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Topic: Do endorsements cause you to buy Steel items??? |
Ed Naylor
From:
portsmouth.ohio usa, R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 4:18 am |
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| I know "Endorsements" are a big part of the Steel trade, but how seriously do you take it.? Everybody has a "Big Name" on thier strings,bars, picks etc. etc. but the bottom line is -do you buy the item from personal experience, or buy it because so and so claims it to be great. ? Just curious. Ed Naylor Steel Guitar Works. |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 4:49 am
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Hey Ed, long time no see/talk. 
For me, as both an endorser and a consumer, I look at endorsements as just one part of the information-gathering process that an intelligent purchaser uses to make a decision whether or not to part with the bucks.
The more rational folks amongst us get products or services to solve a perceived problem or satisfy a need. Once the need/problem has been identified, and the solution chosen, the information-gathering process begins.
A player actually using a product onstage tells me that the item is probably... and I said "probably"... of good quality in construction and works as intended and advertised. But that, in and of itself, will not cause me to spend the money. The endorser has his own set of reasons for using the product and those reasons might not be applicable to my situation.
Then again, I might simply be bored with a chunk of $$ burning a hole in my pocket. Then I'm fair game to any manufacturer using one of my heroes to sell me a fur toilet seat or whatever.
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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association
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Jim Eaton
From:
Santa Susana, Ca
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 7:18 am
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I agree with Herb that it's just one of the reasons to consider a product. I checked out the boss RV3 pedal I use after reading that Lloyd Green used one, but if it did not work as well as it does, I would not have spent my $$.
JE:-)> |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 7:23 am
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| IMHO, an endorsement from a respected player just communicates that the item is "not junk" and probably won't make you sound worse. It gets my attention to put it in the set of options to be considered, but doesn't give it an upper hand in that set. |
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John Macy
From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 7:28 am
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It depends on the endorser. If it's someone I know and respect, I would seriously consider it.
I spend a lot of time the the pro audio world, where there are lots of endorsements. It's pretty clear who the gear whores are. There is a lot more given away free there. I see many endorsements in the trade mags that would actually steer me away from a piece of gear. On the other hand, when someone like George Massenberg, who very rarely gives a heads up on a piece of gear, likes something, it's probably awesome.
It was actually Herb's endorsement of the Fessenden Guitar that put me over the top to buy one--a decision that I am most happy with .[This message was edited by John Macy on 07 October 2003 at 08:29 AM.] |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 7:31 am
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| Hah! And the truth be told, it was both Herb's and YOUR endorsement of the Fessy that got me to try one myself! (Of course, these were not "formalized" endorsements, per se...) |
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Pat Burns
From:
Branchville, N.J. USA
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 7:44 am
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| Quote: |
| When I'm watchin' my TV, and a man comes on and tells me how white my shirts could be...but he can't be a man 'cause he doesn't smoke the same cigarettes as me... |
Rolling Stones
..I don't pay much attention to endorsements per se, but I do pay a lot of attention to "recommendations" about gear from people who I know and respect, especially if they use it themselves, and if there's nothing in it for them to recommend it, i.e., they're not trying to sell it..
..I've bought most of my gear on the recommendation of someone who I respect who uses it, and then I've usually been able to see, hear or try it first..and I've usually kept gear I bought that way.. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 8:32 am
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Definitely not! An endorser is someone who is using (promoting) something because he's paid to do so, plain and simple. He's not someone who's using something because he likes it, or because it's any good. To me, this fact alone takes away all of his objectivity. (People will do just about anything for the right amount of money.)
I would be more likely consider the average "player on the street" (who has nothing to gain by recommending a product), before I would consider someone who was paid to say "It's a really great product!", regardless of who he was.
