Guitar 'truths" that you believe are myths

[jimistone]

Gibson and Fender pretty much created the coolest headstock shapes very early on.

 

[Scott Baxendale]

I just sold a early 1980's Vantage les paul copy (bolt on neck)..it looks like heritage copied their headstock.
It was a cool looking guitar but I really didn't care for the headatock.
Heritage should have just copied the Gibson headstock and not have the cutout in the middle that makes it "open book".
Their guitars would look way cooler and probably sell better.

Exactly!

 

[Scott Baxendale]

Gibson and Fender pretty much created the coolest headstock shapes very early on.

Which were both stolen from other guitars before them.

 

[TalismanRich]

The Heritage headstock was derived from an early Gibson design. The guys who started the company all worked for Gibson for many years. It was "the Heritage of Kalamazoo". They modified the cutaway and pickguard to avoid conflict with Gibson. They also made mandolins, some acoustics, and some unique designs.

Gibson and Fender headstocks aren't unique. There's nothing really special about them. I don't understand the big deal, other than the fact that you grew up seeing them on TV and record covers, so they're familiar. Both companies have used multiple headstocks. The Strat and Les Paul or just 2 of many. The Flying V, Firebird, Moderne and Explorer all used different shapes. Teles are different from Strats.

 

[jimistone]

The Heritage headstock was derived from an early Gibson design. The guys who started the company all worked for Gibson for many years. It was "the Heritage of Kalamazoo". They modified the cutaway and pickguard to avoid conflict with Gibson. They also made mandolins, some acoustics, and some unique designs.

View attachment 148193

Gibson and Fender headstocks aren't unique. There's nothing really special about them. I don't understand the big deal, other than the fact that you grew up seeing them on TV and record covers, so they're familiar. Both companies have used multiple headstocks. The Strat and Les Paul or just 2 of many. The Flying V, Firebird, Moderne and Explorer all used different shapes. Teles are different from Strats.

Well, let me re-phrase...
Gibson and Fender trademarked the coolest headstock design. I'm not just talking about strats and les pauls. I'm talking about all their headstocks. Strat, tele, les paul, explorer. Firebird flying v.
Those 2 companies have trademarked and own those headstock designs.
Even the V is the coolest. The arrowhead point looks cooler than the other V headstocks on Dean guitars and various others.
What it boils down to is this: Like it or not Fender and Gibson

 

[RFR]

But are they the coolest because of the familiarity aspect, or because aesthetics??

That is the question.

Just playing devils advocate. I have no definitive answer.

 

[CoolCat]

there's no accounting for taste- I just read an article of the power of successful people selling a product.

John Doe wants to buy a microphone and guitar. He might wonder "what's a good one?" and then look to the successful musicians and see what they use.
Used to be magazines now the Internet offers the information highway of details. So he buys a Fender Strat and a Neumann mic or SM7b because its a lot cheaper...or SM58 because Bono makes it legit and blahbalhablh a million examples...BillieEilish top hit with AT2020 so sales rose, Beatles play Rickenbacker and sales rose...

I agree there was a era, and now with longevity data supporting the designs, that the Fender original designs have lasted and people like the look (for at least the Strat and Tele....(Fender has some uglies too imo) and Gibsons LP and headstock is a classic with the same. Having all the idols and pro's using them as we grew up didn't hurt the allure gear lust. And sure Jimmy Page had a Les Paul slung over his shoulder hanging down at his knees almost...the Les Paul was given street credit, however when Jimmy Page used the Sears Silvertone and other guitars in his arsenal the sales didn't do as well as the Les Paul Gibson.

Its mind boggling what Fender team did in that golden era of gear inventions.
Tele, Strat, Bass's P and Jazz, and then don't forget all the amps too! its like a band having a bunch of gold record hits one after the other.
But the lightening didn't always strike example MusicMan tried and failed Leo's new look didn't take and the CBS fat headstocks weren't 100% liked, like a "magic" was missing.
Fender went back to the original look and drawings, and post CBS Fender took off again with the original design and turned into some global production massive gear giant that slaps name on anything from plastic whistles to chairs and tshirts and hats and tattoos....and 9000 versions of the Strat can be found it seems, or Custom Shop pre-damaged for more money....anyway ...

its all good.

 

[Papanate]

there's no accounting for taste- I just read an article of the power of successful people selling a product.

