The Cork Sniffer Thread

[Murfdog]

I guess I'm a cork sniffer. I only play Gibson and Fender. It's not because of the price tag or the name on the headstock, but because they sound and play the best. Paul Reed Smith guitars are extremely well made, and very pricy; but I just can't stand the feel of them. So, I guess I can partly say I'm not a cork sniffer.

 

[Murfdog]

Damn Sentry, you are up to 6,770 posts

 

[Chicago John]

I like all guitars, to some extent, and there was a period in my life when I would acquire a lot of local area and pawnshop guitars that were of different brands and quality, and as the guitars came and went, I noticed that the ones I was holding on to were Gibsons, for the most part. I'm in my late 40's, and I grew up on the Stones, Led Zep, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, bands from that era, and Gibsons were of unquestioned quality, they were the guitars that my heroes were playing (well, except for Blackmore ) When I'd get together with my friends and we discussed music and guitars, owning a Les Paul, any Les Paul, was the holy grail of guitars. When I was 13, one of my friend's older brother actually owned one, and if he took care of it, my friend was allowed to play it (very cool older bro!) I'll never forget that guitar, it was a goldtop Deluxe, absolutely beautiful instrument, and I played it a few times myself I came to learn about many other good makes of guitars as the years went by, but those memories of that goldtop had me convinced, on a very deep, personal level, what THE guitar to own was... I think that I have a tendency to think highly of Gibsons even now, but I try to keep an open mind, and I wouldn't put anyone down for playing a cheaper guitar. I've seen too many great blues players in clubs playing Epiphones to do that... I wouldn't say I'm a cork sniffer, but I definitely have a preference...

 

[Leumas]

That's cool. I have to admit I really try to be objective about this since some folks happen to PLAY the guitars I might not have a high opinion of based on personal experiences.

I think there's a fine line between have a bad opinion on a brand and calling someone's personal gear crap.

Well, personal experiences are one thing. Plus you said yourself that there are ringers and dogs from every manufacturer across the board. Look at it this way, somebody might see your cheap-o archtop and think that you're just some schmuck playing a kid guitar, but they don't know about the extensive modding you've done to it.

Me? I'll play damn near anything. One guilty pleasure is I love picking up little kids toy and cheap-o guitars and seeing if I can get them into some state of playability, you can damn near take over a party by putting on a show with a 1/2 size guitar.

Do I prefer Gibsons? Yes, unless I pump out a kid or two in my lifetime I'll likely be buried with it...but, I love almost anything that has six strings (or 4, or 7, or 12...) and at least one pickup. What someone else is using really doesn't matter to me at all, so long as they are happy with it.

I agree with you on amps. I have held on to some dogs for much longer than I should have just because I felt that maybe it was my fault that they weren't sounding good. Maybe if I tweaked and prodded I would unlock some magical sound I had just been missing, only to finally give up and accept that it wasn't the right gear for me, and most likely anyone else either.

 

[Jason]

Why yes I've been known to-- er... wait... I thought this was the panty sniffer thread. My bad!

 

[Leumas]

Why yes I've been known to-- er... wait... I thought this was the panty sniffer thread. My bad!

I guess it depends on where you keep your corks...

 

[spacebubby]

I'm a cork sniffer.

 

[Tuxedo Kaz]

No cork sniffing here.

I'll play just about anything that sounds, plays, and looks great! And I really don't get what it is with the perception of some that older Japanese stuff is crap or in any way the same as MIK/Indonesia. Labor is just as expensive there as it is here.

But, I will definitely only own guitars that are a grade 'above'.

 

[River]

I'm not a cork-sniffer by your definition, Sentry, but I think what you're describing is a snob. Guitar snobs, wine snobs, beer snobs, car snobs - you run into all kinds.

Tux says he wants his guitars to be a cut above. To me that makes him what I call a cork-sniffer, but he's not a snob about it. I've tried, owned, or appreciated some fine guitars, wines, beers, cognac, and ladies' (cork) sandals in my time, so I consider myself what I call a cork-sniffer.

But I'll drink a Coors Light with you, share Thunderbird out of a paper sack on a street corner, own a guitar I couldn't sell for $10, and hang around with barefoot hippie girls.

 

[zplapplap]

Some budget guitars, or maybe anything, in the right hands is undeniably cool.

 

[zplapplap]

...ALMOST anything.

 

[coldsteal2]

Better a Cork Sniffer than a butt sniffer

 

[Lyrica]

i guess i'm a cork sniffer. i'll only play guitars with strings on them. i guess i'm just fussy that way

 

[AXE]

Better a Cork Sniffer than a butt sniffer

What wrong with butt sniffing?

 

[captain tightpants]

What wrong with butt sniffing?

Kinda depends on the butt.....

 

[ZoomZilla]

I am an AMP Corksniffer. Guitars, meh. I have an Epi LP and after changing out most of the stock stuff on it, it's a really good guitar. Is it a Gibson, no, but it still plays just fine. I have a 90's Model Charvel Model 4 as well as my other main guitar.

I think there is more tone in amps than in guitars. But that's just me. The way I see it, a Gibson Les Paul played through a Marshall MG is way worse than an Epi Les Paul played through a Splawn.

 

[zplapplap]

i think there is more tone in amps than in guitars. But that's just me. The way i see it, a gibson les paul played through a marshall mg is way worse than an epi les paul played through a splawn.

+1

 

[basschick22]

I suppose I'm a cork sniffer to a degree. I prefer my American-made electrics, but I have a cheap Yamaha strat copy (modified) that plays well, too.

Now that I have most of the guitars that I'd like to own, it's time for me to start getting more into amp cork sniffing!

 

[LongBeach]

did this thread have anything to do with wine?

Ya know, we here in Ca. have access to boatloads, &, truckloads
of fantastic wine

Axe sniffs butts......................

 

[Tuxedo Kaz]

did this thread have anything to do with wine?

Ya know, we here in Ca. have access to boatloads, &, truckloads
of fantastic wine

Axe sniffs butts......................

Smells like Virginia Slims.