Flashy or understated?

[jono]

Assuming we're talking about effectively the same guitar finished to perfection with tone and playability to die for...

Would you rather have it in a flashy finish, (be that AAAAA tubular quilt with multi stain burst finish or Universe MC PAW swirl, whatever you consider "flashy") with flashy (vine, birds, pyramids) inlays , or an understated black or dark blue with plain rosewood board and dot inlays?

[Myst and rain]

Understated, for me. Flashy guitars are wonderful, but for a player I prefer an understated look. Something that I won't grow tired of in time, but will remain appealing to me.

Like the Andy Timmons model and the RG1527, for instance. Also, I think the JEM77BRMR is one of the nicest JEMs. And it's perhaps one of the more sober JEMs made.

Alwin

[JJEMMER777]

~Flashy all the way for me!! Dot's are boring and uninspiring

Originally Posted by Myst and rain

I think the JEM77BRMR is one of the nicest JEMs. And it's perhaps one of the more sober JEMs made.

Sober???? Don't make me post flashy MR pics, Myst

[CosmicDebris]

Understated, would rather let my notes catch someones ear than my guitar catch their eye.

[DEADTUNES666]

Flashy, and more flashy

[TequilaKing]

I never thought of a lucious maple top as being 'flashy'! When I think of 'flashy' I think of neon pink and shark inlays.

But if that's the case I'd have to go with flashy (but not neon pink and fancy inlays - just give me a quilted maple top in a nice vintage amber )

[Wild_Child]

I voted flashy, even though I prefer my guitars to be fairly basic.

For me, the flash all comes with the extras that have no effect on the guitar! A nice 5A quilted top, sunburst to transparent finish. None more black ebony board with the pearliest of pearly offset inlays. Mmmmmm....

[HeavyMetal4Ever]

I like features like binding, matching headstocks and non dot inlays, so, flashy all the way.

Bring tha bling baby!

Rock on!

[twooos]

Flashy

[DEADTUNES666]

The thing about flashy is that right away I think "this guy better bring it", that's the only drawback for me. If you talk the talk, walk the walk...Having said that I am a flashy guitar owner/player. Flashy to me also includes country players with bright colored guitars or the pink paisley fender thing they use. Quilt or flamed is not necessarily flashy by itself but a nice trans purple burst on top of it could be

[TheOrangeChannel]

Understated. It's more professional and classy. Show up to a session with sharkteeth and you're getting handed the house strat.

[Dee]

It's hard for me to vote. I like somewhere between flashy and understated. I don't want a boring guitar, as in rosewood board and plain dots, but I don't want a flashy one either. There's ways to be interesting and tasteful yet still remain understated. For example, a rosewood board with the dots offset along the top = simple change to the format but looks better than dots up the centre. And if we take the headstock into account, this could also make it interesting. I would prefer an Ibanez neck with offset dots on a rosewood board and a reverse headstock than one with a regular (probably non-matched) headstock and dots up the centre.

So, same ingredients used, but one neck uses them with slightly more imagination. This makes all the difference.

Again, I find it hard to vote on the poll. I'd rather have a JEM VWH with black hardware and no paint on it than a fresh one off the shelf, if that tells you anything.

The RG550 is a good blend between flash and functionality, and this happens to be my choice for main guitar since 1987.

[DEADTUNES666]

Originally Posted by TheOrangeChannel

Understated. It's more professional and classy. Show up to a session with sharkteeth and you're getting handed the house strat.

Let me ask you...My main guitar is an "88" 77fp. IMHO that is first and foremost flashy, yet I feel it also is quite classy...I am curious what you, or anyone thinks.
Thanks

[waylay00]

Does understated necessarily have to mean "black or dark blue"?

What about an "understated" guitar in candy apple red, tobacco sunburst, or white?

[andy7jem]

I like a kind of understated flashiness!!