You know what we don't see on TV or hear on radio? Ads for musical instruments.

[Rabrrrrrr]

Why don't Fender or Gibson or Roland or any of the woodwind makers or violin makers advertise on TV?

I wonder if that help push more people into wanting to play music. Commercials could take some of the mystique out of it, and perhaps make more people realize that, hey, maybe they could play an instrument!

Even the local music stores seem to advertise on TV only in the beginning of the school season, and then it's only about rentals.

[av8rdave]

1. We used to have a local guitar shop advertise on the radio a lot

Then they got bought out by Guitar Center and that was the end of it.

I thought their tag line was great:

"We LOVE it when you touch the stuff!"

[southpaw]

2. But... they advertise Guitar Hero and Rock Band video games...

I mean, why bother with the learning curve when you can jump straight to phallus-weilding poseur-stardom by playing a freakin' GAME!!!

[taterguy]

3. I enjoy Rock Band for the same reason I enjoy Flight Sims

It's a much cheaper and safer alternative to the real thing.

Rock Band cost about $150. Comparable instruments would cost over $1,000.

I don't have space in my house for a band to practice and my neighbors wouldn't appreciate it if I did.

I've played real guitars enough to know that I don't have musical talent so it wouldn't be a wise investment.

But Rock Band is lots of fun. Don't knock it til you've tried it

[southpaw]

8. All points well taken

and no, I haven't tried Rock Band or Guitar Hero.

[PVnRT]

4. Game + guitar controller is around $100-$150

Ever priced a guitar recently? Something tells me that you haven't.

Besides, has it ever occurred to you or the rest of the snobs out there that those games may be inspiring people to pick up the instruments they're pretending to play? Nah, probably not.

[southpaw]

9. I play bass guitar and drums

So, yeah, I know that a decent quality guitar is pricey...

And yes, I have considered that many people may be inspired to pick up a real guitar or other instrument after playing one of these games.

Sorry if I came off like a snob. Have you considered that I may have been in a bad frame of mind when I posted that comment, and that I really didn't mean to belittle those who enjoy a harmless thing like a video game? Nah, probably not.

[Bake]

39. Have you?

Check out http://www.musiciansfriend.com. They have excellent prices on good quality instruments. Sure, you're going to pay four figures for a guitar with Gibson or Martin on the headstock. But a new Fender Strat can be had for under $400. And other brands are VERY reasonable. Same with amps, drums, and other instruments.

Bake

[ghostsofgiants]

7. Yeah, God forbid someone enjoy a fucking game, right?

:eyes:

[southpaw]

11. Mea culpa...

I truly did not mean any offense, I was having a rough morning.

[ghostsofgiants]

12. I know how that goes.

Some people around here do get that genuine holier than thou attitude when you bring up Guitar Hero or Rock Band, and I'm tired and grumpy myself, haha.

[Mutley]

36. Not everyone can be a musician

but lots of people can be gamers.

And hey, some people even do both.

[LeftyMom]

5. Our local musical instrument shop advertises on the radio a lot.

:shrug:

[Orsino]

13. I think the question concerns instrument makers rather than retail outlets.

I can't recall ever having seen radio/TV ads from instrument manufacturers.

[Deja Q]

6. Because, if we play their instruments, we will have to go to the clinic.

[bridgit]

10. You may be watching the wrong brand, or *kind* of TV...

[Rabrrrrrr]

16. I'm curious what instrument manufacturers you've seen advertise on TV

or radio.

I've not seen any.

[bridgit]

37. On MTV, certain other music vid channels: country, etc, I've seen Ads for Fender

and the rarer Ad for Martin guitars, though they're keyed toward country...stuff like that. I do see manufactures placing products, guitars included, round certain events such as a concert series, world music event, etc. And of course Fender will toss out Fender amps, strings and such in a parting shot. Seen Ads for Marshall amps.

Out here I've seen Ads for Guitar Center wherein products, accessories and promotions are displayed, guitars included. Though Guitar Center being one of our clients I'm keyed to their signatures, and lead-ins so...they, in a sense, already have me. Which is to suggest...

That if you are able to sing to the choir, you may be likely able to advertise to them as all :)


But guitar Ads as with Fabio on a stage in Las Vegas, "I can't believe it's not a Fender guitar!!", or like the undulations of all day/all night Sticky Putty/Pocket Fisherman/chop your onion with this thing here? No.

