Official Luthiers Forum!

whilst i agree with you on the beauty of the human body, pornography defiles a human being, whether the maker or the viewer. emphasizing the fact that the models are porn stars to sell anything appeals to the pruient aspects of human nature. doing so in a publication marketed primarily to, if one accepts the marketing objectives cited elsewhere herein, postpubescent males says something about the ethics of the advertisers. each of us can make their own decisions about whether to be associated therewith.

Maybe they're selling guitars that have side soundports in the treble side bouts rather than the bass side - know what I mean . . . wink, wink. Did I say that? I shouldn't have said that

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

[QUOTE=terken] Like a fine guitar the human body is a beautiful thing. The ultimate work
of art. Something to be appreciated not declared indecent. Why not put
the two together?   I think they complement each other.   Wonderful
curves!!
TJK[/QUOTE] I agree to a point, but to me the issue is not that they used scantly clad female models, but rather the association with the industry the models work for when not modeling in the mainstream. Nothing personal about the ladies themselves but rather the poor judgment by the guitar companies and the publishing company as to whom they do business with, association is a very large part of reputation. Plus there are hundreds if not thousands of female swimsuit and glamour models out there that are in no way connected to the porn industry.

Jim. I know you are getting this.... You are on the money. It is not the fact that they are hot women that are nearly naked... (inside they are). And, I only concede the legitimacy of this marketing tactic because I realize they are mostly selling MAGAZINES, not guitars.

However, it is the fact that these big brands are allowing PORN STARS to represent their brands.

Think about it for a second.... visualize how these women earn a paycheck.    WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD WANT THEM ENDORSING THEIR BUSINESS?... short of a strip club, or perhaps a casino... I can't think of many.

I have no problem with the women, or even how they earn their living... They are adults and can make their own choices, good, bad or indifferent. Their life is their business.

But having them represent your products is just insanity.

It would be kind of like (but perhaps not exactly like) having the gun companies hiring real gansters to "endorse" their wares....

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Well, I would think that the majority of people reading these mainstream guitar magazines are youngsters 16-24 and what do these kids like? Women of course. I mean, how many 40+ year olds are buying electric guitars or reading guitar world mag? I would bet a very small majority. You would never catch Acoustic Guitar magazine trying this because their readers are all probably 30+. Not that I mind a good female porn star but those reading that magazine are reading with a purpose. I think the readers dictate the advertising.

Is this any different than some strung out drug addict posing with a guitar? What brand would want that? Then again, Kobe is back with the Nike advertising so apparently, the choices people make have no impact on their ability to endorse a product or brand

I like porn as much as the next guy, but I agree it doesn't mix with guitars.

I don't know what happened to Guitar Player. I'm pretty sure they had a policy that didn't allow ads that contained scantily clad women for no good reason. The last issue I got was full of them. Don't know if it was a policy change or if the advertisers got sneaky.

There are plenty of women guitar players, and their money is just as green. And that's why Guitar Player had that policy. I'm sure they'll be flooded with letters.

[QUOTE=Bill Moll]
     Remember that "we" seek a different level of customer - an older, more experienced and educated buyer, but that our market segment is tiny - comparatively speaking.
[/QUOTE]

Tiny, but comparatively well-heeled. And able to discern the difference even between 'high-end' factory built guitars, and true, custom-crafted instruments.

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

Lowers the industry to gutter level. Disapointing.

"I feel cheap" Maybe a group picture of all of us in our birthday suits!!!!

KiwiCraig

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CRAIG LAWRENCE of AUSTRALIA
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[QUOTE=Shawn] My question is "can they play?"...if it has nothing to do with Luthierie than it doesnt really sell any more past the first attention grab.

I could get a "big" pro football player who may not be able to play a lick to hold one of my classical guitars but then again I live in the Washington DC area and I dont think that at the moment a Washington Redskin endorsement sells much of anything...but there is always next season [/QUOTE]
Oh no, another Redskin dreamer You and my wife.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

My problem with these type of methods is, just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should. Sure they can market their wares in any manner they see fit, but should they? Do they even care about the product they make, or is it just sell as many as possible, as fast as possible?!   

Jeff

[QUOTE=Don A] [QUOTE]
Oh no, another Redskin dreamer You and my wife. [/QUOTE]

...And me.     Jerry Hossom38554.9143865741

The other issue I think with this type of campaign is where it is positioned. I like to consider myself quite liberal, I have no great desire to censor. I do think though that porn should be contained so people who want to view it can, but people who don't are not subjected to it in places they don't expect.

To give an example, before I went crazy and decided to build guitars for a living, I use to be a Manager in a large firm, on one occasion I had to deal with an instance of Porn being emailed on the company email, on talking to the individuals responsible they made the comment "it was only intended to be harmless fun". Yet a few minutes before I had someone in tears over what had been sent to them.

My point is one persons harmless fun can be a big problem for others.

At the end of the day for me, if this is the only way you have of selling your product, then it isn't much of a product.

[QUOTE=Brock Poling]
Jim. I know you are getting this.... You are on the money. It is not the fact that they are hot women that are nearly naked... (inside they are). And, I only concede the legitimacy of this marketing tactic because I realize they are mostly selling MAGAZINES, not guitars.

However, it is the fact that these big brands are allowing PORN STARS to represent their brands.

Think about it for a second.... visualize how these women earn a paycheck.    WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD WANT THEM ENDORSING THEIR BUSINESS?... short of a strip club, or perhaps a casino... I can't think of many.

I have no problem with the women, or even how they earn their living... They are adults and can make their own choices, good, bad or indifferent. Their life is their business.

But having them represent your products is just insanity.

It would be kind of like (but perhaps not exactly like) having the gun companies hiring real gansters to "endorse" their wares....

[/QUOTE]
Here! Here! Gald to see that I am not the only one that see the big issue.

It is not that they used near naked women, rather the association with the industry that the women work for, and I don't mean the model agency. I think some times no-one pays much attention to a brand name’s reputation and integrity any more. Use-to it meant as much as the product.

Jim, I have a feeling your talking about Dean Guitars. They've been marketing this way for years.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA