Which high quality guitar is the most uncool?

[twoheadedboy]

In your opinion, what is a mass produced guitar, new or old, that is well made and sounds good, but most people wouldn't want to be seen playing at this point?

 

[Capstan Philips]

Paul Reed Smith

"Most people wouldn't want to be seen playing [one]" is a tough criteria to judge without census data, and I suspect it wouldn't apply to PRS, but for sure a significant proportion of players wouldn't use one, even in the knowledge that they are extremely well built and sound good.

 

[Benz2112]

Bernie era BC Rich would probably rank up there.

 

[CanuckChris]

I'd add to the above in that I personally wouldn't want to be seen playing the PRS Dragon, especially the ones with the crazy amount of inlay work and artwork on the body. I'm sure they play great, but they're a bit gaudy.

Same goes for other high end artistic type guitars or even something like the Fender CS EVH replica guitars. Looks cool, tons of work put into the artwork on the guitars, definitely high end guitars, but would not want to be seen playing.

 

[Jayyj]

Heh, I'm not sure TGP is the ideal arbiter of cool...

I think these days it's the player making it work, not the guitar itself. If you're cool enough yourself then whatever guitar you're playing is going to look cool.

I'm picturing Lou Reed in the 90s here for some reason, dude pulled off some seriously odd guitar choices back then.

 

[Desmosedici]

At the moment?.....some kinda Murphy Lab Reissue

 

[Mikhael]

Paul Reed Smith

"Most people wouldn't want to be seen playing [one]" is a tough criteria to judge without census data, and I suspect it wouldn't apply to PRS, but for sure a significant proportion of players wouldn't use one, even in the knowledge that they are extremely well built and sound good.

They are well-built, no question. Sound good? Considering the wide variety of tones used in the electric guitar world, that's not a fact, that's an opinion. Not knocking them, although I've never met one that screamed "Buy me!", but tones are a matter of personal preference.

As far as the OP's question, if I liked the tones and playability of a guitar, I wouldn't give a @#$% what anyone else thought of me using that instrument. I'm also not adverse to using a shredder to play country on, or a Tele for jazz, or whatever, so maybe I'm the wrong person to answer this...

 

[Capstan Philips]

They are well-built, no question. Sound good? Considering the wide variety of tones used in the electric guitar world, that's not a fact, that's an opinion.

Yep, absolutely.

Some will pass on PRS because they don't like the tone - I can vouch for that because I did the same for years! (until I tried a DGT).

My point was more that some people avoid PRS for their 'uncool' appearance, as pointed out by @CanuckChris, despite how they might be built and despite how they may sound. There may also be a perception that the brand is uncool, due to their association with blues lawyers, doctors, architects, etc. I can totally understand that. Many of them are a turn-off for me too, visually.

 

[SushiPowPow]

Given all the options folks have today and the "acceptance" of various styles, I don't think there is one.

I personally would not be seen with a Gibson - I just don't jell with that brand's style.

 

[goose1441]

This one may not be popular here... But living in Nashville you wouldn't catch me with a butterscotch tele. I've seen way too many guitarists and bands sporting them who put out the musical equivalent of 3 week old, dry, stale, cornbread.

Gibson acoustics have similarly been ruined by the cliche singer songwriter whose entire personality is "self deprecating mental health jokes, unstable life, always have bad relationships, I'm crazy but quirky". They always sing in a really breathy way that's just exhausting to listen to.

 

[ant_riv]

Trussart?
When I think of ‘gaudy’ the patterned metal of some are just so over done.
Some obviously love them. Just not for me.

 

[Michel347]

Godin

 

[TopJimmy5150]

Those weird Parker Fly guitars...they scream 00's Eagles cover band to me.

 

[RRfireblade]

That's a really tough question nowadays. Just a few years ago, most people would be embarrassed to play Imports, epiphone's, never heard ofs like Harley Benton. Nowadays that sentiment has clearly changed dramatically. Especially as a lot of those options have changed more with the tastes and demands of the bottom player than some of the traditional big brands. As well as their prolification of YouTube support for many of them.

Paul Reed Smith

"Most people wouldn't want to be seen playing [one]" is a tough criteria to judge without census data, and I suspect it wouldn't apply to PRS, but for sure a significant proportion of players wouldn't use one, even in the knowledge that they are extremely well built and sound good.

The problem with the OPs question is you have to specify who most people are. The clientele here at tgp are an extremely narrow segment of the guitar playing world. If you're talking about tgp, you might have a point. You're talking about like the whole rest of the world, there are few guitars that are respected more than PRS Hell, if you look at their artist page, it is a list of some of the most respected, actually hardest working musicians in the business. It's not a list of superstars and pretty faces. It's predominantly a list of backup and supporting musicians of some of the biggest names in the business. That speaks volumes imo.

 

[Capstan Philips]

The problem with the OPs question is you have to specify who most people are.

Yes. I effectively chose to ignore the 'most' clause because it's near impossible to demonstrate. As I said, I suspect it would not apply to PRS... but I make that suggestion because I've read posts, time and time again, from people who wouldn't play them on account of their appearance/image. I have no issue with that whatsoever, but I do feel it's relevant to the OP's question about a 'big brand' (paraphrasing) that is (apparently) often perceived as being 'uncool'.

Whether or not TGP opinions are representative of the general guitar-buying public's opinions, I have no idea - but arguably the represent a larger pool and a broader spectrum than the endorsement of a few talented working artists who have been name-checked on the PRS website.

I have a PRS and I love it, so it's certainly nothing personal against the brand.

 

[spacevato]

 

[metropolis_4]

Probably depends on the person, and the circle they run in.

For example, I would probably get laughed at and lose some gigs if I showed up with this guitar, but I'm sure there are those who think this is really cool:

 

[redir]

Maybe one of those excavated Gibson Firebird X's?

 

[mrpinter]

Carvin/Kiesel

 

[smiert spionam]

Those weird Parker Fly guitars...they scream 00's Eagles cover band to me.