We now play Yamahas

[Rocky]

I am rather curious that Nick Drake is included in that list of influential artists Has it ever been established that he ever played a Guild? Certainly, we know that the M-20 on the cover of Bryter Layter belonged to the photographer, but the evidence about whether he ever played Guild seems to be inconclusive. I have read that Richard Thompson, who played on Drake's first two albums, said that he only ever saw him play a small body Guild, but can't confirm that he ever said it!

Well, it only says it was 'his choice.' As in, he chose to have it on his album cover.

 

[fronobulax]

Well, it only says it was 'his choice.' As in, he chose to have it on his album cover.

Given that Oxnard never seemed to get the history quite right I have no reason to believe that Yamaha Guild will do any better. The "Nick Drake played a Guild M20" myth seems to be a particularly hard one to kill.

 

[RBSinTo]

Given that Oxnard never seemed to get the history quite right I have no reason to believe that Yamaha Guild will do any better. The "Nick Drake played a Guild M20" myth seems to be a particularly hard one to kill.

Frannybollocks,
Why does it matter what guitar someone else did or didn't play?
To my mind, it should only matter to me what guitar I play.
Nick Drake's (whoever the hell he is) choice of guitar has no bearing on my choice of instrument(s).
RBSinTo

 

[SFIV1967]

Nick Drake's (whoever the hell he is) choice of guitar has no bearing on my choice of instrument(s).

A lot of instruments of all kind only sell because a famous artist played them! You might be not in that target audience obviously...
Guess how many M-20 sold just for that album cover. I'm sure a lot.

Ralf

 

[RBSinTo]

A lot of instruments of all kind only sell because a famous artist played them! You might be not in that target audience obviously...
Guess how many M-20 sold just for that album cover. I'm sure a lot.

Ralf

Ralf,
I'm sure you are correct. However, the reasoning behind the purchases baffles me.
RBSinTo

 

[SFIV1967]

However, the reasoning behind the purchases baffles me.

I think it was much less so in the past but I believe Taylor sold a lot of their "Taylor Swift" model as did Martin with the Ed Sheeran models and there are many more examples of mass models sold. Youtube, Facebook, Instagram, you name it, show the idols of the young genaration using such instruments and hence the need to have one is strong for many!
Ralf

 

[fronobulax]

Frannybollocks,
Why does it matter what guitar someone else did or didn't play?
To my mind, it should only matter to me what guitar I play.
Nick Drake's (whoever the hell he is) choice of guitar has no bearing on my choice of instrument(s).
RBSinTo

I am not going to hire you for any kind of marketing job.

Guild called out Nick Drake in a list of "influential artists" who played Guild. There is no evidence that he played a Guild in spite of using one as a prop for an album cover. Since he's been dead for almost half a century no one is going to be able to ask him. For you the issue is artist associations in general. For everyone else the issue is that Yamaha Guild is associating Guild with Nick Drake based upon a myth.

 

[fronobulax]

Ralf,
I'm sure you are correct. However, the reasoning behind the purchases baffles me.
RBSinTo

Did you choose all of your hockey gear by picking something off the shelf at a sporting goods store or did you consult reviews and advertising and perhaps even know what the players you admired or learned from were using?

There is an old line that learning from your mistakes gives you experience. Learning from someone else's mistakes gives you wisdom. People who make decisions based upon experience are less likely to care about wisdom.

 

[twocorgis]

I am rather curious that Nick Drake is included in that list of influential artists Has it ever been established that he ever played a Guild? Certainly, we know that the M-20 on the cover of Bryter Layter belonged to the photographer, but the evidence about whether he ever played Guild seems to be inconclusive. I have read that Richard Thompson, who played on Drake's first two albums, said that he only ever saw him play a small body Guild, but can't confirm that he ever said it!

I have heard the same thing. I think he mostly played small body Martins.

 

[RBSinTo]

I am not going to hire you for any kind of marketing job.

Guild called out Nick Drake in a list of "influential artists" who played Guild. There is no evidence that he played a Guild in spite of using one as a prop for an album cover. Since he's been dead for almost half a century no one is going to be able to ask him. For you the issue is artist associations in general. For everyone else the issue is that Yamaha Guild is associating Guild with Nick Drake based upon a myth.

