Conference napalm::guitar

I, for one, find that the "look" of an instrument is
very important to me. I've gotten rid of instruments
that were in mint condition, but not pleasing to my
eye. 

Some things that drive me crazy from an aesthetic point
of view:

o Off white finish ("ivory" color... yuck)

o Gold hardware on a white guitar

o Maple fingerboards on certain color finishes,
  especially light color finishes.

o Unlabelled headstocks. For some reason "no name" headstocks
  really bother me. Stupid, but...

o Pointy headstocks (sorry Coop! ;^))

o Rosewood fingerboard telecasters (it just aint right.. ;^) )

o White Rickenbacker guitars (especially 4001/4003 basses)

o The "new" style small headstock on Fender basses


Some stuff I've gotten rid of due to aesthetics:

o An off white Fender P-bass with a maple neck (this
  loses on at least two points..). This was a fine bass
  and I was reasonably pleased with the playability, but I
  just couldn't stand to look at it. 

o A white Rick 4001 bass. It was actually off white,
  since the finish faded. 


I've since learned that even if it plays great (and/or
is a great deal), I won't be truly happy with it unless
it's also pleasing to my eye. 

    
    	i must confess i'll play the ugliest beast in the galaxy if i can
    make it sound good. Was never into shiny cars, clothes, guitars.
    
    	just a different perspective(bob)

    BC Rich makes the fugliest guitars/basses in the world, IMO.
    
    Peter

    
    
I guess my tastes are pretty conservative.   Almost every guitar I've
owned has either been a natural finish or gloss black  (the lone exception
is my Stratocaster XII that is a metallic red).

I like don't like pointy headstocks or pointy instruments.  I guess I
would say my favorite solid bodies electric (based on appearance) is
a Les Paul sunburst (particularly with a nice tiger maple top).  I also
have always liked Strats, particularly in black.

For acoustics, I think Martin D-41s look great (D-45s have too much
inlay for my tastes).  I prefer "diamond and squares" position markers
over dots (if I could change one thing on my HD-28, it would be that).
The original OM-28 also a great looking acoustic.

I think the Takamine Natural Series acoustics look great... cedar tops,
no fretboard inlay, low gloss finishes, gold-plated tuners with reddish
pearl buttons.  Very understated, but very classy.  

A nice cherry finished 335 is a great looking guitar.

L5s and Super 400s are gorgeous.
    
     Jim

    Okay, here's a hot button for ya.  Modern, fancy, "burst" finishes.
    I like the good old traditional Fender sunbursts, and some of the
    classic Gibsons, like Tobacco and Cherry.  But some of this newer
    stuff..  greybursts, bluebursts, bloodbursts...  yuck, phooh!
    Send em back to the planet they came from.  Hey, maybe it's just me.

    how about those late 60's Fenders with the "Wildwood" color scheme?
    Natural "green", "blue" "yellow" woodgrains...
    
    Edd

    -I hate black guits.
    -I hate white guits.
    -I hate 3-on-a-side tuning pegs.
    -I hate straight headstocks (I can only play my strat if I'm 
     looking at my Ibanez (they tilt-back).
    
    -I love reversed headstocks.
    -I love pointy headstocks.  (No offense taken Tom!!)
    -I love LOUD and RUDE colors.
    -I love custom graphics, or even custom guits.
    -I love natural woods that show thru the finish, or just natural woods.
     (Like Pat Blairs ES335 !!)
    -I love guits with things written on the back (Like 'show me your
     ****!"
    -I hate Rickenbackers - Basses, guitars etc... (God they look GROSS!)
     (No offense Tom T :)
    
    Basically I don't like anything thats too traditional - unless the are
    collectables.  I mean Gibsons are BUTT-ugly as sin - but they play pretty
    well, and they are collectable.  A hot pink one with a pointy headstock
    would be cool.  :).   It's all a matter of preference I guess.
    
    In a nutshell, I like guits that are lightweight, fast, functional, and
    eye-catchers...And I like GOOD high-tech pickups.  Thats why I play
    Ibanez.  :)
    
    jc

>    -I hate straight headstocks (I can only play my strat if I'm 
>     looking at my Ibanez (they tilt-back).
    
    Actually, last month's GP article on "Ultimate Tone" said a tilt-back
    neck enhances tone much more than a straight headstock.
    
    Mike

    
    Jeez, coop, I just lost any respect I might have had for your taste...
    
    Rickenbackers are works of art.  They should be hanging on the wall for
    display when you're not playing them...
    

    I always liked the way Rick's look, but the string spacing bugged me
    last time I tried to play one.  It's been a long time, so if I have an
    opportunity to try one out again, I probably will.

    As far as aesthetics go, I'm really pretty easy to please.  Even though
    I've had several, one of my least favorite colors for guitars is red. 
    I like yellow, black, and white (and cream) a lot.  Sunbursts are cool
    too and I also like a lot of the color-bursts as well.  
    
    Greg

    Well, over the years, I guessed I've owned one of just about
    everything.  And, eneded up selling all of 'em, except my Strat.
    
    I need a guitar that can drive a nail, paddle a boat, chock my wheels,
    and sound like a strat.
    
    - I love black guitars
    - I love natural finishes
    - I love the look of all the metal shredder axes, I just don't have
      a use for one.
    