John Doe wants to buy a microphone and guitar. He might wonder "what's a good one?" and then look to the successful musicians and see what they use.
Used to be magazines now the Internet offers the information highway of details. So he buys a Fender Strat and a Neumann mic or SM7b because its a lot cheaper...or SM58 because Bono makes it legit and blahbalhablh a million examples...BillieEilish top hit with AT2020 so sales rose, Beatles play Rickenbacker and sales rose...

I agree there was a era, and now with longevity data supporting the designs, that the Fender original designs have lasted and people like the look (for at least the Strat and Tele....(Fender has some uglies too imo) and Gibsons LP and headstock is a classic with the same. Having all the idols and pro's using them as we grew up didn't hurt the allure gear lust. And sure Jimmy Page had a Les Paul slung over his shoulder hanging down at his knees almost...the Les Paul was given street credit, however when Jimmy Page used the Sears Silvertone and other guitars in his arsenal the sales didn't do as well as the Les Paul Gibson.

Its mind boggling what Fender team did in that golden era of gear inventions.
Tele, Strat, Bass's P and Jazz, and then don't forget all the amps too! its like a band having a bunch of gold record hits one after the other.
But the lightening didn't always strike example MusicMan tried and failed Leo's new look didn't take and the CBS fat headstocks weren't 100% liked, like a "magic" was missing.
Fender went back to the original look and drawings, and post CBS Fender took off again with the original design and turned into some global production massive gear giant that slaps name on anything from plastic whistles to chairs and tshirts and hats and tattoos....and 9000 versions of the Strat can be found it seems, or Custom Shop pre-damaged for more money....anyway ...

its all good.

Is there anyone influencing purchases now? - Maybe some YouTubers - but don’t think they get that much penetration - Mostly I think people just hear on the internet that Such and Such guitars are good - not really from a single endorser but just talk - and then they decide to purchase - or some people follow pedal builders and buy accordingly - for me though It’s a crap shoot - i hear about the stuff - but I have to play the gear - unless the store (Amazon) has a generous return policy - endorsements don’t work for me.

 

[CoolCat]

For kids or the Boomers or Gen X etc?
The Boomers still have their influences chosen and Fender and Gibson and Neumans etc...is it.
Kids today maybe? probably Swift and Billie's and Rappers galore though that would be Beats and Mics and rack gear...and oddly they are influenced to the same gear as the famous ones and those Engineers mention the gear in interviews, C8000, U67/87 etc... same old with Tube Tech Cl1B. 1073 (1970's) etc... same old gear, and the gear is still the same name brands. But there's all the oceans of plugins that get mentioned as used on TwentyOnePilots hit or something.

I suppose its the same path and mindset for shopping but new names in the Billboard charts.

I've spent more time the past 5 yrs comparing gear than doing anything musical. lol
Maybe Im more engineer brain than musician brain? Art or Science&physics? Seeking a sound that was made on the old records one hears.
I could say UNIT XYZ is AWESOME and BEST Plugin is this TURTLE COMPRESSOR!!! but if someone says Billie and Fin used OctopusComp plugin compressor on the new Platinum Titanium selling album...guess which one holds more shopping allure? lol

so if the Chinese SM7b sounds fine and is $40 and the Shure Chinese SM7b is $400 and sounds normal but not much different, why do many desire the Shure Chinese SM7b?
that's the mental thing I thinks interesting

 

[Scott Baxendale]

The Heritage headstock was derived from an early Gibson design. The guys who started the company all worked for Gibson for many years. It was "the Heritage of Kalamazoo". They modified the cutaway and pickguard to avoid conflict with Gibson. They also made mandolins, some acoustics, and some unique designs.

View attachment 148193

Gibson and Fender headstocks aren't unique. There's nothing really special about them. I don't understand the big deal, other than the fact that you grew up seeing them on TV and record covers, so they're familiar. Both companies have used multiple headstocks. The Strat and Les Paul or just 2 of many. The Flying V, Firebird, Moderne and Explorer all used different shapes. Teles are different from Strats.

It may have been inspired from the 1920’s Gibson ‘Snake Head’ headstock design that was used on some of their lower end mandolins but it’s much closer to the Aria Pro 2 in how it lacks any congruent lines that correspond to the lines of the guitar. This is the single reason Heritage guitars have not sold well IMO.

 

[TalismanRich]

Ah, the latest fact that I think is myth...

I was reading my magazine and there was an article about Mark Farner, original guitarist from Grand Funk. He's rerecorded I'm Your Captain but now he's doing it in 432Hz which is “a natural frequency” that’s “friendly to every bone in your body, every hair your head and your chinny, chin, chin. It’s very soothing and natural and lovely and harmonic.” The frequency is supposedly compatible with water, which is about 60 to 70% of the human body.

