Esteban guitar on HSN
My interest was sparked on the Home Shopping Network when internationally acclaimed guitar virtuoso, Esteban was playing his guitar while the HSN members pushed the self endorsed instrument that he used.
So I Googled \"Esteban guitar review\" and got these results.
Harmony Central is where I read up first on any guitar I buy: http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Esteban/Burswood_Acoustic-01.html
and a link that compared the instrument to theirs, where they get really through with pictures: (This is interesting)
http://www.guitarimports.com/comparison-esteban.htm
So I Googled \"Esteban guitar review\" and got these results.
Harmony Central is where I read up first on any guitar I buy: http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Esteban/Burswood_Acoustic-01.html
and a link that compared the instrument to theirs, where they get really through with pictures: (This is interesting)
http://www.guitarimports.com/comparison-esteban.htm
Comments
I don't believe in making negative comments in forums like this one, but sometimes...... Let me say that I don't mean to hurt anyone, and this is mostly in fun, but with a grain of truth to it. I hope it will be taken in the proper context and not offend anyone.
First of all, Esteban is Steve something-or-other, from some place in the USA, and he does have a website you can find through GOOGLE if you really want to.
Now, I don't mean to down the guy, but ya gotta tell it like you see it, right? Anyway, the other day I caught Esteban on TV during a performance at Red Rocks Park in Colorado, which was a commercial for his guitar sales thing. I thought, \"Cool. I'll get to hear the guy play.\"
After getting past the fact that he was wearing a Zorro costume with shades, and listening to his pitch about how he wants to \"give you the gift of music from his heart\" for three easy payments of whatever it was, the guy finally sat down and started to get it on.
His performance consisted of strumming a plain D chord off and on, open and fingered, while the rest of the group played around him. The lead was done by a gal on a violin, and it would have been about fair for an elementary school music class.
If you go to Esteban's website, you can see a description of the performance. When you get to the picture of the gal on the violin, the caption says something like \"(name) rocks out.\" Okayyyyyy.
Anyway, not meaning to diss anybody, but merely trying to share my honest feelings (from my heart, but free of charge) I came away thinking Esteban was bogus, and his whole thing is to try to hock this cheap guitar for more than it's worth on an unsuspecting public comprised mainly of beginners who don't know any better. I don't think that really helps the guitar playing community. Sorry if my attitude seems narrow minded to anyone, but that's how it seemed to me.
So I printed out a page on the computer, framed it, and it is standing on the book shelf. It has a picture of Esteban in his Zorro hat and shades, and the words \"ESTEBAN SUCKS!\" above and below the image. :-)
Now, I am sorry if I've offended anyone, but that's how I really feel about it. I think the guy is a scamster. And when I saw you guys talking about it, I thought I'd pitch in my own two cents. Or centavos, as the case may be.
Anyway, friends, it's like anything else. When it comes to buying stuff you can't check out first hand, Caveat Emptor.
Peace!
Rained On
People were calling in saying they own two of them and so on...
Really, it's all about using an image to sell a product. No different than Mrs. Butterworth or the Gortons Fisherman.
Well,....one difference....I like syrup and I like fish.
PS. Ill bet those babies break, (explode!), real nice. Good for a stage prop. If they were way cheaper bought in bulk, (way cheaper, I'd get me a bunch. Hey, maybe that's how that 1800 got sold in 2 hrs.....1 buyer.
But I totally agree with the statement that a lot of the guys on this forum have much greater skill with the guitar than Esteban does. I was listening to the Funk Rock track by BFG last night. Now that's it right there. That was great. Just the kind of rockin blusey funky jam youd like to get your ears behind when you're out drinking and chasin women. Great stuff. Like to know who those people are.
That one country cat who sings \"Fly On' blew my mind, too. Perfect male country voice; real smooth professional track all the way. Brought tears to my eyes. No foolin'. That's a great song.
I've heard things on the radio that weren't nearly as good as either of the two artists I just mentioned. They really oughta get some producer in a hammerlock and make him listen to their demo. The same could be said of other people I've heard here, too.
