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So I was showing a co-worker one of my customs the other day and, with faux-mocking laughter, the first statement out of his mouth was "dude, that is soooo 80s". My reaction was "uhm, yeah McFly, that's exactly what I was going for when I spec'd it." 
A couple of days later, I was noodling around with some guitars in my bedroom. I turned to my wife, pointed at them, and said "what do you think of the designs"? She looked at the three guitars on their stands are said (in order) "modern, classic, and dated".
Now let me preface this with I couln't give two s**ts what others think of my guitars - I enjoy them, and that's all that matters to me.
Nonetheless, these two conversations did get my curiosity factor going. I mean, when does "modern" become "dated"? And when does a "dated" design become "classic" to people? And, by "people", I mean how the rest of the world views these things - not us guitarists.
Pull a random person off a street, show them a Fender Strat, and many will say "classic". Same thing for a Les Paul. ...But show them a Jackson or Charvel and....what???
Haven't we hit the plateua to cross over to "classic" yet? Or maybe designs associated with "80s hair bands" will always have a stigma attached to them? 20 -25 years later, I don't think so. And, yet, the more I thought about it, it seemed that some J/C designs have moved along this evolution more than others. Again, in others' eyes, I mean. The general public.
Charvel superstrats - These were the originals and benefit from having the longest time to "age" in the public eye, if you will. They also benefit from their similarity (in body design) to the Strat. With a few exceptions (ex. animal print graphics), I think they may have just recently crested over to "classic" in the past couple of years. Just starting.
Jackson Soloists and Dinkys - Again, close body design similarities to the Strat, but the sharkfins, etc. mean they're a bit more removed than the Charvies. Close, but not quite as close. These designs haven't hit "classic" yet. Very near the top of the hill, but not quite over it yet. Maybe they'll hit that plateua in, like, 2 to 5 years-ish.
King Vs, Rhoads, Kellys, Stars - Unfortunately, still "dated". Halfway up the hill, maybe. Still got a ways to go. The above two will have to be firmly in "classic" land before folks might even consider broadening their horizons to other iconic J/C designs as "classic" too. Or, like Gibby Explorers and Vs, maybe they'll never totally get there? Just kind of "classic", but without general acceptance by a wide audience.
Warriors - More associated with early 90s, IMHO. Trailing up the rear. Might never get there. Way "dated" still.
What do you think?
A couple of days later, I was noodling around with some guitars in my bedroom. I turned to my wife, pointed at them, and said "what do you think of the designs"? She looked at the three guitars on their stands are said (in order) "modern, classic, and dated".
Now let me preface this with I couln't give two s**ts what others think of my guitars - I enjoy them, and that's all that matters to me.
Nonetheless, these two conversations did get my curiosity factor going. I mean, when does "modern" become "dated"? And when does a "dated" design become "classic" to people? And, by "people", I mean how the rest of the world views these things - not us guitarists. Pull a random person off a street, show them a Fender Strat, and many will say "classic". Same thing for a Les Paul. ...But show them a Jackson or Charvel and....what???
Haven't we hit the plateua to cross over to "classic" yet? Or maybe designs associated with "80s hair bands" will always have a stigma attached to them? 20 -25 years later, I don't think so. And, yet, the more I thought about it, it seemed that some J/C designs have moved along this evolution more than others. Again, in others' eyes, I mean. The general public.
Charvel superstrats - These were the originals and benefit from having the longest time to "age" in the public eye, if you will. They also benefit from their similarity (in body design) to the Strat. With a few exceptions (ex. animal print graphics), I think they may have just recently crested over to "classic" in the past couple of years. Just starting.
Jackson Soloists and Dinkys - Again, close body design similarities to the Strat, but the sharkfins, etc. mean they're a bit more removed than the Charvies. Close, but not quite as close. These designs haven't hit "classic" yet. Very near the top of the hill, but not quite over it yet. Maybe they'll hit that plateua in, like, 2 to 5 years-ish.
King Vs, Rhoads, Kellys, Stars - Unfortunately, still "dated". Halfway up the hill, maybe. Still got a ways to go. The above two will have to be firmly in "classic" land before folks might even consider broadening their horizons to other iconic J/C designs as "classic" too. Or, like Gibby Explorers and Vs, maybe they'll never totally get there? Just kind of "classic", but without general acceptance by a wide audience.
Warriors - More associated with early 90s, IMHO. Trailing up the rear. Might never get there. Way "dated" still.
What do you think?
Makes no nevermind to me. I'll be dead by then.
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