Its all these huge endorsement deals.. I realy wonder how much they actualy make from an endorsment.. I heared it was just because of a better endorsment returns EVH actualy left Ernie Ball and went to Peavy... As Peavy could produce much mor guitars then Ernie Ball in the same given time frame.
I am pretty sure endorsements help artist to make out quick big bucks. Also, its an open secret that the guitar which they use are carefully and specially made as per artist's requirement and the guitar being endorsed (signature) are not severely same as these artist's guitar(s).
Without endorsements Steve Vai and Satriani would be teaching guitar in Bangalore School Of Music...With them selling 20 copies of each albums, there's no way, they can survive a celebrity life style...They will end up buying cheap guitars in eBay..
The problem just does not end here... The guitars that these artist uses are definitly handmade...and made by a master Luithier if not built by a person who is actualy not even employed by the BIG BRANDs. And the guitars available in the stores endorsed by these guys as thier signature model, though built well, with good quality standards and parts just have their specifications and are probably machine made....nothing wrong with a machine made guitar...But a hand made guitar speaks for it self. Its just very sad that a kid goers out and buys these guitars thinking he is playing the same guitar that his Hero is using.
Hand made guitars need not be great. The human error can cause a lot of flaws. I believe a machine / hand hybird would be the best.
but then would nt a hand made guitar made for VAi or Van Halen ext.. undergo a lot of quality cheaks ? When i am talking of hand made I do mean using a overhead router to cut the body.. and power tools togo about the job...
They have distict impedance, tone and sound. Visually speaking - The EMG 81 has the EMG written in Gold Letters and the EMG 85 is in Silver (or the other way round) - would need to see my Les Paul to see which is which - If you buy the ZW set from EMG (www.emginc.com) then both the pickups are in there - distictly labelled beneath - 81 or 85. Hope this helps!
Im thinking of getting a guitar made by tulsi with emg 85 in the neck and 81 in the bridge,and an ibanez Edge Vibrato............plz advise