As far as cheap guitars go: I saw some acoustics on the Net that were $9.99 each. I'm sure we've all seen things like that at grocery stores and the like. Even if it's only a dime, you still wouldn't want it because it sounds like sawdust and feels like a torture device in your hands. Maybe if the price of Duraflame logs goes above ten bucks, but that's about the only time I'd buy one like that.
OK so let's make something positive out of this. As far as buying budget priced guitars goes, Zzounds has some good prices, but lately I'm discovering Rondo Music in New Jersey. People say their Agile guitars are pretty fair copies of well known instruments (Les Paul, PRS, etc.) at a low price. Of course, you aren't going to get a set of Dragon II's or Santana III humbuckers with an axe like that, but what comes stock with some of them aint that bad. And people are saying if you swap out the pickups you can build something that is pretty darn good for a fraction of what the real things costs. Google Rondo Music and check em out.
I 've got an Agile PS-900 (PRS copy) in the mail. Will let you know what it's like when it arrives. Due in on the 16th.
Film at eleven.........
Rained On.
lol I love these word filters.
Funny string. The only thing I ever heard him play was pretty lame. Hustler comes to mind. Wonder if that guitar is as good as the John Denver Guitar, or the Johnny Cash Guitar, or the ........ blah blah blah.... you get the point. Nothing new under the sun. Only the scam artists change the brand names from time to time. Same old crap with a new 25 cent decal on it.
Girlfriends brother had a Johnny Cash or Glen Campell {SP?} guitar. Strings 1/2 \" from the board, and it looked like something Crazy Horse wished he had back when we were playing cowboys and Indians. They might have won with that guitar. {Shoots 6 arrows at a time!Could have sold it as the gattling bow. Peeps buy crap all the time because someone who is in the spotlight plays one. Never had an endorsed axe that ever made me pick any better than I did at the time. But even the good pickers fall into that game.
But on the other hand, some little yeller feller guitars have hit an all time low in price and an all time high in quality. He could be selling one of those and he wouldn't have to wear that mask to hide his inentity from his customers. Nuff said for my two cents.
But getting back to what I was saying earlier about some of the talented musicians on this forum...I did a little research (aint Google a great thing!?) and found out that the guy who does that song in the member clips section entitled FLY ON II goes by the name George Molton, and is a \"local troubador\" performing in a lot of clubs on the country circuit.
Now, I'll be honest. There was a time when I said the only two kinds of music I don't like are Country and Western. But something changed. Maybe it was the music, maybe it was me; or both. I don't know. But I'm not exclusively fixated on rock: I do enjoy a good ballad. And a lot of what is showing up on the Country stations now is to my liking.
Anyway, I think this guy George Molton is mighty darn good. I'm expecting him to have records out and be on TV within the next year.
Saw some pages on the 'Net about George: married, got a baby on the way. (No Zorro hat and no shades. Wasn't selling guitars, either.) Looks like nice folks. I hope he makes it.
Rained On
I'm saving my hard earned pennies for a Gibson Wes Montgomery model L5.. 8)
http://www.gibsoncustom.com/flash/products/archtops/WesMontgomery/WesMontgomery.html
It'll be a toss up between that one and the LeGrande another named after guitar..(Formerly known as the Gibson Johnny Smith Model before Johnny signed with Guild and now Heritage) 8)
http://www.gibsoncustom.com/flash/products/archtops/LeGrande/LeGrande.html
The link below is for my main axe I own out of about 7 guitars. Steve Howe has a signature model of the same guitar but I wanted mine in natural finish which is what I purchased.. 8)
http://www.gibsoncustom.com/flash/products/es/175/175.html
I have come to the conclusion that if the Gibson guitar company names a guitar after you, said player is probably posesses unholy chops and the guitar is top quality.. A lot of other companies can't make that claim but I think Gibson can. :twisted:
I just keep playing that 175 and amazed by the tone everyday.. :shock:
And of course Esteban is a joke.. If he studied under Segovia it was probably buying some of his books with his great Bach transcriptions. Segovia was a true genueis who brought the guitar from the bars and cantinas to the concert hall. Even though he HATED electric guitar every guitarist out there owes it to theirselves to listen to this guy.. Incredible tone, chops, the whole nine yards. I was fortunate enough in the mid-70's to see him in concert in Dallas.. I have never seen such playing in my life... If there's no truth to this Segovia, Esteban crap that Esteban spreads, I sincerely hope Segovia's surviving family members sue him for every penny he's worth... Of course, they proabably have to much class to stoop that low... :evil:
Mr Rainin Man:
I am of the same opinion as you.. I like music from any gendre.. As long as it's good.. That's all that counts..Unfortunately I'm the guy that decides what I like. The same is true for every other member of the forum.. That's what makes music VERY interesting.. The great debate... 8)
See Ya,
Tal
\"Mr Rainin Man:
I am of the same opinion as you.. I like music from any gendre.. As long as it's good.. That's all that counts..Unfortunately I'm the guy that decides what I like. The same is true for every other member of the forum.. That's what makes music VERY interesting.. The great debate...
