Why Black?

Danny Hall · Post by **Danny Hall** » 5 Jan 2010 8:53 pm

I've heard a couple of times here that a fellow ought to buy a black guitar because it's got better re-sale. In my narrow minded world it is true that I'm not likely to buy a turquoise guitar unless I know I can change out the mica but really I'm rather open to other colors.

What say you? I'm kinda partial to red with black aprons or some sort of Tuxedo black and white getup.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 5 Jan 2010 9:32 pm

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 5 Jan 2010 10:44 pm

Probably because black is kind of a benign color, doesn't attract a lot of attention, and blends in well.

The perception that black sounds best probably influences a lot of black sales.

Personally, I would probably give a very slight edge to a solid black color partially because I like the combination of black and the silver look of chromed/polished metals. If you want to add MOP inlay borders, that's ok too.

I could live with solid colors red and teal very easily. I think those look very nice without being flashy.

I had a wood grain deck/black apron combo guitar....I wasn't too wild about it.

I had a kind of rose red lacquer Mullen with a black burst, MOP body and necks that was absolutely stunning, so I guess it depends on the guitar some also.

I have seen some of the ZumSteel fronts in 2 tone V and Z designs that I think look really sharp, but as a rule, I prefer solid colors.

As it were, I guess I could live with either one of these beauties, but alas, they fell victim to economic distress

...at least I still have the SFIII...and the memories $:\$

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 6 Jan 2010 12:53 am

Charles Davidson · Post by **Charles Davidson** » 6 Jan 2010 3:25 am

Years ago I saw [can't remember the brand] a white one gold plated.It was absolutly BEAUTIFUL. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

Jay Jessup · Post by **Jay Jessup** » 6 Jan 2010 4:39 am

I think black is boring

the blade wasn't black!

Bill Lowe · Post by **Bill Lowe** » 6 Jan 2010 5:19 am

Black on Black with a hint of pearl

Per Berner · Post by **Per Berner** » 6 Jan 2010 5:19 am

One big advantage of black mica (says someone who owns a two-tone Zum and a rosewood p/p...) is that it doesn't pretend to be something it's not. Fake wood grain never fooled anyone. If it's solid wood though, nothing beats natural maple. Well, possibly a very gentle honey/amber tint.

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 6 Jan 2010 5:54 am

I prefer a pretty guitar. Black and polished metal can be pretty; a beautiful wood finish can be pretty.

Why does it have to be ONE OR THE OTHER?

This is simply a matter of personal taste and preference. I've seen guitars posted as 'purtiest I've ever seen' that invoked my gag reflex. Everyone perceives beauty in his own way.

Personally I think all three of my guitars -- all different -- are pretty. Your mileage may vary.

Rick Winfield · Post by **Rick Winfield** » 6 Jan 2010 6:06 am

I've got a black Harley,sold my other black Harley, I sold my(3) black Les Pauls,so ....
of course I've got a black Carter
But... I do keep a open mind, and can appreciate the many choices available. I've seen a beautiful Turquoise steel, and was surprised at my reaction.
I also like the 2 tones, but I'm partial to the ones that are black/gray
Rick

Billy Carr · Post by **Billy Carr** » 6 Jan 2010 6:11 am

Black mica is certainly the top choice, last time I checked but gotta remember, it's the player sitting behind it that matters. I like all colors except lavender!

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 6 Jan 2010 7:17 am

All my favorite piano players play tend to gravitate towards black Steinways. Liberace, on the other hand...

Dennis Saydak · Post by **Dennis Saydak** » 6 Jan 2010 7:36 am

Black = lots of fingerprints, cleaning & polishing forever. I's a dust collector IMHO.

Blue is where it's at, or red, or natural wood etc...

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 6 Jan 2010 7:44 am

Once again, it's the influence of Buddy Emmons. When Shot Jackson said Buddy couldn't build a steel guitar to compete with the Sho~Bud, BE teamed with Lashley and built the anti-Sho~Bud.

Where the SB was large and ornate, the Emmons was smaller and more sleek. It was elegant. Whereas the Sho~Bud owed a design debt to the Bigsby, and other guitars were knock-offs of either the Sho~Bud or the Bigsby, the Emmons was a modern design unto itself; smaller, lighter and understated. Danish Modern as opposed to Rococco, if you will.

On the Emmons a player could both raise AND lower any string with ease, a feature generally unavailable at that time (except for the Fender 1000, an 8-string guitar). It sounded great, it had Buddy's mojo, it was BLACK.

