Autographed Jems

seiisa · #1 05-22-2007, 06:37 PM

Does having Steve Vai's autograph on a Jem make a change the guitar's value?

Gudster · #2 05-22-2007, 06:44 PM

Maybe if you like Steve Vai.

If you are president of the "We hate Steve Vai club", then probably not.

MALAM · #3 05-22-2007, 07:48 PM

I personally wouldn't buy a Jem with Steve Vai's signature on..I've never been one for getting excited over a signature.

If you're asking if Vai's autograph would increase the value of a Jem, then I'd say no...There are too many signed Jems/RGS/Whatevers out there for them to be worth any more- and there are a lot of forged signatures too...

Personally I'd pay less for a Jem which had been signed by Vai. Mainly because there's the risk that removing it may result in a damaged finish...

Oh, and Neville is the excpetion before anybody says anything

musicman10_1 · #4 05-22-2007, 08:33 PM

I never understood getting the body of a guitar signed. Why not get the person to sign the trem plate which can be removed and replaced for normal playing? Or maybe the back of the headstock?

my .02

BozTheK · #5 05-22-2007, 08:36 PM

^or the pickguard, so you just remove it or replace it

rickcard71 · #6 05-22-2007, 08:39 PM

I would pay less for it! Hate autographs.

Lord Lemons · #7 05-22-2007, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicman10_1

I never understood getting the body of a guitar signed. Why not get the person to sign the trem plate which can be removed and replaced for normal playing? Or maybe the back of the headstock?

my .02

Agreed. It completely ruins a guitar.

Jem#5150 · #8 05-22-2007, 10:22 PM

i dunno. i think it only raises the value of the guitar to the person who it belongs to. it's more of a satisfaction sort of thing for me. i saw steve sign my UV months before i even bought it, while i was still dreaming of having one, so it means that to me, but if i were to sell it, it would mean nothing to the buyer.

supermau · #9 05-22-2007, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musicman10_1

I never understood getting the body of a guitar signed. Why not get the person to sign the trem plate which can be removed and replaced for normal playing? Or maybe the back of the headstock?

my .02

Agreed. Dumbass thing to do. I'd get my tremplate signed though, what the hell...

**GilkyBear** · #10 05-23-2007, 03:04 AM

Agreed, trem plate is great, back of the headstock is OK too but not the body. Unless of course it's LNG

S-man · #11 05-23-2007, 03:29 AM

Tremplate is cool...but nothing else. JMO.

KeithH · #12 05-23-2007, 03:43 AM

But if you get a tremplate signed, its not really the same , is it ?

I went to an EVO in 2005 and took my lefty RG2550, asked steve to sign it which he duly did, without having to be asked, right on the back of the headstock, and it looks cool, and a great souvenir of the day. I asked for a pic, and in my hand in the pic is my axe, so ive always got proof its an original.

Not that I would ever sell my axe though, I didnt ask for it to be signed for commercial money making reasons, just cos I'm a big fan.

Taking my lefty555 to be signed this time !

People buying them from **** just "because" they have been signed though, no way. I cant see anyone paying more for that, I certainly wouldnt. A signature is only a souvenir, so someone elses souvenir is like someone else's wedding photos, worthless to anyone else.

On holiday in Vegas last year, I saw a music memorabilia shop, with framed signed led zep covers, etc. There was a dave lee roth one and they wanted about $1500 for it, and a framed diver down vinyl album, $2000 ! signed by eddie and dave. Robbing bastards, I dont know why anyone would pay that.

I remember once steve said some guy asked him to sign a guitar outside a gig (a really cheap telecaster copy), so he did, then the guy produced another, he signed that, then another, Steve asked "why so many guitars to be signed?" the guy said "im putting them on ****", Steve just put his pen back in his pocket and walked away, artists dont like their signatures to be used commercially like that. For a fan, sure he will sign, but they dont like people taking the piss.

I dont think the artists that signed the album covers in the vegas store would be very pleased either if they knew they were being sold off at $2000 in a store. Thats why some dont sign any more.

Eco · #13 05-23-2007, 05:26 AM

After a Satriani gig in 2003 in manchester, people were outside with guitars waiting for them to be signed, but he explained he wouldnt sign them because of dealers who were bringing them to his shows, getting them signed then adding an extra £100 onto the price.

Not sure if he keeps the same policy to this day, he agreed to sign just about everything else, just not peoples guitars.

KeithH · #14 05-23-2007, 06:00 AM

I wonder if you asked him to sign your guitar whilst at the "platinum Q&A" session ? He may be a bit more accomodating when hes got your $325 in his pocket ! Not being cynical or anything, just seems Joe is a tad more mercenary than our Mr Vai about these things.

Besides, I dont think my lefty RG2550 is really a hot thing to sell, I bet I would get next to nothing for it even signed by steve, but to me, its priceless.

Tremplates are a waste of time though, if he has only signed that, hes not even signed the guitar, theres no point, you may as well get a bubblegum wrapper signed and stick that in the cavity.

I dont really think it makes a guitar valuable, or more sellable, to be signed, but its a great way souvenir of meeting your hero, and it gives me a warm glow every time I see it when strapping my axe on.