Autographs and more

[fronobulax]

Since autographed instruments are a perennial topic and generally considered vandalism, at least when someone we have never heard about autographs a Guild, I present the attached article for your consideration.

It describes a charity auction which will happen soon and mentions instruments autographed by Taylor Swift and Joni Mitchell.

Good Company: Gantri Pioneers Lighting With 3-D Printing

Good Company: Gantri Pioneers Lighting With 3-D Printing

www.barrons.com

 

[Midnight Toker]

"generally considered vandalism"?? By whom? A few Guild überfans? Are artists breaking into music stores at night and taking a sharpie to guitars on the walls?

 

[fronobulax]

"generally considered vandalism"?? By whom? A few Guild überfans? Are artists breaking into music stores at night and taking a sharpie to guitars on the walls?

You need to consider the entire comment in the context of LTG. And I am comfortable in saying that most of the comments on LTG concerning autographed instruments are negative. Defacing an otherwise fine instrument or overpriced or both. Feel free to search for "sharpie" or "autograph" and note how often the question is how to remove the autograph. Alternative opinions have been occasionally expressed but they tend to be politely ignored or require a Moderator to intervene.

 

[Midnight Toker]

That's all fine, even in context to to LTG. But by definition, it's still not "vanadalism", which is the complete opposite of owner consent. An unfortunate occurance, sure.

 

[GAD]

Pedantics aside, many people consider an autographing a guitar to be practically a crime.

 

[davismanLV]

Yes. BY DEFINITION it is not vandalism if there is owner consent. For people who constantly and critically dissect peoples words and meanings, you can't suddenly just gloss over it for your own benefit. Also, be careful with insults.

"Pedantic is an insulting word used to describe someone who annoys others by correcting small errors, caring too much about minor details, or emphasizing their own expertise especially in some narrow or boring subject matter."

Now you've been moderated. You're welcome!!

 

[Guildedagain]

Why does pedant not relate to some kind of footwork?

 

[adorshki]

Why does pedant not relate to some kind of footwork?

"Ped"= youth
"Pod"= foot
"Pedant"= prepubescent insect.

 

[GAD]

Yes. BY DEFINITION it is not vandalism if there is owner consent. For people who constantly and critically dissect peoples words and meanings, you can't suddenly just gloss over it for your own benefit. Also, be careful with insults.

"Pedantic is an insulting word used to describe someone who annoys others by correcting small errors, caring too much about minor details, or emphasizing their own expertise especially in some narrow or boring subject matter."

Now you've been moderated. You're welcome!!

Frono used the term vandalism perhaps with a bit of hyperbole (Assumption on my part). Instead of talking about the topic of the thread we’re engaging in a seemingly heated discussion about the meaning of a word used in his post. Is that not, by the very nature of the definition you posted, pedantic?

 

[GAD]

Perhaps semantics would be less insulting. If so, then lets go with that.

 

[fronobulax]

That's all fine, even in context to to LTG. But by definition, it's still not "vanadalism", which is the complete opposite of owner consent. An unfortunate occurance, sure.

You certainly missed an opportunity to explain that your concern was language and not the idea. I will note that the legal definition of vandalism includes a reference to someone else's property but several dictionary definitions just refer to property damage without regard to ownership. If I owned the original Mona Lisa painting and added a moustache with a sharpie to my painting that would be idiomatically referred to as an act of vandalism.

That said, if I had realized we were going to dissect my language usage to this extent, I would have used the word "defaced" which, AFAIK does not make any claims about the ownership or the doer of the deed.

 

[Default]

So, if I spray paint a boat in Venice, and pole it through the canals, is it a "vandola"?

 

[Bill Ashton]

I think, and admittedly with too much wine onboard, that vandalism may have been the wrong word. But I agreed that to some extent we Guild fanatics consider all Guild guitars our Guild guitars, which as much as I subscribe to is really not the case.

I think perhaps the Taylor-person had done this particularly because she knows the "Swiftie" market and how much that piece could actually raise. As to the Joannie Mitchell piece, if there was some provenance that the guitar had actually been used by her, its sale estimate would be much higher...what does a Hummingbird go for now? Actually could be a buy!...note how a painting actually done by her reaches much higher.
The mind boggles at what a Martin she played in the late 60's could auction for, especially if she said "Yeah, that's my guitar..."

 

[Guildedagain]

I've never wanted an autograph on a guitar, and take a generally dim view of autographed guitars. Even further, I never wanted to own/play a "signature" model with actually fascsimile of signature on headstock because it is tacky and I don't adhere to that kind of star reverence and marketing gimmicks.

 

[steve488]

As much as I would hate to see an instrument "defaced" , I think the part of the issue is what the viewer / reader considers as the "valuable asset". Collectively we value the instruments but there are those who see the value in the autograph more that what that autograph is on.

 

[GAD]

I've never wanted an autograph on a guitar, and take a generally dim view of autographed guitars. Even further, I never wanted to own/play a "signature" model with actually fascsimile of signature on headstock because it is tacky and I don't adhere to that kind of star reverence and marketing gimmicks.

Yeah those Les Pauls sure are tacky.

 

[Bill Ashton]

I have a Telecaster pick guard, which I have had signed by Bill Kirchen, "Commander Cody," Albert Lee, John Jennings, Duke Levine, and Jim Wieder. That I can put in a frame and mount on the wall. With the exception of the Commander, Telecaster players all, they were happy to do it for a brother Tele-player, no guitars were defaced in this exercise, and it will not go on eBay...does Taylor Swift even play guitar any more? Cannot think of a time I saw Joannie Mitchell with a Gibson Hummingbird...

 

[mushroom]

What gets me confused about signed guitars is the sale price.

If guitar has a value of 1 and the signature has a value of 1 the sale price is often way higher than 2??

 

[wileypickett]

What gets me confused is "Joni" being spelled "Joannie."

 

[fronobulax]

I think, and admittedly with too much wine onboard, that vandalism may have been the wrong word.

Prior to this conversation I would have said "deface" and "vandalism" were synonyms. I won't do that again if I think about it.