Using Your Hero’s Guitar as Your Own

Many companies now issue knock offs of their star’s guitars. Some, right down to the exact damage of the star owned instrument. Some companies have the stars design instruments for them to make as “special editions” as well.

Its OK to play your hero’s guitar if you want to. There is nothing wrong with it. But if you are just looking for a reliable, playable, cheap guitar, know there might be cheaper ways to go.

Realize that a specific guitar is a small link in a long chain of variables your idol depends on. Effect pedals andamplifiers make a impact. Besides the sound engineer or recording engineer and their part in how it all sounds. Don’t hope to sound the same even if you have the same ability.

One reason to pay attention to what your idol brings on stage with him or her is because you like the appearance of their guitar on stage. But know that if this is your motivation, there are probably less expensive “look a like” guitars that you could think about.

You know that no name bass I was talking about in a previous article? I found out its an Arbor bass used by 80s “hair band” bassist Dana Strum of The Vinnie Vincent Invasion, and Slaughter. But I’ve never heard of the those bands (Well ok, I’d heard of Slaughter. But I don’t know their music at all though.) nor the guitar brand Arbor.

80s hair bands, ugh! Not my favorite sort of music. Too much hype, glitz and pretension. I wonder if I shouldn’t purchase this bass because of that bad mojo? On the other hand, it might just be a perfect inside joke. It might be a great story to tell when I get asked what the heck the bass is anyways.

Another thing that I should mention here goes back to my first point. Arbor it turns out is a cheap, entry level guitar manufacturer. I don’t know how successful The Vinnie Vincent Invasion and Slaughter are/were, but I’m guessing Dana Strum could have bought and used more expensive guitars had he wanted to do so. If you do a little research, it becomes obvious though that either Strum or the bands themselves were contracted to Arbor.

How much stock to you put in what guitars your favorite guitar idol plays? Well, guitar manufacturers guess you put a whole lot of weight into it because they pay musicians to play their guitars on stage and do clinics, etc. Precisely the reason you shouldn’t put too much merit in it though. Your guitar icon may not be playing brand X because its his favorite but because he’s payed to do so.