    
    Jerry

    I have to side with Coop; to my eye, the Rick basses are about the
    ugliest shape in a bass.  I had a friend who alternated between a nice
    sounding Rick bass and an equally nice-sounding (but much prettier)
    white Precision bass.  I always felt happier when he played the Fender.
    ;)
    
    Rosewood fingerboard on a Tele?  Yuck - I used to own one. (Horrors!)
    
    My favorite finish on a bass?  A toss-up between my Pearl White Peavey
    Dyna-Bass and my stock Sunburst '76 Precision.  My least favorite? The
    natural finish on my old Peavey T-40.
    
    						--Eric--

    My, my, aren't we picky....
    
    I worry about whether the instrument is comfortable to play *sitting*
    as well as standing (Flying V's flunk here, for instance) and the
    headstock is only an issue if it's a pain to get at the tuners.
    
    						Brian

    Well, Jeff saved me some typing in .7. As for my preference, take
    everything he said in .7 and reverse it - with the exception of Rick's.
    I too think they're resonably ugly. 
    
    Jeff m'boy ... if you were a fish, you'd be caught by the first person
    throwing some cheap weird-ass flashy neon like lure; probably by a kid who
    just bought a bunch of 'em for a buck. Myself, I'd like to
    think that it'd take a carefully crafted hand tied specialty fly to
    catch me ;^) 
    
    "sakman"

    I must admit I'm pointy headstock man,preferably down to up.I prefer 
    black whammy's and tuners as the silver ones look kind of cheap to me.
    I'm also a great lover of mother of pearl as long as its done within
    tasteful quantites.I'm not keen on black strats with white pick
    gaurds,I would probably get it changed.
    
    
                                           Staynz(Mr Picky)

    There is nothing that pleases my eye more than the sight of a shiny Les
    Paul....I like Wine Red, Sunburst, and Tigre Maple.
    
    Simple taste in looks, and no frills guitars!  They look great, they
    sound great, they'll block beer bottles and bullets (small ones), and
    they just plain play great!
    
    Steve (old guy)

    Strats only look good in black or sunburst
    
    same for Les Pauls; Cherry sunburst is optimal. No weird burst
    colors. SG's should be wine red. Flying V's and explorers look
    stupid.
    
    Teles should all look (and sound and play) like Dave Russo's :-) 
    
    Charvels are ugly. Especially Surfcasters. Any guitar with a reverse
    headstock has bimbo written all over it.
    
    Any color except natural on the face of an acoustic looks beastly.
    Those white and blue Washburns make my skin crawl.
    
    - Dave

    I *love* reverse headstocks...esp the ESP 'hockey stick' style ones!

My, my - aren't we all so different.  :)

I have a couple more loves:

- I love bound necks.
- I love mother-of-pearl and abalone inlay work.

I think it all depends on what you are playing music-wise too.
For instance, I'd rather be seen with my beautiful Midnight Blue strat
while playing Stormy Monday, 24 Hours At A Time, or The Thrill Is Gone 
than my hot pink Ibanez...  but I wouldn't be caught dead playing SkidRow 
toons on a strat either.  :)  Of course, I feel that the Ibanez does most 
anything pretty well - thats why I got it I guess.

jc

>Title:  Maybe it's cuz I no longer have enough hair ...

I dunno Larry, I'm losin' mine too.  :)   I think its just a matter of 
personal taste...Just like who your hero is, and what color hair you like
on folks of the opposite sex...
 

   Primary "must haves" for bass and guitar are: Double cutaway,
good sustain, and has to feel good. There are alot of instruments
that are simply terrible when it comes to ergonomics.

   Instruments like the Hofner Bealtle Bass are really neck heavy. The 
idea of the upper horn being near or over the 12'th fret seems to give 
instruments "balance". Les Paul's are nice sounding, but bordering on
terrible for balance.

   I tend to stay away from loud/rude colors - They're just a fad with me.
Also, floating whammies, generic shred pickups (generic means Most-pickups
used in the 'Metal department), graphics of any kind, extra sharp headstocks
The tilt back headstock seems to be a good design.

   There are exceptions like: Feel, Sound, and freebies. I might not be seen
in public with a flourescent lime green - striped with black - guitar, but 
might record with it if it had "that sound"..... I'm not looking for that kind
of attention...

   Oh well... That's what makes things interesting... And helps me define
what, or who I don't want to look like. No offense intended here!

/John

    
    I don't really mind the pointy or hockey stick necks, and although I'd
    never buy a bright green guitar with racing stripes, they don't make me
    nauseous, either.
    
    I'm much more turned off by flashy inlay and bright chrome, stuff that
    looks like it was added to an otherwise nice guitar by some marketing 
    geek.
    
    Kevin
    

    I agree that some Ricks look pretty unappealing.  In general, I don't
    like the looks of the basses.  Also think the 325s (John Lennons)
    aren't particularly nice looking, and the fact that the 3/4 scale is in
    everybody's mental image because of Lennon makes the full scale ones
    look odd.  However, I think that many many Ricks are gorgeous... for
    instance, my fireglow 360/12.  :^)
    
    What bugs me alot are clashing styles in guitar design.  Fer instance,
    I was watching the Nashville Network the other night (just for a minute
    or two), and some guy had a guitar that looked like a strat body except
    that the headstock looked kinda like an ovation acoustic... a bit
    pointy and 3-on-a-side.  Hideous.   

