed it plays at all.

A couple years ago I bought a Squier Classic Vibe 50's Strat for about $325, which isn't much more if you adjust for inflation. Solid alder body, alnico pickups... I don't know for sure if the neck is interchangeable with standard Fenders, but the fit and finish are great for a guitar so cheap. Modern technology -- particularly CNC production -- has significantly tightened the gap between high-end domestics and low-end imports. The SE line is proof enough of that, I think.

Getting back to your question, I have to say I don't really know how many really bad quality guitar makers are out there, aside from the really off-off-brands.

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

You know that scene where Jack White nails a pickup to a gazebo? Yup. That would be mine.

 

[László]

You know that scene where Jack White nails a pickup to a gazebo? Yup. That would be mine.

Best answer!

Someone asked about a prize, and you see, a prize must be given for the best answer.

And by posting this on-topic yet very funny and clever answer, you win THE GRAND PRIZE!

Yes, a "Little Guitar" PRS McCarty model made of cast pewter:



PM me your address and I'll send it to ya.

Incidentally, folks, that antique "land line telephone base station" in the picture is not included with the prize. Because I still use it.

 

[AP515]

I protest. The better the guitar, the better you play, so you don't know if you deserve it until you know how good you play on a good guitar. It's a catch 22.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

What's the criteria for the test? Would it be based upon creativity, technical ability, style, or the the ability to entertain rather than just making enough money to pay for it?

I'm just asking so I know the hypothetical rules to hypothetically rebel against in a rather predictable hypothetical way.

To answer the what would they be playing question; probably some pretty nice guitars! I haven't really played a truly sh!tty guitar since the 1990's. Everything from a First Act to a PRS has been totally useable.

I think the only deciding factor that matters about guitar choice is Style!

 

[László]

OK, since the thread isn't getting much action, I will give my answer, because why not.

If folks had to pass a test to qualify for a good guitar, there wouldn't be very many sold, because folks who run tests tend to test things like, oh, sight reading ability, scale running ability, and "interpreting the classics" kind of stuff. Like a test or competition in the world of classical piano (incidentally, my kids had to take these kinds of tests with their teacher, and did quite well but they HATED them).

If not many good guitars were sold, they'd be very expensive, like fine violins. People would have to endow them.

Guitar players with my skill level would be instructed to take up the banjo.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

What drum machine is that in the background?

 

[László]

What's the criteria for the test? Would it be based upon creativity, technical ability, style, or the the ability to entertain rather than just making enough money to pay for it?

I'm just asking so I know the hypothetical rules to hypothetically rebel against in a rather predictable hypothetical way.

To answer the what would they be playing question; probably some pretty nice guitars! I haven't really played a truly sh!tty guitar since the 1990's. Everything from a First Act to a PRS has been totally useable.

I think the only deciding factor that matters about guitar choice is Style!

Too many questions, but I like the Style answer even if it's against the Rules.

 

[László]

So is this really a test to see if we are Humble? Conceited? Truthful? Liars?

I would hope that I would at least qualify to wield an instrument that had six strings......but that would be up to the judges. Judges?:violin:?Or :star:? Or :dontknow:?

is voting done like American Idol? :call:

this is the vote I would cast for myself=:cheers:

Pretty darn good, but needs more humor.

 

[NomadMike]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dezgzysY8bA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxPsXPCR5MU

The best would play Avalon Guitars!
Though maybe the guitar makes the player.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S53wBTNUB3g

And yes, The Shaggs are in the mix on my iTunes playlist.