That's a relief.

 

[twocorgis]

Nick Drake's (whoever the hell he is) choice of guitar has no bearing on my choice of instrument(s).
RBSinTo

If you don't know who Nick Drake is, I highly recommend that you check his music out. Not only did he sell a lot of M20s, this ad sold a lot of Volkswagens, and revived his career long after his passing.

 

[jeffcoop]

If you don't know who Nick Drake is, I highly recommend that you check his music out. Not only did he sell a lot of M20s, this ad sold a lot of Volkswagens, and revived his career long after his passing.

I'd forgotten about that one. Great ad.

(Doesn't sound like an M20, though!).

 

[Christopher Cozad]

If you don't know who Nick Drake is, I highly recommend that you check his music out. Not only did he sell a lot of M20s, this ad sold a lot of Volkswagens, and revived his career long after his passing.

[Utterly meaningless after-the-factoid]

He *so* should have played the Guild on that recording.

 

[davismanLV]

To be fair, Yamaha buying Guild is one of the best things to happen to Guild in a long time.

That may be premature.... how about we let it play out. I think it's gonna be really good. But your opinion and dream is noted.....

 

[Cougar]

Why does it matter what guitar someone else did or didn't play?

I upvoted your post, but at the same time, I did purchase a John Lennon signature Epiphone EJ160E (fashioned after the Gibson J160 that Lennon did play at some point). It had a stenciled Lennon signature subtly positioned on the top. Why did I buy it? Well, I thought it was "cool." And since it was an Epiphone I got a good deal on it for just 300 bucks. It really didn't sound that good, and the pickup didn't seem to work that well, and I ended up selling it (for $500 ) Other than that, like I said, the fact that some famous guitarist played a particular model hasn't really been my motivating factor in what guitars I go after.

 

[jeffcoop]

I upvoted your post, but at the same time, I did purchase a John Lennon signature Epiphone EJ160E (fashioned after the Gibson J160 that Lennon did play at some point). It had a stenciled Lennon signature subtly positioned on the top. Why did I buy it? Well, I thought it was "cool." And since it was an Epiphone I got a good deal on it for just 300 bucks. It really didn't sound that good, and the pickup didn't seem to work that well, and I ended up selling it (for $500 ) Other than that, like I said, the fact that some famous guitarist played a particular model hasn't really been my motivating factor in what guitars I go after.

Pretty much the the reason why I have an Epiphone Casino, even though I hardly ever play electric guitar.

I agree more or less with your central point. But it raises an usual aspect of my acquisition of my first Guild acoustic. In 1991, I'd been playing a Yamaha dreadnought for about a decade, and, when I decided I wanted something better, I went to Music Row in New York, played a bunch of different guitars at Manny's, and chose a black Guild D25. I chose the Guild principally because I preferred its sound and playability to the other instruments I tried (I know at least one Martin and at least one Gibson were involved). But, to be honest, part of the reason I chose the D25 was that it was black. I was a big Paul Simon fan, and this was during the period (Graceland to Rhythm of the Saints) when Simon performed with a black guitar. What makes this funny is what I only learned later: that earlier in his career Simon had been well known for playing Guilds, and that at the time of the Graceland and Rhythm of the Saints tours, the black guitars that I associated with him were actually custom Yamahas. So, even though I was in part trying to emulate him, it turned out that we were going in opposite directions.

 

[7GuildsandanSG]

[Utterly meaningless after-the-factoid]

He *so* should have played the Guild on that recording.

I bought an M-120 because I wanted a smaller acoustic to keep in the living room AND to play Nick Drake songs because Nick Drake held one. A similar one. At least once.

 

[jte]

One of my roommates decades ago swore by his Yamaha bass, like a serious bassist could get no better.

Those Yamaha BB series basses were used by a LOT of serious LA studio players. That's a BB1200 Louis Johnson played on "Billy Jean" as well as a lot of other tracks on "Thriller".

 

[AcornHouse]

... Since he's been dead for almost half a century no one is going to be able to ask him...

Time for that LTG seance.

 

[GGJaguar]

Time for that LTG seance.

Everyone join hands and concentrate...