    A couple more things: 
    
    I don't care what the headstock looks like as long as it's fairly
    graceful.  Straight, flat, hockey stick, pointy, up, down, it doesn't
    matter.  I hate those Dean guitars with the stupid looking giant "Y"
    headstock!
    
    I don't really care what color a guitar is, but I tend to stay away
    from the real weird or flashy ones myself, because they limit the
    resale potential.
    
    One of the prettiest guitars I can think of is Slash's Gibson "Custom
    Shop" Les Paul, with the natural finished quilted maple top!  Figured
    woods almost always score high on the look-appeal for me.  I also like
    highly figured abalone inlays, I think they're real classy.
    
    I think the ugliest guitar I've ever seen was a metalflake red acoustic
    shaped like a Flying V with lightening bolt shaped "f-holes" in it. 
    Absolutely disgusting!
    
    I went in a store a couple of days ago and this black Les Paul catches
    my eye, I go over to get a closer look and someone has corrupted it by
    putting a nasty chrome Kahler tremelo (and locknut) on it.  Gross!  I
    was appalled!
    
    re: .19 (Coop)
    
>    but I wouldn't be caught dead playing SkidRow  toons on a strat either. 
    
    Gee, that's funny...  When I saw Skid Row live about two weeks ago,
    Scotti Hill played a Strat about two-thirds of the evening.  And Snake
    Sabo played a Les Paul Jr. about the same percentage of the time. 
    Hardly hi-tech ax's, but they sounded great!
    
    Greg
                 

RE: Greg - Ick!

I know that LesPaul you're talking about !!  What a waste of a fine 
instrument!!!  Triple ICK!

jc

    
    	That Yamaha that looks similar to a Les Paul looks
    	great to me.  Quality and class all the way.  Anyone
    	know where I could try one ??
    
    	Chrome hardware on a Charvel or Ibanez or Jackson looks
    	really cheap - black looks great!!  
    
    	I think ebony / rosewood fingerboards look GREAT on a
    	Tele style - Larry Carlton's guitar looks fabulous to me.
    
    	And, of course, my cherry red '62 ES335....
    
    	Tom
    

    >	And, of course, my cherry red '62 ES335....
    
    The guitarist in KIX just started playing a red 62 ES 335.
    
    Now I want one!  8^)

    
    Yo, Buck, when he starts playing up a banged up Danelectro lemme know,
    I'll sell you mine.....
    
    						Brian
    
    P.S. There's an old story of a Jersey shore guy who owned a Fender
    Esquire but really dug Bruce Springsteen (at the time in a band called
    Steel Mill) who played an LP.  One day he walked into a store and saw
    Bruce's LP hanging there, and traded his Esquire for it.  The next
    Steel Mill gig he went to, Bruce was playing his old Esquire (and Bruce
    is *still* playing it)!  

    Well, after hearing all of the "opinions" expressed here, I just have
    to throw in my two cents worth:
    	Any guitar has a certain style and grace all of it's own, however,
    the most beautiful (both in looks and sound) is of course, a Paul Reed
    Smith Custom. Nothing else quite measures up.
    
    Except a Paul Reed Smith Signature model.
    
    
    Lowell
    

    
    	re: Buck - but there's no whammy on it ;^)
    
    	This note makes me want a new guitar !!!!!
    
    

     >      re: Buck - but there's no whammy on it ;^)
     
    
    That's ok.  Member, I played a LP std for 11 years stright.  I
    learned how to do whammy effects on it, regardless of the loss
    of bar.  It's doable

    Bo Diddly's guitar is ugly
    
    Slash's is nice (I agree Greg,.. love that finish!)
    
    I like natch wood,... somebdy said the new "colorized sunburts" or
    I think someone called them "colorbursts" turn them off. I don't
    know why,. but I really like them,. blue, red,.. they look good to me
    
    Definitely down on gold hardware,.. its too much of a "status" thing,.. 
    with the gold and all.
    
    Really though,.. I don't pay too much attention to aesthetics for
    instruments. Sound, playability, and functionality (can be played
    sitting/standing etc) come first second and third,. .then I chose
    the color... I like blue,..
    
    							/Bill
    
    PS... The comment on Bo's axe is "my humble opinion" of course,. I'm
    sure there are some out there who like it,. just like I'm sure there
    are some out there who like Eric Johnson better than Steve Morse,. no
    wait a minute,. or was that Steve Morse better than Eric Johnson...:-)
    
    
    PPS,.. I'd mention Rosewood fretboards,.. but I don't consider that
        aesthetics,.. that goes more with playability or functionality.
    
    
    

RE: Lowell

Yep - PRS are nice...  But I wouldn't say most beautiful until you 
see my Grim Reaper.   :)  :)

    
    Tom, the Yamaha is probably the "Weddington". I'm looking at an
    ad in guitar player for one now. Nice looking guitar.
    
    I've had a Charvel model 6 for about 2 years now and I never liked
    the way it looked, but I love the way it feels. Feels real solid
    and has a great neck. Gets lots of different sounds. I'll probably
    sell it not because of looks though but because I want something
    with a fixed bridge.
    
    Usually look for "feel" and utility rather than looks in a guitar
    I guess.
    