All my other skills are miniscule compared to my skill of recognizing "hype" when I see it.[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 07 October 2003 at 09:33 AM.] |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 9:22 am
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No....endorsements do not influence me to buy anything.....but it may influence me to check out the item more than I would have ordinarily...just in case the indorsement has more substance than monetary gain to the endorser....
www.genejones.com [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 07 October 2003 at 10:24 AM.] |
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 9:27 am
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| Quote: |
| And the truth be told, it was both Herb's and YOUR endorsement of the Fessy that got me to try one myself! |
And the three of you certainly had a lot to do with me giving Jerry a call. One of the smartest things I've done in a long time. Great guy, knowledgeable builder.
(end of the Jerry Fessenden fan club meeting -- all stand and do the secret Longhorn handshake )
And, yes, good words from those I respect don't fall on deaf ears, but I don't let those prejudices blind me from the facts either.
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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
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Ricky Davis
From:
Bertram, Texas USA
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 9:36 am
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Donny you have it right as far as that kind of Endorser goes...>but there are other kinds of Endorsees.
I only endorse/promote something that I use and I only use it if I like it. But receiving a discount or free stuff personally from the company is kinda being paid to endorse/promote their product, but not really. HARD cash would be a paid endorser and that would certainly change the idea of me endorsing something or not; but I have'nt been presented with anything like that yet..ha...>so don't know how I would react.
As far as the question at hand...Yes/No...
It may cause me to look into something; but wheather I like it or not has nothing to do with who or what is endorsing/promoting it> I have to Like it to use/buy it.
Ricky |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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John McGann
From:
Boston, Massachusetts, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 10:44 am
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| Endorsement deals vary- not everyone is paid to do them. I have endorsed several products in the guitar and mandolin world (where I am slightly less unknown than the steel world) because they are instruments and/or products that I use and believe in, and for which I paid cold hard cash like the rest of them...sometimes artists get behind products because they like them. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 10:45 am
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Me too, John - I was used in the ZB publicity in the UK back when I was an even more deplorable player than I am now - I still paid full-price for that ZB!
A 'PS'....
I have a video of the Big 'E' saying (when quizzed about his string preferences at a steel show) - 'If they're free, I'll slap 'em on in a minute!'; I've no doubt that this was a little 'tongue in cheek', and it got a laugh - but it must be a factor, I guess ...
RR[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 10 October 2003 at 08:14 AM.] |
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Larry Robbins
From:
Fort Edward, New York
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 12:39 pm
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Of course,the black fur toilet seats feel the best  |
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Terry Edwards
From:
Florida... livin' on spongecake...
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 1:02 pm
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It is impossible to go down to your local music store and try out a variety of pedal steel guitars and amps. They don't exist in 99% of the music stores in the world. So I guess I have relied heavily on endorsements or I probably still would not have made a decision to buy a steel guitar.
Jim Cohen's endorsement of Fessenden and more specifically his opinion of the specific guitar I now own was the only reason I bought it!
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Terry Edwards
Fessy D-10; Nash 1000
Martin D-21; Flatiron F-5
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 1:14 pm
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I just bought a Jerry Hilton 7/8 x 3 9/16" ( Sho~Bud length) Bullseye Bar because of an endorsement by Murnel Babineaux. If it works as good as he says, I'll be adding mine too.
It was kind of the opposite of name recognition. I'd never heard a name like that before, and I figured he had to know what he was talking about.
Word is he plays real good too..
Ericeaux Maleaux Flambeaux |
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 1:34 pm
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In the world of advertising, literally 100's of billions of dollars are spent annualy on "endorsements". All one has to do is to turn on any radio station, any TV station, or look at a magazine, billboard, sales fiers, etc, and it is fraught with every conceivable type of "great" endorsements.
Advertisers do not spend money foolishly and survive. Those that do survive will tell you that they will gladly pay a Michael Jackson, Tiger Wood, Greg Maddux, Garth Brooks, Britney Spears, etc, etc, etc, almost any amount of money their agents demand to get that person's endorsement.
Statistics have shown time and time again that the money is returned many times over for each "star" endorsment they use. Further statistics will prove that it often has NO semblance to the quality of the product.
