singemonkey wrote:
vic wrote:
Don I think Chris77 summarizes the issue very well...."Depends on how it's being said. If it is being implied that you must be nuts to spend waaay too much on a guitar that's not worth it when compared to others and that you are looking at the wrong reasons when you justify buying one because of the name on the headstock, then yes - I can see that it can feel like its personal. It's like posting a pic of your new girlfriend on facebook and everybody publicly commenting on how you could have gotten a better looking one that even likes to cook and clean if you tried harder - without ever having met the girl in the picture."
Well, maybe it's just me, but I'm happy when someone points out the downsides of a purchase I'm going to make. Crazy huh?
I then go into the purchase way better informed than I would otherwise be. Bear in mind, I'm not saying that I'm always put off by valid criticism of a product I'm GASsing for. The criticisms may be irrelevant to me. Especially when they're posted by highly opinionated forum members. "Alder Strats just don't sound or look as good as Ash Strats!" (made-up example in case people with Alder Strats become offended). Well fine, says I. But I don't notice any big difference in sound. I've heard Alder Strats that sound great, and I don't care for the Ash grain myself.
But I've heard, thought, and investigated.
I also wouldn't be offended if someone told me that I should get a G&L instead of a Fender. I'd think. Sorry, but their headstocks look funny, and I want to finally have a guitar that says "Fender Stratocaster" on the headstock. But if that wasn't so important to me, I might take a serious look at the G&L. Hell, I might do it anyway and have a good think about it. I remain unoffended.
This offense to seeing alternative opinions being put up (my main one in this case was that he should save up for a
Gibson Les Paul Traditional) is why I used the term fetishism. I think I was more right than I knew. Why would someone be offended? This is
not someone's girlfriend (again, I say, more right than I knew). This is an unpurchased guitar.
I still think this is wrapped up in the appalled thought that you can get a knock-off of a Gibson for less money that is not a cheapy. That knock-offs are supposed to be crap, so saying they're not is the same as saying you're a sucker to buy the original. It's offensive to think that, on factual substantive grounds, that the knock off might represent better value than the original. The only solution then is to ban mention of the knock-offs. But on what reasonable grounds?
It seems to me that all this would create an environment in which forum members would not get complete input. Maybe Alan should put it to a vote. Who wants only "RaRa! Buy it now!" in response to any talk of intended purchases. And who wants discussion around it. Then you can report anyone who says, "I'm not a fan of P90 pickups. To me they sound harsh on the ears. And they hum." Or someone who says, "I wouldn't advise paying that for a Starfire. They're not known as great gutiars."
Then no one would be offended. For those of you who just got more offended, I'm serious. That's the implication here. Either the forum tolerates discussion of the merits of gear, or it doesn't. For myself, I'm ok if someone thinks my GAS choice is nuts. Alan told me that the Pacifica 12 string has a finnicky Gotoh bridge. Man was I not offended. I still want one. But I'm thinking about his point too.
*update*
Hmm. It also occurs that acusation of "hating" come from the perspective that some people will advise people against any Gibson. Not true. I think the flying V, the LP Junior, the SG Classic are great guitars that also represent good value for money. If someone is talking about buying a VOS reissue for under R30K, I'd say, "Buy it and don't look back." (and not just because it will hold its value either. They're phenomenal guitars) If someone's talking about getting a standard for R16K, I'd say, "Buy it." In other words, don't confuse my issues with the new, cheaper priced Studios, with a blanket assertion that you shouldn't ever buy a Gibson. And, as I said above, those issues may not be issues to everyone.