    Bob

    Oh yeah, *that's* the other thing I was thinkin of!  
    
    Guitars with graphics painted on them turn me off more often then not. 
    I don't mind graphic designs that much, but it's the little pictures
    and stuff that I don't like.  You usually can't tell what it is from
    more then a few feet away.  Why bother?
    
    Oh yeah, and I *especially* hate instruments with a persons face
    painted on them, the ultimate in ugly to me!
    
    Greg

    >Guitars with graphics painted on them turn me off more often then not.
    >I don't mind graphic designs that much, but it's the little pictures
    >and stuff that I don't like.  You usually can't tell what it is from
    >more then a few feet away.  Why bother?
    
    
    Agreed, but I really want a white guitar with a roller coaster graphic
    painted all over it, and little PTC cars for inlays!!
    

    Ah Diversity, I've seen everything in this note. We are a motley
    bunch (not Crue) when it comes to what we like.  So, I thought I'd add
    my two cents:
    
    	o I love Cherry sunburst LPs (and not just because I own one).
    	o I love black strats (and I don't own one, but I'd like to).
    	o I want that Red Epiphone that John Lee Hooker is holding on the
          cover of Mr. Lucky, now that's aesthetic!!!
    	o For some strange reason, I like Flying V's and Explorers even
    	  though they are kind of ugly. 
	o I like blue PRS's, they just look so damn functional (and clean).
    
    I think the only guit I've seen lately that really turned my stomach
    was that gawd-awful yellow thing that Prince plays.  Anybody know the
    one I'm talking about?  It's got this horn thing (that looks kind of
    like a lyre, I guess) that grows out of the top of the body and snakes
    its way back along the neck.  Now, that's a guitar even a mother couldn't
    love (but, Prince seems fond of it).
    
    Anyway, thanks for this note, it's a good one, great to hear what
    people like and dislike in the looks of an axe.
    
    Al_whose_taste_is_all_in_his_mouth!
      
    
    
    

    Yah,. on that Prince guitar,.. (its the one in the video right?),..
    it looked to me to be completely fake... in fact a guitar for
    nothing but aesthetics (of the video)...
    
    Can that thing actually play? Are we talking about the same thing?
    
    						/Bill
    

Oh, and I just gotta say that I think Explorers look primo-cool !!
But what is strange with me ??  Round off the edges and make it into a
firebird, and I may puke.  Strange eh ??

jc 

    Bill,
    
    Thanks, I feel better.  Yeah, it's the one in the video, I also saw a
    picture of him with it in TIME magazine.  I was hoping it wasn't going
    to catch on and we'd see it as the centerfold in GW.  I guess it isn't
    quite as dangerous if it's fake.
    
    Al
    

    Each to his own,
    
    My faves...
    
    2 or three tone sunburst strat with rosewood neck
    Martin dreadnought
    Gibson ES-335 (cherry red)
    Gibson Les Paul (sunburst)
    National Steel (Duolian)
    
    Run these through a Fender the Twin(hernia)
    And a Marshall Bluesbreaker stack and I would be in Guitar Heaven!!
    
    Looks like I'm a bit of a classic fan.
    
    P.S I dont like any of the pointy headstocks.8^)
    P.K.

    
    
    	I tend to think the Strat shape is very sexy, I personally like
    	the Levinson Blades done in clear blue laquer (with a burst 
        effect), but generally looks aren't that important (in fact not at
    	all), I have a pointy Charvel thing at the mo and I don't love it
    	but I don't hate it, it works, it sounds ok, and it *feels* nice
    	I think thats my bottom line.......
    
    
    	....and now can I please just say that in order for me to play a
    	B.C Rich it would have to feel totally awesome....yuck....
    
    
    	J

    
    	I used to love that BC Rich Mockingbird - not the Bitch.
    
    	re: Prince's guitar - yes, it sure is ugly.  But what do
    	you mean by "fake"?   Anyone who saw him rip thru the
    	solo of "Purple Rain" on Arsenio a few months ago knows
    	he really plays it !!
    
    	I'd guess that horn represents something phallic to that
    	horny dude...  ;^)
    
    	Bob, yes - it's the Wellington.  It sure looks well made!
    
    

    
    Actually, ugliest thing in the world - there's not really any argument
    on this one - is paint on an acoustic guitar.  Second ugliest is a
    cutaway on an acoustic guitar.  Unfortunately, I may have to get a
    cutaway someday, but never paint...
    
    Charlie

re: Prince's guitar in Purple Rain

I believe he has a number of these in different colours, and they're
custom made by a firm called "Cloud". The shape was stolen from a different
guitar... can't remember what.
*DC

    I hate the Steinberger and Hohner sawed-off look, whatever it's called
    (I'm too old to find the right buzz words)!  Also, I don't like the
    color of my own Ibanez bass (rosewood) but I wouldn't trade it because
    I love the action.
    
    -Ralph

    re .27 ... where to find the new Yamaha LP-like guits ...
    
    try Kurlan's. They've had a number of the Strat-like new
    Yamaha's in there and I think I remember seeing the LP
    at least once.
    
    - Dave

    re .27 and .48
    
    the Yamaha's that are LP look a likes are  called the Yamaha
    "Weddington" series.The custom has Di Marzio pick ups,5 position
    selecter for the pick ups and an ebony fretboard.It comes in a
    sun burst colour
    
    the other one(can't remember the name)has a rosewood fretboard and
    I think is just all the one colour.
     
