More From Mike Learn

[akoch]

Re: More From Mike Learn

Oh, btw - for Mike: there is a spelling mistake in the word 'feed' (last word second line) on the Russian Prisoners of War graphics. There is one sybmol missing (must be the same as the last simbol in the first word).
I will leave the morality of this line outside of the scope of the discussion, but if I was German I would have not liked it.
Alex

[Rufue]

Re: More From Mike Learn

[ QUOTE ]
"I like "Russian Work Camp." - just curious, why?
Alex

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Alex,

I like the symbology of the hammer and sickle intertwined with the barbwire. It speaks to me of the tyranny and oppression of the Soviet Union, especially under Stalin. It has a very dark and scary sense to it. More so than the demons and zombies - for me at least.

-Joe

[akoch]

Re: More From Mike Learn

Hmmmm.... Joe, if you don't mind the question, are you Russian?

Alex

[Rufue]

Re: More From Mike Learn

[ QUOTE ]
Hmmmm.... Joe, if you don't mind the question, are you Russian?

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Alex,

I don't mind the question at all. No, I am not Russian. I was born in the USA with mostly German and English ancestry.

-Joe

[akoch]

Re: More From Mike Learn

Joe, I am Russian/Canadian so I have a bit of a perspective on this. Naturally I am interested to know what could attract somebody to this theme and what does one actually see in there. You partially exmplained it to me, I appriciate it. I get it, if one grew up in the USA this might make sense. See, for me as a Russian it made an entirely different sense and looked rather offensive towards Germans who were the prisoners of war and had to rebuild the infrastructure before they were allowed to go home (assuming still alive). This is not the stuff one normally wants to play with (no pun intended, but implied).
Alex

[Learn Guitars]

Re: More From Mike Learn

Didn't realize that I was be so offensive. You obviously think that this russian theme is something that is directed during time that Germans were imprisoned. Not my intentions. Believe me. I didn't out that much thought into it. Im not into business to piss everyone off. I am also not interested in being politically correct. I really dont see why anyone has to justify their tastes to you or anyone else actually.

The russian guitar was translated poorly to me as..
Don't feed the animals. It's a guitar not a MSNBC political view point. It's really apparant that you don't like the designs. That's cool. But does anyone need to justify their appeal to any particular design?

All the kamakazi designs that have run rampant for the past 3 decades certainly haven't had any problem. Remember Pearl Harbor?

Mike [img]/images/graemlins/popcorn.gif[/img]

[AlexL]

Re: More From Mike Learn

[ QUOTE ]
I am also not interested in being politically correct.

[/ QUOTE ]

[img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

Glad to hear it, Mike. Great art makes us think. Keep those designs, even the "controversial" ones, coming!


- E.

[bibz]

Re: More From Mike Learn

Its a fucking guitar with a kickass airbrushed graphic. Its not a political statement or an attack against anybody. I'd be offended if the Learn was painting for esp or ibanez [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Superfly]

Re: More From Mike Learn

[ QUOTE ]
All the kamakazi designs that have run rampant for the past 3 decades certainly haven't had any problem. Remember Pearl Harbor?

Mike [img]/images/graemlins/popcorn.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

+1 Mike... Probably the highest selling graphic of all time. I have one and not once did i think of Pearl Harbor...Silly me i only thought about tearing it up and having the same guitar as Mr. Scary...

[AK47]

Re: More From Mike Learn

You know I can go on about how the damned Russians took away my grantparents guns after WWII but I am not going to. No they were not Nazis either, just victims of Stalin and Tito. Oh yeah and communism...

Keep up the Great work Mike!!!

[akoch]

Re: More From Mike Learn

"I am also not interested in being politically correct." - Mike, don't worry about this, I don't think anyone is pissed off. Outside of the US this term does not even exist. Anyone is free to express their thoughts, as well as others to agree or disagree. No one is asking for any justification either. For me it is just curiousity how/why one can end up with a theme like this - call it a general interest in people and their knowledge of history. I admit, personally I consider it a bad taste but it is just me. Oh yeah, and I like Jacksons so I want to help too.

The exact translation of this much spoken about line is:
" POW Camp. Don't feed - these are animals."

Cheers,
Alex

[Learn Guitars]

Re: More From Mike Learn

Alex,
Forgive my poor translation. It was supposed to read. Labor Camp....Dont feed the animals. The funny thing is, there were prospective dealers at the Jackson plant the day I finished up this guitar. They dug it. If I just paint the same thing all the time, I will just my creativity will put me in a corner. I am not afraid to push the envelope as you can see. Wait till you see some of the requests I have had. You will definitely "Sheite" your pants.
Maybe you wont mind doing some future translations for me.

Dasvedanya muy droog.

Unfortunately...I dont have Cyrillic on my puter. And you will have to settle for phonetics.

We both share the same passion for the guitar, so no matter how we are different in opinion.. We are brothers bound by the soul of a screaming axe.

Rock on,
MIke

[akoch]

Re: More From Mike Learn

Good answer Mike, thank you. You rock and I know your work is only getting better as time goes by. When you consider the feedback you only get stronger. We do love what you are doing and we want to see more of it. I would love to have some of your work, hope one day.

So on this note: I mentioned this before and I'm not sure why is that no one doing it: I would personally love to have a nice flame maple top with transparent art on it. This way you have best of both worlds, the beauty of the wood and a nice graphics. Like Ibanez did this in a basic (but tasty way), why not to take it further?

Udachi. If you need a second set of eyes with the translations - I'm happy to help, anytime.

Alex

[micha]

Re: More From Mike Learn

I guess these ns-crosses on the bomber style rhoads could get you into serious trouble over here, but it sure looks awesome!!! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

great work mike!! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Davey]

Re: More From Mike Learn

[ QUOTE ]
I guess these ns-crosses on the bomber style rhoads could get you into serious trouble over here, but it sure looks awesome!!! [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

great work mike!! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]
umm.. the iron cross predates the german army by centuries

as does the swastika, but it was too closely associated with the nazis. the iron cross was a medal given to soldiers long before WW2
so i dont know how THOSE could get you in trouble over there