Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
|
|
Do Gibson guitars have a right wing image?
|
You are logged in as Guest
|
Users viewing this topic: none
|
|
Login | |
|
mrMagenta
Posts: 942
Joined: Oct. 25 2006
From: Sweden
|
Do Gibson guitars have a right wing ...
|
|
|
Disclaimer: I'm not out to start a debate about political ideology I'm just curious if I have been missing out on some common knowledge. Do Gibson guitars, I mean the instruments themselves, not only the company, have a right wing association in the minds of people? The Gibson raid aftermath made a big deal of Gibson being a company that funds right-wing politicians. The news was meant to come out as 'look at the democrat G-men harassing us just because we're right wing supporters', but isn't it a HUGE mistake for a guitar manufacturer like Gibson to associate themselves with right wing politics? Or any politics for that matter. Doesn't that hurt the brand a lot!?? I like some of the guitars but I DO NOT want to carry around a symbol with political connotations, especially since I don't have any sympathy for the republican party (though I'm amused by Ron Paul, even though he too, obviously, is nuts!..) But then a lot of non right-wing artists have been playing Gibsons.. Patti Smith etc. So what's the deal? How are these guitars looked upon in the public mind, today? This thought has been troubling me lately. Somehow Gibson is so tightly integrated with the Rock n' Roll image. Has the whole Gibson Rock n' Roll thing somehow secretly been pulling the scene towards 'invisible hand' and 'free market' associations? Have I been blind to this hidden undercurrent? Now with increasing subjectivity: Is it a coincidence that the whole Gibson aesthetic is a lot of rosewood fretboards and humbuckers.. sort of like dark heavy furniture, stuffy and stale. Did the Gibson-image become an answer to Jimi Hendrixes Fender induced aire? A rosewood hound of baskerville, against the agile and light maple-fretboard mountain lion? I'm probably loosing it.. but somehow I can sense a few patterns emerging. Take the Gibson Blueshawk. A really cool guitar. I want one! But it's tainted by bad taste. There's a B.B.King signature of this guitar.. and somehow, though I like a lot of B.B.King stuff.. this sort of tastes like when Ozzy played with Zack Wylde. Something is wrong. Why did Gibson TYPE on the guitar?... a guitar that has written on it BLUES HAWK is somehow trying to make a point of marrying a cultural heritage with a patriotic symbol. Like a stamp of ownership; this too now fits under the greater, right-wing umbrella, just like B.B.King cruising Las Vegas in a limo. :P Enlighten me! Ps. If you have any tips on versatile light weight electric guitars, those are very welcome.
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Mar. 3 2012 21:21:24
|
|
mrMagenta
Posts: 942
Joined: Oct. 25 2006
From: Sweden
|
RE: Do Gibson guitars have a right w... (in reply to mrMagenta)
|
|
|
Thanks for your replies! Sorry if I'm coming across as an arrogant leftie. To be honest I'm fed up with politics in general, all over the world - left, right and middle. It all mostly amounts to dogmatic thinking. I wouldn't want my guitar to reflect any of that. I agree that the Gibson raid was way over the top and that it has been used by the Tea Party people. (BTW I'm still pissed off that they are using my favorite drink for their image). Ok, so I'm probably overthinking this associations thing. I know Les Pauls are on the heavy side, and I've looked at the Parker fly a few times but it's not my style. The Gibson Blueshawk is both smaller-bodied than an LP and semi-hollow. It's a very light guitar. It also has some interesting pickups, so I'm very keen on it. I could definitely live with it, but I'd seriously consider refinishing it so that the stupid text on the guitar top is removed. Anders, I need to think about your excellent inlay options. Are your offering your services? :-P Fender Thin-lines are a bit interesting too, but they often look wonky; all sorts of pick-guards and weird colors. I've looked at Taylors T3 and T5, but the T5 is a bit too weird and specialized, and the T3 seems a bit clunky. Carvin too has a weird guitar called AE185, like the Taylor T5, it's a sort of hybrid between electric and acoustic. Is that a new trend or something? For some reason I'm gravitating toward the weird guitars. Perhaps in part because of my unwillingness to be associated with specific guitar heroes, over the top patriotism, political views or whatever. Any more tips on light weight electric guitars?
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Mar. 4 2012 12:40:35
|
|
New Messages |
No New Messages |
Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
Locked w/ New Messages |
Locked w/o New Messages |
|
Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts
|
|
|
Forum Software powered by ASP Playground Advanced Edition 2.0.5
Copyright © 2000 - 2003 ASPPlayground.NET |
0.0625 secs.
|