    You can't buy these in the UK as Yamaha UK are pushing their version
    of the SG onto the public.I personally would love to get a try of one
    of the custom babies.
    
    
                                           staynz

    Speaking of Yamaha, I find the Billy Sheehan "Attitude" bass pretty
    annoying.  Mostly it's the dumb fret markers and the skull decal.
    
    Billy's original beat-to-hell Franken-fender (aka "the wife") is tres
    cool, however.

    re-1
    Agreed!
    
    staynz

    I love white guitars.  I don't have many dislikes except for
    gaudy/loud graphics.  I'm not necessarily biased toward a particular
    model, but I do love the playability, functionality, and versatility
    for my Ibanez RG550.
    
    If money (and any other restrictions) were no object, my quiver would
    consist of these:
    
    Ibanez RG550    - of course I'd keep it!  Gives me the best of all worlds.
    Gibson Les Paul - no better blues rock or HM guitar in my opinion
    Gibson ES335    - when I feel like being a jazz head or light blues
    Fender Strat    - for pop, rockabilly, or nice clean sounds
    
    Others:
    Jackson Soloist, Zion Radicaster, Taylor Electric/Acoustic
    w/Cutaway,Pearl Inlays (make 1 a 6 stringer and 1 a 12), and maybe a
    PRS Custom.
    
    That would suit me fine,
    Mike (who isn't too fussy)

    re: Rick
    
    You're absolutely right about that Yamaha Billy Sheehan bass!  My local
    store has one and I think it's butt ugly!!!
    
    I thought of another one.  I have yet to see a Tele copy guitar that
    looked right.  Seems like when other companies make Tele-like guitars
    they change the body shape a little, or put a strange headstock on them
    or something to make them ugly.  One of the worst I've seen is the
    Yamaha Pacifica Tele-like guitar, sickening!
    
    gh

    One bass I think is ugly, is the Ken Smith Burner (?) basses...
the headstock looks like a kings crown - sort of fat and ugly, and
the body is not very comfortable looking.

/J

Tom bought a beauty last night - A red Ibanez RG 565 with a maple neck 
and red dot markers, reversed headstock and the legendary Ibanez Daytona-Neck.
Nice axe.

jc

    I've only seen pictures of these in Guitar Player magazine so far,
    but I think the nicest looking guitars on the market now are the 
    two new (?) ones by Chandler.  I think they both have lipstick tube
    pickups.  Anyone played either of these?
    
    Alan

    Coop,
    
    I'vbe been looking at an RG565 in Lazer Blue...KILLER axe!!!

It *IS* a nice axe.  Does this one have blue inlays in the neck ??
Thats pretty trick me thinks - 'colored inlayez' that is...

jc (Trying to keep in line with the discussion :)

    Yup...those axes come in Black, Blue, and Red, all with matching
    headstocks/dot inlays

    
    
    IMHO, the guitar guys at Gretsch gave the White Falcon a couple of good
    wacks with the ugly stick!  If you look up gaudy in the dictionary,
    you'll see a picture of the White Falcon.
    
    Kevin
    

My $.02 worth....

o Strats should be sunburst (black is the only other reasonable choice)

o Tele's should be natural

o Les Pauls should be sunburst, although I've always wanted to own a black
  Les Paul, too. (My wine-red LP is nice looking, but nothing stunning.) I
  agree with earlier replies about Slash's LP -- beautiful!

o Probably the prettiest guitar I've seen is the one Reb Beach plays in
  Winger's "Bring On The HeartBreak" video. A gorgeous natural koa Pensa
  Suhr!

o Point headstocks are ugly for the most part (but not always).

o I like the look of those red sunburst Rickenbacker guitars, sorta cool.
  But the black and white ones looked pretty fugly.

o I don't like white guitars (even if they do look cool under the lights).

o No custom graphics, not splashy colors, none of that junk. I tend to like
  simple, understated, classy-looking guitars.

alan

    I just bought a purple body,maple neck rose wood finger board strat
    American STD. I love it.

     I never met an electric guitar that I didn't like......
    
    
    
     Except Hondo's,Kents, and a whole slew of other unplayable guitars
     because of the intonation or other totally bogus disabilities. For
    the most part , even the Fugliest guitars have a tone of there own
     and , as we all know, the tape machines are blind. Tell Jimi Hendrix
     that his off white strat is fugly, or that Japanesse business man that
     paid a quarter of a million dollars for it.
    
    

Likes:
  black or sunburst Les Pauls
  sunburst Strats (black is OK)
  natual wood finishes
  high quality cases
  24 frets clear
  most PRS guitars
  Brazillian rosewood
  abalone inlay work in moderation   

Dislikes:
  any painted acoustic guitar
  acoustic guitars with slotted heads
  cutaways on acoustic guitars
  tree-of-life style inlays
  designer rude colors
  ebony fingerboards on strats
  headless guitars
  MIDI guitars
  multiple neck guitars
  guitars with an odd number of strings
  highly visible modifications
  signs of abuse
  unusual headstocks (hockey sticks, Ls, Ys, etc.)
  custom graphics
  
Jim

    
    	Ya know,.. I keep reading how people don't like cutaways
    on acoustics. I just gotta say that a cut away is not an "aesthetic"
    thing,.. its there so you can play higher up on the neck,.. so....
    