These guys advertise here in town sometimes, they're cool http://www.thefifthstring.com

[flvegan]

14. I think their best advertising comes from the pros that play them.

Seriously. If I were to take up the guitar, I'd have a Gibson SG. How many Fenders did Eddie Van Halen sell for them back in the day, or any other Stratocaster pro user for that matter?

[DS1]

18. heh

The first electric I bought new:




why:




bluesy as hell, but I wanted more bite, so I got a :

[southpaw]

21. All right... if were posting pics of our axes

[SoxFan]

30. WANT

[panhead1961]

15. Comcast has a musical section on demand

With advertisements through Guitar world for new equipment like Epiphone and Gibson guitars. Also free lessons from celebrities and teachers. Its great.

[Redstone]

17. Yes. With no sarcasm whatsoever, let me say that you've pointed out something

that, if the situation were corrected as you advocate, would go a LONG way in uplifting our society in general.

In an ideal society, pretty much everyone would play a musical instrument. Or sing. Or at least make a habit of listening to live music and / or dancing to live music, especially on an amateur level.

Redstone

[johnnie]

19. Here's my take

Beginner musicians start out with crap and work their way up to decent crap and then maybe better crap (unless mommy and daddy have a lot of cash to buy the good stuff for their kids). The instruments that the manufacturers would try to sell on tv would be top end and that would be the stuff that musicians would want, but most musicians have no money. And if they do have money, they already know what they want to get so why should the instrument manufacturers waste money on advertisements?

Any of us old timer musicians know what I'm talking about..lol.

[southpaw]

20. I don't know...

If the companies would advertise reasonably priced instruments targeted at beginners... I'm thinking starter packs that include a decent beginner instrument and all necessary accessories... and target the appropriate age market (Disney Channel etc.) they could get a lot of younger people interested.

I watched "Camp Rock" on Disney Channel (my daughter loves the Jonas Brothers) earlier this summer and noticed what looked like some SERIOUS product placement by Gibson.

[johnnie]

22. Speaking for myself

I sure the hell didn't need some tv commercial to get me to wanting to play. I remember listening to music well before I remember what was on tv. And hearing that music is what made me want to be a "rock star". Granted, times have changed and I had to buy all my instruments by myself w/out help from mom and dad, but all I knew is that I wanted a guitar (after a bass..lol). I scrimped and saved to get my first guitar and there is no way that the manufacturer of any guitar would have put what kind of guitar I first got on a commercial.

[southpaw]

23. My story is similar

I fell in love with music... that's what made me want to learn to play.


:headbang:

[johnnie]

24. That's what I'm saying

You just wanted an instrument...whatever you could get..lol. A tv commercial wouldn't have made your mind up because chances are, you couldn't afford any top of the line crap.

[Rabrrrrrr]

26. I don't think they would advertise the high end - those who would buy high end

are already their customers.

They would advertise the lower priced stuff, to get new customers. "Hey - ever thought of playing guitar like your guitar heroes, but thought it would cost an arm and a leg? Well, we at Fender have put together a fantastic starter pack of guitar, amp, strings, picks, and everything you need to get started right out of the box for under $200! Come down to your local music store and check it out." blah blah blah.

They're not gonna advertise the $10,000 Stratocasters, because that customer base is already well informed of Fender's products.

[PVnRT]

32. Yeah, but that would be a Squire...

Ick...if you're going to pick up an instrument, any instrument, I would advise against the "starter" kinds in a box. If you have something that sounds like crap, you get discouraged and give it up very quickly.

[Rabrrrrrr]

33. Well, obviously - but you and I know what we're doing because we're musicians.

You have to wrap your mind around the idea that not everyone in the world is a guitar god, and that there are a lot of people out there who are musically illiterate.

I know brazilians of musicians, and I don't know a single one that started out with a Stradivarius, Muramatsu flute, or high end Martin guitar.

If you go around telling people it ain't worth the trouble to learn an instrument unless they spend $1,000 on it, then no one's gonna do it. Who wants to spend that much with the risk that they won't enjoy it? Sure, they ought to start with something that at least sounds good, but the goal of advertising is to get them into the shop to begin with. Then let the store personnel (so long as they aren't typical obnoxious smarter-than-thou-shitbag types who work in music stores) guide them to finding an instrument that actually fits their hands/mouths/whatever, and has a sound and playability they can handle.

