KVR Audio

cptgone · Post by **cptgone** » Sat Feb 08, 2020 11:27 pm

It's ironic how both guitars I got for their looks, didn't have that look upon delivery (my Epiphone LP has another finish, my Gibson Firebird Tribute doesn't have the diagonal wood grain lines I liked so much in the shop's picture).

cptgone · Post by **cptgone** » Wed Feb 12, 2020 12:49 pm

Thomann seem to make their own gear pics, I suspect they put effort into it, picking above-average products.
Take this Ibanez, with a 2 tone fretboard.
Compare it to the (stock?) pic at Bax.

They should show pics of the actual instrument. Like e.g. Sweetwater does (and Andertons sometimes).

Until they do, people who are fond of wood grain and such are better off in a brick & mortar shop.

(pics: Thomann, Bax, Gear4Music)

donkey tugger · Post by **donkey tugger** » Tue Feb 18, 2020 4:22 pm

cptgone wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2020 12:49 pm Thomann seem to make their own gear pics, I suspect they put effort into it, picking above-average products.
Take this Ibanez, with a 2 tone fretboard.
Compare it to the (stock?) pic at Bax.

They should show pics of the actual instrument. Like e.g. Sweetwater does (and Andertons sometimes).

Until they do, people who are fond of wood grain and such are better off in a brick & mortar shop.

(pics: Thomann, Bax, Gear4Music)

Whichever way you photograph it, that's still a horrible looking guitar.

kelldammit · Post by **kelldammit** » Tue Feb 18, 2020 4:28 pm

i definitely prefer how sweetwater and zzounds do it, where you can look at each guitar and choose by serial #.
still, sometimes, the photos just don't do 'em justice.

Forgotten · Post by **Forgotten** » Tue Feb 18, 2020 4:57 pm

donkey tugger wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2020 4:22 pm
cptgone wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2020 12:49 pm Thomann seem to make their own gear pics, I suspect they put effort into it, picking above-average products.
Take this Ibanez, with a 2 tone fretboard.
Compare it to the (stock?) pic at Bax.

They should show pics of the actual instrument. Like e.g. Sweetwater does (and Andertons sometimes).

Until they do, people who are fond of wood grain and such are better off in a brick & mortar shop.

(pics: Thomann, Bax, Gear4Music)

Whichever way you photograph it, that's still a horrible looking guitar.

Are they using the nozzle from a bottle of Fairy Liquid for a strap button?

tapper mike · Post by **tapper mike** » Wed Feb 19, 2020 7:44 am

If anything the sweetwater ones always look better IRL. I think it's because they aren't trying to make the guitar look prettier by fancy lighting and angles and time in Photoshop editing. The lighting at home will always be different then those at the shop.

cptgone · Post by **cptgone** » Sun Mar 01, 2020 5:19 pm

donkey tugger wrote: ↑Tue Feb 18, 2020 4:22 pm
cptgone wrote: ↑Wed Feb 12, 2020 12:49 pm Thomann seem to make their own gear pics, I suspect they put effort into it, picking above-average products.
Take this Ibanez, with a 2 tone fretboard.
Compare it to the (stock?) pic at Bax.

They should show pics of the actual instrument. Like e.g. Sweetwater does (and Andertons sometimes).

Until they do, people who are fond of wood grain and such are better off in a brick & mortar shop.

(pics: Thomann, Bax, Gear4Music)

Whichever way you photograph it, that's still a horrible looking guitar.

I think it's gorgeous from some vantage points (never seen one IRL, I suspect I'd like her even more if she was thinner).

cptgone · Post by **cptgone** » Sun Mar 01, 2020 6:18 pm

HB has another baritone planned for 2020. Prolly a 6 string (they already have a 7 string).
I'm trying to hold off buying Gear4Music's offering (nice looks, looong fretboard, pickups that aren't limited to hi-gain) until I find out what the HB will be like. Or perhaps I'll just go crazy and order the customized Kiesel of my dreams...

The Noodlist · Post by **The Noodlist** » Sun Mar 01, 2020 9:10 pm

Speaking of Gear4Music, saw this pretty bass. This is a finish I wouldn't mind.

Through neck.

Mouerg · Post by **Mouerg** » Wed May 06, 2020 11:13 pm

Online stock image vs real-world guitar is always a worry with transparent ash bodies on fender guitars (I only own ash guitars because I'm one of those weirdos), when you can't see what you're ordering beforehand you occasionally end up with a pretty janky looking 3 piece body with incongruous grain. Just bugs me to look at. Or, you get a nice 2 piece but the grain is very "streaky" looking vs the classic "swamp". It's always taking a shot in the dark! I'd pay a bit more to get a piece of ash I want to look at all day, haha.

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Thu May 07, 2020 4:11 am

Customers usually insist that guitars be sealed. Maybe Sweetwater and Thomann can get away with it because they’re so big? Anyway, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the future of guitar selling, many brick and mortar guitar shops won’t be reopening after the shelter in place is over.

tapper mike · Post by **tapper mike** » Fri May 08, 2020 9:37 pm

Sweetwater always unpacks, sets up, shoots and repacks I'd rather have them inspect my guitar before shipping then just move it along the line.

Zipede · Post by **Zipede** » Fri May 29, 2020 1:45 pm

I'm not too fussy about the color & finish, something simple like this suits me fine.
https://www.espguitars.com/videos/2034262

But seriously, I prefer a single color, my strat is Ocean Turquoise, I'm looking for a Jazz bass in similar finish.

Uncle E · Post by **Uncle E** » Fri May 29, 2020 3:45 pm

You've got to love that the steering wheel works! I've been to the ESP Custom Shop in Shibuya, it was open to the public and a very popular attraction, almost like a museum.

Zipede · Post by **Zipede** » Fri May 29, 2020 5:31 pm

Uncle E wrote: ↑Fri May 29, 2020 3:45 pm You've got to love that the steering wheel works! I've been to the ESP Custom Shop in Shibuya, it was open to the public and a very popular attraction, almost like a museum.

I was hoping to visit Japan this winter, not sure when that's going to happen now. Certainly need to visit the ESP shop when I do.

How much does the color/ finish of a guitar matter to you?