    	Whats the point you ask? I don't know. But the next acoustic
    guitar I buy will probably have a cut away and thats that. Whether
    I like the looks or not,.. I want that functionality.
    
    	OK,..back to our regularly scheduled cut away bashing :-0
    
    							/Bill

    
    re: .65 - ya, i'm with you on this. The only real complaint I have
    about my 82 Ovation Collectors is no cut away - and since I use
    this as an electric axe most frequently, it does really limit what i
    can realistically do.  
    
    Once i almost bought and SG - it was that or a Birthday gift for my
    wife. The SG lost - maybe i ought to go find a cheap used one of those.
    It can be fugly too if the price is right.

    RE: -1
    
    ... a guitar or a wife ... ?

    A strat with an Ebony fretboard ??
    
    Never heard of such a thing...
    
    jc (With a rosewood fret board on his Strat)

    
    re: .67 - i sided with the wife.  Not sure it was the right call, I
    mean i could a dead rock-hero 86'd via dedicated substance abuse :-)

    Re:    A strat with an Ebony fretboard ??
    
    I believe the top-of-the-line strat (Strat Ultra??) has an ebony
    fretboard.
    
    Personally, I wish ALL guitars had ebony fretboards.
    
    
    Jim

    
    I used to think Teles were ugly guitars......until I saw one with a
    maple neck.  I still think Teles with rosewood fretboards are ugly.
    
    Also love that classic cherry sunburst on a Les Paul.
    
    Dave

    
      Strat Ultra = twin red Lace Sensors in bridge position
      		    blue L.S. in neck/ silver in middle
    	  	    *ebony fretboard 
    		    TBX tone control
    		    Wilkinson nut/Fender trem
    		    Flamed Maple top and back
    		    
    
    							-B()()M-

    Yo B()()M,
    
    WHERE did that node name come from?!?!?
    
    I like the flame top on Boom's Ultra...really nice!  i think I like
    that git the best out of his collection, with the silverburst Paul
    coming in a VERY close second!!
    
    
    Buck, who needs to head out to Syracuse again for a Darien Lake trip

	This is one note I couldn't resist replying to. I have always
    been into classic understated elegance such as the looks of a 1959
    Les Paul std with flamed maple top. Then there are certain models
    that are so ugly, they are actually cool. 

    Likes:

	Natural finishes over ornate wood including maple, rosewood,
	koa, etc.

	Traditional Sunburst finishes (Cherry sunburst, honey burst,
	tobacco sunburst, 2 and 3 color Fender sunburst finishes).

	Black lacquer on certain models like LP customs, Rick basses, etc.

	Gold finishes on Les Pauls (Gold-tops) and Strats (Shoreline gold).

	Bound necks and headstocks on Gibsons and similar instruments.

	Curved (as apposed to sharp) cutaways. I think curved cutaways are
	called "florentine" and sharp cutaways are called "venetian".

	62 Telecaster customs (with bound body, rosewood neck and sunburst
	finish).
	
	National resophonics with plated bodies, engraved designs, hawiaan
	motifs, etc. 

	Archtop Jazz guitars with traditional features especially Gibson
	L5's, S400's, etc.

	The new Rickenbacker TP660 models. Very sleak looks and retro
	features like checkerboard binding. 

	Tweed cases.

    Dislikes:

	Natural finishes over ugly wood. 

	Mutant body shapes (especially mutated versions of Fender designs).

	Pointy headstocks

	Guitars with Skulls, devils, demons, and other satanic images.

	Loud colors like hot pink, neon green, etc.

	Pointy headstocks and hockey-stick shaped headstocks.

	12-string guitars with huge headstocks.

	Dobros with crackly finishes, and other fugly colors like the
	puke green model with the gold-painted designs.

	Virtually any guitar with a puke-green color.	

	Bigsby Tailpieces, especially if they were gold-plated and the
	plating is worn.	

	Plastic molded guitar cases are totally unacceptable to me.


	"So Ugly they're actually Cool"

	Fender instruments with worn-torn finishes (ie: Bonny Raits old
	Strat, SRV's old Strat).

	Rickenbacker basses. Exaggerated cutaways, horseshoe pickup,
	sharktooth inlays, gotta love em.
	
	Gretch guitars with G-brand and White Falcons (King of the gaudy
	guitars).

	Reversed Firebirds

	Vitually all Danelectros especially the longhorn models

	Coral Sitar

	Mosrite Ventures models

	Hoffner Beatle bass.		

	Gibson SG's, EBO's.

    Haven't seen this mentioned... maybe I missed it.
    
    Did anybody else catch that bass guitar hanging on the wall at Daddy's
    in Shrewsbury a few weeks ago?  They told me what it was, but I don't
    recall... name started with "D" or "E," I think, and was pretty short.
    
    Color: Turquoise.
    Shape: Kinda looked like a viola or a pregnant Hofner bass or
    something.
    
    Oh, man... talk about Fugly!  Whatsis name there (Luke?) said it was
    George Jetson's old bass.  Pretty amusing.

    re: .74
    
    SG's and EBO's ugly?  Seem pretty tame to me, even understated.
    
    Dave

    I saw a tangerine colured Strat the other day and it nearly made me
    puke!
    
