Endorsements ... do you care?

OilCityPickups

GuitarMonkey said:

ThePrettyDamned said:

From a young players perspective (22 - but still a kid inside) I would say the vintage ads don't appeal to me.

I'm in my mid-50s and same here on both counts.

But then the guitars don't really appeal either. Doing twists on classic designs just unbalances the whole thing. I realise why it's done of course but they end up looking awkward, like the Japanese cars of the 1970s (Datsun 240Z excepted).

I was disappointed by the Vintage Flying V on that count ... ugly heastock ... strange pregnant 'bump' for idiots who don't know how to play one sitting down. Took the idea and made a nasty Stagg copy look prettier.

Phil_aka_Pip

To answer the OP: Only if I were in the market for the product that my 'hero' endorsed. EG I love Ritchie Blackmore's playing but that doesn't make me want a Strat with a missing middle pickup and a scalloped fingerboard. On the other hand when the opportunity for an SA2200 came up I remembered that John Etheridge (whom I very much respect) has an SA I figured that as a working guitarist he would play a quality instrument so that gave me confidence that the SA was worth investigating. Still I didn't buy it just because JE had one, I bought it because it was a damn good instrument and it happened to suit what I wanted to do with it. Actually I suspect that RB or JE have never "endorsed" their instruments but if they had my reactions would I think be the same.

timhulio

In response to the original post. I get asked weekly by artists if they can have free pedals or if I have an endorsement deal. I also get asked for free pedals by gear blogs and random Youtube channels. Very occasionally I've let well-known guys get pedals (ie at least three) at my 'studio rate', which is a 30% discount. I never give anyone a free pedal because word of mouth (or the modern equivalent - discussion by peers on forums) is much better advertising. Endorsements don't work on me, and I don't consciously name-drop artists who use Fredric Effects pedals lest that's seen as an endorsement.

The only time I'll name-drop is when I'm talking to some guy who has a hard time fathoming that my effects pedal company is a SERIOUS BUSINESS. 

Also, if the endorsee is someone no-one has heard of (ie you've gotta Google their name) you may as well put up testimonials from happy customers instead.

GavC

Phil_aka_Pip said:

 I remembered that John Etheridge (whom I very much respect) has an SA I figured that as a working guitarist he would play a quality instrument so that gave me confidence that the SA was worth investigating. Still I didn't buy it just because JE had one, I bought it because it was a damn good instrument and it happened to suit what I wanted to do with it. Actually I suspect that RB or JE have never "endorsed" their instruments but if they had my reactions would I think be the same.

John Etheridge? Not another one of those players no-ones heard of and you have to google?

http://artists.fret-king.com/john-etheridge/

OilCityPickups

timhulio said:

Also, if the endorsee is someone no-one has heard of (ie you've gotta Google their name) you may as well put up testimonials from happy customers instead.

That's what I do: lots of testicle-monials ... and spend plenty of time being available for discussion. That approach doesn't seem to have injured my sales at home, or indeed in Europe. I seem to be selling rather well in Germany, which is a surprise (especially when my pickup names include Blitz Spirit, Firewatch, NightFighter and 'V' ... I never did learn not to mention the war).

daveyh

GavC said:

Phil_aka_Pip said:

 I remembered that John Etheridge (whom I very much respect) has an SA I figured that as a working guitarist he would play a quality instrument so that gave me confidence that the SA was worth investigating. Still I didn't buy it just because JE had one, I bought it because it was a damn good instrument and it happened to suit what I wanted to do with it. Actually I suspect that RB or JE have never "endorsed" their instruments but if they had my reactions would I think be the same.

John Etheridge? Not another one of those players no-ones heard of and you have to google?

http://artists.fret-king.com/john-etheridge/

Bang!

GuitarMonkey

GavC said:

John Etheridge? Not another one of those players no-ones heard of and you have to google?

http://artists.fret-king.com/john-etheridge/

He does seem to play his Martyn Booth Signature a lot more judging by his recent YouTube videos.

http://www.johnetheridge.com/guitar.htm 

GavC

Well we aren't gear fascists. All our endorsers are able to use whatever they like as long as they obviously promote and use our gear at least as much as. 

I'm sure that'll change once we stick a P90 on a stock guitar for him and call it a signature ;-)

GuitarMonkey

It's good to see that you "eat your own dog food"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Rhxe7RUuFQ

Great tones!

GavC

Lol thank you - so thats the pitfall of using your own name and not a user ID...

mudslide73

I attended a clinic of yours in Stafford Gav. Eric had the nice Super T I was on about earlier in the thread... should've put 2 and 2 together... doh.  X_X

Phil_aka_Pip

@GavC I didn't know JE was playing an Elise these days. I decided I wouldn't mind trying one after I read a review in Guitarist.

monquixote

GavC said:

Lol thank you - so thats the pitfall of using your own name and not a user ID...

My favorite video is where you rock the fuck out a Spongebob guitar. Made me laugh it did.

ICBM

"Can also be used to play a tune…"

lol

Brilliant .

GuitarMonkey

Shows what a good setup can do for even the cheapest guitars  

GavC

GuitarMonkey said:

Shows what a good setup can do for even the cheapest guitars  

...so why waste money on an expensive one? ;-)

GuitarMonkey

GavC said:

GuitarMonkey said:

Shows what a good setup can do for even the cheapest guitars  

...so why waste money on an expensive one? ;-)

Ego. Nothing more.

Mosfed

As a buyer of gear, modern day endorsements mean little to me.  Like for example, I love Billy Gibbons' sound.  But does that make me purchase Cream T pickups?  No.  but does it make me want a 1959 Les Paul like Pearly Gates - absolutely.

As a pickup maker, I would wonder if I would be able to take your noble stance.  I would think that part of the way that Bare Knuckles made themselves known was by having so many famous people playing their pickups.  For me, their brand recognition would make me aware of them but would not necessarily make me buy the pickups I needed from them.

OilCityPickups

Mosfed said:

As a pickup maker, I would wonder if I would be able to take your noble stance.  I would think that part of the way that Bare Knuckles made themselves known was by having so many famous people playing their pickups.  For me, their brand recognition would make me aware of them but would not necessarily make me buy the pickups I needed from them.

Not a lot noble about it, a matter of having a business ethic and sticking to it. I think people would rather I sunk all OCPs spare cash (that which doesn't go to filling my belly or paying the rent) into making better products. Not on flash advertising and jollies for the privileged

FX_Munkee

TBH I suspect your generous contribution to the forums here and at MR will get you far more business than giving away freeby's to somebody I'm unlikely to have heard of/ever hear of.

PS I'll be after a pair of Bucaneer's shortly, so what sort of discount am I looking at? :-*