Investing in electric guitars
Most of us can only dream of playing an electric guitar as well as some of the greats: Brian May, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Satriani, Mark Knopfler... let alone owning one of those exquisite Ibanezes, Fenders, or Gibsons.
But if you're going to invest your hard-earned money in something - shares, a car, a house - why not think about investing in a dream?
Musical instruments - either vintage, or just really good quality brands - can make a very valuable investment. Many people immediately think classically - pianos, cellos, harps, or violins - when considering investment instruments, but the ever-changing rock and metal era has made the electric guitar an exciting and highly coveted prize. Just for example, a 1954 Fender Stratocaster can sell for more than $75 000! Strats made prior to 1965, when a change in management impacted on the quality of the guitars, are highly sought after.
And investment guitars have one great advantage over a massive item like a grand piano. They're portable. When you leave your home to go on holiday, you can simply lock your guitar collection in a fire-proof safe either at a bank or even in your home.
Well, it's a thought. But the real purpose of this lens is simply to drool over the most exquisite guitars in the world, and to acknowledge the awesome talent of some of the best players. Enjoy!
(I still have a lot of work to do on this lens - so check back for updates!)
(Photograph by Alasdair Ferguson)
The Fender and Gibson Lenses
Brian May and The Red Special
He couldn't afford the type of guitar he wanted and he was concerned that the particular tremolo arm in fashion at the time meant that some guitars had a tendency to bow at the neck.
He was also determined to create a frictionless pivoting mechanism to return the tremolo to the exact position each time.
Brian May talks about creating his own guitar
Inspired? Want to try your hand at making your own?
Music of Queen
Great gift ideas
Best of Queen Transcribed Score - detailed transcriptions of 15 Queen classics, including Bohemian Rhapsody
The Best of Queen for Guitar - 19 simplified classics
Queen Deluxe Anthology - Piano/Vocal/Guitar Artist Songbook of 30 Queen hits
More about Brian May
Ibanez and Joe Satriani
New Yorker Joe Satriani began studying guitar as a jazz instrument, relishing the highly technical requirements of this genre. This he translated and adapted into the instrumental rock and metal sounds he favoured later.Satriani's most popular and successful album is The Extremist released in 1992. Satriani has released two albums in 2006 - Super Colossal and a live album due out at the end of October.
In 1996 Joe Satriani formed an instrumental guitar concert group called G3 with former student Steve Vai, and a guest spot which has been filled by Eric Johnson, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Robert Fripp, and Patrick Rondat, to name a few.On the Ibanez guitar, Joe says:
"I wanted a guitar with a modern sound, but with a vintage feel, with smaller frets and more radius on the fingerboard. It had to be subtle enough to catch nuances, fast and easy to play."
-- Joe Satriani in Ibanez - The Untold Story
(Photograph right above by James Debski)
Ibanez JS1200 Joe Satriani Electric Guitar (with Case) (pictured)
Ibanez JS1000 Joe Satriani Electric Guitar (with Case)
Learn Joe Satriani's secrets
Joe Satriani Guitar Secrets - collection of articles and tips from Satriani's magazine columns
Jam with Joe Satriani - learn eight tracks note for note, then jam with a professional session band. The accompanying CD is split into two sections: backing tracks minus lead guitar, and backing tracks with all guitar parts included, so players can hear the rhythm, fills and solos exactly as they should be played.
Joe Satriani Anthology - transcriptions with tab for 29 Satriani favourites
Joe Satriani's latest album
Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock
More of Satch
Ibanez and Steve Vai
Steve Vai was also born in New York, and studied the guitar under Joe Satriani - eventually joining his teacher on gigs.Like Satriani, Vai also favours guitars made by Ibanez, and followed suit in consulting with them on the design of a Steve Vai range.
One of the most popular Steve Vai Ibanez guitars is the JEM77B, with its "Rock Mirror" finish and matching mirror pickguard. The new model also features the signature JEM appointments of a "Monkey Grip" handle carved into the basswood body and a scooped tremolo cavity so pitches can be raised as well as lowered with the tremolo arm.Innovations from the guitars created by Steve and Ibanez designers can be found in so many of their instruments, from pro through to entry level. Then there's Steve Vai's Universe, the guitar that ignited the 7-string revolution in rock.
The debut of the Steve Vai's JEM in 1987 and the introduction of his Universe 7-string changed everything. The contoured basswood body with 24-fret Prestige JEM neck provides easy access to all registers. The deep routed tremolo cavity allows pitches to be lowered or raised. Vai's choice of specific DiMarzio pickups, combined with Ibanez Split-5 wiring, provide incredible tonal versatility. Steve Vai's Universe allows almost effortless transition from 6- to 7-string techniques.
(Photograph right above by Tobias Baldauf)
Ibanez JEM77B Steve Vai Bad Horsie Electric Guitar (pictured)
Ibanez JEM7V Steve Vai Jem Electric Guitar
Ibanez UV777 Steve Vai 7-String Jem Electric Guitar
More Steve Vai
Bargain Ibanez guitars for tighter budgets
Ibanez GRX20Z Electric Guitar - $ 150.00 (pictured) Now you can turn your back on traditional budget guitars that only feature single coils, boring finishes, and a bogus name on the headstock. The GRX has humbuckers for solid leads, metallic finishes, and every one is set up with the same stringent standards as the most expensive instruments from Ibanez. That's why it proudly says "Ibanez" and not "by Ibanez" on the headstock.
Ibanez GAX30 Electric Guitar - $ 150.00
AX and GAX guitars have everything you need (and nothing you don't) for heavy-duty modern rhythm and lead playing: 2 humbuckers, a 3-way switch, and a crystal cut body of Mahogany or Agathis. Ibanez' GAX guitars started out as the best selling inexpensive Ibanez guitars in their history -- now they're one of the best selling guitars of any kind in the world.
Ibanez GSZ120 Electric Guitar - $ 199.00
Evolution doesn't have to mean more complicated. The GSZ has evolved into an even simpler instrument than its famous S ancestor. The comfortable, slim, poplar body is there. The GSZ also features a simple fixed bridge and a 25.1 scale neck that has a different feel than the S guitar's 25.5 scale.
Ibanez - looking for something a little different?
Ibanez is offering a limited edition RG model for 2006 in 3 very unusual wood finish formats. One features a "burnt" or "barbecued" motif while the other two feature Flame Maple tops with alternating types of jigsaw top inlays.The RG guitar line is very popular in the hard rock genre, with the specific pickup placement providing the sought after hard-edged tone.
Ibanez RG2006 Prestige Limited Edition Electric Guitar $ 1800.00 (pictured)
Ibanez RGT220A Prestige Electric Guitar (with Case) $ 1500.00
Ibanez RGA321F Prestige Flame Top Electric Guitar (with Case) $ 1450.00
Ibanez RGT320Q Prestige Quilt Top Electric Guitar (with Case) $ 1999.00
Collectible Guitars on eBay
More guitar reading
by daoine
Fiction Writing and Creativity editor for BellaOnline.com and the owner of hearwritenow.com
Elsa Neal is a writer living in Melbourne, Australia. She...
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