    
                                       Staynz

    Likes:
    
    Knopfler's Pensa Suhr (Koa or Curly Maple? Koa I think...).
    A Strat in natural Mahogany with black pick guard and gold trim.
    Understated, but very noticeable.
    Les Paul Gold Tops.
    Hank Marvin's Fiesta red Strat.
    My (dark) red strat w/ gold trim & maple neck.
    Old sunburst finishes.
    The grey metalic Clapton signature Strat.
    Natural Tele's w/ black pickguards.
    
    Dislikes:
    
    Black - unless it was all-black with maybe gold trim.
    Flashy colors (except Hank's red Strat :-)
    Graphic designs.
    Headless guitars (tuners were made to be on the top, as Leo intended)
    :-)
    Most Strat copies (body shape), especially if they have wierd
    headstocks.
    Guitars with a multitude of knobs and switches - never mind trying to
    find that elusive setting, it just *looks* cluttered.
    
    /JImi

    Likes:
    
    Headless jobs (seen the new Status Energy?)
    Natural wood finishes (quilted maple is gorgeous).
    
    Dislikes:
    
    Poxy colours - electric blue and yellow make any guitar look cheap, as
    seen in the latest Ibanez catalogue (and day-glo pink controls - barf).
    
    Strats - nice sound but boring to look at.
    
    Most of the latest Ibanez catalogue - how can one company think of so
    many variations on a strat shape?
    
    Fender precisions/jazz basses - see Strats.
    
    
    I'll just wait here and watch the flak coming. |-)
    
    Phil
    
    
    

Likes:

	Natrual Finishes to show off the wood

	Rosewood necks play nice, maple necks look nice.
	(I go for the playability)

	Minimal swtiches, cept when necessary (Like my MC400)

	Plain pickguards
	
	Some, but not too much, inlay work.

Dis-likes

	(Acoustics)

	Black Actoustics

	Lute backs (specially those horrid ovations..)

    I just can't help but notice that it seems like .78 was written by
    the "alter ego" of .79
    
    If anybody can find a guitar that both opf thes eguys like,.. its
    probably a safe bet to buy it.. :-)
    
    							/Bill
    

    Likes:
    
    Les Paul's with flame or quilted tops!
    Black LP Customs w/3 pickups (Black Beauty's)
    Explorer's with flame tops (ala Hamer!!)
    Surf green strats 
    Strats withg rosewood boards
    Tele's with maple boards
    Any Ibanez post 1988
    
    Hates:
    
    Peavey guitars pre-1991
    thin, buzzy strats
    Gibson L-5's and Mauraders
    Steinbergers
    fender amps

>    Hates:
>    Steinbergers
>    fender amps
    
    Aaarrgghhh, I'm mortally wounded......now I'm gonna have to sell that
    stuff off.  When's the 5150 bass stack coming out?  8^)  8^)
    
    						Brian

    Steinberger GUITARs and fender GUITAR amps...

    While we're on the subject, maybe I can get some opinions.  I want to
    get an Amer Std Strat sometime this spring, and the decision is mainly
    aesthetic at this point...
    
    I already have an LP in Sunburst, and I didn't want a "matching pair".
    With the Strat being more "hi-tech"-looking, I figured I'd go for a
    solid color.  
    
    I narrowed it down to the Pewter with Maple neck.  Whadda ya think?
    Should I get the rosewood for looks or stay with the maple (for looks)?
    
    I wasn't highly motivated by any other colors, and my beater is a red
    strat clone.
    \Gary

    Pewter with maple looks real nice (right Pat ?).  Mine's black with
    maple, and looks *great* when it's clean - but it's a b*tch trying to
    keep a black guitar clean.  White looks pretty sharp too ...
    
    Jerry (who'd love to have a natural finish strat ...)
    
    

Pewter ??  is that like GunMetal ??

I think Steve "Bulldawg" Dandrea had a gun metal strat that was real purty.
Maple neck too.  Perhaps Bulldawg would like to comment ??

I personally think that rosewoods are nice...
jc

    Personally, I really like the new Strats with maple fretboards.  I can
    imagine it being real pretty!  
    
    Greg

    I like rosewood board strats ... like the one in Wayne's World!!

    Yeah, I really wish I could get a natural-wood Strat without having to
    trade on up to a yuppie-strat or going to the custom shop.  I bet
    they'd sell really well, too.  
    
    The Pewter is basically a silver finish.  Guess I'll get the maple if I
    can find that combination.
    \Gary

    Gary:
    
    Your strat copy has a maple finger board, your Les Paul has (probably)
    ebony (some are rosewood).  Which FEELS better to you?  I personally
    don't like the feel of finished maple fret board.  I'd try to spend
    some time playing both, and base your decision more on the feel than
    the cosmetics.  FWIW, I have given maple a chance (I played a maple
    neck strat for 3 years), but rosewood still makes me feel more 
    comfortable.  Actually, my preference is ebony, but that's not an
    option on an American STD.
    
    Of course, if you have already tried them out, and don't have a
    preference, I must agree that maple necks look great.  They also
    (supposedly) have a bit brighter sound.  
    
    Next time you make it into the area, your welcome to try out my
    Japanese-made Fender Strat with a rosewood fretboard.
    