See Ya,
Tal\"
I hear ya, Tal. A lot of truth there.
A guy I knew once said, \"I aint good, but I know what good sounds like.\"
And therein lies the \"great debate\" you mentioned. Not everyone likes the same thing. About that, Gene Simmons said, \"That's why they have more than one item on the menu in restaurants.\"
I enjoy the personal satisfaction of making music that's my own. I think we all feel something like that. I enjoy hearing music that evokes emotions I feel like relating to. But not everybody is going to like all the same things. And while I like a lot of music, there are some songs I've heard that I just flat-out can't stand. Maybe that's my own hangup, but I'm stuck with it. :oops:
At the end of the session, I'm just glad the GNX4 makes the process of composing audio a whole lot easier than it was back in the double-boom-box days.
Lots of good stuff coming out of this group.
Rained On
Ror Clark guitar AND Big Note Song Book....LMAO!!!
Zorro.........Save the $. It was sort of okay but a bit long winded for the story that it was. IMO
I like the fact that it's \"All Wood\" and comes with an alien (sic) key
- g
Love that line :!: but what I don't understand is why anyone would want to be associated with something that is of such poor quality. Wouldn't it make sense to promote a quality product?
Now whenever I hear an Esteban commerical, I will think of an outhouse, near a cabin in the woods, with an Esteban guitar toilet seat. A piece of crap on top of a pile of crap. :roll:
peace on earth
Anybody need a new Av? Hot off the press...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00004TVS8/ref=pd_sim_music_1/002-8536787-5496031?v=glance&s=music&n=507846
He he he he...
He said that so many proffesionals tell him that they're putting down their guitars and are gigging with them... \"and one's touring!\"
Do you think the Eagles are going to use them on their next unplugged?
Haw! I'm visualizing Zorro chopping through a door with a toilet seat, saying, \"Heerrrrees Esteban!\" :-) Nyerk! Nyerk!
But you know, I looked at the Amazon listing you provided, and danged if that dude don't have a lot of records, including three that also list Andres Segovia! I wonder what that means?
If this dude actually studied with Segovia, he should be able to play some serious schnit. So why is he giving the dismal performances that we've seen on TV? \"House of the Rising Sun.\" Indeed! People learn that in their first few weeks on nylon strings.
Anybody know where there's any Esteban sound clips for free download? I'd like to hear what he's got, but after what I saw of his guitar sales program I'm not about to spring for the price of an album just to find out.
Rained On
www.estebanmusic.com
One may find his CD's and music clips.
Enjoy
peace on earth
I started out with the Mel Bay learn to play guitar book.
he always stared his series with ...\"this is the pick\" and then tyou went on to learn Red River Valley , Shoe fly, Jimmie Crack corn and other greatist hits!
Plywood finger board scraped away:
Straight bridge, paint scraped away bottom left:
Paint scraped away on back of neck:
I think Clapton is gonna drop Fender and go with Esteban.
Too bad he got his name associated with inferior, overpriced merchandise, though. That's not going to help his reputation any.
Rained On
P.S. to c4r7
Yeah, right bro! And Page is gonna tell Gibson to skip the signature model, and follow Clapton to Flamencoville. ;-)