"... and besides that, it's beautiful." quote by Big E from the first Emmons brochure 1964

Ben Elder · Post by **Ben Elder** » 6 Jan 2010 9:52 am

I recently bought at a good price, with a well-deserved recommendation as to its sound, a GFI Ultra SD-10. I decided my overwhelmingly and perpetual modest ability wasn't being helped by an arsenal of vintage, but mechanically eccentric steels--ranging from glorious two-tone (ZB and Sho-Bud) to a homely green (lacquer-yellowed blue? ZB.)

The GFI is the horrendous black-and-blue variation, which I've noticed is inexplicably common, despite its dubious visual presentation. I was ready to buy and it was what was available at the time (actually, nothing else came up in a two-to-three-week period.) But what's the point? Sound and playability, after all. (That said, it could be worse, because there exists the hideous and kitschy Emmons basket-weave pattern, and those are probably near the top of the sonic food-chain, probably alongside all the other more elegant push-pull visual variations.)

My first-choice hypothetical color almost does not exist in the psg world, but I did see, once upon a time, a yellow steel. (School-bus yellow, or as Pittsburgh Paints christened it 40 or more years ago, "Highway Yellow.") The yellow steel was a random spotting on the Forum and I don't remember what the brand was, mica or paint or stain, or if the color was stock. (Plays like butter...and looks like it, too.)

And, silly me, if I make whatever financial commitment to buying a steel, whether a $600 Emmons Student or $2K mint ZB, I'm hoping and expecting that I'll keep it. Yes, circumstances will have their way in life, but to worry about resale value upfront seems like a defeatist outlook. "Flip This Push-Pull"?

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 6 Jan 2010 12:07 pm

Daniel theres a couple inside jokes on this forum.
Black guitars sounding better is one of em. Banjo players are another.

I tried spray painting my strings black , it didnt help my tone any. when does a banjo sound its best? when its hitting an accordian on its way into the trash can. and so on.

I never thought of the resale tho. Thats probably true that they are easier to sell simply because black is fairly nuetral and someone cant say "naw, I hate red".

There was a thread about a pink guitar recently. The guitar was for a young lady, but many were concerned the guitar would be unsellable if the lady didnt stick with it. no idea how that one panned out excpet that she did indeed end up with a pink guitar

Roger Crawford · Post by **Roger Crawford** » 6 Jan 2010 12:59 pm

Black looks good on stage.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 6 Jan 2010 1:19 pm

Everybody knows - black guitars sound best.

Jaclyn Jones · Post by **Jaclyn Jones** » 6 Jan 2010 1:50 pm

Not my favorite color, but it goes with everything!

Mike Archer · Post by **Mike Archer** » 6 Jan 2010 2:25 pm

I dont know but black seems to add a bit of class
to steels I like the reds too
it seems to me emmons made a lot of black and also rosewood steels
I dont care for rosewood to be honest
my sd-10 pp is rosewood I wish it were black
oh well mabe ill have it remica at some point

the ones in this topic are real nice
Bryan Adams has built a 2 d-10s with black
aprons and a mahogany top which is
real cool

Lee Baucum · Post by **Lee Baucum** » 6 Jan 2010 2:29 pm

Everybody knows - black guitars are darkest.

Danny Hall · Post by **Danny Hall** » 6 Jan 2010 2:54 pm

There are sometimes iconic players that get a particular guitar going. I know that David Gilmour's Black Stratocaster is one of those signature looks. Tuxedo. Eric Clapton same with the white pickguard. BB King and the 335. All Black guitars. The man in black had every kind of color guitar.

I had always seen wild lookin' steels when ever exposed to them in my misspent youth. Sho-Buds. MSAs etc. Kinda fit with the Nudie suits. Come to think of it I haven't seen a Nudie suit in awhile either. Buck didn't wear one during his comeback with Dwight Yoakum. Anybody here still perform in one? What color is your PSG?

Oh, and the banjo gets kicked around on EVERY forum. That and the accordion. The banjo I understand but where would Tejano be without Flaco and his friends?

I was listening to a Peter Rowan album yesterday with Flaco and some steeler named Fuller. Sounded real sweet.

Dan

Larry Baker · Post by **Larry Baker** » 6 Jan 2010 3:06 pm

RED is the new black, a RED MULLEN to be exact. Larry B.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 6 Jan 2010 4:37 pm

R.E.M.'s bass player was the last guy i saw in a nudie suit.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 6 Jan 2010 5:04 pm

I see the poll is starting to find its level.....

All black is almost equalling the others combined.

All is right with the world!

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