Maybe I should break out my Pyramid hat and magic stones.

 

[Scott Baxendale]

Ah, the latest fact that I think is myth...

I was reading my magazine and there was an article about Mark Farner, original guitarist from Grand Funk. He's rerecorded I'm Your Captain but now he's doing it in 432Hz which is “a natural frequency” that’s “friendly to every bone in your body, every hair your head and your chinny, chin, chin. It’s very soothing and natural and lovely and harmonic.” The frequency is supposedly compatible with water, which is about 60 to 70% of the human body.

Maybe I should break out my Pyramid hat and magic stone.

432 makes better sense since it divides by 12 evenly. However, It’s nearly impossible to get other bandmates on board with the idea. Once you do it makes perfect sense.

 

[Scott Baxendale]

Is there anyone influencing purchases now? - Maybe some YouTubers - but don’t think they get that much penetration - Mostly I think people just hear on the internet that Such and Such guitars are good - not really from a single endorser but just talk - and then they decide to purchase - or some people follow pedal builders and buy accordingly - for me though It’s a crap shoot - i hear about the stuff - but I have to play the gear - unless the store (Amazon) has a generous return policy - endorsements don’t work for me.

It’s all unboxing videos now.

 

[60's guy]

It’s all unboxing videos now.

I never click on those unboxing vids.

 

[jimistone]

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It may have been inspired from the 1920’s Gibson ‘Snake Head’ headstock design that was used on some of their lower end mandolins but it’s much closer to the Aria Pro 2 in how it lacks any congruent lines that correspond to the lines of the guitar. This is the single reason Heritage guitars have not sold well IMO.

Exactly.
Look at a gibson les paul. The lines are large at the back, gets smaller coming into the cutaway, goes up the neck and blossoms out through the headstock (subtlety)
The pointy type headstock works on a flying V....not so much on a les paul. Heritage is batting a thousand all the way up to the headstock and it's like.....FAIL!

 

[TalismanRich]

... and in the audience, the only person who noticed that it didn't flare out like a Gibson was the one guitar player in the room. Everyone else didn't notice and didn't care. Seriously, it's an overblown issue that the lemmings on the internet love to make into a big deal. FWIW, I actually like the design, especially when it's bound.

Now, if you want to talk about the clumsy looking LP pick guard, and the dumbass poker chip, we can have a real conversation.

 

[Scott Baxendale]

... and in the audience, the only person who noticed that it didn't flare out like a Gibson was the one guitar player in the room. Everyone else didn't notice and didn't care. Seriously, it's an overblown issue that the lemmings on the internet love to make into a big deal. FWIW, I actually like the design, especially when it's bound.

Now, if you want to talk about the clumsy looking LP pick guard, and the dumbass poker chip, we can have a real conversation.

It is a big deal if it hurts your bottom line which is number of units sold. Aesthetics do account for some things, and in the case of Heritage Guitars it’s their butt ugly headstock that has prevented this brand from being a major player in the marketplace. They should’ve just kept the open book look and took Gibson to court over it. Just the publicity alone would have probably tripled their sales numbers.

 

[RFR]

It is a big deal if it hurts your bottom line which is number of units sold. Aesthetics do account for some things, and in the case of Heritage Guitars it’s their butt ugly headstock that has prevented this brand from being a major player in the marketplace. They should’ve just kept the open book look and took Gibson to court over it. Just the publicity alone would have probably tripled their sales numbers.

Heritage is a guitar company that works in the original Gibson facilities, including original Gibson equipment along with some of the original employees. (Although they have been retiring and dying off) One could say they’re OG. The place has the DNA of the golden age of Gibson.
They should be doing much better than they are. Aesthetics, and being viewed as a ‘Gibson copy’ is what has hurt them immensely.

 

[Scott Baxendale]

Heritage is a guitar company that works in the original Gibson facilities, including original Gibson equipment along with some of the original employees. (Although they have been retiring and dying off) One could say they’re OG. The place has the DNA of the golden age of Gibson.
They should be doing much better than they are. Aesthetics, and being viewed as a ‘Gibson copy’ is what has hurt them immensely.

Unfortunately, most of the things they did to change the aesthetics were bad choices, such as their Aria Pro 2 headstock and making the binding thicker. It’s too bad they couldn’t have gotten someone with an eye for aesthetic design who could have improved their look.