I miss the "swoosh"

**jono** · #1 02-25-2003, 06:36 PM

The increase in the number of guitars bearing the "prestige" title this year has been welcomed by most if not all of the folks here, made especially welcome as there's been no real increase in price

However, I miss the "swoosh" that used to sit under the Ibanez logo on the guitars' headstocks. It's still there on the JEMs and JSs but it's now gone from the regular lineup.

I think it was an integral part of the brand identity and to be honest I don't find the simple "prestige" script anywhere near as prestigious as the logo displayed on the old lineup.

Thanks in advance.

EKG · #2 02-25-2003, 06:47 PM

I've always liked the swoosh. But the headstock shape is just as easy to identify, I guess ;-)

dex_ibanez · #3 02-25-2003, 07:27 PM

i love the swoosh too.....i even made one out since my guitar didn't have one.......

so now it has a nice new logo with the swoosh...

mike777 · #4 02-27-2003, 02:40 PM

I agree. I figured that as much as I loved it, I thought that maybe one day it might appear dated after a while. That never became true for me. It works well-especially with the font used in their name. It fills up the headstock nicely without being overpowering. Oddly enough, I still feel that the prestige logo without the checkmark (swoosh) looks naked and either like an older model or a cheaper RX or something. It's fine on split headstocks but the swoosh/checkmark logo really looks great on the inline headstocks.

Mike 777 Haug

earthman · #5 02-28-2003, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike777

the swoosh/checkmark logo really looks great on the inline headstocks.

Mike 777 Haug

especially on reverse headstocks, where the word "ibanez" becomes horizontal.

mmm... reverse headstocks... ;-)

cheers,
--c.

gkelm · #6 02-28-2003, 09:27 AM

An abalone swoosh on a Prestige. Mmmm.

Greg

darren wilson · #7 02-28-2003, 10:39 AM

Meh.

I can live without the swoosh. Swooshes are so overdone. Every company that did an identity design project in the '90s wanted a swoosh in there somewhere.

I don't recall the swoosh being used prior to the mid-80s Pro Line series. Even the early Destroyer series that had the same inline headstock didn't have the swoosh/checkmark until that point.

I say just get rid of it. It's been done. It doesn't really contribute to the integrity of the visual identity.

VanWyck · #8 02-28-2003, 11:45 AM

I like the Swoosh - it does a great job of accentuating the already identifiable headstock.

An abalone swoosh would look incredible on the right guitar. I'm keeping this in mind when I have my custom JEM made. Thanks Greg.

darren wilson · #9 02-28-2003, 01:29 PM

If you're close enough to the headstock to see the swoosh, you're close enough to read the word "Ibanez".

The Eristic · #10 03-01-2003, 12:52 AM

I like the elegance of the "Prestige" on my headstock more than I would like the swoosh. The swoosh is cool and all as a general decoration, but it's not the kind of thing I feel is really classy or particularly appealing to the more "upscale" crowd at which the Prestige line is aimed (other than Ibanez collectors). It was just kinda there. Maybe if they did it in abalone or paua, my opinion could be changed...

caprile · #11 03-07-2003, 09:52 AM

I like the swoosh-less headtsocks....but not on MOST guitars.....what's the point of an instrument being Prestige (or 'custom', 'deluxe' or whatever name a company uses to designate its upscale models), if most guitars are?

evil01ws6 · #12 03-09-2003, 12:03 AM

Sounds like a good question for Enzo Ferrari

BucketBot · #13 03-09-2003, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darren wilson

I can live without the swoosh.

Agreed. Without it,I feel, makes the guitars a little more "classy".

germX · #14 03-11-2003, 01:33 AM

i'm with the swoosh on RG/ S guitars. it's recognition- if the guitar has a certain class/ authority to it, it'll be just that, even with the swoosh in tact. eg: JEM

Jaysen · #15 03-11-2003, 04:13 AM

I'm pro-shwoosh. It's beautiful. I can look at pictures of headstocks and get slightly high - no really, I'm not being funny.

Visions and feelings of lamborginis, the universe, elves and fantastic astral waterfalls with cool breezes blowing are conjured-up, many of the times I look at them (especially at BFP, FP and the black n' green headstocks).

I sometimes wonder how such a brilliant design ever came into being.

Please don't loose the swoosh, Ibanez.