larryp58 Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 Over the years, I've seen many nice instruments autographed by famous musicians. Guitars, mandolins, banjos, and various body parts. Does this increase the value of the instrument, or does it ruin it? Personally, I couldn't think of anyone putting a Sharpie on any Gibson of mine. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry_lee Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 my J-45? um... no thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Layla Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 Increase value, Yes, if your Willie Nelson whose guitar will end up in the Smithsonian Museum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted May 16, 2009 Share Posted May 16, 2009 Depends on the signature. A guitar signed by the Beatles will be worth a pretty penny these days. I would have loved to have had say Ted McCarty sign my Gibson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballcorner Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 Really, an autographed guitar is about the signature, not the guitar. I have seen really cheap Asian strats signed by Stevie Ray Vaughn, for example, that sell for almost as much as the signed US made strats he was kind enough to autograph. Of course, a less revered player's signature will bring the guitar's legitimate value more into focus - but the real bottom line in all of this is whether the guitar was ever played by the musician involved. If the guy steps off the stage and signs his own guitar and then gives it to a fan - well, then you have something really valuable. I would never personally take a good guitar around and have people sign it. I would especially never take a cheap guitar around to have it signed. The one exception to the first rule would be Tommy Emmanuel - if, by some twist of fate, I was able to have him sit in my guitar room and play a few instruments I think I would get him to autograph the one he played the most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fenno Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 It really does depends on whose signature it is. I mean, look at that red Strat Stevie Ray Vaughan got Mickey Mantle to sign. I don't even wanna know how much that thing would fetch today. =D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted May 17, 2009 Share Posted May 17, 2009 I concur with Townes Van Zandt on this one. When approached after a show by a fan brandishing a guitar which he asked Townes to sign, Townes replied "Now why on earth would you want me to go writin' all over a perfectly good guitar? No way!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jannusguy Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 the only signature i would want, or allow, on my guitar is ren ferguson's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibson101 Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 the only signature i would want' date=' or allow, on my guitar is ren ferguson's.[/quote'] GREAT answer!!! That's one I'd love to have!!! I've got a couple Martin GE's signed by CFM IV and I'd be lying if I didn't think it was cool! With Ren's signature you'd think you were guaranteed a great guitar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vourot Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 A friend of mine got his SG signed by Slash a long long time ago. He put clear packing tape over it to preserve it.( the signature) I thought it looked terrible.It was a nice SG standard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 Last December, I took my 13 year old son into NYC to see Les Paul at his Monday night Iridium gig. (I go in about every 5 years on the theory that he's not gonna last much longer. But at 93 -- 94 next month -- he still plays two sets every Monday night). After the show, we got in line to get Les's autograph. Behind us was a fellow who had recently picked up an old guitar for "almost nothing" at a tag sale and he wanted Les to autograph it. I asked him if I could see the guitar. It was a 1962 Les Paul custom in very fine, all original condition. This was the first full year for the Custom to take on what would later be called the SG body shape. Not exactly a 1959 'burst, but a valuable guitar. While we were standing there, another fellow in line offered to go out and get the guy $20,000 in cash (how he was gonna get that much cash at 11:30 at night i have no idea) and pay for the guitar right there. The guitar's owner resisted the offer after I and others encouraged him to get the guitar appraised by a well known dealer. I also talked him into not having Les autograph the guitar. My son and I had bought Les Paul pickguards to have Les autograph and I gave the fellow mine so that he'd have something nice for Les to sign. My son snapped this pic of me (I really did open my eyes at some point and look at the guitar) as I inspected the guitar while standing in line: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jchabalk Posted May 18, 2009 Share Posted May 18, 2009 +1 on Ren!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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