When humans at large see a named "star" endorse a product, it sells. And big time. While there are some (like on this forum) that do their homework, by far the masses epitomize, what....
P. T. Barnum said, "there is a sucker born every minute".
carl |
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kyle reid
From:
Butte,Mt.usa
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 2:25 pm
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| Imagine how many items have been sold on this forum that didn't live up to endorsments! kr |
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Leroy Riggs
From:
Looney Tunes, R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 2:34 pm
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| I don't care about verbal endorsements at all -- those can be bought -- they usually are. But when I hear ANY sound I like, I always look at what is causing the "right" sound. I am very quick to buy or use the product(s) that created the sound that I found likeable. |
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Franklin
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 3:12 pm
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The star endorsements that say the most to me is when they use a product for years upon years.
As far as I know there are not any "paid to play" endorsers in the steel guitar world. The only thing I have ever been offered is free or reduced rates on steel products. Again how long and often I use those products says whether or not I believe in their quality.
Paul
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Bob Carlson
From:
Surprise AZ.
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 3:15 pm
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I think reputation of the company is a good place to start.
Bob |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 4:21 pm
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Guys, I think we're talking about 2 or 3 different things here. When I say, for example, that I bought a Fessenden on Herb and John's word that they are awesome guitars, that's true, BUT they are not "official endorsers" of the Fessenden Company, paid to play their brand. They love it, so they bought it and they use it and speak highly of ("endorse") it. No one can suspect their motives.
That's different from a pro who is paid to appear in advertising for a product and gets a monetary reward for doing so. That's an "official endorser" and it's easy to see why some people might suspect their motives (especially if they change brands frequently).
BUT! The important thing, it seems to me, when considering such "official endorsers", is whether they actually use the product themselves in public situations (concerts, recordings, etc) where their reputation is on the line. I can't imagine that Paul, or Buddy, or any major artist of any kind would go into a major public situation -- at least not repeatedly -- with less than high-quality gear that they think makes them perform better. This goes double for pro sports figures who are in an extremely competitive environment and can't afford to lose a game by using a low-quality product.
So, to me, seeing a pro using a product tells me that they feel it's a high quality product, at least as good as the alternatives, if not better. Unfortunately, many observers think that their use of a given product implies that that brand is THE BEST ONE OF ALL, when the endorser may just feel that it's a perfectly fine/excellent product, but that there are others that are just as good on the market. |
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Rick McDuffie
From:
Benson, North Carolina, USA
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 4:56 pm
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The whole music retail industry in driven by "who's playing what"... always has been, and always will be. How many Strats has Clapton sold? A BUNCH. If he WAS "paid to play," it would be money well-spent for Fender.
But like Paul said, no one I know gets "paid to play" anything. Most artists I know would have the integrity to not recommend a product they don't believe in, and the maximum most manufacturers will do is to provide the instrument, amp, etc. at a price that makes it a bit easier for the artist to acquire the new piece of gear.
An artist endorsement with Peavey, for example, requires the artist to buy the piece of gear... but at a discount. I'm a Peavey dealer, and have helped set up an endorsement deal... so I know whereof I speak.
Rick[This message was edited by Rick McDuffie on 08 October 2003 at 01:36 PM.] |
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Fred Jack
From:
Bastrop, Texas 78602
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Posted 7 Oct 2003 5:16 pm
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| Once upon a time, (1962 I think) Jimmy Bryant was approached by Guild to endorse their guitar.They brought him a beautiful full body,F-hole accoustic electric.It was Blonde and gorgeous.It layed on his sofa for a spell as he was playing a Rickenbacker at the time.He went to appear on the Squeakin Deacon show,set up by Guild, so he took the Guild guitar, and the Deacon said " Jimmy that sure is a good looking guitar". To which Jimmy replied " yeah but it has a neck like a 4x4!" So much for that endorsement. |
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), 'cause there's not a huge profit for any manufacturer in the first place.
