The image we want to project and how we want to be perceived is extremely powerful in life. And it is reflected in music and the instruments we play. Already, you see how image plays a huge part in music. Your association with a genre of music says a lot about you, and many people accept or reject something based on the perception and image it projects rather than the actual love or appreciation of the music.
The same goes for the instruments we play. Take for example guitars. Big hollow bodies like a Gibson L5 or a semi-hollow like a ES-335 just give the image of jazz. So jazz musicians gravitate towards these. Can a good solid-body electric with the right pickups, EQ, amp, and speakers deliver similar results? Yes! But do artists use different guitars for jazz? Not really. Both the audience and performer are affected by image.
Years ago, Andy Summers in an interview discussed his works and performance with Ban Verdery. I can't quite find that article, but essentially he said:
Note how each guitar type fits the image of the music he is making. There's absolutely no doubt that with the technology today, you can replicate these tones with only one guitar. But it doesn't fit the IMAGE that the music is associated with. And this also affects the performer. If they don't feel comfortable, the music won't be good. But notice it has NOTHING to do with the actual sound, tone, or playability of the guitar. It is the VISUAL IMAGE it projects that is prominent.
Fast forward to today's music in 2022. The Gen Z young crowd tends to play Fender. The old boomer crowd plays Gibson. This is due to marketing and image. The Gibson Les Paul is marketed to an older, vintage, blues/rock crowd and the signature artists are all over 50. This is "Dad" rock to the younger generation. They don't want to be associated with this image. Fender has done a much better job associating their models with younger artists and hence the image of a Strat, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, etc. is preferred for the Gen Z ers. It is powerful how people choose their guitars based on image -- not on sound, playability, etc. I can understand if you simply don't like the look of the guitar -- maybe it's too pointy, too unwieldy, too small or large. But note how many people don't like something because it projects an image that is associated with something they don't like. This is the power of marketing and image.
The same goes for the instruments we play. Take for example guitars. Big hollow bodies like a Gibson L5 or a semi-hollow like a ES-335 just give the image of jazz. So jazz musicians gravitate towards these. Can a good solid-body electric with the right pickups, EQ, amp, and speakers deliver similar results? Yes! But do artists use different guitars for jazz? Not really. Both the audience and performer are affected by image.
Years ago, Andy Summers in an interview discussed his works and performance with Ban Verdery. I can't quite find that article, but essentially he said:
- Uses his Klein electric for modern music
- Uses the ES-335 for jazz
- Uses the Tele for rock (The Police)
Note how each guitar type fits the image of the music he is making. There's absolutely no doubt that with the technology today, you can replicate these tones with only one guitar. But it doesn't fit the IMAGE that the music is associated with. And this also affects the performer. If they don't feel comfortable, the music won't be good. But notice it has NOTHING to do with the actual sound, tone, or playability of the guitar. It is the VISUAL IMAGE it projects that is prominent.
Fast forward to today's music in 2022. The Gen Z young crowd tends to play Fender. The old boomer crowd plays Gibson. This is due to marketing and image. The Gibson Les Paul is marketed to an older, vintage, blues/rock crowd and the signature artists are all over 50. This is "Dad" rock to the younger generation. They don't want to be associated with this image. Fender has done a much better job associating their models with younger artists and hence the image of a Strat, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, etc. is preferred for the Gen Z ers. It is powerful how people choose their guitars based on image -- not on sound, playability, etc. I can understand if you simply don't like the look of the guitar -- maybe it's too pointy, too unwieldy, too small or large. But note how many people don't like something because it projects an image that is associated with something they don't like. This is the power of marketing and image.