    A few months back, Al Nalli's in Ann Arbor had American STDs on
    sale for $499 with case.  I almost bought a pewter one, but turned
    it down since it didn't have a rosewood fretboard; in fact, all
    their strats had maple necks.  I guess it's just a case of what may
    be perfect for one person may not be right for another.
    
    Jim

    I used to have a prejudice against Maple necks until I owned one. Then
    I found it didn't make a difference to me. I figured maple was more
    slipperry thus more likely for a string to slip underneath sweaty
    fingers and go booiiing instead of bending a note a step or two.
    
    For me, it now more a matter of aesthetical preference. I play a black
    Strat with black hardware and a rosewodd neck. A maple neck on this
    guitar would look stupid IMHO. My last Strat was creme with a maple
    neck. A dark rosewood would've also looked stupid on that one.
    
    "sakman"

    re:  .91
    
    Yeah, Jim, we had this conversation when I was over the house last
    time.  You did such a good job of recommending rosewood; that's the
    only reason I'm having second thoughts at all.
    
    My LP has rosewood, the Carvin has ebony, the strat clone has the maple
    "bowling alley finish" fretboard, so I tried them all.  I figure that
    if the maple really does have a brighter sound, then that's appropriate
    for the Strat (as well as aesthetics and availability), and the
    'darker' woods with the heavier tone are more suited for the set-in and
    neck-through guits.  Everything's a trade-off and you can't have _both_
    woods, so I'll have to make a decision anyway.
    
    Thanks for the tip about the store in AA, too, and for the advice.
    Rosewood may be more playable in the long run... tough call.
                         
    Thanks,
    \Gary

    I used to hate maple necks until I played one that had a satin finish
    rather then the sticky lacquer that Fender (and others) used to use.  I
    really like maple boards now.  Of course, I also like big frets, so I
    don't really feel that much of it anyway...
    
>    For me, it now more a matter of aesthetical preference. I play a black
>    Strat with black hardware and a rosewodd neck. A maple neck on this
>    guitar would look stupid IMHO.
    
    I totally disagree!  I have a black Strat-style guitar with a black
    pickguard and black hardware and the (birdseye) maple neck looks
    *great* on it!
    
    Greg

>    Everything's a trade-off and you can't have _both_ woods, so I'll have
>    to make a decision anyway.

    Not to be obnoxious or anything, but you *can* have both...not saying
    you'd *want* it...

    I saw a video of the band Warrant awhile back and one guy was playing a
    guitar that had a rosewood and maple fretboard.  It was split
    diagonally and one wedge was a light rosewood and the other maple. 
    Looked cool!

    Greg

How about a maple neck with Rosewood and ebony inlays !?!?!?!?

Might be tres-cool !!

jc

    Re:   .93
    
    Sorry to beat a dead horse, Gary.  I had forgotten we discussed it
    previously.  I certainly don't have anything against maple; my fingers
    are just happier on an unfinished fingerboard.
    
    Around Detroit these days, the best deal for an Am Std is $599.  I
    guess list is up to $850.  Let me know if you can find anything
    better... I might be interested, too  (Make mine black with a
    rosewood fretboard).  
    
    Jim

    Well, I really like a maple finger board on a Fender. My Strat has a
    rosewood board which plays well but if I had had a choice I'd have
    gotten a maple. Actually I bought it used and got a deal I couldn't
    refuse so rosewood was Ok. 
    
    This discussion begs the question: Given that fenders have bolt on
    necks, how interchangeable are they really? If I'd really rather have
    a maple neck is it feasible to consider a neck swap with someone who
    is dying for a rosewood neck? I imagine there have been variations from
    time to time of neck radius etc in the strat line. What hazards might
    there be in doing something like this?
    
    thanks,
    
    jim

re: .-1

FWIW, I've never had *any* problem swapping necks on Fender (and Squier)
basses. 

By current Squier P-bass body has had:

o A Squier Bullet Bass Neck
o A Squier Precision Bass Neck
o A Fender (Japan) Jazz Bass Special neck

I've never had *any* problems with any of the necks. 

I swapped on the Bullet neck, 'cuz it was (and still is) 
my favorite bass neck. *But* combined with the basswood 
body, it didn't have enough bottom. I swapped the P-neck
for the J-neck since the J is a little easier for me to 
play. 

I'd assume guitar necks are pretty interchangeable.

    re: -2
    
    I wouldn't expect any problem on strats of the same general vintage.
    
    I have an early 70's Precision neck on my '68 Telecaster bass.  I
    had to route out the body slightly to accomodate the curve at the
    end of the fretboard  (Precision neck is rounded at the end, while
    the Tele neck is straight).
    
    Jim

RE: .98

A friend of mine has a Strat with a Tele neck on it.  Seems to work just fine.

-Hal

RE: Neck swops.

Yep, when I bought my strat, I chose the colour I wanted, then played around 
on the rest in the shop to find the neck I prefered, I then bought the 
combination. I have had no problems apart from 1/2 inch movement left to right,
strings going out of tune due to sloppy fit, and the occasional neck screw 
falling out .......................

.........No seriously, it's played well for 15 years.  One point which would 
limit changes would be swopping a 3 screw for a 4 screw neck (obviously).

Since it is the neck shoulder which takes the screws, I would imagine different
neck contours could easily be swopped as well.                -------


Dave