Knock-Offs, Rip-Offs, and Just Plain UGLY!

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 12:28 pm

Just the thought of being seen with something like that is downright embarrassing.... I almost feel sorry for the guy who is evidently beaming with pride at the fact that he built that thing. Exactly who is he trying to appeal to, anyway?

Scastles · Post by **Scastles** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 12:31 pm

Do you ride it or attempt to play it? Does it come with a rawhide strap? Move 'em out, roll 'em on!

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 12:38 pm

Melissa, I wouldn't be even commenting on this if I thought he was sincere. But his whole purpose of building these, as he has stated to me when I wrote him, was to make as much money as possible, as quickly as possible.

He said that all he had to do was sell one and he was on his way, so what did I thnk I was talking about making suggestions.

I've got nothing personal against him EXCEPT that he has bought a number of high-dollar Gretsches and butchered them to make his junk. He's never sold one. His taste is atrocious, his sense of design nonexistent, and he knows nothing about craftsmanship, which is a word that takes a beating whenever it's mentioned in the same breath as any of his stuff.

And he's arrogant besides. Now, ignorance is OK; all of us have it to varying degrees. Arrogance is even OK in the case of someone who is a pip to get to know despite it. But, combine the two and you have...

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 12:44 pm

Geez.... Now that's even more laughable: somebody who is completely AWARE that he is making ****, and he SERIOUSLY thinks somebody will throw away SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS of their hard-earned money on his garbage? Who is he trying to fool? He is really making a bigger fool of himself than I thought, LOL!

randyz · Post by **randyz** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 12:50 pm

Seeing something this ugly, that someone obviously spent time and money to create, reminds me of something a friend used to say. The friend was nicknamed 'Mike the Mormon' and he played guitar in another friend's band. He had a gorgeous original '64 Rick 1997 FG. As you might guess, he was a Mormon from Salt Lake City and had previously toured the world playing guitar for Donny and Marie Osmond in the 1980's (I kid you not), and he had the T-shirts to prove it. Obviously, Mike had seen horrific things and lived through experiences that few would have the words to describe. Let's just say that he was a man of few words, like a blues player that knows that one great note is far better and more effective than a flurry of meaningless notes. Upon seeing the ugliness in question, I have no doubt Mike would turn and say, "He hasn't a clue..."

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 1:12 pm

Can't remember the last time I had fruit cake........

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Oct 01, 2005 3:55 pm

You sure you don't mean gingerbread, Aitch?

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 11:54 am

Beautiful scarecrow!!!!!!!!

THAT, believe it or not, IS the Ugly Stick!
I'd pay $120 for one with a Bigsby ANY day.
He should "hand carve" a guitar that looks like a weasel & call it Self Portrait!

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 12:03 pm

Well, that's a bit extreme, Kev, but I'll tell you this:

He has not been seen on the Gretsch Pages in awhile. I wouldn't be surprised if he's been bumped off, as he touts his guitars on eBay as "Gretsch" this and that.

winston · Post by **winston** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 12:12 pm

Well he not a designer or luthier, that's two things that I know for sure. Maybe he should get a real job. You know something that will earn him an honest living.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 12:49 pm

Sorry for going overboard, but those things ARE a waste of good wood. The "Bigsby rule" still stands, though. If he's only out for the money, he's definitely in the wrong racket. Used cars might be more appropriate.

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 12:55 pm

Those are no more Gretsch guitars than the butchered remains of the French fellow's doubleneck is a Rickenbacker. An authorized design being made by an authorized factory is what makes a real brand name guitar. Period. Those are home made. I do feel sorry for the guy's misplaced sense of aesthetic, though.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 1:28 pm

Maybe the reason he's stopped posting is because he made it big selling one to Clint Black or somebody else with endless cash and a bizarre sense of humor.

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 3:06 pm

Perhaps he can't pay his electricity bill because he hasn't sold it and he was hanging his hat on this one being his big leap into the world of boutique guitar manufacturing!!

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Thu Oct 06, 2005 3:14 pm

Better he stops than continue mangling nice guitars. I'm not particularly a Gretsch fan, but they deserve better treatment.