[PVnRT]

38. I don't even mean $1,000 guitars

You can get a very decent Ibanez or Epiphone in the $200-$400 price range, and spend $50 - $100 on a small practice amp, which is all you need when starting out. The Start (and copies) are generally good for beginners because the necks are narrower and they're lighter.

I'm by no means a musician. I fuck around with my (Epiphone) Les Paul and occasionally sound comes out that resembles real songs. About the best I can hope for is to be rhythm guitarist, since I can't play fast for shit.

At any rate, music places should be advertising, and they should focus on the lower-cost stuff that they do have. Most people see the Strats and Les Pauls and think you "have" to have that, see the $2500 price tag, and give up. I'm just jaded about Squires because I'm a fucking asshole, and the one I played a long time ago sounded like post-drinking binge diarrhea.

[Bake]

40. Hell, I waited TWENTY YEARS for my Martin!!

But back when I used to teach, I told everyone starting out to get the best instrument they could reasonably afford, for the simple reason that a better instrument plays easier and sounds better, therefore they'd want to play it more and they'd get better faster.

That doesn't mean go out and get a Martin or a Gibson right off. There are excellent instruments available these days for not a lot of money.

And getting back to the main subject of the thread, I'm surprised that Yamaha, e.g., doesn't advertise their mass-market instruments on the toob.

Bake

[SOteric]

25. I can't wait to see

what Beavis and Butthead would make of some cherub faced young man or young woman who chirps happily about how their life has been changed by playing the piccolo.

[Rabrrrrrr]

27. heh he hehe hehehehh heheh, you said "skin flute"

heh he heheheheh.

[IntravenousDemilo]

28. They used to have commercials for the Briscoe Harmony Chord Organ on my local station.

That was quite some time ago, though.

[RadiationTherapy]

29. I didn't begin playing music until I was 24.

For some reason it seemed music was something OTHER people were ABLE create. I had them up on a pedestal.

It would have been cool to see music in a down to earth way and not only in an untouchable "rock god" sort of way.

Unfortunately, I have trouble appreciating live music now, because I just sit there thinking *I could do that*

Yes, I am an underappreciated, jealous, scorpio artist.

[southpaw]

31. Whoa... it appears that beginner guitars actually were advertised

Probably a good thing I'm too young to have seen this ad...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU_dreXUrY4

[JVS]

34. oh yeah?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8kH4XyWjq4

[Mutley]

35. There is a local music shop that advertises on the radio.

And I don't mean CD shop, but instrument shop.

[Bake]

41. Oh but wait ... there's ESTEBAN hawking guitars on HSN!

Who IS that guy, anyway/?????

Bake

[kwolf68]

42. That's no surprise

Us musicians are insanely patient with our purchase. We study, we learn, we listen, we test 'drive' our potential purchase. Capitalism relies on the ability of deception to influence us to buy what we really dont want or need, only that which we think we want or need.

Other than a really cheapy Ibanez guitar I purchased one time (25 bucks), the 4 guitars I own and the 2 drum kits (Im getting a 2nd one in another couple months) were made with carefull consideration on how they fit into my base of needs and desires. I didn't need a bikini model to tell me that I need to buy this Gibson Epiphone for me to be sexy. I just tried it out, liked the price of it, wanted a Gibson piece and couldn't afford the LPs at the time, and it was a great compromise, but only after I tuned and tried it. Even then, I gave it thought before going back and purchasing it.

With my new drum kit I have done about as much research as possible and have, after 2 months of research and searching gotten it down to a Ludwig Classic Map or the Gretsch Renowns. I won't buy either until I am able to look at them, kick their tires so to speak, check out the hardware, the versatility of the kit, ease of setup, and of course sound.

The market doesn't like that kind of buying, because in my experience musicians don't usually impulse buy...we pontificate about what we're going to buy long before we buy it, then as I said lots of leg work...for us musicians, part of the FUN of buying a new bass, guitar, drums, etc...is the actual process of deciding. That's the real fun. And you don't spend a nickel for test driving a new guitar.

So back to the point, commercials for musical instruments are probably pretty useless, because musicians know what's good products and we aren't going to be faked into buying some cheasy trash that doesn't meet our needs, because our art is too important.

[Fox Mulder]

43. It's sad, isn't it?

Kids should be playing real instruments, not that crap where they press four or five buttons and act like "guitar gods".